Sports
Shakib shines in Tigers series win against Zimbabwe
Shakib Al Hasan smashed an unbeaten 96 to guide the Tigers to win the second ODI by three wickets against Zimbabwe and sweep the series on Sunday at the Harare Sports Club.
The third and final ODI of the match will take place on July 20 at the same venue.
Bangladesh bowled first in this game after losing the toss. The hosts posted a moderate total of 240 runs with the fifty by Wesley Madhevere. Bangladeshi bowlers have done a decent job to resist the hosts from posting a big total on the board.
Zimbabwe got their only fifty-plus partnership in the sixth wicket stand shared by Sikandar Raza and Madhevere. They added 63 off 70 deliveries.
Shoriful Islam, the left-arm seamer, broke the stand removing Madhevere for 56 off 63 balls. Shofirul ended up taking four wickets conceding 46 runs in 10 overs— his career-best so far.
In reply, Bangladesh made a steady start as Tamim Iqbal and Liton Das added 39 runs in the opening stand. Tamim, who has been suffering from a leg injury, fell to Luke Jongwe as the first wicket for 20 off 34 balls.
Within seven runs of Tamim’s dismissal, Liton, who hit a hundred in the first match, fell for 21. He was removed by Richard Ngarava.
Also read: Shakib bags five as Bangladesh register emphatic win vs Zimbabwe
Mohammad Mithun and Mosaddek Hossain failed once again to overcome their batting woes as they were dismissed for two and five respectively. Bangladesh lost five wickets in 130 runs.
Shakib, who came to bat at number three, stood solid at one end of the wicket. He and Mahmudullah Riyad added 55 in the fifth wicket stand to keep Bangladesh’s hope alive. Blessing Muzarabani broke this stand taking Mahmudullah for 26, and right after that, Mehidy Hasan Miraz ws out only at six. He tried to play a big shot off Madhevere and ended up giving a catch to Dion Myers.
Afif Hossain accompanied Shakib in a 28-rum stand but failed to finish the job. Mohammad Saifuddin came to bat at eight and finish the game, adding 69 on the board in the eighth wicket stand with Shakib.
Bangladesh ended up on 242 for seven in 49.1 overs and won the game by three wickets. While Shakib remained unbeaten on 96, Saifuddin also remained unbeaten on 28.
“Today was the day I had to put my hands up. I’m happy that I’ve done it,” Shakib said to the broadcaster after the match. “It wasn't easy to bat today, and credit goes to Saifuddin for the way he played. He showed a lot of composure.”
Bangladesh captain Tamim also applauded Shakib and Saifuddin for their batting and finishing the job. He said to the broadcaster: “There were many soft dismissals today, but the way Shakib and Saifuddin played was nice to see. The wicket was playing quite nicely in the first innings compared to the previous match, and I am to chase 241.”
This series is a part of the World Cup Super League. The top seven teams of this event along with the shots, India, will qualify directly to the World Cup 2023.
After the three-match ODI series, both teams will lock horns in three-match T20 series. All of those matches will take place at the same venue. Before the limited-over series, Bangladesh took on the hosts in a one-off Test and won that match by 220 runs.
Bangladesh seven wickets away from a win in Harare
Bangladesh need seven more wickets to register a win in Harare Test against Zimbabwe.
Aiming to score 477 runs to win the game, Zimbabwe ended day four at 140 for three in 40 overs. Brendan Taylor was tremendous with the bat. He scored 92 off 73 balls with 16 fours.
A century looked imminent for him, but Mehidy Hasan Miraz tricked him with a loose ball outside off. Taylor tried a big shot at the last moment and ended up sending a return catch to the bowler.
He was the second wicket to fall for the hosts after Milton Shumba who fell for 11 to Taskin Ahmed. Shakib Al Hasan, who bagged four wickets in the first innings, scalped the third wicket removing Takudzwanashe Kaitano, who was the highest scorer for Zimbabwe in the first innings.
Earlier, Bangladesh declared their second innings on 284 for one in 67.4 overs, with Shadman Islam and Shanto Mahmud remained unbeaten for 115 and 117 respectively.
Shadman needed 180 balls to reach his maiden three-figure score in international cricket. He smashed eight fours along the way. While going to 100 from 85, Shanto hit two sixes and reached his hundred in 109 balls.
Also read: Shadman, Shanto hit centuries as Bangladesh secure 476-run lead
In the second-wicket stand, they added 196 runs, which is now the third-highest stand in the second wicket for Bangladesh in Tests.
With the 192-run first-innings lead, Bangladesh secured a huge lead of 476 runs with a little over fours sessions to play.
In their first innings, Zimbabwe tumbled for 276 while replying to Bangladesh’s first innings total of 468.
Mehidy Hasan Miraz bagged five wickets, and Shakib Al Hasan took four.
For Zimbabwe, the debutant Takudzwanashe Kaitano scored 87 which was the highest by any Zimbabwean batsman. Brendan Taylor also hit a fifty for the hosts.
Earlier, Mahmudullah Riyad scored an unbeaten 150 for Bangladesh while Liton Das, Taskin Ahmed and Mominul scored 95, 70 and 75 respectively to post a huge first-innings total despite losing two early wickets.
Also read: Five-for in overseas Test will boost my confidence: Mehidy
Brief score:
Bangladesh first innings: 468/10 in 126 overs (Mahmudullah 150*, Liton 95, Taskin 75, Mominul 70); Muzrabani 4/94, Tiripano 2/58, Nyauchi 2/92
Zimbabwe first innings: 276/10 in 111.5 overs (Kaitano 87, Taylor 81, Shumba 41); Mehidy 5/82, Shakib 4/82
Bangladesh second innings: 284/1 declared in 67.4 overs (Shanto 117*, Shadman 115*); Ngarava 1/36,
Zimbabwe second innings: 140/3 in 40 overs (Taylor 92, Myers 18*); Shakib 1/23, Taskin 1/39, Mehidy 1/45.
Brazil and Argentina both have keys to win Copa America
Brazil and Argentina have several keys that could see either team win the Copa America title on Saturday at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Led by a Barcelona -style Lionel Messi, Argentina players appear convinced they will put an end to a 28-year title drought. Its opponent Brazil looks even better than two years ago when it lifted Copa America without Neymar and with fans on the stands.
Brazil seeks its 10th South American title, while Argentina is going for its 15th, which would put it level with record winners Uruguay.
Here are some reasons why both teams have what it takes to win the title.
ARGENTINA
MESSI: the team captain is playing his best tournament with Argentina since his debut in 2005. He’s scored four goals and has five assists so far. Beyond his playmaking virtues, the 34-year-old is looking comfortable as a leader on the pitch — in a contrast with the shy Messi of past tournaments.
EMILIANO MARTÍNEZ: he is the first goalkeeper to stop three penalties in a shootout in Argentina’s history. Against Colombia, he trash-talked his opponents before each shot, which apparently worked. He looks safe in the position, has a good footwork and blocks crosses with precision.
Also read: Brazil and Argentina clash in a soccer final for 5th time
LIONEL SCALONI: The young coach took over as an intern in 2018 to leave behind Argentina’s meltdown in the 2018 World Cup when the team lost to France in the round of 16. Now he is responsible for a renewal to team players like defender Cristian Romero, winger Nicolás González and goalkeeper Martínez.
LAUTARO MARTÍNEZ: The striker nearly lost his position to veteran Sergio Agüero after a slow start in the tournament, but he has now scored in the last three matches. He tires opponents with his runs, opens gaps for Messi and still scores some goals.
PROTECTION TO MESSI: Rodrigo de Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are not the most creative midfielders in the world. But they are still high-level passers who will sacrifice defending so Messi can shine in the final third. Leandro Paredes and Guido Rodriguez also take that responsibility in the center, no matter who is playing.
BRAZIL
STEADINESS: Brazil won five matches and drew against Ecuador when it fielded a team with six substitutes. So far, the Selecao has scored in every match and conceded only two goals in the group stage. It usually plays better in the second half, when most of its opponents are fatigued. Substitutes have managed to keep the team’s intensity high when they join in.
Also read: Copa America 2021: Lionel Messi vs Neymar da Silva
NEYMAR: His dribbles, passes and shots add to Brazil’s steadiness. Neymar scored two goals and had three assists in five matches — he was rested against Ecuador. His exchanges with midfielder Lucas Paquetá made Brazil more fluid up front. As Neymar showed against Peru in the semifinal, he can still come up with tricks that result in goals.
TITE: Brazil’s coach has used the tournament to test playing alternatives, eyeing the World Cup in Qatar. As a result, his team depends less on Neymar and adapts well to different situations. By using Gabriel Jesus as a winger, he created opportunities for new players to step up as target men, including Roberto Firmino and Gabriel Barbosa. Tite has also found Paquetá as a promising box-to-box player.
DEFENDERS: Veteran Thiago Silva is still in top form, Marquinhos is as quick as most strikers and Éder Militão has proven to be a potential Brazil starter in the long run. The two goals Brazil conceded at Copa America came on an unstoppable volley by Luis Diaz against Colombia and by Angel Mena in a rare mistake against Ecuador.
Euro 2020 final: England can finally end 55 years of misery
All the years of hurt, England fans sing about it. All that sense of entitlement, rival fans are irritated by it.
After decades of embarrassment and moaning at tournaments, the English have a chance to finally back up the bravado — just listen to the team anthem, “Football’s Coming Home” — with a trophy.
The nation that lays claim to being the inventor of soccer, but is more fittingly one of the sport’s great underachievers, is back in a final — against Italy in the European Championships.
Read:Italy beats Spain on penalties, reaches Euro 2020 final
The teams will meet Sunday night at Wembley Stadium in London where England will be going for its first major title since winning the 1966 World Cup on their home field. The Italians are unbeaten in 33 games.
It’s been 55 agonizing years for England through 26 World Cups and European Championship tournaments, seven of which they didn’t even qualify for.
Even less illustrious national teams like Denmark and Greece have won trophies since then. But England became all about falling short on a world stage it felt it should dominate.
Beating Denmark on Wednesday broke through the semifinal obstacle at least in the Euros, prevailing 2-1 in extra time and avoiding the penalty shootouts that have proved to be the team’s nemesis through all those near-misses.
“What a brilliant moment for us,” England coach Gareth Southgate said on the field with fans still singing into the night at Wembley. Let’s savior this.”
No way were the England players missing out on the chance to lap up the acclaim of a crowd waiting for this healing moment, not only to reach a final again but to gather in such big numbers again as the pandemic-restricted capacity swelled to 66,000.
“It’s too late,” Southgate quipped discussing any attempt to curtail the exuberance. “We all let ourselves down on the pitch.”
The celebrations were a reflection of the bond the coach has forged between the national team and an English public that seemed disillusioned with the hubris and dreary performances before Southgate’s overhaul began in 2016.
Read:Longtime tormentor Italy stands in way of Spain at Euro 2020
Leading England to a final is proving cathartic for the coach who as a player missed the decisive penalty in the Euro ’96 semifinal penalty shootout against Germany. It was that tournament that saw the introduction of the England “Three Lions” song talking of “30 years of hurt.”
It’s never easy for England. Even when the path to the Euro 2020 semifinals seemed smooth — even the 2-0 win over archrival Germany — Southgate was prepared for difficulties against Denmark, especially after losing the 2018 World Cup semifinal to Croatia and being beaten in the 2019 Nations League last four by the Netherlands.
“I knew it might be a tortuous path,” Southgate said. “In the end it’s a wonderful evening for our fans, for our public and for our country.”
Southgate sees his role as more delivering for a nation, assuming leadership status beyond sport when he talked about unity during the divisive Brexit debate and now encourages the players to use their platforms to promote social causes and campaign against racism.
Southgate is more than just an orator, though. Only 1966 Word Cup winner Alf Ramsey has been a more successful coach of England. The expensive imports at the start of the century — Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello — could get no further than quarterfinals. Instead, a manager whose only club job ended in 2009 with relegation from the Premier League with Middlesbrough has led England to a final.
For all his popular support — “Southgate you’re the one,” fans sing — he resists pandering to fans’ demands of selecting players. National hero Marcus Rashford, the Manchester United striker who has won acclaim for challenging the government, didn’t even come off the bench for the biggest game of his career.
He ignored calls to drop Raheem Sterling at the start of Euro 2020 and has been rewarded with three goals from the winger who also forced the own-goal that tied the game 1-all against Denmark.
Southgate stayed calm as England held on, only making only substitution when five were available to him in the 90 minutes before extra time.
Read:Euro2020 semi-finalists have been determined
“The opposition were constantly changing tactics,” Southgate said. “Sometimes it is bolder to do nothing ... the risk is you don’t do anything, it goes against you but we were causing problems.”
Problems in a way that England has not done for decades.
“It’s one of the proudest moments in my life,” said captain Harry Kane, who netted the winner from a rebound after his penalty was saved. “But we haven’t won it yet, we’ve got one more to go.”
Italy beats Spain on penalties, reaches Euro 2020 final
Facing a wall of nervous blue-and-white clad Italy fans behind the goal, Jorginho took his trademark hop and skip before calmly stroking in the winning penalty.
So much for the pressure of a shootout in the European Championship semifinals.
A dash of Italian panache completed a 4-2 penalty-shootout win over Spain at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday, setting up a title match against either England or Denmark back at the same stadium on Sunday.
The match finished 1-1 after extra time and provided Italy with its toughest test of the tournament, with Spain controlling possession for long periods. Federico Chiesa scored for Italy with a curling shot in the 60th minute but substitute Alvaro Morata equalized for Spain in the 80th.
Read:Longtime tormentor Italy stands in way of Spain at Euro 2020
Morata, dropped from the starting lineup for the first time in a tournament during which he has received verbal abuse and even death threats from his own fans, will go down as Spain’s scapegoat once again after having a penalty saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma in the next-to-last kick of the shootout.
As he walked back to the center circle with his head bowed, Jorginho made the opposite journey and didn’t make the same mistake.
The Chelsea midfielder has his own style when it comes to taking penalties and he didn’t abandon it when it mattered most, sparking a throng of celebrations as Italy’s players sprinted from the halfway line.
Jorginho was mobbed. Italy coach Roberto Mancini was hugged by the rest of coaching staff. The players lined up on the edge of the area and ran together, holding hands, toward the fans.
Leonardo Bonucci went further, leaping over the advertising hoardings to get even closer to the crazed supporters whose loud cheering had lifted the team in their most difficult moments.
“We’re delighted we could provide this wonderful entertainment to the Italian people,” Mancini said. “One game to go.”
Riding a national record unbeaten run of 33 games, Italy will play in its fourth European final and look to win the title for a second time, after 1968.
It’s quite the redemption story for a country which failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
“This group is amazing,” Mancini said. “Everyone wants to win, but this group of players wanted to do something special.”
Read:Euro2020 semi-finalists have been determined
They have had the aura of champions since Day 1 of the tournament and they’ll be sticking around until the last day, too. But it’s at the home of English soccer where the team has had its toughest matches.
Against Austria in the round of 16, the Italians were taken to extra time at Wembley and they had to go the distance, too, against Spain.
Spain’s striker-free formation initially flummoxed the Azzurri, who have become a more progressive team under Mancini but were given a clinic at times in ball possession and movement in midfield.
Experienced center backs Giorgio Chiellini and Bonucci looked uncertain at times, not knowing whether to drop back or follow deep-lying forward Dani Olmo — who started ahead of Morata — into the center of midfield.
Spain’s pressing also drew some rash clearances from the back from Italy. That created the team’s best chance in the first half with Ferran Torres’ shot requiring a low save from Donnarumma.
The Italians had even more problems when Morata came on as a substitute but, by then, Chiesa had put them ahead after latching onto a loose ball, cutting inside and curling a shot into the far corner. It was his second goal at Wembley in this tournament, having scored just as impressively against Austria.
Morata’s movement stretched Italy’s defense to set up chances for Mikel Oyarzabal and Olmo. Then he scored for the third time at Euro 2020.
For a player often accused of wasting chances when he has too much time in front of goal, Morata showed calmness to sidefoot in a left-footed shot after exchanging passes with Olmo at the edge of the area.
Morata grabbed a camera behind the goal and thrust his face into it. But he had nowhere to hide after becoming the second Spain player to miss in the shootout — after Olmo — following 30 minutes of extra time.
Read:Denmark beats Czechs 2-1 to reach Euro 2020 semifinals
“He really has a lot of personality,” Spain coach Luis Enrique said of Morata. “He wanted to take a penalty even though he’s been through some tough times in this competition.”
Italy started the shootout with Manuel Locatelli’s shot saved by Unai Simon, but Andrea Belotti, Bonucci and Federico Bernardeschi all scored before Jorginho.
Spain, a three-time European champion, beat Switzerland in a penalty shootout just to get to Wembley. Having also been taken to extra time by Croatia in the last 16, the Spanish certainly took the long route to the semifinals but their journey ended there.
“Everyone made Italy big favorites,” Spain midfielder Sergio Busquets said, “but we demonstrated we were superior to them.”
Longtime tormentor Italy stands in way of Spain at Euro 2020
They are opponents who have long struck fear into the heart of Spanish soccer.
The Italians: tough, defensively strong, cynical. Winners by whatever means possible — or so it was widely perceived in Spain anyway.
And Luis Enrique knows all about it.
Read:Italy advances to semifinals at Euro 2020
The current Spain coach was a member of the national team that was beaten by Italy 1-0 in the 1994 World Cup quarterfinals. As famous as the 88th-minute winning goal by Roberto Baggio was the elbow to Luis Enrique’s face administered by Italy’s hard man in defense, Mauro Tassotti.
The violent act went unpunished during the game — Tassotti would later get an eight-match ban — but wasn’t forgotten in Spain. The photo of an anguished Luis Enrique, blood pouring from his broken nose onto a splattered white towel, has gone down in history, and is often brought out whenever the two rivals meet.
Like they will at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday in the European Championship semifinals.
“We’ve spoken a few times since but that’s in the past, part of footballing history,” Luis Enrique said Monday about the incident with Tassotti. “Both of us, of course, would’ve preferred that had gone differently but there’s nothing more to say.”
Actually, Luis Enrique doesn’t appear to hold any grudges toward the Azzurri, his feelings possibly changing after spending a year coaching Italian club Roma in the 2011-12 season.
“It’s a country I’m very fond of,” he said. “Whenever I’ve a bit of free time, I always like to visit Italy. It’s lovely to come up against the Azzurri — it’s always very nice.”
Many in Spain would disagree.
For 88 years, Spain didn’t beat Italy in a competitive match and an inferiority complex naturally grew. A clash of styles — typically attacking Spain against defensive Italy — always went one way.
Also read: Euro2020 semi-finalists have been determined
Until 2008, that is. That was when a weight was lifted from a nation as Spain defeated Italy in a penalty shootout in Vienna in the European Championship quarterfinals on its way to its first continental title in 44 years.
Four years later, Spain would beat Italy again at Euro 2012, this time 4-0 in Kyiv for the most lop-sided score in a final in the tournament’s history.
Yet Spain’s title defense was ended in the last 16 five years ago by a limited but tactically superior Italy coached by Antonio Conte, which won 2-0 in Paris.
The teams, then, will be meeting in a fourth straight tournament. This match promises to be different, though, purely because of the way Italy’s approach has altered since Roberto Mancini took over as coach in 2018.
Sure, the trademark Italian robustness in defense is still there, but the team has an attacking swagger these days and also has become more of a passing team. They’re not in Spain’s league in terms of possession, but then again who is?
“We’re leaders in the possession stats, but they too are a side who enjoy playing with the ball. So that’s going to be the first battle to win,” Luis Enrique said. “But they’re also very good without the ball. We need the ball. We want to have it.”
Spain has the squad with youngest average age in the tournament — at 24.1 years — and there’s a sense that Luis Enrique feels his players have exceeded expectations by reaching the semifinals.
It’s why he was so proud of getting past Switzerland in the quarterfinals, albeit with the need of a penalty shootout.
Also read: Italy advances to semifinals at Euro 2020
“It’s impossible to understate this,” he said. “We’re not an experienced national team.”
Indeed, when it comes to being streetwise at international level, few can top the Italians.
A clip of Italy striker Ciro Immobile falling dramatically in the area and apparently feigning injury during the win over Belgium in the quarterfinals, only for him to instantly spring to his feet moments later after Nicola Barella scored the opening goal, has been spread widely over social media.
Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci laughed it off on Monday, saying “the joy and excitement of a goal in matches such as these means you don’t experience any more pain.” But to some it was another classic example of gamesmanship.
It’s why players like Champions League winners Cesar Azpilicueta, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba will be so important for Spain to guide the team’s younger players at Wembley.
“We’re not an experienced team,” Luis Enrique said, “but it doesn’t mean we don’t have experience of the game. Many of our players have played at a very high level and are used to these games.
“I just hope we’re up to the challenge.”
Shakib, Mehidy star in practice match
In the two-day practice match against the Zimbabwe Select XI, Shakib Al Hasan hit a fifty and bagged three wickets. Along with him, Mehidy Hasan Miraz also bagged three scalps. The match, which took place at the Takashinga Sports Club, Highfield, Harare, ended in a draw on Sunday.
Bangladesh won the toss in this match and opted to bat first. The tourists posted a total of 313 for two and declared their innings, with Shakib (74), Saif Hassan (65), and Najmul Hossain Shanto (52) doing well with the bat.
In reply, Zimbabwe Select XI tumbled for 202 . Captain Timycen Maruma was the best batsman for them hitting 58 off 132 balls.
Also read: Lankan Premier League: Shakib, Tamim included in draft line-up
For Bangladesh, Shakib bagged three wickets conceding 34 runs while Miraz also scalped as many wickets conceding 64. Besides them, Shoriful Islam took two wickets, and Taskin Ahmed and Ebadot Hossain took one wicket each.
The one-off Test will take place from July 7 at the Harare Sports Club. The three ODIs will take place on July 16, 18, and 20 while the T20Is will be played on July 23, 25, and 27 respectively at the same venue.
Test and ODIs will start at 1:30 pm (Bangladesh time) while T20Is at 4:30 pm (Bangladesh time).
Bangladesh’s last Zimbabwe tour was in 2013 when the Tigers ended up the series in a draw winning the one match of the two-match series.
Also read: Shakib shines ahead of Zimbabwe Test
After 2013, Zimbabwe toured Bangladesh thrice for the Test series and lost two of them, with the last series was a one-off Test affair.
Overall, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe took each other in nine Test series. Of them, Zimbabwe won four and Bangladesh came up victorious in three. The other two series ended up a draw.
Bangladesh’s Test squad:
Muminul Haque (captain), Tamim Iqbal, Shdman Islam, Saif Hassan, Nazmul Hossain Shanto, Mushfiqur Rahim, Shakib Al Hasan, Liton Das, Mahmudullah Riyad, Yasir Ali, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Mehedy Hasan Miraz, Taizul Islam, Nayeem Hasan, Abu Jayed Rahi, Taskin Ahmed, Ebadot Hossain and Shoriful Islam, Shakib Al Hasan, Nurul Hasan Sohan and Naeem Hasan, Mahmudullah Riyad.
Euro2020 semi-finalists have been determined
The semi-finalists of the UEFA Euro 2020 have been determined. The final matches of the quarter-finals were held on Saturday.
In the quarterfinals, Italy beat Belgium in Munich (2:1), the Spanish national team defeated the Swiss team in St. Petersburg (1:1, 3:1 - on penalties), Denmark in Baku beat Czech Republic (2:1), and England defeated Ukraine in Rome (4:0).
Also read: Denmark beats Czechs 2-1 to reach Euro 2020 semifinals
The semi-finals will have the matches between Italy - Spain on July 6 and England vs. Denmark on July 7. Both meetings will take place in London at Wembley Stadium. The final will take place in the same arena on July 11.
The current European champion is the Portuguese national team, which in 2016 beat the hosts of the tournament, France (1:0).
Also read: Italy advances to semifinals at Euro 2020
Denmark beats Czechs 2-1 to reach Euro 2020 semifinals
Denmark’s journey at the European Championship is headed to London.
The Danes, who have developed into a surprise contender after their tournament began with midfielder Christian Eriksen suffering cardiac arrest on the field, advanced to the Euro 2020 semifinals on Saturday by beating the Czech Republic 2-1.
They didn’t need long to take control against the Czechs on a hot and humid night in Azerbaijan.
Also read: Brazil beats Chile at Copa America despite 2nd-half red card
Jens Stryger sent an outswinging corner in the fifth minute to Thomas Delaney, standing in space by the penalty spot. Delaney’s bouncing header went in past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík.
Denmark doubled the lead just before halftime. Joakim Maehle hit a cross from the left using the outside of his right foot. The ball eluded Martin Braithwaite’s attempt at a header but Kasper Dolberg got past his marker and beat Vaclík in the 42nd.
Czech Republic forward Patrik Schick scored his fifth goal at the beginning of the second half, putting him even with Cristiano Ronaldo as the tournament’s leading scorers. Schick was given plenty of space by defender Jannik Vestergaard to hit a first-touch shot off Vladimir Coufal’s curled pass.
Also read: Copa America 2021: Teams Qualified For Quarter Finals, Fixtures
The Czechs pushed hard to level the score in a physical game which finished with Tomas Soucek and Jan Boril both with their heads wrapped in bandages after collisions with Danish players.
Denmark lost its first two games at Euro 2020 and was on the verge of elimination before beating Russia, Wales and the Czechs in succession. This is farthest Denmark has gotten at a major tournament since winning the European title in 1992.
Brazil beats Chile at Copa America despite 2nd-half red card
Defending Copa America champions Brazil defended strongly with 10 men to advance to the semifinals with a 1-0 win on Friday against Chile. Substitute Lucas Paquetá scored the only goal of the match only seconds before Gabriel Jesus was sent off early in the second half.
Paquetá’s winner to the left corner of Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo in the 46th minute gave Brazil fans some hope that the Selecao would ease into the next stage. But only two minutes later Jesus was sent off after hitting Chile’s Eugenio Mena with a flying kick.
Neymar and Brazil coach Tite said after the match that Jesus didn’t see Mena and accidentally kicked him as he tried to recover possession in the midfield.
Brazil worked so hard defensively that Chile had fewer shots on goal after Jesus was sent off than during the time he played; two against three.
“Defending well is a characteristic of ours,” Brazil’s Thiago Silva said. “Regardless of what we did today we concede few goals. Ever down to 10 we created clear opportunities. I am very proud of this team, for its fighting spirit.”
Also read: Copa America 2021: Quarter Finals Preview
Paquetá came onto the pitch after a tense first half with few opportunities for both sides. He replaced Roberto Firmino.
Brazil didn’t stop threatening Chile with Neymar’s dribbles and quick counter-attacks. But Chile was much closer to the equalizer; it had an Eduardo Vargas goal disallowed for offside and English-Chilean Ben Brereton hit the bar with a header in the 68th minute.
An exhausted Neymar said after the match that playing with 10 men was a great test for Brazil. He was not close to scoring as in other Copa America matches, but he was key by holding possession.
“Every match we need to get some tests to make us stronger, show we can do it in every circumstance,” Neymar said. “We had to stand together. It was very hard to do it.”
Chile’s Arturo Vidal said his team will leave the tournament with some pride.
“We lost to a great team, a favorite which is playing at home,” he said. “If we play like we played today, with some more time to work, this team will clearly have its intensity back. We hope to qualify to the World Cup. It will be hard, but we can.”
Also read: Copa America 2021: Teams Qualified For Quarter Finals, Fixtures
Peru advanced to the semifinal after beating Paraguay on penalties 4-3 after a 3-3 score in regular time, in the most thrilling Copa America match yet.
Brazil and Peru played the latest Copa America final in 2019, with the hosts winning 3-1. Jesus was also sent off in that match at Rio’s Maracana Stadium. Monday’s encounter will be at the same Nilton Santos Stadium where Brazil beat Chile.
Brazil coach Tite, who was recently fined by South American soccer body CONMEBOL for criticizing the tournament’s organization, once more criticized the quality of the Nilton Santos pitch, despite minor improvements made recently.
“If I were watching from home I would say this could have been a good match, and look what it is... Ederson had difficulties to take goal kicks,” Tite said. “Please, be responsible. I recognize people are trying to improve the pitch, but find a better pitch for us to play.”
The Copa America final will be played at the Maracana Stadium on July 10.