Euro 2024 News

CRAIG HOPE IN DUSSELDORF: England again made life hard for themselves, but reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024 following a penalty shootout.  The Three Lions again found themselves going behind through Breel Embolo's 75th minute goal.  Their lead only lasted five minutes however as Bukayo Saka's brilliant strike took the game to extra-time. Here, Mail Sport's CRAIG HOPE runs the rule over the England players

TOM COLLOMOSSE IN BERLIN: Netherlands will play England in the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after coming from behind to beat a spirited Turkey side.  Turkey were the more impressive side in the opening half with Samet Adaykin giving them a deserved lead.  The Dutch though picked up a gear mid-way into the second-half, with Stefan de Vrij pulling them level before Mert Mulder put the ball in the back of his own net - though Cody Gakpo would love to claim that goal. Here, Mail Sport's TOM COLLOMOSSE runs the rule over Netherlands and Turkey.

Ivan Toney has opened up about his unique penalty routine after scoring in England's shootout win over Switzerland on Saturday night. Toney took England's fourth penalty after Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo had all scored before him, and he kept his nerve.  The Brentford striker kept his eyes on Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer the whole time, and even though the shot-stopper guessed the right way, Toney's effort flew past his despairing dive into the bottom corner.

New footage has shown how Trent Alexander-Arnold's winning penalty against Switzerland sparked bedlam among the England fans as they celebrated the Three Lions booking their place in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. Alexander-Arnold stepped up to take England's fifth penalty with the chance to put his side through to the last four and he took it by emphatically smashing his spot-kick into the corner of the net. The winning moment was filmed in the stands, and the fans did not disappoint as they produced a deafening noise while hugging each other and cheering England's heroes.

England fans have hailed Jordan Pickford's 's***housery masterclass' as he was spotted distracting Switzerland players during the penalty shoot-out victory. The Three Lions reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024 after a 5-3 shoot-out victory, with Everton keeper Pickford making the only save from Manchester City's Manuel Akanji.  During the shootout, Pickford was up to his usual penalty shoot-out antics, with referee Daniele Orsato having to go over and speak to him on more than one occasion. 

CRAIG HOPE IN DUSSELDORF: It did not feel like a summer tournament. The wind from the Rhine claimed St George's flags from Gateshead to Gravesend. Flags on faces fell victim to rain water dumped from menacing skies. At least it felt like home. But away from the waterfront, in the cobbled sidestreets of Dusseldorf's old town - not that you could see the cobbles - this was where the heat of an England away day beat the weather. They serve the beer in 200ml glasses here, the cloud burst supplementing measures for those who refused to take cover, and that was the majority. Spirits, you see, could not be dampened.

Harry Kane was sent tumbling into the England dugout and collided with Gareth Southgate during their quarter-final clash with Switzerland on Saturday. Just minutes later, the England captain was substituted off after appearing to injure his leg in the bizarre incident in the second-half of extra-time.  More to follow... 

Gary Lineker and the BBC punditry panel were blasted by fans for being 'ultra-positive' in their assessment of England's first half against Switzerland on Saturday. The Three Lions, who were heavily criticised by fans and pundits ahead of their crucial quarter-finals against the Swiss, went in level at the break despite changing formation to a back three. Despite England heading in at 0-0, Lineker described the Three Lions' performance as 'terrific', while Rio Ferdinand claimed it was a 'huge improvement'.

Les Bleus knocked out Cristiano Ronaldo and Co in a dramatic penalty shootout last night after Joao Felix saw his effort, the only miss, hit the woodwork. Both sides missed several chances in a tense goalless stalemate but Ferdinand highlighted Saliba's performance, insisting it was worthy of being 'marvelled at'. Saliba impressed for Arsenal during the 2023-24 season and has been ever-present under Didier Deschamps at international level after belatedly breaking through.

Ronaldo, now 39 and plying his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr, first burst onto the scene at Manchester United in 2003 as a teenager with gaps in his teeth. Across the following 21 years, he progressed from a self-confessed 'feeble' forward to a hulking, preening superstar who leads from the front for Portugal. Cosmetic surgeons, however, believe he used plastic surgery to achieve his perfect appearance with the estimated costs for the procedures ranging in the thousands. Ronaldo, it is said, has undergone work on his teeth, nose, forehead and hair.

Gary Lineker and Rio Ferdinand have called for extra-time to be scrapped from football competitions, as they sound alarm bells over the sheer number of games professional stars are playing each season. The BBC pundits voiced their concerns after neither France nor Portugal were able to find a winning goal during 120 minutes of football on Friday night, with Didier Deschamps' side ultimately knocking the 2016 European Champions out 5-3 on penalties. During their analysis of the game, Lineker raised concerns over how tired some of the players were looking during extra-time, with the BBC Match of the Day host noting that both sets of players have been through a long and gruelling season of football.

After months of excitement and anticipation, the stage is finally set for the European Championships to kick off in Germany this week, with several teams in with a shot of lifting the trophy when it's all said and done. Gareth Southgate's Three Lions will be hoping to go one better than their runners-up finish at Euro 2020, having lost to Italy in the final on penalties, with Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden leading a star-studded England squad heading to Germany this summer. Italy still pose a major threat as the reigning champions, with Nicolo Barella, Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni showing excellent form during Inter's dominant Serie A title triumph last season, with the trio accompanied by the likes of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Federico Chiesa and Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Mail Sport provides you with the ultimate guide to Euro 2024, taking a look at every team's squad, kits, preferred formation as they gear up for the tournament...