Superstars wearing the expression of it being one of those days

Sometimes, it’s hard to be the main man. And it’s thus far been a mixed Euros for the alphas. Luka Modric got enveloped in Rodri’s spider’s web. Toni Kroos’s month-long mic drop began with giving John McGinn the pure runaround. Memphis Depay’s attempt to look and act like legendary NBA maverick Allan Iverson saw him overshadowed by big Wout Weghorst once the getting-it-launched button was pushed. Christian Eriksen staged that beautiful Lazarus moment then ran out of gas in the manner that marred his second season at Manchester United.

Jude Bellingham’s Billy Whitehurst-like header and self-assured strut when England were cooking against Serbia has convinced much of his nation that he’s not just the next big thing, he’s already the biggest thing ever. LinkedIn already bursts with Bellingham “be the best” memes. But what about Phil Foden turning into a shrinking violet? Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mykhailo Mudryk? They could only stare on as Nicolae Stanciu’s goal began a Romanian riot that more resembled a fictional Florin Raducioiu trolley dash in Harvey Nicks.

Even Kylian Mbappé found himself afflicted by the pressure, with some clanking finishing and then the indignity of having his nose busted by the shoulder of Austria’s Kevin Danso. Perhaps dazed by that, he then got himself booked for a supreme act of time-wasting, throwing himself back on the field as Les Bleus hung on rather grimly. The plan is to return to play on in the type of protective mask first made famous by Michael Crawford in Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s Phantom of the Opera West End debut. And for N’Golo Kanté to keep playing like it’s 2016 again.

Still, when it came to superstars wearing the doleful expression of it being one of those days, spare a thought for Romelu Lukaku. Two goals disallowed, the first for the type of offside that no longer passes muster in the VAR era, the second for the type of infringement that gets people in Wolverhampton reaching for the pitchforks and sending Jeff Shi to storm Premier League Towers. Red Rom had swept home with a slap of his size 13.5s and was celebrating Belgium rescuing a point from Slovakia when the VAR alert went up. Loïs Openda’s hand had barely brushed the ball before he had laid on Lukaku. Even ITV’s immutable VAR expert Christina Unkel judged it harsh while Joleon Lescott wailed that “you have to have played the game to know what an unnatural position is”, opening a philosophical debate in doing so. Unlucky old Rom, but then again, he hadn’t been helped by fellow main man Kevin De Bruyne playing like a drain. Tougher than it looks, the superstar business.

Join Daniel Harris from 5pm BST for hot MBM coverage of Turkey 1-0 Georgia, while Scott Murray will be here at 8pm when Portugal pip Czech Republic 1-0.

“His nose got badly hit, that’s for sure. We need to check it out, but it seems quite complicated” – a wincing Didier Deschamps reports that Kylian Mbappé will be fitted for a mask after having his nose rearranged in France’s 1-0 win over Austria and is a doubt for their next match against the Netherlands.

Just wondering how you feel about D Man assisting for Romania at the Euros? I presume he got sick of having to supervise your ‘work’ and moved on to better things” – Patrick Fahy.

With all the talk about complexities such as positional versus relational (or whatever it is), you can understand if footballers sometimes forget the basics these days. Obviously, Ukraine can be forgiven more than most for having other things on their mind. Perhaps they should enlist a certain stalwart of Nominative Determinism FC and simply Mark D Man?” – Mark Read.

It’s often said the war between Britain and Spain was caused by Jenkin’s Ear. Who knows what will happen from the War Of Mbappé’s Nose?” – Kev McCready.

David Squires looks over the big stories from the opening round of games.

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To say that Romania are enjoying that first Euros win in 24 years is a hefty understatement after they saw off Ukraine 3-0. “A fantastic effort by my team. If you had any doubts, you can believe me now that this is a great team,” whooped coach Edward Iordanescu. “We have had golden generations. But this nation does not represent any metal, it is the generation of soul … This generation is limitless.” Ukraine’s coach Serhiy Rebrov isn’t sharing the love. “Everyone apologised,” lamented Rebrov. “What I am feeling, what the players are feeling, that today we didn’t do good enough. Now we have to shut our mouths and prepare very serious for the next game to show the other Ukraine.”

Uefa is investigating allegations of discriminatory chanting by Serbia fans during their team’s 1-0 defeat against England in Gelsenkirchen.

Ryan Porteous is out of Scotland’s final group games after his red card in the 5-1 gubbing by Germany was deemed “serious rough play”. Meanwhile, keeper Angus Gunn is hoping to turn things around against the Swiss on Wednesday. “We let ourselves down, our families down and obviously the fans, which is probably the most difficult to take,” he sighed. “It’s down to us to bounce back now, and the good thing is that we’ve two more games to put it right.”

Big Man Summer news: a Germany fan missed that opening match after his hand was broken by Niclas Füllkrug’s wayward shot during the warmup. “I have no words, crazy things,” parped Kai Flathmann. “Bild is now reporting on this unfortunate incident and the German FA have been in touch with me as well.”

And Martin Adam is fully leaning in to BMS after making his mark with a weekend cameo for Hungary. “I was born this way, I have this body shape,” he roared. “I’m not saying that I was this big when I was born, but I have a basic, physique. Genetics – I can’t change that.”

Jonathan Liew watches Serbia v England again so that you don’t have to and finds where the game began to fluctuate, while David Hytner assesses the impressive tournament debut of “big sponge” Marc Guéhi and Jacob Steinberg warns that Phil Foden is at risk of becoming a John Barnesesque conundrum.

Cristiano Ronaldo returns to the big stage later and Andy Brassell explains why this victory lap could well be a story of same old goals, less soap opera.

Real Madrid tyro Arda Guler also enters the fray later. Sid Lowe reports on a player who “the ball is in love with”.

Many Turkish Germans trace ancestry to Gastarbeiters (guest workers)and the fans are relishing a ‘home’ Euros. Kate Connolly has more.

And away from Euro 2024, Jon Arnold picks out 10 players who could shine at the impending Copa América.

Dance music producer Paul Spencer, responsible for the World Cup 1998 banger Carnaval De Paris and much more, has died aged 53. The musician was diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2023. Dario G was originally a trio comprising Spencer and fellow DJs Scott Rosser and Stephen Spencer, named after the former Crewe Alexandra manager Dario Gradi.

It’s much too soon for any of this, but the Premier League fixtures for next season are out, out, out. Annual spoiler: everyone plays everyone else twice.

The company that will run the ­WSL from next season is poised to make one of its first senior appointments by hiring Chelsea Women’s suit Zarah Al-Kudcy.

Brighton have opened talks over signing Dutch winger Crysencio Summerville from Leeds, perhaps in the hope he will make them feel mighty real.

Don’t call it a comeback (yet): Romário is holding off making a much-trailed playing return at 58 for América because the Brazilian second-tier club where he is player/chief suit are doing too well. “In some matches there will be a real chance that I play, I spoke to the coach about it,” he blathered. “But sometimes it won’t be the day for that.”

And Macclesfield director and shareholder Robbie Savage is now the club’s head coach as well, replacing Michael Clegg. “It came as no surprise when Robbie was offered a senior role elsewhere recently,” tooted an intriguing club statement. “Robbie subsequently agonised over this on numerous levels as it would have meant him relinquishing his role at Macclesfield FC – in addition to his shareholding. This was something which the board was not prepared to let happen and it was unanimously decided that Robbie should be given the chance to prove himself here at Macclesfield FC as he launches his coaching career with us. Ahead of a campaign where we simply cannot fail, Robbie will now be accountable for all first-team affairs and judged solely on results.” Emile Heskey has also been appointed in a “position-specific role as and when required”.

We’ve got a host of classic Euros photos from yesteryear available to snap up in our print shop. Have a peruse right here.

To Switzerland, co-hosts of Euro 2008, where Hakan Yakin is – and you’ll have to take our word for it – tackled by Hamit Altintop, whose Turkey side came from behind to win their group meeting 2-1 in added time courtesy of Arda Turan’s goal. The Swiss failed to get out of their group, but Turkey went all the way to the last four, beaten 3-2 by Philipp Lahm’s last-gasp winner for eventual runners-up Germany.