Record-breaking Euros

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Head Start

Record-breaking Euros

With the first weekend of the Euros behind us, it’s safe to say that it hasn’t disappointed. 

In just the opening four games, 16 goals were scored. That’s the most goals scored in any major international tournament since Euro 1976.

And, the best part is… we don’t have to wait till the dying moments for action.

In fact, at least three goals have been scored before half-time in three games. At Euro 2020, that happened in two matches in total. 

So, with so many goals already and 44 matches to be played, it looks like this year’s tournament is on track to break the scoring record.

And if that wasn’t enough, then this Euros has already proven to be a tournament for lots of broken records…

• Albania’s Nedim Bajrami’s broke the record for the fastest goal in Euros history in just 23 seconds against Italy. (Watch)

• 16-year-old Lamine Yamal became the youngest man to play at a European Championship… and boy did he play.

• Hungary’s Dominik Szobozlai became the youngest man to captain a team at the Euros at 23 years and 234 days.

There were plenty of other records broken for the teams… 

Long story short: we’re in for a wild ride over the next month.

So, buckle up. Clear the calendar for the next four weeks. And enjoy.

Plus…

Axe-wielding man shot by police near the Euro 2024 fanzone in Hamburg (More)

Brighton make Premier League history by appointing a new 31-year-old head coach (More)

Erik ten Hag addresses that Manchester United contacted other managers about his job and reveals that he is yet to agree a new contract with the club (More)

Former Arsenal and Everton legend Kevin Campbell has died at the age of 54 (More)

Stats Zone

Serbia 0 - 1 England

→ England have become the first team in the history of the men's UEFA European Championship to keep five consecutive clean sheets in the group stages of the competition.

→ Jude Bellingham is the first European player to make an appearance at three major international tournaments before turning 21.

Poland 1 - 2 Netherlands

→ Since losing all three games at Euro 2012, Netherlands have gone unbeaten in 10 straight group stage games at major tournaments.

→ Cody Gakpo has scored in all four of his group-stage starts for the Netherlands at major tournaments.

Spain 3 - 0 Croatia 

→ Álvaro Morata (10 goals) became Spain’s outright second-highest goalscorer at major international tournaments (Euros and World Cup combined), behind only David Villa (13).

→ Spain scored 3+ goals in the first half of a European Championship match for the very first time.

→Croatia suffered their joint-heaviest ever defeat at a major international tournament, following 3-0 losses against Portugal at Euro 1996 and Argentina at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Results so far:

Germany 5 - 1 Scotland | Hungary 1 - 3 Switzerland | Spain 3 - 0 Croatia | Italy 2 - 1 Albania | Poland 1 - 2 Netherlands | Slovenia 1 - 1 Denmark | Serbia 0 - 1 England

 List of fixtures can be found here or On Today below.

Interesting Insights

The cost of player injuries

With the international tournaments alive and kicking, it’s a reminder of the sheer number of games that players are involved in.

As rights holders want to sell more games to broadcasters, we constantly see competition expanding…

• The Euros has expanded from 16 to 24 national teams.

• The Champions League and Europa League will expand from 32 to 36 clubs.

• The World Cup in 2026 will grow from 32 to 48 teams.

That’s like a government printing more money to solve a debt problem. It’s a short-term fix, but has serious long-term problems. 

The problem? Well, it’s simple, really. Injuries. 

According to PremierInjuries.com, injuries in the Premier League increased by 11% last season… and clubs paid £266 million (yes, two-hundred-and-sixty-six million) on sidelined players.

A football insurer has said that the cost of injuries across the top five men’s leagues in Europe was €705 million last year. That’s a 30% rise from the year before.

This comes at a time when top players have racked up many more minutes than stars of yesteryear at the same age. 

Take Kylian Mbappé and Thierry Henry. By age 18, Mbappé had already played more than double Henry’s competitive matches… 

… a damning picture.

But, unfortunately, you know what they say: money talks. And it’s talking pretty loudly in the football world.

Off The Pitch

⛳️ Bryson DeChambeau wins his second US Open title after Rory McIlroy’s late errors (More)

🚴‍♀️ Gordon Ramsay says he’s “lucky to be alive” after a serious bike accident (More)

👑 Kate Middleton makes her first royal appearance since cancer diagnosis (More)

⏰ A woman who spent 43 years in prison has her conviction overturned (More)

👩‍💻World’s first-ever Miss AI beauty pageant reveals top 10 finalists (More) 

☢️ Nato are in talks to put nuclear weapons on standby (More)

Around The Football World

🇧🇷 Ronaldinho’s criticism of the Brazil squad were actually part of an advertising campaign for a deodorant brand (More)

🇫🇷 Kylian Mbappé says that Real Madrid would not let him play at the Olympics in Paris this summer (More)

🇲🇪 Milwall and Montenegro goalkeeper Matija Sarkic dies suddenly aged 26 after reportedly falling ill (More)

🇩🇰 Christian Eriksen scored Denmark’s opening goal at the Euros against Slovenia exactly 1,100 days after his cardiac arrest (More)

Extra Time

Albania score the fastest-ever goal in Euros history in just 22 seconds.

Dutch fans know how to rally their players in this incredible display.

Kyle Walker is being criticised for his interview on Jack Grealish’s season.

Rodrigo Bentancur apologises to Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min after comment.

Rare footage of 12-year-old Thierry Henry.

Game Face On

Question: Spain’s Alvaro Morata is now tied for third place in the all-time European Championship scorers chart with 7 goals. Can you name first and second place?

Bonus kudos: How many goals have first and second place scored?

Scroll below for the answer.

On Today

FOOTBALL

Euro 2024: Romania vs Ukraine (14:00 BST)

Euro 2024: Belgium vs Slovakia (17:00 BST)

Euro 2024: Austria vs France (20:00 BST)

CRICKET

ICC T20 World Cup: New Zealand vs Papua New Guinea (15:00 BST)

ICC T20 World Cup: West Indies vs Afghanistan (01:00 BST)

*EST -5. PST -8. CET +1. CST +8. JST +9.

Answer

🥇 Cristiano Ronaldo - 14 goals

🥈 Michel Platini - 9 goals

Hottest Take of the Day

Today’s Hottest Take of the Day is: I think Szoboszlai was able to showcase his talents way better in the Bundesliga for Leipzig because he was always playing higher up. At Liverpool, he’s had to track back more to cover TAA, so his attacking quality isn’t being shown as much. He’s been quite good when he’s playing higher-up, which is why Liverpool paid 60 million for him. Thanks to Vish from Singapore for the entry. Submit another Hot Take of the Day here.