With the first round of group stage fixtures at Euro 2020 already done and dusted, at All Leeds TV we're continuing to monitor the progress of our seven Leeds United representatives throughout the tournament, previewing the upcoming second match day fixtures for each individual player. You can expect to be signposted in the direction of all the relevant games, and inundated with the appropriate facts and figures to properly prepare you for another exciting round of matches.
Match Day 2
The second round of group stage fixtures featuring Leeds United representatives are as follows;
Wednesday 16th June Group A: Turkey v Wales (5pm BBC One)
Thursday 17th June Group C: Ukraine v North Macedonia (2pm ITV)
Friday 18th June Group D: England v Scotland (8pm ITV)
Saturday 19th June Group F: Portugal v Germany (5pm ITV) Group E: Spain v Poland (8pm BBC One)
Turkey v Wales - Tyler Roberts
Wales began their Euro 2020 campaign with a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Switzerland in Baku on Saturday afternoon. Robert Page's side staged a late comeback, with Kieffer Moore's 75th minute header cancelling out Breel Embolo's opener, to give both sides a share of the points. The Swiss took the lead five minutes into the second half, as Embolo nodded in from Xherdan Shaqiri's inswinging corner from close range, and forced Welsh keeper Danny Ward into a string of crucial saves.
Leeds United's Tyler Roberts was an unused substitute in Azerbaijan, with Moore getting the nod as the central striker in a front three containing added width provided by Daniel James and skipper Gareth Bale. Page's preference of Moore in the group opener, alongside a positive result and decisive performance from the Cardiff City striker, would likely indicate Roberts has a fight on his hands to force his way into the starting eleven.
That draw leaves Wales tied for 2nd in Group A with their opponent's Switzerland, two points behind leaders Italy, who cruised to a 3-0 win over Turkey in the showpiece opener on Friday evening in Rome.
Wales are back in action on Wednesday 16th June, once again in Baku, as they face another tough tie against Turkey. The Turks are 29th in the FIFA World Rankings, twelve places below Robert Page's side, and qualified as runners-up to World Champions France, whom they took an impressive four points from in Group H. Senol Gunes' side lost only once in qualifying, a 2-1 defeat away to Iceland.
Turkey warmed up for Euro 2020 with friendly victories over Azerbaijan (2-1) and Moldova (2-0), either side of a goalless draw with Guinae, before that humbling 3-0 defeat Italy dented their early-tournament hopes.
With Italy facing Switzerland in the Wednesday evening kick off, Wales have the chance to temporarily take top spot with a victory. Another draw wouldn't be a terrible result for Wales, especially in the event Italy were to take maximum points off the Swiss. Meanwhile, anything but a win for Turkey would likely leave them needing all three points in their final group game.
Ukraine v North Macedonia - Ezgjan Alioski
North Macedonia's Euro 2020 campaign began with defeat to Austria in Bucharest on Sunday. Leeds United winger Ezgjan Alioski completed the full ninety minutes, as the lowest ranked side in the competition were beaten 3-1, courtesy of goals from Stefan Lainer, Michael Gregoritsch and Marko Arnautovic.
Igor Angelovski's side were level at half-time through skipper Goran Pandev's equaliser, but couldn't hold on for the draw, with Austrian substitutes Gregoritsch and Arnautovic scoring twice in the final twelve minutes to seal victory.
As a result, Franco Foda's men top Group C on goal difference heading into the second group games, with Alioski and co. sitting bottom of group following the Netherlands 3-2 win over Ukraine.
North Macedonia are back in action on Thursday 17th June, as they face a crucial tie against Ukraine, again in Bucharest. A win is a must, with group favourites the Netherlands still to play in the final group game. A draw or a defeat would likely signal a premature end to their first major tournament.
Ukraine, ranked 38 places higher than North Macedonia at 24th in the FIFA World Ranking's, impressively qualified as group winner's in an unbeaten qualifying group phase that saw them ease past Lithuania, Luxembourg, Portugal and Serbia.
Andriy Shevchenko's men cruised to wins over Northern Ireland (1-0) and Cyprus (4-0) in their friendly warm-up's, before a thrilling 3-2 defeat to the Netherlands in Amsterdam in their group opener on Sunday.
Ukraine showed great spirit to come from 2-0 late on against the Dutch, despite losing out to a decisive late winner. That result should provide encouragement, and with only Austria remaining, Shevchenko's side will fancy themselves to take maximum points from North Macedonia to ease any pressure on the final group fixture.
England v Scotland - Kalvin Phillips v Liam Cooper
Kalvin Phillips starred for England, as the Three Lions got off to an ideal start with a 1-0 win over Croatia on Sunday. Raheem Sterling's goal secured a vital, early three points for Gareth Southgate's side, as they avenged their World Cup 2018 semi-final defeat.
Phillips was the outstanding performer for England, providing the assist for Sterling's 58th minute winner, as well as dominating throughout in an advanced midfield role, on his internation tournament debut.
The Three Lions are back in action on Friday 18th June against the 'Old Enemy'. England versus Scotland at Wembley is a fixture with over a hundred years of history, and is one of the most eagerly-anticipated games of the tournament. Phillips influential tournament debut has certainly given Southgate a selection headache ahead of Jordan Henderson's return to full fitness. One would imagine the Yorkshire Pirlo's display has made him undroppable for the visit of Steve Clarke's side.
Steve Clarke's Scotland got off to the worst possible start to Euro 2020, with a 2-0 defeat to Czech Republic in Glasgow on Monday. Patrik Schick's two goals either side of half-time was enough to send the Czech's top of Group D at a very sombre Hampden Park.
Leeds United skipper Liam Cooper played the full ninety minutes for Scotland, but was beaten in the air by Schick for the opener, and could only watch on in amazement as the Bayer Leverkusen striker grabbed his second with a sensational 50-yard lob over David Marshall.
Scotland sit 44th in the FIFA World Ranking's and are heading to Wembley on Friday to face an England side ranked 4th in the world, and in need of only one more win to secure their safe passage to the knockout phases. Meanwhile, Scotland need some form of result to give them any hope of qualifying heading into their final group fixture against Croatia.
Scotland's last win at Wembley came in 1999, with England having won three and drawn one of the last four meetings between the two sides since the turn of the millenium. The sides have met on 35 occasions since England's World Cup win in 1966, with the Scots winning only seven to England's nineteen. Of those seven Scottish victories, four came at Wembley.
The last meeting of the two sides at a major tournament was a memorable 2-0 England win at Euro 1996, with Alan Shearer and Paul Gascoigne scoring for Terry Venables' Three Lions side, which went on to lose their semi-final to Germany in an iconic penalty shootout.
Portugal v Germany - Robin Koch
Die Mannschaft kickstarted their Euro 2020 campaign facing the difficult prospect of hosting World Champions France in Munich on Tuesday evening.
Leeds United defender Robin Koch was an unused substitute, as Joachim Lowe's side were narrowly beaten courtesy of a first half own goal by Mats Hummels. The French saw two second half goals ruled out for offside, whilst putting on a defensive masterclass to hold off a second-half German onslaught, closing out a crucial 1-0 victory.
That defeat leaves Germany second from bottom in Group F, but with hope heading into games against Portugal and Hungary knowing that 3rd spot may be enough to secure qualification for the knockout phase dependant on how many points they can secure in their upcoming group fixtures.
Germany face reigning European Champions Portugal next on Saturday 19th June in Munich. Fernando Santos' are 5th in the FIFA World Ranking's and boast superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes and Ruben Dias.
Portugal qualified as runner's up to Ukraine in qualifying Group B, losing only one of their eight games, to Andriy Shevchenko's group winners. And, the Iberian side completed their warm-up's with a goalless draw with neighbours Spain, before a 4-0 win over Israel.
A Ronaldo inspired late show gave Portgual all three points against Hungary in their opening game of Euro 2020 on Tuesday in Budapest. The Magyars held out until the final exchanges before Raphael Guerreiro finally opened the scoring, before a Ronaldo brace, including a penalty gave Santos' side a 3-0 opening-day win.
Spain v Poland - Diego Llorente v Mateusz Klich
Spain began their Euro 2020 with an underwhelming 0-0 draw against Sweden in Seville on Monday. Leeds United defender Diego Llorente watched on as an unused substitute as Luis Enrique's side dominated possession, but failed to take a number of chances to claim what would've been a thoroughly deserved three points.
Meanwhile, Poland got off to a surprisingly poor start with a shock 2-1 defeat to Slovakia in Saint Petersburg on Monday. A Wojciech Szczęsny own goal and Gregorz Krychowiak's sending off were compounded when Milan Skriniar's 70th minute winner ruled out Karol Linetty's equaliser, leaving Paulo Sousa with plenty of work to do to qualify for the knockout phase.
Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich completed 85 minutes for Poland playing in behind captain Robert Lewandowski, and looked encouragingly energetic and creative, without ever looking truly likely to get on the scoresheet.
Those results leave Group E wide open, and strangely with the two pre-tournament favourites struggling at the wrong end of the table. Poland sit bottom ahead of their match with Spain, who are only a point better off. With Slovakia facing Sweden, both Poland and Spain will be hoping Sweden can do everyone a favour and beat Slovakia to make sure there's still plenty to play for on the final day in Group E.
Spain and Poland meet on Saturday 19th June in Seville, with history and home advantage very much in favour of the hosts. The two sides have never faced each other at a major tournament, but have met on ten previous occasions, with the Spaniard's winning eight and losing only once.
However, Poland's last, and only victory over Spain did come on Spanish soil, with a 2-1 friendly victory in Barcelona in 1980. The last friendly meeting between the two sides ended in a 6-0 win for Vicente del Bosque's newly-crown World Champions in 2010.
So, that's your preview of the upcoming game week at the Euro's. Check back at the end of the next round of fixture's to see how the boy's got on in our Euro 2020 Review's, and keep an eye out for our weekly preview's of the next round of fixtures as well.
We've got your Euro 2020 covered on AllLeedsTV.
留言