England top group at Euro 2024 after draw against Slovenia

Published

5 days ago

June 25, 2024

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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.

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.

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.

The game also raised questions of what England will do when they face are more sophisticated opponent.

UK

England survive scare against Slovakia to book spot in Euro 2024 quarter-finals

Published

3 hours ago

June 30, 2024

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England survive scare against Slovakia to book spot in Euro 2024 quarter-finals

England survived a scare to book their place in the quarter-finals at Euro 2024 after beating Slovakia 2-1 in extra-time.

Gareth Southgate’s team fell behind in the 25th minute when Ivan Schranz put Slovakia into a shock lead and they looked to be heading out of the tournament as the game went into injury time.

However, Jude Bellingham produced a moment of brilliance to score a stunning equaliser with seconds to spare and send the last-16 tie to extra-time.

Captain Harry Kane put England in the lead early in the first half of extra-time and they held on, despite some nervy moments.

Bellingham told reporters the team’s success may spur them on in the rest of the competition and described his goal as “one of the most important moments of my career so far”.

England looked disappointing in the first half and at half-time, manager Gareth Southgate failed to make any changes.

In the second half, however, England got closer with two attempts to score, although Phil Foden’s goal was disallowed by VAR and Declan Rice’s shot came off the post.

Southgate’s side now faces Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-final on Saturday.

Were they to reach the last four, they would then play in a semi-final on Wednesday 10 July.

UK

Jay Slater: Search for missing British teenager in area of Tenerife called off by police

Published

3 hours ago

June 30, 2024

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Jay Slater: Search for missing British teenager in area of Tenerife called off by police

The search for Jay Slater in an area of Tenerife has been called off, police have said, nearly two weeks after his disappearance.

The British teenager, from Oswaldtwistle, near Blackburn in Lancashire, has been missing in Tenerife since 17 June, when he vanished the morning after a rave.

The Civil Guard called for volunteers to join a new search in the Masca area – near his last-known location – on Saturday.

It has now confirmed to Sky News that the search has ended. Police are keeping the investigation open and could yet open up searches in the south of the island, but have not provided an update.

A handful of volunteers turned up to help rescue teams on Saturday, forming a total group of 30 to 40 people scouring a huge area of rugged and hilly terrain.

Mr Slater, 19, had been on holiday with friends on the Spanish island and was last pictured at Papayago, a nightclub hosting the end of the NRG festival, late on 16 June.

After the event ended, he got in a car travelling to a small Airbnb in Masca with two men, who police said on Saturday are “not relevant” to the case.

His last known location was the Rural de Teno Park in the north of the island – which is about an 11-hour walk from his accommodation.

A local cafe owner told Sky News he tried to catch a bus back to Los Cristianos, where he was staying.

Ofelia Medina Hernandez said she spoke to the teenager at 8am on 17 June, telling him a bus was due at 10am – but he set off walking and she said she later drove past him “walking fast”.

The apprentice bricklayer called a friend holidaying with him at around 8.30am on 17 June and said he was going to walk back after missing the bus.

He also told his friend he was lost and in need of water, with only 1% charge on his phone.

On Friday, Mr Slater’s friend Brad Hargreaves told ITV’s This Morning he had been on a video call with him before his disappearance when he heard him go off the road.

He said he could see his friend’s feet “sliding” down the hill and hear he was walking on gravel.

Meanwhile, Mr Slater’s family shared a blurry image of what they believe could be the missing teenager captured on CCTV in a nearby town 10 hours after he was first reported missing.