Euro 2024: England v Switzerland buildup, plus quarter-finals reaction – live
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Alasdair from Bangkok hasn't been able to watch a complete match of the tournament because of the time differences. He wonders if it's worth staying up late to catch a full game or should he wait until the final, when England will face a real challenge.
The upcoming match between Turkey and the Netherlands should be an intriguing one. While I can't guarantee it will be thrilling, there is definitely potential for it to be an exciting showdown.
"I have always believed that Bellingham would be better suited as an 8 in a 4-3-3 formation for England, with Foden as the number 10," explains A Jo. "However, the expected lineup could work well for this team. It reminds me of the strategy Wales used in 2016 to accommodate two number 10s alongside Bale and Ramsey. Even though wing back may not be Saka's preferred position, it provides balance while still enabling him to play an attacking style of football. It has the potential to be successful..."
Is it possible to place Bellingham in a position he's not used to playing for his team? Personally, I am a fan of England's formation, but I am not completely sold on Saka playing as a left wing-back, a position he hasn't really played in recent years. However, I do believe that Saka is talented and unselfish enough to make the position work. The added bonus is that it allows Foden to play on the right side of the field. The issue of lack of pace is still a concern though. Personally, I would have chosen the same team as last week but possibly replaced either Saka or Foden with Gordon.
If you're looking for some real-time sports coverage, check out Daniel Gallan's updates on the rugby match between Australia and Wales. The score is 13-10 at the half, but who's in the lead? Click on the link to find out!
England and Switzerland also played to a tie during the group stage of Euro 96. Memorable moments from the match include an unforgettable miss by Marco Grassi and a quick glance at one of the best moustaches in football history.
Let's talk about two major player moves within the country: Sandy Baltimore heading to Chelsea and Max Kilman transferring to West Ham.
On this date in 2016... Cristiano Ronaldo puts an end to a Welsh fantasy.
Hey John, how's it going? There's another match happening tonight: Turkey is playing against the Netherlands in Berlin. Emre Sarigul has written about how Vincenzo Montella has motivated Turkey to fully embrace their passion for the game.
Rob was handed the baton again, on this special day.
Phil reached out to John to express his admiration for him on the podcast and his insightful music opinions. He also mentioned a record label from New Zealand called Flying Nun Records.
I have the Fall In A Hole album on Flying Nun and I came across an interview with the owners, but I'm not familiar with their other work. Can you suggest anything else I should check out?
Kári Tulinius has shared his thoughts on why the French team has struggled to score during open play. He believes the main reason for their struggles is that key players like Mbappé and Griezmann are not performing at their best due to injuries and poor form. After them, the team lacks experienced forwards, with Giroud being 37 years old and other forwards like Coman, Dembelé, Thurman, Kolo Muani, and Barcola having relatively low goal-scoring records for the national team. Tulinius wishes that coach Deschamps had taken a chance on younger players like Arnaud Kalimuendo, but admits that it's easy to see these things in hindsight.
Additional updates on player transfers: Chelsea continues to bolster their squad in the Women's Super League.
This situation is quite intriguing. Has this occurred previously? Is this something worth exploring further?
Juventus has finalized the acquisition of Alisha Lehmann from Aston Villa. Lehmann will now team up with her partner Douglas Luiz, who recently made the switch from Villa to the Italian club as well.
"Being in the same club as Douglas is like a dream come true for us." - @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/5hdv7ktME7
The recommended lineup for the England team is causing a lot of excitement. The Trent Alexander-Arnold supporters will be very upset if he is not chosen. We have received a lot of comments from fans, especially from Liverpool supporters, asking why Trent has not been included in the team for the last two matches.
Projected England lineup against Switzerland: Pickford in goal; Walker, Stones, and Konsa in defense; Trippier, Rice, Mainoo, and Saka in midfield; Bellingham and Foden supporting Kane up front.
Julian Nagelsmann made bold statements after Germany's defeat to Spain, already planning and focusing on the 2026 World Cup.
I'm disappointed that I won't have the chance to compete in the Euro in my own country. Having to wait two years to try to win the World Cup is tough. Do you expect me to say that we will fail in the early stages? Of course, our goal is to win the World Cup.
The Portuguese newspaper A Bola had a response to Ronaldo's performance, as reported by Luís Pedro Ferreira.
Everyone is questioning Ronaldo, the man everyone had faith in because of his achievements. However, the fact remains that he has gone six hours without scoring a goal for Portugal. Even in his best performance at the Euros against France, he was not very noticeable. The team captain tried to play more selflessly with his teammates but still couldn't stand out. This is surprising considering Ronaldo is known as the most prolific forward of the 21st century. The fact that he has gone so long without scoring a goal should make us think about his role in the national team and the coach's decisions. In my opinion, Ronaldo should have started in this European Championship, even if he didn't have to play the full 90 minutes.
Hello, I will be managing the blog for the next hour. You can reach me at [email protected]. Thank you.
I will pass the mic to John Brewin for a while, but I will return later to cover all the lead-up to the main event.
Jacob Steinberg writes about how England has started to do things differently.
England cannot continue with the same tactics. It is not unexpected that they may switch from a 4-2-3-1 formation to a back three. This change is partly due to Marc Guéhi's suspension, leading to Ezri Konsa likely stepping in to replace him in the center of defense. It is also an effort to address England's imbalance on the left side.
"Hey Rob," Simon McMahon greets. "What do you think about the penalty call from last night? Nagelsmann seems to be making some valid points. It was definitely a handball, accidentally made, but the important thing is that the shot was heading towards goal and the handball stopped it from getting there. Even if Simón had stopped it, we'll never know what could have happened with the rebound. Unfortunate for Cucurella, for sure, but in sports, player emotions don't really matter, do they?"
When I first saw it, I assumed it would be awarded, but it turns out the ruling followed Uefa guidelines. The recent years have been filled with uncertainty, leaving me unsure of what to make of handball anymore. I feel hesitant to focus too much on intent, considering how deceptive tactics have become. So, um, I really don't know what to think. You're welcome!
Premier League update: West Ham has acquired Wolves captain Max Milman for £40m. The young player is thrilled about his new opportunity.
Being a part of West Ham United is truly exhilarating. When I found out that the club was interested in me, I knew it was an opportunity I had to take. I am absolutely thrilled to be here.
I had a great experience collaborating with Julen (Lopetegui) while he was at Wolves. He's an excellent coach and I gained a lot of knowledge from him. I believe that I will keep getting better as a player under his leadership at our current team.
In the semi-finals, France will face Spain, who narrowly won a tough and exciting game against the home team Germany.
Returning to the game between Portugal and France, one player stood out despite not being very involved in the action.
Kieran Trippier talks about Switzerland and Gareth Southgate In a recent interview, Kieran Trippier shared his thoughts on Switzerland and his admiration for Gareth Southgate. He discussed the upcoming match against Switzerland and how important it is for the team to perform well. Trippier also praised Southgate for his leadership and guidance, noting that he has been an invaluable mentor for the team. Overall, Trippier's comments highlight the team's determination to succeed and their confidence in their coach.
I believe that Gareth has done an exceptional job since he became the leader. When I first joined the team, we had numerous discussions about the importance of playing for England, and he truly emphasized unity within the squad from the beginning of his tenure until now.
Everyone is allowed to have their own thoughts, but I personally believe that Gareth is well aware of how much we appreciate him. He is an amazing individual who is respected by every single person in our group.
Switzerland is a highly organized team with skilled players. They have been using the 3-5-2 system for a while now. We have put in a lot of effort this week to prepare for their pressing style, and it's time for us to execute our game plan on the field.
Naturally, they will enter the match with strong drive to emerge victorious in the quarter-final against England. It is important to show respect for our opponents. We understand that it will be a challenging match, but we are fully prepared. We have trained diligently, and we are all feeling composed and eagerly anticipating the game.
Jude Bellingham's erratic behavior at Euro 2024 is somewhat similar to Wayne Rooney's actions in 2006. Rooney was famously red-carded for stomping on Ricardo Carvalho's private area during that tournament. However, Gareth Southgate doesn't appear overly concerned about Bellingham.
I am incredibly impressed by all that he is accomplishing, especially considering his young age. Nobody can be expected to be perfect, no matter how old they are. There are moments when he may react emotionally, but I believe that his emotions are what make him the player he is. He handles everything with grace and maturity.
Xhaka Shapes Switzerland's Future
Switzerland is a tough team for England to face. They had a good chance to win against Germany (even though the late equalizer by Niclas Fullkrug turned out to be a lucky break) and they dominated the reigning champions Italy.
The most recent meeting between England and Switzerland at a significant tournament was during the group stage of Euro 2004. Wayne Rooney was on fire and scored two goals (though one was actually an own-goal) in a 3-0 victory.
Two English Fans Detained In Düsseldorf
Police in the UK have said that two fans supporting England were taken into custody in Düsseldorf last night following a brawl that occurred at a pub.
Based on video captured by the Daily Mail, the altercation took place when supporters taunted German fans about their loss to Spain earlier that day.
Law enforcement stated that the apprehensions were made "after a small disturbance occurred, but was quickly controlled."
Approximately 6000 fans were in the city on the Rhine last night, according to estimates. Police reported that "the majority of them were very well behaved."
Portugal and France played to a goalless draw, with France winning 5-3 in a penalty shootout.
George Graham's team from France has made it to the semi-finals, even though they have only scored three goals in five games. One of those goals was from a penalty kick, and the other two were own-goals. Can anyone come up with a logical explanation for this?
Welcome to our recap of day 23 of Euro 2024. It's an important day for England, Switzerland, Turkey, and the Netherlands as they aim to secure a spot in the semi-finals alongside Spain and France. Stay tuned for a recap of yesterday's matches and a preview of today's exciting games.
First, let's talk about how Julian Nagelsmann responded to Germany's intense loss to Spain.