EURO 2020 is in full swing as the group stage nears completion.
But it's been a tumultuous few days for France, with Ousmane Dembele ruled out of the tournament after getting injured in their 1-1 draw with Hungary.
And the Hungarians are under investigated by Uefa following reports of monkey chants towards Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema.
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Follow all of the latest news, build up and updates below…
- Joshua Mbu
LIFE WITH ENGLAND
Raheem Sterling is enjoying his time away with England and has 'enjoying' his football.
He said: "It is just happiness, just being happy, enjoying my football and that is what I am doing being here with the national team.
"If you're not playing, you're not happy.
"That's me, that's been me since I was a kid, if I'm playing football I am really happy, if I'm not I'm not happy."
- Joshua Mbu
BREAKING: GILMOUR TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID-19
Just days after his Man of the Match performance against England at Wembley, midfielder Billy Gilmour has tested positive for COVID-19.
And he will have to self-isolate for ten days, ultimately missing the crucial Group D match against Croatia.
- Joshua Mbu
ROUTE TO THE FINAL
England are sat second in the group, level on points with the Czech Republic – but behind on goal difference.
Qualification for the knockout stages looks a real possibility for Gareth Southgate's side.
- Joshua Mbu
COURTOIS' THOUGHTS
Thibaut Courtois sees winning the group as 'prestigious'.
He said: ""It's prestigious to win the group, so that is something we are definitely going for.
"Sure, the next phase might be easier if you're not the group winner, but in football there can always be surprises.
"At the World Cup we seemed to have a tougher time against Japan than against Brazil.
"You can't try to calculate these things, you just always have to play to win."
- Joshua Mbu
TEAM NEWS: RUSSIA VS DENMARK
Both teams are expected to play their strongest teams as they search for three points, writes THOMAS BLOW.
Eriksen is the only absentee from either squad, although there are six players at risk of picking up a one-match ban.
Russian stars Dmitri Barinov, Georgi Dzhikiya and Magomed Ozdoyev and Danish regulars Mikkel Damsgaard, Mathias Jensen and Daniel Wass will miss the next round if they recieve a booking.
- Joshua Mbu
FINLAND TEAM GUIDE
Finland need to get something out of tonight's game against Belgium to stand a chance of progressing into the Round of 16.
- Joshua Mbu
ROCK SOLID
Luke Shaw is the strongest player in the England squad, according to team-mate Reece James.
In an interview with the FA’s Lion’s Den YouTube channel, James was asked who would win in a strength test.
And it appears that the Man Utd left-back is stronger than he looks.
James said: “Luke Shaw is strong. They (Mings, Maguire) are definitely strong but Luke is a beast, a brick.
“If there’s one guy I play against that I know is going to be strong, it’d definitely be him.”
- Joshua Mbu
FERDINAND BACKS STERLING
Man Utd and England legend Rio Ferdinand has backed Raheem Sterling to shine at Euro 2020.
In his BBC column, he said: "I've got to know Raheem Sterling pretty well in the past few months and I speak to him quite a lot.
"He's a good guy and an impressive person, as well as an excellent player.
"I'm proud of who he's become off the pitch, and you have to admire how he's always worked so hard and looked at ways he can improve on it.
"I get the sense that playing for England this summer can be a bit of a release for him after a difficult end to his club season, and he 100% would have felt like that after his winning goal against Croatia.
"This is me and I am back now' are the kind of emotions I think that would have come out when he was celebrating after scoring, and I can completely understand why.
"I'd texted him on the morning of that game to wish him luck. He is a man of relatively few words when it comes to texting back, but I loved his reply which was simply 'it's time'.
Credit: GETTY IMAGES - Joshua Mbu
TEAM NEWS: FINLAND VS BELGIUM
Reports claim Martinez will start Kevin De Bruyne, Alex Witsel and Eden Hazard in a bid to get the trio match fit, writes THOMAS BLOW.
Despite already qualifying, the ex-Everton boss is expected to put out a strong team as he wants to win every game.
Thorgan Hazard is at risk of suspension, along with Finland players Glen Kamara, Robin Lod, Tim Sparv and Daniel O'Shaughnessy.
But Kanerva cannot afford to rest those four stars as Finland need to play their strongest team to stand any chance of getting a result against the Belgians.
- Joshua Mbu
GROUP A COMPLETED
Group A was completed last night. Italy narrowly beat Wales 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
And Switzerland beat Turkey, meaning the latter finished Euro 2020 on no points.
Italy and Wales go through, and Switzerland will have to wait to learn their fate.
Four points for the Swiss is good, but the goal difference COULD prevent them from going through as one of four of the best third placed teams.
- Joshua Mbu
BELGIUM TEAM GUIDE
Belgium are already through to the knockout stages of Euro 2020!
But their opponents tonight, Finland, are on three points. A single point COULD send them through in either second if Russia lose or third.
If Finland finish third on four points, they have a decent chance of going through as one of four of the best third placed teams.
- Jack Figg
EURO 2020 ROUND-UP
Boss Robert Page and skipper Gareth Bale are "bursting with pride" at Wales reaching the Euro 2020 knockout stages in adversity
The Dragons went through on goal difference after doggedly limiting group winners Italy to a 1-0 win following Ethan Ampadu's red card on 54 minutes.
That left Switzerland third on goal difference, despite Xherdan Shaqiri blasting two goals in their 3-1 Group A triumph over point-less Turkey.
Asked if defeat felt like victory, Page said: "Of course it does because we've got second spot. It's that feeling of winning.
"Don't underestimate the character of a Welshman. It's phenomenal what the changing room has got in there. I'm bursting with pride."
And Bale added: "We knew it was going to be a difficult game but we got the job done, finished second.
"It was a little bit disappointing to lose, it's natural, but the boys just grafted, ran all day and… really dug deep."
Fancied Belgium are already through with two straight wins, but tonight face a Finland side for whom a point will keep them in the hunt.
Russia, on three points, take on bottom side Denmark in the other Group B match.
Holland can complete a 100% Group C record with victory over no-pointers North Macedonia.
So the more intriguing game in that group is Ukraine vs Austria, who both have three points.
Meanwhile, UEFA are probing alleged racism and homophobia from Hungarian fans at Euro 2020 matches in Budapest.
French black players were subjected to monkey chants during Saturday’s 1-1 draw.
- Ian Tuckey
STERLING WANTS TO BE BUSIER
Raheem Sterling hopes he and Manchester City star Phil Foden get more involved in England's Group D finale against group leaders the Czech Republic on Tuesday.
The Three Lions' raider said: “I feel like, for me and Phil (Foden) and the other wingers, the more we can get on the ball at the edge of the opposition box, be a threat there, it will be better for us because those are the positions we want to be in.
“At the same time, we have to understand that this is international football and teams are more robust, they sit in, defending for their lives.
“We’ve just got to use the ball better and try to get the players on the ball in the right positions so we can harm the opposition.”
- Ian Tuckey
ENGLAND'S 'YIKES!' TO DYKES
Scotland hardman Lyndon Dykes claims England did not like it up 'em when they collided at Wembley on Friday night.
The Aussie-born striker made his intentions clear right from the off when he clattered Luke Shaw in the first minute of the cross-border clash.
And England's spiky reaction to the physical approach left Dykes convinced he had rattled Gareth Southgate’s men.
He said: "It set the tone when I smashed into Shaw and I think that a few of the boys from the England team didn’t really want it.
"It was right from the kick-off and it was up to me to win the first challenge and I’ve taken him out as well, so it was a good start for us.
"It wasn't deliberate but I caught him with my knee on his leg and I knew he didn't like it.
"Shaw didn’t say anything but the referee tried to make me say sorry after I’d got him.
"The ref had actually pulled me in the warm-up before the game had even started and tried to warn me about my headers and stuff.
"But if the ball is there to be won I’m going to challenge for it and that’s what I did."
- Ian Tuckey
MY HAZ-BEEN FEAR
Eden Hazard fears he will never be the same player again after an injury ravaged two seasons with Real Madrid.
The two-time Premier League winner at Chelsea will start his first game in the Euros for Belgium against Finland hopeful he can regain some form.
The 30-year-old has suffered various muscle injuries of late but it is his ankle that he has the biggest worries about going forward.
Hazard said: “I have broken my ankle three times and I don’t know whether it will ever be the same again.
“It will not be like it was ten years ago when I was starting out.
“I know if I am fighting fit exactly what I can do on the pitch and show what I am made of.
“But I have been injured a lot.”
Hazard has made just 30 appearances out of a possible 76 in his two seasons in his underwhelming time in LaLiga.
- Ian Tuckey
NO SUBSTITUTE FOR MANCINI 'CLASS'
Roberto Mancini was hailed as a 'class act' after his decision to bring on substitute Italy goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu.
Eyebrows were raised when the veteran stopper, 34, was brought on in the 1-0 win against 10-man Wales with just a couple of minutes to play.
But the decision was made by Mancini given his own regret at not playing in the 1990 World Cup.
The Sampdoria legend was part of the Azzuri squad on home soil but never played a minute of the tournament – and has since called it the biggest regret of his career.
With Italy already through to the knockout stages after winning their opening two matches, the pressure was off against Wales.
Mancini made wholesale changes with only Donnarumma, Jorginho and Leonardo Bonucci maintaining their place in the side from those two wins.
Gaetano Castrovilli, Francesco Acerbi and Giacomo Raspadori also played from the bench – and with Sirigiu's introduction it means 25 of the 26 Italians in the squad have played at the tournament. Only third-choice keeper Alex Meret, 24, has not played.
And Mancini's desire to hand minutes to even his backup goalkeeper has earned plaudits from fans, with plenty calling him a 'class act'. One fan summed it up when writing: "Mancini is pure class. No wonder the players love him."
- Ian Tuckey
BALE'S SIGH OF RELIEF
Wales captain Gareth Bale spurned ANOTHER glorious chance to score – but was a relieved man after his country qualified for the Euro 2020 knockout stages anyway.
Robert Page's side were 1-0 down to Italy and playing with ten men after defender Ethan Ampadu was sent off.
But with 75 minutes on the clock, Joe Rodon flicked a header towards the back post straight to star man and Real Madrid attacker Bale.
But the 31-year-old opted to take the shot on the volley, and blasted an effort well over. In their previous game against Turkey, Bale also blasted a penalty over the woodwork.
But despite a 1-0 loss to Roberto Mancini's Group B table-toppers, the Dragons are into the last 16.
Speaking about THAT chance after the game, Bale told ITV Sport: "I saw the ball coming over, but I didn't quite get over the ball enough.
"But it is what it is. It made no difference in the end because we still finished second."
- Ian Tuckey
‘POGBA FOR VARANE SWAP TALK’
Manchester United are prepared to offer Paul Pogba to Real Madrid in exchange for Raphael Varane, according to reports.
The France defender, 28, has been on United’s radar for some time and is said to be one of the club’s top targets this summer.
Previous managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho both wanted to bring Varane to Old Trafford.
Ed Woodward was even prepared to spend £100million on the defender in 2018, but never came close to striking a deal.
But Varane now reportedly prefers a move to United over PSG, and his representatives are keen to hold a meeting with the Red Devils.
And according to AS, via the Express, United could offer up Pogba in order to get a deal over the line.
United fear Pogba will not agree a new contract and leave on a free next summer.
The club had previously placed a £150million asking price on the midfielder to ward off interest from Juventus and Real Madrid.
Talks opened over a new contract for Pogba earlier this month, while the Italian press claim a swap deal involving Cristiano Ronaldo is also on the cards.
- Ian Tuckey
RUDIGER 'NOT THE SMARTEST'
Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira doesn't believe Germany can rely on Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger at Euro 2020.
The 28-year-old has impressed under new Blues boss Thomas Tuchel in recent months but has a endured a tricky start to the tournament.
Rudiger was criticised for allegedly biting Manchester United star Paul Pogba during Germany's Euros defeat to France.
And in his country's next match against Portugal, Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo mocked the defender with some audacious skill.
Speaking to ITV Sport, Vieira said: "You need two around [Mats Hummels] to give him more protection.
"But I don’t know if Rudiger is the type of player that you can count on, he’s not the smartest one. Sometimes he makes a poor decision that gives his team-mates big big problems.
"We saw the goals that Germany conceded against France he can do silly things… the bite on Pogba – he’s somebody that can lose his head in any moment during a game."
- Ian Tuckey
CZECH THIS JOURNEY OUT!
A group of Croatia fans hired a private plane to take them to Scotland for the 1-1 draw with Czech Republic – only for them to watch it in Prague instead.
Sebastian Jagic Njare, his brother Simo and friends Domagoj Raljevic and Luka Vojvodic decided that the game was a must-see.
And after securing match tickets, they then decided to book a private jet to fly them from Zemun Airport on Friday morning for the showdown.
But after travelling to Serbia and enjoying a smooth take off, things hit a snag once they arrived in Scotland. And amazingly they ended up watching the game with their rival supporters 1,178 MILES AWAY!
Sebastian said: “When we arrived over Scotland, the pilot told us that he had just been informed that we had to leave Scottish airspace because due to the pandemic, they were not allowing us to land and arrive.
“Man, what a disappointment that was! Firstly, we will not watch the match, and secondly, 'who will return from shame now and watch the match from Zadar? From Zemunik, maybe? Hahaha, that was out of the question.
“We were thinking in the air, on the plane, where to tell the pilot to take us. And we decided to ask permission to enter the Czech Republic.
“And here we are in Prague, we watched the game there, with Czech fans."
- Ian Tuckey
HUNGARY FACE RACISM PROBE OVER FANS
UEFA is probing alleged racism and homophobia by Hungarian fans during Euro 2020 games in Budapest.
French black players were subjected to monkey chants during Saturday's 1-1 draw.
That followed claims of homophobic chants through last week's defeat by Portugal.
Budapest's Puskas Arena is the only stadium at the tournament operating at full capacity, with crowds of 60,000.
But right-wing and self-proclaimed Nazi groups are among Hungary's most fervent supporters.
One large group held a march protesting against anti-rascism gestures last week.
And before the France game, thousands of Hungary fans set off flares and unveiled an anti-kneeling banner in the streets of Budapest.
A number of reports in French media highlighted the racism directed at Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante, Kylian Mbappe and other black players.
- Ian Tuckey
WALES SNEAK RUNNERS-UP SPOT
Wales survived a tense 45 minutes in BOTH Group A finale games to clinch runners-up spot on goal difference and reach the KO stage.
Ethan Ampadu's red card left the Dragons clinging to just a 1-0 defeat against impressive group winners Italy, with Wales keeper Danny Ward inspirational
Two-goal Xherdan Shaqiri spearheaded Switzerland to a 3-1 defeat of Turkey that put them level with Wales on four points.
But the Welsh went through with a plus-on GD, compared to minus-one for the Swiss.
- Ian Tuckey
GROUP A LATEST
Switzerland 3 Turkey 1: Irfan Can Kahveci's 61st-mknute solo goal cut the deficit for the Turks.
But Xherdan Shaqiri blasted his second six minutes later to restore Switzerland's two-goal advantage.
Italy 1 Wales 0: Ethan Ampadu's 54th-minute red card made unwanted history and left Wales' qualification hopes in doubt.
Dragons' keeper Danny Ward kept the Italians out after that.
Ampadu is the youngest ever Euros player to be sent off, aged20 years and 279 days..
His challenge on Federico Bernardeschi was late and reckless.
- Ian Tuckey
H/.T SCORES: DRAGONS IN DANGER
Italy 1 Wales 0: Matteo Pessina's neat finish from a well-worked free-kick deservedly earned the Azzurri a half-time lead on 39 minutes.
Dan James' pace was virtually Wales' only attacking outlet.
Switzerland 2 Turkey 0: The Swiss ae scenting a place in the knockout stages after edging a lively first period full of chance for both teams.
If the scores stay as they are, Wales would still be second behind Italy – as the Swiss would be level on four points with the Dragons but behind on goal difference.
- Ian Tuckey
GROUP A UPDATE
Italy 0 Wales 0: The Azzurri continued to have way more of the possession and chances past the half-hour mark, with keeper Danny Ward the busiest Welsh player.
GOAL – Switzerland 2 Turkey 0: Xherdan Shaqiri doubled Switzerland's lead by lashing one of the goals of the tournament on 26 minutes with his wesker, right foot.
Yet Turkey have had plenty of half-chances.
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