Rome, 23 June 2021 – But is it a sports competition or a diplomatic battle? On the eve of the last day of the group stage, with 8 Nationals still at stake, rather than football, two issues were discussed at the highest levels: a possible change of venue for the final four, given the health emergency situation in England, and the UEFA ban on lighting the Munich stadium with the colors of the rainbow during the match between Germany and Hungary (the initiative wanted to send a message of solidarity to the community Lgbt (gays and lesbians), targeted by the ultra-nationalist-led Budapest government Viktor Orban).
And to say that the football program is one of a thousand and one nights, given that the final round of groups E and F is played. For group E, from 18 in Seville Slovakia – Spain (Sky Sport Football and Sky Sport, satellite channel 252) and in St. Petersburg Sweden – Poland (Sky Sport, channel 253 satellite); for group F from 21 in Munich Germany – Hungary (Sky Sport, channel 253 satellite) and in Budapest Portugal – France (Rai Uno, Sky Sport Football and Sky Sport, channel 252 satellite).
As anticipated, the debate on the location of the final stages of the European Championship continues. After the alarm raised by the Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the British Minister of Health, Matt Hancock, intervened assuring that “the final will take place at Wembley”. At least 60 thousand spectators will be admitted to the stadium on the occasion of the two semifinals and the final of Uefa Euro 2020, scheduled for 11 July. It was the British government itself that announced that the capacity of the London stadium will be raised to 75% of its maximum.
“Before any sporting event organized in theEU or elsewhere it is important that the competent authorities closely observe the health situation because it is important not to undo the progress made in the fight against coronavirus in Europe “, so Dana Spinant, spokesperson for the European Commission. Draghi has received the full support of Angela Merkel. “The European Championships are also held in a Covid variant zone and anyone traveling to Britain must go into quarantine. I hope UEFA will act with a sense of responsibility ”.
According to the infectious disease specialist Matteo Bassetti “There are already health procedures for the arrival in Great Britain and for the return to Italy. Unless 20,000 Italian fans arrive for the eventual final, I don’t think there are any problems. As far as I know, the players and the staff of Italy are vaccinated ”.
The final word (?) Was set by UEFA, which reiterated “we will play a London“. “Doesn’t Uefa want the colors of the rainbow in the stadium in Monaco? Bitter, but predictable. Now the fans show the rainbow flag “, this is the invitation of the German Secretary of State for European Affairs, Michael Roth.
He touched it softly, as the mayor of Monaco would have said the Gialappa’s band, Dieter Reiter. The mayor called the ban on the highest continental football organization “shameful”, also criticizing the German Football Association. “I find it disappointing that the DFB did not want to influence this situation.” “There Uefa it is a politically and religiously neutral organization and given the political context of the request, it must refuse ”, the official motivation.
Real football, just a couple of bad news for the England national team: Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell will have to remain in solitary confinement for ten days.The two have been in contact with Billy Gilmour, a player from Scotland who tested positive for Covid-19. We come to the challenges. These are the probable formations. Sweden (4-4-2): Olsen; Lustig, Lindelof, Danielson, Augustinsson; S. Larsson, Ekdal, Olsson, Forsberg; Isaac, Quaison. Diffidati: Lustig, Olsson. Poland (3-5-2): Szczesny; Bereszynski, Bednarek, Glik; Jozwiak, Moder, Krychowiak, Zielinski, Puchacz; Lewandowski, Swiderski. Diffidati: Jozwiak, Klich, Lewandowski, Moder.
“We can’t think of just one player (Lewandowski, ed). He is the strongest and the most important, but we have to defend as a team, against him and everyone else, “he said. Marcus Danielson, Swedish defender. “Sweden are a difficult team to face, but the last game I remember playing against was at the Under 18 level: we won 1-0. I hope it ends with the same result. We have to be brave: I really liked our aggression against Spain ”, replies Tymoteusz Puchacz, Polish defender.
Slovakia (4-2-3-1): Dubravka; Pekarik, Shatka, Skriniar, Hubocan; Kucka, Hrosovsky; Haraslin, Hamsik, Mak; Duda. In diffida: Dubravka, Duda, Hubocan, Weiss.
Spain (4-3-3): Unai Simon; Azpilicueta, Laporte, Pau Torres, Gayà; Llorente, Busquets, Thiago; Gerard Moreno, Morata, Traoré. Warning: Pau Torres, Rodri.
“Sweden and Poland were favorites against us, but Spain are not only the favorites of the group, they are also among the favorites of the tournament. I still believe in qualification, ”said the Slovakia coach Stefan Tarkovic.
“The team wants to move forward at all costs so we have to beat the team Slovakia. We have fewer points than we would have deserved, but in football it is essential to depend on yourself. We will play at home and it will be like a knockout match “, César Azpilicueta, Iberian defender, dixit.
Germany (3-4-3): newer; Ginter, Hummels, Rudiger; Kimmich, Gundogan, Kroos, Gosens; Sané, Gnabry, Havertz. Diffidati: Ginter, Havertz, Kimmich.
Hungary (3-5-2): Gulacsi; Botka, Orban, At. Szalai; Nego, Kleinheisler, Adam Nagy, Schafer, Fiola; Ad. Szalai, Sallai. Diffidati: Botka, Nego, Orban.
“Against the Portugal we played a great game in terms of intensity and management of the ball, especially in the possession phase. Against Hungary it will be a different game, but just as difficult. He will defend with 8-9 men and try to act on the counterattack. It has shown that it can be a very difficult and dangerous team ”, the analysis of Joachim Low, the Teutonic technical commissioner. “We feel like we are at the carnival, but we have to keep our feet on the ground. We are here to play a high level game and we will try to come back from Monaco with the first victory in this tournament ”, the gauntlet of Marco Rossi, the Hungarian city.
Portugal (4-3-3): Rui Patricio; Nelson Semedo, Ruben Dias, Pepe, Guerreiro; Danilo, Renato Sanches, Bruno Fernandes; Bernardo Silva, Ronaldo, Diogo Jota. Diffidati: Ruben Dias.
France (4-3-3): Lloris; Koundé, Varane, Kimpembe, Hernandez; Pogba, Kanté, Tolisso; Griezmann, Benzema, Mbappé. Unavailable: Dembelé (knee). Beware: Surname.
“We must re-analyze the defeat against Germany and clarify our ideas in view of the next match. Against France it will be a very important match ”, he wore the clothes of Monsieur De La Palisse Fernando Santos, the Lusitanian coach.
“Benzema? There are times when the forwards cannot find the way to the goal and from the outside they are immediately judged. But I have full confidence in him and in his qualities ”, he pointed out Didier Deschamps, the city that deserves praise for the way it has been running the locker room in France for years.
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