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SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021 Griezmann rescues draw for France

BUDAPEST: Antoine Griezmann salvaged midway through the first half, and the hosts a 1-1 draw for France against Hungary in were living dangerously as Benzema sliced Budapest as the world champions missed badly from a superb flick by Mbappe the chance to clinch a place in the Euro before the Paris Saint-Germain forward 2020 last 16 yesterday. Hungary threat- dragged wide himself. ened to blow Group F wide open when France captain Hugo Lloris had warned Attila Fiola gave the hosts a shock lead in of over confidence against a team expect- first-half stoppage time after catching out ed to finish bottom of the group, and Les the France defence. Bleus were punished for a brief lapse just But Griezmann, the Golden Boot winner before half-time. Fiola collected Adam at Euro 2016, equalized on 66 minutes as Nagy’s crossfield ball and played a one- an unconvincing France avoided a first two with Roland Sallai, outpacing competitive defeat since June 2019. Didier Benjamin Pavard and holding off Raphael Deschamps’ side top the section with four Varane to side-foot beyond Lloris at his points, one above reigning champions near post. Portugal who play Germany in Munich lat- Deschamps had waited until the 89th er. Hungary earned their first point and the minute before making a substitute in the Germans are bottom after losing to France opener against Germany, but the introduc- in their opener. tion of Ousmane Dembele for Adrien France stay in Budapest for their final Rabiot on the hour nearly brought an game against Portugal, while Hungary trav- immediate equalizer as the Barcelona for- el to Munich to take on Germany, still hop- ward rattled the post. France pulled level ing to qualify for the knockout phase for a when a long kick upfield by Lloris sailed second straight tournament. Contending over the head of Nagy, with Mbappe with stifling temperatures in excess of 30 latching onto it ahead of Hungary’s Paris- degrees Celsius and a crowd approaching born Loic Nego. 60,000 at the Puskas Arena, the only Euro His ball across goal was deflected into 2020 venue without capacity restrictions Griezmann’s path by Willi Orban, allowing due to COVID-19, France controlled much the forward to slam in his seventh of the first half. European Championship goal. Gulacsi Having lived up to their billing as tour- produced a fine save to turnaway a fierce nament favorites in a 1-0 win over shot from Mbappe as France pressed for a Germany, France dominated Hungary early victory that would have sent them through BUDAPEST: France’s midfielder Paul Pogba and Hungary’s midfielder Laszlo Kleinheisler vie during the UEFA Euro 2020 Group F match on, creating numerous chances against a to the knockout phase. Instead, they must at Puskas Arena yesterday. — AFP side that held out for 84 minutes before wait until Wednesday’s clash with Portugal. losing 3-0 to Portugal. Peter Gulacsi slim chances of booking a place in the with two defeats, was the defense. “I’m likely to make alterations to his starting clawed away Karim Benzema’s low drive, Turkey ‘need a miracle’ knockout stage alive. sorry for the result. We want to close the line-up from Wednesday’s loss to Wales in reacting sharply to keep out Griezmann’s Meanwhile, Turkey coach Senol Gunes “We are in a situation where we need a chapter with three points,” he said. “We Azerbaijan. follow-up, despite the Barcelona star being said yesterday his side will need a “mira- miracle to happen,” Gunes said. “It will be are all sad, tomorrow is a completely new Left-back Umut Meras will miss the flagged for offside. cle” to reach the Euro 2020 last 16 ahead very sad to go home from this tournament game. We are really sad to have conceded match with Switzerland and could be Lucas Digne, brought into the side for of their final group game against without any success. After the first game five goals in two games.” replaced by Sassuolo’s Mert Muldur. The Lucas Hernandez as the only change made Switzerland. Turkey sit bottom of Group A, against Italy it felt like it was the end of the Gunes took over in March 2019 and likes of AC Milan’s Hakan Calhanoglu and by France coach Deschamps, then picked without a point or a goal after defeats by world.” Centre-back Caglar Soyuncu said oversaw victories over World Cup holders Fenerbahce’s Ozan Tufan could lose their out an unmarked Kylian Mbappe whose Italy in Rome and Wales in Baku. They face the most disappointing aspect of the open- France and Euro 2016 quarter-finalists spots in the team. “There can be changes. glancing header flashed narrowly wide. Switzerland today in the Azeri capital ing losses, a second straight European Iceland during the qualifying campaign, We are below our standard. We still have Hungary lost captain Adam Szalai to injury knowing they need to win to keep their Championship where Turkey have started losing just once. The 69-year-old said he is expectations,” he said. — AFP