Some English fans blamed the three black footballers after they all missed their spot kick and England lost the finals 3-2 on penalties.

After the game, some fans took to social media that racially abuse the trio.

As if the racial abuse was not enough, a mural of Rashford in his home town of Withington was also defaced in a ‘racially aggravated’ act of vandalism.

In order to support the three players, sports social media publisher SPORTbible on Tuesday July 13, launched a giant digital billboard of the three players wearing crowns with the strapline ‘never apologise for who you are’.

The move comes after Rashford apologised for his penalty miss but said he ‘will never apologise for who I am’ following the game.

The Manchester United forward, who was left visibly distraught after his penalty hit the post, also paid tribute to his supportive teammates and vowed to ‘come back stronger’ after the heartbreaking finale to Euro 2020.

England has gone 55 years now without a major trophy and had hoped the jinx was broken when left back, Luke Shaw gave the Three Lions an early lead in the final.

But a Leonardo Bonucci equalizer forced the final into extra time and later penalties.

Three successive misses from Rashford, Sancho and Saka gave Italy their first major trophy since winning the world cup in 2006.

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England will play Denmark in the second semi final match of Euro 2020 in London on Wednesday July 7.

The match venue is at Wembley stadium and kickoff time is by 8pm West African time.

Three Lions are going into the match on high morals after their biggest victory in the Euros, they won 4-0 in the quarterfinals making it the first time they will score four goals in the knockout stages of any competition since 1966 FIFA World Cup final.

But Denmark shocked Garrett Southgate’s side the last time the two team faced each other recently last year. Christian Eriksen scored the winning goal from the penalty spot at Wembley in their UEFA Nations League match in 2020.

The Danes also found their form at the right time in this tournament, they have scored 11 goals so far.

Match prediction

Gareth Southgate’s side has the momentum to go the extra mile – no English team has reached this stage in the last 25 years.

Prediction: England 2 – 1 Denmark

Possible line-ups

England: Pickford; Walker, Stones, Maguire, Shaw; Phillips, Rice; Saka, Mount, Sterling; Kane

Denmark: Schmeichel; Christensen, Kjær, Vestergaard; Stryger, Højbjerg, Delaney, Mæhle; Braithwaite, Dolberg, Damsgaard

How to watch England vs Denmark

The match will be on DSTV on SuperSport channel 204, you can also catch the match on Startimes including NTA sports 24.

The winner of this match will face Italy at Wembley on Sunday July 11.

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Manchester United and England footballer, Marcus Rashford has sent a young fan a PlayStation 5 after the kid helped set up a food bank in his community.

Rashford was awarded an MBE last year for his fantastic campaign to ensure free school meals for disadvantaged kids.

Joshua, an 8 year old Barrow AFC supporter, helped to set-up the ‘Barrow United’ foodbank initiative in 2020.

The scheme enabled around 50 hampers to be given out to the local community for those who needed it most during the festive period.

After all of his efforts, Joshua has now been given a gift by Rashford.

Rashford surprised Joshua with a PS5 console and a personal letter from the United star.

Joshua took to social media to praise Rashford.

He wrote: “I just want to say a massive thank you to Marcus Rashford.

“I am so happy I am just lost for words! It’s an amazing gesture and I couldn’t believe it when I found out – I am over the moon.

“Me and my family will all be watching on Saturday and cheering extra loud for Marcus and the boys against Ukraine.”

Rashford then replied on Twitter, saying: “Good lad Joshua. Nothing less than he deserves. Kindness is power.”

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The Spaniard takes charge of his fourth Premier League cub, having previously been in charge of Liverpool, Chelsea and Newcastle United, leaving the Magpies in June 2019.

Benitez told Everton’s official website: “Having called Merseyside my home for the last 17 years, I have a very clear understanding of what makes this club so special.

“This club is always striving to be the best. Simply competing in the top league is not enough.

“That ambition and determination to succeed is something I share. I never want to just compete – at every club I have managed I have fought to win.”

Benitez’s greatest achievement came in 2005, when his Liverpool team came from 3 goals down to win the Champions League against AC Milan, he also led Chelsea to UEFA Europa League glory.

Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri said in a statement: “We are appointing Rafa because we believe he will bring success to our club and to Evertonians.

“To put it simply, we need to be competing at the top end of the league and to be winning trophies.

“Rafa is a proven winner with huge experience in coaching internationally and we have secured the best man to achieve that for us.”

Benitez’s first challenge will be a home fixture against Southampton on 14 August.

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ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Wednesday that Boston has finalized the deal with Nets assistant coach Udoka to be their new head coach.

Reports say the position opened during the offseason when Danny Ainge stepped down from his role as Boston GM and former head coach Brad Stevens moved up into the role of head of basketball operations.

Who is Ime Udoka?

Udoka’s father is from Akwa Ibom state in south-south Nigeria. He was in America for education, where he earned his degree in business and raised his family in Portland.

Udoka was eligible for Nigerian citizenship through his father and he played for the Nigeria National Team at the 2005 FIBA African Championship, where he helped the team won a bronze medal.

In the final game, Udoka scored 24 points to help Nigeria defeat Algeria 88-76. He continued to play for the team, and helped Nigeria qualify out of the group stage in the 2006 FIBA World Championship.

Udoka still won more accolades with the Nigerian National Team. In 2011 he won another bronze medal at the AfroBasket, after the team defeated Ivory Coast 77-67.

He is engaged to actress Nia Long, and they have a nine-year-old child together.

Udoka coaching experience

Udoka has been in the NBA as an assistant coach for nearly ten years, majority of that time he spent working under his former head coach at San Antonio, Gregg Popovich.

After seven seasons in the NBA and the time he spent playing for UCAM Murcia CB in Spain in 2012, Udoka returned back to Spurs in 2012 as an assistant coach. He was a part of the staff in 2014 when they beat Miami Heat to capture the NBA championship.

Udoka joined the staff of the 76ers for the 2019-20 campaign, from their he moved to Nets for the start of the 2020-21 season.

Udoka playing career

Udoka is well traveled across the world during his playing career.

The 6-foot-6 forward, played college age with San Francisco and Portland State and played one season with Club Sportivo Independiente, an Argentinian basketball team in the Liga Nacional de Basquet.

Then in 2002 he was drafted into the NBA Developmental League where he spent one season with North Charleston and made a brief appearance with Lakers in 2004 where he played four games and averaged two points.

The next two seasons, 2004 and 2005, he spent in Europe, first he played for Gran Canaria in Spain and eventually he joined JA Vichy in France.

He went through the NBDL Draft again in 2005 where Fort Worth Flyers took him third before he reached the NBA again in 2006 with the Knicks, where he averaged 2.8 points.

His best season was in 2006-07 when he started 75 games for the Trail Blazers and averaged 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 assists.

He played the next four campaigns for San Antonio, where he averaged 4.5 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game for 160 games, he had only three starts.

Udoka’s last stop was in Spain with UCAM Murcia CB in 2012 before he retired as a player.

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Wearing a very revealing swimsuit and promoting a website called “WTF Coin,” with a link to the website underneath the name, the woman jumped the gates and jogged onto the field. She made it to the halfway line before being stopped by security.

Research on WTF Coin shows the crypto is one of the many companies competing with bitcoin and DogeCoin. According to their website, it is a worldwide super volatile meme token on which you will make your fortune and become a real legend.

That was not the only pitch invader of the day. In the other Group B game between Denmark and Russia, a Russian fan made it to the field before also being stopped by security. However, this fan was not promoting anything. He was simply wearing a Russia jersey and was there to support his team.

Belgium, which had already qualified for the next round was still able to secure a comfortable 2-0 win. The game was kept close before Finland’s goalie, Lukas Hradecky, scored an own goal in the final 15 minutes of play. Romelu Lukaku then clinched the win by scoring in the 81st minute.

Belgium topped their group to advance to the Round of 16. Meanwhile, Finland needed either a win or tie to move on to the next round. Unfortunately for them, they see their Euro 2020 run cut short after the 2-0 loss.

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Chelsea duo Ben Chilwell and Mason Mount are likely to miss England’s Tuesday game with Czech Republic.

The players are self-isolating as a precaution after they came in close contact with Scotland’s Billy Gilmour who tested positive for Covid-19.

Gilmour will miss Scotland’s final group game against Croatia on Tuesday.

England are guaranteed a place in the last 16 of Euro 2020 after Monday’s results, but they need to beat Czech Republic to finish as Group D leaders.

Teams that have already qualified for Euro 2020 round of 16

Sixteen teams will qualify for Euro 2020 knockout stages.

The top two in each group will progress, after the final group games on June 23.

They will be joined by four of the six third-placed teams who will also qualify from the group stage.

Group A

Italy ( qualified), Wales (qualified), Switzerland (qualified), Turkey

Switzerland qualified as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Group B

Belgium (qualified), Denmark (qualified), Finland (3), Russia (3)

Finland finished third and now must wait to see if they will qualify.

Group C

Netherlands (9,qualified), Austria (6, qualified), Ukraine (3), North Macedonia (0)

Ukraine finished third and now must wait to see if they will qualify.

Group D

Croatia (1) vs Scotland (1), Czech Republic (4, qualified) vs England (4, qualified)

Czech Republic has qualified and will win the group if they avoid defeat against England. They will finish second if they lose and Scotland beat Croatia. They will only finish third if they lose and Croatia win by scoring more to overtake them on overall goal difference.

Group E

Wednesday: Slovakia (3) vs Spain (2), Sweden (4) vs Poland (1)

Sweden has qualified and will top the group if they beat Poland. If Sweden loses and the other game ends in a draw, then goal difference will split Sweden, Slovakia and Poland for first to third place on results between the three teams. If Sweden losses they’ll finish third.

Slovakia need a point to be sure of qualifying top of the group if they win and Sweden don’t win.

Spain will qualify if they beat Slovakia. They also go through if they draw and Poland fail to beat Sweden.

Poland will qualify if they win.

If Slovakia, Sweden and Poland all finish on 4 points (ahead of Spain on 3), their goal difference from matches between the three teams will be used to split them.

In that case, if Poland beat Sweden 1-0, and Slovakia draw, the order will be: 1 Slovakia, 2 Poland, 3 Sweden.

If Poland beat Sweden 2-1, and Slovakia draw, the order will be: 1 Poland, 2 Sweden, 3 Slovakia (Sweden and Slovakia will be behind Poland on goal difference and to split the two, their direct result, Sweden win, will apply).

Group F

Wednesday: Portugal (3) vs France (4), Germany (3) vs Hungary (1)

France has already qualified though they will finish first if they win, or if they draw and Germany fail to beat Hungary. If France losses and Hungary win, then second position will be decided on overall goal difference.

Germany will go through if they avoid defeat.

Best third-placed teams – who is leading?

• Switzerland 4 points
• Portugal 3 points
• Ukraine 3 points
• Finland 3 points
• Spain 2 POINTS
• Croatia 1 POINT

The four best third placed teams will qualify

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A member of the Ugandan Olympic squad has became the first athlete to test positive for Covid-19 on arrival in Japan for the competition due to start on 23 July.

The event was postponed last year, but now will go ahead despite fresh wave of Covid-19 cases in Japan.

Uganda is also experiencing a surge in cases, which forced the government to tighten lockdown measures on Friday.

The Ugandan, who is part of nine-member squad to the Olympics was fully vaccinated, according to reports.

The group – which included boxers, coaches, and officials – tested negative before leaving Uganda.

However, one of them tested positive when they arrived Tokyo Narita airport on Saturday, and is currently quarantined at a government-designated facility, local media quote Japanese officials as saying.

The rest of the squad traveled by chartered bus to Osaka, in western Japan, where they will train ahead of the Games.

The Ugandans are the second group of foreign athletes to arrive for training ahead of the competition. Australia women softball squad arrived on 1 June.

Foreigners who want to travel to watch the Olympics are banned. On Monday they will take the decision on whether to allow domestic spectators.

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Barca have agreed a two-year deal with Depay, who becomes the club’s third signing on a free transfer this summer after moves for Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia had already been confirmed.

They have also paid nine million euros to activate a clause to recall right-back Emerson from Real Betis.

Depay has long been a key target for Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman, who worked with the player when he was in charge of the Dutch national team.

Koeman was in the crowd in Amsterdam on Thursday to see Depay score an early penalty for the Netherlands in their 2-0 victory over Austria at Euro 2020.

The 27-year-old was reportedly close to sealing a 25-million-euro move to Barca last year while a reduced fee was also mooted in January, but the club decided to wait for his contract to expire.

“FC Barcelona and Memphis Depay have reached an agreement to join the Club, once his contract with Olympique de Lyon has ended.

“The player will sign a contract until the end of the 2022-23 season,” the club’s statement read.

Depay scored 20 goals in 38 games for Lyon last season and has five in his last four matches for the Netherlands.

He will likely compete with Sergio Aguero for the central striker position as Koeman looks for more of a physical presence up front.

Barcelona’s financial problems mean the club are expected to sell a number of fringe players this summer. Philippe Coutinho, Samuel Umtiti and Miralem Pjanic are among those likey to leave. (AFP)

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Christian Eriksen has been discharged from hospital after a “successful” operation to fit the player with a heart-starting device.

The 29-year-old Denmark midfielder suffered cardiac arrest during his side’s 0-1 defeat by Finland in Copenhagen on Saturday.
He visited the Denmark team on Friday and will now return home with his family.

“Thank you for the massive number of greetings,” Eriksen said in a statement.

“It is incredible that I can see and feel.

“The operation went well, and I am alright under the circumstances.

“It is really great to see the guys again after the fantastic game they played last night. No need to say, I will be cheering for them on Monday against Russia.”

Former Tottenham player Eriksen, who now plays with Inter Milan, collapsed shortly before half-time against Finland and doctors used defibrillator to bring him back to life.

He was later fitted with ICD – implantable cardioverter defibrillator – which is “necessary due to rhythm disturbances”, Danish team doctor Morten Boesen said.

The British Heart Foundation describe ICD as small device that is placed under the skin, then connected to the heart with “thin wires” and “it will send electrical pulses to regulate abnormal heart rhythms”.

Denmark play their final group B match against Russia on Monday.

On Thursday, players and fans from Denmark and their opponents Belgium showed support for Eriksen during an emotional one minute applause in the 10th minute of the match. Eriksen wears Denmark number 10 shirt.

Denmark lost the game 2-1.

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