Ex Chelsea player Ricardo Quaresma headed in a 117th-minute winner as Portugal reached the Euro 2016 quarter-finals with a 1-0 victory over Croatia after extra time in Lens. It was the first time either goalkeeper had been remotely threatened by either side who both struggled to create chances and the fact the Portuguese are into the last eight having not yet won a match in 90 minutes speaks volumes about the quality on show. Cristiano Ronaldo cut a peripheral figure throughout until a quick counter-attack immediately after Ivan Perisic … [Read more...]
Ryan Giggs set to meet Jose Mourinho over future
Ryan Giggs is unlikely to accept a lesser position under the ex-Chelsea manager following nearly 30 years at the club But his next move will be finalised within days when he meets the Special One face-to-face. Mourinho is still completing his backroom staff after taking over from Louis van Gaal at United for the new season. Portuguese coach Rui Faria, who worked with him at Chelsea, will be the main assistant — the role Giggs had under LVG. Giggs, 42, is said to be unlikely to accept a lesser role. He may now choose to go into … [Read more...]
Ireland plays France for the first time after Henry dubious handball
The Republic of Ireland could be looking to exorcise some demons in Sunday's knockout round match against France. The last time the Ireland squared off against France in a competitive match, there was a bit of controversy. OK, there was a lot of controversy, as France crushed Ireland's 2010 World Cup hopes when a dubious Thierry Henry handball resulted in the decisive goal. Irish fans, you might want to look away (unless you're the kind of person that will use this as rage fuel to root on your team, then go ahead): Henry's handball in … [Read more...]
Liverpool reject Swansea bid for Welsh midfielder Joe Allen
Liverpool have rejected an £8m bid made by Swansea for Wales internatioonal Joe Allen, but are demanding £10m for the 26-year old midfielder. The Welshman has played a somewhat peripheral role in Jurgen Klopp’s side this season but impressed towards the end of the year. Allen took this form with him into Euro 2016 where’s he so far impressed for Wales and has subsequently earned himself many admirers across the Premier League. Many fans have expressed their desire to hold onto the Welshman – who’s been affectionately dubbed the “Welsh … [Read more...]
Euro 2016: Wales edge out Northern Ireland after a Gareth McAuley own goal
Gareth McAuley’s cruel own-goal was enough edge Wales into the Euro 2016 quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Northern Ireland. On one of Europe’s grandest football stages at the Parc des Princes, the two sides produced a game that would not have won any beauty contests. It was competitive and wholehearted, but entertainment and chances were at a premium with so much at stake. So perhaps the goal which decided matters – and sends Wales through to a quarter-final against either Hungary or Belgium in Lille on Friday – was appropriate as … [Read more...]
Poles reach Euro quarter-final for the first time in their history after Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka misses in shootou
Arsenal new boy Granit Xhaka suffered a penalty shootout woe as Switzerland were dumped out of Euro 2016 (5-4) on penalties after their last-16 tie had finished 1-1 AET. A Jakub Blaszczykowski strike had looked to be enough in normal time for Poland only for Stoke’s Xherdan Shaqiri to make it 1-1 with a tremendous athletic volley to send the game into extra-time. With no winning goal found, the tie was decided on penalties with new Arsenal signing Granit Xhaka missing and Sevilla’s Grzegorz Krychowiak hammering home the winning … [Read more...]
Marc Wilmots confirms Nianggolan smoking habit
It isn’t unheard of for Radja Nainggolan to smoke five or six cigarettes a day from his special hotel room balcony admits Marc Wilmots Radja Nainggolan is the only member of Belgium’s Euro 2016 squad who smokes, national team coach Marc Wilmots has confirmed in response to rumours. In his homeland, the Roma star has been hitting the headlines for the wrong reasons as newspapers blast him over his alleged smoking, prompting the tactician to intervene and justify the habit on behalf of his player. “I confirm, Radja does smoke,” he told … [Read more...]
Crystal Palace interested in Liverpool flop Christain Benteke
Crystal Palace are said to be interested in Liverpool's Christain Benteke as a replacement for recently-released Emmanuel Adebayor. The Liverpool striker has recently admitted he was considering his future with the Reds after a poor first season at Merseyside and was said to be high up on new Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte’s list of transfer targets . However, according to reports in the Daily Star Palace manager Alan Pardew is said to be on the look out for a new striker after Adebayor and Marouane Chamakh were recently released from the … [Read more...]
Keylor Navas reveals frustration about his failed Man United move
The Real Madrid goalkeeper was set for a switch to Old Trafford last summer as David De Gea was on course to head the opposite way. But a fax machine stopped the deal being processed as Madrid failed to get their paperwork finalised before the transfer deadline. As a result, Navas stayed put at the La Liga giants while De Gea went on to pen a new four-year deal at United. The silver lining for the Costa Rican shot-stopper was his success at the Bernabeu last season, adding a Champions League medal to his accolades. But frustration … [Read more...]
Man United one of three clubs chasing Neymar
Real, along with Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, have reportedly sent officials to Brazil to try and broker a deal for the Barcelona frontman. Neymar is locked in contract talks with the Nou Camp club, who have told the Brazil international they will not increase their latest £10.9million-a-season offer. And United's hopes of landing the 23-year-old have been boosted after a move to Real was ruled out. “The owners of Neymar are Barcelona. Any offers that arrive must go through Barcelona,” Neymar Snr. told Fox Brasil . “We … [Read more...]
Brexit will damage Premier League football- Cesc Fabregas
Cesc Fabregas has warned that England’s decision to quit the European Union will “damage” the Premier League . The Spaniard moved to Arsenal as a 16-year-old from Barcelona thanks to an exemption in Fifa regulations that allows transfers to take place within the territory of the EU if the youngster is aged between 16 and 18. Clubs outside the EU are prohibited from signing overseas players under the age of 18, meaning the likes of Fabregas would not be able to move to England at such an early age. Fabregas is also considered a ‘homegrown’ … [Read more...]