Football

Atlético Madrid overcame a sluggish start to secure a 3-1 victory over Leganés in La Liga on Sunday, thanks to a brace from Alexander Sorloth.Diego Simeone's side struggled to find their rhythm against the relegation-threatened visitors, who took a shock lead through Yvan Neyou's thunderous strike. However, Sorloth restored parity with a clinical finish in the 69th minute, setting the stage for a dramatic second half.Antoine Griezmann put Atlético ahead with a close-range effort, assisted by Giuliano Simeone, who had replaced Rodrigo Riquelme in the second half. Griezmann's goal was initially ruled out for offside but was later awarded after a VAR review.Despite Griezmann's subsequent red card for a high tackle, Atlético held on to their lead. Sorloth sealed the victory in stoppage time with a poacher's finish, securing three crucial points for the Rojiblancos.The win lifted Atlético to third place in the La Liga standings, four points behind leaders Barcelona. It also ended a run of five matches without a victory in all competitions for Simeone's team.

Antoine Griezmann, the 2018 World Cup-winning star, has announced his retirement from international football, marking the end of a remarkable 10-year career with the French national team.Griezmann, 33, made his France debut in 2014 and has since become one of the most decorated players in the country's history. With 137 caps, he ranks third behind Hugo Lloris (145) and Lilian Thuram (142). He is also fourth on France's all-time scoring list with 44 goals, trailing only Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry, and Kylian Mbappe.Griezmann played a pivotal role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph, scoring in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final. He was also instrumental in the team's run to the Euro 2016 final, where he finished as the tournament's top scorer with six goals.Despite his impressive achievements, Griezmann's recent performances for France have been less than stellar. He struggled to find his best form at Euro 2024, where the team reached the semi-finals. His last appearance for Les Bleus came in a UEFA Nations League win over Belgium earlier this month.Griezmann's retirement is a significant moment for French football, as it marks the end of an era for the national team. Lloris, Varane, and Giroud have all recently retired from international duty, leaving a void in the squad.Coach Didier Deschamps will name his next France squad this Thursday ahead of Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium. It remains to be seen who will step up to fill the void left by Griezmann and the other departed veterans.

Julian Alvarez's late heroics secured a dramatic 1-0 victory for Atletico Madrid at Celta Vigo in La Liga on Thursday. Despite a lackluster performance, the Argentine substitute's 90th-minute strike snatched all three points for Diego Simeone's side.Atletico struggled to create chances in the first half, failing to register a single shot. Celta, on the other hand, threatened through Iago Aspas and Borja Iglesias, but Slovenian goalkeeper Jan Oblak made crucial saves to keep the visitors level.Simeone introduced Alvarez in the second half, and the former Manchester City striker made an immediate impact. He stayed alert to prod home Antoine Griezmann's deep cross at the back post, securing a vital victory for Atletico."We didn't play well in attack in the first half," Simeone admitted. "The subs gave us a bit more creativity to be able to win the game."Earlier in the day, Ayoze Perez scored twice to lead Villarreal to a 2-1 win at Espanyol. The Spain international now has six goals this season, trailing only Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski in the scoring charts.Real Betis, however, could only manage a 1-1 draw at bottom-of-the-table Las Palmas. Barcelona remain top of the league after their 1-0 win over Getafe on Wednesday, with Real Madrid second following their 3-2 victory against Alaves on Tuesday.

France and the Netherlands played out a goalless draw in Leipzig, edging closer to the last 16 of Euro 2024. The match lacked the spark of Kylian Mbappe, who sat out due to a broken nose.Despite the absence of their talisman, France had the better chances. Antoine Griezmann missed two glorious opportunities, while Marcus Thuram and Aurelien Tchouameni also came close. The Dutch, roared on by a large contingent of fans, had a goal controversially ruled out for offside. Xavi Simons fired in the rebound after Mike Maignan saved from Memphis Depay, but Denzel Dumfries was adjudged to have interfered with Maignan's line of sight.The draw leaves both teams level on four points at the top of Group D, one ahead of Austria. France face Poland, while the Netherlands take on Austria in the final games of the section on Tuesday.France coach Didier Deschamps opted for security in midfield, replacing Mbappe with Tchouameni. Without their captain, the 2022 World Cup finalists looked to Griezmann for inspiration. The stand-in skipper tested Bart Verbruggen from distance but missed a sitter before half-time.The Dutch had their moments, with Jeremie Frimpong forcing Maignan into an early save. Cody Gakpo also tested the French goalkeeper with a low drive.In the second half, France continued to create chances. Thuram fired wide from the edge of the area, while Tchouameni headed over. Griezmann was guilty of another big miss when he failed to convert a clear-cut opportunity.The major talking point of the match was the disallowed Dutch goal. Simons' effort was ruled out after a lengthy VAR check, much to the frustration of the Dutch players and fans.Deschamps resisted the temptation to risk Mbappe in the closing stages, instead sending on Olivier Giroud and Kingsley Coman. However, neither side could find a winner, and both teams settled for a point that is likely to be enough to secure their passage to the knockout rounds.

France, the reigning World Cup champions, embark on their Euro 2024 campaign with a mission to conquer the elusive European Championship title. Led by the prodigious Kylian Mbappe, Les Bleus aim to make amends for their recent disappointments in the continental tournament.Despite their World Cup triumph in 2018 and UEFA Nations League victory in 2021, France has failed to lift the European Championship since Didier Deschamps took over as coach in 2012. As runners-up in 2016 and a disappointing exit in the last 16 of Euro 2020, the French are determined to make history in Germany.Mbappe, now a Real Madrid star, is eager to lead his country to glory. "The Euros is the only thing he [Deschamps] is missing as a coach," Mbappe said. "After that, he will have ticked every box."France boasts a formidable squad, with Mbappe as the centerpiece. Antoine Griezmann is expected to reprise his midfield role, while Marcus Thuram and Theo Hernandez will provide attacking threat from the left flank. The return of N'Golo Kante adds experience and stability to the midfield.Despite recent unconvincing performances, Deschamps remains confident in his team's ability to find their best form in Germany. He has made tactical adjustments, including experimenting with Griezmann's position and introducing a more attacking left side.William Saliba, Arsenal's rising star, is poised to establish himself in the central defense. Ousmane Dembele's pace and skill on the right wing pose a constant threat to opponents.France's ambitions are not dampened by their recent struggles. "Our ambitions have not changed," said winger Kingsley Coman. "We'll do everything we can."With a blend of experience and youthful exuberance, France has the potential to go all the way in Euro 2024. Their quest for European glory begins on Monday against Austria, as they aim to make a statement and bring a divided country together.

Antoine Griezmann's hat-trick propelled Atletico Madrid to a 3-0 victory over Getafe, securing their place in the Champions League for the 12th consecutive season. The triumph at Getafe's Coliseum Alfonso Perez ensured Diego Simeone's side will finish in the top four of La Liga.Griezmann, inspired by his recent performances for France, led the Rojiblancos to a dominant victory in the Madrid suburbs. The 33-year-old forward opened the scoring in the 27th minute, running onto Rodrigo De Paul's pass and beating Getafe goalkeeper David Soria with a low effort.Before halftime, Griezmann converted his second goal from Angel Correa's low pass across the area, which was confirmed after a VAR review. The former Real Sociedad striker completed his hat-trick after the break, finishing a sharp Atletico move with a prodded effort at the near post.Griezmann's goalscoring exploits have been a welcome sight for Atletico, who have endured a challenging season. Despite a strong start and becoming the only side in Spain to defeat Real Madrid this season, their campaign began to unravel with exits in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.However, the victory over Getafe has guaranteed their return to Europe's top competition next season. "It's been a lot of years getting into the Champions League, which is something to value," Griezmann said. "But with the team we have and the talent we have, and the coach we have, it's something we have to do."Celta Vigo's 2-1 comeback win over Athletic Bilbao has left Cadiz's hopes of survival hanging by a thread. Williot Swedberg and Hugo Alvarez's goals helped Celta triumph at Balaidos, moving them five points clear of the drop zone. Sergio Guardiola's 96th-minute winner for Cadiz means they are four points from safety with two matches remaining.