Spain’s struggle for a win at Euro 2020 continues, as Luis Enrique’s men slumped to a 1-1 draw versus Poland on what was dubbed a 'Super Saturday'. This is the second stalemate for La Roja after Sweden held them 0-0 in their opening clash. The round of 16 race in the Group E is wide open with the Swedes currently topping the table with four points, and Slovakia a close second with three. Spain, who suffered Covid-19 related setbacks before the start of the tournament, have only gathered two points, just one ahead of the bottom-placed Poland.

Spain went into the game as favourites, but Robert Lewandowski had plans. After Alvaro Morata scored the opening goal in the 25th minute courtesy a Gerard Moreno cross, Lewandowski equalised for the Poles in the 54th minute, scoring his first Euro 2020 goal. La Roja had the opportunity to strike back, when they won a penalty in the 57th minute, but Moreno ended up hitting the woodwork, and Morata missed the rebound.

Enrique praised the Polish defence, but will remain optimistic going into the third group stage game versus Slovakia on Wednesday. “I feel a lot of hope heading into that game. We obviously wanted to play better and give our fans something to cheer about... It was a tough game against a good opponent. You have to recognise how good Poland were and the great defensive work they did. They closed down a lot of the avenues we usually use to get forward, stopped our transitions and pressed high up the pitch all game. The third game will be crucial, we need to win it if we want to get through to the next round. All four teams in this group have their future in their own hands,” Enrique told reporters after the match.

Germany return with a win

Three-time European champions Germany shrugged off their opening game loss and announced their arrival as serious contenders at Euro 2020 with an emphatic 4-2 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in their Group F match on Saturday.

Ronaldo gave the defending champions a 15th-minute lead but own goals from Ruben Dias and Raphael Guerreiro brought Germany back to life at half-time. Kai Havertz and the impressive Robin Gosens made it 4-1 before Diogo Jota pulled a goal back for Portugal. Gosens played a sensational game on the biggest stage, intimidating the Portuguese defence with his speed and power down the left wing as he charged through again and again to set up two goals and score another.

“I don’t know if it was the game of a lifetime for him, maybe he still has to play that,” said Germany coach Joachim Low.

The win moves Germany, who face Hungary in their final game, into second place in the group on three points, a point behind leaders France and level on points with Portugal. Germany, smarting from their defeat to the French, started with purpose and confidence and thought they had grabbed the lead in the fifth minute through Gosens but VAR ruled that Serge Gnabry had been in an offside position.

Ronaldo scored his third goal in two games and his first ever against Germany.

Surprise stalemate for France

Antoine Griezmann rescued a point for France as they came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with hosts Hungary in Group F and prevent a massive upset in front of a full house at the Ferenc Puskas Arena on Saturday.

Attila Fiola had given the hosts a dream half-time lead, after France missed a bevy of early chances. But Griezmann equalised in the 66th minute to move France onto four points while Hungary kept up their slim hopes, on one point, in a group where they had been given little chance with heavyweights Germany and Portugal also in the mix.

A heaving, 65,000-strong, mainly Hungarian crowd, the likes of which has not been seen at football grounds since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, willed their side to a share of the points in the summer sun even if they were largely outplayed.

Griezmann finished with a powerful shot but at the end of an uncharacteristic move from the French, who for all their midfield guile and panache needed a Route One kick upfield from their goalkeeper to fashion their equaliser.

The French had three gilt-edged chances in the first half which their much-vaunted attack would have been expected to finish. Peter Gulasci made a double save from Karim Benzema and Griezmann inside the opening quarter-hour and then watched in relief as Kylian Mbappe headed over the top from metres out after Benzema had teed him up in the 17th minute.

Today’s matches:

Italy vs Wales (9:30 pm IST)
Venue: Stadio Olimpico
(On Sony Ten 2 and Sony Six)

Switzerland vs Turkey (9:30 pm IST)
Venue: Baku Olympic Stadium
(On Sony Ten 1)