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Showing posts with the label England

Worrying signs for Liverpool as Man City ease to victory

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Manchester City 4 - 0 Liverpool Erling Haaland produced a devastating hat-trick as Manchester City eased into a record eighth successive semi-final with a commanding victory over a subdued Liverpool. Authors | William G Stadium | Etihad Stadium Guardiola, serving the second match of a touchline suspension, watched from the stands as his side dismantled Liverpool with a clinical edge that is likely to intensify scrutiny on their head coach Arne Slot. A closer analysis of what happened in Manchester Fresh from their Wembley success against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final, City maintained momentum in pursuit of a domestic cup double with another authoritative display on home soil. For all their early control, City struggled to test Giorgi Mamardashvili until the 38th minute, when Haaland converted from the penalty spot after Virgil van Dijk brought down Nico O'Reilly. It was a familiar outcome, echoing his spot-kick at Anfield earlier in the league campaign. FA Cup news and stories...

Bayern Munich eventually see off Manchester United

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Bayern Munich 2 - 1 Manchester United (Bayern Munich won 5-3 on aggregate) Man United’s Women’s Champions League campaign came to an end as Bayern Munich struck twice late on to extinguish any hope of a comeback. Author | Olivia T Stadium | Allianz Arena Having trailed 3-2 from the first leg, Melvine Malard’s early goal offered encouragement that United might yet reach the semi-finals in their debut season. They were the sharper side before the interval, but Bayern assumed control after the break, with Glodis Viggosdottir and Linda Dallmann scoring in the final 10 minutes to turn the tie decisively in the German side’s favour. The result sends Bayern through to the last four for a third time, while Marc Skinner’s side must regroup ahead of a crucial run-in, with more than three weeks to recover before attention returns to securing qualification via the Women’s Super League. Watch | Highlights of this match from ESPN United had set out to become the first English side to win away at Bay...

Experimental England side fails to impress

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England 0 - 1 Japan England’s final home game before the World Cup ended in a disappointing defeat Author | George B Stadium | Wembley Stadium Head coach Thomas Tuchel was without captain and record goalscorer Harry Kane after he picked up a knock in training, and his absence was keenly felt in an attack that lacked a cutting edge. Kaoru Mitoma finished a sweeping counter-attack in the 23rd minute to secure victory for Japan, who became the first Asian side to beat England. Phil Foden was deployed in a false nine role There was no no recognised striker in Tuchel’s starting line-up, and the experiment failed to convince. He lasted less than an hour in the unfamiliar position before being replaced by Dominic Solanke. Tuchel made 10 changes from Friday’s draw with Uruguay, and the lack of cohesion and fluency was evident throughout. Watch | Post match interviews from ITV Sport Japan had already threatened before taking the lead, Mitoma applying a composed finish beyond Jordan Pickford aft...

Tottenham Hotspur appont Roberto De Zerbi as new head coach

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Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Roberto de Zerbi as their new head coach  The Italian signed a five-year contract with the club. Author | Greg S The former Brighton and Marseille boss has seven games to save the club from a disastrous relegation to the Championship. According to reports, he does not have a relegation clause that would allow him to walk away in case the club went down.  In two months' time, Spurs' third boss of the season will have either secured his place as a hero at the club, or be forever connected to one of the worst campaigns in their history --- Original story posted on 30/04/2026 Tottenham Hotspur are in advanced discussions with Roberto De Zerbi  The Italian is now prepared to take charge immediately, according to sources. Watch | What Spurs fans could expect tactically from their potential new manager While De Zerbi had initially been open to the position but inclined to wait until the end of the season, Tottenham have intensified their efforts ...

England held in scrappy friendly at Wembley

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England 1 - 1 Uruguay Ben White endured a turbulent return to international duty as England were held by Uruguay in a scrappy friendly Author | George B Stadium | Wembley The Arsenal defender was met with audible jeers when introduced in the 69th minute, his first appearance since stepping away from the squad after leaving the 2022 FIFA World Cup early. Yet he shifted the mood nine minutes from time, converting from almost on the goalline after a corner from Cole Palmer. There was to be some late drama White's goal appeared to have sealed victory, only for his evening to take another turn deep into stoppage time when he brought down Federico Vinas inside the area. Following a VAR review, Federico Valverde drove the penalty beyond James Trafford. The match rarely settled into any rhythm. Thomas Tuchel handed full debuts to Trafford and James Garner, but neither side found much fluency in a contest punctuated by fouls and interruptions. Watch | Might reaction from ITV Sport Uruguay w...

Manchester City win EFL Cup

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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...

Crystal Palace edge past nine-man AEK in Conference League

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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 ...

Another famous European night for Nottingham Forest

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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...

Barca thrash Newcastle to end Geordie Champions League dream

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Barcelona 7 - 2 Newcastle United (Barcelona won 8-3 on aggregate) A rampant Barcelona swept Newcastle United aside to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Author | Anthony Gates  Stadium | Nou Camp Eddie Howe had urged his players to embrace, rather than be overwhelmed by, the atmosphere at the Nou Camp in this last-16 second leg. For a time, they did just that. Newcastle showed resilience in a breathless first half, twice drawing level through the pace and composure of Anthony Elanga. His finishes cancelled out early efforts from Raphinha and Marc Bernal, ensuring the visitors remained firmly in the contest. Even after Lamine Yamal converted a penalty in stoppage time to edge Barcelona 3-2 ahead, the tie still felt alive at the interval. It unravelled quickly after the restart FermĂ­n LĂłpez extended the lead before Raphinha and Lewandowski took control, the latter striking twice to underline the gulf in clinical edge. What had been a contest became a procession, ending Newcas...

Positive signs for Tottenham despite Champions League exit

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Tottenham Hotspur 3 - 2 Atletico Madrid (Atletico Madrid won 7-5 on aggregate) Spurs claimed a deserved victory against Atletico Madrid but fell short in their attempt to overturn a three-goal deficit. Author | Greg S  Stadium | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium The home side were left with too much to do after a calamitous 5-2 first-leg defeat in Madrid, one of four losses in five matches since Tudor replaced Thomas Frank. There were, however, further signs of progress. Following the 1-1 draw at Liverpool, this was another encouraging display in an absorbing second leg, offering hope as attention turns to the more pressing task of avoiding relegation from the Premier League. Needing an early foothold, Spurs began brightly and took the lead on the half-hour when Randal Kolo Muani headed in an inviting cross from Mathys Tel for his fourth goal of the campaign. Tel soon had the chance to unsettle the visitors further after racing through on goal, but Juan Musso, deputising for the injured Ja...

Arsenal’s quadruple hopes remain alive

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Arsenal 2 - 0 Bayer Leverkusen (Arsenal won 3-1 on aggregate) It was a relatively straightforward night for Arsenal as their quadruple dreams stay alive. Author | DJ Stadium | Emirates Stadium Goals from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice guided Arsenal to a comfortable win over Bayer Leverkusen, as the Gunners booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals. They will face Sporting in the last eight after the Portuguese side produced a remarkable turnaround, overturning a three-goal deficit to score five against Bodo/Glimt. Arsenal began the tie level on aggregate with the German side, following Kai Havertz’s late penalty in last week’s 1-1 draw, and ensured Leverkusen never settled during a dominant first half. Gabriel twice threatened from Arsenal’s trademark corners, but Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich produced a pair of fine saves to keep the score level. He was left with no chance for the opening goal, however, as Eze controlled the ball on the edge of the area, turned s...

It was just too easy for PSG against Chelsea

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Chelsea 0 - 3 PSG (PSG won 8-2 on aggregate) This was Chelsea’s joint-heaviest defeat in a two‑legged European tie Author | Lewis W Stadium | Stamford Bridge Khvicha Kvaratskhelia opened the scoring after just six minutes, with Bradley Barcola doubling PSG's lead with their second shot of the game in the 14th minute. That goal meant Chelsea needed to score 4 without reply to take the tie into extra time, effectively ended it as a contest, and substitute Senny Mayulu piled further misery on Chelsea in this last‑16 meeting. Chelsea responded with a burst of attacking intent, with Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez, Pedro Neto and Trevoh Chalobah all involved as they pressed for a way back. Yet it was Paris Saint-Germain who struck again. After Moises Caicedo was dispossessed in midfield, PSG broke with purpose. Bradley Barcola took a fine first touch on his weaker left foot before sending a half-volley into the top corner to double the advantage. Chelsea continued to threaten, carving ...

Spurs humiliated in Madrid as bizarre night deepens season of misery

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Atletico Madrid 5 - 2 Tottenham Hotspur  We try to summarise a chaotic night for Spurs as their nightmare season continues Author | Greg S Stadium |  Metropolitano Tottenham’s calamitous campaign reached another bleak chapter as goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky endured a torrid 17 minutes before being substituted in a chastening Champions League defeat at Atletico Madrid. Handed a start ahead of Guglielmo Vicario, the 22-year-old Czech twice lost his footing in the opening stages, gifting goals to Marcos Llorente and Julian Alvarez.  In between those awful moments, Micky van de Ven also slipped, allowing Antoine Griezmann to add a third, before Robin Le Normand struck a fourth after just 23 breathless minutes. Tottenham’s last 6 results... [image or embed] — European Super Football ( @eurosuperfootball.bsky.social ) 11 March 2026 at 07:38 It was a chaotic opening spell for the away side Pedro Porro briefly halted the onslaught with a goal for the visitors, but the respite w...

Fifty years since their greatest day, Southampton fans are dreaming again

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Fulham 0 - 1 Southampton Ross Stewart struck a dramatic stoppage-time penalty as Championship side Southampton reached the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time in four years. Author | Ajay Stadium | Craven Cottage The substitute fired his penalty beyond Benjamin Lecomte shortly after the 90-minute mark to seal a hard-earned victory over their Premier League hosts and extend Southampton’s unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions. The decisive moment arrived suddenly when referee Jarred Gillett pointed straight to the spot after Finn Azaz was brought down in the area by Joachim Andersen. Stewart, who suffered an Achilles injury at Craven Cottage in 2023 while playing for Sunderland, drove the penalty inside the left post to send Tonda Eckert’s resurgent side into the final eight. Fulham had earlier been denied what looked a clear opening goal in the 19th minute. Daniel Peretz’s goal kick struck team-mate Ryan Manning on the back and fell kindly to Rodrigo Muniz, who tapped into...

Palace progress in Conference League

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Crystal Palace 2 - 0 Zrinjski (Palace won 3 -1 on aggregate) Crystal Palace eased into the last 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League as they proved too strong for Bosnian opponents Zrinjski. Author | Ajay Stadium | Selhurst Park The Eagles are competing in their first European campaign after lifting the FA Cup in 2024–25 and arrived back in south London with the tie finely poised following a 1–1 draw in Mostar last week. There was little sense of jeopardy in the return leg. Oliver Glasner’s side controlled proceedings throughout at Selhurst Park, keeping their visitors at arm’s length while steadily asserting their authority. How Palace eased into the next round  This was how the Palace fans responded 20 minutes or so after the match. Warning - video might contain some bad language They made the breakthrough in the 36th minute when Maxence Lacroix rose to head home from close range after a finely judged free-kick from Adam Wharton near the left touchline. Evann Guessand saw ...

Forest cruise to comfortable first-leg win in Istanbul

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Fenerbahce 0 - 3 Nottingham Forest  Vitor Pereira could hardly have asked for a more convincing opening act as Nottingham Forest’s new boss. Author |  Kieran M Stadium | Chobani Stadyumu Fenerbahçe ŞükrĂĽ SaracoÄźlu Spor Kompleksi Forest were in control from the outset, dominating possession and tempo to secure the biggest away win in the club’s European history. The result leaves them well placed to reach the last 16, with either Midtjylland or Real Betis lying in wait when the return leg is played at the City Ground on 26 February. Forest’s performance was marked by ambition and confidence. The tone was set when Murillo, restored to the heart of the defence, surged forward from the back and drove a 20-yard shot beyond Ederson and into the bottom right corner. The first half was largely one-sided. A Fenerbahçe team featuring several players familiar to Premier League audiences struggled to keep hold of the ball or match Forest’s intensity. Their clearest moment came when Anders...

Thomas Frank sacked by Tottenham Hotspur

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Thomas Frank has been dismissed by Tottenham  The decision comes after fewer than eight months in charge, the decision coming in the wake of Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat by Newcastle. Author | Greg S The result left Spurs 16th in the Premier League, five points clear of the relegation zone, and extended a bleak sequence that has defined much of their campaign. They are without a win in eight league matches, their longest such run since October 2008. Across their past 17 fixtures they have managed only two victories, collecting 12 points from a possible 51. How Spurs have responded In a statement, Tottenham said they had been “determined to give Thomas the time and support needed to build for the future together”, but concluded that “recent results have made a change at this point necessary”. The story of a strange time for Spurs Frank was appointed in June following the dismissal of Ange Postecoglou and signed a contract running until 2028. While performances in Europe offered enc...

Arsenal reach EFL Cup final

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Arsenal 1 - 0 Chelsea (Arsenal won 4-2 on aggregate) Arsenal moved to within one game of their first major trophy since 2020 Author | DJ Stadium | Emirates Stadium Holding a 3-2 advantage from the first leg, Mikel Arteta’s side were made to wait until the seventh minute of added time to confirm their progress on a nervy night at the Emirates Stadium. Kai Havertz, introduced from the bench, delivered the decisive moment, rounding Robert Sánchez before calmly rolling the ball into an empty net. Arsenal, who sit top of the Premier League and remain alive in three cup competitions, will meet either Manchester City or Newcastle at Wembley next month. The sense of occasion was unmistakable, even if the contest itself was often tight and attritional. How Arsenal and Arteta booked a trip down Wembley Way The hosts began on the front foot but found space hard to come by against a Chelsea side set up in a back five, with clear chances at a premium before the interval. Liam Rosenior attempted t...

Crystal Palace manager criticises club board

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What's going wrong at Crystal Palace? Their manager Oliver Glasner has said he feels his squad are being “abandoned completely” by the club’s hierarchy. Author | Ajay Palace manager responded to their current situation after defeat to Sunderland... Video from SkySports More reaction | Eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com youtu.be/q674O2ZsVAI?... [image or embed] — European Super Football ( @eurosuperfootball.bsky.social ) 20 January 2026 at 07:06 The 51-year-old Austrian confirmed on Friday that he will leave the Eagles when his contract expires at the end of the season. He insisted at the time that his decision was not linked to Palace’s transfer dealings, despite news breaking the same day that captain Marc Guehi was set to join Manchester City. However, following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Sunderland, Glasner criticised the decision to allow Guehi to leave and voiced his frustration at the lack of support he has received to replace departing players. Mixed reaction from Palace f...

Enzo Maresca is no longer Chelsea boss

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01/01/2026 update - Enzo Maresca is no longer manager of Chelsea Author |  Lewis W A Chelsea statement can be seen below "Chelsea Football Club and head coach Enzo Maresca have parted company." Club statement: Enzo Maresca. — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 1, 2026 "During his time at the Club, Enzo led the team to success in the Uefa Conference League and the Fifa Club World Cup. Those achievements will remain an important part of the club's recent history, and we thank him for his contributions to the club. "With key objectives still to play for across four competitions including qualification for Champions League football, Enzo and the club believe a change gives the team the best chance of getting the season back on track. "We wish Enzo well for the future." --- A few weeks ago Chelsea appeared to be in a confident place.  However, things can change very quickly in football  In November, they sat third in the Premier League and had recently ...