MUNICH: A late strike denied Slovenia a first ever win in a European Championship as Serbia snatched a 1-1 draw on Thursday.
Žan Karničnik’s 69th-minute goal put Slovenia on the brink of a historic win until substitute Luka Jović levelled deep in stoppage time.
The goal sent the Serbia fans into raucous joy but also saw them throw flares and other objects onto the field.
The equalizer was virtually the last action as the referee blew fulltime immediately after the players restarted. The Slovenia players collapsed to the ground in disappointment.
It also would have been their first win in a major tournament since victory over Algeria in the 2010 World Cup.
Slovenia play England in their final group match on Tuesday, when Serbia face Denmark. Serbia lost to England in their opener.
With both teams needing a win to boost their chances of progressing, the match started at a fast pace and Serbia goalkeeper Predrag Rajković had to make two early saves.
Those two shots on target in the first eight minutes were as many as Slovenia had in total in their draw with Denmark.
Serbia withstood the waves of Slovenia attacks and had their first chance in the 27th minute but Dušan Vlahović’s header was straight at goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Serbia went even closer moments later when Dušan Tadić whipped in a fabulous corner to the far post but Aleksandar Mitrović — who scored in his previous two matches against Slovenia — couldn’t get a proper touch.
The best chance of the half fell to Slovenia in somewhat fortunate circumstances. Timi Elšnik tried to pass to a teammate, but the ball came off a Serbia defender and fell kindly back to him for a thunderous effort which crashed off the right post. Benjamin Šeško fired the rebound woefully over.
Serbia started the second half with three great chances to break the deadlock inside the first five minutes, including Slovenia defender Jake Bijol almost scoring an own goal.
This tournament has seen plenty of stunning long-range goals and there was almost another in the 58th but Rajković did well to push Šeško’s strike over the bar.
Slovenia eventually broke the deadlock with a move started and finished by Žan Karničnik. The defender won the ball deep inside his own half and ran some 40 yards before picking out Elšnik on the left and racing into the box to collect the cross and tap home at the back post.
Serbia almost levelled immediately but Elšnik hit the crossbar.
Serbia threw everything at Slovenia in the final stages. Even Rajković came up for the final corner but it was Jović who leapt highest to head it past Oblak in the fifth minute of added time.
Late leveler by Serbia denies Slovenia first Euros win
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Late leveler by Serbia denies Slovenia first Euros win
- Žan Karničnik’s 69th-minute goal put Slovenia on the brink of a historic win until substitute Luka Jović levelled deep in stoppage time
- The goal sent the Serbia fans into raucous joy but also saw them throw flares and other objects onto the field
Biggest stars yet to catch fire at Euro 2024
BERLIN: With exciting football and vibrant fans lighting up cities across Germany, Euro 2024 has thrilled even though the European game’s biggest stars have failed to take the tournament by storm.
Between injury struggles, shaky form and bad luck, many of football’s leading lights have underwhelmed in the group phase.
Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo, playing at a record sixth Euros, is yet to strike in three appearances — if he manages to, the 39-year-old will become the oldest ever goalscorer at the tournament.
Arguably the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe is only off the mark for France with a penalty against Poland in a disappointing 1-1 draw that resulted in the favorites finishing second in Group D.
Mbappe spurned a golden opportunity against Austria, missing a draw against the Netherlands with a broken nose before returning with a mask in Les Bleus’ third outing.
“He’s hungry to play and the game would have done him some good,” said France coach Didier Deschamps, hopeful the forward will quickly find his devastating best with a last 16 clash against Belgium beckoning.
Poland’s talisman Robert Lewandowski could not feature in their opening defeat against the Netherlands because of a thigh problem.
The Barcelona striker and his country were eliminated as he was ineffective when he came off the bench against Austria, before he netted a penalty in the France draw.
England duo Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane scored from open play against Serbia and Denmark respectively but have vastly under-performed after thriving at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich this season.
England coach Gareth Southgate hooked Kane in a drab 1-1 draw against Denmark, but the subsequent 0-0 against Slovenia was even more dour.
“Not every player is going to star in every game,” said Southgate afterwards.
France’s Antoine Griezmann and England’s Phil Foden have also fired blanks after strong seasons for Atletico Madrid and Manchester City.
“Sometimes (Griezmann’s) generosity means he doesn’t have as clear a head as he should have,” said Deschamps, who benched the midfielder in the final group match.
Belgium’s all-time top scorer Romelu Lukaku is also without a goal, albeit not for want of trying, having had three disallowed by VAR as his team slunk through in second from Group E.
Veteran Luka Modric, 38, usually a key figure in Croatia’s frequently impressive exploits, did score against Italy but only after missing a penalty and struggling in the first two matches, with his country eventually eliminated.
Remarkably there have been seven own goals, making up 26 percent of the 27 inadvertently netted in the competition’s history.
Even the players who have shone thus far have largely been surprises for one reason or another.
N’Golo Kante is proving key for France despite moving a year ago to play in Saudi Arabia, while talented youngster Jamal Musiala has been hosts Germany’s leading light ahead of veteran stars Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan and Kai Havertz.
Target man Niclas Fuellkrug has scored twice for Germany like Musiala, while Slovakia’s Ivan Schranz and Romania’s Razvan Marin also have a pair of goals to their name.
Netherlands forward Cody Gakpo finished neatly for his second goal in a 3-2 defeat by Austria, in a performance their coach Ronald Koeman labelled “appalling.”
The tournament’s current top scorer is debutants Georgia’s Georges Mikautadze with three goals, two of those from the penalty spot.
Spain qualified top of Group B with a game to spare and have arguably been the team of the tournament so far, but two of their key players have been unlikely candidates in Fabian Ruiz and Marc Cucurella.
With 15 matches still to play before one of the 16 remaining sides is crowned champions in Berlin on July 14, fans are still waiting for the tournament’s star names to join the party.
Ecuador beat Jamaica 3-1 in Copa America
LAS VEGAS: Ecuador boosted their chances of reaching the knockout rounds of the Copa America on Wednesday after hanging on to beat Jamaica 3-1 in their Group B clash in Las Vegas.
Ecuador, beaten by Venezeula in their opening match of the tournament on Saturday, held off a spirited second-half rally by the Reggae Boyz to claim a vital three points at the Allegiant Stadium.
The South Americans looked to be cruising to victory after taking a 2-0 lead following a Kasey Palmer own goal and a penalty from Chelsea-bound teenager Kendry Paez.
However, Jamaica pulled a goal back from veteran striker Michail Antonio early in the second half, and then had strong claims for a penalty rejected 15 minutes before full-time.
Ecuador, however, made the game safe in stoppage time with a breakaway goal from Alan Minda as Jamaica pressed forward for an equalizer.
The defeat leaves Jamaica bottom of Group B with no points after two games.
The Jamaicans could be eliminated later on Thursday depending on the result of Venezuela’s clash with Mexico.
Earlier, Ecuador opened the scoring with a freakish own goal in the 13th minute, Pierre Hincapie’s cross from the left taking a wicked deflection off Palmer and looping into the Jamaica net.
Ecuador doubled their lead from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
Defender Greg Leigh instinctively blocked a header with his upper arm and after a lengthy VAR review, Chilean referee Cristian Garay pointed to the spot.
The 17-year-old Paez — who will join Premier League giants Chelsea in July 2025 when he turns 18 — stepped up to calmly stroke the spot-kick into the bottom corner.
A rejuvenated Jamaica pulled one back early in the second half with Antonio jabbing home a low shot on 54 minutes after Ecuador failed to clear a corner.
Jamaica thought they had been thrown a lifeline with 15 minutes to go after a VAR penalty check triggered when Ecuador’s Alan Franco appeared to handle inside the area.
But despite being called to the monitor to take a look at the incident, referee Garay decided there had been no handball and waved play on, before Minda’s late goal sealed Ecuador’s win.
Turkiye edge into Euros last 16 with tense win over Czechs
HAMBURG: Turkiye reached the knockout phase at a major tournament for the first time in 16 years after a bad-tempered 2-1 win over a battling 10-man Czech Republic at Euro 2024 on Wednesday.
Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye finished second in Group F behind Portugal to progress, as the Czechs were eliminated despite a brave performance on a sweltering night in Hamburg.
Georgia also went through as one of the best third-placed teams after a stunning 2-0 win over Portugal in the group’s other final game, eliminating Hungary.
Turkiye will face Austria in the last 16 in Leipzig on Tuesday, their first major tournament knockout match since the Euro 2008 semifinals when they were beaten by Germany.
The Czechs were reduced to 10 men in the 20th minute when Antonin Barak was given the earliest red card in Euros history, beating the unwanted record set by France’s Eric Abidal in 2008.
Barak’s pair of bookings were two of 18 yellow cards shown in total, with Tomas Chory also shown red after the final whistle in ugly scenes.
Hakan Calhanoglu powered Turkiye into a 51st-minute lead, but Tomas Soucek lashed in an equalizer midway through the second half.
A frantic finale to the game ensued as the Czech Republic pushed for the winner that would take them through, but Cenk Tosun ended their hopes on the counter-attack in added time.
There were ugly scenes at the final whistle as fans ran onto the pitch, with Czech forward Chory brandished a red card in the aftermath.
The Czechs started strongly despite the tens of thousands of Turkiye fans jeering their every touch, with Lukas Provod forcing Mert Gunok into an early save with a deflected shot.
They were especially dangerous from Vladimir Coufal’s long throw-ins, one of which Robin Hranac headed over when unmarked.
But Turkiye were given a huge boost as midfielder Barak caught Salih Ozcan by the halfway line and was shown a soft second yellow card.
Key Czech striker Patrik Schick could only feature among the substitutes after picking up an injury in the draw with Georgia last week.
He was given a yellow card for protesting from the bench after Provod was felled by flying challenge.
Turkiye winger Kenan Yildiz was fortunate to stay on the pitch, only receiving a yellow for a nasty tackle on Hranac before elbowing Coufal in the face without punishment as tempers threatened to boil over.
Montella’s side were struggling to break down their opponents despite the man advantage and almost fell behind when David Jurasek was denied by Gunok after a quick counter-attack.
Knowing defeat could send them home with Georgia leading Portugal, Turkiye started brightly after the break and released the pressure on themselves with a crucial opening goal.
Yildiz had an effort brilliantly saved by Jindrich Stanek, but the Czech ‘keeper suffered an arm injury in making the stop and with him struggling to get back into position, Calhanoglu drilled the ball into the bottom corner.
Stanek was immediately replaced by back-up Matej Kovar as part of a triple change.
The Czechs became increasingly stretched as they went in search of the two goals they needed to stay in the tournament and Turkiye’s teenage star Arda Guler failed to convert from barely three yards out.
But Soucek gave the Czechs hope when he fired home after Gunok spilt the ball following another Coufal hurl into the box.
The goal survived a long VAR review for a possible foul on the embarrassed ‘keeper and a handball, before being eventually awarded to set up a thrilling finish.
Ivan Hasek’s Czech Republic threw as many players forward as possible but could not find a moment of magic.
Instead, Turkiye hit them on the break and substitute Tosun struck a fine finish into the far corner, before the match ended in fiery fashion.
Georgia make history by reaching Euro 2024 knockouts
GELSENKIRCHEN, Germany: Georgia are through to the last 16 of Euro 2024 after Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Portugal, a historic triumph in the former Soviet Republic’s first appearance at a major international tournament.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia gave Georgia a shock lead against a second-string Portugal team with just over a minute on the clock in Gelsenkirchen.
Georges Mikautadze then ensured Georgia would claim the biggest football victory in the Black Sea nation’s history with a 57th-minute penalty.
Willy Sagnol’s team qualify from Group F as one of the four best third-placed finishers after their first ever European Championship win, which set up a daunting clash with red-hot Spain on Sunday.
Portugal had already qualified for the next round as group winners and coach Roberto Martinez made eight changes from the team which swept Turkiye aside to guarantee first place last weekend.
However, his team were on top for most of the match and looked likely to equalize before Antonio Silva, who gave the ball away for the first goal, was harshly penalized for light contact with Luka Lochoshvili to give away the decisive penalty.
Regardless Portugal will face Slovenia on Monday and, saving any injuries, Martinez will have a mostly rested first XI to call upon.
Kvaratskhelia was the beneficiary of Silva sloppily giving away possession to Mikautadze, who after scoring in both of Georgia’s previous matches with Turkiye and the Czech Republic turned provider.
Mikautadze gave a perfectly-weighted pass to Kvaratskhelia who burst through on goal from his preferred position in the inside-right channel and stroked home a precision finish.
It was unfamiliarly clinical finishing from Georgia who would have come into Wednesday’s match with more than one point had they made the most of their chances.
From there, Sagnol’s team were content to sit back and protect their slender lead as Portugal sent forward waves of attack against a packed defense.
First Ronaldo smashed a free-kick straight at Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili in the 17th minute before he was booked just before the half-hour mark for dissent after what he thought was a foul from Lochoshvili.
Francisco Conceicao hit the side netting while Ronaldo protested to referee Sandro Scherer and moments later Joao Felix fizzed a long-range shot just wide.
Ronaldo’s frustrations continued almost immediately after half-time when looked certain to score from a corner only for Lasha Dvali to unwittingly save the day with his back.
Kvaratskhelia then wasted a great chance to double his team’s lead before Mikautadze, who has been Georgia’s best player in the tournament, stroked in his third goal in as many games from the penalty spot.
Georgia then closed ranks and made rare, but dangerous forays into Portugal’s defensive third, holding out for the win to the joy of their supporters.
De Bruyne stays tight-lipped on Belgium fan fury
- Belgium missed the chance to finish top of Group E after having to settle for a point in Stuttgart
- “We need these fans, we need them against France,” said De Bruyne
STUTTGART, Germany: Kevin De Bruyne refused to comment on the angry reaction of Belgium fans after Wednesday’s 0-0 draw with Ukraine at Euro 2024, insisting that “we need them” ahead of a last-16 match with France.
Belgium missed the chance to finish top of Group E after having to settle for a point in Stuttgart, with De Bruyne seemingly instructing his team-mates not to head over to applaud the supporters after the game.
The Manchester City playmaker was making his way toward the Belgium fans behind the goal before appearing to change his mind as the whistling and booing intensified.
“We need these fans, we need them against France,” said De Bruyne.
“We just need them. I don’t know what else to say.
“We gave it our all during the three matches, everybody wanted to win the matches. We tried to do this but we didn’t manage to do so,” he added.
Knowing a point was enough to send them through, albeit as runners-up behind Romania, Belgium adopted a safety-first approach in the closing minutes, fearful of a Ukraine goal that would have knocked them out.
“I think until the 90th minute we tried to find solutions... afterwards I think Ukraine had a good chance, maybe two,” said De Bruyne.
“When it’s one minute from the end of the match you can’t take a risk. I understand people want us to win, but if I take the corner and they go down the other end and score people are going to kill me.”
