The second round of matches at Euro 2024 proved to be a mixed bag for the Arsenal contingent. Here’s how our lads got on…
Kai Havertz
Hungary 0-2 GERMANY
Kai started for Germany and played 58 minutes as the hosts secured safe passage to the knockout stages with a 2-0 win over Hungary. The Arsenal striker forced an early save but his influence on the game waned after the break. Jamal Musiala broke the deadlock on 22 minutes before Ilkay Gundogan made sure of the points not long after Havertz had been replaced by Niclas Fullkrug.
Tournament minutes: 121
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Kieran Tierney
SCOTLAND 1-1 Switzerland
After their battering by Germany, Scotland earned a creditable point against the Swiss on a tense night in Cologne. Scott McTominay’s deflected effort sent the Tartan Army wild but it was cancelled out in clinical style by Xherdan Shaqiri who curled a beauty into the top corner after pouncing on a loose ball. Unfortunately, Tierney’s evening ended with him being stretchered off on 61 minutes after he pulled up holding his hamstring. He was subsequently ruled out of the rest of the tournament and has returned to Arsenal for assessment.
Tierney tournament minutes: 138
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Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale
Denmark 1-1 ENGLAND
Saka and Rice both started as a disjointed England laboured to a 1-1 draw with Denmark. Harry Kane put the Three Lions ahead on 18 minutes but as is customary these days, Gareth Southgate’s side struggled to build any further momentum and were deservedly pegged by Morten Hujlmand’s long-range fizzer. Denmark’s pressing continued to cause England problems after the break and with confidence dropping their passing patterns completely disintegrated. Saka was withdrawn on 69 minutes while Rice lasted the full 90 despite looking like he was playing barefoot on a pebble beach.
Rice later explained: “We are all so desperate to win, to be leaders, to go out there and give people memories for lifetimes and sometimes I maybe feel like we put too much pressure on ourselves where we could just go out there and let it just take care of ourselves.
Saka tournament minutes: 145
Rice tournament minutes: 180
Ramsdale tournament minutes: 0
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David Raya
SPAIN 1-0 Italy
David Raya was on the bench again as Spain’s exciting squad overcame Jorginho’s Italy in an entertaining encounter in Gelsenkirchen. La Roja threatened with a couple of early headers, Donnarumma made a fine stop to deny Ruiz’s long-range effort and Pedri fired a glaring chance wide, but they made their pressure pay when Nico Williams’ cross was headed into his own net by Ricardo Calafiori on 55 minutes. The goal was enough to secure Spain’s place in the knockout stages.
Raya tournament minutes: 0
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Jorginho
Spain 1-0 ITALY
Jorgi made his 56th appearance for Italy but was hooked off at half time by angry manager Luciano Spalletti who was caught on camera moaning about the Arsenal man: “He must come and get the ball, otherwise there’s no point in him playing.”
The change didn’t make much difference with the reigning European champions mustering just one shot on target all evening. A draw against Croatia on Sunday night will see Italy into the knockout rounds but it’s going to be a tense evening with their opponents needing a win.
Jorginho tournament minutes: 135
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Oleksandr Zinchenko
Slovakia 1-2 UKRAINE
Ukraine mounted a stirring second half comeback to keep their qualification hopes alive. Questions were asked of Zinny’s defending when a cross that looped over his head was converted by Ivan Schranz in the first half. However, the Arsenal man made amends after the break cutting back for Mykola Shaparenko to equalise. Substitute Roman Yaremchuk sealed the win with 10 minutes remaining, collecting a ball over his shoulder with a deft touch before rolling home. Ukraine face Belgium on Wednesday night.
Zinchenko tournament minutes: 180
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Jakub Kiwior
POLAND 1-3 Austria
Poland became the first of the 24 nations to be knocked out of the tournament after falling to a 3-1 defeat in Berlin’s Olympiastadion. Christoph Baumgartner and Marco Arnautovic’s penalty made the difference in the second half after the two sides traded goals before the half-hour mark. Kiwior played the full 90 minutes.
Kiwior tournament minutes: 180
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William Saliba
Holland 0-0 FRANCE
Saliba was at his composed best as he helped France to a second clean sheet in a row. However, Les Bleus were thankful for a helping hand from the VAR – England’s Stuart Atwell – who ruled out a late Xavi Simon’s strike because Denzel Dumfries was in an offside position. Didier Deschamps’ side had chances to win the game themselves but they lacked cutting edge without Kylian Mbappe who sat out proceedings due to a broken nose.
Saliba tournament minutes: 180
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Leandro Trossard
BELGIUM 2-0 Romania
Belgium bounced back from their defeat to Slovakia with a deserved 2-0 victory against Romania. Youri Tielemans got them off to the perfect start with a low finish from the edge of the box inside 2 minutes and Kevin De Bruyne made sure of the points with 11 minutes remaining. Trossard was menacing when he came off the bench in the closing stages although he dallied a couple of times when earlier passes might released teammates. It’s everything to play for on the final matchday with all four teams on three points.
Trossard tournament minutes: 108
A mixed set of results with especially Tierney a big blow for him (and us trying to move him on). Saliba proving his class again and Saka/Rice suffering when England should be doing so much better given the talent they have.
Can’t see a move for Tierney now, nor being reintegrated into the first team. Poor chap’s best bet is someone taking a punt on him on loan or it’ll be another season of loss for him.
England are really stinking out what has otherwise been a positive and excellent tournament. Since there’s little chance of them winning I wouldn’t mind seeing Declan and Bukayo with their feet up for summer sooner rather than later.
My brother made a point yesterday that England are as safe, boring and unimaginative as Sweden at the moment. With all the world class players at Southgate’s disposal and this is what he does with it. Atrocious!
Otherwise, Portugal are the team I just can’t be bothered to watch. I know they are good but they’re just too twat heavy for me to stomach them.
I wouldn’t say any other side has been that impressive that I’d rule out any other of the top 8 or so sides in this tournament winning. Probably Spain or Portugal have been most impressive so far? But neither of those two has exactly set the world on fire either. It’s actually the least exciting Euros I can remember, none of the teams seem to really have some sort of exceptional feeling about them, again Spain has been closest to that. England and France *should* be in that conversation based on their talent, but both held back by dull, uninspired… Read more »
But again I wouldn’t have England as big underdogs against anyone here. I’d fancy Spain against them but wouldn’t be shocked if England squeak through and win it because this is international football and the dull, boring, uninspired teams often do, especially at the Euros.
All the French commentators I have seen think Saliba cannot be dropped. It’s interesting to watch him on the “wrong” side–a few hesitations when he wins the ball because of this, but clearly becoming more comfortable. And it never hurts to have Ngolo Kante coming back if you need him. In the last three halves, Saliba and Kante have probably been France’s best players.
Arnoutovich still playing?
International coaches for the most part are failed club managers and quite frankly bang average. Spaghetti, Southgate, Deshamps, Martinez are just bleugh. Their teams win despite them.
UEFA can stick this cash grab over stuffed pile of shite competition up their bollocks.
Not saying you’re wrong about UEFA but I find the Euros refreshing after the abortion on all levels that was the world cup.
I used to enjoy the Euros when it was the very best teams competing in the finals, even up to 1988 it was compelling with the the best teams shooting it out for the title, now most games are lower premier league standard, its a bloated money spinner with a stupid amount of games played for the sole purpose of tv cash and not a single thought for the wellbeing of the players, as for the WC they can absolutely stick it where the sun don’t shine. UEFA sure suck but FIFA sucks and blows.
I misremembered, I should have said even up to 1992.
I love football becauseall these events.
….because of all these events.
Tierney is for me, the best fullback we’ve had since Cashley. I understand he’s become Tearknee but the club should be patient with him.
You’re forgetting the legendary Andre Santos.
I can’t help thinking that the current crop of England players being managed by Southgate is like us binning Arteta and getting in Sean Dyche.
He’s got a squad of players who all play fast, mobile, pressing football played from the back week in, week out and he’s got them trying to play low block and hoof it long on the counter Walrusball.
The time for Southgate to move on was after the previous Euros. The squad was in good shape and had gone from strength to strength but failed at the last hurdle. That would have been the right time to hand over the reigns to someone with fresh ideas. But the FA instead clung on to their nearly man like shit to a blanket and now the evidence is there for everyone to see.
I doubt Southgate will be around much longer after this though. Everyone is fucking sick of his boring football now.