European Super Football

 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

There has been an interesting announcement from the FA. Lee Carsley is anticipated to step up as the interim manager for the England men's team for their Nations League matches against the Republic of Ireland and Finland next month. Carsley previously guided England Under-21s to victory in the European Championship in 2023, marking their first triumph in the tournament in 39 years. Gareth Southgate resigned from his role as England manager two days after the team's defeat by Spain in the final of the 2024 Euros last month. The progression from Under-21s manager to interim senior team manager is a familiar route, with Howard Wilkinson, Stuart Pearce, and Southgate himself having made the transition after leading the Young Lions. Southgate eventually secured the permanent position and managed the team for eight years, achieving notable successes such as reaching the World Cup semi-final in 2018 , the World Cup quarter-final in 2022, and the Euros finals in 2021 and 2024.

Georgia 2 - 0 Portugal Georgia made history by reaching their first major tournament knockout stage with a stunning victory over Portugal at Euro 2024. Portugal, having already secured the top spot in the group, were shocked early on when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia drilled a low shot past Diogo Costa just two minutes into the match. The goal came from a swift counter-attack after Georgia overturned possession, setting the tone for the rest of the night. Georgia didn’t dominate possession but made the most of their chances. Georges Mikautadze scored from the penalty spot in the second half, sealing Georgia's unexpected triumph. Georgia were happy to let Portugal control the ball, defending resolutely and closing down space to limit Portugal's opportunities. They waited patiently for counter-attacking chances. Euro 2024 news and stories  Portugal guarantee top spot  While Georgia had few chances, they also prevented Portugal from creating significant threats. The underdogs maintai

The players to watch out for at Euro 2024 In the first of several Euro 2024 preview articles, this story will explore some of the players that will be looking to have an impact in Germany. Johan Bakayoko - Belgium  This player began to make a significant contribution to PSV early in 2023, and very quickly, he had managed to score seven goals and provide five assists. With fantastic speed and outstanding one-on-one skills, he is a constant threat to defenders as a traditional right-winger. He recently made his international debut for Belgium in March and could shine for his country in Germany.  Cole Palmer - England Despite scoring in the 2023 UEFA Super Cup, Palmer made a brave decision to leave Manchester City during the summer. This decision has paid off as he is now regularly starting and scoring goals for Chelsea. Palmer is not only important in pressing off the ball but also a creative force on it, whether he is playing centrally or coming off the right flank. You can watch s

 England 3 - 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina Cole Palmer celebrated his first start for England by setting Gareth Southgate's team on the path to victory against Bosnia-Herzegovina at St James' Park, as preparations for Euro 2024 continued. England's heavily rotated side struggled to find their rhythm in a scrappy match. Still, they eventually broke the deadlock an hour in when Palmer confidently converted a penalty after Ezri Konsa was fouled during a corner. Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold secured the win with a fine volley at the far post five minutes before full-time. Harry Kane then added a third from close range, giving the final scoreline a more convincing look. Iconic Euros Moments: Throwback to England v Scotland (1996)  Iconic Euros moments: Throwback to England v Italy (2021)  Crystal Palace's Eberechi Eze, also making his full debut, was a standout performer until he was substituted, giving manager Southgate much to consider as he finalises his squad for the

A potential transfer saga is potentially about to be concluded Kylian Mbappe has made the decision to join Real Madrid this summer, after informing PSG of his intention to leave when his contract expires in June. While Mbappe hasn't yet put pen to paper with Real Madrid, the agreement is likely to be formalised once it's certain that the two clubs won't face each other in the current season's Champions League.  This move comes as Mbappe stands as PSG 's top goal scorer, boasting a record 244 goals for the club. Keen to resolve his future before March, Mbappe held discussions with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi on 13th February, revealing his decision to join Real Madrid. Following reports of his departure last Thursday, Mbappe was omitted from the starting lineup in Saturday's match against Nantes. Despite this, he still made an impact coming off the bench, scoring a penalty as PSG secured a 14-point lead at the summit of Ligue 1. The impending deal sees M

It's time to explore another iconic Euros moment.  Let's throwback to Euro 96. This was the first time England and Scotland had met in a major competition in seven years. A tactical analysis Terry Venables' 4-4-1-1 from the previous match gave way to something a little different. Manchester United's Gary Neville , who had just won the double with other members of the 'class of 92' was to join Stuart Pearce in flanking Tony Adams in a back three. Gareth Southgate stepped into midfield alongside Paul Ince, with Paul Gascoigne tasked with being a central creative outlet. Teddy Sheringham was to work off Alan Shearer up front. Darren Anderton and Steve McManaman would be rotated frequently between the wings throughout this match and the rest of Euro 96.  A brief match report After a scrappy, nervous first half, England stepped up a gear, and a peak-form Alan Shearer scored his second goal of the tournament with a superb header from a Gary Neville cross in the f

Romania 3 - 0 Ukraine Romania secured their first European Championship victory in 24 years with an impressive win over Ukraine in Group E. Captain Nicolae Stanciu unexpectedly put Romania ahead in the 29th minute , hitting the top corner with a superb strike from 20 yards out. Razvan Marin then extended Romania’s lead after 53 minutes, with a long-range shot that slipped under Ukrainian goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.Four minutes later, Denis Dragus sealed the win by tapping in Dennis Man's cross from close range. Romania’s only previous win at the Euros came in 2000 when a late Lonel Ganea penalty secured a 3-2 victory over England in the group stage. Ranked 24 places below Ukraine in the world rankings, Romania had prepared for the Euros with lacklustre goalless draws against Bulgaria and Liechtenstein. However, supported by a sea of yellow in Munich, they were given an early boost when Lunin’s poor clearance was intercepted by Man, who set up Stanciu for a splendid first-time shot

It has been announced that Real Madrid have completed the signing of Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund on a six-year deal. The Spanish giants will pay 103m euros for the 19-year-old, in addition to various potential add-ons. If those add-ons are achieved, the deal could reach 133.9m euros.  Bellingham was one of England's top performers at last year's World Cup and was named the Bundesliga's player of the season as Dortmund missed out on a first league title in 11 years on the final day. Bellingham playing for England at the World Cup.  FIFA World Cup 2022 - Group B, Matchday 3 - Wales 0:3 Engl… | Flickr This initial fee means he becomes the second-most expensive English footballer after Jack Grealish when Manchester City paid Aston Villa £100m in 2021. Bellingham told the German club’s official website: “Thank you, everyone, associated with BVB and the fans for everything over the last three years. It was an honour to wear your jersey so many times whether it was

Ahead of Euro 2024, we will start looking back at some iconic moments from previous competitions.  First up is a recap of the final of the last tournament.  You can watch the highlights of the match in the video below. What were your memories of that memorable night?  HIGHLIGHTS | More penalty pain for England as Italy win Euro 2020 (youtube.com) England's hopes of ending a 55-year wait for a major trophy were crushed heartbreakingly as they lost 3-2 on penalties to Italy in the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley.  On a night of incredible tension played in a feverish atmosphere, England looked on course for their most joyous day since the 1966 World Cup final when Luke Shaw gave them the dream start after only two minutes. Italy eventually edged their way back into the game and were level in the 67th minute when Leonardo Bonucci pounced after England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford turned Marco Verratti's header onto the post. More news from across Italy England look ahead to Euro

Barcelona failed to find a win that would have taken them up to fourth place in La Liga. Sevilla took the lead after Ivan Rakitic rolled the ball into the area for Alejandro Gomez's first-time finish. Ronald Araujo's header levelled before half-time and despite Jules Kounde being sent off for throwing the ball at Jordi Alba, Barca could not breakthrough. You can watch the highlights in the video below. Xavi's side do move up one spot to seventh in La Liga. Second-placed Sevilla failed to make up ground on league leaders Real Madrid and are now five points adrift of Carlo Ancelotti's men. Already looking ahead to 2022 after a torrid 2021 Everyone associated with Barcelona will be hoping that 2022 brings better fortunes after losing superstar Lionel Messi on a free transfer, sacking manager Ronald Koeman and being knocked out of the Champions League group stage this year. Reports from around Europe seem to suggest that they have agreed a deal to sign Ferran Torres from

Kylian Mbappe has signed a contract to join Real Madrid on a free transfer once his current deal with Paris St-Germain expires on 30th June.  The French striker had agreed to the move in February and confirmed his departure from PSG in May.  Mbappe, who is 25 years old, has finalised the terms with Real Madrid and will be moving to Spain when the La Liga transfer window opens on 1st July. The official announcement of the deal is expected to be made by Real Madrid over the next few days. Mbappe will be formally presented at the Bernabeu   after Euro 2024.  Since joining PSG from Monaco in 2017, Mbappe has become their all-time leading goalscorer with 256 goals. He has agreed to a contract with Real Madrid until 2029, with an annual salary of 15 million euros (£12.8m), a signing-on bonus of 150 million euros (£128m) to be paid over five years, and a share of his image rights. The best reaction Ana, a Real Madrid fan now living in England, told us: "This is a player that will real

Galatasaray 0 - 1 Young Boys Young Boys won 4 - 2 on aggregate  After a tense 86 minutes, Mauro Icardi’s blocked shot led to a rapid counter-attack by Young Boys with Cedric Itten setting up Alan Virginius, who outpaced his marker to slot home the decisive goal in the 87th minute, sealing a 1-0 victory. Galatasaray, favourites going into the tie, never managed to live up to expectations. A closer look at what happened After a first leg defeat. fans expected a fiery response from Galatasaray. However, the Turkish champions, known as "the Lions," failed to muster more than a faint roar in their home stadium for most of the match. As the clock ticked down and defeat loomed, Galatasaray created a handful of chances, but none of them posed a serious threat. Champions League: 2024/2025 (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) The visitors from Bern celebrated reaching Europe’s top competition for the second season in a row, fully deserving the win and creating numerous chances that cou

Scotland 0 - 1 Hungary Scotland had needed a win to secure a spot in the knockout stage of a major tournament for the first time. Hungary kept their hopes alive with a win. The match had seemed destined to end in a frustrating, goalless draw until Hungary scored a 100th-minute winner. Frankly, neither team looked deserving of a place in the last 16 based on their performances. Scotland struggled to make an impact. Hungary's attacks usually fizzled out 25 yards from goal until stoppage time, when the game took on a frenetic pace.  Steve Clarke and the Tartan Army would have been left gutted by the outcome, but the harsh truth is that over the three games, they fell short of the required standard. Scotland had vowed to have learned from their Euros experience three years ago. They fell just short again. There are now bigger, more longer-term questions and problems that need solving by the Scottish FA. A closer look at what happened in Stuggart Despite the nerve-wracking tens

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

England 4 - 1 Holland This is another iconic Euros moment for England. The summer of 1996 was a magical one for Englush football fans, even if once again they failed to win a major tournament.  Let's explore what happened when England faced Holland Wembley. Terry Venables decided to mix things up slightly. Despite fielding the same 11 for the third straight game, he made a tactical adjustment in reverting back to the 4-4-2 shape used against Switzerland in the opening game.  English strike pair Alan Shearer and Teddy Sheringham scored twice. Patrick Kluivert then netted a late goal that sealed progress for Netherlands in dramatic fashion despite this loss. More iconic moments from the European championships.  Were you there? Lauren, a Chelsea fan, was at Wembley for this legendary match. She said: "England were first to every ball, stronger to the second balls. We didn't mess around around when the chances were on. The Dutch also seemed timid compared to how they

Spain 2 - 1 Germany Spain kept their dreams of a fourth European Championship alive with a dramatic 119th-minute goal from Mikel Merino, sending them into the semi-finals and knocking out hosts Germany in a thrilling match at Stuttgart Arena. This eagerly anticipated clash saw a resurgent Germany face off against one of the most exciting teams in Spain. It did not disappoint. From the moment Dani Olmo put Spain ahead six minutes into the second half, the match was a relentless spectacle of aggression, tension, and drama. Olmo side-footed in a cross from 16-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal, who notched his third assist of the Euros, breaking the deadlock in a previously cautious game. Germany nearly responded through substitute Niclas Fullkrug, who hit the post, but they found their equaliser in the final minute of regular time when Florian Wirtz’s powerful shot went in off the post, sending the home fans into raptures. Euro 2024 news and stories (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Time

There has been a huge transfer announcement  Harry Kane, the England captain, has completed a move to Bayern Munich, the German champions, agreeing to a four year contract. This transfer marks the conclusion of a record-setting spell with Tottenham Hotspur. The transfer has been completed for an initial sum of around 100 million euros (£86.4 million), and there are additional provisions for performance-related bonuses.  For Spurs. he has etched his name into the record books as their leading goal scorer of all time. He has netted an impressive 280 goals in a total of 435 appearances for the club. Kane has won the Premier League Golden Boot on three occasions - in 2015-16, 2016-17 and 2020-21. With 213 goals from 320 games in the English top flight, he needed just 48 more to break Alan Shearer's Premier League scoring record. Kane, who is also England's all-time leading scorer with 58 international goals and was the top scorer at the 2018 World Cup, has never won a major tr

 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

 England 0 - 1 Iceland England wrapped up their preparations for Euro 2024 with a dismal defeat against Iceland at Wembley. Manager Gareth Southgate made several changes following Monday’s win against Bosnia-Herzegovina at St James’ Park in Newcastle, but he will have been deeply disappointed with the team's lacklustre performance. Iceland, notorious for their victory over England at Euro 2016, easily exploited England's poor defending. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who replaced Jordan Pickford, might have done better with Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson’s low shot after 12 minutes. Harry Kane missed a great chance for England, while Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, one of the brighter performers, also had opportunities. However, Southgate’s side looked rusty as they finalised plans for their opening Euro 2024 match against Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on 16 June. England appeared vulnerable at the back throughout the match, with Iceland creating chances to extend their lead after the break. Interna