MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2021 10

Austria see off North Macedonia to secure first ever Euro win England make winning start at Euro 2020 England up and running at Euro 2020 as ’s strike sinks Croatia

Raheem Sterling scored• the only goal as Austria’s Michael Gregoritsch (right) steers the ball past North Macedonia’s England deservedly beat goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski Croatia in a tight game AFP | Paris at a sweltering Wembley KNOW WHAT BETTER AFP | London ubstitutes Michael Grego- In a rematch of the Sritsch and Marko Arnauto- 2018 World Cup vic scored late goals as Austria KNOW aheem Sterling ignited sealed a 3-1 victory over major England’s Euro 2020 semi-final won by tournament debutants North Rcampaign as the Man- Croatia, England were Macedonia in their Group C chester City forward’s clinical hampered by a lack of opener at Euro 2020 on Sun- finish sealed a 1-0 win against cutting edge until Ster- day. Croatia in their Group D opener ling came to the rescue Stefan Lainer put the Austri- yesterday. ans ahead early on in Bucha- ’s side were Sterling and as rest, but 37-year-old captain struggling to break down Cro- England’s Raheem Sterling scores and celebrates during the match against Croatia the creative forces behind Harry Goran Pandev levelled before atia until Sterling struck in the tension at Wembley and got fans that attracted most pre-match Kane. the half-hour mark to become second half at sun-baked Wem- bellowing ‘Football’s coming attention. With that quartet still strug- the second-oldest scorer in Michael Gregoritsch bley. home’ in the hope England can But it proved an inspired gling to unhinge Croatia into the Euro history and delight the sent a message to The 26-year-old’s first goal emulate their run to the semi-fi- move as, along with Sterling, the second half, fans began chanting vocal Macedonian fans. Christian Eriksen after at a major tournament -- in his nals when they hosted Euro 96, Leeds midfielder was England’s for the introduction of Aston But Gregoritsch diverted scoring, holding up a 13th game -- was the perfect ri- and maybe even win a major most accomplished performer. Villa playmaker Grealish. home the deciding goal 12 min- shirt which read “Erik- poste to critics who questioned tournament for the first time But Sterling quelled the utes from time and Arnautovic Southgate’s decision to select since the 1966 World Cup. England hold firm mounting anxiety as England added a third to ensure Austria sen stay strong” him instead of . In truth, this was a far from Manchester City forward struck in the 57th minute. claimed their first-ever Euro- Sterling has endured a cheq- convincing performance, but , his hair bleached Phillips was the catalyst as pean Championship win and It was the first time Austria uered relationship with Eng- Southgate will take heart from blond, has drawn comparisons he burst forward past two Cro- struck first blood in a group had taken the lead in a Europe- land fans after being hounded the way his team kept their with England legend Paul Gas- atians and slipped a deft pass also containing the Nether- an Championship game. following his tame performanc- nerve on a pressure-packed oc- coigne, who sported the same behind the defensive line. lands and Ukraine, who meet They quickly threatened a es at Euro 2016. casion. eye-catching hair cut during Sterling arrived just ahead of in Amsterdam later in the day. second goal as Sasa Kalajd- He also struggled to hold England host neighbours Euro 96. his lunging marker and slotted Austria next visit the Dutch zic turned Sabitzer’s pass too down a place with Premier Scotland in their second Group Foden was inches away from a low shot past Livakovic from on Thursday, while North close to Dimitrievski. League champions City this D match on Friday before taking giving England the perfect start 10 yards. Macedonia stay in the Roma- But North Macedonia con- term, culminating in his lack- on the Czech Republic in their in the sixth minute with the Kane was denied in painful nian capital to face Ukraine. tinued to press and levelled lustre display in their Champi- final game of the first stage on kind of magic that made Gas- fashion when he crashed into After a bright start by Igor in the 28th minute as Austria ons League final defeat against June 22. coigne so beloved. the post after Duje Caleta-Car Angelovski’s Macedonians on goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann Chelsea. After England were booed for Collecting Sterling’s pass made a superb block to keep out Sunday, Austria struck against lost the ball as he slid out to But, days after he was given taking the knee in support of the on the edge of the area, Foden his close-range effort. the run of play in the 18th min- collect it after some comical an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Black Lives Matter movement worked space to curl his Mount fired a free-kick nar- ute as right-back Lainer met defending, and Pandev gleeful- Honours List for his anti-racism before their friendlies against left-footed shot off the far post. rowly over but England went Marcel Sabitzer’s cross at the ly accepted the gift to slot into campaigning, Sterling enjoyed Austria and Romania in Mid- Phillips was quickly into his on the defensive in the closing back post to volley past goal- an empty net. a perfectly-timed moment of dlesbrough, there were fears stride and forced Dominik Li- stages. keeper Stole Dimitrievski. It was a record-extending redemption. fans at Wembley would turn on vakovic to make a scrambling In the absence of the injured Lainer celebrated by hold- 38th goal for the former Inter In a rematch of the 2018 the team as well. save with his strike from the , Tyrone Mings ing up a shirt with the words Milan forward for his country, World Cup semi-final won by There were a smattering of edge of the area. and were up to the “Eriksen stay strong” after making him the second-oldest Croatia, England were ham- boos from sections of the 22,500 But Southgate’s men showed task as England’s centre-backs Denmark midfielder Chris- player to net in the tournament pered by a lack of cutting edge crowd, but the majority cheered signs of running out of ideas held firm to clinch a victory in tian Eriksen suffered a cardiac after Austrian Ivica Vastic at until Sterling came to the res- the gesture this time. after their early flurry failed to their opening European Cham- arrest in their game against the age of 38 against Poland cue. It was Southgate’s surprise yield a goal. pionship game for the first Finland on Saturday. in 2008. Sterling’s winner eased the decision to select Southgate had picked Foden, time.

Pogacar warms up for Tour Lukaku urges Eriksen to ‘stay strong’ as de France with home victory Belgium make winning start to Euro 2020 AFP | Paris AFP | Sochi adej Pogacar warmed up Tfor the defence of his Tour elgium striker Romelu de France title by winning the BLukaku sent a message of I am really happy with Tour of Slovenia yesterday as support to his stricken Inter German Phil Bauhaus won the Milan team-mate Christian the win, but it was hard fifth and final stage into Novo Eriksen after scoring, as his for me to play because Mesto. double helped the Red Devils my thoughts were with “I’ve wanted this victory for open their Euro 2020 campaign Christian Erkisen a while and I am really happy with a 3-0 win over Russia on ROMELU LUKAKU with it,” said Slovenian Poga- Saturday. car, who rides for Team UAE. Lukaku gave Belgium an from players who have shared “My condition is quite good, Tadej Pogacar celebrates on the early lead in Saint Petersburg, dressing rooms and big mo - I will rest now for a while, do podium then shouted “Chris, Chris, ments with Christian. some more training and then the Tour will start”, he said, stay strong -- I love you” into “All our thoughts go to him adding that it would be “more a pitchside camera during the and his family, but also to the difficult than last year, for celebration for his opening goal. Danish team, as that was a really sure”. Eriksen is recovering in hos- tough moment.” Pogacar, who finished 1min pital in Copenhagen after col- Substitute Thomas Meunier My condition is quite 23.31sec ahead of Italian team- Romelu Lukaku sends a message of support to Christian Eriksen after scoring good, I will rest now lapsing on the pitch during ex- in Belgium’s win over Russia doubled Belgium’s lead on 34 mate Diego Ulisse, had ridden traordinary scenes which over- minutes before Lukaku put the for a while, do some his home tour three times be- shadowed Denmark’s 1-0 home tears of concern before kick-off “We were watching the game result beyond doubt with a late more training and fore finishing fifth in 2017 and defeat by Finland in Saturday’s for his Inter team-mate. live and five minutes after second goal. then the Tour will fourth in both 2018 and 2019. earlier Group B game. Belgium coach Roberto Mar- Christian collapsed, we went Belgium, the world’s top- start”, he said, adding After the Tour, which ends “I am really happy with the tinez admitted other members into a team meeting. As you can ranked team, are under pres- that it would be on July 18, Pogacar plans to win, but it was hard for me to of his squad were also affected imagine, the last thing we want- sure to deliver at the European compete in the Olympic road play because my thoughts were after seeing Eriksen sudden- ed to do was talk about football,” Championship as some pun- “more difficult than race in Japan on July 24. with Christian Erkisen,” said ly slump to the turf during the said Martinez. dits claim this is Martinez’s last last year, for sure “I want a holiday after the Lukaku, who revealed he cried Denmark-Finland game. “There were a lot of tears chance to win a title with an TADEJ POGACAR Olympics,” he said.