Maturing Rooney no longer carrying burden for England

Hodgson pleas for patience as England disappoints again (The Associated Press)

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (AP) — England coach Roy Hodgson had a message for the growing band of doom-mongers following a frustrating stalemate against Slovakia. ”Sooner or later, we will get our reward,” Hodgson said. The plea for patience may be lost on England’s long-suffering fans.

Brazil’s new coach sees risk of not qualifying for World Cup (The Associated Press)
On his first day in the job, new Brazil coach Adenor Leonardo Bacchi was already expressing concern about the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign. Bacchi, better known as Tite, on Monday said the five-time World Cup champions run the risk of failing to qualify for the 2018 tournament in Russia. Tite (pronounced as CHICHI) was confirmed as coach by Brazil’s Football Confederation on Monday, although the president of his former club Corinthians revealed last Wednesday that Bacchi had been tapped to replace Dunga following Brazil’s group-stage elimination at the Copa America.

U.S. face Argentina in bid to extend unlikely Copa run (Reuters)

(Reuters) – Prior to the start of the Copa America, United States coach Juergen Klinsmann had set the semi-finals as a target but will now need a new goal as the hosts prepare to take on top-ranked Argentina for spot in the final. After an opening 2-0 loss to Colombia a last-four appearance seemed a lofty objective but Klinsmann’s squad responded with wins against Costa Rica, Paraguay and Ecuador to set up a clash against the South American giants in Houston. The United States will enjoy home-field advantage on Tuesday but that is likely to be the only thing in their favor as they take on the world’s top-ranked team led by the world’s best player in Lionel Messi.

Wales tops group ahead of England as Russia goes home (The Canadian Press)

Wales qualified for the knockout stages of the European Championship as a group winner after it overwhelmed Russia 3-0 on Monday and England could only grind out a 0-0 draw with Slovakia. In its first international tournament since the 1958 World Cup, Wales ended Group B with six points, one ahead of England, which also qualifies for the round of 16. With four points on the board, Slovakia still has a chance to make it to the knockout stages as one of the best third-place teams.

Turkey pinning its Euro 2016 hopes on another great escape (The Associated Press)

Turkey is pinning its hopes at the European Championship on another great escape. The last time Turkey was at the tournament, it was arguably in as big a hole as it is this time. Back in 2008, Turkey was a quarter of an hour from being knocked out of the tournament at the group stage, before a remarkable goal spree triggered a chain of events that saw the team eventually make it to the semifinals – its best performance yet.

Northern Ireland coach eyes place in last 16 of Euro 2016 (The Associated Press)

With Northern Ireland on the verge of the knockout stages of the European Championship, coach Michael O’Neill is counting on his side to finish the job against Germany. ”We just got to do everything possible to keep progression in our own hands and that’s what we’ll aim to do,” O’Neill said. Germany has started both its games so far – the 2-0 win over Ukraine and a scoreless draw with Poland – with 10 members of the squad that won the World Cup in Rio de Janeiro two years ago.

France re-arrests Russian soccer fan leader days after deportation (Reuters)

French police re-arrested Russian soccer fan leader Alexander Shprygin in the southwestern city of Toulouse on Monday, two days after deporting him in connection with violence that marred the beginning of the Euro 2016 tournament. It was not immediately clear how Shprygin re-entered France. A message on his Twitter handle said that he had taken an unconventional route and included a photo of a jet belonging to Spanish low-cost carrier Vueling Airlines.

Vanney: Canadian Championship an important part of Toronto FC season (The Canadian Press)
The Amway Canadian Championship can get lost amid a busy Major League Soccer season, Greg Vanney says. Toronto hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps on Tuesday in the opening leg of the two-game championship final. The series winner will hoist the Voyageurs Cup and earn a spot in the 2017-18 CONCACAF Champions League.

England go through after 0-0 draw with Slovakia (Reuters)

England drew 0-0 with Slovakia on Monday to finish second in Euro 2016 Group B and qualify for the knockout phase behind Wales who beat Russia 3-0 in their final match. Wales top the group with six points ahead of England on five, one ahead of Slovakia who should also reach the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams. England, who made six changes from the side that started their 2-1 win over Wales, dominated the first half and Jamie Vardy missed a good chance to put them ahead.

Wales thump Russia to top group and move into last sixteen (Reuters)

Wales outplayed Russia 3-0, scoring twice in the opening 20 minutes, as they moved into the round of 16 at Euro 2016 by winning Group B on Monday. Aaron Ramsey dinked the ball over Igor Akinfeev to finish off a counter-attack in the 11th minute and Neil Taylor added a second, also from a counter-attack nine minutes later as Wales took early control. Russia had no answer to the fast, incisive Welsh breaks and survived several more chances before Gareth Bale scored his third goal of the tournament to become Euro 2016’s top marksman, flicking the third past Akinfeev in the 67th minute.

Wales dominant as it beats Russia 3-0 to win group (The Associated Press)

Wales advanced to the European Championship’s knockout stages as group winner after comprehensively beating Russia 3-0 on Monday. Goals from Aaron Ramsey, Neil Taylor and Gareth Bale, his third in consecutive games at Euro 2016, ensured that Wales won Group B ahead of England, which could only draw 0-0 with Slovakia. Bale then made it 3-0 in the 67th minute with an audacious shot that makes him the tournament’s leading scorer.

557 ‘violent supporters’ arrested so far at Euro 2016 (The Associated Press)

A total of 557 ”violent supporters” have been arrested so far at the European Championship, France’s interior minister said Monday. The most visible violence at Euro 2016 occurred in Marseille in the opening days of the monthlong competition when England fans, Russia supporters and local youths clashed with each other and French riot police. ”With the exception of the first match in Marseille, which led to violence in the city center, the measures taken immediately after this match in liaison with UEFA, but especially with the countries from which these supporters were coming, have enabled us to avoid new acts of violence, new fights in the center of the host cities,” Cazeneuve said.

Christine Sinclair headlines Canada’s Olympic soccer team (CBC)
Christine Sinclair will once again lead Canada’s women’s soccer team into the Olympics.

Puma says sorry for shredded red Swiss shirts at Euro 2016 (The Associated Press)

Ripped on social media for the shredded state of Switzerland’s red shirts, Puma has apologized for a faulty batch of jerseys. ”I hope Puma doesn’t make condoms,” Switzerland forward Xherdan Shaqiri, whose No. 23 shirts stayed intact, quipped to broadcasters. The sports apparel company, which kits out Usain Bolt and the Jamaica track team, said sorry on Monday to one of its top soccer clients.