As the group stage reaches a fascinating climax, at All Leeds TV we're continuing to monitor the progress of our seven Leeds United representatives throughout Euro 2020, previewing the upcoming final group 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. Will this be some of our players' last appearances at the tournament? Who is going through to knock out phases? And, who can they expect meet there?
Match Day 3
The final round of group stage fixtures featuring Leeds United representatives are as follows;
Sunday 20th June Group A: Italy v Wales (5pm ITV)
Monday 21st June Group C: North Macedonia v The Netherlands (5pm ITV)
Tuesday 22nd June Group D: Czech Republic v England (8pm ITV) Group D: Croatia v Scotland (8pm ITV4)
Wednesday 23rd June Group E: Slovakia v Spain (5pm ITV) Group E: Sweden v Poland (5pm ITV) Group F: Germany v Hungary (8pm ITV)
Italy v Wales - Tyler Roberts (Mins: 0)
Wales took a massive step towards securing their qualification for the Round of 16 with a fantastic 2-0 win over Turkey, on another memorable night for the Welsh support at a European Championship.
Leeds United's Tyler Roberts is still yet to feature at Euro 2020, having failied to get off the bench in either of Robert Page's sides' opening group fixtures.
That result leaves Wales on the brink of qualifying for the knockout phases, as they prepare to face Italy in their final group fixture on Sunday 20th June in Rome. Italy are already guaranteed safe passage to the next round, and avoiding defeat would confirm their place as group winners. Meanwhile, Wales only need to draw to seal their place in the next round, and could still qualify even with defeat as one of four highest-ranking 3rd place finishes.
Italy are one of the form sides at Euro 2020 thus far, having been widely touted as the dark horse of the competition. Roberto Mancini's side sit 7th in the FIFA World Ranking's, and were one of only two sides (alongside Belgium) to win all ten of their qualifying group games, as they breezed past Armenia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Finland, Greece and Liechtenstein.
The Italian's hammered both San Marino (7-0) and Czech Republic (4-0) in their friendly warm-up fixtures, and have started the tournament in red-hot form, beating both Turkey and Switzerland 3-0 to qualify from the group stage with a game to spare.
North Macedonia v The Netherlands - Ezgjan Alioski
North Macedonia's first appearance at a major tournament is over already, after a 2-1 defeat to Ukraine made it zero points from their opening two games. The Netherlands subsequent 2-0 win against Austria guaranteed a bottom-placed finish for the tournament debutant's.
Leeds United's Ezgjan Alioski was on the scoresheet for Igor Angelovski's side in Bucharest, scoring at the second attempt after seeing his initial penalty-kick saved by Heorhiy Bushcan. Alioski's consolation goal for his country sealed his place in his clubs' history, becoming the first Leeds player to score at a major tournament since Rio Ferdinand in 2002, and the first to score at European Championship since Gary McAllister in 1992.
With one final group fixture remaining, North Macedonia face the daunting prospect of a trip to the home of the group leaders, as they prepare to meet The Netherlands in Amsterdam on Monday 21st June.
Having beaten both of Austria and Ukraine, the Dutch have already confirmed their spot as group winners on head-to-head record, but will likely be hoping to reach the Round of 16 with a 100% record.
Frank de Boer's Netherlands side are ranked 16th in the FIFA World Rankings, and qualified as runner's up to rivals Germany having lost only one of their eight group games (against the German's). The Dutch took maximum points from Belarus and Estonia, as well as four from six versus Northern Ireland in qualifying.
A nervy 2-2 draw with Scotland and a 3-0 win over Georgia completed the preparations for Euro 2020, where an enteraining 3-2 victory over Ukraine and a comprehensive 2-0 win against Austria confirmed their safe passage to the knockout stage at the earliest opportunity.
Czech Republic v England - Kalvin Phillips
England were held to a goalless draw by neighbours Scotland in a drab affair at Wembley on Friday evening.
Leeds United's England poster-boy Kalvin Phillips completed another full 90 minutes for Gareth Southgate's side against the old enemy, in what sadly turned out to be a wholly uneventful game. Phillips had more touches versus Scotland than he did in his standout performance against Croatia, and appeared to playing deeper more often than he had in the previous match, but accumulated fewer presses and interceptions.
The Three Lions will round off their group fixtures with the vist of Czech Republic on Tuesday 22nd June at Wembley.
England have the opportunity to win Group D with victory over the Czech's, whilst a draw would also confirm their qualification for the knockout stages. Defeat could leave their fate in the hands of Croatia and Scotland who meet in Glasgow at the same time.
Jaroslav Silhavy's side are ranked 40th in the FIFA World Rankings, and qualified as the second-placed side in Group A, the qualifying group won by England, also containing Kosovo, Bulgaria and Montenegro. The two sides both won their home leg in qualifying, with England sticking five past the Czech's at Wembley, before being beaten 2-1 in Prague.
Czech Republic's pre-tournament warm-up fixtures resulted in a 4-0 away defeat to Italy, before a 3-1 victory over Albania. And, Silhavy's men have started their Euro 2020 campaign in fine form, beating Scotland 2-0 and holding Croatia to a 1-1 draw, with Patrik Schick leading the race for the Golden Boot, having scored all three of their goals.
Croatia v Scotland - Liam Cooper
Scotland held arch-enemies England to a goalless draw at Wembley on Friday evening, in a rather disappointing and uneventful game for spectators.
Leeds United captain Liam Cooper was replaced by fit-again Kieran Tierney on the left-hand side of Steve Clarke's three-man defence, and remained an unused substitute as the Scots held out for their first point of the group stage.
That result leaves Scotland in with a slim chance of qualifying for the knockout stages, albeit still with a chance. Scotland face Croatia at Hampden Park on Tuesday 22nd June knowing only a win will do.
Croatia are ranked 14th in the FIFA World Ranking's, and qualified as group winners from the same group as Wales. Zlatko Dalic's side warmed up for the tournament with a 1-1 draw at home to Armenia, before suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat away to Belgium.
The defeated World Cup finalists have looked a shadow of that 2018 side thus far at Euro 2020, having fallen to an opening-day defeat to England, before being held to a draw by Czech Republic, and sit joint on points with Scotland knowing they must win in Glasgow to stand any chance of making the Round of 16.
Slovakia v Spain - Diego Llorente (Mins: 0)
Spain were held to another draw by Poland in Seville on Saturday, with Gerard Moreno missing a crucial penalty as Luis Enrique's side left themselves with plenty to do to qualify for the knockout phase.
Leeds United defender Diego Llorente was an unused substitute for the second group game running, as Spain repeated their habit of not finishing the abundance of chances they created.
Las Rojas go into their final group fixture knowing they need a positive result to stand a chance of qualifying for the Round of 16. They face Slovakia in Seville on Wednesday 23rd June, where a point would likely be enough to ensure qualification for the visitors.
Slovakia are ranked 36th in the FIFA World Ranking's, and qualified through the play-off's, after finishing 3rd in their group behind Croatia and Wales. Slovakia disposed of both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (after extra-time) in the play-off's to reach Euro 2020.
Stefan Tarkovic's side were held to draws at home to Bulgaria (1-1), and away to Austria (0-0) in their preparations for the tournament. Slovakia started the tournament with a surprise 2-1 victory over Poland, before a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Sweden left them 2nd in Group E.
Sweden v Poland - Mateusz Klich
Poland collected their first point of Euro 2020 with a hard-earned 1-1 draw against Spain in Seville on Saturday. Robert Lewandowski led by example, scoring a crucial goal which keeps the Poles faint hopes of qualifying for the knockout phase alive.
Leeds United midfielder Mateusz Klich started for Paul Sousa's side, but was withdrawn ten minutes into the second half after receiving a first-half booking. Sousa was clearly keen to avoid a similar fate to the Slovakia defeat, where Gregorz Krychowiak's sending off put paid to any hopes of a result in Saint Petersburg.
The Poles round off their group stage fixtures with a win-or-bust encounter with group leaders Sweden in Saint Petersburg on Wednesday 23rd June. Either a draw or a defeat would confirm Poland's exit, and even a victory could see them drop out dependant on the other result in Group E.
Sweden are ranked 18th in the FIFA World Rankings, three places above Poland, and qualified as runner's-up to Spain in Group F.
The Swede's preparations for the tournament went swimmingly, with back-to-back home wins over Finland (2-0) and Armenia (3-1), before Janne Andersson's men held Spain to a goalless draw in their opening fixture, following that result up with a 1-0 win over Slovakia in Saint Petersburg on Friday.
Germany v Hungary - Robin Koch (Mins: 0)
Germany got off the mark in Munich on Tuesday with a resounding 4-2 victory over Portugal, courtesy of two first half own goals from Ruben Dias and Raphael Guerreiro, and strikes from Kai Havertz and Robin Gosens.
Leeds United defender Robin Koch was an unused substitute for the second match running, and as a result is yet to feature at Euro 2020.
Die Mannschaft's final group game is on Wednesday 23rd June, as Munich plays host to a Hungary side that sits bottom of the 'Group of Death'. With France and Portugal meeting in Budapest, Germany can win the group with a win dependant on France dropping points, albeit a draw would likely be enough to confirm qualification for Joachim Lowe's side even if they were to finish as one of four best-performing 3rd-placed finishers.
Hungary, ranked 37th in the FIFA World Rankings, were widely expected to be the whipping boys of Group F. Having qualified through the play-off's, after finishing 4th in a five-team group (containing Azerbaijan, Croatia, Slovakia and Wales), Hungary sealed their spot at this summer's tournament with win's over Bulgaria and Iceland.
The Hungarian preparations consisted of a 1-0 win over Cyprus and a goalless draw with Republic of Ireland, before impressing with a 85-minute rear-guard shutout of Cristiano Ronaldo and co, eventually succumbing to a 3-0 defeat. Marco Rossi's men then pulled off the shock result of the competition so far, holding World Champions France to a 1-1 draw in Budapest. Hungary must win their final group game to stand any chance of reaching the Round of 16.
So, that's your preview of the upcoming game week at the Euro's. Check back at the end of the next round of fixtures to see how the boys got on in our Euro 2020 Review, and keep an eye out for our weekly preview of the next round of fixtures.
We've got your Euro 2020 covered on AllLeedsTV.
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