Related items

• Cancelo planning to grasp Euro opportunity after 2020 Portugal disappointment

  Joao Cancelo is hoping to guide Portugal to their second European Championship crown in what will be his first appearance at the tournament. 

  The 30-year-old, who spent the 2023-24 season on loan with Bayern Munich and Barcelona, was forced to miss Euro 2020 after testing positive for Coronavirus. 

  Cancelo was replaced in the squad by Diogo Dalot, but featured at his first major tournament for the Selecao at the World Cup in Qatar two years ago. 

  Portugal start their group campaign in Leipzig against Czechia on Tuesday, and the defender is looking to make up for a lost opportunity in Germany this time around. 

  “It was unfair, because I had a great season, I felt like I should have been there but life didn't want it that way,” said Cancelo. 

  “Maybe I had to wait for this moment to be the right one to assert myself."

  "No matter how many clubs I play for, the national team is the highlight of my career because in it I represent my family, my friends who played with me on the street," he added.

  "It's always the highlight, whether in a friendly or in top competition.”

  Following their encounter with Ivan Hasek's side, Portugal travel to Dortmund to face Turkiye before concluding their group fixtures against Georgia on June 26.

  Roberto Martinez will take charge of his first major tournament since being appointed as Fernando Santos' successor at the beginning of 2023. 

  The Spaniard guided the Selecao to an unbeaten qualifying campaign, the only side to do so out of the 24 teams in the competition, with Cancelo praising the 50-year-old's impact on the squad since his arrival. 

  “He is a coach who from the first day made me feel at ease, both on a sporting and personal level.

  “He is very close to the players, has good ideas, likes attacking, offensive and attractive football and I identify with that because I think the same way,” added Cancelo.

  “We hope to bring him joy. He has made a difference since he arrived and has adapted very quickly.”
   

• Bellingham sets another record with England start

  Jude Bellingham set another record as he started in England's opening match of Euro 2024.

  Having been named, as expected, in England's XI for their first Group C fixture against Serbia on Sunday, Bellingham made history at kick-off.

  The 20-year-old is the first European player to make an appearance at three major international tournaments before turning 21.

  Bellingham made three substitute appearances at Euro 2020, helping England to reach the final, which they lost to Italy on penalties.

  He subsequently made five appearances – all of them starts – at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

  Bellingham comes into Euro 2024 on the back of a fantastic maiden season at Real Madrid, having scored 23 goals as Los Blancos won LaLiga and the Champions League.

• Mbappe accepts Olympics omission but hopes France 'bring home the gold medal'

  Kylian Mbappe accepts he will play no part at the forthcoming Paris Olympics, but hopes France "bring home the gold medal" in his absence.

  The forward, who will join Real Madrid on June 30, was left out of Thierry Henry's provisional 25-man squad for the Games, which begins on July 24 - 10 days after the Euro 2024 final.

  Mbappe had reportedly hoped to feature as one of Les Bleus' three overage players allowed per team in the primarily under-23 event.

  However, Madrid ruled out the involvement of their players already featuring in the European Championship or Copa America.

  "My club's position was very clear, so from that moment on, I think I won't be taking part in the games," Mbappe told reporters ahead of France's Euro 2024 opener against Austria.

  "That's just the way it is, and I understand that too. I’m joining a new team in September, so it's not the best way to start an adventure.

  "Now, I think I'm going to wish this French team all the best. I'm going to watch every game. Of course, as a fan, things will change. I hope they'll bring home the gold medal."

  Mbappe's full attention is now on aiming to help France land a record-equalling third European Championship title in Germany.

  The 25-year-old, who missed training earlier this week, provided an update on his fitness.

  "I think the most important thing is not necessarily the physical, but the mental," he said. "How far I'm willing to go to win, that's the most important thing.

  "I'm ready to win, it's more of a mental issue. My head is perfect, now let's see how my legs are. The most important thing is to be connected and to be fully invested in the mission we have, which is to win the match."