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Showing posts from June 9, 2024

Euro 2024: Switzerland start campaign with a win

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Hungary 1 - 3 Switzerland Switzerland fought hard to secure a victory over Hungary, marking a successful start to their Euro 2024 campaign in Cologne.  Kwadwo Duah, a surprise inclusion by manager Murat Yakin, scored his first international goal, followed by Michel Aebischer doubling the lead just before half-time. Hungary's Barnabas Varga gave his team hope with 30 minutes remaining, expertly converting Liverpool midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai's perfectly weighted cross past Yann Sommer. Substitute Breel Embolo sealed the win in stoppage time with a delightful lob over Peter Gulacsi. A closer look at what happened From the outset, Yakin's team controlled possession, leaving Hungary with little to show in attack during the first half. London-born Duah, having played only 45 minutes for Switzerland before this match, was brilliantly set up by Aebischer and finished neatly past Gulacsi in the 12th minute. Just before the break, left wing-back Aebischer cut in on his right

Euro 2024 reaction: Two nations respond

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Let's explore the best reaction to Scotland's thrashing against Germany You can read the European Super Football match report here:   Euro 2024: Germany win opening game  Katie, a Scotland fan, said: "In a match where the Scotland players needed to exceed expectations and be nearly flawless, I must admit I am very disappointed. I felt the keeper could have done better with the first goal; it was somewhat of a gift. But overall, Scotland lacked the bravery I expected. "In the qualifying stage against Spain, we saw that they could play bravely. However, this time, it seemed they had an inferiority complex. All the players were below par, and that is what concerns me. The players need to bounce back, but can they? That performance by Germany took the wind out of our sails." Liam, a Manchester United fan, watched the match as a neutral: "Germany were brilliant in the first 20 minutes. They conceded but it’s a good sign from their perspective that their p

An exciting player that was loved by everyone

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Everyone at European Super Football was saddened by the news of the passing of the iconic Kevin Campbell. A striker whose blend of finesse, power, and finishing made him a standout player at several clubs.  Campbell is best remembered for his spells at Arsenal and Everton. At Highbury, he helped The Gunners win the First Division title in 1991 and secured both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1993. He also played a crucial role in Arsenal's victory in the European Cup Winners’ Cup final against Parma in 1994. Another highlight of Campbell's career was his loan move to Everton from Turkish side Trabzonspor in March 1999. Escaping a difficult stint in Turkey, he scored nine goals in eight games, helping Walter Smith’s team avoid relegation. Campbell's popularity soared at Everton, especially after he scored the winning goal in a 1-0 Merseyside derby against Liverpool at Anfield in September 1999. This victory was particularly memorable as it marked the last time Everton won at An

Euro 2024: Germany win opening game

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 Germany 5 - 1 Scotland There were six goals in the first game of Euro 2024. Unfortunately for Scotland, they only managed one. Pictures from the Euro 2024 Opening Ceremony The atmosphere at Allianz Arena was electric right from the start. Just ten minutes in, Florian Wirtz effortlessly found the net to open the scoring. Shortly after, Jamal Musiala unleashed a powerful shot that almost broke both Angus Gunn’s net and the hearts of the stunned Scottish fans behind the goal. Before half-time, Kai Havertz made it three from the penalty spot, following Ryan Porteous’ red card which left Scotland facing an uphill battle. Substitute Niclas Fullkrug added a fourth for Germany with a high shot into the net, though Antonio Rudiger’s late deflected own goal offered a glimmer of hope for Scotland. Their joy was short-lived, however, as Emre Can silenced the Scottish supporters deep into injury time. This result marked the biggest win in the opening game of a European Championships.  Euro 202

PL News: Ten Hag to stay at Manchester United

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Manchester United are in discussions with Erik ten Hag about a new contract, having decided he will stay on as manager for next season. Following their end-of-season review, United concluded that Ten Hag is the right person to lead them forward under the new regime headed by co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Ten Hag, 54, is keen to remain at the club and has had positive discussions with United regarding their review of the season. After winning the FA Cup , he was left in limbo for two-and-a-half weeks as United considered whether to replace him. However, they felt it was important for the new ownership to conduct a thorough assessment. While Ten Hag led United to their lowest-ever Premier League finish, in eighth place, and a group-stage exit from the Champions League, they also considered his achievement of securing two trophies in as many years, including a third-place finish in his debut campaign. Ten Hag attributed last season's struggles, which he described as "horrible,

Euro 2024 preview: Can Germany make home advantage count?

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Germany is preparing to host and take part in Euro 2024 How far can they go? They are aiming to win their first major title in a decade as they host Euro 2024. Their Group A opener against Scotland marks the beginning of what the country hopes will be a month-long celebration for the country Despite Germany's impressive history of four World Cups and three European Championships, their reputation has been somewhat marred by a string of failures since their 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil. The team is relying on a mix of exceptionally talented young players, such as Jamal Musiala and newly-crowned Bundesliga champion Florian Wirtz, alongside seasoned veterans like 2014 World Cup winners Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, and Toni Kroos. Challenges in the run-up Between March and September 2023, Germany lost four out of five games against mediocre opponents and failed to secure any wins. Hansi Flick, who also saw his team crash out of the group stages at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar,

Euro 2024 news summary: 11/06/2024

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 Let's have a look at the latest news and stories from across the countries competing at Euro 2024. Lewandowski to miss Poland's first game. Poland's striker Robert Lewandowski will be absent from his team's opening Euro 2024 match against the Netherlands this Sunday due to a thigh injury. The 35-year-old picked up the injury during a 2-1 victory over Turkey on Monday in their final warm-up game before the tournament. Lewandowski had to leave the pitch after just 33 minutes. Poland will face Austria in their second game on 21 June, followed by their final Group D match against France on 25 June. Lewandowski scoring for Poland at Euro 2016 France manager wants to create more history Should Didier Deschamps lead France to glory in Germany, he will become only the second person to win a European Championship as both a player and a manager, after German Berti Vogts, and the first to have achieved the double double.  When he retired from playing in 2001, transitioning int

Brighton & Hove Albion: 23/24 Season Review

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 2023/2024 was another historic campaign for Brighton & Hove Albion. Let's explore what happened. This was the 122nd season in the history of Brighton & Hove Albion and their seventh consecutive season in the Premier League.  They also competed in the Premier League, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and a debut appearance in UEFA Europa League.  Some of the match reports from their campaign. On August 12th, they welcomed Luton Town for the opening game of the seaso n, marking the Hatters' debut in the Premier League. Albion emerged victorious with a 4–1 win. This match also saw the debuts of several players, including João Pedro and Simon Adingra. Against Newcastle United in September,  Evan Ferguson scored a hat-trick to show off his extraordinary potential. Amy, a Brighton fan, was delighted with their performance. She said: "We played well against one of the best teams in the Premier League. All the fans are delighted with the attitude of the players. It has been a

Euro 2024 preview: Is it finally England's time?

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Gareth Southgate's England have arrived in Germany, facing a crucial test to determine if they are genuine contenders or simply a team that falters when it matters most. Southgate’s tenure – whether it concludes at the end of Euro 2024 or continues beyond – should always be assessed against the chaos he inherited.  Appointed permanently in November 2016, Southgate has since led England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, the Euro 2020 final, and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals. World Cup 2022: How England's journey came to an end  As the England players settle into their base in Germany, there is much to be hopeful about. Southgate has fostered a positive atmosphere within the squad, with players now enjoying representing their country without the heavy burden of expectations. He has also rekindled a sense of goodwill from the fans and the wider public towards the team and himself. This tournament carries a sense of urgency – a ‘now or never’ moment – following the World C

Bournemouth: 23/24 Season Review

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 It's time for another season review. This time, we're going down to the South Coast. The 23/24 campaign was Bournemouth's seventh season in the top flight and their second since their most recent promotion.  They finished 12th in the Premier League, performing arguably above expectations. The club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup and the fourth round of the  Star player of the campaign Dominic Solanke impressed everyone. He scored 21 goals in all competitions with rumours now starting that some of the Premier League's biggest clubs are interested in signing him.  A closer look at their match reports and stories from the season. In September, they drew 0-0 against Chelsea. Despite conceding a lot of chances, Bournemouth defended well and displayed the tenacity that would serve them well throughout the season. In November, Solanke scored twice against Newcastle United to give his side a deserved win. You can watch the highlights of this match in the video below.

Fulham: 23/24 Season Review

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Let's explore Fulham's 2023/2024 season. This was their second consecutive season in the Premier League since returning to England's top flight. They finished the season in 13th position. In addition, they reached the semi-finals of the EFL Cup but were knocked out in the 4th round of the FA Cup. Some match reports from their season. In August, they earned a hard-fought point against Arsenal at The Emirates. This was achieved thanks to Joao Palhinha. His first-time finish from a corner in the 87th minute earned the away side this draw. Jamie was in the away end and was impressed by elements of his side's performance on that day: "Unfortunately we didn't win, but I think most Fulham fans would say that this is a good result. It is often really difficult to play against Arsenal away from home. We displayed a lot of character after going 2-1 down." One of their best performances of the campaign came against West Ham United in December. Fulham dominated t

International Friendly: Spain thrash Northern Ireland

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Spain 5 - 1 Northern Ireland Northern Ireland's unbeaten streak of three games came to an end with a 5-1 loss to Spain at Son Moix Stadium. Michael O'Neill's team made an early impact with Daniel Ballard's header putting them ahead in the second minute. However, Spain's superior quality shone through, particularly in the first half when they scored four goals. Sixteen-year-old Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal continued to impress, and it was Pedri who equalised for Spain just ten minutes after Northern Ireland's opener. Spain's Alvaro Morata, another goal from Pedri, and Fabián Ruiz had them leading 4-1 by half-time, with substitute Mikel Oyarzabal adding the final goal in the second half. Click here more news and stories from Euro 2024 Iconic moments from previous European Championships  Luis de la Fuente's squad now shift their focus to Euro 2024, starting their campaign on 15 June against Croatia. The match marked the international debut of St Mirr