Soccer Monday: Italian disaster, England's narrow escape and USMNT on the brink
Kick the week off with all the news from this past weekend
Happy Monday! Hope everyone starts the new month off on the right foot.
Once again, the weekend gave us plenty of theatrics on both sides of the Atlantic as the European Championship entered the round of 16 and Copa America continued with the group stage.
At the Euros, Germany and Spain cruised to victory and Italy drowned — but it was England that avoided a mighty upset in its clash with Slovakia.
Here’s a look at three major storylines from this past weekend:
3. What happened to Italy?
Defending champion Italy crashed out of the European Championship on Saturday following a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the round of 16.
The Azzurri’s early elimination meant that the titleholder has gone out in the last-16 for the third straight Euros after Portugal in 2021 and Spain in 2016.
Italy looked flat — as they have for much of the tournament — although manager Luciano Spalletti, who took over the job just 10 months ago, vowed to stay on for the 2026 World Cup.
“The responsibility is mine,” Spalletti admitted.
Spalletti was the coach who masterminded Napoli’s sensational Serie A title run last year — but he failed to channel that same energy at the Euros.
2. England’s epic comeback
Jude Bellingham scored a stunning bicycle kick in the fifth minute of stoppage time to help England avoid a shocking defeat on Sunday in the European Championship.
The goal leveled the score against Slovakia at 1-1. Harry Kane scored in the first minute of extra time as England secured a 2-1 comeback win and a place in the quarterfinals on Saturday against Switzerland.
“I think it was 20 seconds until we were out of the European Championship,” Bellingham said. “It’s hard to deny that it was one of the most important moments of my career so far.”
England showed lots of grit, especially as the game wore on and in extra time, while Slovakia melted.
“I had a funny feeling the game wasn’t dead and I know that sounds ridiculous. We were pushing and probing,” England manager Gareth Southgate said. “Ultimately, it is the one we have thrown in the box that got us the goal.”
1. USMNT faces do-or-die Copa contest
After suffering a 2-1 shock defeat to Panama last week, the United States faces a big test on Tuesday against Uruguay at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
The USMNT could have a tough time getting out of Group C, something that would salvage its Copa America campaign.
In fact, there are only a few scenarios that would allow the U.S. to make the quarterfinals:
— The U.S. advances with a draw against Uruguay if Panama and Bolivia also play to a draw and the Americans have a better goal difference than Panama.
— The U.S. advances with a draw if Bolivia beats Panama.
— The U.S. advances with a defeat to Uruguay if Bolivia beats Panama and the Americans have a better goal differential than Panama and Bolivia.
In other news: U.S. defender Sergino Dest will remain with PSV Eindhoven, agreeing Saturday to a four-year contract. Dest was loaned from Barcelona to PSV last August. Last season, he scored two goals in 25 league matches before tearing an ACL in training in April, an injury that required surgery and will cause him to miss the start of the 2024-25 season. … Galatasaray officially signed Morocco international Hakim Ziyech from Chelsea on a free transfer. The 31-year-old former Chelsea midfielder made a loan move to Galatasaray in a deal reportedly worth $3.86 million last year in August with the option to sign permanently on a free transfer if certain conditions were met. … Reading have withdrawn from the Women's Championship due to financial problems and will play down in the fifth tier of women's football in the coming season, the Football Association said on Sunday. Reading, who were relegated from the Women's Super League on the final day of the 2022-23 season after an eight-year stay, finished 10th in the second-tier Championship last season.