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sports Diaranson 23 Juni 2021

Switzerland bids to end run of last-16 losses at Euro 2020

(AP) - Switzerland had it was clear we’d hit our min-
to wait a day to find out it imum target.”
advanced to the round of
16 at the European Cham- The round of 16 is where
pionship. things get tricky for Switzer-
land. The team lost at that
That’s nothing compared to stage at the 2014 and 2018
its 67-year wait for a quar- World Cups and at Euro
terfinal spot at a major soccer 2016. Going out at the same
tournament. stage again would put them
in the similar category as
Switzerland beat Turkey 3-1 Mexico, which has gone out
to finish third in Group A in the last 16 at seven con-
on Sunday, but it took losses secutive World Cups. Talk
for Ukraine and Finland on of the supposed curse of the
Monday to guarantee the “quinto partido” — the elu-
Swiss a spot in the round sive fifth game — arises every
of 16 as one of the four best four years.
third-place teams at Euro
2020. The last time Switzerland
reached the quarterfinals
The players followed other was on home soil at the 1954
games via the internet from World Cup, a spectacular
their plane as they flew from 7-5 loss to neighbor Austria
Azerbaijan to Italy to train for which still holds the record
the next round and had what for the highest-scoring game of creativity in the earlier 3-0 for Switzerland at tourna- against Serbia in 2018.
forward Breel Embolo called in tournament history. loss to Italy. He’s been with ments, even after a club sea-
“a little reception” in the ho- Switzerland since 2014, mak- son at Liverpool where he Switzerland will have to wait
tel to celebrate. Two goals from Xherdan ing him the third-longest- was often on the periphery. a little longer to find out who
Shaqiri helped Switzerland serving coach of any team at He scored a hat trick against it plays in the round of 16.
“Round of 16, we’re com- to victory over Turkey, easing the tournament. Honduras at the 2014 World The Euro 2020 bracket won’t
ing,” Embolo told Swiss the pressure on coach Vladi- Cup, an overhead kick against be finalized until the last
broadcaster SRF on Tuesday. mir Petkovic, who had been The win cemented Shaqiri’s Poland in 2016 and the win- groups finish on Wednesday.
“We all felt happiness because criticized for his team’s lack status as the big-game player ning goal in a heated game

Denmark beats Russia 4-1 to advance at Euro 2020

(AP) — After scoring a “Every now and then you The game then opened up
goal to help Denmark get lucky and the ball just considerably after the break
advance at the European lands right where you’re as Russia had no choice but
Championship, Joakim standing,” Poulsen said. “I to push forward.
Maehle walked straight think it’s the first time in my
to a TV camera and life I didn’t track back, and “The second goal basically
formed a “10” with his then I’m handed a gift.” came out of nowhere and
fingers. Russia only needed a draw to it did not give us much
advance and Artem Dzyuba cause for optimism,” Russia
That was for Christian Er- got the visitors back in the coach Stanislav Cherchesov
iksen. match when he made it 2-1 said. “Then we allowed two
from the penalty spot in the counterattacks and we paid
Maehle’s 82nd-minute goal 70th. for those with two goals.”
put some extra gloss on a 4-1
win over Russia on Monday However, Andreas Chris- Russia’s penalty came when
that gave Denmark second tensen netted from outside Jannik Vestergaard tripped
place in Group B and an au- the area in the 79th and Alexander Sobolev in the
tomatic spot in the round of Maehle finished off a quick area and Dzyuba slotted the
16. Eriksen — who wears No. began with a tragedy could counter to put the game be- spot kick straight down the
10 for the national team — still turn into a triumph. yond doubt. middle.
After Eriksen’s collapse in suffered cardiac arrest and
the first game and the team’s had to be resuscitated with Given all the team’s earlier Russia had frustrated Den- Christensen had only scored
two subsequent losses at a defibrillator. He was re- misfortune, perhaps it was mark for much of the first one international goal be-
home, Denmark finally was leased from the hospital on fitting that they were helped half with its defensive tac- fore — in 2017 — but ended
able to celebrate in front of Friday. by a massive gift this time. tics. But Damsgaard — who Russia’s hopes of a come-
their raucous and jubilant After Mikkel Damsgaard came into the starting lineup back by firing in a rising
supporters at Parken Sta- Denmark, Russia and Fin- put Denmark ahead in the in Eriksen’s absence — pro- long-distance shot when the
dium. land all finished with three 38th minute with a looping duced the opener when he ball fell to him shortly after
points but the Danes had the shot from outside the area, collected a pass from Pierre- goalkeeper Matvei Safonov
“If anyone deserves this, better goal difference. Bel- Yussuf Poulsen made it 2-0 Emile Hojbjerg, took one had made a double save.
it’s our players,” Denmark gium won the group with in the 59th by pouncing on touch to create some space
coach Kasper Hjulmand nine points, capping it off a massive defensive error. and unleashed a shot that The Chelsea defender also
said. “I can’t imagine how with a 2-0 win over Finland. Roman Zobnin tried to play sailed into the top corner. paid tribute to Eriksen by
they managed to come a back pass to his goalkeep- forming a “10” with his
back from what they went Now a meeting with Wales er but instead gave the ball The 20-year-old Damsgaard fingers — and performed a
through. So big credit to the awaits for Denmark in Am- straight to the Denmark for- became Denmark’s young- self-mocking celebration by
boys.” sterdam on Saturday. And a ward, who could put it into est scorer at a European putting his hands to his ears.
tournament that so nearly an empty net. Championship.