European Super Football

Aston Villa 2 - 0 Cardiff City Marco Asensio was the star of the show for Aston Villa again as he helped them secure a deserved 2-0 win over Championship strugglers Cardiff City in the FA Cup. Author - Jamie P Stadium - Villa Park The hosts maintained control throughout the match but faced a strong performance from visiting goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, who made several crucial saves to keep Cardiff competitive. In a clash of attack versus defense, the hosts struggled to break down Cardiff's low block. However, they eventually found the breakthrough when Marco Asensio scored from a precise cross by Marcus Rashford. Asensio secured the win in the 80th minute with another clinical finish, converting a cross from Leon Bailey. This was his fourth goal since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January. This could still be a landmark year for Aston Villa This year for Villa could yet be one for the history books, with Unai Emery’s side still in the hunt for silverware on two fron...

Luke Williams has departed Swansea City after an awful run of form that saw them lose seven of their last nine matches. Williams leaves after just over a year in charge, with the Swans sitting 17th in the table, eight points clear of the relegation zone with 13 games remaining. His departure is accompanied by the exits of assistant head coach Ryan Harley and first-team coach analyst George Lawtey. Author - Mark Milward Assistant head coach Alan Sheehan has been placed in temporary charge for a second time, with the club confirming that the search for Williams' successor is "already under way."  Sheehan will be supported by coach Kristian O’Leary and goalkeeping coach Martyn Margetson as Swansea prepare for Saturday’s home clash with Blackburn Rovers. Williams was interviewed after that recent defeat to Stoke A dramatic decline Williams’ exit comes after a dramatic downturn in form since the start of 2025. At the turn of the year, Swansea looked well positioned for a p...

Wales 4 - 1 Croatia Wales pulled off an extraordinary return to the Nations League's top tier with a commanding comeback victory over Iceland in Cardiff, aided by Montenegro’s crucial win against Turkey.  The result sealed promotion for Craig Bellamy’s side, sparking celebrations at the Cardiff City Stadium. Author - Stephen Chad Turkey had started the evening atop Group B4, two points clear of second-placed Wales, with Iceland a further two points back in third. For Wales to achieve promotion, they needed to win and hope Montenegro could do them a favour. The night began ominously for the hosts when Andri Gudjohnsen struck for Iceland in the seventh minute. Danny Ward had made a stunning save to deny Orri Oskarsson’s header, but Gudjohnsen, son of former Chelsea striker Eidur, pounced on the rebound to fire through Ward’s legs.  That goal ended Wales’ 321-minute home clean sheet streak , stretching back to March’s 4-1 defeat to Finland in their Euro 2024 play-off semi-fin...

Turkey 0 - 0 Wales Turkey’s striker, Kerem Akturkoglu, squandered an 89th-minute penalty, keeping Wales’ slim hopes of promotion to the Nations League’s top tier alive after a tense goalless draw in Kayseri. Author - Stephen Chad Backed by a fiercely hostile home crowd, Turkey dominated much of the first half. However, it was Wales who came closest to scoring, with Harry Wilson’s effort rattling the post. After the break, Turkey’s substitute Enes Unal missed a golden opportunity, somehow firing wide from just a yard out. As the match edged towards its conclusion, the home side were awarded a contentious penalty when Yunus Akgun went down under a challenge from Neco Williams. But Akturkoglu, the competition’s leading scorer for Turkey, failed to capitalise, his penalty clipping the outside of the post and going wide, to the despair of the home fans. This result leaves Turkey top of Group B4 with 11 points, Wales second on nine, and Iceland third on seven. For Wales to top the group,...

Cardiff City 2 - 0 Portsmouth Cardiff City continued their revival under interim boss Omer Riza, cruising past Portsmouth with another impressive attacking display to secure their second home victory in just four days. Author - Sean M Fresh off their 5-0 thrashing of Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, the Bluebirds hit the ground running once more. They found themselves 2-0 up within 13 minutes, thanks to an own goal from Regan Poole and Callum Robinson’s close-range strike. A closer look at what happened Despite squandering several opportunities to extend their lead either side of half-time, Cardiff kept Portsmouth’s substitute goalkeeper Jordan Archer busy, with David Turnbull and Anwar El Ghazi testing him throughout the match. Although Portsmouth showed signs of life in the second half, they struggled to break down Cardiff’s defence, with their rare attempts on goal thwarted by captain Jak Alnwick in the Bluebirds' goal. The win sees Cardiff move out of the Championship relegatio...

Montenegro 1 - 2 Wales Craig Bellamy secured his first victory as Wales head coach in a high-octane Nations League clash against Montenegro, played in dreadful conditions in rain-soaked Niksic. Kieffer Moore gave Wales an early lead just 37 seconds in with a sharp finish, followed by Harry Wilson doubling the advantage with a brilliant 25-yard shot two minutes later. Great memories in the Nations League for Wales fans. https://t.co/4bqtHt7LQr https://t.co/axWiOLvszN — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) September 10, 2024 The relentless rain wreaked havoc on the pitch, making the game at times seem chaotic, but it also added to the excitement of a thrilling match with opportunities at both ends. Montenegro’s captain, Stevan Jovetic, came close with a remarkable effort from his own half that struck the crossbar, while Driton Camaj saw his chance blocked on the line by Ben Davies. Moore missed a golden chance to make it 3-0 in the second half when he fired over from close ran...

Wrexham 3 - 0 Shrewsbury Wrexham cruised to a comfortable victory in their early-season League One derby against Shrewsbury Town, moving to the top of the table in the process. The hosts were 2-0 up by half-time. Ollie Palmer opened the scoring after James McClean's low cross found him unmarked in the box. Elliott Lee then doubled the lead with a neat finish from 20 yards out, following a powerful drive from Ryan Barnett. Wrexham’s defence also impressed in this early-season clash. At the other end, a high clearance from Aristote Nsiala led to goalkeeper Toby Savin racing out of his area, but Jack Marriott seized the chance and scored with ease. The defeat left Shrewsbury in the relegation zone. EFL: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) The best fan reaction Paul, a Wrexham fan, said, "I thought we put in a really good performance today. The players aimed for intensity both with and without the ball. For most of the game, we were in control. However, after we scored ...

Swansea City 1 - 1 Cardiff City Callum Robinson came off the bench to rescue a point for Cardiff City with a late equaliser against arch-rivals Swansea City, securing their first point of the season in the South Wales derby. Liam Cullen had ignited the already charged atmosphere by putting the Swans ahead after just 10 minutes, capitalising on a rebound after Ronald’s volley was parried by Ethan Horvath. Cardiff seemed destined for a sixth derby defeat in seven matches after a lacklustre first-half performance, but manager Erol Bulut's substitutions sparked a significant improvement, leading to Robinson’s well-crafted equaliser. The 79th-minute goal shifted the mood inside the Swansea.com Stadium. Although the Bluebirds couldn’t find a winner, this draw will have felt like a small victory after their tough start to the season, having lost their first two games with a combined score of 7-0. This was the first draw between the two teams since 2020 and a relatively subdued affai...

FK Panevėžys 0 - The New Saints The New Saints took a firm grip on their Europa Conference League play-off with a 3-0 victory over Lithuanian side FK Panevėžys in Vilnius. We'll have reaction to this match coming soon. European Super Football ( https://t.co/3cLJ3IbFkJ ) https://t.co/NQPIJ1RA4A — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) August 23, 2024 After a closely contested first half, Danny Davies broke the deadlock shortly after the restart. A corner was flicked on twice, and the centre-back was perfectly positioned at the back post to head in from a tight angle. Dan Williams then doubled the Welsh side's advantage, picking up the ball wide on the right, weaving past two defenders, and gliding into the area before slotting the ball coolly into the far bottom corner. As the hosts pushed forward in search of a goal, substitute Ben Clark sealed the win with a strike in stoppage time, putting Saints firmly in control of the tie. UEFA Europa League and Conference League ...

Burnley 5 - 0 Cardiff City Burnley maintained their perfect start to the Championship season with a commanding 5-0 victory over Cardiff City, capitalising on a series of errors by the Bluebirds. The match got off to a disastrous start for Cardiff when a routine backpass slipped under goalkeeper Ethan Horvath’s foot, resulting in an own goal that gifted Burnley the lead after just nine minutes. Things went from bad to worse as Dimitrios Goutas's poor defending allowed Jay Rodriguez the space to cross, leading to Luca Koleosho smashing in a second goal. Cardiff’s hopes of a second-half comeback were quickly dashed when a precise pass from Vitinho split their defence wide open, allowing Josh Brownhill to race through and score. EFL: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Championship: Wednesday thrash Plymouth (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Cardiff City latest news and stories Burnley didn’t let up, adding two spectacular late goals as Zeki Amdouni and Johann Berg Gudmundsso...

Craig Bellamy is the new Wales manager The 44-year-old succeeds former team-mate Robert Page, who was sacked in June. Cardiff-born Bellamy won 78 Wales caps and captained the side between 2007-2010. He takes up the role having left Burnley, where he had been acting head coach before Scott Parker's appointment last week. Parker was keen to work with the Welshman, but Bellamy leaves Burnley with the blessings of everyone at the club. Bellamy, back in the day, with a certain Gareth Bale stood behind him.  Reports from across Wales and beyond had suggested that Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, Georgia boss Willy Sagnol and surprise contender Des Buckingham, the Oxford United manager, were all spoken to. However, it has now been confirmed that Bellamy was the Football Association of Wales first choice. Bellamy is said to have impressed during discussions - and will now get the chance to lead the side in qualification for the 2026 World Cup. His first game as Wales manager will be a N...

 Wales 3 - 1 Belgium (Euro 2016) Let's explore another iconic moment from the European Championships. Wales recorded the greatest night in their football history as they came from a goal down to beat Belgium at Euro 2016. Radja Nainggolan put Belgium ahead in Lille with a stunning 25-yard strike but Wales captain Ashley Williams headed in from a corner to equalise in a breathless first half littered with chances at both ends. Welsh celebrations reached stratospheric levels when Hal Robson-Kanu, a striker without a club at the time, gave them the lead with a divine turn and finish. Iconic Euros Moments: Throwback to England v Scotland (1996) After withstanding late Belgium pressure, Wales sealed victory through a header from substitute Sam Vokes to set up a semi-final against Portugal and what many believed would be a mouth-watering duel between Gareth Bale and his former Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo. Wales manager Chris Coleman later described the last-eight tie as W...

 Wales 0 - 0 Poland Poland won 5-4 on penalties Wales lost to Poland in a penalty shootout during their Euro 2024 play-off final in Cardiff, ending their hopes of qualification for the summer's tournament in Germany. In the first shootout for Wales' men in a competitive match, Daniel James had his kick saved by Wojciech Szczesny. Poland converted all five. It was an awful way for Robert Page and his players to suffer defeat, especially against a Poland side that failed to register a single shot on target during the entire 120 minutes.  Robert Lewandowski's side might not have been that convincing, but they will be able to start looking forward to joining France, Netherlands and Austria in their group at this summer's Euros in Germany. Wales 4 - 1 Finland (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Euro 2024 Qualifying (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) News from across Poland from European Super Football This will hurt Wales The shocked look on all of the players' faces. a...

Wales 4 - 1 Finland Wales moved a step closer to Germany and Euro 2024 qualification after a convincing win over Finland.  Finland fans made a great noise last night despite the result. https://t.co/Mu4Cn3wz9B pic.twitter.com/ptwj9vgOKB — European Super Football (@ESFootballNews) March 22, 2024 The game started with an electrifying start for the home team, as David Brooks seized the moment to volley in a rebound from Harry Wilson's shot, just three minutes into the match. Despite Finland dominating possession for much of the first half, Wales managed to extend their lead with a splendid curling free-kick from Neco Williams. However, Finland kept themselves in the game with a composed finish from Teemu Pukki just before halftime. Brennan Johnson then eased any tension for the Welsh side with a well-timed tap-in early in the second half, securing their advantage. More Welsh football news and stories can be found here Although Wales missed a few opportunities to widen the ...

 Newport County 2 - 4 Manchester United Newport County's FA Cup journey came to an end in the Fourth Round, with Manchester United securing a 4-2 victory at Rodney Parade. It was so nearly a huge upset though.  The Red Devils took control early on, with goals from Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Mainoo (his first for the club) within the first twelve minutes. Bryn Morris's late first-half strike and Will Evans' equaliser for County just after the restart kept the game alive.  However, late finishes from Antony and Rasmus Højlund secured United's place in the next round of the competition where they will face an away match against Forest or Bristol City. FA Cup: Eastleigh 1 - 3 Newport (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Magic of the FA Cup: 2023/2024 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Manager Graham Coughlan stuck with the same lineup that defeated Wrexham last weekend, with Aaron Wildig, Harry Charsley, and Seb Palmer-Houlden retaining their spots in the starting XI. Scot Be...

 Wales 1 - 1 Turkey Following a fiery draw at home to Turkey, Wales will have to reach Euro 2024 via the play-offs in March. Wales had to secure a victory against Group D leaders Turkey  and cross their fingers for Croatia to stumble against Armenia. Throughout Tuesday night, it appeared that Robert Page's team might hold up their end of the bargain when Neco Williams scored in the seventh minute, putting them in the lead. However, Croatia's triumph over Armenia meant that even a Welsh victory wouldn't be sufficient. To add to their woes, Turkey levelled the score in the second half through a contentious penalty converted by Yusuf Yazici. Referee Matej Jug's decision to award the penalty seemed unfair to Wales captain Ben Davies, as his contact with Kenan Yildiz was minimal. The frustration among the hosts increased as the referee dismissed three Welsh penalty appeals in the first half. The initial anger among the Welsh team was replaced by a disheartening se...

UEFA has confirmed that the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland will host the 2028 European Championships . The joint bid was unopposed after Turkey withdrew to focus on a bid with Italy for Euro 2032, which was also confirmed at a meeting in Switzerland. Check out this video from  FAI TV - YouTube The UK and Ireland focused on Euro 2028, with UEFA's approval, after they had previously cancelled a plan to be Europe's preferred candidate for the 2030 World Cup. London's Wembley Stadium and Glasgow's Hampden Park hosted games at Euro 2020. Wembley hosted the final after what proved to be a hugely controversial day where there were reports of carnage and hooliganism outside the stadium.  Matches at Euro 2028 are set to be held at 10 different grounds, including Wembley and Hampden Park alongside Cardiff's Principality Stadium and Dublin's Aviva Stadium. Belfast's Casement Park and Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, the former unbuilt while the ...

 Blackburn Rovers 5 - 2 Cardiff City Blackburn Rovers beat Cardiff City 5-2 to reach the Carabao Cup round four as teenager Andrew Moran scored twice. Jake Garrett was delighted with result and perfornance 🗣️ "𝙄'𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙤 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄'𝙢 𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡." Jake Garrett on his new role this season. #Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/2igr9HPjOY — Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) September 28, 2023 Blackburn led twice in the first half, through Jake Garrett and Arnor Sigurdsson, before Callum Robinson and Kion Etete helped the Welsh side rally.  Callum Robinson, the former Tottenham striker, showcased his prowess by skillfully finding the back of the net, tallying his fourth goal this season, surpassing his previous season's total. As the game progressed, Blackburn's third goal was handed to them on a silver platter. Jonathan Panzo, making hi...

 Let's explore some of the biggest talking points from across Europe over the last 24 hours. It has been another busy day. Netherlands: Ruud van Nistelrooy leaves PSV  with immediate effect PSV Eindhoven head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy has left before the final game of the season because of "a lack of support within the club", a club statement said. Van Nistelrooy won the Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup after taking over the role in March 2022. PSV said talks about his future were set for Sunday, but the 46-year-old subsequently resigned. They are 10 points behind leaders Feyenoord and three points ahead of third-placed Ajax. They just need to avoid defeat to AZ Alkmaar at the weekend to secure a spot in the Champions League qualification stage. Footage from his last press conference -  Ruud van Nistelrooij en Luuk de Jong reageren op grote teleurstelling - YouTube Spain: Barcelona agrees to cancel Alba's contract. It has been announced that Jordi Alba will leave B...

 We all love the drama of the playoffs.  They are a series of matches contested by the four football teams that finish below the automatic promotion places in the second, third and fourth tiers of English football. They were first introduced to the EFL in 1987 and have been staged after every season since. Some hate them and others love them. Let's explore some of their greatest matches. <Click here to find more news and stories from the English Football League> Reading 2-4 Swansea: 2011 Championship play-off final. Swansea stormed into a 3-0 lead come the end of the first half. However, a two-goal comeback from Reading after half-time tested the nerve of the Welsh side. A young Scott Sinclair then bagged a hat-trick to ensure Swansea became the first Welsh side to play in the Premier League. This would mark the start of a memorable period for the club. In 2013, they won the EFL Cup.  Nottingham Forest 2-5 Yeovil: 2007 League One play-off semi-final.  One t...