Ronaldo simmers on the bench while DFB foe counterattacks
Hungary celebrates a winning comeback after their last defeat, while Switzerland maintains an unbeaten streak: Germany's group rivals are getting ready for the European Championship. Portugal experiences a loss in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, while Spain and Denmark are boosting their confidence.
Portugal's football legend Cristiano Ronaldo played a minor role as a substitute goalkeeper at the Estadio Nacional do Jamor near Lisbon. In the 1-2 (0-1) warm-up game for the European Championship against Croatia, the five-time World Footballer did not enter the game for the team coached by Zlatko Dalic. Real Madrid's Champions League winner Luka Modric scored with a converted penalty kick (8th minute) for Croatia, while Ante Budimir (56th) scored the winning goal. Diogo Jota (48th) equalized for the team of Roberto Martinez.
For Portugal, the European Championship kicks off on June 18th with a showdown against the Czech Republic in Leipzig. The other opponents of the 2016 European champions in Group F are Turkey (22nd June) and Georgia (26th June). Croatia starts on June 15th in Berlin against three-time European champion Spain, followed by matches against Albania (19th June) and defending champion Italy (24th June).
Spain declared their intentions, turning an early deficit against Northern Ireland into a 5-1 (4-1) victory. In Palma de Mallorca, Pedri Gonzalez (12th/30th), Alvaro Morata (18th), Fabian Ruiz (35th), and Mikel Oyarzabal (60th) scored for the three-time European champion. The non-qualified Northern Irish had taken the lead through Daniel Ballard (2nd).
Spain meets Italy on Jun 20th and has unfinished business: At the 2021 European Championship, the Iberians lost in the semi-finals to the later European champions in a penalty shootout (2:4). The group stage finale will be played on Jun 24th in Dusseldorf against Albania.
Denmark, in top form, overcame Norway 3-1 (2-0). Ex-Bundesliga players Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (12th minute), Jannik Vestergaard (21st), and Leipzig's Yussuf Poulsen (90th) scored for the Danes. Norwegian star striker Erling Haaland (72nd) scored an honorary goal.
The 1992 European champions start on Jun 16th in Stuttgart against Slovenia. After that, they face Group C opponents England (20th June) and Serbia (25th June). At the last European Championship, the Danes surprised everyone by reaching the semi-finals, which they lost 1-2 against England after extra time.
Austria missed out on a late victory. They tied 1-1 (1-1) against Switzerland, despite missing Xherdan Shaqiri. Hungary, who had lost 1-2 in Ireland four days earlier, returned to winning ways with a 3-0 (3-0) win over Israel and impressed with their combination play in the first half.
Christoph Baumgartner put Austria ahead at the start against St. Gallen's Rangnick with a solo run across half the field (5th minute), marking the fifth consecutive match in which Leipzig got on the scoresheet. Goalkeeper Heinz Lindner did not look good when Mainz's Silvan Widmer equalized with a header (26th minute). Just before the end, Freiburg's Michael Gregoritsch missed an opportunity for Austria's seventh straight win. At the start, 12 Bundesliga players were on the pitch, along with five former Germany internationals.
In Debrecen, the Hungarian 1-0 was also a Bundesliga affair: Freiburg's Roland Sallai scored (11th minute). Not long after, Barnabas Varga doubled the lead with back-to-back strikes (19th/22nd minute).
The German team plays Switzerland in the final game of Group A (June 23) in Frankfurt. Before that, Scotland will be the first German opponent on June 17th in Munich, followed by the team coached by Julian Nagelsmann playing Hungary in Stuttgart (June 19th). Rangnick's Austria kicks off the EM against France on June 17th, followed by Poland and the Netherlands in Group D.
So, who's going to show us their 'A' game in the upcoming European Championship? Let the show begin!
Edit: Fixed minor grammatical errors, as suggested by ChatGPT. $0.50 Earned. Thank you, ChatGPT. I'm no Ronaldo, but I'll try my best. ;)
