Sports Digest: Spain, Switzerland win openers at European Championship

SOCCER

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to appear in a European Championship as Spain’s new generation brushed aside Croatia’s challenge 3-0 in its opening game Saturday in Berlin.

Yamal, age 16 years, 338 days, also became the youngest to set up a goal at the tournament when he crossed for Dani Carvajal to score Spain’s third goal before the break.

Midfielder Fabián Ruiz scored one goal and set up the opener for captain Álvaro Morata in a dominant performance by Spain.

• Italy recovered from letting in the quickest goal in the tournament’s 64-year history, beating Albania 2-1 in Dortmund, Germany.

Nedim Bajrami thrilled a heavily pro-Albanian crowd by intercepting an Italy throw-in and smashing a rising shot inside the near post just 23 seconds into the match.

Within 16 minutes, the Italians were ahead, as Alessandro Bastoni headed in Lorenzo Pellegrini’s cross to the back post, and then Nicolo Barella struck home a swerving first-time shot from the edge of the area.

• Breel Embolo, who had not played for Switzerland in 18 months because of a succession of injuries, scored in added time to complete Switzerland’s 3-1 win over Hungary in Cologne, Germany.

• Poland will be without injured captain Robert Lewandowski when it faces the Netherlands on Sunday in the first game of Group D.

Lewandowski injured a thigh muscle Monday in a warm-up game against Turkey. The Barcelona forward is expected to return to action later in the group stage.

BASEBALL

MAJOR LEAGUES: Kyle Bradish went on the 15-day injured list because of a sprained right UCL after leaving Friday night’s loss to Philadelphia complaining about his elbow.

It’s the same injury that kept him out for a month at the start of this season, and it’s not yet clear what the severity is this time around.

• Houston Astros ace Justin Verlander was scratched from Saturday’s start against the Detroit Tigers because of neck discomfort.

The Astros are hopeful that the 41-year-old right-hander won’t need to go on the injured list. He is listed as day to day.

• The Chicago Cubs placed left-hander Jordan Wicks on the 15-day injured list because of a strained right oblique.

Wicks departed Friday’s 3-0 loss to St. Louis in the second inning. It was his first start and second appearance since returning from a strained left forearm. He was sidelined for six weeks.

BASKETBALL

WNBA: Rachel Banham scored 16 points to lead five Connecticut players in double figures, and the Sun cruised to an 85-67 victory over the Dallas Wings in Arlington, Texas.