Embolo scores on emotional return to national team as Switzerland beat Hungary

Switzerland’s dominant first-half display helped earn them a 3-1 victory over Hungary in Group A at Euro 2024.

In just his second appearance for his country, Kwadwo Duah opened the scoring after a brilliantly timed run allowed him to latch on to Michel Aebischer’s through ball and beat Peter Gulacsi.

Switzerland continued to push for a second and were rewarded just before half-time with Aebischer’s beautiful curling effort landing in the bottom right-hand corner.

Hungary came out fighting after the break and got themselves back into it when a cross from captain Dominik Szoboszlai found the head of Roland Varga.

But it ultimately wasn’t enough, and Breel Embolo rounded off the win with a lifted finish over Gulacsi’s head in stoppage time.

The win now puts Switzerland level on points with hosts Germany in Group A.

Today’s game was widely seen as the decider for second place given both will be expected to beat Scotland and lose to the hosts.

However, anything can happen and Hungary will still fancy their chances of progressing even if it’s as one of the best third-placed teams.

Talking Point – Are Hungary feeling the pressure?

Heading into the tournament Hungary were fancied by many as being one of the dark horses given their impressive unbeaten run in qualifying, but they looked off the pace today.

They struggled to create chances in the first half and whilst they were much improved in the second period, you can’t afford many mistakes at a major tournament or you will be punished.

Their next game is against the hosts Germany and it will be a huge ask for them to get anything out of that game.

Player of the Match – Michel Aebischer (Switzerland)

There were several good Swiss players on the pitch today and their experience showed, but Aebischer’s display in the first half was incredible.

He created several chances from midfield, assisting Duah for the first goal and then expertly finishing from 23 yards out for the second.

If Scotland are to have any chance of beating Switzerland next week, they’ll need to deal with him.

Player Ratings

Hungary: Gulacsi 5; Lang 4, Orban 5, Szalai 5; Fiola 4, Nagy 5, Schafer 4, Kerkez 4; Sallai 6, Szoboszlai 7; Varga 7.

Switzerland: Sommer 7; Schar 7, Akanji 6, Rodriguez 6; Widmer 7, Xhaka 8, Freuler 7, Ndoye 7; Aebischer 9, Vargas 7; Duah 8.

Match Highlights

12 – GOAL! HUNGARY 0-1 SWITZERLAND (DUAH) – Duah’s perfectly timed run allowed him to latch on to a through ball from Aebischer and slot past Gulacsi.

44 – GOAL! HUNGARY 0-2 SWITZERLAND (AEBISCHER) – Aebischer was looking for a pass on the edge of the box but decided to go it alone and beautifully curled the ball past Gulacsi .

66 – GOAL! HUNGARY 1-2 SWITZERLAND (VARGA) – A cross from captain Szoboszlai finds Varga who gets ahead of his man and heads home from a couple of yards out.

90+3 – GOAL! HUNGARY 1-3 SWITZERLAND (EMBOLO) – A terrible header from Fiola fell straight to Embolo who volleyed the ball over Gulacsi’s head.

Key Stats

Un-Nooh and Page find century form to advance at Championship League

Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Jackson Page became the latest men to reach the last 32 of the Championship League in Leicester boosted by some timely century breaks.

Thai speed merchant Un-Nooh enjoyed wins against Mark Joyce (3-1) and Julien Leclercq (3-0), with a 2-2 draw against Daniel Wells seeing him end his day unbeaten as Group 32 winner on seven points.

Un-Nooh produced sparkling breaks of 106 and 104 against Leclercq to finish two points clear of Wells in his section, while Page’s crucial 127 in his 3-1 win over Robert Milkins saw him edge out Andrew Higginson as Group 10 winner after both men finished on five points with identical frame difference.

Page had earlier drawn his first two matches 2-2 against Higginson and Iulian Boiko at the Mattioli Arena.

The sixth day of the tournament continues on Saturday with Crucible qualifiers Dominic Dale and Jamie Jones in action.

The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

Championship League: Latest Group Winners

  • Group 21: Neil Robertson (Aus)
  • Group 11: Ryan Day (Wal)
  • Group 4: Mark Williams (Wal)
  • Group 17: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
  • Group 25: Matthew Stevens (Wal)
  • Group 31: Ashley Carty (Eng)
  • Group 23: Michael White (Wal)
  • Group 22: Joe O’Connor (Eng)
  • Group 10: Jackson Page (Wal)
  • Group 32: Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Tha)
Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

Germany v Scotland – Euro 2024 LIVE

Follow the Euro 2024 live Football match between Germany and Scotland with Eurosport. The match starts at 7:00 PM on June 14th, 2024.

Catch the latest Germany and Scotland news and find up to date Euro 2024 standings, results, top scorers and previous winners.

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Make Eurosport your go-to source for sports online from football to tennis, cycling, snooker and more. Enjoy the best of this season’s top sports competitions.

Sorry Scotland suffer big defeat to Germany on opening night

Euro 2024 started in the perfect fashion for the host nation as Germany secured a dominant 5-1 win over a Scotland side who played the entire second half with ten men.

Germany made a lightning start in Munich as they dominated possession, and it took just ten minutes to find the opener as Florian Wirtz fired in off the post to score the first goal of the tournament.

There was little let-up from the hosts, who just under ten minutes later had their second as Bayern Munich star Jamal Musiala, who troubled Scotland all night, smashed the ball past Angus Gunn.

The three-time winners of this competition continued to lord matters over Scotland, whose dismal first half was compounded just before the break as a last-ditch, two-footed Ryan Porteous challenge resulted in both a penalty and red card. Kai Havertz dispatched the penalty, giving the hosts a three-goal advantage at half-time.

The second-half was a largely similar affair as Germany continued to press on, keeping Scotland camped on the edge of their 18-yard box.

Niclas Fullkrug came on to add a fourth for Germany before an Antonio Rudiger own goal gave the Tartan Army something to celebrate.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Emre Can, however, added a fifth with almost the last kick of the game to put the icing on the cake for Germany as they secured the biggest win in any opening European Championship game.

More to follow

White continues Welsh charge at Championship League to reach last 32

Michael White became the fourth Welshman to reach the last 32 of the Championship League in Leicester by topping Group 23 on seven points at the season’s first ranking event.

After compatriots Ryan Day, Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens reached the second phase of the season’s first ranking event, White showed his quality to edge out former UK champion Stephen Maguire with a 2-2 draw.

White hit breaks of 122 and 94 in a 3-0 win over Ryan Davies before completing a 3-0 win over Dean Young boosted by knocks of 83, 74 and 98.

Needing a point to progress against Maguire, White compiled a 59 in the second frame to move 2-0 clear with the Scotsman running in 111 and 54 of his own to finish third in the section, a point behind runner-up Davies and two adrift of White.

Elsewhere on Thursday, local favourite Joe O’Connor also advanced by winning Group 22 courtesy of a win over Oliver Lines (3-1) and two draws with Harvey Chandler (2-2) and Aaron Hill (2-2) respectively.

O’Connor’s 130 break in his 2-2 draw with Chandler was key to edging out Irishman Hill after the leading duo finished on identical records on five points from three fixtures.

The fifth day of the tournament continues on Friday with speed merchants Robert Milkins and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in action.

The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

Championship League: Latest Group Winners

  • Group 21: Neil Robertson (Aus)
  • Group 11: Ryan Day (Wal)
  • Group 4: Mark Williams (Wal)
  • Group 17: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
  • Group 25: Matthew Stevens (Wal)
  • Group 31: Ashley Carty (Eng)
  • Group 23: Michael White (Wal)
  • Group 22: Joe O’Connor (Eng)
Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

White continues Welsh charge at Championship League to reach last 32

Michael White became the fourth Welshman to reach the last 32 of the Championship League in Leicester by topping Group 23 on seven points at the season’s first ranking event.

After compatriots Ryan Day, Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens reached the second phase of the season’s first ranking event, White showed his quality to edge out former UK champion Stephen Maguire with a 2-2 draw.

White hit breaks of 122 and 94 in a 3-0 win over Ryan Davies before completing a 3-0 win over Dean Young boosted by knocks of 83, 74 and 98.

Needing a point to progress against Maguire, White compiled a 59 in the second frame to move 2-0 clear with the Scotsman running in 111 and 54 of his own to finish third in the section, a point behind runner-up Davies and two adrift of White.

Elsewhere on Thursday, local favourite Joe O’Connor also advanced by winning Group 22 courtesy of a win over Oliver Lines (3-1) and two draws with Harvey Chandler (2-2) and Aaron Hill (2-2) respectively.

O’Connor’s 130 break in his 2-2 draw with Chandler was key to edging out Irishman Hill after the leading duo finished on identical records on five points from three fixtures.

The fifth day of the tournament continues on Friday with speed merchants Robert Milkins and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in action.

The eight group winners contest a further two groups with the winners meeting in the final.

There is £33,000 on the table for the winner plus a spot in the Champion of Champions later in the year which is worth another £12,500 for qualifying.

Championship League: Latest Group Winners

  • Group 21: Neil Robertson (Aus)
  • Group 11: Ryan Day (Wal)
  • Group 4: Mark Williams (Wal)
  • Group 17: Chris Wakelin (Eng)
  • Group 25: Matthew Stevens (Wal)
  • Group 31: Ashley Carty (Eng)
  • Group 23: Michael White (Wal)
  • Group 22: Joe O’Connor (Eng)
Stream top snooker action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com