Latest football news & reaction, plus Champions League build-up – BBC.com

100 days to go until Euro 2024
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham banned for two La Liga games
Reaction to Tuesday's Champions League matches as Bayern Munich and Paris St-Germain reach quarter-finals
Build-up to Man City v FC Copenhagen
Championship reaction as top three Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds all win
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Bobbie Jackson and Craig Nelson
That's all from us on this live text today.
We hope you're suitably excited for Euro 2024 now with just 100 days until the competition gets under way in Germany.
There's action for you to enjoy tonight in the Champions League with Manchester City v FC Copenhagen (3-1 agg) and Real Madrid v RB Leipzig (1-0) – both 20:00 GMT kick-offs – and you can follow live text coverage of both matches here.
The Women's League Cup semi-final also takes place tonight with Arsenal hosting Aston Villa at 19:15 GMT and you can follow live text coverage of that too.
In the meantime, here are some of today's top football stories for you to take a look at:
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Unbelievable quality at the Euro's, but hard to say anything other than Scotland when we have super Scott McTominay. Channeling his inner Archie Gemmill recently, love to see it!
James – London, regrettably
Man City v FC Copenhagen (20:00 GMT)
Simon Stone
BBC Sport
FC Copenhagen knocked Manchester United out of the group stage of the Champions League.
In fact, Erik ten Hag's side couldn't even claim the consolation of a spot in the Europa League as they finished bottom of a group that also included Bayern Munich and Galatasaray.
It is fair to say the Danish side found taking on Manchester City far harder three weeks ago, when they lost their last-16 home tie 3-1 to Pep Guardiola's men.
Coach Jacob Neestrup says the difference in quality is clear.
"It is simple," he said. "Manchester City right now is a better team.
"We played three very good clubs in the group stage but this is a level or two up.
"I think all teams can feel that difference when they play against City."
Bayern Munich 3-0 Lazio (agg 3-1)
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Harry Kane scores two as Bayern Munich beat Lazio in Champions League
Well Stevie, you are entitled to your opinion.
Harry Kane has certainly had an impact at Bayern Munich, scoring 33 goals in 33 games since moving to the Bundesliga from Tottenham in the summer.
The England captain was at it again last night, scoring twice in Bayern's Champions League win against Lazio.
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Stevie B: Harry Kane is a far better footballer than Erling Haaland
Man City v FC Copenhagen (20:00 GMT)
59 games. 395 days. That's when Manchester City midfielder Rodri last tasted defeat in blue.
City's 3-1 win over Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on Sunday means the 27-year-old is now on the longest unbeaten run in all competitions of any Premier League player past or present.
"It is difficult to understand what we have done in recent years without him. It would've been difficult," City boss Pep Guardiola told the club's website last month.
The run surpasses that of former Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho (58 games), with Rodri's last loss in a City shirt coming against Tottenham in February 2023 – although it does include City's defeat on penalties by Arsenal in the Community Shield.
In that time City have won the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup along with the Uefa Super Cup and the Club World Cup, while Rodri was also part of the Spain team that won the Nations League.
The holding midfielder signed from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for £62.5m in the hope that he would eventually step into the boots of former captain Fernandinho.
Like his predecessor, Rodri's role at City is one that tends to fly under the radar, with the likes of Erling Haaland and Kevin de Bruyne taking the headlines. But according to players, pundits and his manager along with the stats, his significance in City's exploits in recent years cannot be overstated.
Read more here.
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Be a real shame if Southgate ignores all this English talent & sticks with his favourites. Maguire & Henderson have had their time. Bring in some new blood and we might just get this done.
Nick, Rochdale
I do not want to be a wet blanket about Euro 24 but England's back four is unreliable. Stones and Shaw are fitness worries. Maguire a liability and the alternatives such Guehi, Dunk and Chilwell unproven. Also the back up keepers are uncertain. I hope I am wrong.
Roger from London
Man City v FC Copenhagen (20:00 GMT)
Pep Guardiola says Rodri is "unbelievable" and "the best midfield player, currently, in the world by far".
A humble guy with no social media who studied for a business degree while also assisting City to their fifth Premier League title in 2021 – his second with the club – Rodri does not often receive the plaudits.
Guardiola said the holding midfielder should "never, ever be in the highlights" and "do the job he has to do".
"The highlights have to belong to other people. The holding midfielder has to think for the rest of the team and do not expect the recognition. But internally? All team-mates and staff, they all know how important and decisive he is. Massively important for us," the City boss added.
But it is the compliments he receives from his peers which provide the bigger picture.
"It is just a joy to share a football pitch with him," said Luton captain Tom Lockyer on BBC Radio 5 Live.
"He's just a Rolls Royce. When you thought you had him pressed and were going to nick the ball, you weren't, he was just teasing you in so the person who got next pass had more time on the ball."
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Will 'Foden &/or Bellingham' be the new 'Gerrard &/or Lampard' for England? Two GOAT English midfielders that never seemed to gel in the same team.
Dan from Winchester
So if Phil Foden is usurping even Kevin de Bruyne as Manchester City's most creative force and Erling Haaland is their lethal marksman, providing the finishing touch, then who provides the platform to launch their attacks…enter Rodri.
The Spanish defensive midfielder is unbeaten in a City shirt in 59 matches. Without him over that period, Pep Guardiola's side have lost five in 11 matches, so you can understand why the former Barcelona coach speaks so highly of his midfield lynchpin…
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Pep Guardiola says Rodri is the best midfielder in the world
Man City v FC Copenhagen (20:00 GMT)
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Haaland: Man City striker on winning mentality
Prolific Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says he can still improve despite having scored 80 goals in 84 appearances for the Treble winners.
Last week the 23-year-old Norway international scored five in City's FA Cup fifth-round win at Luton.
He won last season's Premier League Golden Boot and is top of this season's standings despite missing nearly two months with a foot injury.
"There's a lot of things I can become better at," he said.
Despite scoring in Sunday's Manchester derby, Haaland referenced his incredible miss – when he somehow put the ball wide of an empty goal when he was barely three yards out – as evidence there is more to do.
"People say I'm good at scoring goals but I missed the biggest chance in the world ever two days ago. I can also become better at that," he added.
Read the full interview here.
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An honest Scot here. I'd argue England are favourites and I can only really see France stopping them. Portugal have the squad, but don't seem to have the structure, Germany and Spain seem a bit off it. The England team seem like a decent bunch too, so good luck to them. England/France final, Scotland to get to knockouts.
Dave, Glasgow
Phil Foden has scored 11 Premier League goals this season and assisted seven – putting him joint-eighth in the rankings for those categories.
Guardiola: "What can I say? He is the best player in the Premier League right now for the amount of things he does. Unbelievable."
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator John Murray: "If England were playing their first match at the Euros later today, I think you would expect to see Bukayo Saka on the right, probably Phil Foden on the left, Harry Kane through the middle and Jude Bellingham in the number 10 position."
Check out our feature on the best midfielders in the Premier League right now.
Phil Foden has been dividing opinions lately, he's starring for Manchester City but does he get straight into Gareth Southgate's starting XI at Euro 2024?
The City academy graduate scored twice in Sunday's derby to help his side to a 3-1 win over Manchester United at Etihad Stadium.
There was an interesting exchange (below) between Fulham midfielder Tom Cairney and West Ham forward Michail Antonio on the latest episode of the Footballer's Football podcast.
Cairney: “He’s England’s most naturally gifted footballer by a mile, in my opinion. He wants to play in the middle for England, it’s quite obvious. Whether they do that, I’m not so sure. On the weekend, he was the best player on the pitch by a mile. Energy, goal-threat, everything you want to see really. I think he’s been the best player in the Premier League this season.”
Antonio: “I agree, but I don’t think he starts for England. We know Gareth Southgate’s XI. He has his formation. I’m pretty sure it’s 4-5-1. Two sitters, a ten, two wide men, Harry Kane.”
Cairney: “Are you taking out Bellingham for Phil Foden?
Antonio: “No”
Cairney: “Foden wouldn’t start on the right in front of Saka?”
Antonio: “No”
Cairney: “Don’t you think any other country would worship him more? If he was Spanish, he’s playing in the middle.”
Antonio: “The only space available is on the wide left. Could you really pull Bellingham out of what he’s been doing at Real Madrid and put him in the eight?”
Cairney: “No. You’d have to be brave.”
You can listen to the full podcast here.
But first, one man who will be hoping to prove his importance to Gareth Southgate's England squad at Euro 2024 is Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson.
Henderson, 33, has remained a part of Southgate's plans over the past two seasons even when his gametime at Liverpool was limited and then during his brief stint in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ettifaq.
The midfielder returned to Europe in January, signing for Ajax, ending his time in Saudi after just 19 appearances across all competitions.
Southgate has been over to the Netherlands to watch Henderson in action, but it remains to be seen whether he will get the nod for England's friendlies against Brazil and Belgium later this month.
Henderson has won 81 caps with England since making his debut in November 2010.
Speaking in the build-up to Ajax's Europa Conference League last-16 tie against Aston Villa on Thursday, Henderson said: "It was really nice for Gareth to come over and watch the game, it was my debut against a good side.
"It was good for him to come and watch to see that he's keeping an eye on me.
"I definitely feel I can offer something to the national team, but I have got to be playing and doing my job here, that is my main focus.
"But, of course, I feel I can help the squad and the team going forward in the next camp and hopefully in the summer.
"But I have just got to continue to play well here and stay fit and hopefully I will get the opportunity to do that because playing for my country is a huge thing and always has been."
Man City v FC Copenhagen (20:00 GMT)
Manchester City
Pep Guardiola kicked off a debate on Sunday when he described Phil Foden as the "best player in the Premier League right now".
It may – or may not – have slipped the Manchester City manager's mind that he recently described defensive midfielder Rodri as the "best midfield player in the world, by far".
Of course, Guardiola was thinking in terms of the best player in their respective positions.
You could also throw Erling Haaland into that equation – as one of the world's most prolific top-flight strikers over the past couple of seasons.
The truth is, Manchester City have world beaters all over the pitch, which is the not-so-secret secret behind their success.
But with all the recent hype surrounding Foden, Rodri and Haaland, we thought it might be a good time to assess the impact each player has on the team.
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Winners. Italy, we may not have the best team in the tournament but we know how to win them. Specially when we're written off. Germany, quarter finals. Dark horses, Scotland.
John Essex
One of Portugal, England or France to win it, best squads by a long way and in Portugal and France’s case both have recent tournament wins, which could help.
Gus, London
Can't see past France for Euro 24, they are the perfect tournament team. Pragmatic, hard to beat, with a dose of unbelievable individual talents who can win games on their own
Luke
Man City v FC Copenhagen (20:00 GMT)
Simon Stone
BBC Sport
FC Copenhagen coach Jacob Neestrup didn't sugar coat the position his side are in ahead of their Champions League last-16 tie with Manchester City tonight.
City lead 3-1 from the first leg in Denmark.
The chances of Copenhagen reaching the quarter-finals are minimal.
"This is a massive game for Danish football and our nation," said Neestrup. "We are playing against the best team in the world.
"It will be a very tough game. We have to score three and they can’t score.
"We are not going to hide behind any excuses. It might take a miracle but we have to chase it. We are going to fight and give it everything we have got."
Liverpool
We mentioned this weekend's clash of the Premier League's top two at Anfield…well look who is back in training.
After weeks of makeshift squads, there is finally some good news for Liverpool fans on the injury front.
Mohamed Salah returned to training with his team-mates at Liverpool's AXA complex before the squad flew off to the Czech Republic for Thursday's Europa League last-16 first-leg tie at Sparta Prague.
Salah has played just 46 minutes of football for the Reds since leaving Egypt's Africa Cup of Nations campaign on 18 January due to a hamstring injury.
That appearance came in Liverpool's 4-1 win at Brentford on 17 February. He has been sidelined since, missing four games, with muscle fatigue.
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I don’t know if I’m just being too optimistic but I think England will win Euro 24! Assuming both sides win their groups we're heading for a rematch of the World Cup quarter-final against France – this time in the semi-final. You’d think the winner will come from that game. England’s players have come on leaps and bounds in every position so I am very hopeful that we can get over the line this time! Germany could even go out at the round of 16 against Denmark, and surprise package could be Czech Republic.
Matt, London
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