France are champions

Kylian Mbappe and Robert Lewandowski both scored second-half penalties as France and Poland played out a 1-1 draw on Tuesday, condemning France to a second-place finish in Group D with Austria shocking Netherlands to top the pool.

Mbappe, returning to action and wearing a mask to protect his broken nose, opened the scoring in the 56th minute before Lewandowski levelled with 11 minutes remaining.

France finished second in the group and will face a tougher last-16 tie after Austria turned the section on its head with a 3-2 win against the Dutch.

Halloween is creeping up fast! Have you made your plans or are you still wondering where to go? Your options will vary from legendary castles to catacombs to adventure parks, depending on whether you are looking for costume parties, ghost tours, or aiming for deeper exploration into tradition and history.

So, if you are ready to spice up your spooky seasons, here is a guide to some of the best Halloween experiences around the world. No matter your Halloween style, each destination mentioned offers a unique way to celebrate the spooky season, combining tradition, thrill, and festivity. Pick your adventure and be prepared for a Halloween like no other!

Edinburgh, Scotland

The city ranks among Europe's most haunted cities to celebrate Halloween. For thrill-seekers, Edinburgh offers an experience like no other. Starting from tours in underground vaults and closes, to lantern-led walks into graveyards, the city will take you to a shadowy world where the line between the living and the dead blurs. 

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For a more family-friendly affair, Dalkeith Country Park, located just outside the city can be a good option for soft-scare offering pumpkin picking, ghostly storytelling, and outdoor movie screening of Halloween classics.

Even when it is about a modern celebration, Conifox Adventure Park will not let you down with twists like a witches' labyrinth, broomstick flying school, and a monster disco, perfect for the young (and the young at heart!).

Photo: Collected / Pascal Bernardon / Unsplash

Salem, Massachusetts

Salem, Massachusetts, often called 'Witch City,' comes alive as a haunting wonderland each October. Wondered what it would be like to walk the streets of a town known for one of America's darkest episodes, the Salem Witch Trials of the 1690s.

With moonlit ghost tours into places like Gallows Hill Park and the Witch House serving as reminders of the grim past, the city will not disappoint you. If you are not much into history and rather looking for Halloween enthusiasm, you can just stroll through the vendor-lined street, enjoy carnival rides, or join fellow Halloween enthusiasts costumed in parades. 

Kawasaki Halloween Parade, Japan

Unlike other Halloween parades, Kawasaki Parade is highly organised and requires participants to apply months before. The parade is usually held on the last Sunday in October ensuring every costume is nothing short of an extra-ordinary. Participants put in great effort and for good reason — the best costume gets a 500,000-yen prize. 

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Besides the costume competition, Kawasaki hosts a range of Halloween activities like street performances, live music, dance parties, etc. Even if you are not into parades or dance parties, Kawasaki will offer you horror film screenings and family-friendly events.

Whether you are a participant or a bystander, the parade will offer you an experience which blends traditional Halloween elements with Japanese pop culture, making it a one-of-a-kind event in Japan.

Bran Castle, Romania 

Do you remember the haunting stories of Count Dracula from the iconic novels and films? Have you ever imagined stepping into that world? Well, Halloween at Bran Castle gives you that chance for an authentic adventure.

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Bran Castle, a medieval fortress in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania is known as "Dracula's Castle" to the outside world. The castle, with cobwebbed stone walls and haunting shadows, creates the absolute setting for a spooky experience inspired by the famous tale of Bram Stoker.

The annual Halloween party typically takes place on the Saturday closest to 31 October, with live performances, gothic decorations, and guests showing up in creative costumes, to match the haunting atmosphere.

Photo: Collected / Emilio González / Pexels

Día de los Muertos, Oaxaca, Mexico

If you are looking for a vibrant celebration this Halloween, Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, in Oaxaca, Mexico can be your go-to destination. Though this festival in Oaxaca is typically celebrated on the first two days of November just like the rest of Mexico, in reality, the celebrations start on the night of 31 October 31with the spirits returning at midnight. 

This festival honours the deceased, loved ones through vibrant parades, rituals, and traditional dance. The families clean and decorate the graveyard of their loved ones with flowers, candles, and favourite foods to invite their spirits for a reunion. 

Photo: Collected / Asso Myron / Unsplash

Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights, Singapore

Featuring haunted houses, scare zones, and live performances, Universal Studios' Halloween Horror Nights is one of the premier Halloween attractions in Asia. Every year Universal Studios partners with horror franchises, creating new themed haunted houses inspired by classic horror characters, twisted folklore, popular films, and TV shows.

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Besides haunted houses, scary zones and scary shows are arranged where costumed actors participate leaving no room free from the terror. And for those looking for a break from scares, the park offers night-time rides, themed dining and movie screenings, creating intense adrenaline-filled events. If you want to immerse yourself in such an unforgettable experience, book your tickets urgently as the month-long Halloween Horror Nights will continue until 4 November.

Catacombs of Paris, France

A hidden world known as the Catacombs of Paris, lies down the lively streets of the city, as a labyrinth of tunnels with the bones of over six million people. Although only a few tunnels are open for public exposure, the whole catacomb covers a vast area, stretching over approximately 280 kilometres.

The Paris Catacombs was originally built in the 18th century to address the city's overflowing cemeteries, and since then this underground ossuary has become one of Paris's most haunting attractions. If you are looking for a spooky experience, Paris Catacombs will offer you a glimpse into the past through special guided tours that dive into the history of revolutions and plagues.

In the narrow corridors, surrounded by bones and skulls, the silence is interrupted only by the echo of footsteps. 

Croatia captain Luka Modric said he would look to continue playing on despite his country's likely elimination from the European Championship after conceding a last-gasp goal in a 1-1 draw with Italy in their final Group B game on Monday.

Modric, the Ballon d'Or winner in 2018 when Croatia reached the World Cup final in Moscow, put his team ahead seconds after having a penalty saved, but then watched in horror, after being taken off, as Italy's Mattia Zaccagni curled home the equaliser with the last kick of the game deep in stoppage time.

The draw put Italy into the last 16 and left Croatia third in Group B with two points - unlikely to be enough to take one of the spots reserved for the four best third-placed finishers.

Despite the disappointment, Modric suggested he wanted to carry on even after 178 internationals since his debut in 2006.

"I'd like to keep playing forever but there probably will come a time when I must hang up my boots. I'll keep playing on, but I don't know for how much longer," the 38-year-old midfielder told reporters.

Modric was resigned in his analysis of the game, while his coach Zlatko Dalic also bemoaned a lack of good fortune.

"That was very stressful. We kept battling right until the end but, unfortunately, football was merciless with us tonight. It was cruel above all today but also in our last match (a 2-2 draw with Albania) when we also conceded a late goal," said Modric.

"But that's part and parcel of football. Often it gives you plenty of smiles but on other occasions it makes you very sad as it did today, losing in the manner we did

"It's hard when you lose like this to find the words to describe how you feel. Of course we need to bounce back. But that's the way it is.

"And as I said earlier, perhaps it's unfair because we all really fought for Croatia right from the first whistle till the last and the result is what it is," Modric added.

Dalic suggested the eight minutes of time added on was unnecessary and that his players became nervy in the closing stages. "There were not many breaks in play or fouls. But you cannot concede a goal like that in the 98th minute."

"Defeat is part and parcel of football. That's the way it is," added the coach.

Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic on Tuesday said his side "deserve more respect" for recent achievements, as they bid to bounce back from an opening Euro 2024 defeat by Spain.

The World Cup semi-finalists and Nations League runners-up are hoping to get their Group B campaign back on track when they take on Albania in Hamburg on Wednesday.

Croatia were rocked by three first-half Spain goals in their 3-0 loss at the Olympiastadion, but are confident they can still reach the knockout phase for a fifth straight major tournament.

"It wasn't a pretty sight to see and watch, but we are always the dark horse, we're always not among the favourites so nobody believed in us and in the last six years we've won three medals," Dalic told a pre-match press conference.

"After France, we're the only other team to do this. I always say we deserve more respect, England won (1966 World Cup) 50 years ago and they're a 'great team', but we're the dark horse.

"We have the results to show we're better than perceived. After this defeat there's a more negative outlook, but we're looking forward to the next match."

Dalic said there would be changes to his starting XI.

Croatian media reports have suggested he will break up his midfield trio of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic and Marcelo Brozovic, with the latter expected to miss out.

Albania showed in their opening 2-1 defeat by holders Italy -- when they scored the fastest ever European Championship goal -- that they will not be pushovers in a tough group.

"We have to be and feel alive until the end of the match," added Dalic.

"We cannot lose our heads and try to force things, but with our quality and our own play, do what we've envisaged because tomorrow we'll go for victory and three points, but patience will be the key tomorrow."

Albania are playing in only their second major finals, after a group-stage exit from Euro 2016 when they claimed a memorable win over Romania.

Head coach Sylvinho is still hopeful his men can pull off an even bigger shock in Germany.

"There's a beautiful path ahead of us," said the former Brazil left-back.

"I think we played quite a good match (against Italy). We didn't collapse, we were there until the very end and we had the chance to equalise and that's good...

"This is a very tough group, definitely, but I believe it can be true joy for us, because we're here playing against the best teams and we can learn from them.

"We'll give it our best shot. In football, anything can happen."

The international career of France's top scorer Olivier Giroud ended quietly on Tuesday, after a late cameo appearance in their 2-1 semi-final loss to Spain at the European Championship.

Giroud played 137 times for Les Bleus and scored 57 goals, more than any other player for France.

Hopes of a final swansong in Germany, however, were dampened by being relegated to the bench, with 56 minutes of game time in four substitute appearances and two attempts on goal.

Giroud, 37, announced his retirement from international football before the tournament, as he secured a move to Los Angeles FC after finishing at AC Milan last season.

"He had a lot of good moments, but also some more difficult ones," coach Didier Deschamps.

"He is an example of longevity, seriousness and professionalism. Even though he had less playing time at this Euro, he was fully with the squad. He is one of the leaders. I want to say well done and thank you."

Giroud won his first cap in 2011 against the United States, when Laurent Blanc was coach, and was a member of France's World Cup-winning team in 2018. He also played in the final in Qatar in 2022 and was also on the losing side in the Euro 2016 final.

Ironically, World Cup success in 2018 came as Giroud led France's attack but failed to score at the tournament in Russia. In Qatar four years later, he netted four as the French reached the final and lost it to Argentina on penalties.

When he announced his international retirement, Giroud said he still had two good years in his legs, but that he was starting to feel his age.

"I thought about it carefully. Playing every three days is more and more difficult, especially at this level."