Tag Archives: UEFA

England 0 Slovenia 0: Southgate’s side seal top spot in Group C but underwhelm again – The Briefing

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“England qualified for the knockout stage of the European Championshipwith a 0-0 draw against Slovenia that means they win Group C. Gareth Southgate’s team were underwhelming in their opening two games of the tournament and there was little sign of a revolution in the first half of their group finale on Tuesday evening. England dominated possession but managed just four shots on target, and a Bukayo Saka goal that was disallowed for a Phil Foden offside. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Boos rock England fans’ Cologne party as team turn clock back 15 years
Guardian: England disappoint again but still top group after stalemate with Slovenia
Denmark 0 Serbia 0: Danes advance but Hojlund was isolated and Germany have little to fear – NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Denmark edge through as runners-up but Serbia exit after tame draw

Croatia 1 Italy 1: Zaccagni goal puts Italy through, Modric’s minute of mayhem and more beer throwing

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“A 98th-minute equaliser from Mattia Zaccagni secured Italy’s place in the knockout stages of Euro 2024 — at the expense of their opponents Croatia. Zaccagni’s outstanding finish in the closing minutes of the match for the reigning champions cancelled out Luka Modric’s goal for Croatia in the 55th minute — seconds after the midfielder’s penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma. On his 178th appearance for Croatia, at the age of 38 years and 289 days, he became the oldest-ever goalscorer at a European Championship. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Mattia Zaccagni strikes at death to crush Croatia and send Italy through to last 16

Albania 0 Spain 1: Rotation rewarded, Torres hits 20 and outsiders’ dream ended

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Spain’s Ferran Torres, centre, scores the opening goal during an international friendly soccer match between Spain and Albania at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona
“Spain underlined their credentials as a team with the quality and depth to go a long way at the European Championship, as they beat Albania despite making 10 changes. This was only the third time in the tournament’s history a manager had altered the starting XI so significantly (and the first for 16 years) but Spain’s understudies were dominant for the most part in Dusseldorf. Ferran Torres’ 20th international goal gave Luis de la Fuente’s side a first-half lead and though they did not add to their advantage and did lose a degree of control in the second half, they rarely looked in any real danger of being denied victory. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Ferran Torres’ first-half strike earns rotated Spain victory against Albania

Switzerland 1 Germany 1: Fullkrug is the saviour but hosts look vulnerable

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“This was the night Germany’s party almost fell flat. The Euro 2024 hosts had looked imperious at this tournament, winning both of their opening games, but Switzerland seemed certain to bring that momentum to a halt in Frankfurt as they led 1-0. But Niclas Fullkrug’s stoppage-time equaliser ensured a point for Julian Nagelsmann’s side and means they progress to the last 16 as group winners. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Germany relieved to qualify top after Füllkrug denies Switzerland at the last

Belgium 2 Romania 0: Lukaku denied again, a 73-second goal and the tightest of groups

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“Belgium came into their game with Romania on Saturday as the only team yet to score at Euro 2024, but they fixed that particular issue after only 73 seconds, with Youri Tielemans scoring his nation’s quickest goal at a major tournament. Domenico Tedesco’s side dominated the remainder of the first half, but they couldn’t add the second their pressure deserved. For their part, Romania improved significantly after the break, but an entertaining game was sealed when Kevin De Bruyne latched onto a long kick from Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels to make it 2-0. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: De Bruyne and Tielemans sink Romania to get Belgium back on track

Turkey 0 Portugal 3: Win secures top spot, a calamitous own goal and pitch invaders target Ronaldo

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Portugal’s midfielder #10 Bernardo Silva celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F football match between Turkey and Portugal at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund on June 22, 2024.
“Portugal began Euro 2024 as one of the teams strongly fancied to win the competition, so they hardly needed the huge helping hand given to them by Turkey in Dortmund. Bernardo Silva’s strike midway through the first half put Portugal in control, but this game will surely be remembered for their second, when a calamitous mix-up in the Turkey defence led to an own goal by Samet Akaydin, gifting the 2016 champions a 2-0 lead. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Portugal into last 16 as Silva and Fernandes sink Turkey

 

Georgia 1 Czech Republic 1: Flawed entertainers, Czech misfortune and Schick’s injury blow

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“Georgia and the Czech Republic will head into the final round of matches with little room for error after they couldn’t be separated in Hamburg. The Czech Republic’s Adam Hlozek had a goal ruled out for handball before his side were penalised in the opposite penalty area for the same offence, Robin Hranac judged to have handled, allowing Georges Mikautadze to give Georgia the lead from the spot. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Mikautadze and Georgia denied historic victory as Schick saves Czech Republic

Netherlands 0 France 0 – Why was Xavi Simons’ goal disallowed? Should Rabiot have shot?

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“The Netherlands and France played out the first 0-0 draw of Euro 2024 as both moved closer to qualification for the knockout stages. The first-half was defined more by a strange decision than anything else. Adrien Rabiot was played through on goal courtesy of a flick from Marcus Thuram. Just yards away from the net, he chose to try and pass the ball to Antoine Griezmann rather than shoot. The ball was slightly behind Griezmann, and his attempt did not trouble Bart Verbruggen in the Netherlands goal. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Netherlands have to settle for draw with France after VAR rules out Simons strike

Poland 1 Austria 3 – Arnautovic shines as Rangnick’s changes prove effective

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Manager Ralf Rangnick
“An impressive Austria beat Poland 3-1 in Berlin, thanks to goals from Gernot Trauner, Christoph Baumgartner and a Marko Arnautovic penalty. Poland, who were again unable to start Robert Lewandowski, offered little throughout and will now need to beat France in their final group game to have any chance of reaching the knockout stage after losing their first two matches. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Ukraine prove their football is alive: ‘The strong man is the one who can get back up’

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“They came down the Rhine, at first in flecks and clumps and then in a yellow and blue torrent from the centre of Dusseldorf to the football ground on the city’s northern edge. After the Russian invasion in February 2022, the presence of any Ukraine fans in Germany feels improbable. Their domestic league has been shattered, their squad scattered across Europe. And for the first 150 minutes of this tournament, defiant support appeared to be all Ukraine had brought to Euro 2024. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Ukraine show ‘different spirit’ as Yaremchuk completes comeback in win over Slovakia – Jonathan Wilson

Spain 1 Italy 0: Calafiori own goal settles ‘European Clasico’, Nico Williams shines

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“Meetings between Spain and Italy rarely disappoint and this one was no exception — even if it was an own goal that decided the contest. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente described Thursday’s Euro 2024 Group B match as a ‘European Clasico’ in the build-up, and his players certainly came out motivated to impress. They completely dominated the first half, and Italy only went in level at half-time thanks to several key saves from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. After the break, Spain’s luck changed and they finally found the goal they’d been pushing for when Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori turned into his own net after Donnarumma palmed out an Alvaro Morata header. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)
Guardian: Spain race into Euro 2024 last 16 after Calafiori’s own goal floors Italy

England 1 Denmark 1: Kane scores but struggles, England drop deep, Hjulmand wonder goal

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“It was a familiar story for Gareth Southgate’s England in their second game at Euro 2024, as they took the lead against Denmark before dropping deep and allowing their opponents back into the game. England started brightly and took the lead in the 18th minute through their captain Harry Kane, but after that produced little. Denmark’s influence grew and grew and they scored a deserved equaliser through Morten Hjulmand after 34 minutes. The result means England are top of Group C with four points, going into the final round of matches and play Slovenia on June 25. Denmark are second in the group with two points and play Serbia in their final game. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: England hit new low with dire performance too bad to be boring – Jonathan Liew

Slovenia 1 Serbia 1: 95th-minute Jovic equaliser leaves Group C in the balance – The Briefing

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“The games in the early slot at Euro 2024 have generally provided sensational entertainment so far. It took a fair while for the Group C encounter between Slovenia and Serbiain Munich today to ignite, but it eventually delivered the now-customary drama. As they were against England, Serbia were subdued in the first half, with Slovenia the more aggressive and impressive side. What chances Serbia did create were invariably squandered by Aleksandar Mitrovic, which almost proved costly when Zan Karnicnik put Slovenia 1-0 up with 20 minutes to go. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Luka Jovic rescues Serbia with last-gasp header to deny Slovenia historic win

The retro kick-off tactic that is proving popular (and effective) at Euro 2024

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“It was the first act of Euro 2024, it led to Albania’s goal against Italy (the fastest in the competition’s history), and is also a tactic used regularly by the top two in the Premier League, Manchester City and Arsenal. Back with a vengeance, it is the old-fashioned hoof up the park at kick-off. Aimless punts may seem like a relic of a bygone age in today’s football, largely a revolving battle between one team pressing high and the other trying to find space to play through, but this more rudimentary approach is back in fashion. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)

Scotland 1 Switzerland 1: Shaqiri’s stunner, own goal confusion, Tierney’s agony – The Briefing

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“To Stuttgart then for Scotland and Hungary — where a winner will like guarantee one of them a passage through to the round of 16. After being thumped 5-1 by Germany in the opening game of the competition Scotland responded in style. A fine move down the left ended with Scott McTominay’s scuffed shot going in off Switzerland defender Fabian Schar after 13 minutes. The lead did not last long though and the equaliser was a stunner — Chicago Fire’s Xherdan Shaqiri firing home from the edge of the box after Anthony Ralston’s woeful pass. A pulsating battle ensued as both sides pushed for a winner with Arsenalfull-back Kieran Tierney carried off in clear pain with a leg injury. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)

Germany 2 Hungary 0: Nagelsmann’s tactics, Neuer’s revival and hosts through first

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“Host nation Germany are through to the knockout stage of Euro 2024 after a convincing 2-0 win over Hungary in Stuttgart. A 22nd-minute strike from Jamal Musiala put Julian Nagelsmann’s side in front and then captain Ilkay Gundogan made sure of the three points midway through the second half. Hungary didn’t roll over like Scotland did in losing Friday’s tournament opener 5-1, however — with veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer making several key saves to keep Marco Rossi’s side from scoring. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
NY Times/The Athletic: Manuel Neuer offers Germany glimpses of past brilliance but remains a figure under scrutiny

Croatia 2 Albania 2 – How did Croatia let it slip? How far can Albania go? Unluckiest own goal?

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Albania’s Klaus Gjasula looks on in horror as he scores an own goal that gives Croatia the lead.
“Just when it looked as though Croatia had disproved their doubters by coming from behind to beat Albania, they let it slip at the end. As against Italy in their first game, Albania scored with their first shot. Against Italy, it was after just 23 seconds. This time, it came after 11 minutes, via Qazim Laci’s header. But despite struggling in the first half, Croatia took the lead in the second half, with Andrej Kramaric equalising before an unfortunate own goal shortly after. But then Klaus Gjasula, who had scored the own goal, equalised to rescue a 2-2 draw for Albania. Both sides, with one point each and one game to play, can still reach the knockouts. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Klaus Gjasula strikes late after own goal to snatch Albania draw with Croatia – Jonathan Wilson

Arda Guler: Choir-boy looks, thunderous foot and the hearts of Ancelotti, Montella and Turkey

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“Giorgi Mamardashvili pawed the free kick away. As he did, his Georgian team-mates ran over to celebrate as if he had scored. His compatriots in the press tribune in the Westfalenstadion turned to their colleagues, grasped their arms and said: ‘The best in the world. The best goalkeeper in the world.’ Mamardashvili was the hero when Georgia qualified for a European Championship for the first time since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. When the 23-year-old goalkeeper flew to his left and saved Tasos Bakasetas’ penalty in the play-off against Greece, he flew his nation to Dortmund too. …”
NY Times/The Athletic (Video)
Guardian: Arda Guler brings the thunder as Turkey survive storm to beat Georgia

Francisco Conceição comes off Portugal bench to break Czech Republic hearts

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“A night of mayhem and confusion, of futures and pasts dragging each other in different directions, and at its climax a goal of pure catharsis. Portugal, one of the tournament favourites, are away: a poacher’s goal by the 21-year-old Francisco Conceição sealing victory in the first minute of injury time and underlining the bench strength available to Roberto Martínez. And this was a redemption of sorts for Martínez too, a coach who knows that he will need to shed Portugal’s past if he is to shed his own. Perhaps unfairly maligned as the man who inherited Belgium’s golden generation and won nothing, …”
Guardian

France’s altered defensive shape worked against Austria – but game state was a crucial factor

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“When Didier Deschamps was asked a question about the pairing of N’Golo Kante and Adrien Rabiot in midfield after France’s 1-0 victory against Austria, he politely interrupted it to make a small correction. … France’s switch to a midfield three featuring the Atletico Madrid forward has continued throughout the European Championship qualifying campaign and into the tournament, but they slightly adjusted their shape off the ball in their opening game against Ralf Rangnick’s Austria. Usually, France’s 4-3-3 moves to a lopsided 4-4-2 when they are out of possession, with Kylian Mbappe maintaining a high position, while the right winger drops deeper to form a midfield four and the left midfielder is tasked with defending the flank. This way, Deschamps frees Mbappe of any defensive responsibilities and keeps him in an advanced position to be a threat on the transition. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku endures another painful 90 minutes at a major tournament

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“Romelu Lukaku wants to be considered one of the best strikers in the world and, by most metrics, he is. The 31-year-old has been a consistent scorer at every club he has played for and has had moments when he has appeared world-class. Unfortunately, the Belgian is prone to performances like Monday’s against Slovakia, when he looked a long way short of that exalted level while his team surprisingly lost 1-0 in their opening Euro 2024 group game. Domenico Tedesco’s side arrived at this tournament unbeaten in 14 matches (10 wins) and with an attacking plan catering to Lukaku’s strengths. …”
NY Times/The Athletic

Romania 3 Ukraine 0: Stanciu’s scorcher, defensive steel and a memorable Romanian triumph

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“Romania returned to the European Championship in rip-roaring style with a historic victory over Ukraine in Munich. Edward Iordanescu’s side failed to qualify for Euro 2020 and had only scored three goals in a European Championship match once before, during their famous 3-2 win over England at Euro 2000, but in Munich, they got their Euro 2024 campaign off to the perfect start courtesy of goals from Nicolae Stanciu, Razvan Marin and Denis Dragus. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian – ‘Radical change’: resurgent Romania seek to forge new legacy at Euro 2024

England start Euro 2024 with a win – but there was that familiar issue of losing control

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Harry Kane 
“Jude Bellingham wasn’t having it. He wasn’t having Serbia forcing their way back into this match and, once it was over, he wasn’t having anyone rain on his or England’s parade. It was put to him in the post-match news conference that while the first half against Serbia had shown why England are among the favourites to win Euro 2024, the second half had shown the shortcomings that might ultimately be their undoing. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Jude Bellingham gives England winning start but Serbia make Southgate sweat

Christian Eriksen shines and scores but Denmark held late on by Slovenia

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“When Christian Eriksen collapsed in Denmark’s opening game of the European Championship three years ago, his unconscious body surrounded by his teammates as he received CPR, what then would have seemed a reasonable hope for the future? To survive? To lead a relatively normal life? To resume his career? Did anybody in those dreadful moments think he might play at Euro 2024? Even the most optimistic, surely, could not have foreseen a performance quite like this. But brilliant as Eriksen was, his display was not enough to deliver a win for Denmark. …”
Guardian

Wout Weghorst rescues Netherlands after Poland give them a shock

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“There was the unforgettable star turn off the bench in the World Cup quarter-finals against Argentina in the artificial surrounds of Lusail, and now Wout Weghorst can stash away another compelling piece of evidence of his nose for goal in a Netherlands shirt at a major tournament. In Qatar, Weghorst scored his first goal within five minutes of coming off the bench; the second goal, straight off the ­training ground from a Teun Koopmeiners free-kick, came in the 11th minute of stoppage time to force extra time. …”
Guardian

Spain 3 Croatia 0: Lamine Yamal makes history as youngest Euros player – The Briefing

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“It was the first real heavyweight meeting of Euro 2024 — and the result was much more one-sided than many expected. Spain got their campaign off to an impressive start with a 3-0 win over Croatia at Berlin’s Olympiastadion thanks to goals from Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal — all scored before half-time. Real Madrid full-back Carvajal’s strike was assisted by Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest player at a European Championship, aged 16 years and 338 days old. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: De la Fuente delights in variety of Spain attack spearheaded by Lamine Yamal

Italy 2 Albania 1: Bajrami scores fastest goal in Euros history, Barella leads fightback – The Briefing

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“If Italy wanted a wake-up call in their defence of the European Championship they got one — after 23 seconds. Nedim Bajrami stunned the holders when he capitalised on woeful defending to score the fastest goal in the tournament’s history. The response was simply brilliant from Luciano Spalletti’s team — Alessandro Bastoni heading them level after 11 minutes and Nicolo Barellafiring them in front five minutes later. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Italy bounce back from first-minute shock as Barella strike sinks Albania

Marvel of Eriksen’s recovery reminds us that glory comes in many forms – Jonathan Wilson

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“It was the third game of the Euros. There was a slow sense of familiarity returning. The night before, Italy had beaten Turkey 3-0 in Rome. Earlier in the afternoon, Wales and Switzerland had drawn 1-1 in Baku. In Copenhagen, Denmark would face Finland. Covid restrictions meant there would be only 13,700 at Parken. But a year after it should have been played, the fact Euro 2020 was going ahead at all was a symbol that, whatever the lingering effects of the virus, something approaching normal life could return. …”
Guardian

Hungary 1 Switzerland 3: Duah gamble pays off and Embolo’s comeback – The Briefing

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“Switzerland got their Euro 2024 off to a winning start thanks to a hugely impressive first-half performance from Murat Yakin’s team — and a welcome late return from Breel Embolo. Having gone 2-0 down in the first half, Hungary battled back after the break and halved the deficit through a Barnabas Varga header. There were some nervy moments for the Swiss until Embolo punished Willi Orban for a misplaced header and lifted in a third on his first international appearance since the 2022 World Cup. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian – Breel Embolo: the rebellious Swiss striker with a charitable cause

Germany 5 Scotland 1 – Germany’s new era, Scotland’s nightmare and why is Kroos retiring? – The Briefing

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“Euro 2024 got underway on Friday night as tournament hosts Germanytook on Scotland in Munich. Thousands of Scots had travelled to support their side in Bavaria, hoping to see a team — who have never previously progressed out of a group at an international tournament — record a famous result.  Instead Germany taught them a footballing lesson, Julian Nagelsmann’s side 3-0 up at half-time and a man to the good after Ryan Porteous was sent off for a horror tackle on Ilkay Gundogan. …”
NY Times/The Athletic
Guardian: Germany look like a team intent on writing their own history

How is Uefa trying to make Euro 2024 more sustainable?

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“‘The most sustainable European Championship of all time.’ It is a big statement, but that is Uefa’s aim for this summer’s tournament in Germany. To be the ‘most sustainable’ is, of course, difficult to quantify, with many factors involved. It is also hard to make comparisons because of the historical growth of the tournament. But, however Uefa defines it, European football’s governing body and German football are making big strides to reduce the impact of Euro 2024. What is being done? Sustainability has been an integral part of Euro 2024 since the 2018 bidding process, with its strategy focusing on environmental, social and governance pillars. …”
BBC

Euro 2024: 24 fans from 24 countries preview the tournament

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“Fans from across Europe share their predictions for the Euros. Most are tipping France or England to be champions …”
Guardian

Oldest squad? Most caps? Player call-ups per club? Here’s your ultimate Euro 2024 data guide

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“One player arrives at Euro 2024 with the best goals-per-cap rate, and it’s not Cristiano Ronaldo. One player will break the record as the oldest men’s player in European Championship history, and it’s… not Cristiano Ronaldo. Nearly one in five players competing in Germany play their club football in one country, but which one? Allow The Athletic to sprinkle some data-led seasoning on top of your tactical insights before the summer’s tournament, breaking down the make-up of each squad and providing some curious tidbits to fuel your excitement before the games begin. This is your definitive data guide to the squads at Euro 2024…”
NY Times/The Athletic

Is that extra Champions League spot still heading the Premier League’s way?

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“There is the adage, made famous by former Liverpool manager Bill Shankly, that second place was nowhere. Au contraire, Bill. It is not just second that has become somewhere, but third and fourth, too. And, from the end of this season, we might even start to consider finishing fifth in the 20-team Premier League a cause for celebration. A revamped Champions League has room for more clubs for 2024-25 and beyond, and that means the door could swing open for English football’s fifth-best team to earn their share of a financial windfall. …”
The Athletic

Borussia Dortmund fans protest Champions League reforms with banners and fake money during Newcastle game

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“Borussia Dortmund supporters threw fake money onto the pitch and displayed a banner appearing to criticise UEFAduring Tuesday’s Champions League group stage fixture against Newcastle United, protesting the upcoming competition reforms. After Niclas Fullkrug gave Dortmund the lead in the first half at Signal Iduna Park, the game was interrupted as supporters in the ‘Yellow Wall’ stand threw fake money, gold bars and tennis balls onto the pitch. The restart was briefly delayed as players assisted with efforts to clear the section of the pitch behind Gregor Kobel’s goal. …”
The Athletic

Uefa postpones all matches in Israel after outbreak of war with Hamas

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“Uefa has postponed all matches scheduled to take place in Israel over the next two weeks. The Israel-Hamas war has left at least 700 people dead in the country, a staggering toll on a scale not experienced in decades. … Uefa said: ‘Uefa will continue to closely monitor the situation and will remain in contact with all teams involved before making decisions on new dates and on potential changes to other upcoming fixtures.’ …”
Guardian
Guardian – Israel-Hamas war: what has happened and what has caused the conflict?

The Business of Football: Rubiales under fire, Haaland celebrations, Saudi sceptics

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“The last thing UEFA wanted to talk about at the annual launch of its club competitions this week was the only thing everyone else has been talking about. So, you could argue it was a case of mission accomplished for European football’s governing body in Monaco, as nobody — not with a microphone, anyway — said ‘Luis Rubiales’. But it would equally be true to say that the fate of the Spanish FA chief was the first topic of every conversation. …”
The Athletic

How Russia is creeping back into football Tifo Football

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“Since Russia invaded Ukraine, firstly in 2014, but in far greater and deadlier numbers on February 24th 2022 the country has been isolated politically, economically and culturally. And Russia has been suspended from UEFA and FIFA. But they want to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. How could they do that? Would they have to move federations? Well, it has been done before. James Montague explains. Philippe Fenner illustrates.”
YouTube

The Europa Conference League: an unlikely stroke of genius?

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“When UEFA announced the introduction of a tertiary continental club competition, it’s fair to say that the idea received a lukewarm reception at best. While some, for various reasons, did instantly herald the UEFA Europa Conference League as a welcome addition to the European calendar, for the majority it appeared to be another maverick UEFA project – a concept formulated by a governing body seemingly more concerned with validating its own role against a backdrop of rising ‘super’ club power than adding real value to the game. Clearly, there were also financial motivations involved, with UEFA looking to eke out every ounce of commercial potential from its lucrative estate. …”
Football Paradise

Barcelona’s ban on opposition colours and their fear of another Camp Nou takeover

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“‘I am ashamed of what I’ve seen. We will take action.’ These were the words of Barcelona president Joan Laporta after the second leg of last season’s Europa League quarter-final with Eintracht Frankfurt. In April 2022, his club had just suffered their second European embarrassment of the season. The first was elimination at the Champions League group stage that autumn. The second saw them knocked out of the Europa League at a Camp Nou overflowing with away fans. …”
The Athletic

Champions League last-16 preview: Analysing each team’s tactics

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“Europe’s top competition is back. For those who have missed the soothing tones of the Champions League anthem, fear not. The knockout stage is upon us and we have 16 more games to feast on over the next four weeks. Using FiveThirtyEight’s well-respected prediction model, Bayern Munich stand as favourites to win the competition, edging ahead of Manchester City, Real Madrid and dark horses Napoli. However, we all know how knockout football works — do not expect things to go the way you might predict. …”
The Athletic (Video)

What the new Super League is proposing ⁠- and how football has responded

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BBC: Plans for a European Super League led to protests outside Premier League stadiums
“The European Super League is back. We told you it would be. On Thursday, organisers of the controversial project presented a long-promised new proposal for a ‘multi-division’ competition involving up to 80 clubs, operating wholly outside of the authority of UEFA, European football’s current governing body. … It didn’t take long for the proposal to make waves across the sport. Immediately after the document’s publication, The Athletic contacted a number of clubs, leagues, governing bodies and charities to gather their views. You’ll find their opinions below in our line-by-line breakdown of A22’s statement. …”
The Athletic
The Athletic: The Super League’s return explained: How it would work, the response — and what happens next (Video)
BBC – European Super League: New proposal would be open competition, say organisers
W – European Super League

Russian teams playing friendly matches in Turkey despite UEFA and FIFA bans

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“Beneath the winter sun in the grounds of the five-star Sueno Hotel in Antalya on Turkey’s southern coast, where golf buggies help guests navigate the lengthy distances from their hotel rooms to plush facilities, a modest crowd is gathered between two football pitches. Austria Vienna are taking on Partizan Belgrade of Serbia on one pitch. Both clubs are big hitters in the top flights of their respective countries, and both are members of UEFA, European football’s organising body. Two teams that are trying to keep fit and focused as their leagues take a winter break. …”
The Athletic

La Liga Chief’s Feud With P.S.G. President Veers Into Court

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“For months, it seemed, the feud between the leader of Spain’s top soccer league and the president of the Qatar-owned French team Paris St.-Germain has played out noisily, and in public. Javier Tebas, the outspoken president of La Liga, would regularly criticize Paris St.-Germain and its Qatari leaders, accusing them of flagrantly breaking European soccer’s financial rules. And occasionally, the P.S.G. president, Nasser al-Khelaifi, would respond to Tebas with his own accusations, questioning the health of Spanish soccer, or trade barbs with him in the news media and in speeches. The more high-stakes fight, it turns out, was taking place behind the scenes. …”
NY Times

UEFA Champions League Preview: Big clash in Lisbon, while Juventus need a win

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“While Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez claims there are too many inconsequential matches, the Champions League group phase pushes ahead with matchday three. Matches that look quite appetising can be found right across Europe, from London to Leipzig to Lisbon. …”
Game of the People

How the Champions League final descended into chaos – visual investigation

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“On 28 May 2022 the Champions League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool took place at the Stade de France in Paris. But the showpiece match between two great clubs was disfigured by chaotic organisation, in which Liverpool supporters suffered a near disaster and riot police teargassed spectators while failing to protect people from violent attacks by local thugs. Yet the French government, police and Uefa united instantly to put the blame on Liverpool supporters, claiming that the chaos was caused by thousands seeking entry with fake tickets. …”
Guardian (Video)
Guardian – ‘I had to leave’: concerns raised over state of Uefa amid cronyism claims
Guardian: Uefa pre-prepared Champions League final statement blaming ‘late’ fans

Poland’s Lewandowski ‘proud to wear Ukraine armband’ at Qatar World Cup – video

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“Robert Lewandowski received a captain’s armband in Ukrainian yellow and blue from Andriy Shevchenko. The Poland striker promised to ‘carry the colours of Ukraine to the World Cup.’ Lewandowski was one of the first elite athletes to rally to Ukraine’s cause back in February, days after Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, when he lobbied for the postponement of Poland’s international fixture against Russia. When he next took the field for Bayern Munich, his teammates wore black armbands to honour the victims of the invasion, while Lewandowski, the Bayern captain at the time, wore an armband in the colours of Ukraine. …”
Guardian (Video)
Guardian: Russia demands Uefa ban Ukraine’s manager for remarks about war

Why the through ball is becoming a dying art in European football

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“The number of through balls in the UEFA Champions League dropped 50 per cent between the 2018-19 and 2021-22 seasons. In Europe’s top five leagues, the number of through balls dropped on average 30 per cent over the same period. In the Europa League, it dropped 24 per cent. The through ball is not extinct, but it is endangered.Before examining why, we need to define the term. FBref data define a through ball as a: ‘Completed pass sent between the back defenders into open space.’ It is a complex pass to complete, hence the number of through balls is never particularly high and is in fact lower than the goals-per-game total in Europe’s top divisions. …”
The Athletic (Video)

Investigation: Barcelona’s financial crisis and what the rest of football thinks of it

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“As the football industry shuddered from the reverberations of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bright minds in the Barcelona boardroom concocted a plan. With the club beset by financial angst, one of their executives approached UEFA, the organiser of the Champions League, with a proposal. Barcelona required loans to ease the pain caused by years of poor decision-making in the transfer market and extravagance on player salaries, all of which was exacerbated by a pandemic that shattered commercial and matchday income.  The idea, therefore, was to apply for a loan from a bank and use anticipated future broadcast revenues from playing in the Champions League as the security for the loan. …”
The Athletic (Video)

Prepare to fail: the transfer survival plan for new Premier League teams

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“To this day Tony Khan thinks Fulham had a good transfer window in the summer of 2018. Which is sweet. The untrained eye might be tempted to regard the £100m spent on Jean Michaël Seri, André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Alfie Mawson, Andre Schürrle and at least half a dozen others as one of the great spending failures of the modern Premier League era. Particularly when you consider what happened next: relegation with 26 points, three separate managers and a full-blown fistfight between Aleksandar Mitrovic and Aboubakar Kamara that apparently began during meditation in a team yoga session. …”
Guardian

The Dust Settles: The Biggest Changes in Stats Perform’s Power Rankings Over the Course of this Season

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“So that’s that. Another season in the books. Lots happened, but in some ways, lots stayed the same. As tends to happen, European football’s hierarchy tightened their stranglehold on silverware. Real Madrid, the very definition of footballing heritage, won their record 35th La Liga title and a 14th European Cup/Champions League. Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain continued their domestic league dominance. Elsewhere, it was a renaissance season for AC Milan, who won their first Scudetto in 11 years and returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2013-14. Forty-two years after winning the UEFA Cup in 1980, Eintracht Frankfurt won the famous trophy again, beating Rangers in the Europa League final. …”
The Analyst

UEFA Nations League: What to look out for on Matchday 2

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Raheem Sterling, England
“The third edition of the UEFA Nations League has kicked off. The first matchday is done, with five more to come ahead of the final tournament in June 2023. UEFA.com picks out the big fixtures from the Matchday 2 encounters. …”
UEFA Nations League (Video)

A Very Specific Risk

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“It can be hard, at times like these, to know exactly who to believe. On one side, there are the thousands of witness accounts, the contemporaneous reports from much of the world’s news media, the countless videos and an apparently bottomless reserve of high resolution photographs, all telling one story about last Saturday’s Champions League final. And that was all it took. As soon as UEFA decided that the real problem with this sporting event was all the people who wanted to watch it, the — let’s keep the lawyers happy — misinformation spread and disseminated and infected everything it touched. From that point on, Liverpool’s fans were presumed guilty until proven innocent, not least by considerable portions of the people who should, really, have been their allies: other soccer fans. …”
NY Times

Eastern Promise for Russia

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“Once Gazprom were cut as UEFA partners and Aeroflot was jettisoned as a blue chip Manchester United sponsor, an isolated discussion returned to the Russian football sphere – Europe can go get stuffed. And once clubs and national teams were banned from UEFA competitions on may We’re off to join Asia! …”
Backpage Football

Only in an alternate reality should Real Madrid be Champions League winners – that’s the beauty of football

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“On another day, in some other timeline, maybe Real Madrid could have won the 2021-22 Champions League final. It would have been improbable in any universe, with the way Carlo Ancelotti’s team played, but you can imagine some alternate reality where the movements of bodies and balls are just a little less orderly, where football is a little less fair — who knows, maybe stranger things have happened in a world like that than a smash-and-grab 1-0 win. But yesterday was not that day, and this is not that timeline. Of course Liverpool are champions. …”
The Athletic
The Athletic – Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid analysis: Courtois’ saves and Klopp’s goalless finals
Guardian – ‘Don’t be sad’: Liverpool fans pack city streets to welcome heroes home
BBC – Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid: Champions League defeat caps miserable end to magnificent season amid Paris chaos (Video)
NY Times: UEFA Blames Delay at Champions League Final on ‘Fake Tickets’

How will the new Champions League work?

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“The new format for the UEFA Champions League has been confirmed. After proposing a ‘Swiss Model’, UEFA has taken on board feedback from member clubs and has finalised a new version of the Champions League. But what is it? What will it mean for your club? Who is unhappy? Written by Dan Sheldon, illustrated by Alice Devine.”
YouTube

1987 FA Cup Final

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“The 1987 FA Cup Final between Coventry City and Tottenham Hotspur on 16 May 1987 at Wembley Stadium, London, England was the 106th Final of the FA Cup, English football‘s primary cup competition. It was the third final for Tottenham Hotspur in seven years, the team having won the trophy in 1981 and 1982, while Coventry were making their first appearance. Both clubs were in the Football League First Division that season, giving them entry into the competition in the third round. They each won five games en route to the final, with Coventry beating Leeds United 3–2 and Tottenham beating Watford 4–1 in their respective semi-finals. Both clubs recorded songs to commemorate reaching the final. …”
Wikipedia
Where Are They Now? #17 – 1987 FA Cup Final (Coventry City)
YouTube: Tottenham vs Coventry 2-3 | FA Cup Final 1987

You Decide Which Games Matter

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“Only a little more than a year ago, the Europa Conference League was still just an idea. It did not, in truth, even seem like an especially good idea. Explaining where such a league would fit into the game’s pecking order, what its purpose would be, hardly had the making of a compelling elevator pitch. Europe already had two continental tournaments: the wildly popular Champions League and the broadly tolerated Europa League. Why not add a third, then — one that encompassed all of the teams that were not quite good enough to qualify for the other two competitions? …”
NY Times
W – FA Cup
W – UEFA Europa Conference League