Sports Tuesday, June 15, 2021 13 Lewandowski’s Poland lose 2-1 to Slovakia after own goal, sending off DPA “We didn’t start the way Maciej Rybus was fed with ST PETERSBURG we wanted to. The result is not with space in the area and he satisfactory. (But) we still have played the ball back into the AN own goal and a sending off two more games,” Linetty told centre to Linetty whose shot were too much for Poland as Polish television TVP. rolled into the far right corner the team of World Footballer Slovakia’s Ondrej Duda even though the Torino player Robert Lewandowski slumped said: “We managed to elimi- didn’t hit the ball properly. to a 2-1 defeat against Slovakia nate Lewandowski ... Poland enjoyed their best in their Euro 2020 opener on I am satisfied with the re- spell but that ended when Kry- Monday. sult. We played our game and chowiak got his marching or- Slovakia led in the 18th not Poland’s game.” Duda had ders in the 62nd after stepping minute in St Petersburg from an early shot wide left and Slo- on Jakub Hromada. Robert Mak’s shot which went vakia soon took the lead. Slovakia needed just seven in off the post and goalkeeper Mak beat two defend- minutes to restore the lead Wojciech Szczesny. ers with a classy move on the against their shocked oppo- Karol Linetty levelled sec- left wing, ran into the pen- nents when Skriniar from Se- onds after the restart but Man alty area, his effort towards rie A champions Inter Milan of the Match Milan Skriniar the near corner was deflected drilled the ball into the bottom volleyed Slovakia’s winner in against the post, and went in left corner off a corner kick. the 68th minute of the Group off the shoulder of Juventus Poland came close in stop- E encounter after Grzegorz keeper Szczesny who should page-time from Jan Bednarek Krychowiak was dismissed for have saved the shot in the first and Karol Swiderski but now a second bookable offence. place. face an uphill battle if they Led by former Napoli star Parma’s Juraj Kucka want to reach the quarter-fi- Marek Hamsik, Slovakia were aimed just inches high from nals as in 2016, with their next more efficient and dangerous long range on Slovakia’s next match on Saturday against than the Poles who only made chance. contenders Spain in Seville. a real impression early in the Lewandowski miscued Slovakia, who made the second half. shortly before the break but last 16 on their debut four Lewandowski was without Poland were level less than 30 years ago, stay in St Petersburg a serious chance up front and seconds into the second half for a Friday date with Sweden remained on a mere two goals Poland’s goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny scores an own goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group E match against Slovakia at the Saint from their first serious attack- in which they could take a big at major championships. Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg on Monday. (AFP) ing move. step towards the knock-outs. SPAIN VS SWEDEN clASH ENDS IN A GOAllEss DRAW Coach Loew doesn’t rule Goretzka out of opener against France DPA MUNICH GERMANY coach Joachim Loew hasn’t ruled midfielder Leon Goretzka out of their Euro 2020 opener against world champions France on Tuesday in Munich. “We agreed we would talk after the final training session and make a decision,” Loew told a news conference on Monday. Loew said Goretzka took part in the training session on Sunday and made “a very good impression,” not show- ing any effects of a recent thigh injury which kept him Players vie for the header during the UEFA EURO 2020 Group E match between Spain and Sweden at La Cartuja Stadium in Sevilla on Monday. (AFP) out of the pre-tournament friendlies. “According to our medi- Germany’s midfielder Leon Goretzka (C) takes part in Germany’s train- cal department, there is no ing session at the Allianz Arena in Munich on Monday, on the eve of risk,” Loew said, but added: their UEFA EURO 2020 Group F match against France. (AFP) Ronaldo not concerned about records, “He had a very long pause,” meaning Goretzka is not con- coaches can list 23 of the 26 Neuer is also optimistic sidered a candidate to start. players available for the tour- with the start of the competi- rather wants to win Euros again Another decision yet to be nament for each game. Loew tion and said the team is very made is which role defender believes this was a “wrong de- motivated. DPA Today’s Matches Joshua Kimmich will take. cision,” because every player “Every player is ready to BUDAPEST Most recently, he played as a deserves to be at least on the start what we hope will be a right back instead of taking a bench. successful tournament,” the PORTUGAL superstar Cris- role in the midfield. After a disappointing per- goalkeeper said. tiano Ronaldo is set to break “We will see in which po- formance in the 2018 World Neuer was Loew first choice scoring and appearance re- sition he will play. He can be Cup, when Germany left the at the 2018 World Cup despite cords at the Euros but he’s compared to [former Ger- competition in the group spending almost the whole sea- not really concerned about his many international] Philipp stage, Loew will lead the team son on the sidelines due to inju- personal fate. Lahm, completely without for the last time. He will leave ry. At the Euros, he celebrated “It’s not what makes me problems in different posi- after the Euros, when former the fact he had a fit year. more enthusiastic,” he told a tions, same performance, Bayern Munich coach Hansi “I’m here with a good feel- news conference on the eve same quality,” Loew said. Flick will take over. ing. For me it’s personally of the defending champions’ Hungary vs Portugal (7pm) Asked about who will be Loew recognized the “past way better, I can contribute tournament opener Tuesday France vs Germany (10pm) the second goalkeeper in case years were not easy, but we’ve better,” he said. against Hungary. captain Manuel Neuer is out had improvements, you can Against France, Neuer “A better record would be of action, Loew said this will see it day by day. believes his side doesn’t have to win the Euros twice in a nine with former French great be decided game by game but “We prepared well in the to hide because “we want to row,” he said in reference to a Michel Platini. confirmed Bernd Leno will be last few days. The team spirit win.” feat only achieved by Spain to The Portugal squad also the back-up against France. is great, everyone is very hun- “It’s not that we see our- date, in 2008 and 2012. includes Diogo Dalot who was According to UEFA rules, gry,” he said. selves as underdogs,” he said. “The team is prepared, on holiday in Dubai when he what I really want is to start was phoned up and told he well. Winning the first game would replace Joao Cancelo is crucial, Hungary are a good who had tested positive for the team with the fans on their coronavirus. France coach Deschamps praises Germany side - but the most important “I was just about to go to thing is having people in the a restaurant,” the 22-year-old DPA Deschamps said that Ger- But they have great players, stadium. We want to enjoy this who spent last term on loan BERLIN many has “one of the best they are a great football na- competition,” he said. at AC Milan from Manchester goalkeepers in the world” in tion, they are very motivated The Portugal captain is to United said in a video issued WORLD champions France Manuel Neuer and “a lot of in- - and they are playing at home. become the first player to fea- by the Portuguese Football are looking forward to their dividual quality” in attack. “That’s why we expect a very ture at five Euros, having de- Federation. Euro 2020 opener against Even though the coach be- difficult game,” Lloris said. buted at home in 2004 and also Portugal’s forward Cristiano Ronaldo (top) jumps on the back of Portugal’s Dalot had only just gone Germany in Munich on Tues- lieves that no decision will be The goalkeeper also featured 2008, 2012 and 2016. defender Pepe during their training session in Puskas Arena in Budapest on holiday, having lost the un- day and have a lot of respect made on Tuesday as to who praised “everyone who provid- If he plays all three group on Monday, the eve of their Group F match against Hungary. (AFP) der-21 Euro final to Germany for their opponents. will advance to the knock-out ed direct help on the pitch,” to games, the others on June 19 on June 6. “It’s going to be a huge stages, France captain Hugo Denmark’s Christian Eriksen, against Germany and June goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon And one goal would make It was a “weird” situation game. For Germany and also Lloris thinks “it’s a key game who collapsed during their 23 against world champions who played 58 games at the the striker the most success- but a “very special moment”, for us,” coach Didier Des- right away.” Euro 2020 opener against France, he would move one continental event, including ful scorer of all time at the fi- he said as he arrived at the champs told a news confer- “Germany are currently Finland on Saturday and had game ahead of former Italy qualifiers.