Game
Euro 2020: Kieran Tierney ‘fit and available’ for England clash – Scotland boss
Scotland boss Steve Clarke has confirmed that Kieran Tierney is “fit and available” for their Euro 2020 clash with England. Tierney was forced to miss Scotland’s Group D opener against the Czech Republic after picking up a knock in training. The Arsenal defender saw his country suffer a damaging 2-0 loss in his absence, but Clarke is ready to welcome him back into the fold for their vital meeting with the Three Lions at Wembley on Friday. Asked for an update on Tierney’s condition at a pre-match press conference, the Scotland head coach told reporters: “Everybody fit and available, including Kieran. “It’s good news for Kieran, it’s good news for us, it’s good news for the Scottish supporters, so hopefully we can back all that up with a good result. “He’s trained fully the last two days, so...
Euro 2020: Wales set for hostile crowd as Italy eye knockouts
Wales are bracing for a hostile reception when they face Turkey in Baku at Euro 2020 on Wednesday while rejuvenated Italy can seal their place in the last-16 with victory against Switzerland. After drawing 1-1 with the Swiss in their opening Group A game, Wales play in the capital of Azerbaijan, with locals expected to get behind their Turkish neighbours, who will also have several thousand travelling fans on their side. Wales captain Gareth Bale, who experienced a dizzying run to the semi-finals at Euro 2016, said he was unfazed by the prospect of an aggressive atmosphere. “Hostility is no problem,” said the Real Madrid forward. “This is what we do for a living. We’re used to playing in away games and being in front of hostile crowds.” Turkey are desperate to shake off the disappointment ...
Liverpool given go-ahead for Anfield expansion
Liverpool have been given the go-ahead to expand Anfield by around 7,000 seats, taking the total capacity at their historic stadium to more than 61,000. City council planners voted in favour of the redevelopment of the Anfield Road Stand on Tuesday, despite concerns expressed by residents and environmental groups about the impact on nearby Stanley Park. The Premier League club’s project is expected to be completed in 2023. “This is a huge milestone in our journey towards bringing more supporters into Anfield,” said Liverpool managing director Andy Hughes. “We underwent a rigorous two-stage public consultation period during the planning process for this project and I would like to thank everyone who has offered a contribution to that.” As part of the application, the club have also been giv...
Euro 2020: Spain boss rues missed chances but defends game plan
Spain coach Luis Enrique rued missed chances from his side in their 0-0 European Championship draw with Sweden on Monday, insisting he will not be changing his style of play despite getting off to a disappointing start in the tournament. It was a familiar story for Spain, who enjoyed 85 per cent possession in Seville, the highest figure for a team in a European Championship fixture since 1980 when Opta started recording the data. “We were by far the better team, the opposition tried to hang back, we completely controlled the game and tried to generate as many chances as possible,” Luis Enrique told a news conference. “We were up against a physically strong team. We did have the chances to win the game. What went wrong was that we did not take these chances.” The Spain coach was also keen t...
Danish players criticise decision to resume game after Christian Eriksen collapse
Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and striker Martin Braithwaite on Monday lamented that they had to choose whether to restart the Denmark-Finland Euro 2020 match while they were reeling from Christian Eriksen’s mid-game collapse. “We were put in a position, that I personally feel that we shouldn’t have been put in,” Schmeichel told Danish media at a press event in Helsingor north of Copenhagen. “We had two options,” Schmeichel explained. “Either come back the day after (Sunday) at noon or continue the game.” The Leicester City goalkeeper said he wished someone more senior would’ve said “that it wasn’t the time to take that decision, and that we should maybe wait until the day after to decide”. “What has happened has happened, and hopefully they’ll learn from this,” Schmeichel said, a...
Euro 2020: Jose Mourinho ‘prayed’ and ‘cried’ after Eriksen collapsed
Jose Mourinho revealed he “prayed” and “cried” for Christian Eriksen after the Denmark star collapsed during Saturday’s Euro 2020 clash against Finland. Inter midfielder Eriksen suffered cardiac arrest when collapsing on the pitch before being resuscitated, Denmark’s team doctor Morten Boesen said. Eriksen was given CPR by medics in the first half of the Group B match after falling to the ground with no other player around him – the fixture was originally suspended, but the former Tottenham star was later confirmed to be “awake” and the game resumed a little under two hours later, with Finland winning 1-0 in Copenhagen. Ex-Tottenham head coach Mourinho spent time with Eriksen prior to the Denmark international’s move to Inter in 2020 and the Roma-bound boss said he was reduced to tears. “I...
Denmark give fresh update on Christian Eriksen following collapse in Euro 2020 opener
Denmark have given a fresh update on Christian Eriksen’s condition following his collapse in their Euro 2020 opener. Eriksen fell to the turf in the first half of Denmark’s Group B clash with Ukraine at the Parken Stadium in Copenhagen on Saturday afternoon, and subsequently needed emergency medical treatment. The match was suspended after the midfielder was removed from the stadium on a stretcher and sent to hospital, where he was later revealed to be awake and in a stable physical state. The Danish Football Association (DBU) have now released a statement confirming that Eriksen will remain hospitalised to undergo more tests, but he has been in contact with the national team staff and his team-mates. “This morning we have spoken to Christian Eriksen, who has sent his greetings to his team...
Ghana and Ivory Coast play out goalless draw in Cape Coast
Ghana failed to score for the second straight game as their international friendly encounter against Ivory Coast ended in a goalless draw at the Cape Coast stadium on Saturday. The Ivorians were largely dominant in the game and could have won. Akonnor’s side in comparison were poor throughout, struggling to find a way to trouble their opponents. After the disappointing 1-0 loss to Morocco, a response was expected from Ghana in front of their home fans but it ended in disappointment. Ghana’s biggest chance came at the end of the first half where Thomas Partey tried one from distance but saw his shot saved by the opposition goalkeeper. Ivory Coast nearly found the net before that. A brilliant one-two exposed the Black Stars defence but the finishing at the end was lacking. Max Gradel’s goal-...
Euro 2020: We’re prepared to face Switzerland, Italy, Turkey – Gareth Bale
Wales captain Gareth Bale says he’s optimistic the team will qualify to the knockout stages of Euro 2020 despite been pitted alongside Italy, Turkey and Switzerland. Wales are expected to kick-off their campaign against Switzerland on Saturday and Bale in a pre-match press conference stated that they are well-prepared for the tournament. Bale is one of eight survivors from the Wales squad that reached the last four in France when Chris Coleman was in charge, and the Real Madrid star is looking no further than the crunch first game against the Swiss. “I think it’s similar,” said Bale when asked at his pre-match press conference about Wales’ expectations heading into Euro 2020 compared to last time out. “Coming on the back of 2016 people will argue that maybe we should be doing things, but w...
Michael Owen: Phil Foden will set Euro 2020 on fire
Former England striker Michael Owen has tipped Manchester City midfielder, Phil Foden to shine for the Three Lions in Euro 2020. Foden, who was a star for the Citizens in the just concluded Premier League, where Manchester City was crowned champions, will be hoping to replicate Owen’s performance at the tournament. In a chat TribalFootball, Owen stated that Foden will set Euro 2020 on fire. “I think Foden is special, he’s different. I think we are talking about someone that could be great, he could be world-class,” Owen said. “His strength is the way he moves, his first touch. It’s all effortless, the way he glides into the game. A lot of people take a touch and then move. Everything he does is so easy on the eye. “He has real speed that people don’t even notice because he doesn’t look lik...
Maduka Okoye: Super Eagles ready for revenge vs Cameroon
Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye says the team will look to avenge last Friday’s defeat to Cameroon when they face the Indomitable Lions in their second friendly on Tuesday night. Zambo Anguissa struck in the 37th minute to hand Antonio Conceicao’s side their first win against the West Africans in over two decades. The Super Eagles created a number of chances after the break but failed to make them count. Gernot Rohr’s charges have another opportunity to make amend in the second friendly and Okoye is confident they will come out with a win this time around. “We have taken some positives from the first match against Cameroon,” the Sparta Rotterdam of Holland goalie told the NFF media. “We had a good game and it was unfortunate that they scored with just that one shot on target. “However...
Danish players criticise decision to resume game after Christian Eriksen collapse
Denmark’s goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and striker Martin Braithwaite on Monday lamented that they had to choose whether to restart the Denmark-Finland Euro 2020 match while they were reeling from Christian Eriksen’s mid-game collapse. “We were put in a position, that I personally feel that we shouldn’t have been put in,” Schmeichel told Danish media at a press event in Helsingor north of Copenhagen. “We had two options,” Schmeichel explained. “Either come back the day after (Sunday) at noon or continue the game.” The Leicester City goalkeeper said he wished someone more senior would’ve said “that it wasn’t the time to take that decision, and that we should maybe wait until the day after to decide”. “What has happened has happened, and hopefully they’ll learn from this,” Schmeichel said, a...