The Latest: Belgium Says De Bruyne Injury Not Serious

France’s Paul Pogba warms up during a training session at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania on Sunday, June 27, 2021, the day before their round of 16 game against Switzerland. (AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda)” title=”France’s Paul Pogba warms up during a training session at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania on Sunday, June 27, 2021, the day before their round of 16 game against Switzerland. (AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda)” loading=”lazy”/>
France’s Paul Pogba warms up during a training session at the National Arena stadium in Bucharest, Romania on Sunday, June 27, 2021, the day before their round of 16 game against Switzerland. (AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda)
PA
The latest news on the European Football Championship:
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Belgian coach Roberto Martinez said Kevin De Bruyne’s injury was not serious and he will stay with the team at the European Championship.
De Bruyne was substituted at the start of the second half of Belgium’s 1-0 win over Portugal on Sunday in the round of 16. De Bruyne suffered a left ankle injury after being tackled from behind by Portuguese midfielder João Palhinha.
Martinez says it’s too early to know if De Bruyne will be available for Friday’s quarter-final match against Italy at Euro 2020.
The Belgian coach said Eden Hazard also did not have a serious injury. The playmaker was replaced late in the game due to a muscle problem.
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A health official in Finland has said he hopes football fans across the country do not travel to neighboring St. Petersburg for Friday’s European Championship quarter-final match in the Russian city.
The Finns have seen a spike in coronavirus cases which has been attributed to football fans returning from Russia. Finland have made two of their group matches in St. Petersburg, but the team have been eliminated from the tournament.
Helsinki University Hospital doctor Markku Makijarvi said: “I hope it is now clear to everyone that the rest will be monitored from Finland.”
More than 200 cases of the virus have been reported among people arriving from neighboring Russia in recent days and nearly 500 people have been quarantined. Health officials say those cases were either football fans or people who took part in the traditional midsummer celebrations.
It is estimated that at least 2,000 Finns traveled to St. Petersburg for the first matches.
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Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand has said he expects captain Simon Kjaer to play in the team’s quarter-final game against the Czech Republic at the European Championship.
Kjaer had to leave Saturday’s game against Wales in the round of 16 after being wrapped in his right thigh in the second half. Hjulmand said Kjaer is still in treatment, but the center-back is expected to recover in time for Saturday’s game in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Hulmand says “they are working on Simon and we all think he will be ready.”
Hjulmand says he has “no reason to believe” that he will not have all of his players available.
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France, world champion, will face Switzerland for a place in the quarterfinals of the European Championship.
The France team lost in the Euro 2016 final before winning the World Cup three years ago. They finished first in their group at Euro 2020 but only won one match.
The game against the Swiss will be played in Bucharest.
Spain will face Croatia in Copenhagen early in the game.