Doctor Choi temporarily leaves Vietnam team; Italy plays Spain in Euro 2021 semi-finals
(Baonghean.vn) - Vietnam team doctor Choi Ju-young suddenly returned to Korea because his wife was seriously ill and could return in August; Two goals in the first half from Barella and Insigne helped Italy beat Belgium 2-1 in the Euro 2021 quarter-finals.
Doctor Choi temporarily leaves Vietnam team
According to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Dr. Choi left Vietnam on the afternoon of July 2 to return to Korea. Mr. Choi asked for leave to take care of his sick wife.
Dr. Choi’s wife was about to undergo surgery, so his presence was very important. After his quarantine period ended on June 30, Mr. Choi returned to Hanoi and found a flight back to Korea on July 2.
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| Doctor Choi (left) and coach Park Hang-seo. Photo: Quang Thinh |
Mr. Choi's decision was quite sudden, so many members of the Vietnamese team did not know the information. Mr. Choi is expected to return to Vietnam in August, the specific time has not been determined. VFF hopes that he can return before August 23, in time for the training session for the match against Saudi Arabia on September 2.
Dr. Choi is the leading injury specialist at VFF. He signed an official contract in April 2019 ahead of the 2019 King's Cup in Thailand. Since then, he has worked full-time for VFF.He is currently a consultant at the Trauma Rehabilitation Center co-founded by midfielder Luong Xuan Truong. Dr. Choi contributed a lot during Mr. Park's time working in Vietnam.
VFF will announce the time when Dr. Choi returns to Vietnam in the near future. Currently, the Vietnam National Team has disbanded so that the players can return home and prepare to serve the clubs participating in V.League 2021.
Italy vs Spain in Euro 2021 semi-finals
Nicolo Barella's opener and Lorenzo Insigne's long-range strike to double the lead were worthy rewards for the fast-paced, possession-based, and position-swapping attacking play that Italy displayed for most of the match.
Romelu Lukaku also got on the scoreboard at the Allianz Stadium in the first half, with a successful penalty kick in injury time, raising hopes for Belgium. But it was this 1m93 tall striker who crushed those hopes with a clumsy miss in the 61st minute. He turned what seemed like a sure goal into an opportunity when he fumbled Kevin de Bruyne's pass, allowing Leonardo Spinazzola to clear, much to the relief of the Italian players standing nearby.
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| Sommer played brilliantly, but could not help Switzerland advance. Photo: EPA |
This defeat means that Belgium - the number one team in the FIFA rankings and possessing the most talented generation of players in history - has been eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Euro for the second consecutive time. This is also a step back for the team under coach Roberto Martinez, compared to when they reached the semi-finals and won the bronze medal at the 2018 World Cup. Meanwhile, a place in London to play Spain in the semi-finals on July 7 is a worthy reward for Italy, considering the way they played and the determination that coach Mancini and his team showed throughout the match as well as from the beginning of the tournament.
Spain entered the penalty shootout with skepticism because Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer played excellently for 120 minutes with consecutive saves that discouraged the opposing strikers. The "Bulls" fans were even more worried when captain Sergio Busquets missed the first shot. However, Simon's talent and a bit of luck helped Luis Enrique's team become the first team to reach the semi-finals.
Toni Kroos retires from German national team
Sharing on his personal page, the Real Madrid midfielder wrote: "I have played 106 matches for the German national team and there will be no more matches. I have wished and tried my best to finish with 109 matches, and at the same time add the Euro championship to this journey. The decision to retire from the German national team after this tournament has been decided a long time ago. I also know clearly that I will not be participating in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar".
Kroos' decision was announced just days after Germany were defeated by England in the round of 16 of Euro 2020. The midfielder, born in 1990, emphasized that he wanted to spend time dedicating himself to Real Madrid, and above all, his family. He thanked coach Joachim Loew and wished the German team success with Hansi Flick.
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| Kroos will not participate in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Photo: Reuters |
Bild newspaper predicted that Kroos would retire from the German national team right after the defeat to England. The newspaper also said that Mats Hummels, Thomas Mueller and Ilkay Gundogan could follow in the footsteps of the 1990-born star.
At Euro 2020, Kroos' Germany were unsuccessful, being eliminated in the round of 16 by England at Wembley. In March, Kroos revealed his desire to retire. He told RealMadridTV: "As I have always said, I want to retire at Real Madrid. That is what I am trying to do."