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Midweek football stories and gossip: 01/12/21

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Let's have a look at some football gossip from around Europe Mancini to Old Trafford? Italy head coach and former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has emerged as a candidate to be appointed Manchester United manager next summer. The former City manager is reportedly interested in getting back into club football. It remains to be seen whether he would carry on as manager of Italy throughout the Qatar World Cup should they qualify. Barcelona looking to re-build Barcelona has offered Manchester United the opportunity to sign Brazil winger Philippe Coutinho. He would become one of very few players to play for both Liverpool and Manchester United. It has been reported that Barcelona have a "total agreement" in place to sign Manchester City and Spain forward Ferran Torres, 21, but hope City will lower their asking price of  around £60m. Would he leave Manchester for Barcelona and then be part of the huge regeneration project under Xavi.  More news from around the Premier

UCL: Inter hold out against Porto

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 FC Porto 0 - 0 Inter Milan (Aggregate: 0 - 1 ) Inter Milan fans are dreaming of Champions League success once again. The Italian side reached the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in more than a decade after surviving a late barrage of pressure at Porto to escape with a 0-0 draw which took them through 1-0 on aggregate. It was a disappointing night for the home fans at a sold-out Dragao stadium as the Portuguese champions tried in vain to wipe out the narrow deficit from the first leg in Italy. A disciplined Inter side seemed content to hold onto their lead and did not face a serious threat until added time.  Defender Pepe was then dismissed for a second yellow card and Inter joined city rivals AC Milan in the quarterfinal draw. This is the first time they have both reached the last eight since 2006. Click here for more news from across Italy>>> Porto fans will have been very disappointed that they didn't progress to the next round. This would have bee

The most iconic and interesting moments of 2021

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Let's look at some of the best matches and moments of 2021. England v Italy - Euro 2020 final It was so close to coming home. England had a superb tournament but came unstuck in a penalty shootout in the final. The gradual return of crowds throughout the competition meant a special atmosphere.  Italy's triumph was perhaps unexpected despite their wonderful run of form throughout recent history, Southgate and England went one better than their semi-final spot in the 2018 World Cup. Can they finally win their first trophy since 1966 in Qatar 2022? Another notable mention from the tournament was France 3-3 Switzerland. The 2018 World Cup winners were knocked out after an enthralling match. Chelsea v Manchester City - Champions League final Another all English final. Manchester City were desperate to win their first Champions League title but it never really happened for them on the night. Back in May, Greater Manchester took a detailed look at some of the best reaction from th

England's most memorable World Cup Qualifiers

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Ahead of England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers, let's take a look at some of England's most memorable moments at this stage of the competition. This article was originally posted on News Ball UK. Click here to read. Italy 0 - 0 England - Qualification for France 98 is secured England only needed a point from their final match to qualify for the following summer's World Cup. Easier said than done when that final match is Italy away.  A battling and sometimes heroic display from the Three Lions earned them a 0-0 draw and qualification was secured. Not a lot of flair from the attacking players but the point was well deserved. Watch some of the highlights from the game in the video below. Germany 1 - 5 England - Even Heskey scored Germany had beaten England at the start of the end of the qualifying campaign. A disappointing end to the reign of Kevin Keegan and an awful way to say goodbye to the old Wembley Stadium. England gained their revenge though. Before this game,

Italy: Juventus continue strong start to the season

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Hellas Verona 0 - 3 Juventus Juventus continued their strong start to the Serie A season with a commanding 3-0 win over Hellas Verona, keeping their perfect record intact after two matches.  Dusan Vlahovic was the best player on the pitch scoring twice, while young Nicolò Savona made an impressive impact by finding the net on his full debut. Both sides came into the match on a high, having secured 3-0 victories in their opening games. Verona, fresh from an upset against Napoli, gave Daniel Mosquera his first start. Meanwhile, Juventus, coping with injuries to key players like Khephren Thuram and Tim Weah, entrusted Nicolò Savona with a senior debut at right-back. Click here for more Juventus news and stories You can watch the highlights of the match in the video below. The footage is from the official Juventus YouTube account.  A closer look at what happened The game kicked off with high energy, with Gleison Bremer making crucial blocks to deny Verona early opportunities. Juventus

Latest gossip: 11/01/22

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Lets look at what all the newspapers are saying across the continent. The rumour mill is rather busy at the moment.  Premier League rumours and stories Liverpool are reportedly ready to trigger the £75m release clause in Sevilla and France defender Jules Kounde's contract this month, with Chelsea and Real Madrid also interested in him. Chelsea's German defender Antonio Rudiger, out of contract in the summer and yet to sign a new deal with the European champions, is said to prefer a move to Real Madrid over Paris St-Germain if he leaves London.  Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani has committed himself to Manchester United for the rest of the season after talks with boss Ralf Rangnick. In terms of incoming players, United have discussed a move for Borussia Monchengladbach's Denis Zakaria this month. They are yet to make a bid for the Swiss midfielder.  FA Cup: Man United hold on to beat Aston Villa  Newcastle's hopes of signing defender Sven Botman during the January tran

Nations League: The 2022/23 draw has been made

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The UEFA Nations League is still a fairly new idea. It is a biennial international football competition contested by the member associations of UEFA. The last edition of the competition was won by France. You can read about it here. UEFA Nations League: Spain 1 - 2 France (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Ahead of a busy year of international football, nations are now preparing for the next edition of the competition. Here are the UEFA Nations League groups in full. We have highlighted some of the more interesting groups. Group A1: Austria, Croatia, Denmark, France. Group A2: Czech Republic, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain. Group A3: Hungary, England, Germany, Italy. England have faced all of these sides in recent times. They beat Germany in a memorable Euro 2020 last-16 match before eventually losing to Italy in the final of the same competition. More recently, they beat Hungary in a World Cup qualifier. England manager Gareth Southgate believes that the tough Nations League group is

World Cup Qualifying: San Marino 0-10 England

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England are off to next year's World Cup in Qatar. They have qualified for their seventh consecutive World Cup, their longest ever run of reaching successive World Cup tournaments.  Six goals in the first-half that included four from Harry Kane made the prospect of double figures possible and the England players obliged. One fan who was in San Marino for the match has just told us: "Job done. A lovely trip and nice to see score us a few goals. Is football coming home in time for Christmas 2022?" Watch below to see a video of the 10th goal that England scored on the night. Making it 🔟 @TrentAA 🤜🤛 @BukayoSaka87 pic.twitter.com/6eWRSuaZV0 — England (@England) November 15, 2021 Harry Kane told ITV Sport: "Fantastic. It came to the last game and we were expected to win tonight but we've done a good job. Fantastic to go through." "Every time I wear an England shirt I am proud and when I score goals it is one of the nicest feelings I can have in my ca

Nations League: France ease to comfortable win

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France 2 - 0 Belgium France picked up their first victory of their Nations League campaign with a comfortable win over Belgium.  After losing 3-1 to Italy in their first League A Group 2 match and they faced a tough challenge against Belgium.  Kylian Mbappe, the France captain, started on the bench for this game as he had played the full 90 minutes against Italy.  France's coach, Didier Deschamps, decided to change the entire forward line for this match. Belgium had a bright start but fell behind just before the half-hour mark when Kolo Muani scored his sixth goal for France after pouncing on a loose ball.  Ousmane Dembele, Muani's teammate at Paris St-Germain, made it 2-0 after the break with a well-struck shot. Mbappe came on in the second half and had two good chances but was unable to score. Click here for more news and stories from across France What next for Belgium? They opened their Nations League campaign with a 3-1 win against Israel - with De Bruyne scoring t

UCL: Inter Milan in control of quarter-final

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Benfica 0 - 2 Inter Milan Romelu Lukaku scored an 82nd-minute penalty as Inter Milan put themselves in a strong position to advance to the semi-finals of the Champions League after a deserved win away to Benfica. Nicolo Barella's downward header gave Inter the lead in the quarter-final first leg in Lisbon. Benfica struggled to dictate play in front of their own fans as Inter produced a defensive masterclass in Lisbon. This was almost reminiscent of their 2010 triumph with Jose Mourinho.  <Click here to find more news and stories from across Italy> Rafa Silva was denied by Andre Onana's first-half save before Inter's Netherlands defender Denzel Dumfries produced a crucial block from close range as Benfica pushed for an equaliser. The Italian visitors wrapped up their win when substitute Lukaku, on loan from Chelsea, scored from the spot after former Inter player Joao Mario handled. Premier League referee Michael Oliver awarded the penalty after watching the incide

Iconic Euros Moments: Wales v Belgium (2016)

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 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

Nations League: San Marino claim historic win

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San Marino 1 - 0 Liechtenstein San Marino made history by securing their first-ever competitive win, defeating Liechtenstein in the Nations League. With this victory, the world’s lowest-ranked team in FIFA's rankings ended football’s longest winless streak, which stretched over two decades and 140 matches.  For two small countries, the match has now gained a lot of attention across the world. San Marino were even trending on Twitter/X and other social media websites at one point. The video below is from the Esir Sports YouTube account. Their last triumph was a friendly in 2004, also against Liechtenstein and with the same scoreline.This marks only their second win in history. The decisive goal was scored by 19-year-old Nicko Sensoli, who plays in Italy’s fourth division. The teenager, who wasn’t even born when San Marino last tasted victory, found the net in the 53rd minute, lofting the ball over goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel and sparking wild celebrations from his teammates. San

Italy: Inter are Serie A champions

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 AC Milan 1 - 2 Inter Milan Inter Milan secured their 20th Serie A title by beating Milan in a fiery derby showdown at San Siro. This victory propelled Simone Inzaghi’s squad to an insurmountable lead in the league standings. Goals from Francesco Acerbi and Marcus Thuram in each half were enough to seal Inter’s win, with Fikayo Tomori finding the net late in the game to narrow the scoreline. The match was marked by three players receiving red cards in stoppage time, leading to Milan finishing the game with only nine players due to escalating tensions. Theo Hernández and Davide Calabria were sent off alongside Inter’s Denzel Dumfries. With five league matches now left, Inter holds a commanding 17-point lead over second-placed Milan . The San Siro was full of fans from both teams, with Inter supporters proudly displaying two stars to signify their imminent 20th Scudetto triumph, sending a clear message to their rivals: "Our destiny, your nightmare." The game got off t

Italy: Ruben Loftus-Cheek joins AC Milan

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 AC Milan have completed the signing of Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea on a four-year contract. The two clubs did not disclose the fee involved. However, it has been reported that Milan will pay £15m plus add-ons. The 27-year-old had been at Stamford Bridge since he was a youth player. He has scored seven goals in 155 club appearances, winning two Premier League titles, the Europa League and the Uefa Super Cup. The midfielder has also had loans at Crystal Palace and Fulham where he made an additional 54 Premier League appearances. It has already been a busy summer of outgoings for Chelsea. They have sold Kai Havertz to Arsenal and Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City. Edouard Mendy and Kalidou Koulibaly have moved to Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli, and N'Golo Kante has agreed a deal with fellow Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad. What are people saying about the move?  Lauren, a Chelsea fan, was sad to see him go. She said: "When he played for Sarri he looked like the real deal. He su

Euro 2024: Some stars of the tournament

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It's time to explore the stars of Euro 2024. Who was your favourite player from the tournament? We asked some of our contributors what they thought and examined how their careers might develop over the next few years.  Nico Williams - Spain Athletic Bilbao's talented winger stood out in Spain's 1-0 victory over Italy. He scored a powerful goal in their 4-1 win over Georgia and netted a brilliant finish in the final against England. Throughout the summer, he has been heavily linked with a move to Barcelona, as they reportedly consider him their top target. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia - Georgia Georgia's 23-year-old striker Kvaratskhelia made a significant impact for Georgia during Euro 2024, and there are rumours that PSG is interested in signing him. Despite his side losing in the last 16, Kvaratskhelia has gained more admirers. His club Napoli have set a value of £85.2m for him, which might be too high for PSG. There are also reports linking Liverpool to the player. Ho

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

Italy: AC Milan close the gap on Serie A leaders Inter Milan

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AC Milan 3 - 1  Roma AC Milan moved closer to Serie A leaders Inter Milan to a point after a home win over Roma. The hosts took an early lead when Olivier Giroud converted a penalty following a handball by his former Chelsea team-mate Tammy Abraham. They made it 2-0 when Junior Messias' followed up after Giroud hit the post. The England striker Abraham pulled one back, steering in Lorenzo Pellegrini's shot, but substitute Rafael Leao broke clear to score Milan's third goal and seal the win. More progress for AC Milan After a long period without success, Milan are starting to look like a team that can challenge again. Olivier Giroud is really starting to look like an inspired signing. Where will they end up at the end of this campaign? Reaction The match was spoken about across the world, not just in Italy. Jose Mourinho was not happy and his comments were discussed in great detail. He spoke about being offered the AC Milan job at one point "I was offered the Milan jo

Euro 2024: England leave it late against Slovakia

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England 2 - 1 Slovakia Jude Bellingham saved England from an early exit in Euro 2024 against Slovakia on Sunday with a breathtaking equaliser in the 95th minute.  Harry Kane then secured their place in the quarterfinals with a winner early in extra time, sealing a 2-1 victory. Slovakia started the match much brighter and gave England several warnings before Ivan Schranz skillfully placed the ball past goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 25th minute. England, who will next face Switzerland, had a history of comebacks in their last three Euro matches where they conceded first, including the previous tournament's semifinal. They thought they had equalised shortly after the break, but Phil Foden was clearly offside before he tapped the ball into the net. Kane, unusually, headed a Foden free kick wide, and Declan Rice hit the post as Slovakia were pushed deep into their own half. However, England seemed to lack confidence, and their fans grew increasingly frustrated. Bellingham, cele

Transfer News: Arsenal sign Riccardo Calafiori

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The Gunners have made a new signing They have brought in Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, with the fee potentially rising to £42million, including add-ons. The 22-year-old, who featured in all three of Italy's group games at Euro 2024, has committed to a five-year contract with Mikel Arteta's squad. Calafiori has already joined his new teammates in Philadelphia on their pre-season tour.   Capable of playing as a central defender or left-back, and having experience on the left wing, Calafiori brings versatility to the team. Last season, he made 30 appearances for Bologna in Serie A, scoring twice and providing five assists, helping them secure a fifth-place finish and a Champions League spot. Click here for more transfer news Premier League: Summer 2024 news and stories  Arsenal fan reaction DJ, an Arsenal fan, told us: "Our new signing was one of the breakout stars of Euro 2024, but you'd have to say this latest signing is not just a post-tourname

Italy: AC Milan qualify for next season's Champions League

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 Juventus 0 - 1 AC Milan Olivier Giroud scored the winner as AC Milan qualified for next season's Champions League with a narrow win against Juventus. The defeat ended Juve's hopes of qualifying for the Champions League. The home side started the match aggressively, knowing that only a win was good enough to maintain their slim hopes of securing a top-four finish. Massimiliano Allegri made enforced changes to his team as their star striker and top scorer Dusan Vlahovic was sidelined.  Davide Calabria crossed from the right for the France striker to head in the winner for the Rossoneri. Alexis Saelemaekers had a low shot saved by Wojciech Szczesny as Milan probed for a second goal. Click here to find more AC Milan news and stories. Milan have now completed a league double against Juventus for just the third time in the last 50 years. They are now secure in fourth place, with Inter, Lazio and champions Napoli having already qualified for next season's Champions League. Aft