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Police have reported that a man who climbed onto the roof of the stadium during the Euro 2024 match between Germany and Denmark intended to “take good photos.”

Footage from the Mail showed the man, dressed in black with his face covered and carrying a backpack, walking in the rafters of the Westfalenstadion, Borussia Dortmund’s home ground.

The man was noticed by police at the start of the second half of Saturday’s last-16 match at 10:11pm local time. This followed a temporary suspension of the game due to a lightning storm in the 35th minute.

Police, a drone, and a helicopter observed him before German special forces arrested him on a walkway at 11:44pm. He was handcuffed and searched, but no dangerous items were found.

Dortmund police stated that the 21-year-old from Osnabruck in north-west Germany was carrying a camera in his backpack. They assured that “at no point was there any danger to other people in the stadium” and ruled out political motivation.

“Initial investigations revealed that the man had previously attempted to take photos from high altitudes of prominent buildings in Herne in April 2022 and in Ulm in May 2024,” the police said in a statement.

During questioning on Sunday night, the man from Osnabruck claimed he only wanted to take “good photos.” Although he has been released from custody, the police have begun investigating a charge of trespassing.

Both the police and Uefa, European football’s governing body, will investigate how he managed to access the roof without being stopped.

Uefa praised the cooperation of the police, stadium, and local authorities during the incident in Dortmund and stated that security measures would be reviewed at all host venues to ensure safety “in the stadium, on the pitch, and at team facilities.”

Germany’s 2-0 win advanced them to the quarter-finals, where they will face Spain or Georgia on Friday.

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In a historic moment for Georgian football, the national team secured their first-ever advancement to the knockout stage of a major tournament with a stunning upset victory over Portugal at Euro 2024. Despite Portugal already having clinched the group, Georgia made their mark early when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia drilled a low shot past goalkeeper Diogo Costa within the first two minutes of play.

The goal came as Georgia capitalized on a breakaway, swiftly turning over possession and setting the tone for much of the match to follow. Content to let Portugal control possession, Georgia remained steadfast in defense, closing down space effectively and frustrating their more fancied opponents. Their defensive discipline paid off, denying Portugal clear-cut chances while waiting patiently to exploit opportunities on the counterattack.

Georges Mikautadze further cemented Georgia’s lead in the second half, calmly converting a penalty to extend their advantage. Despite few chances of their own, Georgia’s organized defensive display kept Portugal at bay, with Cristiano Ronaldo and his teammates struggling to break through.

The victory over Portugal, one of the favorites, ranks among the biggest upsets in Euro history based on FIFA rankings. It marked a historic achievement for Georgia, who had averaged the lowest possession in Euro qualifying but showcased resilience and tactical prowess when it mattered most.

Managed by Willy Sagnol, Georgia executed their game plan to perfection, with Kvaratskhelia and Mikautadze positioned strategically to exploit Portugal’s vulnerabilities. Goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili had little to do for much of the match, a testament to Georgia’s defensive solidity.

For Georgia’s young stars like Mikautadze, who had scored in each of their group-stage matches, the victory was a night to remember. Now, having earned a place in the round of 16, Georgia faces a formidable challenge against Spain, while Portugal looks ahead to their matchup against Slovenia.

Kvaratskhelia’s early strike and Georgia’s disciplined performance against Portugal not only secured their progression in the tournament but also etched a new chapter in Georgian football history, promising further excitement and anticipation as they continue their Euro 2024 campaign.

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Serbia has threatened to withdraw from Euro 2024 due to chants between fans during the Croatia-Albania match on Wednesday, where chants about the killing of Serbians were heard during the 2-2 Group B draw. Jovan Surbatovic, the general secretary of the Serbian Football Association, called for severe sanctions from UEFA, stating, “What happened is scandalous and we will ask [European governing body] Uefa for sanctions, even if it means not continuing the competition.”

Serbia, part of Group C, lost 1-0 to England in their tournament opener on Sunday. Surbatovic expressed confidence that punishments would follow, especially after UEFA revoked the credentials of Kosovar journalist Arlind Sadiku. Sadiku made a provocative double-handed eagle gesture, symbolizing Albania’s national flag, towards Serbian fans during the England game, exacerbating tensions between Serbian nationalists and ethnic Albanians, predominantly in Kosovo.

Surbatovic demanded that UEFA sanction both federations involved, indicating Serbia’s willingness to reconsider their participation if no actions were taken. The Serbian FA also sent a letter to UEFA’s general secretary Theodore Theodoridis, condemning the “shameful joint chanting.”

The BBC reached out to UEFA for comments on the issue. Serbia was previously fined £12,250 for fan misconduct during the England match, and both Serbia and Albania faced fines for displaying nationalist banners during their opening matches.

Surbatovic claimed, “We were punished for isolated cases and our fans behaved much better than the others,” emphasizing that the actions of a single fan should not tarnish the entire Serbian fanbase. He appealed to Serbian fans to continue demonstrating gentlemanly conduct.

Serbia’s next game is against Slovenia at 14:00 BST on Thursday.

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Germany got off to an excellent start in their Euro 2024 campaign with a dominant 5-1 victory over Scotland at home, marking their largest-ever win in the Euros. The match saw Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, and Kai Havertz (from a penalty) securing a commanding 3-0 lead by halftime, aided by Ryan Porteous’s red card for Scotland due to a reckless challenge.

In the second half, Germany maintained control, with Niclas Fullkrug adding a fourth goal and having a fifth disallowed. Despite an own goal by Antonio Rudiger giving Scotland a brief moment of relief, Emre Can sealed Germany’s victory with a final score of 5-1.

Reflecting on the match, pundits like Chris Sutton and Pat Nevin praised Germany’s performance, noting their high-pressure tactics reminiscent of top clubs like Manchester City. Julian Nagelsmann, Germany’s coach, highlighted his team’s strong start and acknowledged room for improvement, expressing satisfaction with their opening win in front of their home fans.

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Two Swedish nationals were fatally shot and another person wounded in Brussels, treated as a terrorist act by prosecutors. The Belgium-Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier was halted. Brussels is on high alert, searching for the gunman.

French President Macron, during a visit to Albania, expressed solidarity, calling it a shocking incident. Prosecutors opened a terrorism inquiry, urging the public to stay indoors. A video linked the attacker to the Islamic State.

Unverified footage shows an armed man entering a building. Belgian media reported victims in Swedish football shirts. The Swedish team declined to continue the match, supported by Belgium.

PM de Croo and EU President von der Leyen offered condolences and support for apprehending the suspect, emphasizing solidarity against terror.

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