Gareth Southgate has left his role as manager of the England national team after eight years in charge. After taking over in 2016, he led the Three Lions to successive European Championship finals, coming close but not achieving silverware since they last won the World Cup in 1966. Following their World Cup semi final in 2016, England went a step further by reaching the final of Euro 2020, losing to Italy on penalties. Their quarter-final exit at the 2022 World Cup was followed by another appearance at the Euro 2024 final, losing 2-1 Spain — an outcome which has led…
Author: Somto Isaac
Gareth Southgate admitted Spain were deserving winners of Euro 2024, saying La Roja were the best team in the final against England. Spain were triumphant in all seven games in Germany on their way to winning the trophy, but England took La Roja to the limit, losing 2-1 in the end following Mikel Oyarzabal’s late winner. “As always in these games, it’s fine margins. But I think they were the best team in the tournament and over the piece they deserved to win,” Southgate said. “We’ve competed until the very end of the final. I think today we didn’t keep…
Germany’s Thomas Muller has announced his retirement from international football following the conclusion of Euro 2024. Muller and hosts Germany were eliminated from the quarter final stage in what was a crushing extra time loss against Spain. “After 131 national team games and 45 goals, I am saying goodbye,” the 34-year-old said in a video. Muller – who turns 35 in September – was a key member of the German team that lifted the World Cup in 2014. The Bayern Munich forward also scored the opening goal in Germany’s historic 7-1 win over the hosts Brazil in the semi-final. “When…
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has revealed his desire to see Angel Di Maria end his international career with a goal against Colombia in the Copa América final on Sunday. Di Maria announced, in November, he would be bringing an end to international commitments after dawning La Albiceleste’s colours for 15 years. Ahead of what would the 36-year-old’s final game for the world champions, Messi wants his teammate to be on the scoresheet once again, like he did in the continental final to win it against Brazil in 2021 and against France in the World Cup final in 2022. “Who knows,…
Gareth Southgate is one hurdle away from redemption as his England team faces Spain in the final of the 2024 European Championship. Southgate expressed satisfaction with how far his team has come in Germany in his press conference as his side aims to win another major trophy since the FIFA World Cup in 1966. It has been 58 years of wait which has included huge expectations and bitter disappointments – however, the Englishman is now of the opinion his team’s status on the continent is up with the best. “We tried to change the mindset from the start, we’ve tried…
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has insisted his charges must stick to being themselves and their identity of football as they gear up to face England in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday. La Roja have been phenomenal in the competition, notching six successive wins – including the likes of France, hosts Germany and defending champions Italy. Ahead of their final hurdle to what could be a record fourth European Championship, De la Fuente has urged his side not to sacrifice their attacking mentality, confidence and style. “If we are not Spain, we have no chance,” De la Fuente…
Harry Kane moved to Germany to bring a halt to his lack of trophies, but with the past club season not going as he would have planned, the England captain could end the spell by winning Euro 2024 with his national team. Kane struck his 406th goal for club and country to level matters in England’s dramatic semi-final triumph against the Netherlands. Despite the outstanding goalscoring prowess, he is reaching his 31 years of age without a single trophy to his cabinet. Kane secured a move from the Premier League to the Bundesliga last season, keeping up his mark of…
Jadon Sancho resumed training with Manchester United for the first time in 10 months, with reports confirming the attacker and manager Erik ten Hag have settled on their issues following their public conflict last year. It was said that Sancho and Ten Hag met at Carrington Training Centre and the pair had a positive meeting and decider to put a barrier with what transpired last season, according to a club source. Sancho featured just thrice for United last term and spent the second half of the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund after his relationship with Ten Hag hit a…
Dani Olmo has admitted he is not paying attention to winning the Euro 2024 Golden Boot ahead of England’s Harry Kane, as he places with the trophy with his teammates ahead of individual accolades. Tied on three goals with four other players, Olmo and Kane could be crowned as the best goalscorer of the tournament if they score in Sunday’s final in Berlin. However, with Spain eyeing a record fourth European Championship, Olmo prefers glory as part of the team rather than individual rewards. “It’s an extra motivation, if there’s even room for that, but look, as long as we…
CONMEBOL have begun a disciplinary investigation into the clash which erupted after the game between Uruguay and Colombia. In what was described as “acts of violence” and “unnacceptable” scenes by the Copa América organisers, Uruguay striker Darwin Nunez was part of a set of players who drifted into the stands an exchanged punches with supporters at the Bank of America Stadium. Uruguay central defender Jose Maria Gimenez said players moved into the scene due to concerns for the safety of loved ones and family members watching the game in that area of the stadium. Uruguay are set to lock horns…