BC-SOC--Euro 2016 Digest
EURO 2016-FRANCE-ALBANIA
MARSEILLE, France - Dimitri Payet scored yet another impressive goal as France left it late once again, overcoming a spirited Albania 2-0 to become the first team to advance to the knockout stages of the European Championship on Wednesday. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT 820 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-ROMANIA-SWITZERLAND
PARIS - Switzerland closed in on a spot in the next round of the European Championship with a 1-1 draw against Romania on Wednesday. Admir Mehmedi scored a 57th-minute equalizer with a powerful left-foot shot to ensure the Swiss have four points ahead of their final Group A match against France. By Graham Dunbar. SENT 500 words, photos
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EURO 2016-RUSSIA-SLOVAKIA
LILLE, France - Even though the behavior of Russian fans improved, their team might still be forced out of the European Championship early. Elimination, rather than disqualification, is the immediate threat after Russia's short-comings were badly exposed in a 2-1 loss to Slovakia on Wednesday. By Rob Harris. SENT 570 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-RUSSIAN HOOLIGANS
MARSEILLE, France - The Russian soccer hooligans who have fought with rival supporters at the European Championship in France have at various times been both an asset and a liability to the Russian authorities. By James Ellingworth. SENT 860 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-FANS
LILLE, France - French police used tear gas to disperse rampaging English soccer fans at the European Championship on Wednesday, the fourth time England fans have been involved in violent incidents since the start of the tournament. By Eric Willemsen and John Leicester. SENT 850 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-ALBANIA
MARSEILLE, France - Two matches, two defeats, no goals. Those are Albania's sobering statistics at the European Championship after its 2-0 loss to France at Stade Velodrome on Wednesday. But they don't quite tell the full story of the team's first foray in a major competition. By Mike Corder. SENT 530 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-MARSEILLE-HAPPY FANS
MARSEILLE, France - After the screeching sounds of sirens last weekend, there was a party atmosphere in Marseille on Wednesday as fans from France and Albania shared drinks and songs before their European Championship match. In contrast to the scenes of football violence that ravaged Marseille's Old Port before and after England's match against Russia last Saturday, French and Albanians strolled in their national team shirts, sat at restaurants or watched the Slovakia-Russia game together at various bars dotted around the port. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT 375 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-GERMANY-POLAND
SAINT-DENIS, France - Germany is to take a late decision on whether defender Mats Hummels could return for its match against Poland at the European Championship on Thursday. Though the world champions beat Ukraine 2-0 in their opening Group C game at Euro 2016 last Sunday, Germany's defensive frailties were exposed. By Ciaran Fahey. SENT 500 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-SPAIN-TURKEY
SAINT-MARTIN-DE-RE, France - Spain is going to stick to its game of quick passing and ball possession. One game into the European Championship and it's obvious that the two-time defending champions are not changing their style despite their World Cup debacle two years ago, when the tiki-taka failed and Spain didn't make it past the group stage. By Tales Azzoni. SENT 600 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-UKRAINE-NORTHERN IRELAND
LYON, France - Steven Davis made a minor bit of history with Northern Ireland's first touch at the European Championship. Coach Michael O'Neill, however, doesn't want that to be his team's only milestone at Euro 2016. Davis, a Southampton midfielder, became the first man in European Championship history to employ the one-man kickoff in Sunday's match against Poland, using a recent rule change that allows players to pass the ball either back or forward at a kickoff. By Joseph Wilson. SENT 330 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-ENGLAND-WALES
LENS, France - Wales star Gareth Bale described England as the "enemy" in one of his many incendiary comments in the build-up to their European Championship game on Thursday, but England coach Roy Hodgson is adopting a different tone about the all-British match. "It's a game between brothers," Hodgson said Wednesday, in a remark that will likely be viewed with both bemusement and amusement from the Welsh population. By Steve Douglas. SENT 600 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-CZECH REPUBLIC-CROATIA
SAINT-ETIENNE, France - David Lafata isn't dwelling on his mistake that allowed Spain's Gerard Pique to head in the one and only goal in the Czech Republic's first match at the European Championship. Lafata came on as a substitute in that match and was supposed to be marking Pique when Andres Iniesta whipped in the cross that Pique carefully guided into the Czech net in the 87th minute. By Samuel Petrequin. SENT 370 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-ITALY-SWEDEN
BORDEAUX, France - Zlatan Ibrahimovic is getting ready to meet some old Italian friends. The flamboyant striker, who spent several years in Serie A, will again be the focus of much of the attention when Sweden faces Italy on Friday at the European Championship. By Daniella Matar. SENT 430 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-PSYCHIC ANIMAL
BERLIN - The animals are at it again, and they say Germany will beat Poland. Nelly the Elephant on Wednesday predicted a narrow victory for the world champions by choosing - hesitantly - to kick a ball into a goal marked with Poland's flag, according to her keepers at the Serengeti Park in Hodenhagen. SENT 130 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-INIESTA'S TEAM
SAINT-MARTIN-DE-RE, France - Andres Iniesta is the piece keeping Spain together. The bright Barcelona midfielder has shown early in the European Championship that he is the reason La Roja has been able to stay competitive as it continues its revamping process after years dominating world soccer. By Tales Azzoni. UPCOMING: 500 words by 1200 GMT, photos.
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EURO 2016-SPAIN
NICE, France - Press conference with Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque. Scheduled to start at 1745 GMT. By Tales Azzoni. UPCOMING: 400 words, photos.
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EURO 2016-SWEDEN
TOULOUSE, France - Sweden coach Erik Hamren and defensive midfielder Kim Kallstrom appear before the media a day before the team's Group E clash with Italy at the Stadium de Toulouse. By Frank Griffiths. UPCOMING: 500 words by 1600 GMT, photos.
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EURO 2016-BELGIUM-IRELAND
TOULOUSE, France - Belgium coach Marc Wilmots is urging his players to show some "grit and aggression" against Ireland in their second European Championship group match on Saturday, after a demoralizing loss to Italy exposed defensive frailties and wayward finishing. By Frank Griffiths. UPCOMING: 500 words 1000 GMT, photos.