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HARRY KANE SCORES BRACE, AS ENGLAND THRASH UKRAINE 4-0 TO SAIL INTO EURO SEMI-FINALS

Harry Kane struck twice as England thrashed Ukraine 4-0 on Saturday to reach their first European Championship semifinal since 1996 and set up a clash with Denmark.

The England captain raced onto a Raheem Sterling through ball to fire in the opener from close range after four minutes at the Stadio Olimpico, England’s earliest goal in a Euros match since 2004.

Harry Maguire headed home a second less than a minute into the second half and Kane soon nodded in his side’s third as Ukraine’s resistance crumbled.

Substitute Jordan Henderson completed the rout with his first international goal to ensure England’s comfortable passage into the last four.

Gareth Southgate’s side will face Denmark at Wembley on Wednesday for a place in the final after the Danes defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in Baku.

Fans had barely settled in their seats by the time England took the lead with a well-worked move.

Sterling cut in off the left wing and slid a through ball into a pocket of space behind the defence for Kane to race through and guide into the net with a neat finish.

Ukraine mustered their first effort when Kyle Walker gave the ball away in midfield and Roman Yaremchuk raced through to draw a good save by Jordan Pickford from a tight angle, while England’s Declan Rice and Jadon Sancho had shots beaten away by Georgiy Bushchan before halftime.

But England flexed their muscles after the break and ended the game as a contest within five minutes of the restart, helped by two fine assists from Luke Shaw.

The left-back whipped a free-kick onto Maguire’s head for a close-range finish in the first minute of the second half before steering a perfect delivery towards Kane for a simple close-range header four minutes later.

The goal sent Kane level with Alan Shearer as England’s second-top scorer at major tournaments with nine goals, behind Gary Lineker on 10, and he was denied a hat-trick when his ferocious volley was palmed away by the diving Bushchan.

England made it four from the resulting corner when Ukraine again failed to deal with a set-piece delivery as Henderson nodded in from six yards to score his first goal for his country on his 62nd cap.

“There was a lot of pressure on us as we were favourites to win this game. To perform like we did tonight, a clean sheet, four goals, it was the perfect night,” Kane said.

Maguire was proud of England’s accomplishment but wasn’t satisfied.

“It’s a great feeling — back-to-back semifinals at a major tournament is a great achievement. I don’t want to be a party pooper but we don’t stop here. We’ve got another big game coming up and we want to go further this time,” Maguire said.

“We had good parts of the game, but set pieces did not work very well for us today,” said Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko. “I am really happy with how the team performed. I want to thank the players for their attitude today.”

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ITALY OUTSHINES FAVORITES BELGIUM TO REACH EURO 2020 SEMI-FINAL

Lorenzo Insigne fired Italy into the Euro 2020 semi-finals as perennial favourites Belgium were once again cast in the role of bridesmaid.

The Napoli frontman’s sumptuous 44th-minute strike ultimately settled a thrilling heavyweight battle in Munich and booked the Italians a last-four showdown with Spain at Wembley.

FIFA’s number one-ranked side once again exited a major tournament without the prize they crave.

Nicolo Barella had fired Roberto Mancini’s side into a 31st-minute lead which Insigne doubled and, although Romelu Lukaku’s penalty in first-half stoppage time had given the Belgians hope, they could not get themselves back on level terms.

Italy extended their unbeaten run to 32 games and became the first team to win 15 consecutive European Championship matches.

After a cagey start, Italy thought they had taken a 13th-minute lead when defender Leonardo Bonucci bundled home a free-kick, although a VAR check ruled the goal out.

It then took a superb save by Gianluigi Donnarumma to deny Kevin De Bruyne nine minutes later after he had broken at pace and cut inside before unleashing a fierce left-foot shot which the keeper clawed away at full stretch.

Donnarumma had to be equally resilient four minutes later to repel Lukaku’s curling attempt after De Bruyne had sprinted from his own half and sent him in on goal.

Italy’s response was concerted with Federico Chiesa starting to make an impression, but it was Inter Milan midfielder Barella who broke the deadlock with 14 minutes of the first half remaining.

He collected Marco Verratti’s pass and shifted the ball on to his right foot before thumping it past the helpless Thibaut Courtois.

Courtois was beaten for a second time within three minutes when Insigne stroked an arcing attempt beyond his despairing dive, but the deficit was halved in stoppage time.

Eden Hazard’s 19-year-old replacement Jeremy Doku went down in the box under Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s challenge and Lukaku blasted home the resulting spot-kick to keep his side in the contest.

The Italians did not seem unduly concerned by the setback as they resumed after the break very much on the front foot with Chiesa once again prominent, but with Doku’s pace a constant threat on the counter.

It was he who played De Bruyne into space to cross for Lukaku at the far post with 61 minutes gone, but as the striker waited for the net to bulge, full-back Leonardo Spinazzola made a vital block.

Spinazzola might have increased Italy’s lead had he been able to make meaningful contact with Insigne’s cross at the other end five minutes later, but his night ended prematurely when he was carried from the field on a stretcher with a muscle injury.

Roberto Martinez’s men laid siege to the Italian box as time ran down, but there was no way back as Donnarumma and his defence held commendably firm.

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ROGER FEDERER KNOCKS CAMERON NORRIE OUT OF WIMBLEDON

ROGER FEDERER (SUI) TENNIS - THE CHAMPIONSHIPS -WIMBLEDON - ALL ENGLAND LAWN TENNIS AND CROQUET CLUB - ATP - WTA - ITF - WIMBLEDON - SW19 - LONDON - GREAT BRITAIN - 2019 © TENNIS PHOTO NETWORK

Cameron Norrie found his path at a grand slam blocked by a tennis giant once again as he fell in the third round of Wimbledon to Roger Federer.

The British number two was playing in the last 32 for the third consecutive slam but, after losing to Rafael Nadal at both the Australian and French Opens, this time it was Federer who defeated him 6-4 6-4 5-7 6-4.

Federer looked to be cruising through to the fourth round at two sets ahead only for Norrie to break to love to clinch the third. That was as good as it got, though, with the sixth seed wrapping up victory in two hours and 34 minutes.

Norrie follows Andy Murray and Dan Evans out of the tournament so, having had three men through to the third round of the singles at Wimbledon for the first time since 1999, British interest is now at an end.

There can be no disgrace, of course, in losing to the only man who has lifted the trophy eight times here and, barring a few loose moments, Federer looked as sharp as he has so far this tournament.

Norrie has been one of the stars of the ATP Tour this season, reaching three finals. The 25-year-old is a supreme athlete but lacks big weapons and often beats players by grinding them down, actively trying to make matches as physical as possible.

Federer, on the other hand, looks to race through matches as quickly as he can and his speed of play has a suffocating effect on opponents.

That was certainly the case for Norrie when he was broken in the seventh game of the first set, with the crowd split down the middle in terms of who to support.

Norrie had two chances to break in the second game of the second set but they were gone in the blink of an eye, and Federer forged ahead moments later.

Tim Henman back in 2001 is the only British player to have beaten Federer in Wimbledon – Murray beat him on Centre Court in the Olympic final in 2012 – and there appeared very little chance of Norrie becoming the second until the end of the third set.

After missing a chance to break Norrie and lead 6-5, Federer wobbled, spraying a succession of errors and dropping serve to love.

Norrie whipped up the crowd as he sensed an opportunity, and he broke straight back when Federer moved 3-2 ahead, but another break for the Swiss at 4-4 proved decisive.

Federer, who is through to the fourth round at Wimbledon for the 18th time and will next take on Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego, said: “I’m super relieved. It was a tough battle with Cam. A little extra round but he deserved that third set.

“I thought he played excellent today and for me I felt I was really able to keep a very high level of play. He got the good break at the end of the third that cost me the set but overall I can be very happy with how I played.

“I guess this one’s special because I’m almost 40. At this point it’s all a bonus and we’ll see how far I can go here.”

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DENMARK FAIRY TALE CONTINUES AFTER WIN OVER CZECH TO BOOK PLACE IN EURO SEMIS

Denmark beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in Baku to book their place in the semi-final of Euro 2020.

Thomas Delaney headed Denmark into an early lead and Kasper Dolberg also struck shortly before half-time.

Czech frontman Patrik Schick reduced the deficit with his fifth goal of the tournament in the 49th minute, but it was Denmark who progressed to secure a semi-final spot at Wembley on July 7th.

Kasper Hjulmand’s squad have grown in stature during the tournament, after their horrific start when Christian Eriksen collapsed with a cardiac arrest in their opening defeat to Finland in Copenhagen.

Denmark got off to the fast start as Borussia Dortmund midfielder Delaney took full advantage of some slack marking to headed home from a corner after just five minutes.

The Czechs had progressed from England’s group as one of the best third-placed teams and then pulled off a shock victory against 10-man Holland in the last 16.

But Jaroslav Silhavy’s men were unsettled by going behind so early and Mikkel Damsgaard almost celebrated his 21st birthday with a goal when breaking into the penalty area and taking the ball around the goalkeeper, but his effort was cleared off the line.

The Czechs finally threatened at the other end when Petr Sevcik’s shot flew over before Delaney almost added a second after another Denmark break down the right saw his scuffed shot drop wide.

Lukas Masopust found space on the edge of the Denmark box to thread a ball through to Tomas Holes, but goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel was out quickly to smother his angled shot.

As the half-hour approached, the Czechs were slowly growing into the match.

A deep free-kick from Sevcik dropped just out of reach of defender Ondrej Celustka’s head as he ghosted in at the far post before a volley from Holes flew straight at Schmeichel.

Denmark, however, doubled their lead shortly before half-time.

Joakim Maehle darted down the left and clipped over a brilliant cross through the penalty area, which was just too far in front of Martin Braithwaite but perfect for Dolberg to score from close range.

Silhavy made two changes for the second half, with Michael Krmencik and Jakub Jankto replacing Holes and Masopust, to inject fresh lift into the team.

Schmeichel parried away a 25-yard effort from Krmencik and then saved Antonin Barak’s effort.

The Czechs’ pressure told, tough, as Schick pulled a goal back in the 49th minute, converting a cross from Vladimir Coufal to take his tournament tally to five.

Denmark coach Hjulmand also opted for a double substitution on the hour, with Dolberg replaced by Yussuf Poulsen and Brentford’s Christian Norgaard coming on for Mikkel Damsgaard.

There was another hold-up in play when West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek needed treatment for a head wound above his ear after accidentally being caught by Poulsen’s boot.

Poulsen’s low, 25-yard shot following a break was saved by Tomas Vaclik, who then beat away a rising drive from the Denmark substitute before sticking out a boot to deny Maehle at the near post.

Denmark saw out six minutes of added time to book their place in the semi-finals.

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SPAIN DISPLACE SWITZERLAND ON PENALTIES TO REACH EURO 2020 SEMIS

Spain squeezed through a penalty shootout to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2020 after goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s heroics for 10-man Switzerland proved in vain.

Switzerland’s hero of the previous round when they knocked out world champions France in similar fashion was on top form again during 120 minutes and although he saved one in a dramatic conclusion his side missed three out of four spot-kicks.

There was huge relief for Spain, into their first semi-final since 2012 when they won their second successive European Championship, having wasted a host of chances.

After scoring five in their last two matches Luis Enrique’s side retreated into their shell somewhat with a much more circumspect performance and despite the advantage of Denis Zakaria’s own goal they did not really press hard until extra-time.

That was forced by Xherdan Shaqiri’s 68th-minute goal to make it 1-1 but after Remo Freuler’s harsh red card the Swiss had no option but to see out the game and hope for the best in a shootout.

Sergio Busquets hit a post and Rodri’s effort was saved by Sommer but Dani Olmo and Gerard Moreno scored and with Fabian Schar, Manuel Akanji and Ruben Vargas all failing it left Mikel Oyarzabal to send Spain through.

Ominously, each time Spain have progressed past the quarter-finals they have gone on to lift the trophy but if they are to add to their three titles they will need to be sharper up front against either Italy or Belgium in the last four at Wembley.

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MAN UNITED CLOSING IN ON VARANE DEAL

Manchester United are close to finalizing a deal for Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane, sources say.

The France international, whose contract at Bernabeu is due to expire in June 2022, is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s top defensive target and sources have said that United are ready to move for the 28-year-old after receiving encouragement that Madrid are prepared to negotiate a realistic fee for the player.

United will complete their first major piece of transfer business this summer by signing Borussia Dortmund and England forward Jadon Sancho for £72.9 million ($100m) once the 21-year-old’s involvement at Euro 2020 comes to a conclusion, but a move for an experienced defender is the next issue to be addressed by football director John Murtough.

A source at Manchester United confirmed there had been “some discussions” regarding Varane, but added that no time frame for a transfer is in place.

United had been considering Villarreal’s defender Pau Torres as an alternative, but efforts to sign Varane have now been stepped up following France’s surprise exit from Euro 2020 in the wake of Tuesday’s round-of-16 defeat against Switzerland.

Despite Varane’s diminishing contract, Madrid had initially valued the centre-half at €70m ($83m) — a figure that United regarded as too high for a player entering the final year of his contract.

But with Madrid needing to offload players to fund a rebuild of Carlo Ancelotti’s squad, United are confident that a deal can be done for a fee in the region of €50m ($59m).

Madrid could use the money raised by the departure of Varane to move for Torres, who has a €65m ($77m) release clause at Europa League winners Villarreal.

The 24-year-old has impressed for Spain at Euro 2020 and with Varane set to follow Sergio Ramos out of the Bernabeu — Ramos is leaving as a free agent — Madrid need reinforcements at the back.

Madrid’s interest in Torres could be placed on hold for 12 months, however, if the Spanish club opt instead to pursue moves for Erling Haaland or Kylian Mbappe.

Madrid’s financial position is complicated, and a “galactico” signing would mean Torres would have to wait until 2022.

Sources told ESPN the defender remains a Madrid target though, “whether it’s for now or for next year,” and Torres’ preference would be to stay in Spain rather than try the Premier League.

Villarreal have also received interest in star forward Gerard Moreno, but the club are in a healthy financial state and do not need to offload players this summer.

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STUART DALLAS SIGNS NEW THREE YEAR DEAL AT LEEDS UNITED

Stuart Dallas has signed a new contract with Leeds United, lasting until 2024. The 2020/21 player of the season has earned a new three-year deal at Elland Road, having been a promotion hero and a stand-out performer in Leeds’ return to The Premier League.

What can we say about Dallas that hasn’t been said already? Not only a great player: versatile, hard-working and reliable. But he’s also a great man who is a family man, a fan favourite and one of the most admirable footballers in The Premier League right now.

Last season, Dallas played every game in the league last season, scoring eight goals (equal to his career-high in the Irish Premiership) while he also grabbed two assists. Two of his goals will live in the memories of Leeds fans forever, scoring a double at the Etihad Stadium including a last-minute winner as 10-man Leeds beat the champions-elect, Manchester City.

A Leeds United hero, Dallas is a huge signing for The Whites this summer, with Junior Firpo next on the list…

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SERGIO RAMOS NEARS PSG MOVE ON FREE TRANSFER

Paris Saint-Germain are in advanced negotiations to sign Sergio Ramos on a free transfer after the defender’s Real Madrid contract expired on Wednesday, sources have confirmed.

Ramos announced last month that he would leave Madrid after failing to reach an agreement to extend his 16-year stay in the Spanish capital.

Sources close to the deal said that things have advanced throughout the week and a final decision is expected in the coming days.

Ramos wants a two-year deal but PSG are only offering one with a second year as an option to be triggered by mutual content. His wages should also be lower than what he was earning in Spain and what he would have earned had he stayed at the Bernabeu.

The Spain international, who turned 35 in March, didn’t strike an agreement with Madrid due to discrepancies over the length of the deal.

Los Blancos were only willing to offer one year and by the time Ramos agreed to accept the club’s proposal he was told the deadline had expired.

ESPN previously reported that both Manchester City and Bayern Munich are also monitoring Ramos’ situation but various sources said he prefers PSG’s offer.

Sporting director Leonardo presented a project that four-time Champions League winner Ramos considered “ambitious,” sources say.

Ramos views Paris as a more attractive destination for his family and believes the adaption process would be much quicker in France, where he would link up with former teammates Angel Di Maria and Keylor Navas, as well as close friend Neymar who has been on the phone to convince him to accept PSG’s offer.

Sources detail how PSG coach Mauricio Pochettino has asked the club to strengthen in defence after they missed out on the Ligue 1 title to Lille and were beaten by Manchester City in the Champions League semifinal.

Pochettino has Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos, Abdou Diallo and Thilo Kehrer, all aged below 28, and feels the side lacks leadership and experience at the back to compete at the top level.

At first, PSG didn’t view signing a new centre-back as a priority but the emergence of Ramos on a free transfer has been viewed as an opportunity not to be missed.

PSG had been tracking Ramos’ situation throughout the season but didn’t want to make a move until his future at Madrid was decided. Therefore, it was only on June 16 that sporting director Leonardo stepped up negotiations.

The French side have already signed midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum on a free transfer this summer and are close to securing deals for goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and Inter Milan right-back Achraf Hakimi for around €70 million.

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RAFAEL BENITEZ PROMISES TO FIGHT FOR EVERTON AS HE CLARIFIES ‘SMALL CLUB’ JIBE

New manager Rafael Benitez has pledged to show the same fighting spirit for Everton as he did for Liverpool when he made his “small club” comments.

The Spaniard’s appointment on a three-year contract, becoming only the second man to manage both Merseyside clubs and the first ex-Reds boss to do so, is a controversial one by owner Farhad Moshiri.

He antagonised fans with his “small club” jibe after a 2007 Merseyside derby and although in subsequent years he has sought to clarify he was referring to them having the mentality of a small team in their approach to the game, it has not been forgiven or forgotten in some quarters.

But Benitez, who won the Champions League and FA Cup with Liverpool in 2005 and 2006 before leaving in 2010, insists he was only doing what he believed was right for his club at the time.

“I have been in Madrid, Naples, Valencia, Tenerife, Extremadura and Liverpool,” he told evertontv.

“Every single club I was there, I was fighting for them. If you analyse things in the context, what you are expecting from your manager is to fight for your club, and I will do that.

“I am here, I will fight for my club, I will try to win every single game, and it doesn’t matter who the opponents are, or the rivals. It is something you have to do, it is your nature, that you have to try to do your best.

“And why a lot of fans in a lot of these cities love me is because I was giving everything for them.

“If you analyse this in the context, then it is very clear I will do the same for Everton.”

Such has been Moshiri’s desire to get the right man after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti four weeks ago he has ignored the loud opposition, which has seen offensive messages hung outside Goodison Park and a ‘We know where you live. Don’t sign’ banner hung over a garden wall near Benitez’s home in Caldy on the Wirral.

Benitez is the fifth manager the Everton owner has appointed in five years after sacking the current Belgium boss Roberto Martinez in May 2016. However, he is only the second to cross Merseyside, following in the footsteps of William Edward Barclay, who made the move in the opposite direction in the 1890s to become Liverpool’s first manager after the Toffees left Anfield for their purpose-built home at Goodison Park and a new club was formed in their place.

Moshiri is confident he represents their best choice for getting the club into Champions League contention after seven seasons finishing outside the top six, with Ancelotti managing only 12th and 10th in one-and-a-half disappointing campaigns.

“You can see the ambition is there. This club is growing. For me, it is about bringing the winning mentality, being competitive, so everything is in place on the pitch and off the pitch,” added Benitez.

“I love the passion of the people behind the club. I know the city, I know Scousers, I know what it means for every fan here to compete and to have the chance to win. To come to Everton is something that means a lot, for sure.

“I like to compete. I like to win and I have come to Everton because I liked the idea to be competitive again – and to have the chance to compete in every game, to compete against anyone.”

Benitez insists, despite his desire for full control and clashes with similar figures in the past, he is looking forward to working with director of football Marcel Brands as well as Ancelotti’s assistant manager Duncan Ferguson and goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly, who are to remain on the staff with further backroom appointments expected in the coming days.

“I worked in Spain for years with a director of football. Marcel is a professional. I am a professional,” he said.

“We will work together, we will keep talking, having meetings to talk about the club’s idea, what we have to do in the future, about players.

“The communication between us has to be fluent and we will be talking with each other all the time. I am really pleased with that (structure).

“I have already been in contact with him. I have the plan (for Everton’s summer transfer business).”

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NOVAK DJOKOVIC EASES INTO THIRD ROUND AT WIMBLEDON

Novak Djokovic looked in ominous form during a second-round victory over Kevin Anderson to stay on course for a third straight Wimbledon title.

The world number one produced a scintillating display against the South African in what was a repeat of the 2018 final at the All England Club.

A straight-sets victory proved enough for Djokovic to claim the Championship three years ago and he again made light work of the big-serving Anderson to progress into round three with a 6-3 6-3 6-3 win.

The Serbian, who is looking to draw level with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 grand slams, experienced some difficulties on the slippery Centre Court surface but a standing ovation at the end provided a clear indicator of who came out on top.

Denis Shapovalov, the 10th seed, joined the top seed in the third round with a walkover after Pablo Andujar had to withdraw with a rib injury.

Elsewhere in SW19, the wet weather during the first two days saw a number of first round ties still to be completed and there were several notable results.

Queen’s Club winner Matteo Berrettini backed up his exploits from earlier in the month with victory over Guido Pella on Court Three.

The Italian seventh seed was pegged back in the second set before he was able to progress with a 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-0 win.

Nick Kyrgios edged a thriller against the 21st seed Ugo Humbert after he clinched the decider 9-7 with their match suspended at 11pm on Tuesday night. A fall briefly threatened to derail the Australian’s hopes but he was quickly back on his feet to finish the job.

Home favourite Cameron Norrie, who finished runner-up at Queen’s Club, won his first-round tie with Lucas Pouille 6-7 (6) 7-5 6-2 7-5.

The Great Britain ace resumed after he had lost the opening set on Tuesday night and quickly got into his stride to continue his good recent run on grass.

Sam Querrey, who reached the semi-finals four years ago, claimed the scalp of Pablo Carreno Busta – the 11th seed – in straight-sets and 12th seed Casper Ruud was also dumped out after he lost in five to Jordan Thompson.

Another decider was required between Gael Monfils, seeded 13th, and Christopher O’Connell and it was the former who prevailed 4-6 6-2 7-6 (5) 4-6 6-4.

The 18th seed Grigor Dimitrov had less trouble against Spaniard Fernando Verdasco on his way to a 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 success and Lorenzo Sonego, seeded 23 at the Championships, also progressed with relative ease.

It was not the case for Aslan Karatsev (20) and John Isner (28), who saw their Wimbledon challenges end in the first round, but Marin Cilic and Taylor Fritz – the 32nd and 31st seeds respectively – made it through following straight-set wins.

Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, the 16th seed, enjoyed his SW19 return and also progressed against Thiago Monteiro.