Euro 2016 – Trending News

Roy Hodgson faces media but says: I dont really know what I am doing here

Roy Hodgson reluctantly faced the music on Tuesday after Englands shock 2-1 defeat by Iceland

Roy Hodgson reluctantly faced the music on Tuesday after Englands shock 2-1 Euro 2016 defeat by Iceland. I dont really know what I am doing here, he said at a media conference in Chantilly, having resigned as manager the previous night.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gdn-cdn/embed/podcard-fw/embed.html

Hodgson issued a statement after the last-16 match in which he confirmed he was standing down and was clear on Tuesday that he would have preferred not to have appeared alongside the Football Associations chief executive, Martin Glenn.

I dont really know what I am doing here, I thought my statement last night was sufficient, he said. Im no longer the England manager, my time has gone, but I was told it was important that I appear here.

I guess that is partly because people are smarting from the defeat last night that saw us leave the tournament. I suppose someone has to stand and take the slings and arrows that come with it.

My emotions are obvious ones. I am really disappointed. I didnt see the defeat coming. Nothing in the first three games here gave me any indication that we would play as poorly as we did.

Unfortunately, they are one-off events. If one of those one-off events you dont turn up, even an opponent that are not entirely fancied like Iceland can beat you. That is what happened.

https://assets.guim.co.uk/flash/components/mediaelement/f70092081235f698081e268fecea95e4/flashmediaelement.swf

Roy Hodgson announces his resignation after England lose to Iceland

I am still recovering from that. I am still fragile. It wasnt a good night, for anybody, because we wanted to stay in this tournament and do well. We believed if we could get to the quarter-final we would go beyond that. We go home as losers and we retain that wretched record of losing a tournament in the knockout stages.

Hodgson said he appeared before the media because he did not want to give the impression that he was frightened. But he also said he did so reluctantly.

I was not forced to come here. I did so because I have never shirked a press conference, because I have never run away from anybody. So much is going to be written about our failure to get to the quarter-finals that nothing I can say would do anything other than fuel the flames, possibly.

Asked whether he regretted anything Hodgson said: It is too early to say. It certainly is the wrong day for me to be talking about it because emotions are too raw. Hindsight does always serve the purpose of putting you in the right and if you dont have it you find yourself very often in the wrong.

I dont think before last nights game the performances had given me any real cause for concern, other than us not taking our chances. I didnt see, and neither did the players, the sort of performance we gave last night that saw us knocked out. Iceland were possibly the better team on the night despite us having the best of possession.

Despite the way his reign ended, Hodgson enjoyed his time working as England manager and believes his successor will have a strong squad to operate with in the future.

I am not only privileged to work for the FA and England, I have enjoyed working for the FA and England, he said. I have had great support. I feel the people around me have appreciated the work that we have tried to do, even though it has not brought the results we would have liked.

Glenn apologised to Englands fans in the wake of their latest failure at a major tournament. Glenn will oversee the appointment of a new coach along with the FAs technical director, Dan Ashworth, and the vice-chairman David Gill.

Its a sorry, said Glenn. When it comes to the games that really matter at the business end of a tournament, weve come up short. Having been a fan before I started this job I get it. Were very disappointed. Iceland are a doughty opponent but we didnt punch our weight.

Roys spent four years building a team. Its a much stronger team, its a much stronger set-up. Roy, Iceland is not your legacy. We felt that wed really given the team, and the squad and the country, the best chance of success… we clearly need to go and do more.

Its really important that we get this right. Weve got a lot of strength in this squad. Its important that we get this right so we are going to be canvassing opinion from former managers, current managers and players.

Glenn also says they will look at the reasons why England are struggling to compete in the latter stages of tournaments.

Were not denying the fact that the perennial problem, when we get to the business end of a tournament and were in the tournament business is that England seem brittle, he said.

Icelandic firm offers England players free whale-watching holiday to recover from defeat

An Icelandic sailing holiday company has offered to cheer up Englands squad after they lose to Iceland on Monday by handing them a free whale-watching holiday

A sailing holiday company has offered to cheer up Englands players after Iceland beat them on Monday by taking them on a free whale-watching day-trip.

Iceland stunned Austria to reach the knockout rounds of Euro 2016 on Wednesday, and are approaching their unexpected last-16 game against Roy Hodgsons under-pressure team in a confident mood.

The Icelandic holiday firm have offered the soon-to-be-beaten England players a free day out in Husavik as a bandage for wounded pride, after the loss against Iceland this coming Monday.

North Sailings manager Gudbjartur Jonsson, posing with 23 free tickets for the England squad dated Tuesday 28 July, said: It is only polite and a part of the Icelandic hospitality culture to offer the free tickets.

Gudjartur — Gudbjartur Jonsson with the England squads consolation prize.

Icelandic firm offers England players free whale-watching holiday to recover from defeat

An Icelandic sailing holiday company has offered to cheer up Englands squad after they lose to Iceland on Monday by handing them a free whale-watching holiday

A sailing holiday company has offered to cheer up Englands players after Iceland beat them on Monday by taking them on a free whale-watching day-trip.

Iceland stunned Austria to reach the knockout rounds of Euro 2016 on Wednesday, and are approaching their unexpected last-16 game against Roy Hodgsons under-pressure team in a confident mood.

The Icelandic holiday firm have offered the soon-to-be-beaten England players a free day out in Husavik as a bandage for wounded pride, after the loss against Iceland this coming Monday.

Cristiano Ronaldo sends Portugal through to last 16 after Hungary thriller

Cristiano Ronaldo found his scoring touch as Portugal drew 3-3 with Hungary in Lyon to finish third in Group F behind group winners Hungary

We draw together, we miss penalties together, today we win together, said the banner high up in the stands here before kick-off. Even as he evolves into more and more of a penalty-area predator, such thinking is anathema to Cristiano Ronaldo. On Wednesday, he embraced his habitual position for Portugal of carrying the load single-handedly when others shrink, ensuring his jittery team did the necessary by scraping a thrilling draw against Bernd Storcks lively Hungary.

So it is the Hungarians, the outsiders, who win Group F, and deservedly so, after a mercurial game befitting the suddenly scorching heat in Lyon. Yet Ronaldos top billing is equally merited after his two-goal salvo. One game after setting a new appearance record for Portugal, beating Luis Figos tally of 127, Ronaldo became the first player to score in four European Championships. He also set a tournament appearance record of 17 here, a tribute to the fact that his brilliance is more than paralleled by his incredible perseverance.

A forward like Cristiano without goals feels like he hasnt had anything to eat, said the Portugal coach, Fernando Santos. Ronaldo never takes no for an answer, which is fortunate. As Santos admitted, we were on the way home three times.

Portugal had not lost in 10 previous meeting with the Magyars, dating back to 1926, but after a bright opening, found themselves in trouble from Hungarys first meaningful attack. A corner was cleared to Zoltan Gera on the edge of the area and the former West Bromwich Albion and Fulham midfielder had time and space to chest it down and slam an immaculate half-volley past goalkeeper Rui Patrcio.

The 37-year-old, now back home with Ferencvaros after a decade in the Premier League, has had his moments but this was one of the best, he said after the game. Im not a young boy anymore, he smiled, so every game is a gift for me.

In the immediate wake of Geras goal it nearly got much worse for Portugal, with Patrcio sprawling to block from Akos Elek four minutes later as his defence hoped for an offside flag that never came. By the half-hour Hungary were knocking the ball around merrily to ols from their impressively sized support.

Ronaldo was reprising his role as the frustrated figure of Portugals opening two matches, limited to a couple of those familiar free-kick pot shots; one pushed away comfortably enough by Gabor Kiraly, the other looping harmlessly over the goalkeepers crossbar. Yet he found a way, emerging in the less likely role of provider in the 42nd minute as his sublime pass cut out four defenders and allowed Nani Portugals most dangerous player in the first half to drive the equaliser past Kiraly at his near post.

Santos introduced 18-year-old midfielder Renato Sanches for the off-colour Joo Moutinho at the break, but his best-laid plans quickly went up in smoke. The Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak an authentic striker of a dead ball if ever there was one curled a free-kick towards goal which took a big deflection off Andr Gomes shoulder and flew past Patrcio.

Just as in the first half, Hungary nearly reinforced their advantage immediately, with Gergo Lovrencsics driving into the side-netting. Instead, Portugal were level a minute later, with Ronaldo applying a tidy rabona finish at the near post to Joo Mrios right-wing cross.

Nani was inches away from giving Portugal the lead in a breakneck opening to the second period when Dzsudzsak struck again in similar fashion to his first goal, smashing a left-footer in via a deflection off Nani after his free-kick was charged down. There were still only 10 minutes of the second period gone.

Santos made a necessarily daring change, introducing Ricardo Quaresma for Gomes on the hour, and his impact was instant, with the Besiktas winger presenting his former Sporting team-mate Ronaldo with a simple header via a delicious cross from the left.

By this point Portugals defence was a panicked shambles, with Elek hitting the inside of the post after another counter as the Magyars played with the freedom of the already qualified, despite resting four players on yellow cards, including the impressive young midfielder Adam Nagy. It seemed that Santoss teams only hope of ending this flirtation with a humiliating exit was playing the game in Hungarys half, and both Ronaldo and Quaresma came close to putting them in front again.

As the crowd took a much-needed breather and the game entered its last 10 minutes, Santos finally made his first concession to circumspection, replacing Nani with an extra defensive anchor in Portos Danilo Pereira, knowing that a point would see his side through come what may. Portugal progress in third after Icelands last-gasp winner against Austria but like England, who they would be facing if it were not for that goal, must quickly find their own identity.

FA unsettled by Roy Hodgsons risky team selection against Slovakia

Roy Hodgsons selection gamble in Englands final group game, drawn 0-0 against Slovakia, has left senior figures at the FA questioning his judgment and possibly his future

Roy Hodgsons unsuccessful selection gamble in Englands final group game of Euro 2016 has left senior figures within the Football Association questioning whether he has made a serious error of judgment that could jeopardise the teams progress and potentially have repercussions for his future as manager.

While Hodgson is adamant he has no regrets about making six changes for the goalless draw against Slovakia, his employers are distinctly unimpressed by the risk-taking that finished with England losing their place at the top of Group B and forfeiting the chance to play one of the third-placed finishers in the first knockout round.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gdn-cdn/embed/podcard-fw/embed.html

Wayne Rooney is also understood to be aggrieved at Hodgsons decision to leave him out, and at the calculated gamble of breaking up the side that played so impressively in the second half of the 2-1 win against Wales. Rooney had expected to play and Hodgsons decision to rest his captain is one of the issues that has troubled the people who will decide at the end of the tournament whether Englands manager warrants a new contract.

Englands inability to beat Slovakia has gone down badly with various FA executives because it means Wales will have, in theory, the easier game as group winners while Hodgsons team will face the Group F runners-up, possibly Portugal, in Nice on Monday.

England have also been left with the daunting prospect of meeting France in the quarter-finals. Behind the scenes there is a firm belief that they did not have to make life so difficult for themselves and that Hodgson went too far in giving half a dozen players their first starts of the tournament.

The issue is whether it will be held against him should England not make it past their next two games and what would happen if, for instance, they were to go out against France in a match that might have been avoided.

Greg Dyke, the FAs chairman, has already made it clear that England may have to reach the semi-finals if Hodgson is to continue in the job through to the 2018 World Cup. Hodgson has the backing of at least one key decision-maker but has been heavily criticised by others and finishing as runners-up to Wales has not helped his cause at a time when Dyke has also stated the FA is looking for clear signs of improvement. Hodgson was taken aback to discover that Dyke had been openly discussing the managers future in a radio interview on the day before the Slovakia game. A difficult situation has not been helped by the disclosure that Dyke apparently agreed to be interviewed against the wishes of the FAs media staff.

The ramifications of England finishing behind Wales are also being felt in a logistical sense, given that Hodgsons side would have played their next game in Paris had they won their group, meaning they would have stayed at their Chantilly base 25 miles away. Instead they are now making arrangements to fly to Nice at the weekend. If they reach the quarter-finals, it will take place at the Stade de France but, if England get to the semi-finals, they are now in the side of the draw that would mean a return to Marseille, a proposition few would want after the carnage earlier in the tournament.

England will discover their next opponents after the final Group F matches and Hodgson was asked whether he would be confident facing Cristiano Ronaldo and his Portugal team-mates. Why not? he said. We beat them at Wembley in another attack-versus-defence performance and they have taken only two points from their games so far. We have seen in this tournament it is not names and reputations that count, it is what teams do on the field. If it is Portugal, it is Portugal. I know one thing: I would rather play Portugal in the round of 16 than not be in the round of 16.

Alternatively, there are other permutations that could see Hungary, Iceland or Austria finish in second position in Group F. Iceland play Austria at the Stade de France but Hodgson, perhaps surprisingly, has decided against making the short trip to Paris to watch Englands potential next opponents and will leave it to one of his scouts.

I am disappointed we didnt top the group but we will take whichever route we are given, Hodgson said. We dont know if it will be a harder road or not because you never know which opponents are tough and which are not. I am not always convinced the opponents you get as a third-placed team are necessarily easier than a second-placed team. Lets wait to see the Fifa rankings of the team we get.

Hodgsons argument is that there is no way of knowing whether his strongest England side would have beaten Slovakia. He admitted after the game that it had been a difficult night for Jack Wilshere, playing instead of Rooney in midfield, but insisted he was right to make so many changes.

I never have regrets if the team has played well. I would maybe have had some regrets if we hadnt dominated the game, played well and controlled it. I might have had some regrets if Jordan Henderson and Nathaniel Clyne were not candidates for man-of-the-match and I certainly would have had a few regrets if I had given Kyle Walker and Danny Rose another game on the bounce and they had been injured.

I look at the performance and I dont honestly believe I could have put out anyone else who would have played a lot differently from those who started the game. If I play Kyle Walker next week, someone will say it should be Nathaniel Clyne. If I dont play Jordan Henderson, someone will say he should have played. People are going to be very critical of the performance because we didnt win. But I cannot do that [criticise]. All I can do is put a team on the field that I feel is capable of winning the game.

Englands latest result means they have won three out of Hodgsons 10 tournament matches in charge, with only two occasions when they have scored more than one goal. Where we are clearly at fault is that we are not taking the chances we are creating, Hodgson said. In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined that we would be so dominant in each of our first three games of this tournament. But the goals havent come. We scored three in one game against Sweden [in Euro 2012] and I do believe that, if the players keep this intensity and positivity, then someone will be on the end of a heavy defeat.

Cristiano Ronaldo throws television reporters microphone into lake

Cristiano Ronaldo reacted angrily after being approached by a television reporter while walking with the Portgual squad near a lake

Cristiano Ronaldo reacted angrily after being approached by a television reporter while out walking near Portugals hotel in Lyon grabbing the microphone and throwing it into a lake.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gdn-cdn/embed/podcard-fw/embed.html

The Portugal captain, facing mounting media pressure after his penalty miss against Austria and his outburst against Icelands small mentality, showed his frustration after being asked by the CMTV reporter if he was ready for their game against Hungary.

Portugal are without a win so far at Euro 2016, and have scored just once from 18 shots on target. They now have to beat Hungary to be sure of a place in the last 16.

After training on Tuesday, during which Ronaldo appeared in a bad mood, the coach Fernando Santos dismissed reporters queries about his state of mind.

The day after the first game you said Cristiano was all smiles, Santos said. After the first match your stories were that Cristiano was all smiles and now it is that hes not smiling. I am sure he will get over everything and do what he does best. Hes always proved that what he does best is score and Im sure he will do everything to be anxiety free to score.

Ronaldo has not scored in 36 free-kick attempts at major tournaments but Santos said: He will carry on taking free-kicks and penalties. We have someone who is the standard-bearer for our country, and we do love him. The Portuguese love Cristiano.

Xherdan Shaqiri on Switzerlands shirts: I hope Puma dont produce condoms

Xherdan Shaqiri said I hope Puma does not produce condoms after four Switzerland jerseys were torn in the 0-0 draw with France at Euro 2016

No goals, but four ripped kits and one burst ball. The shortage of action in France and Switzerlands dull 0-0 draw in Lille on Sunday night prompted increased attention on deficient equipment, with Swiss kits tearing easier than paper and the winger Xherdan Shaqiri telling Blick: I hope Puma does not produce condoms.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/gdn-cdn/embed/podcard-fw/embed.html

Granit Xhaka, the new Arsenal midfielder, had to change his jersey twice during the Group A game, while Admir Mehmedi and the striker Breel Embolo also required replacements following tugs that did not appear especially vicious.

We have had a few problems with the jersey, Embolo said. The kit manager is not fully ready yet, but we are.

Yann Sommer the goalkeeper added: It can happen. It means it was a fight on pitch.

A Puma spokesperson told the Guardian: Five Puma teams have played 10 games in this tournament without such problems. Our product people are currently investigating the shirt material. We will provide a further update when we have one.

In a later statement, the manufacturers added: There was one batch of material where yarns had been damaged during the production process, leading to a weakening in the final garment. This can happen, if the combination of heat, pressure and time is not properly controlled in the manufacturing process. The tight fitting ACTV jerseys are made of an elastane and polyester material mix. The defective material was used in only a limited number of Swiss home jerseys.

Adidas were also left red-faced when one of their Beau Jeu footballs burst when Antoine Griezmann was challenged by Valon Behrami. One of Griezmanns studs appeared to put a hole in the ball. The balls retail at 105.

In a statement, Adidas said: We are looking into what happened. Incidents of this nature are extremely rare. The reason for the tear has not yet been identified but Beau Jeu has been widely praised by respected experts for its contribution to the exciting start to the tournament.

A point was enough for both teams to progress to the last 16. Switzerland will play the second-placed finisher in Group C in Saint-tienne on Saturday afternoon, while the hosts will meet a third-placed finisher in Lyon on Sunday.

Why Portugals Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer a universe beater

Cristiano Ronaldo is still a riveting watch but Portugals goalless draw with Austria at Euro 2016 showed he has lost the ability to tear through teams at will

Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2016 is a force on the wane. A three-times world player of the year, the headline act for Portugal is entering the zone marked high-end functional footballer as with each outing the dazzling performer who wrests contests his way recedes in the distance.

At 31 this is understandable. Unlike Englands 1966 World Cup triumph, a sonnet by Shakespeare or a burgundy grand cru, elite athletes do not age well. Ronaldos spluttering stop-start display in this goalless draw with Austria was the latest evidence. As a presence Ronaldo, with his matine idol grin, Tarzan physique and aura of other, remains the numero uno, le grand fromage.

In this regard the modest demeanour and for-the-team-first ethos of Lionel Messi is a pale shadow of the man from Madeira. But Messi remains the central figure in games because of his play rather than his reputation and sideshow antics. The Argentinian still demands the ball in all areas because the first thought is: I can hurt the opposition from anywhere. This was once the Ronaldo way but not any more. His is now the safer sentiment of: My moment must be chosen carefully.

Austria may be the 10th-ranked nation in the world but would a defence of Florian Klein, Sebastian Prdl, Lukas Hinteregger and Christian Fuchs really have stymied the powers of a 21-, 25- or 28-year-old Ronaldo?

Because this is what Marcel Kollers back four did at a canter here in Saturdays late kick-off. There was a wait to see if Ronaldo would drop deep from the No9 position in which Fernando Santos fielded him, in an attempt to pull the match round but he stayed in the same role for the full 90 minutes.

For Manchester United and then Real Madrid the in-pomp Ronaldo was never passive. He was a fearless bucking bronco of a forward who with ease and great delight tore through teams at will to ensure their challenge became one of mere damage limitation.

Ronaldo

In Reals scruffy 1-0 Champions League semi-final defeat of Manchester City last month Ronaldo was peripheral. In the San Siro showdown with Atltico Madrid that ended in penalty shoot-out victory and an 11th European Cup for Real, Ronaldo was peripheral.

Well, he was until the lottery of the spot-kicks. For the decisive penalty up stepped Ronaldo to give Jan Oblak no chance with a bullet that beat Atlticos goalkeeper to his left. Yet when Ronaldo did become a factor against Austria to win Portugal an 80th-minute penalty, converting this one proved beyond him.

Now was the time for the No7 to mark his record 128th cap by grabbing the glory with a late winner. But the manner in which the effort came off Robert Almers right post and went safe was a neat precis of where Ronaldo now is: still a riveting watch but not the universe beater of days of yore.

Santos, as all good coaches do, is backing him to bounce back instantly. If there is a penalty in the next game, Cristiano Ronaldo will take it and he will score, he said on Sunday. He is used to scoring goals, he is a winner and he also reacts well when he makes a mistake. That is what we expect from him.

After the match Ronaldo said of his appearance record: Its a reason to be proud. It was a goal to be the most capped international player and to be the national teams top scorer. But Im a bit sad because this wasnt the way I wanted to break this record. We wanted to win. This was not how I envisaged it.

We had a lot of chances and we did well but we werent able to finish. I also missed some chances a penalty and some others. But thats part of football. We need to continue to believe, and once again we thank the Portuguese fans who were here and also the ones who were supporting us from elsewhere. Im sure Portugal will give their best in the next match and, if you try, youll always make it.

Portugals record after two matches here is no wins, one goal, two draws and two points, as they head to Lyon on Wednesday knowing a win over Hungary is a must.

We, the players, need to think that its still possible, Ronaldo added. If we win, we qualify. And also the Portuguese people, the fans who love Portugal, they also have to believe. The bad wont last for ever, so we need to believe that things will get better.

They could, indeed, still do it. But on the personal level that has always driven Ronaldo, it appears the best of times are gone. CR7 is still the most hypnotic of dramatis personae but for differing reasons now. The Ronaldo sideshow is becoming the main event.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the person with a small mentality, not the Iceland players | Paul Doyle

Wed recommend Ronaldo take a long hard look at himself in the mirror if we didnt know that he already spends several hours a day doing exactly that

One week in and Euro 2016 has already delivered some intriguing ironies, the most spectacular one being Cristiano Ronaldo complaining about over-celebration after Iceland enjoyed taking a point against Portugal on Tuesday night. Wed recommend Ronaldo take a long hard look at himself in the mirror if we didnt know that he already spends several hours a day doing exactly that.

I thought theyd won the Euros the way they celebrated at the end, it was unbelievable, complained a man who thinks the successful conversion of a penalty is ample reason to launch into a full Chippendales routine. When they dont try to play and just defend, defend, defend, this is in my opinion shows a small mentality and they are not going to do anything in the competition, continued Ronaldo, who should know more than most what a ludicrous statement that was. But maybe in the murk of disappointment even this most self-aware of footballers forgot where he came from.

When or if he reflects more deeply on Icelands feat, the man from Madeira might appreciate the work that went into getting players from a remote island to mingle successfully with the elite. For Iceland, as for Ronaldo, it has taken exceptional dedication, a powerful and clear-headed determination, to develop natural talent to the highest possible degree. For Ronaldo that has meant hours of work with coaches and by himself on pitches and in gyms; for Iceland it has meant training coaches and building pitches and gyms.

https://assets.guim.co.uk/flash/components/mediaelement/f70092081235f698081e268fecea95e4/flashmediaelement.swf

Iceland: a new football dawn.

Iceland became the least populous nation ever to appear in the European Championship because they had a dream and they pursued it with an intelligence and devotion that makes them a model for countries of all sizes, and a football nation that Ronaldo would admire if he were not too busy admiring himself or, more pertinently perhaps, lamenting the repeated failure of his own country to fulfil its potential. They are not going to do anything, is an absurd thing to say of a country with a smaller population than Leicester that has just held its own against Portugal after coming through a qualifying group ahead of Turkey and Holland.

The Icelandic players responded with due scorn: Hes just a sore loser, the defender Kari Arnason said. He didnt want to lose the game. What does he expect for us to play like Barcelona against him? He fannies about and dives around. And to add insult to injury, Arnason added: We didnt pay any extra attention to him.

Ronaldo and, indeed, his illustrious Real Madrid team-mate Pepe might also have noted that Iceland played their way back into the game on Tuesday night despite not yet having been taught top-level jiggerypokery, which meant the naive islanders had to equalise without off-the-ball digs or outlandish theatrics.

Instead they kept resorting to crisp passing, clever running, valiant defending and standing perfectly still in a wall while the worlds most vaunted player kept bashing the ball into them. And they topped all that off with with one ice-cool finish. In their first appearance in a major tournament, they showed they belonged on the highest stage. That has to be deeply satisfying. Ronaldos whinging only makes it more so.