'Can't believe it': Euro 2020 rocked by frightening pre-match mishap
UEFA says several people are being treated in hospital for injuries sustained in a frightening pre-match protest stunt at Euro 2020.
France's clash with Germany was rocked by extraordinary scenes in Munich on Tuesday when a protestor parachuted into the stadium.
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In frightening scenes, the man collided with a cable connected to 'spider-cam' TV cameras and wildly careened towards spectators sitting in the stands.
He managed to right himself before crash-landing on the field, where Germany players Antonio Rüdiger and Robin Gosens were the first to approach him.
The man was then led away by security stewards and given medical attention on the side of the field.
The parachute had the words “Kick out oil" and "Greenpeace” written on it.
UEFA later said “law authorities will take the necessary action” for what it called a “reckless and dangerous” act.
Debris fell onto the field and main grandstand when the parachutist got tangled in the TV wires connected to the roof of the stadium.
France coach Didier Deschamps was filmed ducking into the team dugout to avoid being hit.
Can't believe I just caught this on video. Parachuted into the stadium, got caught in the spider cam and nearly crashed into the crowd. Hope he's ok! #GERFRA #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/PJ49WYdFM9
— Max Merrill (@MaxMerrill_) June 15, 2021
Jesus. Protester has just parachuted in. Nearly crashed into fans here in the stadium. Saw something with Greenpeace on his parachute.
Smacked into a big line overhead. Managed to just steer it out of the fans and land on the pitch. Then taken away by security. pic.twitter.com/Dz1UHASD9O— Archie Rhind-Tutt (@archiert1) June 15, 2021
Greenpeace protestor drops in pic.twitter.com/BlBEB1kYfh
— Sid Lowe (@sidlowe) June 15, 2021
Hearing it was a @Greenpeace protest. My camera man recently flew a drone here and those cables are always there, plus today's spidercam. This could have cost lives. #GerFra #EURO2020 pic.twitter.com/AyhfK79vF5
— Max Merrill (@MaxMerrill_) June 15, 2021
He needs to parachute into one of our stores. Immediately.
— Specsavers (@Specsavers) June 15, 2021
WTF ???
— Mohamed Kamal 🌟🌟 (@mohkamaltaha) June 15, 2021
France beat Germany after Mats Hummels own goal
A Mats Hummels own goal was enough to hand France a 1-0 victory over Germany as the world champions made a winning start to their Euro 2020 campaign.
Hummels turned the ball into his own net in the 20th minute, which ultimately decided the contest.
France deserved the win, with both Kylian Mbappe and Karim Benzema having second-half goals ruled offside while Adrien Rabiot also hit the post for Les Bleus.
The result leaves France second on goal difference in the early Group F table behind Portugal, after the holders' 3-0 win over Hungary earlier in Budapest.
The home defeat piles the pressure on Germany ahead of their next game against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal on Saturday, also at the Allianz Arena.
German head coach Joachim Loew, who will stand down after the European Championship, is desperate to avoid a repeat of the 2018 World Cup when Die Mannschaft suffered the humiliation of finishing bottom of their group.
It was a heartbreaking night for Hummels, back to boost the German defence after a two-year exile from international football.
Seven years ago, it was Hummels' headed goal which knocked France out of the 2014 World Cup in the quarter-finals as Germany went on to win the title in Brazil.
The hosts had a let-off when Mbappe hit the net after cutting inside and curling in a superb shot on 66 minutes, but the goal was ruled out.
With 16 minutes left, Loew put fresh legs into Germany's attack with Leroy Sane and Timo Werner replacing Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry, but the French defence held firm.
In the final 10 minutes, Mbappe was furious to be denied a penalty when a Hummels tackle from behind just pushed the ball out of harm's way before the France forward crashed to the turf.
In his first competitive international since France's defeat by Germany at the 2014 World Cup, Benzema looked to have sealed the win when he tapped in Mbappe's pass in the dying stages, but VAR caught the Paris Saint-Germain offside again.
with agencies
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