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UEFA Nations League: Spain 1 - 2 France

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Kylian Mbappé scores late and sinks Spain to clinch the UEFA Nations League for France You can watch the highlights from the entertaining match in the final below. The video was posted by Sky Sports Football.  The final four of the UEFA Nations League brought three fantastic nights in Milan. The champions had twice to come from behind to lift a still unfamiliar trophy. When it came to the moment that decided its destination, there in the madness was Kylian Mbappé. Spain were not happy about Mbappé's winner. He had been clearly offside when he was released by Theo Hernández and Eric García admitted he had trouble accepting Anthony Taylor’s explanation that his tiniest of touches had played the Frenchman back onside again. It was certainly a cruel way to lose any match, never mind a final. This is the place for more football news from across Europe.  Comments from around the internet On The Guardian, one fan commented on the post match story:   "Well done by France....

Champions League holders Real Madrid looking ominous

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Real Madrid 3 - 1 Manchester City (Real Madrid won 6-3 on aggregate) This is Real Madrid’s competition. This is their time of year. Author - Beth Lee Stadium - Estadio Santiago Bernabéu The murmurs of admiration that rippled around the stadium as Carlo Ancelotti’s side took control carried a familiar sense of inevitability—one that should serve as a warning to any team hoping to deny them a record-extending 16th European crown. When Real slumped to a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool in November, they looked sluggish and short of ideas—Vinícius Júnior was absent, and Kylian Mbappé was still settling in after his high-profile move to Madrid. Now, Mbappé looks every bit the world-class star they signed him to be. His first goal, a delicate lob over Ederson, oozed composure. His second was pure brilliance, leaving Joško Gvardiol bewildered with a dazzling piece of footwork. Click here for more Manchester City news and stories The hat-trick goal was the finishing touch on a masterful display...

Euro 2024: Spain reach final after classic match

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Spain 2 - 1 France Lamine Yamal's breathtaking goal helped Spain secure a 2-1 victory over France in the Euro 2024 semi-final.  Dani Olmo netted Spain's second goal after Randal Kolo Muani initially put France in the lead. A closer look at what happened Yamal became the youngest player to score at a European Championship or World Cup, surpassing the record previously held by Brazilian legend Pelé. His remarkable goal came when he shifted the ball onto his left foot and curled a stunning shot in off the post from 25 yards out during an electrifying first half. Earlier in the match, France took the lead with Randal Kolo Muani heading in a superb cross from Kylian Mbappé , who played without a mask after recovering from a broken nose sustained earlier in the tournament. Yamal's brilliant strike shifted the momentum in Spain's favour, and the comeback was complete soon after when Dani Olmo fired a low shot into the net off defender Jules Koundé, following excellent cont...

Transfer News: Mbappe signs Real Madrid deal

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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 ...

Mbappe couldn't inspire France in first-leg defeat

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Croatia 2 - 0 France France captain Kylian Mbappe's return to the national team ended in a surprising defeat against Croatia in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final. Author - Jack L Stadium - Stadion Poljud Ante Budimir's header bounced off the France goalkeeper and spun into the net, giving Croatia a 26th-minute lead. Former Tottenham winger Ivan Perišić then scored a well-placed shot into the bottom corner to extend their advantage just before halftime. Croatia could have been ahead earlier, but Andrej Kramaric's eighth-minute penalty was saved by Maignan with his feet, while Josko Gvardiol's powerful shot from long range was also kept out by the AC Milan keeper. France now face a tough task to turn the tie around in Sunday's second leg at the Stade de France. They have failed to win any of their last three matches in the Nations League when conceding first, with their last victory in such circumstances occurring against Spain in October 2021. M...

Spain: Real Madrid held at Mallorca

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Mallorca 1 -  1 Real Madrid Kylian Mbappé made his La Liga debut as reigning champions Real Madrid were held to a draw by Mallorca on the opening day of the season. The French captain had already made a strong start at his new club, scoring in Wednesday's 2-0 UEFA Super Cup victory over Atalanta. However, the summer signing from Paris Saint-Germain was unable to find the net in his first domestic league appearance. Rodrygo put Carlo Ancelotti's side ahead with a superb goal, finishing off a clever backheel from Vinícius Júnior. More news from across Spain Latest stories from Real Madrid But Mallorca responded when Vedat Muriqi headed in Dani Rodríguez's cross to equalise. Madrid's defender, Ferland Mendy, was sent off in the final moments of injury time after a reckless challenge on Muriqi. Mbappé, PSG's all-time top scorer and a six-time Ligue 1 Golden Boot winner , had several opportunities for Madrid. He narrowly missed the target with one effort and forced g...

Champions League: Results and reaction as the competition returns

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Let's explore the key results and stories as the Champions League returned this week Lazio 1 - 0 Bayern Munich Ciro Immobile scored a penalty to give Lazio a surprising victory over Bayern Munich in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie. The penalty was scored from the spot midway through the second half after Dayot Upamecano was sent off for a foul on Gustav Isaksen. Bayern featured the likes of Harry Kane but they were unable to respond in an underwhelming display. This was another low point in a bad few days for Bayern after their poor result and performance against Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. Highlights below from TNT Sports:  Immobile Sinks 10-Man Bayern 😳 | Lazio 1-0 Bayern Munich | Champions League Round Of 16 Highlights - YouTube Paris Saint Germain 2 - 0 Real Sociedad  Kylian Mbappe put in a great performance for PSG as his side took control of their Champions League last-16 tie against Real Sociedad. Mbappe, who has reportedly requested a move...

UCL: Benzema leads Real Madrid fightback

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Real Madrid 3 -  1 Paris Saint Germain (3-2 on aggregate) Karim Benzema scored an incredible second-half hat-trick as Real Madrid produced a stirring fightback at the Bernabeu to reach the Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of PSG, Kylian Mbappe's first-half goal had given the French side a deserved two-goal aggregate lead. This looked to have put Mauricio Pochettino's side well on course for the last eight. However, a mistake by PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma proved the catalyst for a dramatic recovery, with Benzema turning home after the Italian dawdled in possession. Luka Modric's intricate pass made Benzema's second as he levelled the tie against a panicked PSG. AS the visitors attempted to regroup, Benzema drove a low effort into the bottom right corner seconds after the restart to settle the tie. Will PSG ever win the Champions League? And after reaching the final and semi-finals in consecutive seasons, this felt like a backwards step for an expe...

ECQ: France start as they mean to go on

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 France 4 - 0 Netherlands Kylian Mbappe scored his first goals as France captain. The World Cup finalists began their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a fine win against the Netherlands. France were ahead after just two minutes when Antoine Griezmann curled in from Mbappe's pass. Defender Dayot Upamecano made it 2-0 six minutes later as he bundled in. Mbappe then scored again for France when he drove in, before powering home his second late on. Griezmann had reportedly been unhappy at being overlooked for the captaincy role given to Mbappe, but there were no signs of friction between the pair as they celebrated Mbappe's first of the night in the 21st minute. There is a lot of positive team spirit amongst these players.  We can also see that they have recovered from the heartbreak of losing the World Cup Final.  World Cup: Argentina triumph after classic final (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Kylian Mbappé has now scored more goals for France than Karim Benzema. He...

A dramatic night in Valencia for Jude Bellingham

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Valencia 1 - 2 Real Madrid Jude Bellingham experienced a rollercoaster evening, missing a penalty but scoring a dramatic 95th-minute winner as 10-man Real Madrid snatched a thrilling victory over Valencia to reclaim the top spot in La Liga. Author - Josh T Stadium - Estadio de Mestalla It was Carlos Corberán’s first game in charge of Valencia since his appointment last week , and the former West Bromwich Albion manager looked set to enjoy a dream start as his new side edged towards a memorable win—until the late drama unfolded. At a lively Mestalla Stadium, Valencia took the lead in the first half when Hugo Duro tapped in from close range after Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois could only parry Javi Guerra’s powerful effort. Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to level the score in the 55th minute when Kylian Mbappé was fouled inside the box. However, Bellingham’s penalty struck the inside of the post and stayed out. The visitors’ night looked like it was getting worse when...

Real Madrid win FIFA Intercontinental Cup

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Real Madrid 3 - 0 Pachuca Real Madrid have claimed the first-ever FIFA Intercontinental Cup with a commanding victory over Mexican side Pachuca in the final. Author - Jack L Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring at Lusail Stadium, the same venue where he netted a hat-trick in the World Cup final two years ago. Second-half goals from Rodrygo and Vinícius Jr sealed the win for Los Blancos. Mbappé put Madrid ahead just before half-time, calmly slotting home from close range after Vinícius rounded Pachuca goalkeeper Carlos Moreno. Rodrygo doubled the lead seven minutes after the break with a stunning curling strike from the edge of the area. The goal was upheld following a VAR check, as referee Jesús Valenzuela ruled that Jude Bellingham, positioned in an offside spot, hadn’t interfered with play. Click here to discover Real Madrid news and stories from European Super Football Pachuca’s captain, Salomón Rondón, tested Thibaut Courtois with a long-range free-kick, and the former West Brom an...

Transfer News: French captain agrees Real Madrid move

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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...

Euro 2024: France hold out against Austria

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Austria 0 - 1 France France began their tournament with a composed 1-0 victory over a spirited Austria. The match was decided by a first-half own goal.  Didier Deschamps’ team played within their capabilities, exploiting Austria’s right-side defence whenever Kylian Mbappé, who finished the game with a broken nose, accelerated down the wing. Starting slowly and conserving energy, this French team displayed their confidence and experience. Not much has changed since the 2022 World Cup. They maintained their familiar 4-3-3 formation, embodying Deschamps' philosophy with athleticism and technical prowess in every position. Mbappé remains a constant threat, always poised to deliver a decisive moment. France’s manager will be pleased with the midfield control offered by Adrien Rabiot and the dynamic performance of N’Golo Kanté , who rolled back the years with his display. By the end of the match, one thing was evident: France remains the team to beat. Their victory seems almost inev...

Spain edge nine-goal thriller

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Spain 5 - 4 France Spain edged a breathless nine-goal contest against France to book their place in the Nations League final, with 17-year-old Lamine Yamal stealing the spotlight in Stuttgart. Author | Jack L Stadium | MHPArena The Barcelona prodigy struck twice in a dazzling performance as Spain raced into a commanding 5-1 lead. Yamal, already being tipped as a Ballon d’Or contender, won and converted a penalty, before adding a smart finish to cap a stunning attacking display.RE Goals from Nico Williams and Mikel Merino had put Spain 2-0 up before Yamal's spot-kick, while Pedri added a fourth after a slick move involving Williams. Kylian Mbappé responded for France from the penalty spot after Pedro Porro was penalised. READ MORE |  Portugal reach Nations League final Yamal’s second seemed to have killed the game, but France mounted a remarkable late comeback. Substitute Rayan Cherki announced himself on debut with a spectacular volley from the edge of the box, before a Dani Vi...

Five reasons why Arsenal are in the title race

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Arsenal 5 - 1 Manchester City The Gunners moved back to within six points of the Premier League summit with a 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City. Author - DJ Stadium - Emirates Stadium Arsenal took the lead just 103 seconds into the match, with Martin Ødegaard slotting into an empty net after a mix-up between John Stones and Manuel Akanji. Erling Haaland levelled the score early in the second half with a superb header, but Arsenal restored their advantage just a minute later when Thomas Partey’s deflected strike found the back of the net. Myles Lewis-Skelly extended their lead with a brilliant finish, before Kai Havertz capitalised on a counter-attack to make it four. In stoppage time, Ethan Nwaneri wrapped up the scoring in style, curling in a stunning effort. The result sees Arsenal move nine points clear of fourth-placed Manchester City, who could drop further if Chelsea beat West Ham United on Monday. TUNNEL CAM: Full time scenes at Emirates Stadium 🎥 pic.twitter.com/ezE2znqj3...

Real Madrid held by Rayo Vallecano

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Rayo Vallecano 3 - 3 Real Madrid Jude Bellingham continued his remarkable scoring streak, netting in his sixth consecutive La Liga game, but Real Madrid missed the chance to go top of the table after a gripping 3-3 draw with Rayo Vallecano. Author - Jack L You can watch the highlights of the match in the video below. The footage is from the Real Madrid YouTube account. The England midfielder brought Madrid level just before half-time, expertly heading Rodrygo's delicate chip into the far corner for his seventh goal of the season. Carlo Ancelotti’s side, missing the injured Kylian Mbappé, endured a shaky start at the Estadio de Vallecas. They fell behind after just five minutes when Unai Lopez nodded Jorge de Frutos’ cross past Thibaut Courtois. The hosts doubled their lead nine minutes before the break through Abdul Mumin’s towering header. Federico Valverde sparked Madrid’s fightback with a stunning long-range strike, and moments later, Bellingham levelled the scoreline. The 2...

UCL: Havertz and Saka sink PSG

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Arsenal 2 - 0 PSG Arsenal claimed their first victory in the revamped Champions League, defeating Paris St-Germain in North London. Mikel Arteta's men built on their initial draw with Atalanta by taking charge early, thanks to two first-half goals: Kai Havertz's well-timed header and a cleverly placed free-kick from Bukayo Saka that slipped past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. Although PSG had their chances, most notably when Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves struck the woodwork either side of the break, Arsenal's dominance in the first half set the stage for their triumph. Havertz opened the scoring after 20 minutes, beating Donnarumma to Leandro Trossard’s inviting cross and nodding it home. Saka added a second, catching the PSG keeper off guard with a long-range free-kick that found its way into the net through a crowded penalty box. PSG, now in a period of transition without their former stars like Kylian Mbappé, Lionel Messi, and Neymar, applied more pressure in the...

Icons: Lionel Messi

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Let's take a closer look at Lionel Messi.  The Argentian player is widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever. How did his career develop? What were his best moments? Keep reading for the story of a football legend. Quick summary Messi has won seven Ballon d'Or awards and six European Golden Shoes. In 2020, he was named to the Ballon d'Or Dream Team. Until leaving the club in 2021, he had spent his entire professional career with Barcelona.  With the Spanish giants,  he won a club-record 35 trophies. This included ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and four Champions Leagues. He is known for being a prolific goalscorer and creative playmaker. Records He holds the records for most goals in La Liga, a La Liga and European league season, most hat-tricks in La Liga and the Champions League, and most assists in La Liga, a La Liga season and the Copa América. He also holds the record for most international goals by a South American. Messi has scored over...

Are the Champions League masters at it again?

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Manchester City 2 - 3 Real Madrid The best team in Europe displayed their qualities once again Author - Jamie P Real Madrid may not yet be at their imperious best, but they still possess the craft and know-how to navigate most Champions League challenges. This is the stage of the season where they truly come to life. Carlo Ancelotti, usually the picture of calm, was visibly animated at times as his side spurned a series of chances. Madrid carried a constant threat, pressing and probing throughout. When Kylian Mbappé levelled with a scruffy finish, the serial winners sensed weakness and went for City’s throat. But just as the momentum seemed to be shifting decisively, Erling Haaland’s late penalty looked to have derailed them. Manchester Super News report | Click here for more City analysis Latest Champions League stories from European Super Football No matter. Madrid, more experienced than anyone in these moments, sensed City’s fatigue and pounced. Jude Bellingham’s last-gasp winne...

World Cup: Stories from the last 16

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Let's explore some of the best stories from the last 16 of the World Cup England ease to next round despite nervy start Gareth Southgate's side survived a nervy opening in which goalkeeper Jordan Pickford made an outstanding save from Boulaye Dia to run out convincing winners with a powerful display of attacking strength. Jude Bellingham was England's star man, setting up the first goal for Jordan Henderson with a perfect cross after 38 minutes then having a hand in the second on the stroke of half-time, combining with Phil Foden as captain Harry Kane powered home his first of the tournament. This all leaves the Spurs striker just one behind Wayne Rooney's all-time record of 53 England goals and he now has the perfect stage here in Qatar to write a fresh page in the history books. World Cup: England send Wales home (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Foden was the creator once more as England wrapped the game up in the 57th minute, crossing for Bukayo Saka to show fant...