France’s national coach Didier Deschamps did not want to confirm Kylian Mbappé’s return to the starting lineup against Poland one day before the important match for group victory. “He is getting better every day – yesterday he took part in training, the bruise has gone down and he is getting used to playing with a mask.” The 55-year-old then emphasised with a grin: “I’m not hiding from you that he is just as keen to play as he was against the Netherlands.” But Deschamps left Mbappé on the bench for the entire game against the Netherlands.
Even though the French coach did not want to comment further on the line-up this Tuesday (6 p.m./ZDF, Magenta TV and in the WELT live ticker) despite repeated inquiries, the Grande Nation is assuming that the captain will make a comeback. “He was good, he was dangerous. I almost forgot that he was wearing a mask,” said teammate N’Golo Kanté, referring to the French team’s final training session: “It is definitely a huge advantage if Kylian comes back.”
France’s superstar Kylian Mbappé
Source: AFP/FRANCK FIFE
Mbappé suffered a broken nose in the 1-0 win against Austria on Monday last week. Despite having already made a mask to protect his injured nose, the 25-year-old 2018 world champion and 2022 runner-up did not play in the 0-0 draw against the Dutch on Friday.
18:17: Varga drama – UEFA reacts to Hungarian allegations
UEFA has defended itself against allegations by some Hungarian players that there was a delay in the medical treatment of striker Barnabás Varga, who had been seriously injured in the face. “The coordination between all the medical staff on site was professional, everything was done in accordance with the applicable medical procedures,” the association said. “There was no delay in the treatment and care of the player.”
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Varga collided with Scotland goalkeeper Angus Gunn in the 68th minute of Hungary’s late 1-0 victory. He suffered facial fractures and a concussion. At first he lay almost motionless on the pitch. Among other things, teammate Dominik Szoboszlai complained after the final whistle that the paramedics had taken too long to treat Varga.
The injured Barnabás Varga is cared for behind the screen
Source: AP/Ariel Schalit
“We would like to clarify that the team doctor intervened within 15 seconds of the incident. Immediately afterwards, a second doctor made an initial assessment in order to provide appropriate treatment in accordance with standard medical procedures,” said the UEFA statement. Tournament director Philipp Lahm also commented on the criticism: “In general, we adapt everything during the tournament if something needs to be changed. Regarding the incident last night: There will be discussions.”
17:01: Lahm hopes for outsiders
Tournament director Philipp Lahm can very well imagine a surprise team in the round of the last four at this European Football Championship. “I still hope that there will be a surprise team that will then perhaps make it to the semi-finals, where nobody expected them to be,” said Lahm in Leipzig.
15:31: 2300 illegal entries prevented at border controls
The police have already prevented 2,300 illegal entries during the European Championships. A spokesman for the Federal Ministry of the Interior confirmed this to the “Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger”. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) also stated: “During our temporary border controls, over 400 arrest warrants have been executed in the last two weeks and over 50 hooligans have been prevented from entering the country. This shows that it is a good thing that we are also carrying out controls at the borders with Denmark, the Benelux countries and France during the European Championships.”
Such checks are planned until July 19, five days after the European Championship final, “depending on the situation and flexible.” The whole thing is a “huge effort” for the federal and state police, and for the federal police, “it is even the largest operation in their history.”
14:22: “FUCK UEFA” – Danish association has to pay
The Danish Football Association (DBU) has to pay a fine of 10,000 euros because of an offensive banner. The banner, which Danish fans held up during the match against England in the Frankfurt stadium on Thursday, read “FUCK UEFA”.
The chairman of the DBU, Erik Brøgger Rasmussen, told Danish broadcaster TV2 that the association would initially pay the fine. However, they are currently trying to find out who took the banner into the stadium. If the people responsible are found, the DBU will pass the bill on to them: “We also hope that those who are thinking about taking a banner with this kind of language into the stadium will think twice.”
12:30 p.m.: Diagnosis confirmed – fears for Antonio Rüdiger
Antonio Rüdiger left the match against Switzerland on Sunday evening (1:1) obviously in pain. According to WELT information, he has pulled a muscle in the back of his thigh. It remains to be seen whether he will play in the round of 16 on Saturday (9 p.m./ZDF and MagentaTV).
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So it could be tight for the German central defense. An absence of Rüdiger would be particularly bitter because his teammate Jonathan Tah will be absent due to a yellow card suspension. “We brought in Nico (Schlotterbeck) early on, and Waldi (Waldemar Anton) is ready too. We have enough quality,” said Nagelsmann. Robin Koch is also in the DFB squad.
12:00: First cash bonus for DFB stars in seven years
Niclas Füllkrug’s last-minute goal against Switzerland has also given the national football players their first bonus at the home European Championship. For winning the group, which the DFB selection was able to celebrate on Sunday evening in Frankfurt with a late goal to make the final score 1:1, each of the 26 German players will receive 50,000 euros from the DFB. The last time this was given was in 2017 when they won the Confederations Cup in Russia. At a European Championship or World Cup, it was even a year longer ago, at the 2016 European Championship in France.
The amount for Füllkrug and Co. can increase over the course of the tournament to a record bonus of 400,000 euros. This is what every player would receive if they won the title. The German Football Association also generates considerable income from the European Championships. UEFA is distributing a total of 331 million euros to the participants. Each of the 24 associations receives 9.25 million euros in entry fees at the finals. In addition to this, there are performance bonuses. The European champion can receive a maximum of 28.5 million euros.
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After winning the group and reaching the round of 16, the DFB can already look forward to 13.25 million euros. This amount is made up of 9.25 million euros in participation bonuses, one million euros each for the victories against Scotland and Hungary, 500,000 euros for the draw against Switzerland and 1.5 million euros for the round of 16.
11:40 a.m.: Proud Swiss take “a lot of positives” into the round of 16
The Swiss national football team is heading into the European Championship round of 16 with plenty of momentum after their 1:1 draw with Germany in the final group match. “We are taking a lot of positives with us,” said goalkeeper Yann Sommer. The late goal by Niclas Füllkrug (90th+2) was annoying after “such a great performance.” Overall, however, he was “very proud” of his team, said the former Borussia Mönchengladbach and FC Bayern Munich goalkeeper. The Swiss showed “enthusiasm for the game” and “spirit” on Sunday. They were “courageous,” “ran a lot” and “defended very well,” explained the Inter Milan goalkeeper.
“The Germans’ celebration after the 1:1 says it all,” said captain Granit Xhaka of double winners Bayer Leverkusen. He praised the “hunger for every ball.” The Swiss’ defensive performance in particular deserved “great respect,” Xhaka continued.
10:20 a.m.: Hungarians think of injured Varga: “Fighter of the day”
After the 1-0 victory against Scotland, many Hungarian national football players are thinking of their injured teammate Barnabas Varga. “Get well soon, brother!!!”, wrote Freiburg defender Attila Szalai on Instagram on Monday night. Willi Orban of RB Leipzig wrote on the same platform next to a photo of the cheering Hungarians: “Until the end! For our fighter of the day: @varga.barnabas_!” Thanks to the victory in the last group match, the Hungarians still have a chance of qualifying for the round of 16 of the European Championship as third in the group.
All games of the home European Championship at a glance:
Schedule of the European Championship 2024 with all results
European Championship schedule as PDF to print
