Gareth Bale admits Wales are dreaming of the unthinkable – winning Euro 2016 July 4, 2016 Fairytale-chasing Wales forward Gareth Bale admits his side are dreaming of winning Euro 2016 as they prepare for their first ever major tournament semi-final against Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday. The clash represents Wales’s biggest match since a World Cup quarter-final showdown with Brazil in 1958 – a remarkable achievement considering the principality were ranked [...]
Uefa urged to consider alternative format to liven up low-scoring European Championship July 4, 2016 Governing body Uefa is being urged to consider a radical shake-up of the European Championship following complaints that the existing system leads to more conservative play and a lack of goals. A Dutch mathematician has devised an alternative format for a 24-team Euros that promises to be both fairer and more entertaining, and Holland’s football [...]
Crystal Palace ready to shell out £45m on Christian Benteke and James Tomkins July 4, 2016 Crystal Palace are closing in on the double signing of Liverpool striker Christian Benteke – a player manager Alan Pardew last season accused of diving – and West Ham defender James Tomkins for combined fees of almost £45m. Palace are nearing agreement with the Reds over a fee for Benteke, after having an initial bid of £25m turned [...]
Leicester set to break transfer record – again – on Nigeria striker July 4, 2016 Champions Leicester are poised to break their transfer record for the second time in days by signing Nigeria striker Ahmed Musa from CSKA Moscow for £16.6m. The 23-year-old, who has scored 54 times in 168 appearances for the Russian side, is expected to travel to the Midlands this week to complete a long-anticipated move. “Everything [...]
Real Madrid and Barcelona ordered to repay millions in state aid July 4, 2016 Real Madrid and Barcelona, the world’s two richest clubs, have been ordered to pay back millions of euros after a European Commission investigation found them guilty of receiving illegal state aid. Real must pay back €18.4m (£15.4m) relating to a land deal with local authorities, who were found to have overpaid, as well up to €5m [...]
France 5, Iceland 2: Didier Deschamps wary of semi-final rivals Germany as Les Bleus reach last four after pummelling Iceland July 3, 2016 France manager Didier Deschamps admitted facing world champions Germany was a daunting prospect after the tournament hosts brutally pummelled Iceland to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2016. Les Bleus surged into a four-goal half-time lead courtesy of strikes from Olivier Giroud, who also netted after the break, Paul Pogba, Dimitri Payet and Antoine Griezmann. Kolbeinn [...]
Wales boss Chris Coleman tells players to laugh in face of fear in bid to reach Euro 2016 final July 3, 2016 Wales boss Chris Coleman has urged his side to brush off the notion of fear and stand up for their identity when they face Portugal on Wednesday for a place in the final of Euro 2016. Coleman’s side booked their place in the semi-finals of a major tournament for the first time following a 3-1 [...]
Pep Guardiola rules out trying to lure Lionel Messi to Manchester after formal unveiling as City boss July 3, 2016 New Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has ruled out launching an audacious multi-million pound bid for Barcelona forward Lionel Messi after being officially unveiled as the club’s manager. The Spaniard conducted a question and answer session at the Etihad Stadium, having arrived at City on the back of three seasons with Bayern Munich during which [...]
Belgian Blues help entice in-demand Michy Batshuayi to Chelsea July 3, 2016 Chelsea's newest recruit Michy Batshuayi has revealed that Belgium team-mates Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois helped convince him to move to Stamford Bridge in a £33m transfer. The 22-year-old striker completed his move from Marseille on Sunday, signing a five-year contract, following Belgium’s elimination from the European Championship by Wales on Friday. “I am delighted to [...]
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger tips Takuma Asano for stardom after clinching deal for Japan striker July 3, 2016 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has tipped Japan striker Takuma Asano as a star of the future after the Gunners agreed a deal for the 21-year-old. Asano is set to join from Sanfrecce Hiroshima, subject to receiving a work permit, where he scored 11 goals in 56 appearances and was in 2015 voted the J-League’s Rookie of [...]