Spain Secures Win Against Italy with Narrow Margin
Spain emerged victorious against Italy with a 1-0 win, securing their place in the next stage of the tournament with a game to spare. The game was decided by an own goal from Italy’s Riccardo Calafiori in the 55th minute. Spain dominated the match with nearly 60% possession and managed an impressive 20 shots on goal compared to Italy's mere four attempts.
Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy’s goalkeeper, was kept busy throughout the game, making eight key saves. The decisive moment came when Nico Williams crossed the ball to Alvaro Morata, which led to Calafiori's unfortunate own goal. This victory firmly established Spain as tournament favorites, even though they will be without Rodri for their Group B finale against Albania due to suspension.
England Struggles to Overcome Denmark in a 1-1 Draw
In Group C, England managed to hold on to the top spot after a 1-1 draw with Denmark. The Three Lions started strong with an early goal from Harry Kane but were unable to maintain their momentum. Morten Hjulmand equalized for Denmark, exploiting England's sloppy play and turnovers.
England's strategy of deep defensive play after their early goal backfired, as Denmark capitalized on a turnover from a throw-in. Hjulmand's low strike hit the post and went in, and England failed to recover. The substitutes brought in by England did not improve their performance, leaving fans skeptical about their chances of winning the tournament. Defensive errors further plagued England, giving Denmark multiple opportunities to score.
Serbia Keeps Hopes Alive with Last-Minute Equalizer
Serbia managed to keep their tournament hopes alive with a dramatic last-minute equalizer against Slovenia. Luka Jovic’s header in the 96th minute secured a 1-1 draw, preventing potential elimination before their final group game. Slovenia initially took the lead in the 69th minute with a goal from Zan Karnicnik.
Serbia’s Aleksandar Mitrovic came close to scoring earlier in the match, hitting the crossbar. However, it was Jovic who finally found the net, heading in Ivan Ilic's corner and beating Slovenia's goalkeeper, Jan Oblak.
Germany Advances, Switzerland Eyes Strong Position
Meanwhile, Germany secured their spot in the last 16 with a 2-0 win over Hungary. Switzerland, on the other hand, drew 1-1 with Scotland, placing them in a strong position to advance to the next stage. Scotland and Hungary are now left to compete for the third place in their group.
Croatia and Albania also shared points in a thrilling match that ended in a draw. The game saw Gjasula scoring an own goal before redeeming himself with a 96th-minute equalizer.
Upcoming Matches
Football fans can look forward to an exciting lineup of matches on Friday:
- Slovakia vs. Ukraine at 9 a.m. (Eastern)
- Poland vs. Austria at 12 p.m. (Eastern)
- Netherlands vs. France at 3 p.m. (Eastern)
Quotes and Insights
Rodri’s suspension means he will miss Spain’s Group B finale against Albania on Monday. This will be a crucial game for Spain as they look to maintain their momentum heading into the knockout stages.
Reflecting on England’s performance, some observers noted, "This time the Three Lions' clean sheet was sullied. It's just not a particularly shrewd tactic when you are one shot away from a problem." The draw against Denmark highlighted that “England never roused themselves from that setback.”
There is mounting pressure on the England squad to convince their fans back home that they are on a trajectory to win the tournament. One analyst commented, “There is work to do for England to convince a skeptical public back home that they are on a tournament-winning trajectory.”
Serbia’s last-minute equalizer has kept their tournament dreams alive, with Jovic’s 96th-minute strike preventing potential elimination. As the commentator described it, "Jovic's 96th-minute strike saved Serbia from potential elimination before their final group game."
As the tournament progresses, fans and teams alike will be keeping a close watch on the unfolding drama, with each match bringing its own set of challenges and triumphs.