Football

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.

Turkey's impressive run at UEFA Euro 2024 has earned them newfound respect, according to coach Vincenzo Montella. Despite their quarter-final elimination by the Netherlands, Turkey's performance has left a lasting impression.Reaching the last eight of a major tournament for the first time since 2008, Turkey stunned the Dutch with an early goal from Samet Akaydin. However, Stefan de Vrij's equalizer and Murt Muldur's own goal ultimately proved decisive."The team played with a great spirit, a Turkish spirit," said Montella. "In spite of the defeat, the Turkish people love us."Montella praised his players for making Turkey proud and believes their performance will change perceptions of the team in the future. "After this Euros, Turkey will be seen with different eyes, probably with more respect," he said.Despite the disappointment of losing their lead, Montella refused to criticize his team. "It's better in this moment to highlight what has gone well," he insisted. "We won three games at a Euros, so we matched the Turkish record."One of Turkey's standout performers was Real Madrid's Arda Guler. The 19-year-old set up the goal against the Netherlands and scored a brilliant one in their opening win over Georgia."He played a great Euros," said Montella. "He's not 20 yet, the future is bright for him, and this experience will make him a far better player."Turkey's elimination marks the end of a memorable tournament for the team. Their spirited performances and impressive results have earned them the respect of their opponents and fans alike.

Cristiano Ronaldo's future with the Portugal national team has become a subject of speculation following the team's disappointing exit from Euro 2024 at the quarter-final stage. Despite a prolific season with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr, Ronaldo struggled to make an impact at the tournament, failing to score or assist in Portugal's four matches.However, according to a report in Relevo, Ronaldo is determined to continue his international career and has set his sights on the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The report claims that Ronaldo wants to become the first player in history to appear and score in six editions of the flagship competition.Ronaldo's desire to continue playing for Portugal stems from his belief that he can still contribute to the team's success. Despite his advancing age, Ronaldo remains one of the most prolific goalscorers in the world, having scored over 800 goals for club and country.However, Ronaldo's international future remains uncertain. After Portugal's quarter-final defeat to France, Ronaldo admitted that Euro 2024 could be his last European Championship. He said, "These are inexplicable moments. I had the chance to put the national team ahead and I didn't manage it."Despite Ronaldo's comments, Portugal manager Fernando Santos has expressed his desire to keep Ronaldo in the team. Santos said, "Cristiano Ronaldo is still a very important player for us. He is a leader and a role model for the younger players."Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to continue playing for Portugal lies with Ronaldo. If he decides to retire from international football, it will mark the end of an era for Portugal. Ronaldo has been a key figure in the team's success over the past two decades, helping them win the European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019.

The 2024 European Championship has reached its penultimate stage, with four teams remaining in contention for the coveted trophy. Spain, France, Netherlands, and England have emerged victorious from the intense quarterfinal matches, setting up two thrilling semifinals.Spain, the three-time champions, have maintained their unbeaten streak throughout the tournament. Despite a late equalizer from Germany in the quarterfinals, Spain secured a dramatic victory in extra time thanks to Mikel Merino's header. They will now face France, who overcame Portugal in a penalty shootout. France, under the leadership of Didier Deschamps, will be aiming to reach their third major final in four tournaments.The second semifinal will pit Netherlands against England. England, despite not being at their best, have remained unbeaten and will be looking to continue their momentum. Netherlands, on the other hand, have faced challenges throughout the tournament but have shown resilience and determination.The semifinals promise to be captivating encounters, with each team possessing unique strengths and weaknesses. Spain's dominance in possession and attacking prowess will be tested against France's defensive solidity and counterattacking threat. Netherlands' experience and tactical flexibility will be put to the test against England's youthful exuberance and attacking flair.The semifinals will be held on July 10 and 11 at the Allianz Arena in Munich and the BVB Stadion Dortmund, respectively. The winners will advance to the final on July 14 at the Olympiastadion Berlin, where they will battle for the European Championship title.

The Netherlands overcame a resilient Turkish side to secure a hard-fought 2-1 victory in the quarterfinals of Euro 2024, booking their place in the semifinals.Turkey took the lead in the 35th minute through Samet Akaydin's header, but the Dutch responded with determination. Stefan De Vrij equalized in the 70th minute, and an own goal from Mert Muldur six minutes later sealed the victory for the Netherlands.The Dutch started brightly, but Turkey's resolute defense held firm. However, the introduction of Wout Weghorst at halftime proved pivotal. His physical presence gave the Dutch wingers a target, and the pressure eventually paid off.De Vrij's equalizer came from a Memphis Depay cross, while Muldur's own goal resulted from Denzel Dumfries' low cross. The Dutch supporters, who had been largely silenced by Turkey's early goal, erupted in celebration.Turkey, despite missing suspended defender Merih Demiral, put up a valiant fight. Their fans, who outnumbered the Dutch supporters in Berlin, created a vibrant atmosphere. However, the Netherlands' quality ultimately prevailed.The Dutch will now face England in the semifinals on Wednesday, while Spain and France will clash in the other semifinal on Tuesday.

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.

France emerged victorious over Portugal in a thrilling penalty shootout after a goalless draw in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024. Despite boasting an array of attacking talent, both teams struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the match.The first half was particularly uneventful, with the combined expected goals (xG) at just 0.15. France's inability to score from open play extended to over 500 minutes, a remarkable statistic considering their status as one of the tournament favorites.As the match progressed, Kylian Mbappe's influence waned, and he was eventually substituted before the penalty shootout. Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo also had a disappointing night, failing to score despite having 23 shots in the tournament.In the shootout, France converted all five of their penalties, while Portugal's Joao Felix hit the upright. This marked France's first shootout victory in a major tournament since 1998.Despite their lack of goals from open play, France's defense has been impenetrable, not conceding a single goal in Euro 2024. William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano were particularly impressive, nullifying the threat of Portugal's attacking players.The match also highlighted the changing face of Portugal's national team. Goncalo Ramos and Diogo Jota, who have both had impressive seasons at club level, were left on the bench in favor of Ronaldo. This decision raised questions about the future of the team and whether it is time to move on from the aging superstar.

Toni Kroos, the retiring German midfielder, expressed optimism for the team's future despite their heartbreaking Euro 2024 exit. Germany's hopes were dashed in a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Spain in the quarter-finals on Friday.Kroos, who had previously announced his retirement from international football after the tournament, played a pivotal role in Germany's impressive performance at the Euros. The home side had shown signs of resurgence after a decade of disappointing performances at major tournaments.After a goalless first half, Spain took the lead through Dani Olmo's strike in the 60th minute. Germany fought back in the 89th minute when Florian Wirtz equalized, sending the game into extra time.However, Spain's Mikel Merino headed in the winning goal in the 119th minute, crushing Germany's hopes. "We gave it our all, so to lose when we were so close is bitter," Kroos said after the match. "The elimination is the main focus right now, because we couldn't achieve our goal and our dream is over."Despite the disappointment, Kroos remained positive about the future of German football. "We played a good tournament, but when you're so close, to be eliminated like that, it's bitter," he said. "We can all be proud of what we did. I was happy to help out, I think we gave German football hope again and we got better as we went along.""I think the team will do it in the future, but today we're extremely sad because we would have liked to stay a little longer," he added.Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann praised Kroos's contribution to the team. "It's impossible to over-appreciate Toni's career. He's been a unique player for Germany. He's one of Germany's biggest players," said Nagelsmann.Nagelsmann revealed that Kroos spoke to the players in the dressing room after the loss, saying "he will always see himself as part of this group." "Everyone knows about his successes but not everyone knows his character. He spoke to the team in what was a very difficult moment for him personally," Nagelsmann said.