According to Bild, Thomas Müller, the 34-year-old forward from Bayern Munich, has announced his retirement from international football. Müller’s decision comes after making limited appearances for Germany at Euro 2024, playing twice as a substitute against Scotland and in extra time against Spain, where Germany was knocked out in the quarter-finals. Despite his reduced role in the recent European Championships, Müller has enjoyed a highly successful career with the German national team. He made his debut in March 2010 against Argentina and quickly distinguished himself by finishing as the top scorer at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Müller’s…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
Euro 2024 Final Confirmed: England Set to Face Spain England secured their place in the Euro 2024 final after a thrilling 2-1 victory over the Netherlands on Wednesday night. The Dutch initially took the lead with a stunning strike from Xavi Simons, but Gareth Southgate’s team equalized through a controversial penalty converted by Harry Kane. Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins then scored the decisive goal late in the match, avoiding extra time. Meanwhile, Spain advanced to the final by defeating France 2-1 in the other semi-final on Tuesday night.
“Spain and England are set to vie for the UEFA Euro 2024 championship title in a showdown this weekend in Germany. England enters the highly anticipated final after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Netherlands, aiming to triumph over Spain for the ultimate tournament prize. Meanwhile, Spain approaches the match following their own challenging 2-1 win against France, seeking to continue their impressive form by defeating England and claiming the title. Date and Kickoff Time: The final match between England and Spain for the UEFA Euro 2024 championship will take place on Sunday, July 14, at 8:00 PM Nigerian Time.”
Uruguay Striker Darwin Nunez Involved in Altercation with Colombia Fans After Copa America Defeat Darwin Nunez, Uruguay’s striker, found himself in the midst of a skirmish with Colombia fans following his team’s loss in the Copa America on Wednesday night. Uruguay suffered a 1-0 defeat against Colombia in the Copa America semi-final match, with Jefferson Lerma scoring the decisive goal in the first half. Immediately after Mexican referee Cesar Ramos blew the final whistle, Nunez and his teammate Ronald Araujo were among several Uruguay players who rushed towards a section of Colombia fans inside the Bank of America Stadium. Nunez…
Real Madrid Announces Departure of Rafa Marín to Napoli Real Madrid has officially confirmed the departure of defender Rafa Marín to Napoli. The announcement was made via a statement on their website on Wednesday. “Real Madrid wishes him and his family the best of luck in this new chapter of his career,” the statement read. Marín, who joined Real Madrid at the age of 14 in 2016, spent two seasons with Castilla. During the 2023-2024 season, the 22-year-old played on loan at Deportivo Alavés.
Netherlands Captain Virgil van Dijk Criticizes Referee Felix Zwayer’s Post-Match Conduct Following Euro 2024 Semi-Final Loss to England Virgil van Dijk, captain of the Netherlands, has expressed his frustration with referee Felix Zwayer’s reaction after their 2-1 defeat to England in the Euro 2024 semi-final on Wednesday evening. The Dutch team lost despite initially taking the lead through Xavi Simons. Harry Kane equalized from the penalty spot, and Ollie Watkins secured the win with a goal in the 90th minute. Kane’s penalty was awarded after Denzel Dumfries inadvertently clipped the England captain while attempting to block a shot. The VAR…
Euro 2024 Golden Boot Battle Centers on Harry Kane and Dani Olmo The Euro 2024 Golden Boot race is shaping up to be a showdown between England striker Harry Kane and Spain midfielder Dani Olmo. Both players will compete in the final in Berlin on Sunday. Kane secured his third goal of the tournament with a penalty as England defeated the Netherlands 2-1 in the semi-finals. Olmo also advanced his tally with a goal in Spain’s 2-1 victory over France in the semis. While Cody Gakpo (Netherlands), Georges Mikautadze (Georgia), Jamal Musiala (Germany), and Ivan Schranz (Slovakia) have also scored…
Lamine Yamal Makes History by Entering Ballon d’Or In a remarkable achievement, Lamine Yamal has made his mark in the football world by cracking the prestigious Ballon d’Or rankings. The talented midfielder’s exceptional performances on the field have captured widespread attention from fans and critics alike. Yamal’s impressive displays have secured him a position among the top 30 players globally, as announced by the Ballon d’Or organizers. This milestone underscores his emergence as one of the most promising young talents in football today. Yamal’s journey to recognition has been nothing short of phenomenal. His electrifying speed, superb dribbling ability, and…
Wilfred Ndidi, recently departed from Leicester City, will be succeeded by another Nigerian player. Leicester has continuously had Nigerian representation since Ahmed Musa joined in 2016, followed by Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho in 2017. The latest addition is Caleb Okoli, a 22-year-old centre-back born in Italy with Igbo and Yoruba heritage. Okoli has signed a five-year contract after transferring from Atalanta in Serie A, where he spent last season on loan at Frosinone Calcio. He also represented Italy at the European Under-21 Championship last year. “I think now is the right moment for me to take a significant step forward.…
In a year filled with thrilling football action and unpredictable outcomes, former England international and pundit Paul Merson stands firm in his Euro 2024 champion prediction. Despite the tournament’s surprises and upsets, Merson continues to back France to triumph. Renowned for his candid predictions, Merson consistently identifies the French national team as favorites to lift the trophy in Germany. His confidence in Les Bleus is bolstered by their impressive depth, individual talents like Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann, and N’Golo Kante, and cohesive team play, all of which have been evident throughout the competition. France boasts a remarkable blend of youth…
Lamine Yamal created history by becoming the youngest player ever to score in the European Championship at the age of just 16 years old. His remarkable goal leveled the score for Spain against France in their Euro 2024 semi-final in Munich. Despite a challenging beginning where Spain conceded within the first 10 minutes, with Randal Kolo Muani heading France into the lead after an excellent setup by Kylian Mbappe, Spain swiftly responded and equalized just nine minutes later.
Leny Yoro, the 18-year-old Lille center-back, has informed Manchester United that he is holding out for a move to Real Madrid this summer, according to reports from Spain. Despite United’s interest in signing him, Yoro has clearly expressed his preference to join the Spanish giants. United, eager to bolster their defense, have already seen two bids turned down for Jarrad Branthwaite, with their latest offer amounting to £45 million plus an additional £5 million. They are also engaged in discussions with Bayern Munich regarding Matthijs de Ligt, valued at €50 million (£42 million). However, Yoro’s response to United’s approach has…
Marseille’s new coach, Roberto De Zerbi, has praised Mason Greenwood as a world-class player amid negotiations for a transfer from Manchester United, as reported by Metro. Greenwood, currently on loan at Getafe, won’t return to Manchester United’s first team due to past issues that saw charges against him dropped in February 2023. De Zerbi’s admiration for Greenwood comes as Marseille leads discussions for the 22-year-old striker, nearing a £27m deal. Despite fan protests and a #GreenwoodNotWelcome campaign, Marseille remains eager to secure Greenwood, who has impressed during his loan stint at Getafe. De Zerbi’s remarks reflect a paternal approach to…
Real Madrid legend Iker Casillas has named winger Vinicius Junior as the current world’s best player, placing him ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo. Casillas, however, acknowledged that Ronaldo remains the best player of all time. Vinicius contributed significantly to Real Madrid’s success last season, helping them win the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and Supercopa de Espana. The Brazilian scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 matches across various competitions under manager Ancelotti’s guidance. When discussing the topic of the world’s best player, Casillas, a former Spain goalkeeper, stated (via @MadridXtra): “The best player in the world? Vinicius. Cristiano?…
Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina, has broken Brazilian legends Cafu and Roberto Carlos’ record by reaching the most international finals (7) after leading his team to the Copa America 2024 final. Previously, both Cafu and Carlos had reached six finals for Brazil during their careers. The 37-year-old also surpassed Iran’s Ali Daei’s international goals record to become the second all-time top scorer with 109 goals, trailing only his rival Cristiano Ronaldo (130). Messi equaled Daei’s tally of 108 goals on the all-time scoring list with two goals in a 4-1 victory over Guatemala just before the start of Copa America.…
Euro 2024 will not include a third-place play-off. Spain secured their spot in the final with a thrilling 2-1 victory over France on Tuesday night. France, having played their final match of the tournament, won’t be advancing further. The upcoming semi-final will feature England facing the Netherlands, vying for the opportunity to challenge Spain in Sunday’s final. Unlike the World Cup, the Euros do not feature a third-place match typically held before the final. The last third-place match in the Euros occurred in 1980, with Czechoslovakia defeating Italy 9-8 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the regular match.
Spain’s starting XI for their Euro 2024 semi-final against France has been revealed, with head coach Luis de la Fuente making three anticipated changes. Jesus Navas and Nacho Fernandez step in for the suspended Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, respectively, while Dani Olmo takes the place of the injured Pedri. The interaction on Spain’s right wing promises intrigue, as 38-year-old Navas supports Lamine Yamal, his junior by 22 years. Their task: to neutralize the threat of Kylian Mbappe, who has been subdued in the tournament so far. Tonight marks a historic occasion for Lamine Yamal, breaking a 66-year-old international…
Shakira is set to headline the opening ceremony of the Copa America 2024 final, taking place at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on July 14. Known for her energetic performances and hit songs like “Hips Don’t Lie,” the Colombian pop star will entertain a crowd of over 65,000 fans. This appearance marks a significant return to the sports world for Shakira, following her last major live show at the 2020 Super Bowl halftime alongside Jennifer Lopez.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, now a senior advisor at AC Milan, has excluded Divock Origi from the team’s dressing room. The former Liverpool striker has been relegated to the youth team after being informed that he is no longer in the club’s immediate plans. Following Milan’s second-place finish behind Serie A rivals Inter last season, Ibrahimovic is already preparing for the upcoming campaign. He has decided that Origi, who spent the previous season on loan at Nottingham Forest, does not fit into those plans. Origi, 29, had signed a four-year contract with Milan after joining from Liverpool on a free transfer in…
Chelsea have reportedly finalized a deal to acquire Atlanta United star Caleb Wiley this summer. The Premier League club from west London, under new manager Enzo Maresca, has already secured five signings during this transfer window. These include Tosin Adarabioyo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Marc Guiu, Estevao Willian, and Omari Kellyman. According to The Athletic, Chelsea are now on the verge of completing the signing of 19-year-old United States international Wiley for a fee of £8.5 million. However, the left-back is expected to immediately join French club Strasbourg on loan for the upcoming season.