Football

England's dramatic victory over the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final was a testament to the team's resilience and the emergence of young stars. Ollie Watkins' last-minute goal sent the Dutch packing and kept England's dream of winning the tournament alive.However, amidst the celebrations, it was the performance of 19-year-old Kobbie Mainoo that stole the headlines. The Manchester United midfielder has been a revelation at the base of England's midfield, continuing his impressive form from the club season.Mainoo's impact on the team cannot be overstated. He has completed over 95% of his passes with an astonishing dribble percentage of 98%. His composure on the ball, ability to play line-breaking passes, and dribble out of trouble have added a new dimension to England's midfield.In the semi-final, Mainoo played a more reserved role, winning 100% of his duels and tackles. This allowed Declan Rice to be more expansive with his game, bombing forward at every opportunity.England will face Spain in the final on Sunday. Both teams boast a wealth of experience and quality, but the biggest talking points have been their teenage superstars.Spain's Lamine Yamal, who will turn 17 during the tournament, has been a revelation. The Barcelona winger has scored four goals and provided two assists, making a strong case for being named Player of the Tournament if Spain wins.The battle between Mainoo and Yamal in the final will be one to watch. Both players have shown exceptional talent and maturity beyond their years. They will be vying to win their respective nations the big prize and cement their status as the next generation of footballing stars.

England manager Gareth Southgate believes his team is on the cusp of history as they prepare to face the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 semi-final on Wednesday. The Three Lions are aiming to reach their first major tournament final on foreign soil and take a step closer to ending their 58-year wait for a major trophy.Southgate's men have endured a rollercoaster ride in Germany, narrowly avoiding early exits against Slovakia and Switzerland. However, they have shown resilience and determination, with individual brilliance from Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka proving decisive.England's captain, Harry Kane, is eager to make amends for his sluggish performances in the tournament. The Bayern Munich striker has scored two goals but has been criticized for his lack of mobility. Kane is determined to lead his team to glory and believes reaching back-to-back finals would be an "amazing achievement."The Netherlands, meanwhile, have found their rhythm after a shaky start. Ronald Koeman's side has won their last two matches, including a hard-fought victory over Turkey in the quarter-finals. Cody Gakpo has been in scintillating form, scoring three goals and leading the race for the Golden Boot.The Dutch face travel chaos ahead of the semi-final, with issues with the German train system disrupting their plans. However, Southgate believes it will not affect their performance.The selection of referee Felix Zwayer has raised eyebrows, given his previous involvement in a match-fixing scandal. Bellingham was fined for criticizing Zwayer during his time at Borussia Dortmund.England and the Netherlands have a rich history in football, and Wednesday's clash promises to be a thrilling encounter. The Three Lions will be looking to make history, while the Dutch will be aiming to reach their first major tournament final since 1988.

England and the Netherlands, two footballing giants with a history of underachievement, have defied expectations to reach the semifinals of Euro 2024. Despite their illustrious pasts, both teams have struggled to replicate their domestic success on the international stage.England's lone major trophy remains the 1966 World Cup, while the Netherlands have never lifted the World Cup despite producing a plethora of world-class players. In the Euros, England has reached the final only once, losing to Italy in 2021, while the Netherlands won the tournament in 1988 but have not reached the semifinals since 2004.This tournament has been a tale of struggle for both teams. England narrowly qualified for the knockout stages, while the Netherlands suffered a humiliating defeat to Austria in the group stages. However, both teams have shown resilience and determination in the knockout rounds.England's Jude Bellingham scored a stunning equalizer against Slovakia in the Round of 16, while Harry Kane netted the winner in extra time. In the quarterfinals, Bukayo Saka's late goal forced a penalty shootout against Switzerland, which England eventually won.The Netherlands trailed Turkey until the 70th minute of their quarterfinal before Stefan de Vrij equalized. Six minutes later, an own goal by Mert Muldur sent them to the semifinals.Both teams have a lot to play for in the semifinals. An Euros trophy would not only end their trophy droughts but also revitalize their football cultures. The neutrals are likely to support the underdogs, and England and the Netherlands have a golden opportunity to break out of their long-standing underachieving status.

India and Pakistan Cricket Fans Unite to Cheer for England in Euro 2024In a heartwarming display of sportsmanship, India and Pakistan cricket fans put aside their rivalry to come together and support England in the Euro 2024 quarter-final against Switzerland.During the World Championship of Legends match between Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions and Younis Khan-led Pakistan Champions at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, both sets of fans were spotted cheering for England on television screens.A video of the incident, widely shared on social media, shows the two groups of supporters jointly chanting for Gareth Southgate's team and celebrating their victory in the thrilling quarter-final match.The match between England and Switzerland ended in a 1-1 draw after regulation time, forcing the game into extra time and eventually a penalty shootout. England emerged victorious with a 5-3 scoreline, securing their spot in the semi-finals.Meanwhile, in the World Championship of Legends match, Pakistan registered a comfortable 68-run victory over India.This display of unity between India and Pakistan cricket fans highlights the power of sports to transcend boundaries and bring people together. It also serves as a reminder that even in the midst of intense rivalry, there is always room for sportsmanship and camaraderie.

England's resilience and character shone through as they overcame Switzerland in a thrilling penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals of the European Championship. After a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time, Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji's penalty, while England converted all five of their attempts to secure a 5-3 victory.Under coach Gareth Southgate, England have now won more knockout games in eight years than they had in over 50 years before. Breel Embolo's 75th-minute goal put England on the brink of elimination, but Bukayo Saka's stunning long-range strike in the 80th minute leveled the scores.In the penalty shootout, Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Saka, Ivan Toney, and Trent Alexander-Arnold all scored for England, while Fabian Schar, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Zeki Amdouni converted for Switzerland. Saka, who had missed a penalty in the final of Euro 2020, redeemed himself with a decisive spot-kick.Switzerland, known for their tendency to exit tournaments in the group stage, had been impressive in Germany, keeping a clean sheet against defending champions Italy in the last round. However, England's back three and strong defensive performance kept the Swiss at bay for much of the match.Despite the absence of suspended Marc Guehi, Ezri Konsa impressed at left center-back, while Phil Foden played through the middle and Bellingham provided a strong presence on the left. Saka was a constant threat on the right, but Switzerland's pace and physicality kept England from creating clear-cut chances.In the second half, Switzerland began to assert themselves, with Xhaka moving up the pitch and finding Embolo with a raking ball. Embolo's goal in the 75th minute gave Switzerland the lead, but Saka's equalizer five minutes later kept England in the game.Extra time saw both teams create chances, but neither could find a winning goal. In the penalty shootout, Pickford's save on Akanji's penalty proved decisive, and England's perfect conversion rate sealed their victory.

England and Switzerland will clash in a highly anticipated quarter-final match of Euro 2024 at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf on Saturday, July 6 (IST).Despite reaching the quarter-finals for the fourth consecutive major tournament under manager Gareth Southgate, England have struggled to live up to expectations as one of the favorites for the competition. Their performances have been underwhelming, leaving fans and pundits alike questioning their ability to challenge for the title.On the other hand, Switzerland have impressed in the tournament so far. They stunned holders Italy 2-0 in the previous round and held Germany to a 1-1 draw in the group stages. Their disciplined defense and clinical attacking play have made them a formidable opponent for any team.The match promises to be a close and exciting affair. England will be desperate to prove their worth and silence their critics, while Switzerland will be looking to continue their impressive run and reach the semi-finals for the first time in their history.

Jude Bellingham, the prodigious English midfielder, has escaped an immediate suspension after making an offensive gesture during England's thrilling victory over Slovakia in the UEFA Euro 2020.UEFA imposed a one-game ban on Bellingham, but it is "not immediately enforced and is subject to a probationary period" of one year. The 18-year-old will be available for England's crucial clash against Switzerland on Saturday, which will determine their fate in the tournament.Bellingham's gesture, which appeared to be directed towards his crotch, occurred after he scored a stunning overhead kick to level the score in the dying minutes of the match. England went on to win 2-1 in extra time, with Bellingham's goal proving to be a pivotal moment.The incident sparked controversy, with some accusing Bellingham of making an inappropriate gesture. However, the midfielder has denied any wrongdoing, claiming it was an "inside joke" with friends who were present at the game.UEFA has also fined England a total of €11,000 ($11,900) for crowd disturbances and the "lighting of fireworks" during the Slovakia match.Bellingham's gesture has raised questions about the standards of conduct expected of professional footballers. UEFA's decision to impose a suspended ban suggests that they believe Bellingham's actions were inappropriate but not severe enough to warrant an immediate suspension.The incident has also highlighted the challenges faced by young players in the spotlight. Bellingham is one of the most promising talents in world football, but he is still learning the ropes of professional conduct.Despite the controversy, Bellingham remains a key player for England. His performance against Slovakia was a testament to his talent and determination. If he can maintain his focus and avoid further incidents, he has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world.

England's Euro 2024 hopes hang in the balance as they prepare to face Switzerland in the quarter-finals. Despite boasting a star-studded squad, England's performances have been underwhelming, prompting criticism from fans and pundits alike.Former England striker Michael Owen has been particularly vocal in his assessment of the team's style of play. "If England continue to play this way, we can't win it," Owen said. "Switzerland will probably beat us, let alone any of the bigger teams."England's cautious approach has been a major concern. Despite having attacking talents like Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden, the team has struggled to create clear-cut chances. In their group stage matches, England managed just two goals, and they were fortunate to escape with a win against Slovakia in the Round of 16 thanks to Bellingham's stunning bicycle kick.Gareth Southgate's record against top-ranked opposition has also been poor. In 24 games against teams in FIFA's Top 10, England have won only four times. This has led to questions about Southgate's tactical acumen and his ability to get the best out of his players.However, Owen believes that England can still turn things around. "The good thing is that England can get better, their performances can get better," he said. "We were fortunate to be on the really nice side of the draw."If England can overcome Switzerland, they will face either the Netherlands or Turkey in the semi-finals. With Spain, Germany, Portugal, and France on the other side of the draw, many believe that England have a favorable path to the final.But Owen warns that England must improve their performances if they want to lift the trophy. "All we can do is hope that the manager changes one or two things," he said. "We certainly need a change in performance if we are to win the tournament."

Switzerland's impressive performance at Euro 2024 has sent shockwaves through the tournament, proving that they are a force to be reckoned with. Despite never reaching the semi-finals of a major international competition, the Swiss have shown that they can compete with the elite teams.Under the guidance of Murat Yakin, Switzerland ruthlessly eliminated defending champions Italy and came within seconds of defeating hosts Germany to top Group A. Their success is not attributed to individual stars but rather to a cohesive team unit that plays as a collective.Granit Xhaka and Manuel Akanji may be the most recognizable names in the Swiss squad, but it is the trio of Dan Ndoye, Michel Aebischer, and Remo Freuler who have been instrumental in their progress. The Bologna teammates have contributed goals and assists in three of Switzerland's four matches, showcasing their attacking prowess.Kwadwo Duah, the first English-born player to score at this year's Euros, provides additional depth to the Swiss attack. However, he is likely to start on the bench behind Monaco forward Breel Embolo.England defender John Stones acknowledged Switzerland's impressive performances, recognizing their talented players and the challenge they pose. If Switzerland can overcome England, they will face either the Netherlands or Turkey in the semi-finals.Yakin expressed his pride in his team's achievements, emphasizing that they have earned their place among the tournament's elite. He believes that Switzerland is on the right track and has the potential to continue their historic run.