Spain midfielder Pedri has hammered on the abundance of leadership and the strong bond in the Spain dressing room as their biggest attribute to aid their quest to win the 2024 European Championship. It is worthy to note that most of the youth and the talented core of the La Roja have worked extensively with current manager Luis de la Fuente, who worked as part of the national team’s youth setup between 2013-2022. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the 21-year-old said: “I think that these last few days we have talked about it, that the greatest asset we have is…
Author: Somto Isaac
After interviewing and monitoring other candidates, the Manchester United board have decided to continue with Erik ten Hag as manager of the club ahead of the 2024-25 season, with a contract extension set to follow, according to reports in England. The decision was taken by INEOS after an end-of-season review, with the co-owners agreeing to continue with the Dutchman – who lifted the FA Cup with a 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester City. Before lifting his second silverware with the Red Devils in the final in May, widespread reports making the rounds suggested Ten Hag was set to coach the…
Carlo Ancelotti and Real Madrid have clarified reports stating that the European champions would not take part in the FIFA Club World Cup, with the Italian saying his statements had not been interpreted the way he intended. The Los Blancos gaffer had been quoted by Italian publication, Il Giornale, in an interview on Monday saying the world football’s governing body had attached no proper value to the compensation the LaLiga champions would get in the 32-team tournament. Ancelotti was quoted saying: “FIFA can forget it, footballers and clubs will not participate in that tournament.” The record Champions League winning manager,…
Paul Onuachu is brimming confidence ahead of the Super Eagles’ FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifier against Benin Republic on Monday. The Nigeria striker has also voiced his pleasure at reunion with former coach Gernot Rohr. Nigeria’s 1-1 draw at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo against South Africa was their third successive share of the spoils in group C of the 2026 qualifying series. Finidi George and his charges will now attempt to use Monday’s game to bounce at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Ivory Coast, to bounce back — a tie which they are seen as favourites to win.…
Roberto Martinez believes Portugal will largely depend on the experience of Cristiano Ronaldo to aid their goal winning the European Championship in Germany. The 39-year-old, who will be appearing in his sixth European Championship, the highest scoring player in men’s international football history, recording 128 goals in 204 games. Ronaldo made his Euros debut in 2004, winning the tournament in 2016 and Martinez is confident that, despite his move from Europe to Saudi Arabia in 2023, the Al-Nassr striker can still offer big things. “Cristiano had very consistent performances at his club. There is no doubt that he is an…
Finidi George has lashed out at the critics, stating he and his technical crew should be allowed to make decisions freely in their role, following the Super Eagles’ 1-1 draw against South Africa. George officially took over as the manager of Nigeria’s senior male national team in April and Friday’s draw in Uyo was his first competitive game on the touchline. The ex-international is currently tasked with making sure Nigeria qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup – which now seems a more difficult battle following the share of the spoils at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. Themba Zwane…
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has insisted he will not entertain any talk of Manuel Neuer being dismissed as the first choice goalkeeper of the team after the Bayern Munich veteran made another error in Friday’s 2-1 friendly win against Greece. The 38-year-old was the culprit for the opening goal of the contest, letting loose Christos Tzolis’ shot for Georgios Masouras to slot home. Kai Havertz then restored parity early in the second 45 and Pascal Gross netted the winner in the last minute of the tie to complete the comeback. Much of the focus after the games was on…
Manchester City’s Jack Grealish, Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Tottenham Hotspur’s James Maddison have all been excluded from Gareth Southgate’s Engand squad for the European Championship in Germany. Southgate selected his final 26-man list on Thursday as Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Adam Wharton both made the final cut. Grealish and Maguire – who were both key figures in previous tournaments – were cut alongside Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford, Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah and Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite. It was also announced earlier in the day that James Maddison and Liverpool’s Curtis Jones had both left the training camp. Grealish’s unstable…
The next Africa Cup of Nations has been pushed six months ahead as it is now set to take place in June 2026. All was scheduled for Africa’s showpiece to next take center stage in June 2025 in Morocco but it clashes with the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States of America from June 15 to July 13. Africa is set to have four representatives at the Club World Cup and many of the players could also be called up for the AFCON. Africa’s football governing body, CAF, was continuously quizzed about the…
Antonio Rudiger has suggested Germany can learn from UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid in their ability to kill games. Rudiger played a key role for Real in their 2023-24 Champions League campaign, including keeping a clean sheet in their 2-0 final win against Borussia Dortmund. Los Blancos’ triumph extended their unbeaten run in finals for more than 40 years and was their 15th European Cup win. “[Germany and Real], these are two different pairs of shoes,” Rudiger said in a presser at the national team’s base in Herzogenaurach. “Here we have a very good system that fits our game…