England blasted as “catastrophic” and “stupid” by European press keen on Brexit jokes following Iceland loss June 28, 2016 England's players were likely relieved to have been out of the country yesterday and away from the English media's glare following their humiliation at the hands of Iceland. Not that the press in France or anywhere else were any less scathing of a dismal performance which saw England booted out of the European Championships by the [...]
Could Brexit help the England football team avoid future Iceland humiliations by limiting foreign players in the Premier League? June 28, 2016 The path has become well worn: England fail at a national tournament, the game's soul-searching begins and proposals for reform are put forward. Limiting the number of foreign players in English football to allow room for home grown talent to prosper has become a favoured option for Football Association chairman Greg Dyke. Last week he responded to Britain's [...]
Italy 2, Spain 0: Conte switches focus to Germany as incoming Chelsea boss masterminds destruction of reigning champions June 28, 2016 ITALY boss Antonio Conte basked in the glory of ending holders Spain’s eight-year grip on the European Championship but insisted the Azzurri will have to be “super-extraordinary” to beat world champions Germany in Saturday’s quarter-final. Conte’s charges proved tactically superior to their rivals and ended a run of five winless matches against Spain as veteran [...]
England 1, Iceland 2: Minnows leave Hodgson out in cold as woeful Three Lions eliminated from Euro 2016 in humiliating fashion June 27, 2016 Apologetic England manager Roy Hodgson has fallen on his sword after the Three Lions suffered a humiliating exit from Euro 2016 following a wretched showing against minnows Iceland in Nice. Hodgson wasted little time in ending his four-year reign and confirming his departure, as well as that of assistants Ray Lewington and Gary Neville, although his side’s [...]
A pathetic yet fitting end to four years of Roy Hodgson; a man out of time and a reign bereft of moments to savour June 27, 2016 Elimination from Euro 2016 by Iceland was a pathetic yet suitable end to an underwhelming four years of Roy Hodgson characterised by meaningless wins and repeated failures when it really mattered. History may not be kind to Hodgson, whose appointment was greeted with a combination of surprise and unkind mockery which gave way to a [...]
Southampton close in on manager Claude Puel and offload £34m Sadio Mane to Liverpool June 27, 2016 Southampton hope to bring a measure of stability to another tumultuous close season by finalising the appointment of French coach Claude Puel and the £34m sale of Sadio Mane to Liverpool. Puel is poised to succeed Ronald Koeman at St Mary’s this week after spending four years at Nice, who he guided to fourth place in [...]
Euro 2016: Who are England’s last 16 foes? Stats and facts on Iceland June 27, 2016 UNFAMILIAR FOES The Three Lions have only crossed swords with Iceland twice. The last meeting was a Euro 2004 warm-up clash at the City of Manchester Stadium which England won 6-1. Skipper Wayne Rooney scored twice that day, while Iceland were captained by Former Chelsea, Tottenham and Fulham forward Eidur Gudjohnsen. The only other meeting [...]
Hungary 0, Belgium 4: Wilmots welcomes Chelsea’s Eden Hazard to Euro 2016 party after stunning solo goal June 27, 2016 Belgium boss Marc Wilmots welcomed Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard to the Euro 2016 party as a stunning individual performance during their thrashing of Hungary on Toulouse stoked his side’s passage to the quarter-finals. An early header from Tottenham’s Toby Alderweireld failed to open the floodgates and it took until late in the second period for substitute [...]
England boss Roy Hodgson cools talk of rift between skipper Wayne Rooney and striker Jamie Vardy June 26, 2016 England boss Roy Hodgson was forced to rubbish suggestions of a rift between skipper Wayne Rooney and Three Lions striker Jamie Vardy on the eve of his side’s Euro 2016 last-16 clash with Iceland in Nice on Monday night. Hodgson stepped in to douse the claims as Rooney was asked about reports asserting he had grown [...]
France 2, Republic of Ireland 1: Martin O’Neill fumes at Euro 2016 hosts’ favourable scheduling as Les Bleus progress to possible quarter-final with England June 26, 2016 France 2, Republic of Ireland 1 Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill blamed unfair Euro 2016 scheduling after his 10-man side gave France an almighty scare but ran out of steam against the hosts in Lyon. A second-minute penalty from Robbie Brady gave Ireland a shock lead but the last-16 match turned in 10 second-half minutes [...]