On June 18, two matches took place at the European Football Championship in Germany. The teams from group "F" were playing.

Turkey - Georgia

The national teams of Georgia and Turkey met in the first match of the game day in Dortmund. The match ended with the victory of the Turkish team with a score of 3:1.

In the 25th minute, Mert Muludur put Turkey ahead. Georges Mikautadze equalized in the 32nd minute. In the 62nd minute, Arda Guler brought the Turkish national team forward again with a long‑range shot. In the added time, Kerem Aktyurkoglu hit the empty gate.

Portugal - Czech Republic

In the second match of the day, the teams of Portugal and the Czech Republic met in Leipzig. The match ended with a 2-1 victory for the Portuguese.

In the 62nd minute, Lukasz Wire put the Czechs ahead. In the 69th minute, the defender of the Czech national team cut the ball into his own goal. Francisco Conceicau brought victory to the Portuguese in added time. It should be noted that Ronaldo entered the field from the first minutes and played the whole match.

Turkey and Portugal scored 3 points each after the first round, Georgia and the Czech Republic scored 0 points.

In the second round of the group round, the Portuguese national team will play with the Turkish team, and the Czechs will meet with the Georgian national team. Both matches will take place on June 22.

The Boston Celtics club became the champion of the National Basketball Association (NBA). This happened following the results of the fifth match against the Dallas Mavericks, in which the hosts won with a score of 106:88. Thus, the score in the series of up to four wins became 4-1.

Boston forward Jason Tatum scored the most points in the match. He scored 31 points, eight rebounds and 11 assists. Luka Doncic became the most productive member of the Dallas team, who made a triple-double: 28 points, made 12 rebounds and gave 12 assists.

Tatum also beat Kobe Bryant's record for the most playoff points scored before the age of 27 in NBA history. Now he has 2,711 points to his credit, surpassing the achievement of the legendary Bryant (2,694).

Boston defender Jaylen Brown was named the best player of the playoffs.

For the Boston club, this is the 18th victory in history, which is the best result of the second place for Los‑Los Angeles Lakers (17 wins).

Three matches were held as part of the 4th game day of the Euro 2024 in Germany.

Group "E"

Belgium - Slovakia (0:1)

The Belgians, who have never lost in 14 matches under the leadership of Domenico Tedesco, lost to the Slovaks, conceding the only goal in the seventh minute. The Slovaks took advantage of the mistake of Belgian Jeremy Doku — it was he who carelessly passed into his penalty area, and a couple of seconds later Ivan Schranz scored the winning goal from finishing.

Most of the match took place under enormous pressure from the Belgian national team, who missed several great moments. The antihero is Romelu Lukaku. The best scorer in the history of Belgium (85 goals) I didn't take advantage of two chances in the first half, and after the break I finally scored, and twice - but both goals were cancelled out. Romelu scored the first goal from a small offside position, the second was not counted due to the fact that Lua Openda, who assisted him, played with his hand.

In the next round, the Belgians will face Romania. Slovakia will play Ukraine.

Romania — Ukraine (3:0)

Ukrainians have brought one of the best generations in their history to the European Championship. It seemed that the stars of the Premier League and La Liga would not notice modest Romania, which had previously won only one victory in the final part of the tournament — in 2000, beat England (3:2) in the final round of the group stage. But everything did not go according to the plan of Rebrov's team.

Nicolae Stancu opened the scoring with a gorgeous long-range shot in the 29th minute. The Romanian captain took advantage of the inconsistency of Nikolai Matvienko and Andrei Lunin — the defender gave the goalkeeper under pressure, and he took the ball straight to the opponent's feet. In the second half, Romania doubled the advantage with another shot from afar — and again the goal happened thanks to a mistake by the goalkeeper of Real Madrid: Lunin missed the ball at hand. Almost immediately, Romania finished off the floating opponent with the third ball.

Ukrainians started the Euro with a failure, and Romania scored the biggest victory at major tournaments in the country's history. 3:0 — absolutely to the point.

Group "D"

Austria — France (0:1)

Under the leadership of Didier Deschamps, the French national team plays at the Euro in the status of one of the main favorites, so it would be unpleasant to make a mistake in the first round.

The French pressed in the first half, but rarely created chances. The Austrians also rarely threatened Mike Menyan's goal, but they showed off their defensive skills — in just 45 minutes they became the leaders of the tournament in terms of the number of selections (19). Even France's goal turned out to be quite accidental: the French covered the opponent in the right corner of the penalty area, after which Kylian Mbappe hung, and Austrian defender Maximilian Weber cut the ball into his own goal. The score became 1-0, thanks to an autogall.

The second half was mostly under the control of the Austrians, but their possession rarely led to dangerous moments. The French periodically stung with counterattacks — after one of them Mbappe even flew one-on-one, but shot past the goal. Rangnik's wards ended the match without any real scoring chances — the Tricolor scored three points in economy mode, but probably lost their main star.

After giving a free kick, Kilian unsuccessfully punched his head and tangentially crashed into the defender's shoulder: judging by the footage of the displaced nasal septum and the amount of time doctors spent to stop the bleeding, we may be talking about a fracture.

France will play the Netherlands in the next match.

A new page has been written into the history of the Turkmen sports movement: our national team took part for the first time in the Football World Cup among schoolchildren born in 2007-2008, held in the city of Dalian (People's Republic of China). This is reported by the newspaper "Neutral Turkmenistan".

56 teams from 33 countries took part in the tournament. The national teams of Brazil, Mexico, Germany and Uganda played in the same group with the Turkmen national team.

Turkmen football players led by Bayramdurdy Meredov and Eziz Annamukhammedov won over the teams of Brazil (3:0) and Mexico (2:0). The goals in these matches were scored by Mukhammedali Durdyev, Timur Jalilov, Orazguly Orazgulyev, Berdimyrat Danatarov. Goalkeeper Davut Davatov, forwards Omar Datdov and Begench Vepalyev demonstrated an excellent game.

Unfortunately, two victories were not enough to make it to the next round, because in the duels with Germany and Uganda, the Turkmen football players still lost in a stubborn struggle.

And here it is worth saying that our group was one of the strongest, since the Ugandan national team was able to reach the final, where in a penalty shootout they lost to representatives of the hosts of the World Cup, the Chinese national team.

In the autumn of 2024, Turkmen fans will have the opportunity to support their favorite local clubs at the Asian club tournaments of the new 2024/2025 season.

According to information published on the website of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Turkmenistan has received one quota to participate in the AFC-2 Champions League. The application for participation in this tournament was submitted by Altyn Asyr. Another quota was provided for the AFC Challenge League, which was claimed by FC Arkadag.

Both Turkmen clubs will represent their country at prestigious Asian club competitions in the upcoming season.

With the start of the new season in Asia, a new format for club tournaments comes into force. Instead of two tournaments, as it was before, there will now be three competitions, similar to the European system: the Champions League, the Europa League and the Conference League.

New Asian Competitions

• AFC Elite Champions League — (24 clubs);
• AFC Champions League 2 — (32 clubs);
• AFC Challenge League — (20 clubs).

It is expected that the draw for the group stage will take place at the end of August, determining the composition of participants and the distribution of groups in the above-mentioned tournaments.

Earlier, we reported that five clubs from Turkmenistan have received licenses to participate in AFC tournaments.

The Italian national team defeated Albania in the first round of the Euro 2024 group stage.

The match of group B was held in Dortmund and ended with the victory of Luciano Spaletti's team with a score of 2:1. The Albanians opened the account in this meeting — Nedim Bayrami scored already on the 22nd second. This goal was the fastest in the history of the European Championships.

By the 16th minute, the Italians took the lead. Alessandro Bastoni scored first, then Nicolo Barella. The score did not change in the second half. The result is a 2-1 victory for the Italian national team.

The England national team beat Serbia with a minimum score at Euro 2024 in Germany.

The match in Gelsenkirchen ended with a score of 1:0. The only goal was scored in the 13th minute, when Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham closed the canopy of Arsenal player Bukayo Saka with his head.

In group C, along with the national teams of England and Serbia, the teams of Denmark and Slovenia are represented, the match between which ended in a 1-1 draw. In the second round of the group stage, on June 20, England will play the Danes, and the Serbs will play the Slovenes.

Five clubs from Turkmenistan – “Arkadag”, “Altyn Asyr”, “Nebitchi”, “Ahal” and “Ashgabat” - have successfully completed the licensing process of the Asian Football Confederation and received the right to participate in international tournaments under the auspices of the AFC in the 2024/2025 season. This was reported by the press service of the Football Federation of Turkmenistan.

Club licensing is a key tool for the AFC to raise quality standards and ensure adequate governance and infrastructure in club football.

According to the received licenses published on the AFC website, Turkmenistan received one quota for the AFC-2 Champions League, for which “Altyn Asyr” applied, and one quota for the AFC Challenge League, for which “Arkadag” applied.

On the eve of important international starts, including the Olympic Games in Paris, the Turkmenistan national weightlifting team arrived for training camps in Georgia under the guidance of an experienced 52-year-old Chinese specialist Lin Shufeng, the Turkmenistan newspaper reports: The Golden Age."

Lin Shufeng, the bronze medalist of the 1991 Junior World Championship in the weight category up to 75 kg and a participant in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, was invited to the coaching staff of the Turkmen national team last autumn. Under his leadership, Turkmen weightlifters won a number of medals of various denominations in December 2023 at the international Grand Prix II tournament in Doha (Qatar), in February 2024 at the Asian Championship in Tashkent (Uzbekistan) and in April this year at the World Cup in Phuket (Thailand).

Working in tandem with the head coach of the national team, Mansur Rejepov, experienced Chinese mentor Lin Shufeng conducts intensive training for 8 athletes at the sports base of the famous Georgian ski resort Bakuriani. Special attention is paid to the preparation of 23-year-old Davranbek Khasanbayev, who won a ticket to the Olympic Games in Paris.

The silver medalist of the 2023 Turkmenistan football championship “Altyn Asyr” will begin its journey in the AFC-2 Champions League from the qualifying round. The rival of the Turkmen team will be the Indian “East Bengal”.

The decisive match for a place in the group stage of the second most important Asian club competition of the 2024/25 season will be held on August 14 at the “Salt Lake” stadium in Kolkata. The losing team will receive a place in the group stage of the AFC Challenge League.

“East Bengal” is one of the oldest football clubs in India, founded in 1920 in Kolkata. Currently plays in the country's elite division - the Indian Super League.

Dear people!

Dear compatriots!

I cordially congratulate you on the holy Eid al-Adha for the entire Muslim world! May this wonderful holiday, symbolizing humanism, benevolence, and spiritual purity since ancient times, bring prosperity to the prosperous Motherland, native people, and increase our pride in a happy life in the era of the Rebirth of a new era of a powerful state!

Turkmens, committed to millennial noble principles, are one of the peoples who were able to bring beliefs, traditions, customs, views about the Universe, being, man, friendship, peace, benevolence, humanity, wealth to perfection. Great is the merit of our courageous ancestors, who possess the most remarkable character traits, in the formation of principles such as humanity, sincerity, mutual respect, especially in their efforts to turn Eid al-Adha into one of the sacred holidays calling for spiritual and moral purity, high humanity. This holiday is celebrated in the era of the Rebirth of a new era of a powerful state, when the authority of our independent country is increasing all over the world, and is celebrated in unity and cohesion.

In the year "The Storehouse of the Mind of Magtumguly Pragy", the celebration of Eid al-Adha for three days is held at the state level, at various venues, in the cultural and entertainment centers of the cities of Ashgabat and Arkadag, in all settlements, where bright musical and song celebrations, social and cultural events are organized. Sachaks abounding in prepared festive dishes are widely spread in every family, sadaka-kurbanlyk is given and prayers are offered for the further prosperity of the independent Motherland, a happy and prosperous life of the people.

Guided by the motto "The Motherland is the Motherland only with the people! The state is a state only with the people!", we pay great attention to the health and spiritual perfection of every citizen of the country. We attach special importance to the development of our society in accordance with the high principles of humanity, based on spiritual and moral values. We are creating the necessary conditions for our compatriots to make pilgrimages to the shrines of the Muslim world and perform Hajj. In the year of the widespread celebration at the international level of the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great thinker-poet Magtumguly Pragy, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, a large group from Turkmenistan makes a pilgrimage to participate in the Hajj.

Dear compatriots!

The original, unique material and spiritual values of our people are a golden treasury that contributes to the formation and strengthening of friendly relations between East and West, North and South, the basis of our identity and respect for our nation in the world, our dignity for centuries. That is why, attaching great importance to our national principles and the experience accumulated over thousands of years, we are improving our society on the basis of high ideals of humanism, thanks to boundless love, unity, selfless work of the people, we achieve grandiose victories, multiply the glory of our native Homeland.

Having successfully implemented the adopted programs, reforms, and promising projects, we are confidently following the path of independence and neutrality.

Guided by our peaceful, benevolent and humane principles, as well as the wisdom of the great son of the Turkmen people, thinker Magtumguly Pragy: "A man sleeps or is awake, he will be deeply faithful to his plans," we are building bridges of friendship and brotherhood with the peoples of the world and countries. We are strengthening friendly relations with such reputable international organizations as the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, as well as the Pacific and Asian regions, countries of the Middle East, the Middle East, Europe and America. All this inspires the native people to reach new heights for the comprehensive development of an independent Homeland, strengthening the authority of our neutral state in the world.

Dear compatriots!

Dear people!

Once again, I cordially congratulate you on Eid al-Adha!

And may the festive sadaqah performed by you on the days of Eid al-Adha, the good prayers for the prosperity of our independent neutral Homeland, a happy and peaceful life of the people be accepted by Almighty Allah, Kabul bolsun!

I wish you good health, longevity, happiness and family well-being!

President of Turkmenistan 

Serdar BERDIMUHAMEDOV.

Spain - Croatia (3-0)
On June 15, the Spanish national team beat Croatia with a big score in the group stage match of the European Football Championship.

The meeting of group B, held in Berlin, ended with a score of 3:0. The goals were scored by Alvaro Morata (29th minute), Fabian Ruiz (32) and Dani Carvajal (45+2).

At the end of the second half, Croats forward Bruno Petkovic missed a penalty.

Barcelona striker Lamin Yamal joined the starting line-up of the Spanish national team and made an assist. He became the youngest participant in the European Championships at the age of 16 years and 338 days.

In the next round, the Croatian team will face the Albanian national team on June 19, the Spaniards will play the Italians the next day.

Hungary - Switzerland (1:3)

In the other match of the game day, the Swiss national team defeated the Hungarian team.

The Group A meeting was held in Cologne and ended with a score of 3:1 in favor of the Swiss, which featured Kwadwo Dua (12), Michel Ebisher (45) and Brel Embolo (90+3). The Hungarians' only accurate shot was delivered by Barnabasha Varga (66).

In the next match, Hungary will play the hosts of the tournament, Germany, on June 19, and the Swiss will play a match with Scotland on the same day.

The European Championship takes place in 10 German cities from June 14 to July 14.