Betting: Republic of Ireland to hold underwhelming Belgium June 16, 2016 Belgium entered the European Championships as the highest ranked team in Europe according to FIFA, but have so far failed to live up to the billing. In Monday’s 2-0 defeat to Italy they lacked ideas and, following a limp exit to Argentina at the last World Cup, there is a genuine worry that the country’s golden [...]
England v Wales player ratings: Tottenham’s Kyle Walker the star of the show as Roy Hodgson’s gung-ho gamble pays off June 16, 2016 It wasn't easy, it wasn't perfect and it wasn't always pretty but England eventually broke down a stubborn Wales side in Lens to go top of Group B. Following a frustrating first-half, Roy Hodgson gave the gung-ho go-ahead to his side and the gamble paid off. Just. Here's how they rated: Joe Hart – 4 Had little to [...]
Liverpool takeover: Owners FSG deny £700m offer from Chinese firm SinoFortone June 16, 2016 Liverpool's owners have poured cold water on reports they have been approached by a Chinese firm to buy the club for £700m. A letter circulating on social media appeared to show Chinese investment group SinoFortone offering Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) £700m for the Premier League club. But according to the Liverpool Echo, FSG officials say they have had [...]
England v Wales: Uefa plays down night of trouble in Lille as threat of expulsion from Euro 2016 looms over England June 16, 2016 England appear to have escaped further punishment from Uefa following further clashes between fans and police in Lille last night. European football's governing body had threatened to expel Roy Hodgson's team from Euro 2016 if there was a repeat of the fan violence that marred the build-up to their opening match against Russia. There were [...]
Deschamps praise for West Ham’s Payet as France leave it late but qualify for Euro 2016 knockout phase June 15, 2016 France manager Didier Deschamps insists a more feisty approach is paying dividends for Dimitri Payet after the West Ham playmaker scored one of two late goals as Les Bleus eventually dispatched minnows Albania in Marseille. A second successive win propelled hosts France into the tournament’s knockout phase as victory was sealed courtesy of strikes from [...]
England need to match Wales’s fight but don’t need a special plan for Bale June 15, 2016 The pressure in today’s Euro 2016 clash is firmly on the shoulders of England, who know that defeat would leave them needing to beat an improving Slovakia to have any chance of progress. By contrast, three points from their opening match means Wales can approach this Group B fixture in relaxed mood, and in little [...]
Time to back up your fighting talk, England boss Roy Hodgson tells Wales June 15, 2016 England manager Roy Hodgson has laid down the gauntlet to Wales and challenged them to back up pre-match fighting talk on the pitch in Thursday's Euro 2016 showdown in Lens. Wales stars Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey have cranked up the pressure on a Three Lions team who are already acutely aware they can ill [...]
Russia 1, Slovakia 2: Slutsky dodges flare probe as defeat pushes Russia closer to Euro 2016 elimination June 15, 2016 Russia boss Leonid Slutsky refused to debate the consequences of the lighting of a flare within a section of the ground populated by his side’s supporters after a potentially pivotal defeat to Slovakia in Lille yesterday. Governing body Uefa are not expected to enact Russia’s suspended disqualification from Euro 2016 following yesterday’s events, a sanction [...]
Iceland’s Kari Arnason returns fire on Cristiano Ronaldo after Portuguese skipper’s scathing attacking on European Championship debutants June 15, 2016 Iceland defender Kari Arnason has hit back after Portugal skipper Cristiano Ronaldo criticised his side’s tactics in the wake of their Euro 2016 draw, claiming his petulant outburst proved why Lionel Messi has a superior standing in the game. Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo poked fun at Iceland’s post-match celebrations after the least populated nation to [...]
Euro 2016: England v Wales – How the two sides have fared against each other throughout history June 15, 2016 Only two players in either England or Wales' squads at Euro 2016 were alive the last time The Dragons got the better of the Three Lions. Wales' David Vaughan and James Collins were both barely a year old when a sprightly Mark Hughes scored a match-winning goal on his international debut in February 1984 in [...]