European Super Football

Wales 1 - 1 Bosnia-Herzegovina (Bosnia won 4-2 on penalties) Wales were left with familiar heartbreak in Cardiff, their hopes of reaching a second successive World Cup ending in defeat on penalties Author | Stephen Chad Stadium | Cardiff City Stadium Craig Bellamy’s side appeared set to move within one game of the finals, leading deep into the second half, only for a late equaliser to force extra time and, ultimately, another shootout loss.  All of this simply echoed the pain of their defeat to Poland in the Euro 2024 play-off final two years ago. Watch | Video of passionate rendition of the Welsh National Anthem. Video uploaded by BlueBirdLegend A tense first half was largely controlled by Wales, who monopolised possession and came closest to a breakthrough when Harry Wilson’s curling effort struck the post. The breakthrough arrived six minutes after the interval  Daniel James seized on a loose backpass and drove a fierce, swerving strike from 25 yards into the roof of the ne...

Italy 2 - 0 Northern Ireland Italy moved a step closer to a first World Cup appearance since 2014 with a composed victory that ended Northern Ireland’s play-off hopes Author | Mark Lee Stadium | New Balance Arena Sandro Tonali, the Newcastle United midfielder, broke the visitors’ resistance and eased the tension inside the New Balance Arena with a powerful strike from the edge of the area in the 56th minute. As Northern Ireland pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Moise Kean made the result safe, guiding a finish in off the post with 10 minutes remaining. It had been a positive start for Northern Ireland Until then, Michael O'Neill’s side, featuring their second youngest average age since the Second World War at 22.5, had frustrated Italy and carried a threat going forward. Their lack of cutting edge in the final third, however, proved costly. In pursuit of a first World Cup in 40 years and only a fourth in their history, Northern Ireland were unable to test Gianluigi Donnarum...

We asked European Super Followers readers how Liverpool might approach life after Mohamed Salah. Will current players step up or will new signings come in? Author |  William G Salah celebrating Liverpool's Champions League win in 2019 Here are some of the best comments we've seen so far Jackie: There is no easy way of putting it. Salah feels irreplaceable. In the modern market, the value he has offered the club is extraordinary, from goals and assists to his relentless drive. Liverpool could spend vast sums and still fall short of finding a comparable figure. Whoever is tasked with becoming the next leading presence on the right flank will carry a significant burden, and there may always be a sense of something missing. Tobey: Replicating Salah’s attacking output will be a formidable challenge. Players of that level are scarce. I would like to think we have a clear strategy, perhaps targeting talents such as Michael Olise from Bayern or Yan Diomande at RB Leipzig. Without tha...

Hearts 1 - 0 Dundee Oisin McEntee’s towering header earned leaders Hearts a hard-fought victory over Dundee Author | Alan White Stadium | Tynecastle The victory ensures they head into the international break at the summit of the Scottish Premiership. Derek McInnes’ side were largely frustrated at Tynecastle, where a disciplined Dundee display made life uncomfortable for the division’s pacesetters. Watch | Match highlights from SPFL YouTube How Hearts eventually won the game The decisive moment arrived 13 minutes from time when McEntee lost his marker to power home Marc Leonard’s free-kick, sparking scenes of celebration among the home support. It secured a fourth successive 1-0 win at Tynecastle for Hearts, despite Frankie Kent’s late red card, as the pressure continues to build on the unlikely title challengers with seven games remaining in their pursuit of a first league crown since 1960. The wider impact on the title race Celtic, who lost to Dundee United on Sunday, are now five poi...

Arsenal 0 - 2 Manchester City Manchester City brought an emphatic end to Arsenal’s pursuit of a historic quadruple with a deserved Carabao Cup final victory. Authors | Macca and DJ Stadium | Wembley Nico O’Reilly struck twice in the space of four second-half minutes as Pep Guardiola’s side asserted their authority over the Premier League leaders with a performance of real control and incision. It proved a bruising afternoon for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, whose decision to persist with Kepa Arrizabalaga in this competition, ahead of first-choice David Raya, unravelled at a crucial moment. Kepa presented City with the opening goal just past the hour, spilling what should have been a routine cross from Rayan Cherki and allowing O’Reilly to capitalise with a stooping header. Watch | View from the stands at Wembley. Video uploaded from Shorts LM O’Reilly added a second soon after, arriving unmarked at the far post to meet Matheus Nunes’ delivery with another firm header, prompting Guardiola...

AEK Larnaca 1 - 2 Crystal Palace (Crystal Palace won 2-1 on aggregate) Ismaila Sarr struck twice as Crystal Palace edged past nine-man AEK Larnaca in extra time. Author | Ajay Stadium | AEK Arena The Senegal forward opened the scoring in the 13th minute, giving Oliver Glasner’s side an ideal start in Cyprus after a goalless first leg in south London a week earlier. Enric Saborit levelled with a header in the 63rd minute, but his evening unravelled soon after when he was dismissed for a second booking 10 minutes later, forcing the hosts to see out the remainder of normal time with 10 men and take the tie into extra time. It was Sarr who proved decisive in the 99th minute, turning in a low cross from Daichi Kamada at close range to set up a last-eight meeting with Fiorentina. Watch | Palace celebrate at full-time. Video uploaded by Football Passion on YouTube The closing stages were overshadowed by further disorder. Petros Ioannou was sent off for a reckless studs-first challenge on ...

Midtjylland 1 - 2 Nottingham Forest (The match finished 2-2 on aggregate and Forest won 3-0 on penalties) Nottingham Forest booked their place in the Europa League quarter-finals after prevailing on penalties against Midtjylland Author | Kieran M Stadium | MCH Arena Cho Gue-Sung and Aral Simsir both struck the same post during the shootout, while Edward Chilufya slipped at the crucial moment and failed to convert. Morgan Gibbs-White, Ibrahim Sangare and Neco Williams all held their nerve from the spot to send Forest through. Vitor Pereira’s side will now meet Porto in the last eight next month, setting aside their domestic struggles to extend their European campaign. A closer analysis of what happened on the night Ryan Yates had earlier given Forest control of the tie with a driven effort from 20 yards, after Nicolas Dominguez had drawn them level on aggregate before the interval. Midtjylland responded through Martin Erlic, whose close-range finish forced extra time. Watch | The re...