Posts

Showing posts matching the search for Luka Modric,

Spain: Modric signs new Real Madrid contract

Image
There has been interesting news from Madrid Real Madrid captain Luka Modric has agreed to a one-year contract extension with the Spanish champions. Modric, 38, has amassed 26 trophies, including six Champions League titles and four domestic championships, since joining Real Madrid from Tottenham in 2012. The 2018 Ballon d'Or winner has made 534 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 39 goals. In the 2023-24 season, the Croatian played in 46 matches across all competitions, though he was in the starting lineup only 23 times. Modric started all three of Croatia's matches at Euro 2024, where they were eliminated after finishing third in their group. His contract was set to expire at the end of June, Modric’s renewal ensures that manager Carlo Ancelotti will have his experienced presence as he prepares for his 13th season at the Bernabeu. This has reportedly delighted the Real Madrid manager and their fans.  Click here for more Real Madrid news and stories Discover more news from

Euro 2024: Late drama takes Italy through to last 16

Image
 Croatia 1 - 1 Italy Mattia Zaccagni scored in the final minute of stoppage time, ensuring that Italy progresses to the last 16 of Euro 2024 with a late equaliser against Croatia. Amazing pre match atmosphere before Italy and Croatia went to battle Luka Modric thought he had secured a victory for Croatia as he scored early in the second half. This came after he had a penalty saved, but Croatia's swift response to that setback appeared to be enough for them. However, Italy levelled in stoppage time when Zaccagni scored in the 98th minute, securing their spot in the last 16 alongside group winners Spain. The result was heartbreaking for Croatia, who had been minutes away from progressing. It is now unlikely that their two points will be enough to secure a place as one of the best third-placed teams. As a result of all this drama, Italy will face Switzerland in the last 16 on Saturday, 29th June. Croatia’s players collapsed to the ground at the final whistle, while their fans sto

UCL: Liverpool thrashed and facing trophyless season

Image
Liverpool 2 - 5 Real Madrid Liverpool are facing a season without a trophy after being thrashed by Real Madrid in the first leg of their last 16 tie. Holders Real - who beat Liverpool in last season's final in Paris - became the first side to score five at Anfield in Europe despite going two goals down early on as Liverpool made a dream start to this last-16 tie. UCL: Real Madrid win Champions League (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Darwin Nunez's brilliant flick put Liverpool ahead after only four minutes before Mohamed Salah cashed in on Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois' awful clearance to double their lead around 10 minutes later. It then all started to go very wrong Vinicius Junior's superb strike after 21 minutes pulled a goal back before Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson hacked a clearance straight at the Brazilian, holding his head in anguish as the ball looped behind him into the net in front of a shocked Kop End. It was at this point when Will, a Liverpool fan f

Who will win the 2021 Ballon d'Or?

Image
It's time to decide the world's best footballer again The winner of the Men's Ballon d'Or will be decided on 29th November. Let's have a look at some of the contenders. Will we see a shock? Cesar Azpilicueta Chelsea's Cesar Azpilicueta is one of the more surprising names on the shortlist.The defender is something of an unsung hero, helped Chelsea to win the Champions League last season and also reached the Nations League final with Spain. Karim Benzema The French forward was overshadowed at Real Madrid for a long time but he's now getting the praise he deserves. He scored 30 goals in 46 matches in all competitions for Real Madrid and finished second in the La Liga Golden Boot race. He won the UEFA Nations League with France a few weeks ago. For all his goals, this was the only trophy he has picked up over the last 12 months. Erling Braut Haaland Unless things go drastically wrong for him, the Norwegian forward is going to feature on Ballon d'Or shortli

UCL: Real Madrid win the Champions League again

Image
Borussia Dortmund 0- 2 Real Madrid Real Madrid overcame a formidable challenge from underdogs Borussia Dortmund to secure the Champions League title at Wembley. Carlo Ancelotti made history once again with his fifth win as a manager in the competition, while Real Madrid claimed their 15th title in typical fashion. They weathered a stormy first half and several missed opportunities from Dortmund before emerging victorious. A brief summary of the match Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi missed two chances in the first half, and striker Niclas Fullkrug struck the post. Real Madrid's recalled goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois, was also a formidable barrier. As expected, Real Madrid upped the ante, with Dani Carvajal nodding in a header from a corner 16 minutes from time, followed by Vinicius Jr racing clear to add a second goal. This victory crowned a glorious first season at Real Madrid for Jude Bellingham, but it was a night of disappointment for Jadon Sancho, on loan to Dortmund from Manch

UCL: Shakhtar Donetsk 0 - 5 Real Madrid

Image
Real Madrid bounced back from that shock defeat again Sheriff Tiraspol with a 5-0 thrashing of Shakhtar Donetsk in Kyiv.  You can watch the highlights in the video below. Footage courtesy of BT Sport. Carlo Ancelotti’s side led 1-0 at half-time after Serhiy Kryvtsov sliced in a Lucas Vázquez cross beyond his own goalkeeper for a spectacular 37th-minute own goal.  In the second half, Vinícius Júnior put the game beyond Shakhtar with two stunning goals in five minutes – converting Luka Modric’s fine through ball before an individual effort, with the Brazilian dribbling past three defenders.  Vinícius then set up his compatriot Rodrygo for the fourth goal before Karim Benzema near the end of the game. In other news, the French forward is currently facing a legal battle that you can read about here.  Social media reaction Real Madrid's Twitter account posted the following tweet after the match. They were obviously very happy that they recovered from defeat in their last Champions Lea

Ballon d'Or shortlist announced

Image
The shortlist for Ballon d'Or 2022  has been announced, and there have been some interesting developments. Let's take a look at some of the talking points. No Messi and Neymar! Lionel Messi and Neymar have not been included on the 30-man shortlist for the 2022 Ballon d'Or. The Argentina international has won the most Ballons d'Or in history with seven, but he did not make the list despite scoring 11 goals in 34 matches for Paris Saint-Germain last season. His team-mate Neymar is also not on the list. He played just 28 times for PSG last season in an injury-hit campaign. Kylian Mbappe does make the list. Recognition for the Lionesses  England's Euro 2022 success has been recognised. Millie Bright, Beth Mead and Lucy Bronze have been nominated for the women's Ballon d'Or, awarded to the best female footballer of 2022. Women's Euro 2022: England win after dramatic final (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Who could win it? Real Madrid's Karim Benzema,

UCL: Benzema leads Real Madrid fightback

Image
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

UCL: A memorable night full of drama

Image
Two Spanish sides progressed in the Champions League after an epic night full of drama Real Madrid 2 - 3 Chelsea (Agg 5-4) Chelsea's reign as champions of Europe came to an end despite beating Real Madrid on a night of high drama and tension at the Bernabeu Stadium. Mason Mount's finish and Antonio Rudiger's header had wiped out Real's 3-1 first-leg advantage. This brought the quarter-final tie level in Spain's capital. Thomas Tuchel's side were outstanding throughout and Timo Werner's clever finish from an angle put them ahead for the first time on aggregate. They were within sight of a place in the semi-finals. However, substitute Rodrygo - after a stunning pass by Luka Modric - forced extra time with a volleyed finish before Karim Benzema headed the decisive goal in the 96th minute to send Real through 5-4 on aggregate. This was the reaction of the Chelsea manager Bayern Munich 1 - 1 Villarreal Villarreal silenced a passionate Bayern Munich crowd to rea

ECQ: Wales secure late draw

Image
Croatia 1 - 1 Wales Debutant Nathan Broadhead secured a potentially crucial point for Wales with a late equaliser in their opening Euro 2024 qualifier against Croatia. #WalesAway Croatia v Wales This one I won't forget pic.twitter.com/dJwP4m5462 — Si Guy 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@SimonFrancesGuy) March 26, 2023 The Ipswich forward scored from close range after a long throw-in caused chaos in the home side's penalty area.  Andrej Kramaric's sweetly struck shot on 28 minutes had previously given Croatia a deserved half-time lead. However, Wales improved after the break and did cause Croatia some problems. They would ultimately upset the odds in the third minute of added time. Croatia had previously won 34 and drawn one home European qualifier so this was a huge upset. Euro 2024 Qualifying (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) A full review of the match It took Croatia less than three minutes to emphasise both their threat and quality as they pressed Wales into turning over possession

Euro 2024: Eliminated Poland hold France

Image
France 1 - 1 Poland A masked Kylian Mbappe scored his first Euro 2024 goal, but France were held to a draw by an already-eliminated Poland, resulting in a second-place finish in Group D. France needed a win to secure the top spot, but Robert Lewandowski's penalty in the 79th minute cancelled out Mbappe’s earlier goal, scored from a penalty 11 minutes into the second half. Ralf Rangnick's Austria put on a brilliant performance to beat the Netherlands 3-2, topping the group, while the Dutch finished third. France, now in the same half of the draw as Portugal, Spain, and Germany , will face the runner-up in Group E. Mbappe, returning to the starting line-up with a protective mask after breaking his nose, finally scored his first European Championship goal to put France ahead. Ousmane Dembele was fouled in the area by Poland and Arsenal defender Jakub Kiwior, allowing Mbappe to score from the spot. However, France seemed to relax after the goal, and Dayot Upamecano's clumsy

Transfer News: French captain agrees Real Madrid move

Image
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

UCL: Manchester City lose on penalties

Image
Manchester City 1 - 1 Real Madrid Real Madrid won 4-3 on penalties Real Madrid beat Manchester City in a dramatic quarter-final at the Etihad Stadium, ending their hold on the Champions League after a penalty shootout. Some incredible celebrations in the #RealMadrid end last night. #MCFC https://t.co/sibOvrXJB0 https://t.co/ZuTAUAqK7V — Jay Dee (@JDESFNews) April 18, 2024 The holders came back from an early goal scored by Rodrygo to put pressure on Real Madrid's defence. They eventually managed to equalize 14 minutes before the end of normal time when Kevin de Bruyne took advantage of Antonio Rudiger's clearance. It was the least City deserved for their almost total domination, but a lack of the finishing touch cost them as Real, despite being exhausted and mounting a desperate rearguard action, held out for spot-kicks. UCL and UEL news and stories UCL: Madrid and City play out a classic  A Dramatic Penalty Shootout It all started well for City. Real Madrid players and f

UCL reaction: Real Madrid fail to hold on for first leg lead

Image
Semi-final first leg: Real Madrid 1 - 1 Manchester City A screamer from Kevin de Bruyne earned Manchester City a Champions League semi-final first-leg draw at Real Madrid. Manchester City know that any win at home against Madrid will send them to only their second Champions League final, against either Inter Milan or AC Milan. Will Manchester City win The Treble this season? Click here to read all the latest news and stories from The Etihad Stadium. Let's now explore all the best reaction. Luka Modric said: “We put in a good performance, the tie is still open." Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti added: "We deserved to win it.” 🏁 FT: @realmadriden 1-1 @ManCity ⚽ @vinijr 36'; De Bruyne 67' #UCL pic.twitter.com/OlMvSwn2tI — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) May 9, 2023 One Twitter user replied: " Happy that we stopped Haaland. However, we could have done better. Lets hope for the best in the second-leg." Andy is a City fan who is conflicted

Euro 2024: Spain ease to win against Croatia

Image
Spain 3 - 0 Croatia  Spain kicked off their campaign for a fourth European Championship in spectacular fashion, securing a convincing win against Croatia in Berlin. Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Carvajal each found the net in the first half, effectively deciding the match before the interval. Despite Croatia's lacklustre performance, this victory stands as a significant statement for the European champions of 2008 and 2012. Inspired by Barcelona's prodigy Lamine Yamal, who made history as the youngest player ever to feature in a European Championship at just 16 years and 338 days, Spain dominated the first half, scoring all three of their goals. Euro 2024 news and stories (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) The first two goals came within three minutes. Captain Alvaro Morata coolly finished a one-on-one chance from Fabian Ruiz's precise through-ball, and soon after, Ruiz himself twisted and turned in the Croatia box before firing home the second. Despite being led

UCL: Celtic ultimately outclassed by Real Madrid

Image
Celtic 0 - 3 Real Madrid Celtic were ultimately outclassed by holders Real Madrid in their Champions League opener, despite a lively and encouraging start in Glasgow. 💬 "I think every game is going to be tough and every game we’ve got to understand that it’s a fine margin between success and failure, and we’ve just to make sure we’re more clinical at both ends of the field." #UCL | #CelticFC 🍀 — Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) September 7, 2022 Five years after they last featured at Europe's top table, Celtic gave Real a fright in a frantic first half by creating a series of chances, including a shot off a post from Callum McGregor. But after the break the visitors roused themselves, and goals from Vinicius Junior, Luka Modric and Eden Hazard showed their class and secured victory. ☀ ¡Buenos días, madridistas! ☀ pic.twitter.com/FELsBAqCvk — Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) September 7, 2022 Real Madrid join Shakhtar Donetsk at the top of Group F after they def

Spain: Scores and news from La Liga

Image
Let's explore a busy day of Spanish football  Real Madrid 3 - 1 Sevilla Real Madrid showed again why they are the dominant side in La Liga as two late goals ended the resistance of visitors Sevilla.  Madrid were set to drop points for only the second time this season before substitute Lucas Vazquez and Fede Valverde secured victory. Luka Modric tapped in an early opener for the hosts before Sevilla's Erik Lamela slid in a second-half equaliser. Real Madrid's Lucas Vázquez said: "The spirit of wanting to win. After they tied, the team suffered. Knowing how to suffer is important in order to win. The team has done everything to get the victory." 💬 @Lucasvazquez91 : "The spirit of wanting to win. After they tied, the team suffered. Knowing how to suffer is important in order to win. The team has done everything to get the victory." #RealMadridSevillaFC pic.twitter.com/5YB11nX4E4 — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 22, 2022 The Madrid bo