Bundesliga at the Euros, Day 13
The group stage has reached its conclusion, groups E and F confirmed their top 2 teams and we found out who the 4 sides through to the round 16 as best 3rd-place teams were.
| UEFA Euro 2020 |
RB Leipzig winger Emil Forsberg and Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski put on a superb display in the Krestovsky Stadium in St. Petersburg, but it was Sweden who prevailed over Poland with a 3-2 victory. Forsberg scored after 82 seconds, firing low into the bottom corner past Wojciech Szczesny in the Poland goal. Lewandowski had 2 golden chances to equalize for Poland but he somehow managed to hit the bar twice from very close in. Half-time came and went and Sweden were on the front foot again as second-half substitute Dejan Kulusevski went on a run and cut it back for Forsberg to score his 2nd and Sweden's 2nd of the game. It all looked done for Poland, but a moment of magic came from the right boot of Lewandowski which sparked a way back into the game for Poland. A wonderful curling finish from the far side of the penalty area gave Poland fans hope, and that hope was turned into joy when Lewandowski found himself completely alone in the penalty area and he did what Lewandowski does best, fired low past Olsen and equalized for Poland. A draw looked incredibly likely but Viktor Claesson got in behind and scored the winner for Sweden in the dying embers of the game. Sweden won 3-2 and qualified top of the group, while Poland have to exit the tournament without a win to their name and bottom of the group.
Sweden Starting XI: (4-4-2)
Olsen
Lustig - Lindelof - Danielson - Augustinsson
Larsson - Olsson - Ekdal - Forsberg
Quaison - Isak
Poland Starting XI: (3-4-2-1)
Szczesny
Bereszynski - Glik - Bednarek
Jozwiak - Krychowiak - Klich - Puchacz
Swiderski - Zielinski
Lewandowski
5-star Spanish performance punish sorry Slovakia
2 own-goals from Slovakia helped Spain on their way to the biggest win of the tournament so far with the 2012 champions beating the Slovaks 5-0 in Seville. An incredible own goal from Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka started it all for Spain and they never looked back. Goals from Aymeric Laporte, Pablo Sarabia, Ferran Torres, and another own goal from Juraj Kucka were the goals that Spain needed to qualify behind Sweden in 2nd place from group E. The Slovakian Bundesliga contingent did nothing to trouble Unai Simon in the Spain goal and they will have to wait to see if they are one of the best 3rd place teams.
Slovakia Starting XI: (4-2-3-1)
Dubravka
Pekarik - Satka - Skriniar - Hubocan
Kucka - Hromada
Haraslin - Hamsik - Mak
Duda
Spain Starting XI: (4-3-3)
Simon
Azpilicueta - Garcia - Laporte - Alba
Koke - Busquets - Pedri
Sarabia - Morata - Moreno
Germany through to the next round (just)
The 'Group of Death' delivered once again with many fluctuations and many changes of the group F table, but in the end Germany have done enough to qualify for the round of 16 following a draw with Hungary in front of a relieved Allianz Arena. Read the full match report here
Honors even between Portugal and France
In a game where penalties took center stage, Portugal and France played out a 2-2 draw with a brace each for Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. The Bayern French contingent all had minutes for France tonight, with Corentin Tolisso and Lucas Hernandez getting starts and Kingsley Coman coming off the bench. Portugal and Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro played the full 90. Both of Portugal's goals were from the penalty spot, both scored by Ronaldo who equaled Ali Daei's all-time record for international goals, which stands at 109 international goals. Benzema's first goal came from the penalty spot as well, but his 2nd was a well-taken finish following a wonderful ball from Manchester United's Paul Pogba.
Portugal Starting XI: (4-3-3)
Patricio
Semedo - Pepe - Dias - Guerreiro
Moutinho - Pereira - Sanches
Silva - Ronaldo - Jota
France Starting XI: (4-3-1-2)
Lloris
Kounde - Varane - Kimpembe - Hernandez
Pogba - Kante - Tolisso
Griezmann
Benzema - Mbappe
