Euro 2020: England and Scotland plans hit, while Denmark rejoice – live!
22-Jun-2021 07:36:00 | The Guardian
And so to tonight’s proceedings, which have been heavily overshadowed by Billy Gilmour’s positive Covid test, the knock-on effects for Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount (and others), and how it might impact the rest of the group. We can only hope there are no further positive tests and that Gilmour is back up and in action when possible. Ewan Murray discusses Scotland’s prospects against Croatia here, and the need for a goal that their performances have needed and deserved, while David Hytner reports from the England camp, with Mount and Chilwell doubtful for the game against the Czech Republic.
As for the football, England, as in 2018, go into their final game with qualification ensured and a debate raging about whether it’s better to finish second and avoid a perilous section of the draw. Unlike then, there’s less clamour to rotate and experiment, and much more on the need to determine, and get a tune out, of England’s best XI. Gareth Southgate says England need to excite the crowd after Friday’s boos.
Related: It is time England stop playing for tomorrow and really catch fire | Barney Ronay
Morning everyone, and welcome to day 12 of Euro 2020, which brings us games of varying significance for England and Scotland. But enough of that for now; we must start by talking about last night, particularly the match in Copenhagen where Denmark, on a tide of Christian Eriksen-fuelled emotion and gleefully launched plastic pint glasses, eviscerated Russia with a thrilling attacking display to reach the knockout stages. Their second-round opponents in Amsterdam will be Wales, and in normal circumstances you’d bank on this game to produce the best atmosphere of the tournament, but restrictions on visiting fans look to have put paid to that (and sparked a clamour in certain quarters for a venue-swap with Italy v Austria at Wembley).
Denmark’s sparkling display also illustrated another notable feature of this tournament so far: that it’s being bossed by players at mid-ranking Italian clubs. Add Mikkel Damsgaard (Sampdoria) and Joakim Mæhle (Atalanta) to a best-of list that might also contain Robin Gosens (Atalanta), Domenico Berardi and Manuel Locatelli (both Sassuolo). So in summary then, stuff yer Superleague.
Related: Denmark’s fairytale and Netherlands in it to win it – Euro 2020 Football Daily
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