Bucharest (AFP)

Will the Euro end well at Wembley?

Faced with Covid-19, the head of the Italian government Mario Draghi opposed Monday the holding of the final in the London enclosure, which must previously host the first known poster of the eighths on Saturday: Austria against ... Italy.

While the Azzurri travel to London on Saturday (9 p.m.) to challenge the Austrians, who qualified on Monday by beating Ukraine (1-0), Mario Draghi has fueled doubts around a possible relocation of the semi-finals (6-7 July) and the final (July 11) scheduled at Wembley.

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The Italian leader wants "to work so that the final of the European championship does not take place in a country where contagions are growing rapidly", he said, questioned in Berlin during a conference of joint press with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

In fact, the surge in cases of contamination linked to the highly contagious Delta variant in Great Britain continues to fuel all speculation, while sources close to the organizers have confirmed in recent days that UEFA is considering moving these matches to Budapest. if needed.

On Friday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had indicated that his priority was "public health", more than the maintenance of Euro matches at Wembley.

For his part, Mario Draghi did not mention an alternative to Wembley, while Italy is one of the host countries of this Euro in an unprecedented format, disseminated in eleven cities in eleven countries.

And it will be necessary to see if this position disrupts the trip of the Italian team for its round of 16 on Saturday in the legendary London stadium ...

- Tears of Pandev -

La Nazionale will face Austria there: the selection led by David Alaba secured second place (6 pts) in Group C on Monday behind the Netherlands (9 pts), who had already qualified as group first before this final day.

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In Bucharest, the Austrians had the merit of not calculating against Ukraine, winning thanks to Christoph Baumgartner who appeared on a corner (21st) before having to give up his place, hit in the head.

This is the first time that Austria has played in the knockout phase of a Euro, and it does not matter if it will be against the formidable Italy, undefeated for 30 games.

At the same time, in Amsterdam, the Netherlands did not detail against North Macedonia (3-0), already eliminated, with a goal from the neo-Barcelona Memphis Depay (24th) and a double from the neo Parisian Georginio Wijnaldum (51st, 58th).

The match was marked by the tearful exit of Macedonian captain Goran Pandev, his country's sports legend, who was in his last selection at 37.

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For Ukraine (3 pts), the horizon has darkened: a possible repechage for the eighth will pass by a place of best third for the moment not guaranteed.

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- France qualified without playing?

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The outcome of group C also clears the way towards a possible qualification of several teams already counting four points, including France, and which could be qualified without playing on Monday evening in the event of a favorable scenario in group B.

Sure to be at least third in Pool F before their last match Wednesday against Portugal, the French (4 pts) can be assured of obtaining one of the four best third places on Monday evening if the Belgians, already qualified, beat Finland;

or if the Danes outclass Russia.

These calculations also apply to Switzerland (4 pts, 3rd in group A), Sweden (4 pts, group E), the Czech Republic and England (4 pts each, group D), which will undoubtedly follow Denmark- Russia and Finland-Belgium with attention.

For the Danes, nothing is done: good last of group B with 0 points, they lived a tournament heavy with emotions with the cardiac arrest in full match of their playmaker Christian Eriksen, finally operated and released on Friday of the hospital.

At home in Copenhagen, the Danes must beat Russia and bet on a defeat of Finland against Belgium ... and even there, they will depend on the goal difference.

As for Finland, neophyte in major competitions, it will win a surprise qualification if it wins against Belgium.

A draw against the "Red Devils", already qualified, could even be enough for him if Russia loses face to Denmark.

© 2021 AFP