Euro problems start to pile up for out-of-form England
England fans react while watching the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Group D match between England and Scotland in the Skylight rooftop bar in Tobacco Dock on June 18, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)
LONDON, June 18, 2021 - England looked anything but one of the Euro 2020 favourites after labouring to a depressing goalless draw against the ‘auld enemy’ from Scotland in their Group D tie at Wembley.
Scotland played with all the vigour and energy of a team fresh for the start of a season by stark contrast with an England side who looked tired and ready only for their summer holidays, not the extended challenge of a major tournament.
Defender John Stones headed against a post in the opening exchanges but rhat was the closest England came to a goal. Even the late arrivals of Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford in the second half made no impression. Scotland might even have snatched all three points but an effort from Lyndon Dykes was cleared off the line by fullback Reece James.
Scotland captain John Robertson, the Liverpool wingback who never stopped running, said: “We deserved to win. I don't think many can argue that we had the big chances. On another night we could have come away with more but we took a point which keeps us alive. Now it's important to use this feeling and the fans being happy to get a positive result [against Croatia] on Tuesday.”
England’s much-vaunted forwards were far below their best with England captain Harry Kane looking laboured and ineffective. The Tottenham striker bore no resemblance to the man who finished as six-goal leading marksman at the last World Cup finals. England have scored a mere one goal in their two games.
Kane said: "Fair result, fair play to Scotland they defended well. It wasn’t what we wanted but it's one step closer to qualifying. One step at a time and we go again.”
The other Group D ended in a 1-1 draw between Croatia and the Czech Republic in Glasgow.
The Czechs opened the scoring through a controversial first-half Patrik Schick penalty and Croatia levelled shortly after the interval through Ivan Perisic. The Internazionale winger thus became the first Croat to score in four separate major international tournaments – after his goals in the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup.
Tuesday sees Croatia meet Scotland in a must-win game for both sides while the Czechs face England at Wembley.
In Group E Emil Forsberg's second-half penalty ensured Sweden took a huge step towards qualifying for the last 16 with a 1-0 victory against Slovakia in St Petersburg.
RB Leipzig's Forsberg slotted in with 13 minutes remaining after substitute Robin Quaison was brought down by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The spot-kick ended a run of 365 minutes without a goal for Sweden at the European Championship, since their opening group game at Euro 2016.
** Denmark captain Christian Eriksen has been discharged from hospital in Copenhagen after recovering from his cardiac arrest during Saturday’s game against Finland. Eriksen has undergone surgery to fit a ‘stop/start’ heart control implant.
Scotland played with all the vigour and energy of a team fresh for the start of a season by stark contrast with an England side who looked tired and ready only for their summer holidays, not the extended challenge of a major tournament.
Defender John Stones headed against a post in the opening exchanges but rhat was the closest England came to a goal. Even the late arrivals of Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford in the second half made no impression. Scotland might even have snatched all three points but an effort from Lyndon Dykes was cleared off the line by fullback Reece James.
Scotland captain John Robertson, the Liverpool wingback who never stopped running, said: “We deserved to win. I don't think many can argue that we had the big chances. On another night we could have come away with more but we took a point which keeps us alive. Now it's important to use this feeling and the fans being happy to get a positive result [against Croatia] on Tuesday.”
England’s much-vaunted forwards were far below their best with England captain Harry Kane looking laboured and ineffective. The Tottenham striker bore no resemblance to the man who finished as six-goal leading marksman at the last World Cup finals. England have scored a mere one goal in their two games.
Kane said: "Fair result, fair play to Scotland they defended well. It wasn’t what we wanted but it's one step closer to qualifying. One step at a time and we go again.”
The other Group D ended in a 1-1 draw between Croatia and the Czech Republic in Glasgow.
The Czechs opened the scoring through a controversial first-half Patrik Schick penalty and Croatia levelled shortly after the interval through Ivan Perisic. The Internazionale winger thus became the first Croat to score in four separate major international tournaments – after his goals in the 2014 World Cup, Euro 2016 and 2018 World Cup.
Tuesday sees Croatia meet Scotland in a must-win game for both sides while the Czechs face England at Wembley.
In Group E Emil Forsberg's second-half penalty ensured Sweden took a huge step towards qualifying for the last 16 with a 1-0 victory against Slovakia in St Petersburg.
RB Leipzig's Forsberg slotted in with 13 minutes remaining after substitute Robin Quaison was brought down by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The spot-kick ended a run of 365 minutes without a goal for Sweden at the European Championship, since their opening group game at Euro 2016.
** Denmark captain Christian Eriksen has been discharged from hospital in Copenhagen after recovering from his cardiac arrest during Saturday’s game against Finland. Eriksen has undergone surgery to fit a ‘stop/start’ heart control implant.
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