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News: UK and Republic of Ireland announced as Euro 2028 hosts

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UEFA has confirmed that the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland will host the 2028 European Championships . The joint bid was unopposed after Turkey withdrew to focus on a bid with Italy for Euro 2032, which was also confirmed at a meeting in Switzerland. Check out this video from  FAI TV - YouTube The UK and Ireland focused on Euro 2028, with UEFA's approval, after they had previously cancelled a plan to be Europe's preferred candidate for the 2030 World Cup. London's Wembley Stadium and Glasgow's Hampden Park hosted games at Euro 2020. Wembley hosted the final after what proved to be a hugely controversial day where there were reports of carnage and hooliganism outside the stadium.  Matches at Euro 2028 are set to be held at 10 different grounds, including Wembley and Hampden Park alongside Cardiff's Principality Stadium and Dublin's Aviva Stadium. Belfast's Casement Park and Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, the former unbuilt while the

UCL: Rangers and PSV group stage hopes hang in the balance

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We're getting closer to the Champions League Group Stages Rangers 2 - 2 PSV After drawing a tense play-off first leg with PSV Eindhoven at Ibrox, Rangers' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League group stages hang in the balance. Check out this video from  Footy Adventures - YouTube Despite a lack of refinement at times, Michael Beale's side kept them alive ahead of the second leg in the Netherlands. A tense Ibrox erupted with joy when Abdallah Sima shaped in a superb opener just before the interval. A hard-fought lead would not last for long, as Ibrahim Sangare scored on the hour following an outrageous stepover from Ismael Saibari. More football news from across Scotland. Rangers were back in front after substitute Rabbi Matondo smashed Cyriel Dessers' teasing delivery into the net. Four minutes after that strike, Luuk de Jong diverted a towering header to ensure these sides will meet for a second leg in Eindhoven with both eyeing a place on the biggest stage.

International Friendly: England lose against Iceland

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 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

EFL: Luton promoted to the Premier League

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Coventry City 1 -1 Luton Town (Luton won 6-5 on penalties.) Luton Town completed their journey from non-league to Premier League. Both sets of fans created an incredible atmosphere during the match They beat Coventry City on penalties to win the Championship play-off final at Wembley. Away from the raucous atmosphere of the play-off semi-final at Kenilworth Road, some were concerned that Luton might struggle in the more vast space of Wembley. However, they were by far the more dominant side before the break. Aside from the one goal they did score, they had two more disallowed - and a string of other dangerous moments too. Gustavo Hamer equalised for Coventry as the game finished in a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes. Click here to find more Luton Town news and stories. Regrets for Coventry Coventry fans outside the stadium Coventry dominated in spells of the second half but extra-time seemed inevitable. Luton had the ball in the back of the net inside the first five minutes,

EFL: Championship beckons for Oxford United

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Bolton Wanderers 0 - 2 Oxford United  Josh Murphy's double helped his Oxford United side stun Bolton Wanderers in the League One play-off final at Wembley. In what was a cagey first half, Oxford took the lead on the 30 minute mark. Josh Murphy curled a deflected strike home from the edge of the box. Murphy had only 11 minutes to wait for his next goal. This came via a Ruben Rodriguez pass that carved Bolton open, as he slotted the ball in at Nathan Baxter's near post. Oxford United finished the game in dreamland. For Bolton Wanderers, it's another season in League One. The scenes at the end of the match displayed those contrasting emotions.   Exciting future plans for Oxford United Joshua Murphy. Immortal. pic.twitter.com/C4k61SPybm — Oxford United FC (@OUFCOfficial) May 18, 2024 With plans for a new stadium on the horizon, Oxford will be hoping that promotion to the Championship with the backing of over 30,000 supporters at Wembley is a reason to be optimistic ab

International friendly: England unconvincing but get over the line against Switzerland

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England 2 - 1 Switzerland Harry Kane is now level with Sir Bobby Charlton on 49 England goals as England came from behind to beat Switzerland in a friendly at Wembley. The home side were grateful for the excellence of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the first half but they still fell behind when Breel Embolo's England were second best to the confident Swiss but were handed a route back into the game when Fabian Frei's error ended with Luke Shaw providing an emphatic finish for England's equaliser in first-half stoppage time. Marc Guehi, Kyle Walker-Peters and Tyrick Mitchell all made their debuts as England completed the turnaround with 12 minutes left when Kane scored from the spot after VAR adjudged that Steven Zuber had  handled from a corner. Kane scored with his usual expertise and now stands just four goals behind England's record marksman Wayne Rooney. Reaction England manager Gareth Southgate told Sky Sports: "Really good test, we know they are a very g

EFL: The Saints march on

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Southampton 3 - 1 West Brom Southampton are set to face Leeds United in the Championship play-off final, following a dazzling second-half display that secured their victory over West Bromwich Albion. After a goalless first leg, Saints midfielder Will Smallbone broke the deadlock in the second leg, curling a shot from an angle into the top right corner of Baggies keeper Alex Palmer's net from just inside the box. Adam Armstrong doubled Southampton's lead, igniting a celebratory atmosphere in the stadium with just over ten minutes left on the clock. The hosts' spot at Wembley was sealed when Armstrong scored his second goal from the penalty spot after Ryan Manning was fouled, rendering Cedric Kipre's injury-time header for the visitors merely a consolation. Southampton supporters turned out in their thousands, gathering outside the stadium with red and white flares, lining the streets more than two hours before kick-off. Pyrotechnics and flamethrowers added to the el

UCL: Real Madrid win the Champions League again

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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 Reaction: The world responds

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Let's explore all the best reaction to the 2024 Champions League final Carlo Ancelotti earned 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 with a win.  Real Madrid struggled in a poor first-half performance, unsettled by Dortmund's speed and intensity. They were fortunate to reach halftime with the score level, as they were living on their nerves. What happened in the second-half was almost inevitable.  Click here to read the full match report from European Super Football Champions League stories from the 2023/2024 season  Best social media reaction Our friends at News Ball posted on Facebook: "That was a fascinating match to watch. I'm sure for many, the temptation would be to label Real Madrid lucky. However, it happens too often for this description to be justified. Real Madrid were mediocre for large p

Community Shield: Some of the best ever matches

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More than a pre-season friendly? As we look forward to Saturday's Community Shield, this article will look back on some of the most memorable clashes between some of the country's top sides in what is the English football season's traditional curtain raiser.  Wembley awaits Leeds United vs Liverpool - 1992 In a thrilling match, champions Leeds defeated Liverpool 4-3 with a hat-trick from French forward and Premier League icon, Eric Cantona . However, by the end of the season, Cantona had joined Manchester United and helped them win the league title. The game was filled with compelling goals and high drama, setting the stage for the twists and turns of the following season. Manchester United v Newcastle United 1996 Fresh off a Premier League season that saw United narrowly edge past the Magpies to clinch the title, this match was full of tension from the very first whistle. Manchester United were too powerful on the day.  The match was a sign of United's ability t

Women's FA Cup: United win trophy for the first time

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 Manchester United 4 - 0 Tottenham Hotspur Manchester United clinched their first  Women’s  FA Cup trophy in an impressive display, comfortably overcoming first-time finalists Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium. Ella Toone, an England international, delivered a breathtaking goal just before half-time, setting the tone for the match. Spurs struggled to recover, and United further solidified their lead in the second half with goals from Rachel Williams and Lucia Garcia. This victory marked  United's  second consecutive appearance in the final, demonstrating their resilience after last  year's  disappointing loss to Chelsea.  The triumph  not only  brings home their first  major   women's  trophy  but also  marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the club. A history of women's football (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Before kick-off, the team received a personal message from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, chairman of Ineos, a minority shareholder in Manchester Unite

News: Tierney moves to Sociedad on loan

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 There's been an interesting transfer development involving a Premier League side and another from La Liga. It has been announced that Kieran Tierney has joined LaLiga side Real Sociedad on loan for the 2023/24 season. Scotland international defender Kieran joined them in August 2019 from Celtic and during his time with them, he has made 124 appearances in all competitions. The 26-year-old enjoyed success in his first season with them, finishing the campaign by scoring his debut Arsenal goal in their 3-2 home victory against Watford on the final day of the Premier League season. This achievement was followed just days later, with Kieran starting in their 2-1 FA Cup Final triumph over Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.  He later played an integral role in helping the club secure their fourteenth FA Cup title, a record-breaking feat. Throughout his four seasons at the Emirates, Kieran also played a part in their FA Community Shield victories, winning against Liverpool in 2020 and more r

PL News: United trigger extension to Ten Hag contract

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United are expected to make many personnel changes this summer. The manager won't be one of them.   Manchester United have activated a one-year extension in Erik ten Hag's contract, ensuring he remains with the club until 2026. The Dutch manager's original contract, signed upon his appointment in 2022, was set to expire in 2025. Since joining from Ajax, Ten Hag has secured two trophies in his two years at Old Trafford. In Ten Hag's first season at the club, United finished third in the Premier League and ended a six-year trophy drought by defeating Newcastle in the Carabao Cup final. However, his second season was more challenging, with United finishing eighth in the Premier League and exiting the Champions League at the group stage. A crucial 2-1 victory over Manchester City in the FA Cup final in May was key to Ten Hag retaining his position. Following Sir Jim Ratcliffe's investment last December, the club, led by the co-owner, conducted a review of the season

Is it coming home? A preview of UEFA Women's Euro 2022

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There will be some international football this summer Let's look ahead to UEFA Women's Euro 2022 The 2022 UEFA European Women's Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Women's Euro 2022, will be the 13th edition of the UEFA Women's Championship, the quadrennial international football championship organised by UEFA for the women's national teams of Europe. It will be the second edition since the number of teams increased to 16.  𝗛𝗔𝗟𝗙 𝗔 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗 🎟️ 🎉 Record-breaking sales 🎉 More than double #WEURO2017 🎉 Purchasers across 99 countries Don't miss out - get yours now! 👇 #WEURO2022 — UEFA Women's EURO 2022 (@WEURO2022) July 1, 2022 The final tournament will be hosted by England and was originally scheduled to take place from 7 July to 1 August 2021. England last hosted the tournament in 2005. The  Netherlands will be the defending champions, and Northern Ireland will participate in a UEFA Women's Eu

England's most memorable World Cup Qualifiers

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Ahead of England's upcoming World Cup qualifiers, let's take a look at some of England's most memorable moments at this stage of the competition. This article was originally posted on News Ball UK. Click here to read. Italy 0 - 0 England - Qualification for France 98 is secured England only needed a point from their final match to qualify for the following summer's World Cup. Easier said than done when that final match is Italy away.  A battling and sometimes heroic display from the Three Lions earned them a 0-0 draw and qualification was secured. Not a lot of flair from the attacking players but the point was well deserved. Watch some of the highlights from the game in the video below. Germany 1 - 5 England - Even Heskey scored Germany had beaten England at the start of the end of the qualifying campaign. A disappointing end to the reign of Kevin Keegan and an awful way to say goodbye to the old Wembley Stadium. England gained their revenge though. Before this game,

FA Cup: Man United progress after tense semi-final

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Brighton & Hove Albion 0 - 0 Manchester United United won 7-6 on penalties Manchester United set up a final against Manchester City after beating Brighton in a dramatic penalty shootout. In a match that finished goalless after extra time, United defender Victor Lindelof scored the decisive spot-kick after Solly March sent his effort high over the bar. The result means Erik ten Hag's side has reached their second domestic final of the season. In a scrappy semi-final, both goalkeepers excelled with David de Gea making several fine saves and Brighton's Robert Sanchez brilliantly turning away Marcus Rashford's deflected effort in extra time. With Manchester City still battling for a Treble after beating Sheffield United 3-0 with a Riyad Mahrez hat-trick, the two Manchester sides have a huge game to look forward to. Whatever happens, it will likely  be a match that people talk about for a long time. FA Cup reaction as Man City progress to final (eurosuperfootball.blogsp

From the archives: Portugal 3 - 0 Bulgaria. 1966

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Whilst Wembley Stadium was hosting the England games during their victorious World Cup campaign, various other grounds across the country hosted matches.  Old Trafford hosted this match between Portugal and Bulgaria and it featured one of the greatest players of all time, Eusébio. Head to Greater Manchester Football to read the original story. Some wider context In the North West of England, Old Trafford and Goodison Park played host to Group 3 of the 66 World Cup. It was a group that contained some of the best players around at the time.  The group saw the two-time defending champions Brazil finish in third place behind Portugal and Hungary, be eliminated along with Bulgaria. Brazil were beaten 3–1 by Hungary in a classic encounter before falling by the same scoreline to Portugal in a controversial game.  Click here to read more from the archives The Portugal side contained Eusébio and they appearing in the finals for the first time, and made quite an impact.  They won all three of

PL News: Steve Cooper sacked by Forest

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Is this a harsh decision? Nottingham Forest have confirmed manager Steve Cooper has been sacked. The announcement that Cooper has been dismissed has come after Forest lost five of their past six games. Forest have won once in 13 Premier League games and taken eight points in that time. They are currently 17th in the Premier League.  They have also picked up just one point from their last six games and are five points ahead of third-bottom Luton, who have a match in hand. A statement on the Forest website reads Cooper departs The City Ground having played an integral part in Forest’s return to the Premier League, cementing himself firmly into the Club’s rich history after guiding The Reds back into England’s top-flight. Appointed as head coach in September 2021, Steve galvanised Forest’s extraordinary rise up the Championship table and into the play-offs, culminating in a memorable win over Huddersfield Town at Wembley Stadium in May 2022. He then went on to manage the team for 55 m

FA Cup news: Final to take place at 3pm

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There's been an update regarding the kick off time for the 2024 FA Cup final.  The match taking place between Manchester City and Manchester United will kick off at 15:00 BST. For the repeat of last year’s final between the same teams , the match has been brought forward from 17:30 BST. The Football Association said the kick-off time was moved to the traditional slot after it was agreed with both sides alongside the local authority, members of the safety advisory group and TV broadcasters.  City and United will meet at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25th May. Last year’s final between the two was the first all-Manchester FA Cup final, with Pep Guardiola's side winning 2-1 on their way to a Treble. In 2023, the match was moved to the same time following police advice. This was the first final to take place at that time in twelve years. Many fans were happy with this as they believed it is the best time for important football matches.  How did the teams reach the FA Cup final? 

PL News: Ten Hag sacked by Man United

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There has been a managerial change at Old Trafford. Manchester United have sacked manager Erik ten Hag due to the club's disappointing start to the season. Author - Olivia T Ten Hag's last match ended in a 2-1 defeat against West Ham , leaving the club in 14th place in the Premier League with only three wins from their first nine matches. The Red Devils are also 21st of 36 teams in the Europa League league stage, having drawn their three opening matches. Club sources from the club have reportedly suggested that this was a difficult decision but a unanimous one among all the key decision makers.  The club exercised a one-year extension in Ten Hag's contract after their FA Cup final win against Manchester City in May . However, just over three months later, he has been dismissed. United currently sit on 11 points after nine games, marking their second-lowest tally in the Premier League at this stage (only slightly better than the 10 points they had in the 2019-20 season)