Euro 2024 social round-up: The Dutch take over Munich and Ed Sheeran's private performance

By Sports Desk July 02, 2024

The Euro 2024 round of 16 comes to an end on Tuesday.

Romania and the Netherlands are in action in Munich, with their fans creating quite the atmosphere.

Turkiye and Austria face off later on.

And there was also plenty of reaction from the previous matches of the round, too. We've picked out some of the best social media posts.

Private Ed-ucation

England thought they were heading out of the tournament until Jude Bellingham's moment of brilliance against Slovakia on Sunday.

And along with a quarter-final against Switzerland coming as a reward, the Three Lions' squad got an extra treat when pop sensation Ed Sheeran visited their camp to put on a private performance.

Clips of the gig made it onto social media. Perhaps that is what England need to add some spark to their performances?

Oranje takeover

The Dutch fans have been an off-field highlight in Germany, and they were in fantastic voice again as they travelled in their thousands to Munich to cheer on Ronald Koeman's team against Romania.

It was a sea of orange (or Oranje), and it really is some sight.

Fans in unison

But it wasn't just the Dutch fans enjoying themselves in Munich ahead of kick-off.

In fact, supporters of both the Netherlands and Romania joined up to have a sing and dance in the fan park before the match.

Ronaldo's tears

Cristiano Ronaldo was in the limelight on Monday, albeit not for the reason he would have wanted.

The Portugal star missed a penalty in extra time against Slovenia, and relied on his goalkeeper Diogo Costa to get the Selecao out of trouble by making three saves in the shootout.

Ronaldo was in tears at the interval in extra time, though it all worked out in the end. Portugal will face France in the last eight.

CR7's free-kick woes

That penalty was not the only set-piece Ronaldo squandered against Slovenia, with the 39-year-old also trying his luck from free-kicks.

In fact, Ronaldo has now taken 60 free-kicks at major tournaments, yet he has only scored one (against Spain at the 2018 World Cup).

Opta Analyst posted a handy graphic of all those free-kick attempts on X, while also providing a comparison with Lionel Messi, who has scored five out of 53 free-kicks at major tournaments.

Talk about adding insult to injury, guys...

Bellingham's 'most important goal'

Bellingham was the man in England's 'diary room' on Tuesday, and he mentioned how he made sure to give Marc Guehi credit for helping to tee up his overhead kick against Slovakia.

The 21-year-old called it "the most important" goal of his life, too.

There's plenty of spirit in the England camp. Can they translate that into a better performance, though?

Safety first...

Gareth Southgate has come in for plenty of criticism for his conservative tactics at Euro 2024.

And that has seen some accounts join in with what has become something of a pile-on... Including, bizarrely, KFC.

Their official X account posted an AI-generated image of Southgate in a hi-vis, helmet and gloves while frying chicken. Poor old Gareth.

Memphis' new(er) look

Memphis Depay debuted a headband in the group stage, but it looks like he's now switched up the colour from white to black.

He has scored one goal so far, though that came in a defeat to Austria. Will this new look change his luck?

Related items

  • Ronaldo's tears after penalty miss normal, says Portugal team-mate Silva Ronaldo's tears after penalty miss normal, says Portugal team-mate Silva

    Cristiano Ronaldo's tears upon missing a penalty in Portugal's Euro 2024 last-16 tie versus Slovenia are not worthy of discussion, says his team-mate Bernardo Silva.

    Ronaldo saw an extra-time spot-kick saved by Jan Oblak as Portugal played out a goalless draw in Monday's tie, only to scrape through to the quarter-finals on penalties.

    The five-time Ballon d'Or winner scored in the shoot-out but is yet to net in regular play at this tournament, despite amassing a competition-high 20 shots worth 2.75 expected goals (xG).

    He has failed to score in his last eight appearances at the World Cup or European Championships, having netted 10 times in his previous nine between 2018 and 2022.

    When asked about Ronaldo's tears at Thursday's pre-match press conference, Silva said: "We're humans and he felt emotional when he missed a penalty. 

    "It's acceptable, isn't it? Sometimes you react in ways you don't expect... he felt he could have done better in that moment.

    "He cries for a bit, which is how humans deal with emotions sometimes.

    "So I don't see any reason for people to discuss it. Obviously people will, because that's the business."

    Though Portugal impressed as they beat Turkiye 3-0 in their second group-stage match, they have disappointed in their other games and been criticised at home over a lack of attacking thrust.

    Asked about that criticism, Silva said: "We understand it, it's part of the business, it's the reason why we earn so much money and we are able to give our families and friends a better life.

    "We don't complain about the criticism, it's for good and for bad, it's our job. 

    "When it comes to June and a World Cup or Euros, everyone thinks they're a manager. We get that and we accept that."

  • 'It could have been the final', De la Fuente acknowledges as 'giant powers' Spain and Germany collide 'It could have been the final', De la Fuente acknowledges as 'giant powers' Spain and Germany collide

    Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente believes his side's blockbuster last-eight clash with Germany would be a worthy final at Euro 2024. 

    The two sides - described as "giant powers of European football" by La Roja's boss - go head to head in an eagerly anticipated encounter at Stuttgart Arena on Friday.

    Spain, who topped Group B with maximum points, are the only nation at the tournament to have won all four matches thus far, while Germany collected seven points in Group A before overcoming Denmark 2-0 in the last 16.

    Both teams are seeking a record-breaking fourth European Championship triumph, and whoever prevails here will be widely expected to go on and lift the Henri Delaunay cup on July 14.

    And De la Fuente is relishing what will be a repeat of the 2008 final, which La Roja won 1-0 thanks to Fernando Torres' sole strike.

    "It could have been the final of the European Championship, and it'll be an even game on a footballing level," he told reporters during his pre-match press conference.

    "Germany always start games in a really powerful way, so obviously we'll try to counteract that. We'll try to take the initiative and go all-out from the first minute.

    "These are two giant powers of European football and the first thing I'd say about my team is that one of our great strengths is that we always perform as one unified block. In that respect, us and Germany are in fact quite similar.

    "I wouldn't change my players for anyone in the world. For me, my players are the best in the world. We're fully prepared to go out there and try to win. We feel lots of responsibility, and we're extremely focused."

    Asked if he thought the winners of this game will go on to lift the trophy, the coach added: "There are other powerful teams in other ties. The closer you get to the final, only the best remain.

    "Nothing is free here. Whoever goes through will go through because they're a great team. In football, the best team doesn't always go through.

    "I don’t know if [the winners] will be one of the favourites to win the title, but we see ourselves as a very strong team with the potential to fight for it."

    Dani Carvajal concurred with De la Fuente, and the Real Madrid defender believes the contest will be determined by the finest of margins.

    "I have a great feeling [about the game]," he said. "I can see from my team-mates that everyone is relaxed.

    "We know we have to play a great game to beat them, but I can see a confident and energetic team. It's a 50-50 game in which details will make all the difference.

    "Man for man, they have world-class players. They have fast wingers, tough centre-backs and people who like to have the ball at their feet. We have similar qualities to them.

    "It depends on if they will sit back or press high. That's going to define how close we get to their goal, and maybe the pace of the game."

  • Martinez: Euro 2024 quarter-final not just Ronaldo versus Mbappe Martinez: Euro 2024 quarter-final not just Ronaldo versus Mbappe

    Roberto Martinez insists Portugal's Euro 2024 quarter-final clash with France will not merely come down to Cristiano Ronaldo's duel with Kylian Mbappe.

    Portugal and France face off in Hamburg on Friday, with a last-four meeting with either Germany or Spain the prize for the victor.

    Many have billed the match as a head-to-head battle between Mbappe and his idol Ronaldo, with both superstars desperate to hit top form after underwhelming starts to the tournament.

    Ronaldo is yet to score from 20 shots worth 2.75 expected goals (xG), the former being a tournament-high tally, and he was in tears at half-time in extra time after seeing a penalty saved in Portugal's last-16 tie versus Slovenia.

    Mbappe, meanwhile, suffered a broken nose in France's Group D opener against Austria, returning to score from the penalty spot in their matchday-three victory over Poland but failing to prevent them from finishing as runners-up.

    France are yet to score a goal from open play at this tournament, with two own goals coming alongside Mbappe's spot-kick.

    Martinez has played down suggestions Friday's match will be all about stopping Mbappe, saying: "Suffering is part of life, it's part of football, part of everything. 

    "We can promise that we will give everything, the players are focused on playing, and football is a team sport. Tomorrow is not a two-player game. 

    "They have incredible influence, Cristiano had an influence on Mbappe and Mbappe on others, but tomorrow is a game where the team needs to perform great."

     

    Ronaldo was criticised by many for attempting four shots from direct free-kicks without success against Slovenia. 

    He has now attempted 60 direct free-kicks in European Championship or World Cup matches, only scoring with one of them, versus Spain at the 2018 World Cup.

    Asked whether Ronaldo could be stripped of set-piece duties, Martinez said: "That passes me by. 

    "The players practice in training and Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes have that responsibility. We are fortunate to have two players with a very good profile to do it."

    Portugal will hope to draw on the memories of their Euro 2016 final victory over Les Bleus, when Eder scored an extra-time winner after Ronaldo was taken off injured.

    Asked how Portugal's class of 2024 matches up to the 2016 champions, Martinez said: "I don't like to compare generations. 

    "This generation has a different path. We are a better generation, but in 2016 we had a victory in the final."

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