European Super Football

PSG 4 - 0 Atletico Madrid Champions League winners start Club World Cup with emphatic win Author | Jack L Stadium | Rose Bowl Paris Saint-Germain made a commanding start to their first-ever Fifa Club World Cup campaign with a comfortable victory over Atletico Madrid in Pasadena. The newly crowned European champions controlled proceedings from the outset in the sweltering California heat, dominating possession in front of a crowd of 80,619 at the iconic Rose Bowl.  They had a remarkable 82.6% of the ball in the opening 15 minutes, setting the tone for what turned into a one-sided affair. Fabian Ruiz opened the scoring with a precise low strike from the edge of the area, giving Jan Oblak no chance. Goncalo Ramos had several opportunities to extend the lead but was wasteful in front of goal, missing the target three times. Vitinha doubled the advantage just before the break, gliding through the heart of the Atletico defence before finishing coolly past Oblak. The Slovenian goalkee...

Will the former AC Milan legend get Italy back to their best? They have turned to former midfielder Gennaro Gattuso as their new head coach, following the abrupt departure of Luciano Spalletti. Author | Jack L Gattuso, a World Cup winner in 2006 and a key figure in AC Milan’s golden era, steps into the role two decades after helping Italy lift the trophy in Germany. The 47-year-old won 73 caps for the Azzurri during a combative international career and will now be tasked with guiding them back to the top of the global game. His appointment follows a dismal 3-0 World Cup qualifying defeat to Norway earlier this month, which ultimately brought an end to Spalletti’s tenure. The outgoing coach announced his own dismissal in a tense press conference last week. Italy, who were crowned European champions in 2021, have since struggled to recapture their former heights. They failed to qualify for last summer’s Euros and have now missed the last two World Cups. READ MORE |  World Cu...

Andy Robertson to Atlético Madrid?  Is another title-winning full back about to move to Spain?  Author | William G Atlético Madrid have expressed an interest in signing Andy Robertson, as Liverpool prepare to make a move for Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez to become their first-choice left-back.  Robertson said last week that he had not given much thought to his future, instead focusing on enjoying a well-earned break after another long campaign, one that ended with his second Premier League title. However, with the transfer window set to open in the coming days, uncertainty surrounds the Scotland captain’s future at Anfield for the first time in eight years.  Kerkez is expected to be Arne Slot’s preferred option at left-back, with a fee of around £45m to £50m likely to be required to prise him from Bournemouth. Liverpool are eager to keep hold of Robertson and would prefer to let current understudy Kostas Tsimikas depart.  READ MORE |  Transfer News an...

Czech Republic 1 - 3 England Harvey Elliott set England Under-21s on course for a winning start as the reigning champions opened their European Championship defence with a composed victory over the Czech Republic in Slovakia. Author | George B Stadium | MOL Aréna Despite a string of withdrawals in the lead-up to the tournament, head coach Lee Carsley named an adventurous line-up for the Young Lions’ opener. England broke the deadlock six minutes before half-time. Tino Livramento, a lively presence down the left, saw his cross deflected into the box where captain James McAtee laid it off for Elliott, who finished with a crisp low drive. Livramento was central again for the second, gliding past his marker before delivering a low ball that brushed Jonathan Rowe en route to beating goalkeeper Lukas Hornicek. The Czechs responded swiftly through Daniel Fila, who nodded in Vaclav Sejk’s chipped cross just moments later. But England reasserted control and sealed the result 14 minutes from...

The Italian champions have strengthened their squad Kevin De Bruyne has joined Napoli on a free transfer following his departure from Manchester City at the end of the Premier League season. Author | Macca De Bruyne playing for Belgium at Euro 2024 The Belgian midfielder links up with Antonio Conte, who guided Napoli to the Serie A title last season. De Bruyne turned down an offer from Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire in order to remain in European competition and is set to feature in the Champions League next term. His exit from City brings an end to a decade of service in which he won 19 major trophies, including six Premier League titles, after arriving from Wolfsburg in 2015.  READ MORE | Transfer news and rumours from European Super Football READ MORE | The night Napoli won Serie A Manchester City confirmed his departure before the season concluded, and he was given an emotional send-off at the Etihad Stadium following the final home game against Bournemouth. He made ...

England 1 - 3 Senegal We try to pull together some measured reaction and reporting after England lose in Nottingham. It's only a post season friendly that nobody will remember in three months.  Author | Kieran M Stadium | The City Ground England fell to their first defeat under Thomas Tuchel as Senegal claimed a thoroughly deserved win in a low-key friendly at the City Ground. It wasn't a good performance from Tuchel’s team, who were outplayed by confident and composed opponents. Senegal became the first African nation to beat England’s men, and did so with an assured display.  For Tuchel though, it did give him an opportunity to see a different group of players together. He would have learned a lot from this. A closer look at what happened The evening had started brightly for the hosts, who took the lead in the seventh minute when Harry Kane reacted quickest after Edouard Mendy spilled Anthony Gordon’s low effort. It was Kane’s 73rd goal for England. This would be the...

Belgium 4 - 3 Wales Wales produced a stirring fightback in Brussels, recovering from three goals down to draw level with Belgium, only for Kevin De Bruyne to strike late and hand Craig Bellamy his first defeat as manager Author | Mark Milward Stadium | Stade Roi Baudouin Belgium raced into a 3-0 lead inside the opening half-hour, with Romelu Lukaku converting from the penalty spot before Youri Tielemans capped a sweeping move and Jeremy Doku added a dazzling third, cutting inside and drilling into the bottom corner. For Wales, it threatened to be a repeat of the 4-0 defeat by Slovakia a year ago that brought an end to Rob Page’s tenure.  But this team, under Bellamy, has shown greater resolve. A penalty from Harry Wilson shortly before the break gave them a foothold, and the comeback gathered pace in the second half. READ MORE | World Cup Qualifying match reports READ MORE | Stories from across Belgium Wilson turned provider to set up Sorba Thomas, who finished coolly for ...