⚽️ UEFA Euro 2020 Match-day 1- Previews, Team News, Live Updates, Stats and More

Yusuf · June 13, 2021, 10:29am

OFFICIAL: João Cancelo has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been replaced by Diogo Dalot in the Portugal squad for EURO 2020

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Goodness · June 13, 2021, 10:51am

Today’s Fixtures

Which match are you most looking forward to?

Yusuf · June 13, 2021, 10:56am

England Vs Croatia

The journey to Euro 2020 glory begins on Sunday for England, as they renew hostilities with Croatia at Wembley Stadium three years after the Chequered Ones dashed their World Cup dreams.

Gareth Southgate’s crop are already being tipped by some to make history and go all the way in the tournament, but the visit of Croatia represents a stern test in front of 22,500 optimistic supporters.

Kieran Trippier’s free-kick. Harry Kane’s inexplicable miss. Mario Mandzukic’s winner. The demons of the 2018 World Cup semi-finals still linger in the minds of these England players - several of whom stepped foot onto the field for that fateful night in Moscow.

Despite already gaining a measure of revenge over Croatia in the inaugural Nations League campaign, Southgate’s men are under immense pressure to replicate that feat in the English capital as they endeavour to kick off the summer in the most perfect way imaginable.

A near-flawless qualification period meant that England’s place in the Euro 2020 finals was never in doubt, and the Three Lions enter the weekend on the back of a six-game winning run across all competitions, but their two recent friendly victories were not all that inspiring.

Yusuf · June 13, 2021, 11:07am

England Vs Croatia Team News

England have been handed a timely defensive boost with the news that Harry Maguire is back in training ahead of the opener, but it would be a huge shock to see the Manchester United man risked from the off.

Saka has also been struggling with a hip problem but was never expected to start in attack - which is where Southgate’s biggest decisions lie - and the Three Lions boss has the unenviable task of choosing either one or two of Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden to support talisman Harry Kane.

As for Croatia, experienced defender Dejan Lovren remains slightly doubtful through injury, so Domagoj Vida and Duje Caleta-Car should partner up in the heart of the rearguard.

Goodness · June 13, 2021, 11:32am

England vs Croatia Key Stats

Sunday’s encounter will be the 11th meeting between England and Croatia. The Three Lions have a better head-to-head record with five wins to their name (D2 L3).
England have been on a fine run of form lately, winning each of their last six games, keeping a clean sheet in five of those match-ups.
Croatia are on the opposite end of the spectrum when it comes to recent form, with Zlatko Dalic & co. winning just two of their last nine matches (D2 L5).

Goodness · June 13, 2021, 11:38am

Most passes per game of midfielders in Serie A last season

Manuel Locatelli - 80.9
Marcelo Brozovic- 66.7
Fabian Ruiz - 63.0

Will the Inter star dictate the tempo in ENG vs CRO today?

Goodness · June 13, 2021, 11:50am

Netherlands vs Ukraine

Despite missing out on the last two major tournaments in international football, Netherlands are back on the big stages finally and will be intent on making up for the lost time. The Oranje navigated through the qualifiers without any major hiccups as Ronald Koeman guided them to a second-place finish in Group C, behind Germany, with six wins in eight games (D1 L1).

With Koeman resigning last year, Netherlands form suffered a bit under interim boss Dwight Lodeweges and new manager Frank de Boer, costing them a place in the UEFA Nations League finals. And, despite a loss to Turkey in their FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifiers, the Dutch team go into the Euros with a fairly positive mindset, with five wins in their last seven matches, including a 3-0 triumph over Georgia last weekend.

Ukraine, meanwhile, were one of the surprise packages in the UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers as they topped Group B ahead of more fancied teams like Portugal and Serbia, not losing a single one of their eight matches (W6 D2). Andriy Shevchenko’s side, though, had a difficult 2020 as they were relegated to League B in the UEFA Nations League despite picking up wins over Switzerland and Spain.

Goodness · June 13, 2021, 11:53am

Netherlands vs Ukraine team news

Donny van de Beek will miss the tournament due to a groin injury, and Dutch coach De Boer will not be naming a replacement for the Manchester United midfielder.

Netherlands vs Ukraine predicted lineups

Netherlands XI: Stekelenburg; Dumfries, De Ligt, De Vrij, Blind; F. De Jong, Klaassen, Wijnaldum; Berghuis, L. De Jong, Depay

Ukraine XI: Bushchan; Karavaev, Zabarnyi, Matviyenko, Mykolenko; Zinchenko, Sydorchuk, Malinovskyi; Yarmolenko, Yaremchuk, Zubkov

Goodness · June 13, 2021, 11:54am

Netherlands vs Ukraine Stats

This will only be the third meeting between Netherlands and Ukraine. Out of the previous two, the Oranje have one, while the other ended in a draw.
After a run of six losses in eight games in 2020, Ukraine haven’t lost even one of their last six games since the turn of the year, although four games have ended in 1-1 draws.
Netherlands have lost just one of their last ten matches, including friendlies. Frank de Boer’s side have picked up wins in three of their previous four encounters.

Goodness · June 13, 2021, 11:57am

England starting XI

Goodness · June 13, 2021, 11:59am

Croatia Starting XI

Jay · June 13, 2021, 12:38pm

Group D

ENGLAND

Group D fixtures
13/06: England vs Croatia (London)
18/06: England vs Scotland (London)
22/06: Czech Republic vs England (London)

Qualifying
Group A record: P8 W7 D0 L1 F37 A6
Qualifying top scorer: Harry Kane (12)

Pedigree
UEFA EURO best: third place (1968)
UEFA EURO 2016: round of 16, lost 2-1 to Iceland

Coach: Gareth Southgate
His four major tournaments as a player included EURO '96, and a famous semi-final penalty miss against Germany. As manager he has changed the mood around England, leading the team to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.

Key player: Harry Kane
England’s captain and talismanic 34-goal striker is both scorer and creator – as 33 goals and 17 assists for Spurs in all competitions in 2020/21 highlights.

One to watch: Jude Bellingham
Underlined his potential with a fearless UEFA Champions League quarter-final display against Manchester City offering energy, power, confidence, and a fine goal. If England top Group D, the Dortmund midfielder will mark his 18th birthday with a last-16 tie at Wembley.

Did you know?
Going into this EURO, England have lost just two of 23 Wembley home games under Southgate – against Spain and Denmark.

CROATIA

Group D fixtures
13/06: England vs Croatia (London)
18/06: Croatia vs Czech Republic (Glasgow)
22/06: Croatia vs Scotland (Glasgow)

Qualifying
Group E record: P8 W5 D2 L1 F17 A7
Qualifying top scorer: Bruno Petković (4)

Pedigree
UEFA EURO best: quarter-finals (1996, 2008)
UEFA EURO 2016: round of 16, lost 1-0 aet to Portugal

Coach: Zlatko Dalić
A former midfielder who never represented his country, Dalić took over from Ante Čačić in 2017 and led the team to the 2018 World Cup final.

Key player: Luka Modrić
The 2018 Ballon d’Or winner has now overtaken Darijo Srna’s record 134 caps, not only captaining the side but setting the midfield tempo with his vision, energy and slick passing.

One to watch: Andrej Kramarić
Comes into the finals on the back of an excellent season at Hoffenheim, scoring 20 Bundesliga goals. He poses a threat everywhere in the final third, and Niko Kovač has compared him with Davor Šuker. Yet to reach his peak with Croatia.

Did you know?
Croatia climbed 122 places in the FIFA rankings from 125th to third between 1994 and 1999.

Yusuf · June 13, 2021, 12:55pm

76% - Under Gareth Southgate, England have won 76% of their matches when starting with a back four (22/29), compared to only 48% when starting with either three or five at the back (12/25).