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Tue 22 Jun 2021 12.57 EDTFirst published on Tue 22 Jun 2021 03.23 EDT
Munich’s mayor had hoped to light the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for Germany’s game against Hungary.
Munich’s mayor had hoped to light the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for Germany’s game against Hungary. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Munich’s mayor had hoped to light the Allianz Arena in rainbow colours for Germany’s game against Hungary. Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

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The Denmark captain Simon Kjaer has been speaking to Danmarks Radio and said he considered not playing in his side’s Euro 2020 Group B game against Belgium as he just didn’t know if he was capable of doing so after being so heavily involved in helping to save the life of Christian Eriksen. He also spoke about the hugely positive effect that the support of fans has had on the squad.

The idea was not that I would stop playing football completely, but if I would be ready to play football again four days later. I didn’t know if I was going to play football again right away after what happened that night. And then you come to a point where you want to try, but you do not know. But the way we have tackled it together is something we can only be proud of. I am very proud of the lads and the whole staff. We had probably dreamed that there could be some euphoria in Denmark after three matches. But the support and support we have received has been wilder than expected. There have been some wild days in Parken that we will never forget. It has just been too insane, and we are deeply grateful for the support we have received.

Away from the Euros, some disappointing news for fans who were hoping to see Team GB in action before they travel to Japan to compete for an Olympic medal in the football tournament. This from PA:

Great Britain’s Olympics warm-up match against Zambia is off, with the Football Association announcing the African side have had to withdraw. The fixture had been scheduled to take place at Stoke’s bet365 Stadium a week on Thursday. But a statement from the FA on Tuesday said: “Due to circumstances beyond everyone’s control Zambia have had to withdraw from the National Lottery-hosted GB Women’s Football send-off game on 1 July. The African nation - who will also be taking part in the Olympic Games in Tokyo next month - had to pull out because of complications linked to Covid-19 restrictions. Ticket refunds will be issued to all purchasers.” A limited number of tickets for the game had gone on sale from 11 June. Hege Riise’s GB side are scheduled to begin their Olympic campaign by facing Chile in Sapporo on 21 July, then take on hosts Japan at the same venue three days later before concluding their Group E fixtures with a 27 July clash in Kashima with Canada.

I reckon I’ve listened to more Scottish music in the buildup to these Euros than any other nation’s. In most part down to As The Love Continues, by Mogwai and As Days Get Dark, by Arab Strap, who had been out of music for almost as long as Scotland’s absence from major tournaments yet came back with an absolute belter. I’d like to think Andy Robertson will have The Turning Of Our Bones playing in his head as he legs it up and down the left wing this evening.

We’ve heard quite a bit about how Scotland might alter their lineup to bring Scott McTominay into midfield to replace Billy Gilmour. That move would surely help to limit the time on the ball that Luka Modric might get, given McTominay chases after opponents like a guard dog going after trespassers. But we haven’t heard as much from Croatia. Perhaps that is because their manager, Zlatko Dalić, is feeling a bit downbeat: “Scotland should have done much better against the Czechs; they had a lot of chances. They showed motivation and fighting spirit against England as well, and they will be the same against us because three points means a historic result for them in their stadium in front of their fans. A winning result is what gives you that positive atmosphere and we haven’t had that. We had that in Russia [at the 2018 World Cup] but now we are constantly in the red and we can’t get into a rhythm.” Despite Gilmour’s absence, this is a huge chance for Scotland tonight, isn’t it?

Rick Grant writes: “Just want to say Figs Jackson’s earlier email (Covid protocol fantasy v reality, 15.46)) totally reflects my experience at Wembley for the Croatia game. On arriving for our timed slot some three hours before kick off we were told we needn’t pay any attention to that, and to go in whenever we wanted (can’t say I wasn’t grateful for that). When the time came I had to show a single NHS text to get in (which could easily have been forwarded from a mate with the contact duly renamed as there was no ID check to speak of – or just faked from the get go) and once inside it really felt like all bets were off. Big groups of fans bunched up chanting at the bars, about 50/50 on the masks. They were far more concerned about my bag being no bigger than a piece of A4 paper (three separate checks!). One might think that after the whole Champions League final location/Covid debacle this could have been an opportunity to be somewhat magnanimous and show we’re prepared to practise what we preach but instead I find myself thinking of DJ shadow’s seminal missive: Why hip hop sucks in ‘96’ (it’s the money, kids).”

And a different view from Thomas Atkins: “I feel for Figs Jackson, who should unquestionably have been given the right to a refund if they didn’t feel happy going to the game. However, with an effective vaccine available we’re getting to the stage where if people are uncomfortable being in close proximity to other humans, they should withdraw themselves from the situation, and let everyone else start to live their lives again. Difficult if you’ve got to work in an Amazon warehouse or commute to work by train every day, but if you’re in a position where you don’t feel safe going to a football game unless there’s an unsustainably small number of people there, then the answer is simply not to go to the game.”

Some England fans have hit the pyro early in Leicester Square, where just a few days ago, thousands of Scotland fans turned it into a wet and wild playground.

Erm, no pyro no party? Photograph: Luciana Guerra/PA

Meanwhile, the sky above Hampden Park before Scotland v Croatia looks far brighter than the grey sludge hovering over London this afternoon.

Look at that sky! Photograph: Steve Bardens/Uefa/Getty Images
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Gary Harley thinks I need a new approach if I’m ever going to get a call off Joachim Löw, or Hansi Flick (I still have life left in these 42-year-old legs, after all). “I am not surprised that you have not (yet) been given a call-up by Germany, Gregg, your attitude is all wrong! This is not England we are talking about here, is it, man? Get a grip, get some counselling, get fit, and make your presence and availability both known and felt. Löw isn’t around for much longer, take that as your opportunity for a fresh start, and quit with the excuses, son!”

And on the subject of Germany. Obviously they go into tomorrow night’s games as huge favourites. It was not always that way, as is made clear in this wonderful re-telling of the Miracle of Bern at the 1954 World Cup final.

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The Wales defender Joe Rodon has been speaking about the challenge of taking on Denmark in Amsterdam, where there will be no Welsh support in the last-16 tie due to Covid restrictions but plenty of Danes.

The Turkey game in Baku was a challenge we loved and enjoyed. Winning that game was a great feeling. It is frustrating that we can’t have our own fans, but we’ve just got to get on with it. I’m just delighted to have fans back in the stadium, to get that atmosphere back. That tension in the game, I can’t wait. It’s just normal going to away games in the season, something you have to be used to. It is a shame our fans can’t be there, but it makes us more excited to go to Amsterdam and put in a performance for them at home. It’s a big game and Denmark are a very good team. It will come down to moments in the game, but we’re going to have to be on it and focused for the whole 90 minutes or extra time. But we can’t wait for the weekend to come.

Niall O’Keeffe has emailed in with a list of current England players who could play for Republic of Ireland.

1) Harry Kane. Irish grandparents through his dad.
2) Michael Keane played for Ireland at Under-17 and Under-19 level
3) Patrick Bamford. Played underage for Ireland
4) Harry Maguire. Has to have Irish blood with a name like that

And those lads Rice and Grealish. But rather than be bitter, maybe celebrate those born in England to Irish families. The Gallaghers. Morrissey. John Lennon. And many more. Oh. And me too.

I qualify to play for Germany through my mum but Jogi Löw didn’t come down to watch me play 8-a-side on a Monday and I was cruelly overlooked.

England’s Jack Grealish, right. Photograph: Ronny Hartmann/Getty Images

Right, my work here is done, and I’m off to steel myself for an evening of flitting between channels repeatedly, thereby rendering any tactical “insights” I may have about Croatia, Scotland, England and the Czech Republic even more incoherent than usual. And I’ll pass you back to Gregg, who’ll guide you through the rest of the day before we can start our big matches buildup in earnest.

Piece just dropped on the PA News wire on the Chilwell/Mount isolation, in which a Covid test specialist says it will have been ‘a judgment call’ to order the England pair’s self-isolation but no members of the Scotland squad.

“It comes down to interpretation,” said immunologist Denis Kinane, the co-founder of Cignpost Diagnostics, a Government-accredited service offering Covid screening and testing.

“Nobody actually knows for definite and a lot of people use the public health definition to make rules. They’ll have tracked back a bit and seen there were two English players in close contact with him in terms of hugging or chatting.

“Essentially what we’re talking about is spit. Any saliva or aerosols in the air – kissing, laughing, singing, coughing, that kind of thing can spread it.

“When we talk about what constitutes close contact, there is a time element to it, an activity element to it and then the distance between the people.”

Kinane says it is possible other elements were taken into consideration when it was decided how long the players should isolate for.

He told the PA news agency: “If they’ve been asked to isolate until Monday they must think there was some significant contact, or they are making an example of them, or falling back on public health rulings and doing everything by the book. But we just don’t know and we don’t have all the facts.”

This one’s gonna run and run, folks.

“Writing as a very fortunate ‘fans first’ ticket holder for the first semi final,” emails Figs Jackson. “Today’s announcement of the increase to 60,000 spectators for the semis and final is completely irresponsible to those with tickets. To call my ticket ‘fans first’ is a total misnomer. The health and safety of fans is not being put ‘first’ and now I feel extremely uncomfortable about attending the game.

“Having attended hundreds (if not thousands) of matches both domestic and abroad including many UEFA and FIFA events, all the so-called security checks and protocols such as name checks on tickets outlined on tickets and online prior to attending completely evaporate in reality on match day.

“To suggest that all fans attending will prove they are double vaccinated/with a negative test is totally unrealistic. It just won’t happen. And puts an unworkable stress on those stewarding the event.
Of course, this increase could be seen as just a political statement, but that’s another point of discussion.
More, as we’re still in the midst of a global pandemic, the health and welfare of those hoping to attend the game has clearly been disregarded.

“And by the way, the portal to return tickets has been closed, so that option isn’t open to those who are concerned for their safety. Happy for you to reflect any comments made above online. Thanks for reading.”

Grealish, Maguire and Shaw set to start

Jacob Steinberg
Jacob Steinberg

England team news latest:

It sounds like Gareth Southgate is going to give the masses what they want tonight. With Mason Mount unavailable after his chat with Billy Gilmour last Friday, Jack Grealish is expected to come into England’s starting 11 against the Czech Republic tonight. It will be Grealish’s first start of the tournament.

Ben Chilwell is also isolating after his part in the Gilmour rendezvous in the Wembley tunnel. Luke Shaw in at left-back. And Harry Maguire is expected to start.

Harry Maguire during the England training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre yesterday. Photograph: Eddie Keogh - The FA/The FA/Getty Images
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The Munich mayor, Dieter Reiter, has spoken out on the Uefa rainbow lights ban at the Allianz Arena: “I find it shameful that Uefa forbids us to send a message here in Munich for openness, tolerance, respect and solidarity with the LGBTQI + community,” he said in a statement.

“I am also very disappointed that the DFB (the German football federation), despite the unbelievably clear positioning here in Munich, in Bavaria and also in Germany, has not achieved or wanted to achieve anything. The alternative suggestion of illuminating the Allianz Arena on another day contradicts any message that is supposed to emanate from rainbow lighting.”

Are you able to please explain why the two England players are out tonight for chatting to Gilmour in the tunnel,” asks Lyn, writing from France (and 1,057 others), “yet the entire Scotland team is not only not in isolation but also able to play? Has any guidance on the method/madness been provided?Obviously it’s great for Scotland, but I’m just trying to get my head around how the Scotland team hasn’t had similar (or more) contact if they have been training (and sharing hotels, meals, etc) with him.”

It’s seemingly to do with the nature of Gilmour’s contact with Mount and Chilwell, which was indoors, in a lengthy conversation after the game, rather than all those sweaty, closer but briefer encounters in Wembley’s wide open spaces. “These factors were more relevant and concerning to PHE than photos of Mount and Chilwell embracing Gilmour on the pitch at full-time,” according to a report in the Independent.

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Some reaction from a ‘gutted’ Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell on their exclusion from tonight’s game, from PA.

… Following confirmation from the Football Association over the decision, which was taken in consultation with Public Health England (PHE), both players posted a brief message on social media.

Midfielder Mount wrote on Twitter: “I’m absolutely gutted to have to miss tonight’s game. I’ll be cheering on the boys as usual and ensuring that I’m ready to go again when called upon. Come on England!”

Defender Chilwell posted: “It’s a tough one to take and I’m gutted but I want to wish the boys all the best tonight in the game, I’ll be cheering you all on. I will make sure I am ready for when I can rejoin the squad. Lets go England!”

The FA said both players will now isolate “up to and including next Monday (June 28)”.

A bit of women’s domestic transfer news: Liverpool have signed Leanne Kiernan from West Ham, reuniting the Republic of Ireland forward with the former Hammers manager Matt Beard, who’s now in charge of the Championship side.

Wembley crowds of 60,000 permitted at semi-finals and final

The UK government has announced it will allow crowds of 75% capacity at Wembley for the Euro 2020 semi-finals and final, under an agreement reached with Uefa. The matches will form part of the government’s Events Research Programme under its coronavirus recovery programme, and fans will be expected to meet Covid entry requirements.

The DCMS’s release states: “All ticket holders will need to follow a number of strict entry requirements including having a negative Covid-19 test or proof of full vaccination – two doses received, 14 days before the fixture. Ticket holders registered with a GP in England will be able to display their proof of vaccination via the NHS app, or equivalent proof printed out, for example for people from Scotland and Wales. Ticket holders will also be able to display a NHS negative lateral flow test result via email, test message or the NHS app.”

England fans sing the National Anthem before the Group D match against Scotland at Wembley Stadium on June 18. Photograph: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images
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If you’re struggling with live football cold-turkey this afternoon, I feel compelled to inform you that some intense, high-quality, low-scoring cricket is taking place in Southampton, where India are fighting back against New Zealand. And you can follow it here.

Thanks Gregg, and yeah, Gene were an underrated band as it goes (this, for example, is glorious) but what with all the Euro 96 retrospectives, men of a certain age have probably delighted the public long enough with their Nineties nostalgia. So back to the present – and reports that Jack Grealish will start for England, and that Jordan Henderson and Harry Maguire will be involved too.

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