The opening round of Euro 2020 fixtures have now been completed but the circumstances at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Saturday really put everything into perspective. It goes without saying that everyone wishes Christian Eriksen a speedy recovery and the news the Danish playmaker is recovering after receiving CPR on the pitch is good news and may that continue.
So now that every team has played we thought it time to look over every game and see how each team got on. There has been a mix of results for the home nations and some extraordinary goals so far, so who has done what and how is each team shaping up.
Group A – Italy/Turkey/Wales/Switzerland
Italy 3-0 Turkey
Hungary has arguably the toughest set of fixtures than any other team in this year’s competition. An opening game against current champions Portugal was played in front of a packed Puskas Arena – the only ground to allow a maximum capacity at the Euros.
Cristiano Ronaldo spurned a glorious opportunity just before half time, sending his shot into the heavens from just 6 yards out. It seemed almost impossible for one of the greatest players of all time to miss but it just proves he is human after all.
A resilient Hungary stood firm and almost shocked the current holders but Szabolcs Schon’s goal 10 minutes from time was disallowed after the forward had strayed offside.
Spurned on from that scare, Portugal found the opener as Raphael Guerreio’s strike was wickedly deflected past Peter Gulacsi between the Hungarian posts. A cruel blow for the home side who then conceded a penalty, which Ronaldo stepped up to blast into the net – becoming the competition’s outright leading goalscorer with 10 goals in his fifth tournament – surpassing the great Michel Platini.
Ronaldo then rounded off a lovely move deep into injury time to seal the win and give the Portugese a solid start to a group that also consists of the last two World Champions.
France 1-0 Germany
The most highly anticipated game of the group stages brought the opening round of fixtures to a close on Tuesday night in a game that saw two giants of the international game face off.
With a ridiculous amount of talent on display the opening 45 minutes didn’t disappoint and it was the current World Champions France, who took the lead through a mistake by veteran defender Mats Hummels.
The German centre half turned the ball into his own net after Paul Pogba’s pass found Lucas Hernandez down the French left flank and the Bayern Munich defender drilled the ball across the 6 yard box where Hummels fluffed his lines and directed the ball past Manuel Neuer.
Serge Gnabry missed an opportunity to level things up just after the break but put his effort over the bar from 6 yards. The Germans continued to keep the pressure on throughout the second half without creating too many clear cut chances.
Kyliam Mbappe had a goal disallowed for offside and with five minutes to go the PSG striker raced cleared to set up Karim Benzema who tapped home a simple finish but Mbappe was again caught offside in the build up giving the Germans hope of an equaliser in the closing stages.
Joachim Low’s side could not break down the disciplined French defence and Didier Deschamps’ men took all three points leaving Germany plenty to do if they want to get out of the so called ‘Group of Death’.