Ukraine Upset France as England Edge Portugal in Euro U21

Georgiy Sudakov celebrates scoring against France. MIHAI BARBU / AFP
Georgiy Sudakov celebrates scoring against France. MIHAI BARBU / AFP
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Ukraine Upset France as England Edge Portugal in Euro U21

Georgiy Sudakov celebrates scoring against France. MIHAI BARBU / AFP
Georgiy Sudakov celebrates scoring against France. MIHAI BARBU / AFP

Georgiy Sudakov scored twice as Ukraine came from behind on Sunday to upset France 3-1 in Romania in the last quarterfinal at the European under-21 tournament.

Earlier, Anthony Gordon scored the winner as England, who have yet to concede a goal in the tournament, beat Portugal 1-0 in Kutaisi in Georgia to reach the last four, AFP said.

In Cluj Napoca, in Romania, France strolled into the lead after 30 minutes as Bradley Barcola found space in the Ukrainian box and cut the ball back to Rayan Cherki who side-stepped a defender and popped his shot into the net.

Ukraine were ahead by half time, lifted by two moments of inspiration from Chelsea starlet Mykhailo Mudryk.

After 30 minutes, Mudryk sliced through the French defense and into the box where Pierre Kalulu lunged. Mudryk plunged. Sudakov converted the penalty.

Ten minutes later, Mudryk's pinpoint pass from his own half found Sudakov who gave Ukraine the lead.

In the second half, Ukraine, more experienced than the French, intelligently managed their lead.

Mudryk almost provided another spark with a brilliant long pass to Oleksandr Nazarenko who was unable to convert.

Artem Bondarenko did score in 85th minute. By then, Mudryk was off and France were all but out.

Mudryk has struggled since his 100 million euros (£88 million) move to Chelsea but said he was more comfortable with Ukraine, a team full of former Shakhtar Donetsk clubmates.

"When you play with team-mates who are also your friends, you can play in a different way. When the coach puts 100-per-cent faith in you, you can do a lot more," he said.

In the evening's early match, Newcastle striker Gordon finished first time from a cut-back by Morgan Gibbs White of Nottingham Forest after 34 minutes.

"It's what happens when you have top players around you," said Gordon at the press conference.

"You're going to get chances and it's up to me to finish them. I probably should have had one or two more, which I'm a bit gutted about."

England created the best chances in the first half but rode their luck after the break. Portugal besieged the England penalty area for long periods but could come no closer than a header against the bar by center-forward Henrique Araujo of Benfica.

Goalkeeper James Trafford of Manchester City and his defense held out to preserve their perfect tournament record. England have yet to concede a goal in their four matches in the tournament.

Gordon said Portugal's pressure could prove useful for England.

"We haven't had that opportunity to show we've got that side to our game and tonight we got to -– and we definitely proved ourselves in that."

In the semi-final on Wednesday, England will face Israel in Batumi in a rematch of a group game that England won 2-0.

In the other semi-final, Ukraine will face Spain in Bucharest.

By reaching the final four, Ukraine, Spain and Israel have qualified for the football tournament at the 2024 Paris Games. England do not field a separate Olympic football team.



Brazil Coach: Neymar Will be Available to Play vs. Scotland

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks on before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks on before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Brazil Coach: Neymar Will be Available to Play vs. Scotland

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks on before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Morocco - New York/New Jersey Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - June 13, 2026 Brazil's Neymar Jr. looks on before the match REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

After Brazil defeated Haiti 3-0 in their second World Cup match on Friday night, Selecao coach Carlo Ancelotti said he expects Neymar to be available for the Group C finale.

Neymar, 34, has been rehabbing a right calf ailment. He last played for Santos in Brazil's top flight on May 17.

The Selecao will oppose Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Fla., needing only a win or a draw to advance to the round of 32.

"Neymar will be training tomorrow individually, and on Monday, he's going to be training with the rest of the team," Ancelotti said in the post-match press conference via an interpreter. "He will be available for ⁠the match against Scotland."

Injuries ⁠limited Neymar during Brazil's 2026 qualifying campaign. However, he was influential when he played, scoring twice and contributing three assists in four appearances.

Meanwhile, Ancelotti did not commit to continuing with Matheus Cunha at center forward despite the Manchester United player's first-half brace against Haiti. Cunha started in place of Igor Thiago after coming on in the ⁠61st minute of Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco in their tournament opener.

"He may," Reuters quoted Ancelotti as saying when asked if Cunha would remain in the center forward role.

"I think that Matheus' position was a good position for creating problems to the defense," Ancelotti said. "And he filtered his passes very well, and his position was a good position to be effective at the front.

"It can be an option. We discussed this yesterday. I don't want a clear identity. Maybe we will change this on the next match."

Brazil, on four points, currently lead ⁠Morocco on ⁠goal-difference in Group C after the Atlas Lions defeated Scotland 1-0 earlier Friday.

The Scots could be playing for their tournament lives on Wednesday, but Ancelotti insisted he is focusing on the bigger picture.

"We don't think about knocking out. We think about playing well and improving, and we analyze the match," Ancelotti said. "If we can reach the first position of the group, that would be important for the future. So we want to prepare well for that match.

"Scotland has its features. It can create a problem. It created problems to Morocco today. And so we have to focus on the match and be calm and be tranquil and keep on working to improve."


Cunha Scores Twice as Brazil Win 3-0 and Eliminate Haiti at World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Haiti - Fans gather in New York City
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Haiti - Fans gather in New York City
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Cunha Scores Twice as Brazil Win 3-0 and Eliminate Haiti at World Cup

FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Haiti - Fans gather in New York City
FIFA World Cup 2026 - Group C - Brazil v Haiti - Fans gather in New York City

Brazil beat Haiti 3-0 at the World Cup as Matheus Cunha struck twice and Vinicius Jr added another first-half goal to send the five-times champions top of Group C on four points and eliminate their opponents on Friday.

Morocco are level on points with the Brazilians after their earlier 1-0 win over Scotland, who have three, while Haiti are bottom with none and became the first side out of contention for the knockout stage at the tournament, Reuters reported.

Brazil took control in the 23rd minute when Vinicius's shot was parried by Johny Placide and Hannes Delcroix's attempted clearance deflected off Cunha and over the line. Cunha doubled the lead in the 36th, racing clear to fire into the top corner after a fine through ball from Vinicius.

Vinicius made it 3-0 in first-half added time, running on to Lucas Paqueta's long pass and finishing calmly. Brazil eased off after the break, with goalkeeper Alisson rarely troubled as Carlo Ancelotti's side eased to victory.


Portugal Tuning Out ‘Noise’ as Ronaldo Criticism Mounts at World Cup, Says Dias

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Portugal Press Conference - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 19, 2026 Portugal's Ruben Dias during the press conference. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Portugal Press Conference - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 19, 2026 Portugal's Ruben Dias during the press conference. (Reuters)
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Portugal Tuning Out ‘Noise’ as Ronaldo Criticism Mounts at World Cup, Says Dias

Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Portugal Press Conference - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 19, 2026 Portugal's Ruben Dias during the press conference. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Portugal Press Conference - Gardens North County District Park, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US - June 19, 2026 Portugal's Ruben Dias during the press conference. (Reuters)

The Portugal squad are shutting out criticism of the team and captain Cristiano Ronaldo following an underwhelming draw in their World Cup opener against Democratic Republic of Congo, defender Ruben Dias said on Friday.

Congo, playing in their first World Cup for 52 years, frustrated Portugal in a 1-1 draw that left the European side with just one shot on target despite completing 740 passes, prompting a barrage of criticism.

Ronaldo, in particular, found himself in the firing line as ‌the 41-year-old's goal ‌drought at major tournaments extended to 10 games stretching ‌back ⁠to the 2022 ⁠World Cup, despite being the all-time top scorer.

"The criticism is not significant for us, it's noise and part of the competition ... It's all noise," Dias told reporters at Portugal's training camp.

"It always happens if you have a match that doesn't go well. We're closing ourselves off from unnecessary criticism."

The Portugal captain was dealt a sharp critique by former France striker Thierry Henry, who ⁠suggested Ronaldo was playing for personal glory rather than ‌team success.

"One thing that's important: the team ‌needs to score, not you need to score," Henry said in his analysis ‌on Fox, adding that Ronaldo was getting in the way of team-mates ‌in a better position to score.

RONALDO 'USED TO MEDIA PRESSURE'

But Dias refused to single out Ronaldo, who is competing in his sixth World Cup.

"Cristiano, of course, is used to dealing with the media pressure we usually face in the club, the national ‌team, world tournaments, European competitions," Dias said.

"In this sort of competition, it will never be perfect ... This is ⁠a competition ⁠you can win only if you play well game after game," he added.

READY FOR UZBEKISTAN CLASH

Dias, who was benched for the opener while recovering from injury, declared himself ready to play for Tuesday's second group match against Uzbekistan.

Having faced Congo's defensive back five, Portugal could encounter a similar strategy from Uzbekistan, and Dias said it was a tactic he had seen repeatedly while playing for Manchester City.

"I come from playing most of my club matches against teams that use a back five, so I have a very clear idea about it," Dias said.

"Respecting positional discipline becomes decisive in matches like these.

"I believe we have players with enough quality that, by respecting our positions and making the right decisions, we can make the difference."