Euro 2024 news LIVE: England await next opponent after topping Group C, Kylian Mbappe returns – latest updates

By Ellie Grant

'So bizarre'

You would expect fans to be over the moon England topped their group.

But with only one win out of the three group games - finishing on just five points there is a mixed reaction amongst the Three Lions supporters this morning.

It has left everyone baffled at how a team of such talented stars looked depleted on the pitch last night.

A bitter fan tweeted: "Gareth Southgate is the only manager in the world who could take the Bundesliga top scorer, La Liga player of the season and the EPL player of the season, and pick a system that makes all three completely ineffective."

Another said: "Marcus Rashford scored more goals in the group stages of the last World Cup than the entire England side has managed in the group stages at Euro 2024."

While Piers Morgan chipped in to say, "England’s problem is the pace of our play. Just way too slow. It’s so bizarre given the speed, drive & fluency the same players exhibit for their clubs."

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By Ellie Grant

England break unwanted Euro record

England broke an unwanted European Championship record following Tuesday's match against Slovenia.

The Three Lions played out a dismal 0-0 draw against Matjaz Kek's side in Cologne.

They somehow went on to win Group C with five points but failed to impress with each performance.

And they contributed to the joint lowest-scoring group in European Championship history.

Group C concluded with just seven goals scored - the same amount as Germany, Poland, Northern Ireland and Ukraine managed at Euro 2016.

The Three Lions also feature in two of the joint second lowest-scoring groups - from 1980 and 1992.

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By Kostas Lianos

Gareth Southgate reacts

England boss Gareth Southgate claims his side showed improvement against Slovenia.

I thought we were much improved with the ball. We created some good openings. At the moment it’s hard work for us – we’re not quite getting that break in front of goal.

The boys who came on had a really good impact on the game, and we had the discipline to keep a clean sheet, which meant we won the group. I understand some of the reactions, but it’s a strange environment we’re play in.

Cole Palmer was very good. He finds space well, he’s got lovely technique, he’s calm. You really fancied him when he got that chance at the end.

They’re really young players [ Kobbie Mainoo and Palmer), so we’re balancing blooding them in a difficult environment. They came on and played really well for us.

There’s lots to build on from tonight. Tonight we started with Conor [Gallagher] who pressed well, then we thought Kobbie’s ability to move the ball up the pitch would help us and it did.

I don’t think we were ever going to go from where we were to winning 3-0 or 4-0. But there were a lot of things I was pleased about. We have to take it a step at a time. Tonight was an improvement and we have to keep improving. But we have topped the group and that was our intention at the start.

The draw is irrelevant. We shouldn’t be seduced by which half we’re in. We have to play well, whoever we play.

Some things are starting to come together. The defensive play has been a huge positive. Today we looked more dangerous and had a good impact from our subs. Now we’ve got to convert those chances.
Gareth Southgate

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By Kostas Lianos

John Stones speaks out

England star John Stones focused on the positives after a drab 0-0 draw with Slovenia.

I think we all wanted to win. But the objective was to top the group and we have done that so I am extremely pleased. It is not always going to be an easy road and it is not going to be easy when everyone has got a target on our backs to beat us.

Two clean sheets out of three is a great positive for us to take into the next stage and I thought there was a lot of improvement from the previous two games.

We tried to be more free-flowing and I thought we did that, found people in the pockets, created more chances and I believe it is another step in the right direction.

I understand some of the fans' frustration with us not scoring, not taking our chances. That's football. We left everything out there and it is never an easy game.
John StonesITV

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By Tom Barclay
England player ratings
- Jordan Pickford: 6
- Kyle Walker: 5
- John Stones: 6
- Marc Guehi: 7
- Kieran Trippier: 6
- Declan Rice: 7
- Conor Gallagher: 4
- Bukayo Saka: 6
- Jude Bellingham: 5
- Phil Foden: 7
- Harry Kane: 6
SUBS
- Kobbie Mainoo (for Gallagher at half-time): 7
- Cole Palmer (for Bukayo Saka on 71): 7
- Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Kieran Trippier on 84): 6
- Anthony Gordon (for Phil Foden on 88): 6
Credit: Getty
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By Tom Barclay

Cups hurled at Southgate

Two plastic beer cups were hurled in England manager Gareth Southgate’s direction.

That was while Southgate went to applaud the Three Lions' travelling fans at full-time.

Lots of supporters gave the 53-year-old tactician a lot of abuse after full-time.

England still managed to top Group C but put together another hapless performance at Euro 2024.

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By Kostas Lianos

FT: England 0-0 Slovenia

Another hapless display by England leads to a goalless draw against Slovenia at the RheinEnergieStadion.

Gareth Southgate's men have very little to show after Bukayo Saka's goal was correctly disallowed.

Slovenia have made it to the Last 16 of a European competition for the first time ever after finishing third in Group C over Serbia.

And what a way to celebrate that historic achievement on their Independence Day!

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

England 0-0 Slovenia

England fans have started to depart the stadium during stoppage time.

The Three Lions have put together another hapless performance in the group stage of Euro 2024.

And now loads of travelling supporters are looking to beat the traffic.

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

HT: England 0-0 Slovenia

It's all goalless at the RheinEnergieStadion with England putting together a rather dull performance.

Bukayo Saka thought he opened the scoring but was correctly caught offside.

There's good news, though, as Denmark and Serbia are also goalless and thus the Three Lions remain top of Group C.

Follow all the live action HERE

Credit: Getty

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By Kostas Lianos

England 0-0 Slovenia

Greece legend Angelos Charisteas is at the RheinEnergieStadion providing commentary for the Greek press.

Charisteas claims every time England make a mistake there is intense frustration from the players.

The former centre-forward adds that is not shown by the cameras as the focus switches to Slovenia's possession.

The Euro 2004 great also said he spoke to Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand before the match.

Ferdinand complained about the players not marking properly, leaving too much space for their opponents to move the ball freely and not playing like Premier League stars.

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

England 0-0 Slovenia

No goal

England think they've opened the scoring with Bukayo Saka but the linesman's flag goes up for offside.

The Three Lions finally show some creativity as Declan Rice plays a brilliant pass to the incoming Phil Foden down the left.

Foden sees Saka at the far post and passes to him before the Arsenal star bets Slovenia goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Replays show the assistant was right.

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

England 0-0 Slovenia

Off we go at the RheinEnergieStadion for this crucial Euro 2024 encounter!

England kick things off and are looking for their first convincing performance in the tournament after two hapless displays against Serbia and Denmark.

The Three Lions are guaranteed a place in the Last 16 of the competition.

But tonight Gareth Southgate's men need first place.

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

Double Euro 2024 shocker

France struggle once more as they draw 1-1 with Poland after Kylian Mbappe's maiden tournament goal from the spot was cancelled out by Robert Lewandowski's penalty kick.

Austria also stunned the Netherlands who were damned to third place after a 3-2 loss.

The Austrians also dropped the Tricolores to second place!

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By Kostas Lianos

England XI

Here's who starts for England against Slovenia:

England XI: Pickford, Walker, Guehi, Stones, Trippier, Rice, Gallagher, Bellingham, Foden, Saka, Kane

Slovenia XI: Oblak, Karnicnik, Drkusic, Bijol, Janza, Stojanovic, Cerin, Elsnik, Mlakar, Sporar, Sesko

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

Netherlands 2-3 Austria

Absolute scenes at the Olympiastadion in Berlin!

Austria opened the scoring after just six minutes with Donyell Malen's own goal.

Liverpool star Cody Gakpo equalised just two minutes into the second half but the Austrian regained the lead only 12 minutes later with Romano Schmid.

Memphis Depay levelled things up on 75 minutes but Ralf Rangnick's men scored for a third time five minutes later with Marcel Sabitzer.

Follow all the amazing action HERE

Credit: Getty

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By Kostas Lianos

France 1-1 Poland

Poland have equalised in the most dramatic fashion against France.

Dayot Upamecano floors Karol Swiderski as the Bayern Munich star taps the striker's heel - quite a soft call I would say...

Robert Lewandowski takes it on and misses as Mike Maignan lunges to his bottom right corner and denies the star striker.

However, Maignan was off his line during Lewandowski's clever shot.

The Barcelona star gets a do over and sends the ball to the same corner to beat the French goalkeeper this time.

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

Kylian Mbappe scores

France superstar Kylian Mbappe finally breaks his Euro 2024 duck.

Mbappe scored a penalty kick for the Tricolores who lead 1-0 against Poland.

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

Kylian Mbappe's mask

Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe is spearheading France's attack in their final match of the group stage.

Mbappe is not using the mask that was custom made for him after he broke his nose in the Euro 2024 opener against Austria.

The star striker is instead donning a dark face mask against Poland.

The 25-year-old is still looking for his first goal in this year's competition.

Follow all the live action HERE

Credit: Rex

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By Kostas Lianos

'Drop Harry Kane'

Ally McCoist has joined the list of pundits after Stuart Pearce urging England boss Gareth Southgate to drop captain Harry Kane.

McCoist told Early Payout:

Stuart Pearce is 100% right when it comes to being bold enough to drop Harry Kane, I include everybody. I don't just include Harry Kane in that. It doesn't matter who you are.

It’s similar to Cristiano Ronaldo, the fact of the matter is, if it benefits the team, you think there's a substitution required, whether it's Harry Kane, Ronaldo, it doesn't matter who it is.

That's when the manager earns his corn. You've got to make a decision. Sometimes your decisions have to be brave and they might go against the grain. But if you think it's for the benefit and it's beneficial to the team moving forward, then it's a decision, it's a no -brainer.

You have to make that decision. Pearce is spot on. It doesn't matter if it's Harry Kane, if he's not playing well then it might be a better option with Ollie Watkins using his pace running through.

I don't know. But if there is a better option available, then he has to make that decision.
Ally McCoist

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By Kostas Lianos

Netherlands vs Austria XI

And here's who starts for the Netherlands and Austria:

Netherlands XI: Verbruggen, Geertruida, De Vrij, Van Dijk, Ake, Schouten, Veerman, Malen, Reijnders, Gakpo, Depay.

Austria XI: Pentz, Posch, Wober, Lienhart, Prass, Seiwald, Grillitsch, Wimmer, Schmid, Sabitzer, Arnautovic.

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

Kylian Mbappe returns

Kylian Mbappe has been named in France's line-up for the crucial Euro 2024 match against Poland.

Mbappe broke his nose in the Tricolores' opener against Austria and was benched for the next game against the Netherlands.

But manager Didier Deschamps has decided the Real Madrid star signing is ready to compete.

Barcelona star Robert Lewandowski also starts for Poland.

France XI: Maignan; Kounde, Upamecano, Saliba, Hernandez; Kante, Rabiot, Tchouameni; Dembele, Mbappe, Barcola

Poland XI: Skorupski; Bednarek, Dawidowicz, Kiwior; Frankowski, Urbanski, Szymanski, Moder, Zalewski; Lewandowski, Zielinski

Follow all the live action HERE

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By Kostas Lianos

England changes against Slovenia

England manager Gareth Southgate is unlikely to field the same team he named in the first two Eurto 2024 games.

Conor Gallagher looks set to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in midfield, which means the Chelsea ace may start next to Declan Rice.

However, Alexander-Arnold could still start at either right-back or left-back with Luke Shaw injured and Kieran Trippier dealing with a knock.

If Trippier can't play then either TAA or Walker will fill in at left-back, but there is also a chance Joe Gomez might fill in.

Credit: Getty

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By Cosmo Teare

German camp hit by mosquitoes

Germany's prep for the round of 16 has been hit by an unusual obstacle.

That's after a swarm of mosquitoes descended on their base in Herzogenaurach.

Bayern Munich star Neuer, 38, said: "We need to make sure that the mosquito nets are always pulled shut when we are watching games on TV by the swimming pool."

Boss Nagelsmann said: "We have an abnormal plague of mosquitos. We need to take care that some wind is blowing, in order that there aren't too many mosquitos around."

BUZZ AROUND THE CAMP
Germany’s Euros training base hit by ‘aggressive plague of mosquitoes'

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By Cosmo Teare

Trent 'hung out to dry'

Gary Lineker claims Trent Alexander-Arnold has been "hung out to dry" by Gareth Southgate.

That's after it emerged that Gallagher would start ahead of him in midfield tonight.

He said: "I do feel a bit for Trent Alexander-Arnold. I feel he's been hung out to dry a little bit.

"His manager says it's an experiment and now it looks like the experiment doesn't work.

"It’s very hard to play in a new position even when a team’s playing well.

"But when a team’s struggling and a team’s disjointed, not together and not getting up the pitch, it becomes very difficult.

"I do feel for him because he’s an unbelievably talented player."

CROSSED THE LINE
Gary Lineker claims England star 'hung out to dry' in new Southgate dig

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By Cosmo Teare

England already through

England are already through to the round of 16 before even playing their final game.

That's because their 4 points and goal difference is enough to guarantee them a place as a third-placed qualifier regardless of tonight's result.

But a win today would guarantee top spot, and in theory an easier potential route to the final.

LIONS ROAR ON
England through to Euro knockouts without playing their final group game

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