Euro 2024 social round-up: Bellingham brilliance, Sheeran and Ferdinand toast to England

By Sports Desk June 30, 2024

The Euro 2024 knockout stages are well underway as England and Spain edged into the quarter-finals on Sunday.

Gareth Southgate's side were saved by Jude Bellingham's brilliance and an extra-time finish by Harry Kane to defeat Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen.

Spain were at their usual best, despite an early scare, as they swept aside Georgia to continue their impressive start to this European Championship.

With more last-16 action around the corner, we take a look back at the day's best bits across social media.

Beauty from Bellingham

Bellingham proved England's hero in Gelsenkirchen, levelling after 94 minutes in their last-16 clash with Slovakia.

The Real Madrid midfielder crashed in a remarkable overhead-kick equaliser, leaving supporters, team-mates and pundits in awe of the 21-year-old's salvaging act.

England's official X account shared an image of Bellingham flying through midair before cannoning past Martin Dubrakva – a photo telling a thousand stories at Arena AufSchalke.

Pedri takes UEFA behind the scenes

Spain midfielder Pedri played an integral role once again as La Roja overcame Georgia to reach the last eight.

Yet the Barcelona man was in action behind the camera prior to that, taking UEFA's official social media account on a day behind the scenes at the Spain camp.

From conversations at a team media day to joking with his Spanish colleagues, Pedri was in a cheery mood, one that will only have improved after Sunday's victory.

Bradley 'the boss' Barcola

France are preparing for a last-16 meeting against Belgium on Monday, touching down in Dusseldorf as they hope to go deeper into this tournament.

Didier Deschamps needs a performance after an unconvincing Group D showing, though Les Bleus appear united in their efforts.

Ibrahima Konate was even caught offering team-mate Bradley Barcola a new nickname, but who knows whether his "boss" tag will stick.

Red Devils hit Dusseldorf before France test

Belgium may have come under scrutiny for a drab Group E performance, but the Red Devils appeared in a laidback manner ahead of their clash with France.

Domenico Tedesco's side were all snapped by the Belgian media as they hit the ground in Dusseldorf before Monday's meeting.

Oranje hotting up for Romania

Romania were the surprise package at this Euros after topping Group E, with their reward a last-16 clash with the Netherlands in Munich.

Ronald Koeman's Oranje were seen being put through their paces ahead of that fixture as Cody Gakpo was caught on camera in pre-match training.

All smiles from the hosts

Kai Havertz's penalty and a finish from Jamal Musiala was enough to see Julian Nagelsmann's Euro 2024 hosts past Denmark in the last 16 on Saturday.

The downpour and thunderstorm that stopped the clash in Dortmund did not seem to dampen the mood of any Germany player either.

Emre Can, Musiala and Leroy Sane were all smiles as Germany's official X account shared behind-the-scenes photos after full-time.

Sheeran and Ferdinand backing England

Bellingham's heroics may have had England supporters celebrating across Germany and at home, but two familiar faces were together to toast Sunday's success.

Former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand joined by music star Ed Sheeran, sharing a post to tell the world 'It's coming home'.

Whether Southgate can deliver that remains to be seen as the England manager continues to search for his 'A Team'.

Albart living it up in Cologne

Euros mascots are always an interesting thing to look out for, thinking back to the likes of Pinocchio (Italy 1980) and Goaliath (England 1996).

Germany have their very own furry friend, Albart, and the mascot is living it up as this tournament progresses on home soil.

Albart was whipping up the crowd before Spain's 4-1 hammering of Georgia, and the mascot will be hoping he has more to celebrate when Germany meet La Roja on Friday.

Related items

  • Gakpo: Netherlands performance the perfect answer to media criticism Gakpo: Netherlands performance the perfect answer to media criticism

    Cody Gakpo said the Netherlands' performance against Romania represented the ideal answer to media criticism as they booked their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.

    Gakpo opened the scoring as the Oranje ran out 3-0 winners in Tuesday's last-16 tie, with Donyell Malen coming off the bench to add two more goals in the latter stages.

    The Liverpool man has now scored six goals at the last two major tournaments, with Kylian Mbappe (nine goals) the only European to better that tally across the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2024.

    He is also one of just three players to net three or more goals in two separate tournaments for the Oranje, after Johnny Rep (1974 and 1978 World Cups) and Dennis Bergkamp (Euro 1992, 1994 and 1998 World Cups).

    The Netherlands were fiercely criticised by the media at home after finishing third in Group D, and Gakpo was aware of the need to respond emphatically.

    "This was the answer we had to our last performance – we had a good game, scored good goals, we played good football," Gakpo said.

    "Of course we could do better, but it was a good showing after the last game. A good step in that next direction. 

    "We felt we were in control even though they were a dangerous opponent. We never had the feeling that we would lose control of the game."

    Virgil van Dijk was among the Oranje players to see his group-stage performances slated, and he was equally proud of the team's response on Tuesday.

    "We were defensively sound and solid and did not give up much," Van Dijk said. "We could have scored a lot more. 

    "After a turbulent week, where a lot was said, we had to show something and we did that. We are self-critical and we knew it had to be a lot better after the last game.

    "Everyone went for the duels, won the second balls and took chances. Playing good football gives us self-confidence."

    The Netherlands have progressed from a European Championship knockout match for the first time since 2004, when they beat Sweden on penalties after a goalless draw.

    Excluding penalties, it is their first win in a knockout game since they thrashed Yugoslavia 6-1 in 2000 – the biggest margin of victory ever recorded at the tournament. 

  • Chicago Fire v Philadelphia Union: Small margins costing visitors in big games, says Curtin Chicago Fire v Philadelphia Union: Small margins costing visitors in big games, says Curtin

    Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin is looking to find solutions to the small-margin failures when they travel to Chicago Fire in MLS.

    The Union have not won any of their last seven matches in the league and are hoping to snap a four-game losing streak.

    Their recent poor run has seen them drop to 12th in the Eastern Conference, and they are four points off a playoff place, but Curtin admits they have not been doing the little things right in recent weeks.

    "The small margins are real and when things aren't going well you get exposed," he said. "It's a very fine line.

    "The way things are going right now, it's never enough. We haven't been able to defend well as a team. Strange goals have gone in, and we've let ourselves down.

    "It hurts. We have to find a way to turn things more in our favour. We've come up short in that area and, as coach, I take responsibility."

    Chicago have now slumped to two consecutive defeats after a four-match unbeaten run and sit bottom of the table.

    A home win could move them back up the table, and head coach Frank Klopas is using his full squad as he aims to get back to winning ways.

    "We have three games in one week, we have to rotate some of our guys," Klopas said. "Those who missed out [against Seattle Sounders], there was nothing in there.

    "We want to keep our players fresh so we can get the best results."

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Chicago Fire – Maren Haile-Selassie

    Maren Haile-Selassie has scored in each of his last three matches. He is the second Fire player with such a streak this season (Hugo Cuypers – four straight).

    Only Luka Stojanovic (three straight in 2021) had found the net in three straight games for the Fire over the previous three seasons (2021-23).

    Philadelphia Union – Andrew Rick

    Dominik Yankov scored CF Montreal's winner in the 89th minute against the Union on Saturday, the fourth time this season the Union have allowed a match-winning goal at 89' or later, tied with San Jose Earthquakes for the most such goals conceded this season.

    Andrew Rick will be determined to avoid doing the same again in Chicago as Philadelphia aim to get back to winning ways.

    MATCH PREDICTION: DRAW

    Chicago have lost only two of their last 12 home matches against the Union (W6 D4) dating back to the start of the 2014 season. The Fire have more home wins over the Union (six) than they have against any other opponent since 2014.

    The Fire conceded twice from the penalty spot in their loss to Seattle on Saturday, the fourth time since the start of last season that they have allowed two goals from the spot in a match. Chicago had conceded multiple penalty goals in a match three times in the club’s first 25 MLS seasons.

    Meanwhile, the Union have equaled the longest single-season regular-season losing streak in club history at four (fourth time). Philadelphia have won one of their last 14 matches (D5 L8) dating back to mid-April.

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Chicago Fire – 35.5%

    Draw – 26%

    Philadelphia Union – 38.5%

  • Southgate salutes England's 'togetherness and spirit' but acknowledges need for improvement Southgate salutes England's 'togetherness and spirit' but acknowledges need for improvement

    Gareth Southgate hailed the togetherness and spirit demonstrated by England, but acknowledged the need to improve ahead of their Euro 2024 quarter-final with Switzerland.

    The Three Lions were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites to go all the way in Germany, but have produced generally underwhelming displays in their four matches so far.

    England topped Group B despite winning just one of their three games, and were just seconds away from a humbling last-16 exit against Slovakia, until Jude Bellingham's sublime acrobatic effort spared their blushes.

    Harry Kane then completed the turnaround in the early stages of extra time, as Southgate's relieved side scraped through to the last eight by the skin of their teeth.

    Nevertheless, the England boss is adamant his players' last-gasp exploits against Slovakia will provide momentum ahead of facing Switzerland in Dusseldorf on Saturday. 

    "There's no question it will give the whole group belief," said Southgate.

    “We know we should be better than we've been, but we've ended up with a lot of young players in important positions and trying to solve problems right the way through the four weeks of the camp.

    "But the standout is the way the players are dealing with it. Their togetherness, their spirit."

    Southgate referred to the 1990 World Cup and Euro 96 as similar instances where England were slow out of the blocks, before going on to reach the semi-finals at each tournament.

    "Everybody now, 30 years on, looks back at [Euro] 96 in a different way to how it was at the time," the Three Lions boss added.

    "We were bang average against Switzerland [in the opening game at Euro 96]. We were the same against Scotland; Scotland missed a penalty at 1-0 [down]. Spain should have beaten us in a 0-0 draw [in the quarter-finals].

    "1990 was similar, so you do go through these moments in tournaments."

    The 53-year-old will oversee his 100th England game in charge against Switzerland, becoming only the third Three Lions head coach to reach triple figures after Walter Winterbottom and Bobby Robson.

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