Game Recaps

On Monday, an unreal 90 minutes unfolded that will be remembered by Danish fans forever. For Denmark to finish second in Euro 2020 Group B, the Danes needed a victory against Russia, Belgium to defeat Finland and some help on goal differential.

Belgium did its part against Finland in St. Petersburg.

As Danish journalist Tom Carstensen wrote over the weekend, Denmark knew that a victory over Russia on Monday could result in progress to the Round of 16, “but no one really cares about that. We are thinking about what is important: Christian Eriksen is alive.”

Several weeks ago, I decided that The18 would cover all things North Macedonia ahead of Euro 2020. With the Netherlands defeating the tournament’s lovable underdogs 3-0 on Monday, the dream is over.

With a 1-0 victory over Ukraine at the National Arena in Bucharest, Romania on Monday, Austria punched its ticket to the Euro 2020 Round of 16 as Group C runner-up, meaning that they’ll play Italy on Saturday at Wembley Stadium in London.

Ukraine finishes third in the group, so they now face a nervous wait to see if they sneak into the knockout rounds as one of the four best third-place teams. History says they won’t, as three points and a goal difference of —1 wouldn’t have been enough at Euro 2016. 

Torquay United goalkeeper Lucas Covolan scored a late equalizer to keep them in the National League playoff final on Sunday but his efforts proved fruitless as Hartlepool United won a penalty shootout to secure a return to the English Football League.

Midfielder Matt Buse missed the decisive kick for Torquay as Hartlepool edged the shootout 5-4 to return to League Two after a four-year absence. 

BAKU - Xherdan Shaqiri scored two superb goals as Switzerland secured third place in Group A at Euro 2020 with a 3-1 win over Turkey, but they now face an anxious wait to see if they will reach the last 16.

The Swiss, who finished level on four points with Wales but behind on goal difference, will hope to secure a spot in the knockouts as one of the four best third-placed finishers from the six groups.

For the first time in European Championship history, a nation has won all three of its group stage matches without conceding a goal. Italy defeated Wales 1-0 on Sunday to finish top of Group A and book a Round of 16 trip to Wembley Stadium, where they’ll likely meet either Ukraine or Austria.

Italy manager Roberto Mancini made eight changes to the side that hammered Switzerland on Wednesday, but the Azzurri looked no different in how they went about dominating the opposition.

Gyasi Zardes scored twice to send Historic Crew Stadium out in style when host Columbus defeated the Chicago Fire 2-0 on Saturday.

The Crew (4-2-2, 14 points) has won three straight, none more meaningful and emotional than the final game at the first soccer-specific stadium in MLS. Their $314 million Lower.com Field will be christened July 3 against the New England Revolution.

Wise men say... pic.twitter.com/WW5QvKQvuJ