When UEFA decided eight years ago to expand the European Championship from 16 to 24 teams, then-President Michel Platini "promised the standard of the tournament would not drop," according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. Two-thirds of the way through the group stage, European football's governing body "may feel they have grounds to claim that, on the face of it, Platini was right." Iceland has held Portugal and Hungary, Albania took France to within minutes of a 0-0 draw, Northern Ireland beat Ukraine and "nobody has made fools of themselves." But Platini's argument "somewhat misses the point, and could be used to justify an even bigger tournament." UEFA has 55 members with France, Spain and Germany widely regarded as "a cut above the rest," followed by three or four others such as Italy, England and Belgium. Below them are about 30 teams "all of a fairly similar standard." With so many teams of a similar standard, "the question is where to draw the line and many critics still feel 16 was the ideal place." UEFA's problem is that "when middle-ranking teams face top sides, they tend to pack their defence and use spoiling tactics." Germany Manager Joachim Löw said, "There are teams playing ultra-defensively. But they do that well. The smaller nations like Albania or Wales are defensively very well schooled. They see their chance in that" (REUTERS, 6/19).
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UEFA Euro 2016 scores & schedule.
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MORE CROWD TROUBLE: REUTERS' Philip O'Connor reported UEFA said that "it is taking disciplinary action against Hungary, Belgium and Portugal after further crowd trouble at three Euro 2016 football games on Saturday." The UEFA Control, Ethics & Disciplinary Committee has charged the Hungarian federation "on three counts relating to the behaviour of their fans -- setting off fireworks, throwing objects and crowd disturbances." Six fans cheering for Hungary were arrested "after they were seen crossing fences inside the stadium and using flares." Disciplinary proceedings have also been opened against the Belgian FA "after fans set off fireworks and threw objects during their 3-0 victory over Ireland in Bordeaux." Portugal has been charged "after at least one fan came onto the pitch following their scoreless draw with Austria, in which captain Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty" (
REUTERS, 6/19). In London, Gary Jacob reported former Croatia Manager Slaven Bilic believes that "his country’s problems with warring factions of supporters were behind the distressing scenes" that blighted Friday’s game in Saint-Étienne. Bilic, now manager of West Ham United but Croatia head coach between '06 and '12, said, “It’s unbelievable what those people are doing themselves. There is a riot between themselves. The majority of fans are telling them don’t do it but unfortunately some of them are there on a mission. It’s probably not the last time they’ll do this” (
LONDON TIMES, 6/18).
KREMLIN RESPONSE: REUTERS' Vladimir Soldatkin reported the Kremlin on Sunday "rejected a suggestion by senior British government officials it may have deliberately sanctioned violence" by Russian hooligans at the Euro 2016 tournament in France as "anti-Russian hysteria." It spoke out after Britain's Observer newspaper published a report citing the unnamed British officials as saying that "they suspected the Kremlin may have links to the Russian hooligans who attacked England supporters in Marseille." The British officials were quoted as saying that "many of the Russian hooligans were in the uniformed services and that their actions looked like a continuation of President Vladimir Putin's 'hybrid warfare' against the West" (REUTERS, 6/19).
NO DECISION UNTIL AFTER EURO: The PA reported FA Chair Greg Dyke believes a new contract for Roy Hodgson is "not entirely dependent on a successful finish at Euro 2016." Hodgson's current deal "expires this summer but he wants to continue to lead the side to the World Cup in Russia in two years' time." Dyke: "I think we have been pretty clear with Roy and ourselves, no decision will be taken until this tournament is over. What we have said if we have done well and we played well then I think he will be renewed" (PA, 6/19).
