England top group at Euro 2024 after draw against Slovenia
England have topped their group at the Euros after a 0-0 draw with Slovenia, meaning they avoid some of the competition’s top teams in the next round.
The result in Cologne was enough to send Gareth Southgate’s men through as winners of Group C, on Tuesday evening.
The Three Lions have come under criticism over lacklustre performances in their group games, but managed to head into the knockouts in the strongest possible position.
England fans at Central Park, Newcastle, watching England’s final group game. Pic: PA
Their performance even drew some boos from the crowd at half-time as they limped over the line against Slovenia.
Southgate’s men suffered the same problems as previous games, but with five points, the Three Lions made it through nonetheless and will play one of the best third-place finishers from Group D, E, or F in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday at 5pm.
Netherlands finished third in Group D and have impressed at times but suffered a surprise defeat to Ralf Rangnick’s Austria, losing 3-2, Tuesday evening.
In Group E, Romania, Belgium, Slovakia, and Ukraine are all tied on three points, and the Czech Republic are in third place in Group F, level on points with Georgia, but above them on goal difference.
By drawing Tuesday evening, England managed to book themselves a place on the easier side of the tournament, avoiding the likes of France, Portugal, Spain and Germany.
England’s Jordan Pickford. Pic: Reuters
A young England fan stays motivated despite the Three Lions’ performance. Pic: PA
Trent Alexander Arnold was dropped from the starting XI in favour of Conor Gallagher in the only change to England’s team – only for the Chelsea man to be unceremoniously hooked at half-time.
The game was played in 24C heat as Germany enjoys something of a mini-heatwave, but instead of proving their critics wrong, England’s players initially seemed rattled by their words.
After a slow start to the game, a rare bright spark in the first half was when Bukayo Saka finished off a well-worked movement only for Phil Foden to have strayed offside in the build up.
In the 40th minute, Captain Harry Kane and Gallagher both also missed a golden opportunity to put England ahead.
Despite that, England were largely static and uninspired throughout the game.
There wasn’t much to celebrate for England and Slovenia celebrated qualifying as one of the best third-place finishers after the game.
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The game also raised questions of what England will do when they face are more sophisticated opponent.
UK
Jay Slater: Tenerife police call for volunteers to take part in large-scale search for missing British teenager
Police in Tenerife have called for volunteers to take part in a large-scale search for missing British teenager Jay Slater.
Officials said it would take place on Saturday in the village of Masca on the Spanish island.
In a statement, police said: “The Guardia Civil prepares and coordinates a large search to find the young British man missing in the village of Masca.
“The collaboration of all those Volunteer Associations is requested: civil Protection, firefighters, etc., and even private volunteers who are experts in the abrupt search terrain.
“The massive search will be carried out on Saturday, 29 June from 9am.
“Bearing in mind that this is an abrupt, rocky area, full of unevenness and with a multitude of ravines, paths and roads, the collaboration of all those Associations of Volunteers who can help in this raid that is intended to be carried out in a directed and coordinated manner is requested,” the statement said.
The Los Carrizales ravine which was being searched by police. Pic: Reuters
Canarian police officers carry out a drone search in the Los Carrizales ravine. Pic: Reuters
Police said volunteers should call the Guardia Civil on 696434031 before 8pm this evening if they want to join the search.
The 19-year-old, from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, disappeared following an attempt to walk back to his accommodation after missing a bus.
The apprentice bricklayer had attended the NRG music festival on the island with two friends before his disappearance and was last heard from on Monday last week.
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Police search mountains for Jay Slater
The walk from Mr Slater’s last known location, Rural de Teno Park in the north of the island, to his accommodation would have taken about 11 hours on foot.
Meanwhile, one of Mr Slater’s friends told ITV’s This Morning about his last video call with the 19-year-old.
Brad, a close friend of Mr Slater, said yes to the reporter’s question as to whether he saw the missing teenager’s feet slide on rocks. He said that is how he knew Mr Slater was not on a road.
Brad added that Mr Slater went down a “little drop” in one of his last video calls.
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‘My son went missing in Ibiza – I know how Jay Slater’s parents feel’
He said the missing teenager was not concerned and that they were both “laughing” about the situation.
“He said, ‘look where I am’. He didn’t seem concerned on the phone until we knew how far away he were,” Brad said.
“I said, ‘put your location on’. He said: ’15 minute drive, fourteen-hour walk’. I don’t know if it’s accurate or not so I said to him: ‘It’s only a 15 minute drive, get a taxi’.”
Today’s police statement comes as Mr Slater’s family welcomed the help of a TikTok creator among those leading an online search for the missing teenager.
Sky News spoke earlier this week to Paul Arnott, who has been sharing clips of his own search effort on TikTok and said he came to Ibiza when he heard the family “needed help”.
According to The Daily Telegraph, his efforts attracted the interest of Mr Slater’s family, who contacted him and arranged a meeting on Thursday.
Jay Slater is an apprentice bricklayer. Pic: PH Build Group
“They said they’re really proud of what I’m doing,” Mr Arnott, 29, told the newspaper.
Mr Slater’s mother, Debbie Duncan, told the paper she has “every faith” in the police and singled out Mr Arnott, who runs the TikTok account Down the Rapids and describes himself as an “explorer”, and another TikTok creator Callum Rahim for thanks.
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“[I] can’t thank Paul Arnott enough, also Callum Rahim and his friends for working alongside with the search and rescue teams,” she said.
“Myself, well, you know the state of my mental health and my paranoia, you saw it first hand. As a family, we are in a living nightmare.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Social media has also had a dark side for the family, with Ms Duncan and her son’s friends at the centre of conspiracy theories.
The construction company that employs Mr Slater shared a post on Facebook earlier on Thursday urging people to stop sending them “cruel” emails and to stop posting theories online.
Also on Thursday, Ms Duncan said £36,000 raised by more than 3,200 donations will help cover her accommodation and food costs during her extended stay on the island as well as support rescue teams.
Celtic have paid tribute to former player Landry N’Guemo, who has died at the age of 38.
The Cameroonian midfielder played one season on loan at the Glasgow club, making more than 43 appearances and finishing in second place in 2010 to Rangers in the Scottish Premier League – now known as the Scottish Premiership.
Celtic released a statement saying they are “shocked and saddened” after he died in a road accident in his native country.
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“Everyone at Celtic Football Club is shocked and saddened at the news of Landry N’Guemo’s passing at the young age of 38,” the statement read.
“The thoughts and prayers of everyone at the club are with Landry’s family and friends at this sad time.”
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N’Guemo returned to French club Nancy to coach the under-16s team following the end of his playing career.
He made more than 40 appearances for Cameroon.
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