European Super Football

A legendary footballer and a legendary man This is our tribute  Author | Anthony Gates Kevin Keegan, who has died at the age of 75, was one of football's most charismatic and influential figures, enjoying a remarkable career that took him from global playing star to one of the game's leading managers. Although some will remember him for his difficult spell as England manager, he will be far more fondly recalled as a world-class footballer with Liverpool and Hamburg, as England captain, and for his later playing years at Southampton and Newcastle United. It was on Tyneside, however, where he became one of the club's most adored figures. Watch | A wholesome video posted by Newcastle United   Keegan helped revive Newcastle's fortunes as a player before inspiring the club again from the dugout. He guided them back to the top flight and built a thrilling side that challenged for the biggest prizes, even if the ultimate success proved just beyond their reach. His time at Newc...

Sturm Graz 4 - 0 Hearts Wouter Vrancken's reign as Hearts head coach began in the worst fashion as his side slumped to a damaging defeat in the first leg of their Champions League qualifier. Author | Ben A Stadium | Stadion Graz-Liebenau After missing out on the Scottish title in the closing moments of last season, the Edinburgh club were making their first appearance in the competition since 2006, but the occasion quickly unravelled. Sturm Graz took the lead after just four minutes when Jon Gorenc Stankovic rose highest to head home from a long throw. Hearts responded positively for a spell, however. Pierre Landry Kabore and Alexandros Kyziridis both squandered excellent opportunities, moments that proved increasingly costly as the match wore on. Watch | Highlights from Premier Sports Early in the second half, Sturm doubled their advantage from a corner as defender Jeyland Mitchell was left unmarked to tap home after poor defending at the set-piece. Three soon became four as Heart...

After his 187th and final match in charge, a record-extending 27th at the World Cup finals... Didier Deschamps brought an end to his long and successful spell as France manager. Author | Jack L The man who guided France to World Cup glory in 2018 looked set on finishing in style, naming both Kylian Mbappe and Michael Olise from the start. The pair arrived as the tournament's leading scorer and top assist provider respectively, and the match certainly lived up to expectations. Instead, Deschamps' reign ended with France's first competitive defeat against England since 1982, despite a vastly improved display after the interval following a first half that threatened to become a humiliation. France created chances almost at will during spells of the contest, but England goalkeeper Dean Henderson produced a series of impressive saves to deny Rayan Cherki, Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. Olise also squandered two clear opportunities, ending the tournament without finding the net. Aft...

Thomas Tuchel previously said England's mentality was something you could bottle and sell.  What remains beyond their reach, however, is the ability to deliver in the biggest moments. Author | Ben A The England head coach made the above remarks after the World Cup quarter-final victory over Norway, despite being openly critical of his side's display in the 2-1 win. He later went further, suggesting that "it's maybe not in our DNA... to control the game and ball". The dramatic late collapse that saw England surrender their lead against Argentina in the semi-final, denying them a first men's World Cup final since lifting the trophy at Wembley in 1966, inevitably revived familiar questions about their ability to get over the line. This latest setback joins a growing list of painful near misses Successive defeats in European Championship finals and the 2018 World Cup semi-final loss to Croatia have reinforced the perception that England continue to fall just short...

It was billed as a meeting between the World Cup's most potent attack and the tournament's most resilient defence. By the final whistle, there was little doubt which side had come out on top. Author | Jack L France have lit up the competition with their attacking flair, while Spain have attracted less attention, their patient control perhaps proving less eye-catching. Any lingering doubts about their credentials, however, should now have been firmly put to rest. Spain's Euro 2024 triumph was built around the exhilarating wing play of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams. Injuries have restricted both players' influence during this tournament, with just one goal between them, although Yamal's impact has steadily increased as the competition has gone on. Now Spain are into only their second World Cup final and have the chance to follow in the footsteps of the celebrated 2010 side that lifted the trophy in South Africa. Against France, Rodri produced a commanding display in ...

Potentially important news for England... They will make a late decision on Declan Rice's fitness ahead of Wednesday's World Cup semi-final against Argentina. Author | George B There is growing confidence the Arsenal midfielder will recover in time to start after battling illness in recent days. Rice was affected by a sickness bug in the build-up to Saturday's quarter-final victory over Norway in Miami and was substituted at half-time. Declan Rice playing against Arsenal team-mate Head coach Thomas Tuchel revealed afterwards that Rice had spent three days confined to bed before the match, which England eventually won 2-1 after extra time. Rice is understood to have not yet fully recovered from the illness, which he picked up during England's last-16 victory over co-hosts Mexico, but his condition has improved significantly over the past 48 hours. The midfielder is expected to make himself available given the magnitude of the occasion, although England's medical staf...

England fans celebrated across England and United States as the Three Lions beat Norway in extra time in a tense World Cup quarter-final. Midfielder Jude Bellingham scored twice to set up a semi-final against Argentina on Wednesday. Author | Ben A George B who was at the match said: "We have set it up for a fantastic game against Argentina. We are in a semi-final and that's what matters." Liam C told us: ""We have had to work very hard for it and the conditions really told on both teams. We had that little bit of luck as the goalkeeper made a little bit of an error." Jamie P added: “That was a really tough game. However, Norway tired in extra time, and there seemed to be only one winner for me. I thought we were in control for that last 30 minutes.” England fans sing Wonderwall with players at the Miami Stadium Perhaps the most captured moment came at the stadium itself. Players embraced and sung the iconic Oasis class 'Wonderwall' alongside their a...