Scantily-clad pitch invader brings match to halt at Euro 2020
A female pitch invader had to be escorted from the field after an audacious advertising stunt during Belgium's 2-0 win over Finland at Euro 2020.
Less than 24 hours after a streaker at golf's US Open ran out onto the course and starting hitting balls, another major sporting event was halted by the antics of an unruly fan.
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The scantily-clad woman managed to jump the fence from the stadium and run out onto the pitch during the final match of Group B.
She ran onto the field next to the players wearing a a black top with the words 'WTF Coin' written across the front.
Euro 2020 pitch invader advertises cryptocurrency in skimpy outfit during The game
A man invaded the Russia vs Denmark game as He was quickly taken down by security
The woman wearing a T-shirt saying WTF Coin made it to the halfway line before being apprehended by security pic.twitter.com/IGeQAY6JSn— Lilian Chan (@bestgug) June 22, 2021
Underneath the larger writing on the shirt was a link to a website for WTF Coin, which is a rival to Bitcoin.
The woman ran almost as far as the halfway line before she was apprehended by two male security guards, who appeared to get a little too handsy with the pitch invader.
It's the latest example of a publicity stunt at a major football event after a woman ran onto the field during the 2019 Champions League final, advertising an X-rated YouTube site.
Denmark's incredible 4-1 victory over Russia in Group B's other match was also punctuated by a pitch invader.
The man - wearing a Russian jersey - was promptly tackled to the ground by security staff, although his antics didn't appear to relate to any advertising stunt.
Belgium scored two late goals to see off a valiant Finland 2-0, in a result that saw victorious Denmark through to the last 16 and the Finns on the brink of exit.
Finnish goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky's 74th-minute own goal and Romelu Lukaku's third strike of the tournament ensured Roberto Martinez's Belgium finished top of Group B with three straight wins.
The world's number-one-ranked side will face a third-placed team in the next round, while Finland appear unlikely to qualify as one of the four best third-placed teams.
A much-changed Belgium side dominated the game but only found a breakthrough in the 74th minute courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from goalkeeper Hradecky.
A header from Thomas Vermaelen hit the post, rebounded onto the outstretched hand of Hradecky and went over the line.
Lukaku clinched victory in the 83rd minute by swivelling to thump home a Kevin de Bruyne pass and score his third goal of the tournament.
Denmark progress amid dramatic scenes
Belgium, who became the third team after Italy and the Netherlands to win all three group games, will face one of the third-placed sides in Seville on June 27.
Denmark, second in Group B after their 4-1 win over Russia on Monday, will play Wales in Amsterdam on June 26.
Finland must wait to see if they qualify to continue the adventure in their first ever major tournament.
Despair turned to exhilaration for Denmark as they claimed an astonishing 4-1 victory over Russia to scramble into the knockout stages at the scene of Christian Eriksen's shock collapse in the first group stage game in Copenhagen.
Needing a victory to have any chance of progression, Mikkel Damsgaard lit the touch paper with a 38th-minute wonder goal on a head-spinning night in the Parken Stadium.
A dreadful mistake by Russia's Roman Zobnin allowed Yussuf Poulsen to double the lead on the hour.
Russia threatened a comeback when Artem Dzyuba converted a 70th-minute penalty but Andreas Christensen's super strike restored the hosts' two-goal buffer before Joakim Maehle completed the rout.
In Group C, Georginio Wijnaldum scored twice and Memphis Depay added to his goal haul in a 3-0 Netherlands win over North Macedonia.
The Dutch had already secured top place in Group C but emphasised their dominance with a full haul of points as North Macedonia exited the tournament with none.
Austria finished second in the group by beating Ukraine 1-0 in Bucharest at the same time.
with agencies
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