France have found a new hero in Antoine Griezmann and the striker has his eyes firmly set on lifting the Euro 2016 trophy after his two goals fired Les Bleus past Germany on Thursday and into the final. Griezmann slammed home a first-half penalty, following a needless handball from Bastian Schweinsteiger, and then poked in the second after the break to secure the host nation's first competitive win over Germany in 58 years. The Atletico Madrid marksman tops the Euro 2016 scorers table with six goals but is now focused on getting his hands … [Read more...]
Euro 2016: Schweinsteiger proud despite shameful loss to France
Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger says his side can be proud of their Euro 2016 campaign despite a 2-0 semi-final defeat to France. The world champions were the dominant side in the first half in Marseille but fell a goal behind just before the break. Antoine Griezmann converted a penalty awarded after Patrice Evra's header struck Schweinsteiger's hand. Germany continued to press in the second period but Griezmann prodded home with 18 minutes to play to secure the win for the host nation and set up a final against … [Read more...]
Euro 2016: Griezmann brace leads France past Germany
Antoine Griezmann punished Germany’s lack of incision by firing France to a 2-0 victory in the semi-finals of Euro 2016. The 25-year-old Atletico Madrid forward became the highest scorer at a single European Championships since the great Michel Platini scored nine for Les Bleus in 1984. They won the tournament on home soil that year and, having also lifted the 1998 World Cup in Paris, the omens are all pointing towards another domestic triumph against Portugal at the Stade de France on Sunday. Griezmann’s first came via a … [Read more...]
Cech: Wenger has the pedigree to coach England
Goalkeeper Petr Cech is in no doubt manager Arsene Wenger has both the pedigree and quality needed to take over the England job, but believes the 66-year-old remains committed to helping Arsenal win the Premier League. The Football Association has started the process of identifying a permanent successor to Roy Hodgson following England’s poor Euro 2016 campaign, which ended with an embarrassing defeat by Iceland at the last 16 stage. While Wenger has long stated he felt an English coach would be best suited to the role of national team … [Read more...]
Middlesbrough complete the signing of goalkeeper Víctor Valdés on a free transfer
Middlesbrough have completed the signing of former Barcelona and Manchester United goalkeeper Victor Valdes after manager Aitor Karanka impressed his fellow Spaniard with his plans for next season. Boro have also been offered the chance to sign Holland international Robin van Persie, but are unlikely to follow up their initial interest in the 32-year-old, who has been told he can leave Fenerbahce. Karanka has been one of the busiest managers in the Premier League as he looks to improve the squad promoted from the Championship last season … [Read more...]
Arsenal set to make a move for United target Matuidi
Arsenal are set to make a move for Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi, who has been linked with Manchester United and Chelsea. Reports claim that Matuidi is eager to play in England – but will only consider offers from Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, United and Tottenham. The Frenchman has been looking to manufacture a move to the Premier League, and according to recent reports he flew to England with the permission of Didier Deschamps and PSG to discuss a move. It is thought PSG have decided to let Matuidi move on … [Read more...]
Ibe set for £15m Bournemouth move
Liverpool are understood to have accepted a £15million bid from Bournemouth for winger Jordon Ibe. Ibe has been given permission to speak to the Cherries after a 2015-16 season that saw him make only 12 Premier League starts for the Reds. The 20-year-old has been with Liverpool since joining from Wycombe in 2011. Ibe, who has a total of 58 Liverpool appearances to his name, made his Reds first-team debut on the final day of the 2012-13 Premier League season. He spent time on loan with Birmingham during the following campaign, then … [Read more...]
Ozil to Koscielny: we are not Iceland
Mesut Ozil says he has told Arsenal teammate Laurent Koscielny that Germany "are not Iceland" in a text message ahead of their Euro 2016 semifinal with France. The match is set to see Ozil come up against Gunners teammates Koscielny and Olivier Giroud, and the Germany playmaker says the trio have been keeping in contact ahead of the clash. Germany reached the last four with a penalty shootout win over Italy while France thrashed tournament debutants Iceland 5-2, and Ozil told kicker: "We are still teasing each other. "After the … [Read more...]
Juventus set to hold talks with Chelsea over Juan Cuadrado future
The 28-year-old enjoyed a resurgent season at the Bianconeri last term with both the player and club intent on continuing the relationship. Serie A champions Juventus are set to hold talks with Premier League club Chelsea over the future of Juan Cuadrado as the Turin side prepare for a summer bid for the winger. The Colombian international’s rise to stardom at Fiorentina saw him complete a move to the Stamford Bridge outfit on a four-and-a-half year deal back in February 2015. However, Cuadrado was shipped off to Juventus at the … [Read more...]
Chelsea ready to chase Lionel Messi
If the Argentine doesn’t sign a new deal at the Camp Nou, coupled with complications in relation to tax issues, it could open the door to a move to England. Chelsea has joined Manchester City in the race to sign Barcelona forward Lionel Messi after his father was pictured on Roman Abramovich’s yacht. Messi has been handed a 21-month prison sentence after a court in Barcelona found them guilty on three counts of tax fraud, amounting to €4.1 million. Any fee to sign the Argentine would be over €117m, whilst Messi’s father, Jorge, has met with … [Read more...]
West Ham switch to Liverpool misfit after Tevez snub
Crystal Palace face competition from West Ham for Liverpool striker Christian Benteke after talks to bring back Carlos Tevez broke down. The 32-year-old Argentine striker is a cult hero amongst Hammers fans after his goal-scoring streak of seven goals in the last 10 games of the 2006/07 season helped keep West Ham in the Premier League. Hammers co-chairman David Gold revealed that the club did try and make an emotional return happen this summer, but Tevez’s excessive wage demands means the deal was never likely to happen. “We tried to … [Read more...]