Sports

Eriksen Scores On Emotional Euros Return As Denmark Held By Slovenia

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2 years ago

June 17, 2024

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Christian Eriksen scored for Denmark in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024 on Sunday, almost three years to the day since he nearly died in his team’s opening game at the last tournament.

The Manchester United midfielder fired his side ahead on 17 minutes in front of a Stuttgart stadium filled overwhelmingly by Denmark supporters, but Erik Janza’s late deflected effort earned Slovenia a point in their first match at the Euros since 2000.

“I do think this time my story at the Euros is very different from the last one,” said Eriksen.

“I did have it in mind I hadn’t scored at the Euros, but nothing else than football was on my mind. In the end it would’ve been a different story if we’d got the three points, we’d have been much happier.”

Denmark go on to play England in their second Group C game in Frankfurt on Thursday, while Slovenia continue their campaign against Serbia in Munich.

“I have the feeling we were quite naive after the goal we conceded, but I think we’ll learn from this for the other games,” said Slovenia coach Matjaz Kek.

“They saw this is not an insurmountable mountain.”

Denmark reached the semi-finals of the pandemic-delayed Euro 2020 tournament before losing to England, riding a wave of emotion triggered by Eriksen’s collapse in Copenhagen, which left him needing to be resuscitated on the pitch after he suffered a cardiac arrest.

He eventually resumed his career after being fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, making his return to international duty nine months later and appearing at the 2022 World Cup.

On the eve of Denmark’s Euro 2024 opener, Eriksen said the harrowing incident is no longer something he routinely thinks about, intent instead on focusing helping his country make another deep run in Germany.

Slovenia midfielder Timi Max Elsnik admitted there would be few surprises for either team after they finished just behind Denmark on a head-to-head record in their qualifying group.

Highly-rated Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko nearly caught Kasper Schmeichel out with a powerful long-range drive, but moments later it was Denmark who struck.

– Wind supplies Eriksen –

A quick throw-in was flicked on by Jonas Wind into the stride of Eriksen, who crashed a low shot into the far corner to give the Danes the lead.

With Sesko being closely monitored by the Danish defence, Andraz Sporar failed to take advantage of a hole in the backline as he miscontrolled a bouncing ball forward when he looked through on goal.

Sesko almost handed Denmark a second as he hacked a clearance in his own area against his team-mate, Jan Oblak watching on in hope as the ball skipped just wide of his goal.

Eriksen blazed over just before half-time after more excellent work from the lively Wind, with Slovenia defender Jaka Bijol close to heading into his own net after a Denmark set-piece early in the second half.

Oblak produced a brave stop to prevent Rasmus Hojlund from doubling the advantage, blocking the United forward’s effort from point-blank range to keep his team in it.

Adam Gnezda Cerin glanced a cross wide as Slovenia pressed for an equaliser and Sporar stabbed wide as he lunged to meet a free-kick.

Sesko was desperately unlucky to see his rasping drive cannon back off the post, but Slovenia were soon level.

Denmark could not properly clear a corner and Janza’s thumping half-volley from just outside the penalty box brushed off Morten Hjulmand to leave Schmeichel stranded.

Sporar had the chance to snatch victory for Slovenia after bursting past Jannik Vestergaard, but he powered into the side-netting as Schmeichel appeared to get the faintest of touches.

AFP

Sports

World Cup: We’ve suffered grave injustice, Egypt coach laments after loss to Argentina

Published

4 hours ago

July 8, 2026

EMMANUEL AGAJI

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Egypt head coach, Hossam Hassan, has said his side suffered “injustice” in their World Cup Round of 16 defeat to Argentina, and declared he would not follow the remainder of the tournament as a result.

Argentina came from two goals down to beat Egypt 3-2 in Atlanta on Tuesday, with Cristian Romero and Lionel Messi cancelling out Egypt’s early lead before Enzo Fernandez struck deep into stoppage time to send the defending champions into the quarter-finals.

Speaking after the match, through FIFA’s official translation, Hassan said the outcome went beyond the result on the pitch.

“I think the effect of this outcome goes beyond the defeated seat. We haven’t seen respect nor fair play.

“I’m not convinced with this outcome, with the way things unfolded in this match. I do not want to try to put it nicely with beautiful wording, selective words, saying hard luck and so and so forth. We’ve been treated unfairly today. We’ve suffered injustice,” he said.

He added that he believed there were issues both on and off the pitch that needed scrutiny.

“There are a lot of things to be questioned on and off the pitch, negative aspects all around,” Hassan said.

Hassan said he would not be watching any further matches at the tournament following Egypt’s exit.

The Round of 16 finish was Egypt’s best World Cup outing since 1934, and came at the country’s first appearance at the tournament since 2018.

Hassan’s comments followed a heated exchange with French referee, Francois Letexier, at the final whistle, during which the Egyptian coach suggested the official had “something to hide.”

Egypt had led 2-0 before Argentina’s comeback, and were aggrieved by two decisions in particular — a goal ruled out following a VAR review, and a non-review of a challenge inside the penalty area involving captain Mohamed Salah late in the match.

Egypt’s players echoed Hassan’s frustration after the game, with several accusing the referee of bias, though FIFA is yet to issue a formal response to the allegations.

Sports

Switzerland beat Colombia on penalties to reach World Cup quarter-finals

Published

15 hours ago

July 8, 2026

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Switzerland booked their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals after defeating Colombia 4-3 in a dramatic penalty shootout following a goalless 120 minutes in their Round of 16 clash at BC Place in Vancouver.

The two sides, on Tuesday, failed to find a breakthrough during regulation or extra time despite creating several opportunities.

Colombia came closest through Jhon Lucumí, whose effort struck the crossbar, while Switzerland threatened through Zeki Amdouni and Ruben Vargas, but neither side could break the deadlock.

In the shootout, Switzerland held their nerve to prevail 4-3, sealing their place in the last eight where they will face defending champions, Argentina.

The victory completes the quarter-final lineup after a tense and evenly contested encounter that was decided only from the penalty spot.

Sports

Lionel Messi Breaks 96-Year FIFA World Cup Record

Published

16 hours ago

July 8, 2026

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Lionel Messi continued his remarkable run at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Tuesday, scoring again as Argentina came from behind to defeat Egypt 3-2 in a dramatic Round of 16 clash.

The Argentina captain found the net against the Pharaohs to extend his scoring streak at the tournament to five consecutive matches.

Combined with his final four appearances at the 2022 World Cup, Messi has now scored in nine straight World Cup matches, setting a new record in the history of the competition.

The 39-year-old had previously equalled the mark against Austria before moving clear with his goal against Egypt.

Messi Equals Stábile’s 1930 Record

Messi’s goal against Egypt was his eighth of the 2026 tournament, drawing him level with Argentine great Guillermo Stábile for the most goals scored by an Argentina player at a single FIFA World Cup.

Stábile set the long-standing record at the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

Despite the difference in tournament formats between 1930 and the modern competition, both players reached the eight-goal mark in just five matches.

Messi began his 2026 campaign with a hat-trick against Algeria before scoring another treble against Austria. He later added goals against Jordan, Cape Verde and Egypt to take his tally to eight.

Stábile, on the other hand, scored three times against Mexico, twice against Chile, two more in the semi-final against the United States and once in the final against Uruguay.

The strike against Egypt also added another country to the list of nations Messi has scored against at the World Cup.

No player has scored against more different national teams in World Cup history than the Argentine captain, with Egypt becoming the latest side to concede against him on football’s biggest stage.

Messi also strengthened his position as the competition’s all-time leading scorer, taking his World Cup tally to 21 goals as Argentina advanced to the quarter-finals.

Messi’s most prolific World Cup performances have come in the closing years of his international career.

After scoring seven goals during Argentina’s victorious 2022 campaign, he has already surpassed that figure at the 2026 tournament with eight goals.

Remarkably, Messi scored only six World Cup goals across his first four tournaments between 2006 and 2018.

His latest exploits underline a stunning transformation in his scoring output, with the Argentine captain continuing to rewrite football history at 39.