Summary

  1. More Euros action on the waypublished at 16:41 21 June

    Plenty more Euros action coming your way this evening of course...

    Poland take on Austria shortly (17:00 BST) in Group D knowing they will be unable to finish in the top two if they lose and the Netherlands don't beat France.

    You can stay across all the live build-up, team news and that fixture right here on the BBC Sport website and app and listen to it on BBC Radio 5 Live.

    Later on you'll also be able to catch the game between the Dutch and French. That one gets under way at 20:00 but coverage on BBC Radio 5 Live gets going from 19:00.

    You'll also be able to watch that mouth-watering encounter on BBC One and hear all the studio chat beforehand from 19:30. As ever you can also follow all the action on the website and app.

    There's also lots around the website to keep you going until then:

    But for now here are the key moments from Ukraine's win over Slovakia.

    Media caption,

    Highlights: Slovakia 1-2 Ukraine

  2. Will Mbappe be sporting the tricolore?published at 16:40 21 June

    Netherlands v France (20:00 BST)

    Kylian Mbappe in France training at Euro 2024 wearing a protective maskImage source, Getty Images

    Will Kylian Mbappe be sporting that specific bit of face-protection equipment later?

    I'd be surprised, personally, and that's because Uefa regulations stipulate that 'medical equipment worn on the playing field must be of a single colour and must not allow the team or manufacturer to be identified'.

    Fear not though France fans, media reports suggest that Les Bleus forward Mbappe has been sent plenty of spares in plain colours.

  3. Will man in the mask Mbappe start for France?published at 16:38 21 June

    Netherlands v France (20:00 BST)

    Kylian Mbappe in trainingImage source, Getty Images

    Now there is a bit of a will-he-won't-he saga around France's star player, the man in the tricolore mask, Kylian Mbappe.

    The build-up to this evening's fixture has been dominated by the issue of whether Mbappe will start for France against the Netherlands after breaking his nose in their opening 1-0 win over Austria.

    The Real Madrid forward terrorised the Dutch with four goals in two games against them in qualifying (with the games finishing 6-1 to if you were applying an aggregate score) and manager Didier Deschamps is hopeful of having his star man available after he took part in training on Thursday.

    "Things are progressing in the right direction enough for us to try to have him available."

    You'll be able to stay across that match here later on.

  4. France top list for most club minutes playedpublished at 16:37 21 June

    So to summarise, England players may have played a LOT of club football this season, but France and Portugal players have averaged more. Some would argue that the intensity of the Premier League is far greater than in the top flights of France and Portugal, although most of their top players are playing abroad.

    Average club minutes played:

    1. France - 3,557(39.5 games per player)
    2. Portugal - 3,545 (39.4 games per player)
    3. England - 3,422 (38 games per player)
  5. 'The best Spain I’ve seen since perhaps 2012'published at 16:31 21 June

    Spain 1-0 Italy

    Guillem Balague
    Spanish football journalist on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Spain fans celebrate during a victory match against Italy at Euro 2024Image source, Getty Images

    What’s another word for excellent? Sublime! It was very enjoyable, the best Spain I’ve seen since perhaps 2012, the European championship finals against Italy 4-0.

    It was that kind of superiority you don’t find these days in European football. Collectively Spain were superb, 20 shots on target, that is just not normal and everybody individually were superb.

  6. Key points on minutes played by Spainpublished at 16:30 21 June

    • The total number of club minutes played by members of the Spain squad is 78,250 - equates to 869 games
    • Average minutes played across the squad is 3,000 (33 games)
    • Taking goalkeepers out, the average is 2,911 mins played (32 games)
    • Spain starting XI v Italy total mins played - 33,122 (29,938 without goalkeepr), which is 3,011 average (2,993 without goalkeeper), essentially 33 games (fewer than England and France)
    • Three Spain players in the top 40 most mins played 2023-24 – substitute goalkeeper Alex Remiro (fifth); Rodri (ninth) and Alex Grimaldo (28th)
  7. Key points on minutes played by Germanypublished at 16:27 21 June

    • The total number of club minutes played by members of the Germany squad is 85,475 - equates to 945 games
    • Average minutes played across the squad is 3,287 (36.5 games)
    • Taking goalkeepers out, the average is 3,306 mins played (36.5 games)
    • Germany starting XI v Hungary total mins played - 37,213 (34,259 without goalkeeper), which is 3,383 average (3,426 without goalkeeper), essentially 37.5 games
    • Germany have five players in a list of the top 40 players from the 'big five' European Leagues who have played most minutes in the 2023-24 season – Ilkay Gundogan (18th), Pascal Gross (21st), Nico Schlotterbeck (26th), Antonio Rudiger (27th) and Jonathan Tah (39th)
  8. 'Intensity levels were down' for Englandpublished at 16:22 21 June

    Denmark 1-1 England

    Clinton Morrison
    Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    England are still top of Group C but it was a disappointing performance and being booed off is never nice.

    When you represent your country it should be a given that you work hard, those England players did not work hard on Thursday. The intensity levels were down and they were not closing down, but the Denmark players were doing it.

  9. Key points on minutes played by Englandpublished at 16:19 21 June

    • The total number of club minutes played by members of the England squad is 82,143 - equates to 912 games
    • Average minutes played across the squad is 3,159 (35 games)
    • Taking goalkeepers out, the average is 3,288 mins played (36.5 games)
    • England starting XI v Serbia and Denmark total mins played - 37,646 (33,866 without goalkeeper), which is 3,422 average (3,386 without goalkeeper), essentially 38-games
    • For context, 3,420 minutes equates to playing every single match in a 38-game Premier League season
    • 15 of England’s squad have played more than that, as have seven of the starting XI against Serbia and Denmark
    • England have six players in the list of 40 players across Europe’s 'big five' leagues who have played most minutes - Ezri Konsa (sixth), Ollie Watkins (10th), Declan Rice (14th), Phil Foden (15th), Kyle Walker (24th) and Conor Gallagher (34th)
  10. Key points on minutes played by Portugalpublished at 16:14 21 June

    • The total minutes of club minutes played by members of the Portugal squad is 82,345 - equates to 915 games
    • Average minutes played across the squad is 3,167 (35 games)
    • Taking goalkeepers out, the average is 3,159 mins played (35 games)
    • Portugal starting XI v Czech Republic total mins played - 39,004 (35,009 without goalkeeper), which is 3,545 average (3,500 without goalkeeper), essentially 39 games (more than England)
    • Portugal would have seven players in a list of those who have played most minutes in the 2023-24 season, including Diogo Dalot (seventh) and Bruno Fernandes (11th), but several of their squad play outside the ‘big five’ European leagues.
    • Ruben Neves (4,558) and Cristiano Ronaldo (4,475 minutes) would have been first and second on the list, but play in the Saudi Pro League
  11. Key points on minutes played by Francepublished at 16:10 21 June

    • The total number of club minutes played by members in the France squad is 79,230 - equates to 880 games
    • Average minutes played across the squad is 3,169 (35 games)
    • Taking goalkeepers out, the average is 3,129 mins played (34 games)
    • France starting XI v Austria total mins played - 39,128 (35,427 without goalkeeper), which is 3,557 average (3,542 without goalkeeper), essentially 39.5 games (more than England)
    • Three France players in the top 40 most mins played 2023-24 – William Saliba (fourth), Jules Kounde (22nd) and Theo Hernandez (31st)
  12. How much football have the top nations played?published at 16:03 21 June

    Now then, a few pundits and some of you guys have commented on England looking tired and lethargic so far at the Euros.

    Former England defender Conor Coady said on the Football Daily podcast that Gareth Southgate's side "look a bit leggy" while the Daily Mirror's chief football writer John Cross told BBC Radio 5 Live earlier that the intensity of the Premier League has had an impact on the players.

    Jude Bellingham has not yet played in the Premier League but since June 2022 the 20-year-old has played a whopping 103 games in all competitions for club and country - including England's first two games at the Euros.

    So how much football have Southgate's men played over the last season, compared to the other major nations? We've been crunching the numbers to find out... and to clarify, these stats are based upon club games during the 2023-24 season and games lasting 90 minutes (or 120 minutes for extra time) - so doesn't factor in the increasing about of injury time that has been during the course of the season too.

  13. FULL-TIME - Slovakia 1-2 Ukrainepublished at 15:57 21 June

    Emotional scenes in Dusseldorf as Ukraine hold on to beat Slovakia and claim their first victory and points of Euro 2024.

    They are now joint-top of Group E - before Belgium and Romania play their second group game on Saturday - with their hopes of reaching the last 16 still very much alive.

    The match report will land here any moment.

  14. Messi's still got itpublished at 15:53 21 June

    Argentina 2-0 Canada

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport

    As one football legend Cristiano Ronaldo struggles to make an impact at the Euros, his long-time rival Lionel Messi is still producing his magic at Copa America.

    Messi failed to take a couple of chances of his own as Argentina opened the defence of their title with a 2-0 win against Jesse Marsch's Canada, but he claimed the assists for both goals with two sublime passes.

    The first ended with Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez opening the scoring, tucking home the loose ball after Alexis Mac Allister had been fouled running onto Messi's through ball. Latauro Martinez got the second, again from a Messi assist.

    The 36-year-old has still got it.

    Lionel Messi playing for Argentina against CanadaImage source, Getty Images
  15. Italy great Baggio injured in armed robberypublished at 15:48 21 June

    Roberto BaggioImage source, Getty Images

    In other news.. former Juventus and AC Milan footballer Roberto Baggio has been injured in an armed robbery at his home in northern Italy.

    The incident began at 22:00 local time (21:00 BST) when at least five people broke into the 57-year-old's villa in Altavilla Vicentina, local media reported.

    The veteran footballer was taken to an emergency room in Arzignano and was treated with stiches to his forehead after one burglar hit him with a gun.

    In his first public address since the incident, Baggio thanked well wishers, adding: "Now all that remains is to overcome the fear."

    Baggio added that "fortunately the violence I suffered only caused a few stitches on my person, bruises and a lot of fear".

    Corriere della Sera reported that the violent incident took place while Baggio and his family were watching Italy take on Spain in the European Championships.

    Read more

  16. GOAL - Slovakia 1-2 Ukrainepublished at 15:44 21 June

    Roman Yaremchuk (80 mins)

    Scenes in Dusseldorf... Roman Yaremchuk has just done superbly to control a long range that dropped over his shoulder before poking the ball in from close range.

    That gives Ukraine the lead for the first time and off goes coach Serhiy Rebrov, the former Tottenham and West Ham forward, charging down the sideline to celebrate.

    Roman Yaremchuk scores for Ukraine against Slovakia at Euro 2024Image source, Reuters
  17. England 'will be a force to be reckoned with'published at 15:41 21 June

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    A glass half full is definitely the way to go when it comes to thinking about England:

    Michael: With four points from two games. England have got the first job done.

    Sam: The reaction to this game has been utterly incredible. You’d think we’d lost and were out of the tournament. We drew against an excellent Denmark team who were better than us on the day. Learn the lessons, get better, on to the next one. Back your team, ignore the noise.

    Anon: Scotsman here. England, chill. You don't turn into a bad team overnight. You've got a free hit coming up to find your style again before the next round. It will come unfortunately.

    Will: Can we get a bit of perspective here please. England are top of the group and almost certain to qualify. Southgate has got less talented teams to the latter stages of each tournament he's been involved in and done a great job in the face of national pessimism. I believe a subtle tweak (including Mainoo IMO) and we'll be a force to be reckoned with.

  18. England need to get 'Foden' on the ball morepublished at 15:37 21 June

    Denmark 1-1 England

    Clinton Morrison
    Former Republic of Ireland striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

    Kieran Trippier is better on the right. He is not getting the ball out of his feet and giving it to Phil Foden who is getting a lot of criticism.

    If you play Foden where he wants to play and can get on the ball you will see the best from him.

  19. More reasons to be cheerfulpublished at 15:33 21 June

    Phil FodenImage source, Getty Images

    Now to invoke another piece of music from D:Ream, when it comes to England, 'Things Can Only Get Better', surely.

    Phil Foden is could yet spark England into life if he is able to throw off the positional shackles seemingly restricting him and Jude Bellingham, is another player yet to shine, that would walk into most international sides after a stellar season winning the Champions League and La Liga with Real Madrid.

    Kyle Walker has underlined his credentials as one of the best right-backs in the world and Marc Guehi has hardly looked out of place in his first major tournament for the Three Lions.

    Serbia managed just one shot on target against England in their opening Group C game and the Crystal Palace man generally looked comfortable in possession against the Danes completing over 90% of his passes.

    Even when he did make a slight error he was able to use his pace to get back and block from Alexander Bah to snuff out the danger.

    And of course as England fans, disappointment can quickly turn to optimism.

  20. Unbeaten and sitting prettypublished at 15:25 21 June

    Group C tableImage source, Getty Images

    Of course England are still unbeaten and sitting pretty at the top of Group C, as some of Gareth Southgate's players have pointed out.

    They also take on Slovenia next, a side they are yet to lose against (won five, drawn one) in their six previous meetings.

    Greece, who lost their opening game in 2004, were also the ultimate pragmatists on the way to a remarkable triumph in the same tournament, so of course that just shows that anything can happen yet.