David Moyes has confirmed wanted to sign Toni Kroos for Manchester United as Paul Scholes' long-term replacement. During Moyes' opening months in charge at Old Trafford Kroos was strongly linked with a move to the club before eventually remaining at Bayern Munich and joining Real Madrid the following summer. Moyes has been working at Euro 2016 as a technical observer for UEFA and has watched Germany play as part of that role. Writing in the Sunday Times, the former Everton boss explained his plans for the central midfielder. "I wanted to bring Kroos to Manchester United, from Bayern," Moyes wrote. "I thought his range of passing and his ability to play people in would have made him a top United player, maybe Scholes' heir. He's gone on and shown at Real … [Read more...]
Ricardo Quaresma scores late in extra-time to keep Portugal hope alive
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 headed against the foot of a post saw his shot – the first on target all evening was saved by Daniel Subasic only to pop up to Quaresma two yards out. Even the goal had an element of luck as it looked like it was a … [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 management on his own, two years after hanging up his boots to focus on coaching. Giggs had dressing-room support to take over as manager from LVG. But United went for Mourinho to try to get the club back on track as title … [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 extra time that set up William Gallas' equalizer gave France a 2-1 aggregate win after extra time. Henry admitted after the match to handling the ball, but the damage was done. Ireland launched a protest and asked for a … [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 Pirlo” – but Anfield still remains poised to sell the player who has one year left on his contract. It’s understood that Allen wants to play more regular first-team football after struggling to cement a place in Klopp’s … [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 Gareth Bale eventually left his mark on proceedings. It came as Northern Ireland, who had fought and harried for their lives, were within 15 minutes of taking the game to extra time, but punished for switching off for a … [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 penalty as Poland scored all five efforts. Poland should have been ahead inside 30 seconds when Swiss goalkeeper Yann Sommer bowled the ball out to Johan Djourou who passed it back across his box, only for Robert Lewandowski … [Read more...]