Declan Rice, the £100m England and Arsenal star, has been criticized as a “useless” player by former Dutch midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. Van der Vaart’s comments came after England’s disappointing performance at the Euro 2024 championship, which concluded on Sunday. Van der Vaart accused the 25-year-old Rice of only being adept at making backward passes to defenders. England faced a 2-1 defeat against Spain in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin. Spain took the lead with a goal from Nico Williams in the 47th minute, but Cole Palmer equalized for England in the 73rd minute. Mikel…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville stated that England did not deserve to win the Euro 2024 final. England lost 2-1 to Spain in Berlin on Sunday, marking their second consecutive defeat in the tournament final. Speaking on ITV, Neville acknowledged Spain’s superiority. He said, “Spain were the better team tonight and throughout the tournament. Despite England seeming to have the momentum and the potential to dominate, Spain managed to regain control and secure the win, which was impressive. “It’s incredibly painful for England fans, as it feels like a recurring story where we fall just short. We did not…
Lautaro Martinez scored an extra-time goal to lead Argentina to a 1-0 victory over Colombia, securing a record 16th Copa America title at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday. The match, marred by security and crowd issues that caused an 82-minute delay, was ultimately decided by Martinez’s high-quality finish, marking his fifth goal of the tournament. This win marks Argentina’s third consecutive major tournament title, following their Copa America victory in 2021 and the 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar. The game was bittersweet for Argentina, as captain Lionel Messi was forced to leave injured in the 66th minute and watched…
England captain Harry Kane and Spain midfielder Dani Olmo are among the six players who have shared the Golden Boot for Euro 2024. The other players who scored three goals each are Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Jamal Musiala (Germany), and Ivan Schranz (Slovakia). Neither Kane nor Olmo scored in the final, preventing them from standing out from the rest. UEFA had previously announced that if the final between England and Spain did not produce a single top scorer, the Golden Boot would be shared among all players with three goals. Spain’s Rodri was named Player of the Tournament,…
Riyad Mahrez is the first African player to win five Premier League titles. His remarkable journey began with Leicester City’s surprise championship win in the 2015/2016 season, where he was a key player. After transferring to Manchester City in 2018, Mahrez played a crucial role in the team’s dominance, contributing to their title victories in the 2018/2019, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023 seasons. Mahrez’s professional career started in France, where he was a youth player for AAS Sarcelles. He turned professional with Quimper in 2009 before moving to Le Havre, where he spent three years progressing from the reserve squad to…
Chelsea Football Club has unveiled their new home kit for the 2024/25 season. As with the previous season, the jersey will feature no sponsor. Designed by Nike with Dri-FIT ADV technology for enhanced breathability, the shirt presents a design distinct from last season’s. Featuring the tagline “We Burn Blue,” the kit combines traditional Chelsea blue with a fiery motif, symbolizing the vibrant blue as the hottest part of a flame. The club has announced that the kit is now available for purchase. Should a front-of-shirt sponsor be introduced later, fans will have the option to buy that version from the…
Liverpool have reportedly offered their captain, Virgil van Dijk, to Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. The Dutch defender may leave Anfield this summer as the club begins a new chapter following the departure of manager Jürgen Klopp. According to Football365, Liverpool is open to parting with the Netherlands international. At 33, Van Dijk has been a key figure for Liverpool since his £75 million transfer from Southampton in January 2018. Despite his significant talent, Atletico Madrid is reportedly not interested in acquiring him. The Spanish club is said to be prioritizing players with lower profiles and wages to better manage their…
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in Marca’s worst XI of Euro 2024. The 39-year-old failed to score throughout the tournament, and his team was eliminated early on. Ronaldo was the sole Portuguese player selected for Marca’s worst XI. Also featured in the team are Arsenal and Liverpool players Oleksandr Zinchenko and Dominik Szoboszlai. The full worst XI includes: Livakovic (Croatia), Di Lorenzo (Italy), Mancini (Italy), Christensen (Denmark), Zinchenko (Ukraine), McGinn (Scotland), Milinkovic-Savic (Serbia), Szoboszlai (Hungary), Vlahovic (Serbia), Lukaku (Belgium), and Ronaldo (Portugal).
Manchester United’s star goalkeeper, David de Gea, is reportedly considering retirement if he does not receive an offer to be the first-choice goalkeeper at a major club. At 33 years old, de Gea is facing a pivotal moment in his career due to uncertainties about his future and playing time. Despite being a key figure for Manchester United for over a decade, his recent form and playing time have been inconsistent. The rise of younger talents and recent managerial changes have cast doubt on de Gea’s status as Manchester United’s top goalkeeper. Sources close to him suggest that he is…
On Saturday, Chelsea announced a new three-year contract for forward Frankie Runham. In a statement on their website, the Premier League club congratulated the 18-year-old on his new deal, saying, “Frankie Runham has signed a new three-year contract with Chelsea. Congratulations, Frankie.” Runham, who joined Chelsea at the age of eight, has progressed through the youth ranks and made his under-18 debut during the 2022-23 season. He was a key player for Chelsea’s Under-18s last season, contributing significantly to their Premier League South title and Under-17 Premier League Cup victories.
At 16 years and 338 days old, Lamine Yamal made history in Spain’s 3-0 victory over Croatia by becoming the youngest player ever to appear in a European Championship. He then set another record during Spain’s 2-1 semi-final win over France, becoming the competition’s youngest goalscorer with a stunning long-range goal. Yamal has been instrumental in Spain’s journey to the EURO 2024 final, and if he starts against England on Sunday, he will break the record for the youngest player to appear in a major international tournament, surpassing Pele’s 66-year-old record and achieving feats that Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo…
Manchester United is emerging as a major contender in the current transfer window and could surpass Arsenal in the race for their Turkish target. The Red Devils have already secured an agreement to sign Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna and are nearing a deal for Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt. According to a report by GOAL, Manchester United has now turned its attention to Ferdi Kadioglu, the Fenerbahce and Turkey star. Kadioglu, a 24-year-old versatile player, has been on Arsenal’s radar since last summer and was initially their top choice for left-back before they shifted focus to Calafiori. However, negotiations for…
Manchester City striker Liam Delap has completed a permanent transfer to newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town. Delap, an England Under-21 international, made his debut for Manchester City under Pep Guardiola in September 2020. He scored a notable goal in City’s 2-1 Carabao Cup win over Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium. Over his time with City, Delap made six senior appearances, including his Premier League debut against Leicester and a Champions League match against Sporting. He also had loan stints with Stoke City and Preston North End. “Everyone at City wishes Liam the very best of luck going forward,”…
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has shared an emotional message on Instagram ahead of his country’s 2024 Copa America final against Colombia on Sunday. The final will take place at Hard Rock Stadium in Florida. Prior to the match, Messi posted several photos from Argentina’s training session with the caption: “Last day of Copa America. Once again, we’ve reached the end… This incredible journey would have been impossible without the hard work of everyone involved—those who watch the most and those who are always behind the scenes. “Thank you all for your effort and passion, to my teammates and the coaching…
The ACFAC is calling for Samuel Eto’o to be suspended from his role as Fecafoot president while the investigation is underway. The association demands that if their claims are substantiated, Eto’o should face a lifetime ban from all football-related activities, be required to repay all benefits received from Fecafoot since his election in December 2021, and pay 20 billion CFA francs in damages and interest. The Federation’s ethics commission is expected to conduct a thorough investigation into these serious allegations and determine Eto’o’s future in Cameroonian football governance.
Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho has resumed first-team training following a constructive meeting with manager Erik ten Hag. Sky Sports reports that the two addressed their previous issues and agreed to move forward. Although Sancho will not join the squad for the friendly against Rosenborg in Norway on Monday due to returning to training later than his teammates, he is expected to be available for selection after participating fully in pre-season. Sancho, who spent last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund and was anticipated to leave Old Trafford permanently, has attracted interest from Juventus. The Italian club was believed to…
A Cameroonian organization has called for Samuel Eto’o to be banned for life from all football-related activities amidst ongoing controversies surrounding his presidency of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot). The Association of Amateur Football Clubs of Cameroon (ACFAC) has alleged that Eto’o has not held Cameroonian nationality since 2007, which, according to Cameroonian nationality laws, would disqualify him from serving as Fecafoot president. Central to the dispute is Article 31, paragraph (a) of Law N•68-LF-3 from June 11, which stipulates that an adult Cameroonian who acquires or retains foreign nationality automatically loses their Cameroonian nationality. The ACFAC claims to have…
Victor Osimhen has once again turned down an offer from a Saudi Arabian club, according to DAILY POST. Osimhen previously rejected a lucrative proposal from Al Ahli last summer. There remains uncertainty about his future with Serie A side Napoli, as the 25-year-old is eager to leave, but no club has met his €130 million release clause. Sky Sports reports that while Osimhen still desires a move from Napoli, he is not considering a transfer to Saudi Arabia. It is suggested that a transfer of French striker Randal Kolo Muani could prompt Osimhen’s move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has surpassed his teammate Vinicius Junior as the favorite to win this year’s Ballon d’Or. Both players had been seen as top contenders for the award. Bellingham played a key role in Madrid’s LaLiga victory, while Vinicius was crucial in their Champions League success. According to Goal, Bellingham’s chances have improved significantly following Brazil’s early exit from the 2024 Copa America. It is now widely believed that Bellingham is on the brink of securing the Ballon d’Or. Despite a dip in form towards the end of the club season and less impactful performances at Euro…
Julian Alvarez has reportedly requested to leave Manchester City after turning down a new contract offer at the end of last season. The Argentine forward has surprised the English champions with his demand to depart, despite joining the club in 2022. According to El Chiringuito, Alvarez rejected a contract that would have kept him at Manchester City until 2028. He has also asked City to set a ‘reasonable’ asking price for potential European buyers. Alvarez, who was signed by Pep Guardiola after a standout performance with River Plate, has scored 36 goals and provided 18 assists in 103 appearances at…