Paullow

They'll be big favourites to get to the final given they have already beaten Israel 2-0 in the group stage. Not sure if would have been better for Newcastle for him to have lost today and be back with us a week sooner, or to potentially get 2 more games in and come back with more confidence, but now they are in the semi finals with a very winnable match it clearly will be better for him to hopefully go on and win it. France a goal up on Ukraine and look set to face Spain in the other semi final, and will still be the team to beat.

Poor lad. Forced out of Milan and then crashes out of a tournament at the group stage a few days later. Someone should check on his wellbeing.

Always cracks me up for some reason when the commentator say 'Bob'. Immature I know.

Na, Switzerland have scored 4 conceded 4 in the 3 way H2H, Italy scored 3 conceded 3, Norway scored 2 conceded 2, so Swiss going through on goals scored unless there is another goal in the Italy game. Swiss match pretty academic and irrelevant now.

Both teams need a goal so could well be a winner as both push on. Norway carried the ball back to the halfway line when they scored.

I assume he is on the bench today, defo not in the XI with them having already qualified. Comms said their back 4 was much changed from the 2 over games so assume must be wholesale changes, although that Chelsea lad with the headband starts again. Currently 2-0 up after 30 mins, Archer and Elliot with the goals. Italy haven't qualified yet so I assume Tonali will be starting their match at 7.45.

It's done know harm for their Instagram numbers. They officially unveiled him on either Friday or Saturday (with no fewer than 9 posts on it), Jude shared something as a story (with his 12.7m followers) and since then Sunderland have gained almost 20,000 new followers. For context, they'd only gained 60,000 new followers in the previous 13 months before that.

Already marked down April 13th in the diary pal.

It was on this site earlier https://www.live-footballontv.com/ It had both matches, one at 2pm and one at 8pm as a 'BT Sport Digital Exclusive'. I have Sky TV and subscribe to BT Sport and pay extra for the app and I literally spent about 15 minutes searching the app on my Firestick, laptop and mobile at 2pm but couldn't find it , so assumed it must have just been exclusive for BT TV subscribers, and not those that have access to it via Sky Sports, but neither match is now listed on that site, so they probably jumped the gun. I see the Icelandic champs are currently 3-1 up after 70 mins, and Podgorica won 3-0 earlier in the day, so looking like the expected two will be meeting in the preliminary final on Friday. I would actually like to see that match (winner faces Shamrock Rovers in Q1) but I'm at the arena watching the wrestling with my nephews that evening, ha.

Anyone wanting a football fix outside of the Euro U21's / Gold Cup, BT Sport digital are showing the crunch Champions League Preliminary matches today at 2pm and 8pm

It's one of those situations where some of the previous comments on here would have clearly been very pleased if he was at SJP holding up the scarf, and I'm sure he would have done very well for us, but at the same time, I think his stock is definitely lower than what it was in November before the injury vs West Ham. I also think the fact we were strongly linked with him when we were 11th in the league and realistically 3 or so years off qualifying for the CL (at the time), plus none of the Liverpool's, City's, Man U's, Arsenal's etc. have been heavily linked, is a little telling. He'll be 27 a couple of months after the season starts, so there's very little resale potential, and this is pretty much his final big move, and our interest does seem to have cooled these past few months. It was very exciting this time last year when it looked like we might get him in the position we were in, but I do think we are now in a position to get a better transfer - not necessarily a better player, but one that might fit in more with our style of play, and just as important, be a few years younger and either be with us for 6 or 7 years and be a real hero, or potentially sell in 3 or 4 years if either we, or they, outgrow the other. I've said a few times, I would have been happy to have signed him, but I was MUCH more invested this time last year as it would have been a signing well above our station, and a WTF situation for rival fans, whereas now it would have been a much more 'par' signing in terms of respective stature. I don't blame him at all for signing for Tottenham either, even for pure football reasons (not to mention the alleged £175k which we'd massively struggle to offer). They have a great stadium, great facilities, and haven't turned shite overnight. They probably will struggle to get into the top 5 now most seasons (our resurgence not helping with that), but it's still an attractive club and they have finished above us something like 19 times of the last 20 years, so while our future seems extremely bright, one good season in 12 years, or 2 in 20, doesn't automatically put us above them in terms of stock and appeal. That will take a good few further years of consistent progress.

Do any if the betting sites show streams of the U21 tournament? (I know it's on the UEFA site, but can never get it on the big screen).

Is anyone else having issues with the app? Whenever I sign in it just says it has stopped working. I can watch it via browser in my phone, but if i come to mirror it on my smart tv it instantly disconnects, and UEFA TV app is unavailable on my firestick - it shouldn't be this hard to watch a match on the big screen They should have just had it on their YouTube channel or something.

It's shite how nobody picked up the Euro U21 tournament. You can watch the matches online at UEFA.TV, but I'm reluctant to give up my laptop to watch and tried to mirror my phone to the firestick, but keeps exiting after about 20 seconds, so it's basically going to have to be on the phone, which is grim. Obviously can't record and watch on delay like you could if it was on Sky Sports or Viaplay.

The qualifiers are quite compelling. I thought when it was expanded from 16 to 24 teams it would be very hard for even semi serious teams not to qualify, but a lot of nations have improved and there probably will still be a few notable teams that miss out. Welsh and (Northern) Irish fans would have probably thought they would have been in with a great chance of making a major tournament every 4 years, but the latter two missed out last time, and all 3 look set to miss out this time. Austria vs Sweden (on Viaplay Xtra, so free to air) is massive tomorrow, and a potential loss for Isak's men would make it extremely hard for them to qualify.

If he comes I'll welcome the move and think it's a good signing that will improve us, but I was far more invested last summer because it would have felt a massive coup for where we were, like clearly signing a player well above our station at that particular time, but now it feels more 'normal', so it's a lot less exciting. I'd also prefer a marquee signing be in the 21-23 year old range who could grow with us, be here for years, or possibly move on in 3 or 4 years if either they outgrow us, or vice versa, that generally won't happen with someone who is 27 in a few months - this is pretty much his last big move, so it's a massive decision for him.

Is this Euro U21 tournament really just going to be one UEFA.com? It starts on Wednesday.

Wijnaldum pulls one back for Netherlands, 2-3. Heading into NINE mins stoppage time. Still no Botman making his debut.

Botman on the bench again for Netherlands in their 3rd / 4th match against Italy at 2pm. Italy have made changes and Barella not in their XI.

Of the 11 players who started more than 17 PL games for Newcastle this past season, 5 of them were uncapped, and 3 of them had 10 or less caps. That's pretty amazing she you think about it, but one of those 5 move into the next category today . Thoroughly deserved but would have seemed impossible 20 months ago.

Wales pull one back vs Armenia but still 2-3. Actually it's 2-4. Grim stuff.

Joselu!

Any news on a broadcaster for this? Sky usually show it, but they've cut back on their international football. I just signed up to Viaplay today for a month so while it would be very niche and far less eyes on it, I wouldn't mind them snapping them up late and getting more value for my sub.

Gini coming on. Can't see Sven making his debut tonight, but if they lose, he'll possibly start in the 3rd / 4th playoff match on Sunday.

Botman (and Wijnaldum) on the bench.