The Balkan scandal, Serbia’s saving draw and the crisis of the England team: how did the seventh day of Euro 2024 go?

Head coach of the England national team Gareth Southgate commented on the result of the match of the second round of the Euro 2024 group stage with the Danish team.

He admitted that he was disappointed with his team’s performance in the first two matches of the European Championship. “We are disappointed. Let’s conduct a deep analysis to understand what problems we have. We’ll spend the next couple of days on this. We know that the level should be higher,” the specialist noted.

The match between England and Denmark took place on June 20 in Frankfurt and ended with the score 1:1. The English scored first – striker Harry Kane scored in the 18th minute. The Danes restored equality in the 34th minute, with midfielder Morten Julmann making an accurate long-range strike.

In the first round of the Euro group stage, the British defeated the Serbs with a minimal score. Despite this, experts saw problems in the actions of the England team, and fans blamed Southgate for the team’s lackluster performance. After two rounds, the English lead the Group C table with four points.

The Serbs snatched a draw in the match against Slovenia in the last minute of injury time

The Slovenians almost created a sensation in the match with Serbia. The meeting took place at the Allianz Arena in Munich and ended in a draw – 1:1.

The Serbs held the advantage for most of the match, but the Slovenians opened the scoring. In the 69th minute, Matjaz Kek’s team succeeded in a quick counterattack, which was completed by defender Jean Karnicnik. Timi Elšnik burst into the penalty area and crossed, and Karnicnik played ahead and sent the ball into the goal of Predrag Rajkovic.

The Serbs tried to fight back until the last minute, but their attacks were smashed against the Slovenian defenses. In the last, 95th minute, the Serbian national team earned a corner, even goalkeeper Rajkovic went into the Slovenian penalty area – in case of defeat, the tournament situation for Dragan Stojkovic’s team became almost hopeless. As a result, Ivan Ilic’s cross was headed in by substitute Luka Jovic.

The teams did not score any more goals. Karnicnik was named the best player of the meeting.

Fans with flags of the Russian national team were not allowed into the match between Serbia and Slovenia

Before the match, another incident happened with the Russian tricolor. A group of fans with flags tried to enter the stadium.

Allianz Arena security staff asked fans to hand over their paraphernalia. They motivated this by the fact that fans carry the flag of a country whose team is not taking part in the match.

The fans refused to hand over their flags. They went to another entrance to the stadium, turned over the tricolors and went inside, as they were mistaken for Serbs.

The Spanish national team defeated the Italians and reached the playoffs

In the final match of the day, the teams of Spain and Italy met. The meeting took place at the Veltins Arena stadium in Gelsenkirchen and ended in victory for the Spaniards with a minimal score.

Luis de la Fuente’s team had the advantage throughout the match, but scored only once. In the 55th minute, Alvaro Morata put his head under a flank cross, Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma unsuccessfully returned the ball, hitting the leg of defender Riccardo Calafiori.

In the remaining time, the Italians were unable to recoup. The Spaniards scored six points in two matches and guaranteed themselves access to the playoffs from first place in Group B. The Italians are in second place in the quartet with three points. They are followed by Albania and Croatia, who have one point each.

The Serbian national team threatened to withdraw from the Euro due to chants from Albanian and Croatian fans

At the beginning of the game day, a full-fledged scandal broke out. The day before, during and after the match between Albania and Croatia, fans of both teams chanted offensive chants against the Serbs.

It is alleged that in the 59th minute of the game fans were chanting “Kill, kill, kill the Serb.”

After the match, which ended in a 2:2 draw, Albanian national team striker Mirlind Daku, who plays for the Russian Rubin, went to celebrate the result with the fans. The footballer picked up a megaphone and chanted harsh words against the Serbs and Macedonians. The stands supported his charge.

The Union of European Football Associations has launched an investigation into Daku. “An investigation has been initiated due to the alleged inappropriate behavior of Albanian Football Federation player Mirlind Daku,” UEFA said.

Rubin condemned Daku’s actions.

The football player was under threat of disqualification. “At the end of the day he issued an apology. At such moments, any footballer’s emotions reach a new level (…) It’s difficult to describe the feelings of playing for the national team, for the wonderful fans who show you boundless love. I’m sorry if I offended anyone after the match against Croatia. This is the result of the affect of the game,” Daku explained.