European Super Football

It's time to for another sliding doors moment in football  We travel back to 2004. Manchester United face Porto in the last-16 of the Champions League.  Author - Liam C What actually happened? A ontroversial offside call against Paul Scholes became a pivotal moment in European football history. The disallowed goal cost United a place in the quarter-finals, while Porto, managed by the up and coming manager José Mourinho, went on to win the competition and launch Mourinho into the managerial elite. But what if Scholes hadn’t been ruled offside? How might this alternative scenario have changed the landscape of world and European football? Scholes wasn’t offside: United progress Had the linesman not flagged Scholes for offside, Manchester United would have progressed to the next round of the Champions League. Scholes' goal was legitimate, and had it stood, United would have won the tie on aggregate, knocking out Porto and ending their European dreams. With the Red Devils moving

The first sliding doors moment we are going to explore involves Manchester United and Alan Shearer. Author - Liam C In the summer of 1996, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a huge effort to sign England striker Alan Shearer from Blackburn Rovers.  Shearer was the most prolific goal scorer in English football at the time, having just won the Premier League Golden Boot in both 1995 and 1996.  Ultimately, Shearer chose to join his boyhood club, Newcastle United, for a then-record fee of £15 million. However, an alternative scenario in which Shearer decided to sign for Manchester United could have dramatically affected both the club and the footballing landscape in the Premier League. The Old Trafford club decided to sign a certain unheard-of Norwegian at the time. He didn't do too badly... So, what if Shearer moved to Manchester United in 1996? In this alternate reality, Manchester United sign Shearer and he joins a team fresh off winning the Premier League and FA C

Scotland 0 - 0 Portugal Author - Sean M Scotland put on a determined defensive performance to hold Portugal to a 0-0 draw, earning their first point in the Nations League A campaign. Scott McTominay had a golden opportunity early on but missed, and from there, the Scots saw little of the ball as Portugal pressed hard for a breakthrough. Cristiano Ronaldo, making his 200th international appearance, was left frustrated in his pursuit of a 134th goal for Portugal, as Scotland’s goalkeeper Craig Gordon and his defence stood their ground. While the result means Steve Clarke’s team have now won just one of their last 16 matches, they avoided the unwanted record of becoming the first Scotland side to lose five consecutive games. A more detailed look at what happened in Glasgow After a tough time at the Euros and a difficult Nations League campaign so far , Scotland needed to lift the Hampden crowd, and they nearly did just that within the first four minutes. Ben Doak made a surging run do

Thomas Tuchel has been named as England's new manager Author - William G The 51-year-old German has signed an 18-month contract which will start on January 1st 2025. This makes him the third non-British coach to take permanent charge of the men’s team, following in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello. Gareth Southgate stepped down from the role in July after England’s loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Lee Carsley, who has overseen four matches as interim manager since his appointment in August, will continue to lead the team for their Nations League fixtures against Greece and the Republic of Ireland next month. The best man for the job? The FA's decision to appoint Thomas Tuchel as England manager will likely be seen by some as a betrayal of the widely promoted pathway from St George’s Park to the top. Is this a snub to homegrown coaching talent? Tuchel, a German, will replace Gareth Southgate, who held the role for eight years after previously mana

Harborough Town 1 - 0 Bury FC Author - Thomas J It was heartbreak for fans of Bury in the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup. Many of their fans will be glad to just have a team to support now after all their problems.  It was reported that 600 away fans travelled down from Bury. They travelled with their tinfoil FA Cup trophies, There was a flag of sheer defiance that stated: "Shook by anger, we shed many tears, they tried to destroy us, we are still here." These fans travelled to Harborough full of hope as they remained unbeaten in the North West Counties and believed they could reach the FA Cup proper for the first time since their expulsion from the EFL in 2019. Those have been a long five years. The first two empty as the pandemic stalled the launch of the phoenix club Bury AFC. However, their return to Gigg Lane last season was a sign that happy times were returning. Even if it might take a few years for the club to return to the English Football League. FA Cup: 202

Eastleigh 0 - 1 Southend United Author - William G Southend United secured a dramatic Emirates FA Cup win against Eastleigh at the Silverlake Stadium, with Aribim Pepple’s late goal, just two minutes from time, sending the Shrimpers into the first round proper. The match started slowly, with both sides struggling to create clear chances in the opening 15 minutes. The pace remained sluggish throughout, until Pepple broke the deadlock just before full-time. Battling past a couple of defenders on the right wing, he fired a shot beyond the goalkeeper, clinching a last-minute victory for Southend. For their efforts, Southend will now Charlton Athletic in the 1st round. They are a club that has struggled financially in recent seasons, so this victory will have been welcomed by everyone associated with the club. How the 2023/2024 FA Cup was won Southend reaction We managed to catch up with a Southend fan after the match. One told us: "That was thoroughly deserved result which reflect

Finland 1 - 3 England England bounced back from their embarrassing UEFA Nations League defeat to Greece at Wembley but were still far from convincing as they eventually overcame Finland in Helsinki. Author - Thomas J Interim manager Lee Carsley made six changes following the loss to Greece, including swapping goalkeeper Jordan Pickford for Dean Henderson. However, England struggled to shine until late in the game when the world’s 64th-ranked side, without a point, began to tire. Jack Grealish, recalled to the starting line-up, eased England’s nerves with a composed finish after Angel Gomes’ superb pass in the 18th minute. Finland had chances to increase the pressure on Carsley’s men, but it was Trent Alexander-Arnold's stunning late free-kick that ultimately secured the win. Declan Rice added a close-range goal with six minutes remaining, giving the scoreline a more comfortable look for England and Carsley. Click here to read more UEFA Nations League news and stories Finland’s