Skip to main content

Euro 2020 Group A: Resurgent Italy’s to lose? Paris (AFP) – Group A kicks off Euro 2020 on June 11 with one its host nations, Italy, beginning their bid to return to international football’s top table with a new generation of promising young talent. Here AFP Sport casts its eye over the four teams trying to reach the knockout stage. Italy A team reborn since Roberto Mancini took over in May 2018, Italy are one of the dark horses for the Euro after a stunning turnaround under the former Manchester City and Inter Milan boss.  Unbeaten in 26 matches in a run stretching back to late 2018, Italy have shaken off the humiliation of missing out on the last World Cup by bringing in young talent like midfielder Nicolo Barella and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.  Mancini has got his team playing an expansive passing game that goes against Italy’s traditionally conservative style and will be aiming for a deep run in the tournament to restore some pride to a wounded football giant. As a host nation they will also benefit from playing all three group games in front of home fans at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. Player to watch: Nicolo Barella With Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti likely to be out for at least the group stage with a knee injury, Barella will be charged with leading Italy’s midfield with the same dynamism with which he helped propel Inter Milan to the Serie A title. Switzerland The Swiss have been high up the FIFA world rankings in recent years but haven’t won a knockout match at a major tournament since before the Second World War. Capable of causing the big guns difficulty — such as in recent draws with Spain and Germany — Vladmir Petkovic’s team blow too hot and cold for a confident prediction of how they might fare. However they have some intriguing players who, if they click, could cause a shock, such as captain Granit Xhaka, Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri, Atalanta’s Remo Freuler and striker Haris Seferovic. Player to watch: Haris Seferovic The 29-year-old is a frustratingly inconsistent presence in the Switzerland front line, but he scored 22 times in 31 league appearances for Benfica this past season, and if the ‘Nati’ are to improve on their last-16 showing from Euro 2016 they will need him to provide a consistent goal threat. Turkey Turkey showed they were an outfit to be taken seriously when they took four points from world champions France in qualifying. Led by forward Burak Yilmaz, who recently completed a magnificent French title-winning season with Lille, Senol Guenes’ team could upset Europe’s more illustrious names. Turkey also pose a threat through Yilmaz’s Lille teammate Yusuf Yazici and AC Milan’s attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, as their recent 4-2 World Cup qualifying win over the Netherlands showed. Player to watch: Burak Yilmaz ‘King Burak’ comes into the Euro fresh from leading Lille to their fourth league title in an amazing first season in France, top-scoring for his new club with 16 goals and providing a wealth of attacking experience to a young team. He is as reliable a captain as it’s possible to be and Turkey’s main goal threat. Wales Behind-the-scenes turbulence will accompany Wales to the Euro as they aim to repeat the memorable run to the semi-finals of five years ago.  With head coach Ryan Giggs absent due to a trial for alleged violence against two women, caretaker Rob Page will take charge of a young team that will be the group’s underdogs. However, Wales possess attacking punch with Gareth Bale and Manchester United forward Daniel James providing the sort of pace and dynamism that can trouble most defences. Player to watch: Gareth Bale Wales’ star player has had a so-so season despite a loan to Tottenham Hotspur which promised an end to his Real Madrid torment.  However the 31-year-old is a different player for his country and despite rumours in Spain that he is planning to retire and focus on playing golf, expect Bale to be at full throttle at the Euro. Fixtures (times GMT) June 11 Rome Turkey v Italy (1900) June 12 Baku Wales v Switzerland (1300) June 16 Baku Turkey v Wales (1600) Rome Italy v Switzerland (1900) June 20 Baku Switzerland v Turkey (1600) Rome Italy v Wales (1600)


Paris (AFP) – Group A kicks off Euro 2020 on June 11 with one its host nations, Italy, beginning their bid to return to international football’s top table with a new generation of promising young talent.

Here AFP Sport casts its eye over the four teams trying to reach the knockout stage.

Italy

A team reborn since Roberto Mancini took over in May 2018, Italy are one of the dark horses for the Euro after a stunning turnaround under the former Manchester City and Inter Milan boss. 

Unbeaten in 26 matches in a run stretching back to late 2018, Italy have shaken off the humiliation of missing out on the last World Cup by bringing in young talent like midfielder Nicolo Barella and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. 

Mancini has got his team playing an expansive passing game that goes against Italy’s traditionally conservative style and will be aiming for a deep run in the tournament to restore some pride to a wounded football giant.

As a host nation they will also benefit from playing all three group games in front of home fans at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Player to watch: Nicolo Barella

With Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti likely to be out for at least the group stage with a knee injury, Barella will be charged with leading Italy’s midfield with the same dynamism with which he helped propel Inter Milan to the Serie A title.

Switzerland

The Swiss have been high up the FIFA world rankings in recent years but haven’t won a knockout match at a major tournament since before the Second World War.

Capable of causing the big guns difficulty — such as in recent draws with Spain and Germany — Vladmir Petkovic’s team blow too hot and cold for a confident prediction of how they might fare.

However they have some intriguing players who, if they click, could cause a shock, such as captain Granit Xhaka, Liverpool’s Xherdan Shaqiri, Atalanta’s Remo Freuler and striker Haris Seferovic.

Player to watch: Haris Seferovic

The 29-year-old is a frustratingly inconsistent presence in the Switzerland front line, but he scored 22 times in 31 league appearances for Benfica this past season, and if the ‘Nati’ are to improve on their last-16 showing from Euro 2016 they will need him to provide a consistent goal threat.

Turkey

Turkey showed they were an outfit to be taken seriously when they took four points from world champions France in qualifying.

Led by forward Burak Yilmaz, who recently completed a magnificent French title-winning season with Lille, Senol Guenes’ team could upset Europe’s more illustrious names.

Turkey also pose a threat through Yilmaz’s Lille teammate Yusuf Yazici and AC Milan’s attacking midfielder Hakan Calhanoglu, as their recent 4-2 World Cup qualifying win over the Netherlands showed.

Player to watch: Burak Yilmaz

‘King Burak’ comes into the Euro fresh from leading Lille to their fourth league title in an amazing first season in France, top-scoring for his new club with 16 goals and providing a wealth of attacking experience to a young team. He is as reliable a captain as it’s possible to be and Turkey’s main goal threat.

Wales

Behind-the-scenes turbulence will accompany Wales to the Euro as they aim to repeat the memorable run to the semi-finals of five years ago. 

With head coach Ryan Giggs absent due to a trial for alleged violence against two women, caretaker Rob Page will take charge of a young team that will be the group’s underdogs.

However, Wales possess attacking punch with Gareth Bale and Manchester United forward Daniel James providing the sort of pace and dynamism that can trouble most defences.

Player to watch: Gareth Bale

Wales’ star player has had a so-so season despite a loan to Tottenham Hotspur which promised an end to his Real Madrid torment. 

However the 31-year-old is a different player for his country and despite rumours in Spain that he is planning to retire and focus on playing golf, expect Bale to be at full throttle at the Euro.

Fixtures (times GMT)

June 11

Rome

Turkey v Italy (1900)

June 12

Baku

Wales v Switzerland (1300)

June 16

Baku

Turkey v Wales (1600)

Rome

Italy v Switzerland (1900)

June 20

Baku

Switzerland v Turkey (1600)

Rome

Italy v Wales (1600)



from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3vFTq5x
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Where to find Colombia vs. Ecuador on TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Colombia vs. Ecuador, you’ve come to the right place. With the national teams in the CONMEBOL region continuing their path to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, the latest game in the World Cup qualifying features Colombia vs. Ecuador, live on U.S. streaming and pay-per-view television. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it via legal streaming and pay-per-view television: Who: Colombia vs. Ecuador What: CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier When: Game kicks off at 5pm ET / 2pm PT; Thursday, October 14, 2021 Where: Live exclusively on fubo Latino, fuboTV and pay-per-view   Broadcasts of games are available in English-language and Spanish-language. The only legal and exclusive ways to watch Colombia vs. Ecuador live are fubo Latino, fuboTV and pay-per-view. With fubo Latino, it’s $32.99 per month. Plus you get over 25 live TV channels. With fubo Latino, you can watch the game(s) on your PC or Mac as well as Roku, iPhone and Android phones, Amazon FireTV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV and Xbox One. If you connect any of these devices to your TV, you can watch the game on your big screen. In addition to live and exclusive coverage of all of the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers, fubo Latino also includes: • Univision • TUDN • FOX Deportes • ESPN Deportes • beIN SPORTS • And, in all, over 25 live channels of the TV you love. Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming. SEE MORE: Schedule of World Cup qualifiers on US TV and streaming To find out when soccer games are on, download the free Soccer TV Schedules App which includes listings of all of the live soccer matches available in the United States (available on Apple iOS devices and Android devices).  

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Colombia vs. Ecuador, you’ve come to the right place. With the national teams in the CONMEBOL region continuing their path to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, the latest game in the World Cup qualifying features Colombia vs. Ecuador, live on U.S. streaming and pay-per-view television. Here are all of the details of where you can watch it via legal streaming and pay-per-view television: Who: Colombia vs. Ecuador What: CONMEBOL World Cup qualifier When: Game kicks off at 5pm ET / 2pm PT; Thursday, October 14, 2021 Where: Live exclusively on fubo Latino , fuboTV and pay-per-view   Broadcasts of games are available in English-language and Spanish-language. The only legal and exclusive ways to watch Colombia vs. Ecuador live are fubo Latino , fuboTV and pay-per-view. With fubo Latino, it’s $32.99 per month. Plus you get over 25 live TV channels. With fubo Latino, you can watch the game(s) on your PC or Mac as well as Roku...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bayern down Mainz to go six points clear in the Bundesliga Berlin (AFP) – Defending champions Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points on Saturday after coming from behind to seal a 2-1 home win against Mainz. Second-half goals by Kingsley Coman and 18-year-old Jamal Musiala sealed the victory behind closed doors at Munich’s Allianz Arena after Mainz had taken a shock lead. Bayern remain firmly on course to win the German league for the tenth straight season after stretching their lead at the top of the table as second-placed Dortmund were held 1-1 at Bochum. 

Berlin (AFP) – Defending champions Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points on Saturday after coming from behind to seal a 2-1 home win against Mainz. Second-half goals by Kingsley Coman and 18-year-old Jamal Musiala sealed the victory behind closed doors at Munich’s Allianz Arena after Mainz had taken a shock lead. Bayern remain firmly on course to win the German league for the tenth straight season after stretching their lead at the top of the table as second-placed Dortmund were held 1-1 at Bochum.  from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3lVLPNa
Post a Comment
Read more

Rangers brush aside title rivals Hearts Glasgow (AFP) – Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo fired Rangers to a 2-0 win at Hearts on Sunday as the Scottish Premiership leaders extended their strong start under new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Van Bronckhorst has won four successive league games since replacing Steven Gerrard after his predecessor’s move to Aston Villa. Morelos and Aribo scored in the early stages at Tynecastle, giving Rangers six consecutive league victories encompassing the end of Gerrard’s reign. Hearts had Josh Ginnelly sent off late on as they squandered a chance to close the gap on the champions. Rangers are 12 points clear of third placed Hearts and seven ahead of second placed Celtic, who host Motherwell later on Sunday. Van Bronckhorst made six changes to the Rangers side that began Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Lyon in the Europa League. Liam Boyce had a great chance to open the scoring for Hearts in the third minute when he ran on to John Souttar’s clipped ball over the top, but the Northern Ireland striker saw his lob tipped over by Allan McGregor. It was Rangers who scored with their first chance of the match after nine minutes when Ryan Kent’s cross reached Fashion Sakala and the Zambian cut the ball back to Morelos, who fired home from six yards out. Sakala shot just wide from close range moments later before Morelos headed wide from James Tavernier’s corner. Rangers’ second goal came in the 13th minute when Aribo ran on to a brilliant long diagonal from Connor Goldson and fired an angled low shot beyond the exposed Craig Gordon. Gary Mackay-Steven saw his angled shot pushed behind by McGregor early in the second half. Rangers had a let-off in the 53rd minute when Calvin Bassey knocked a Ginnelly cross off the underside of his own crossbar. Rangers remained a threat, however, and Scott Arfield and Sakala were both denied by saves from Gordon. Boyce fired over from close range after being set up by Mackay-Steven before Stephen Kingsley cracked a free kick off the bar from 30 yards out. In the 80th minute, Ginnelly was sent off after being shown a second yellow card for squaring up to Borna Barisic.

Glasgow (AFP) – Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo fired Rangers to a 2-0 win at Hearts on Sunday as the Scottish Premiership leaders extended their strong start under new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Van Bronckhorst has won four successive league games since replacing Steven Gerrard after his predecessor’s move to Aston Villa. Morelos and Aribo scored in the early stages at Tynecastle, giving Rangers six consecutive league victories encompassing the end of Gerrard’s reign. Hearts had Josh Ginnelly sent off late on as they squandered a chance to close the gap on the champions. Rangers are 12 points clear of third placed Hearts and seven ahead of second placed Celtic, who host Motherwell later on Sunday. Van Bronckhorst made six changes to the Rangers side that began Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Lyon in the Europa League. Liam Boyce had a great chance to open the scoring for Hearts in the third minute when he ran on to John Souttar’s clipped ball over the top, but the Northern Ireland stri...
Post a Comment
Read more