Football

Olivier Giroud, France's all-time leading goalscorer, has announced his retirement from international football after the upcoming Euro 2024 tournament. The 37-year-old striker, who has scored 57 goals in 131 appearances for Les Bleus, made the announcement in an interview with L'Equipe.Giroud, who will join MLS side Los Angeles FC after Euro 2024, said it was time for the younger generation to take over. "To be honest, this will be my last tournament with France," he said. "Obviously I will miss it a lot. But I believe as regards 'Les Bleus', it will be game over after Euro. It is time to leave the stage to the young."Giroud broke Thierry Henry's national goalscoring record of 51 at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar, where France lost to Argentina on penalties in the final. He also played a key role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph.Despite his success at international level, Giroud has never won the Premier League title, a fact he acknowledged in his interview. "If I triumph in the Euro, I can say that I won everything apart from the Premier League, which is very difficult to win," he said.Giroud began his career at Montpellier, where he inspired the club to the 2012 Ligue 1 title. He then moved to Arsenal, where he won three FA Cups, before joining Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup again and the Champions League. He moved to AC Milan in 2021 and won the Serie A title in 2022.Giroud believes he still has two years left in his club career, but he feels that his time with the French national team has come to an end. "I still think I have two years in me, but for the France team in my opinion it has come to an end," he said. "Time is beginning to catch up with me and I have thought about it long and hard. Playing every three days is becoming more and more difficult, especially at international level."

Italy's provisional squad for Euro 2024 has been announced, with Gianluca Scamacca earning a spot after his impressive performances for Atalanta. The 25-year-old striker has been in scintillating form, scoring 11 goals and assisting four more since March, helping Atalanta secure a historic Europa League triumph.Scamacca's inclusion is a testament to his resurgence under coach Luciano Spalletti, who had previously criticized the striker for his off-field habits. However, Scamacca's recent performances have forced Spalletti to reconsider, as Italy seeks to address its long-standing issue of finding reliable strikers.Inconsistent Ciro Immobile, a key figure in Italy's Euro 2020 triumph, has been dropped from the squad. Scamacca is expected to lead the line alongside Juventus star Federico Chiesa, who will be joined by surprise inclusion Nicolo Fagioli.Fagioli, a Juventus midfielder, has been included despite missing most of the season due to a gambling ban. His selection is part of a youth movement in the Italian squad, with several veterans from the last Euro victory being replaced.Marco Verratti, Manuel Locatelli, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci, and Lorenzo Insigne are among the notable absentees. Spalletti will announce his final squad on June 6, which will face Spain, Croatia, and Albania in Group B.Italy will play pre-tournament friendlies against Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina early next month.

England manager Gareth Southgate has unveiled his provisional 33-man squad for Euro 2024, with notable omissions including Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson.Rashford, who has 60 caps and 17 goals for England, has endured a difficult season with Manchester United, scoring only seven Premier League goals. Southgate explained that other players in his position have had better seasons.Henderson, a former Liverpool midfielder, has also been left out after a disappointing spell with Saudi Arabian club Al-Ettifaq. He may now reconsider his international future.Several uncapped players have been included in the provisional squad, including Liverpool duo Curtis Jones and Jarell Quansah, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton.Southgate will cut his squad to 26 by the June 7 deadline. He faces a difficult task in selecting his final team, given the depth of talent available to him.England are considered favorites for the tournament in Germany, having reached the final of Euro 2020 and boasting a talented squad that includes Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane, and Bukayo Saka.However, Southgate has expressed concerns about England's defense, which has been a weakness in recent years. He is considering new candidates in this area, with Quansah, Branthwaite, and Marc Guehi among those included in the provisional squad.Despite being out injured for a lengthy period, Manchester United's Luke Shaw has been included. Southgate has remained loyal to Harry Maguire, while Jack Grealish is still in contention despite admitting to being below his best for Manchester City this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the legendary Portuguese forward, will embark on his sixth European Championship campaign at the age of 39. The veteran defender Pepe, now 41, has also been included in coach Roberto Martinez's 26-man squad for the tournament.Ronaldo, who has scored in every Euros since his debut in 2004, has netted an impressive 14 goals in the finals. He also contributed 10 goals in European qualifying matches last year. Despite his age, Ronaldo remains a potent force, as evidenced by his 42 goals and 13 assists in all competitions for Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr."Cristiano? It's better to talk about the data," said Martinez. "He's a player who's scored 42 goals in 41 games for his club. That shows his continuity and physical ability to always be fit, as well as the quality he has in front of goal, which we really like and need."Pepe, who has been an integral part of Porto's team this year, will provide experience and leadership to the squad. Despite his age, he remains a formidable defender, as demonstrated by his clean sheets in two games in March."Pepe's role in the dressing room is important, the way he represents the national team shirt," added Martinez. "His communication, his positioning mean that, when he's fit, he's a very important player."The squad also includes nine players from the Premier League, including Ruben Dias, Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva, and Diogo Jota. Goncalo Inacio is the only Sporting player in the squad.

Real Madrid's German midfielder Toni Kroos has announced his retirement from all football after the Euro 2024 tournament. The 34-year-old, who won the 2014 World Cup with Germany, made the announcement on Instagram on Tuesday.Kroos has been a key player for Real Madrid since joining the Spanish giants in 2014, forming a formidable midfield partnership with Luka Modric. He has won the Champions League five times with Real, including the upcoming final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1.Before the European Championship, Kroos has a chance to win the Champions League with Real for a fifth time when they face Borussia Dortmund at Wembley on June 1. He also won the Champions League with Bayern Munich before joining the Spanish giants.Kroos joined Real in 2014 and quickly formed a formidable midfield partnership with Luka Modric. In a statement on their website, Real said Kroos "will go down in Real Madrid history as one of our club and international football's greatest legends".Kroos has also won the Liga title four times. He announced he was quitting international football in July 2021 but reversed his decision in February after talks with Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann, who persuaded him to play on till the Euro 2024 on home soil."My ambition was always to finish my career at the peak of my performance level," Kroos said on Instagram. "I am happy and proud that in my mind I found the right timing for my decision and that I could choose it on my own."Kroos was one of the key players when Germany won the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and scored twice when they inflicted a 7-1 defeat on the host nation in the semi-finals. But four years later he was unable to prevent Germany from crashing out in the group stage in Russia.

World champion N'Golo Kante will make a surprise return to international football as France coach Didier Deschamps announced Thursday the 25 players that will make up the French squad at Euro 2024. Kante left English side Chelsea last summer to join Saudi club Al Ittihad and has not represented France since June 2022."He played a full season (Kante struggled with injury during his time with Chelsea), albeit not in a European league, as he is in Saudi Arabia," said Deschamps on French TV channel TF1."He's back to full fitness. With his experience, I'm convinced that the French team will be stronger with N'Golo Kante."The 2018 World Cup winner was the big surprise in Deschamps' squad, but the 33-year-old's experience will doubtless be a help to youngsters Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola, who also made the squad after fine seasons at Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.Winger Barcola, 21, is the only uncapped player in the squad but forced his way in with a strong finish to the season, impressing particularly with his performances in the knock-out stages of the Champions League against Real Sociedad and Barcelona.Also making a return to the international fold is Real Madrid defender Ferland Mendy, who has not played for France since September 2022, but has been a regular this term for his club who are on course to complete a Spanish league-Champions League double.Star attacker Kylian Mbappe was also included in the squad, as were Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud and Arsenal defender William Saliba.Mbappe comes into the tournament in fine form, despite uncertainty about where he will play his football next season after confirming he would leave PSG this summer.The France captain has scored 44 goals so far this season and can add to that tally in his team's remaining Ligue 1 match and the French Cup final.After a stunning breakthrough season at PSG, Zaire-Emery earned his first call-up in November of last year, marking the occasion with a goal in a 14-0 rout of Gibraltar."Very happy to be on the list, it's one of the best competitions to play with France and I'm very happy and proud to represent my country," said Zaire-Emery via video link on TF1.The 18-year-old added that he had been granted a special dispensation to sit his final school exams later in order to perform at his best at the Euro during the summer."I asked to be able to do it in September to be calm and focussed on football," said Zaire-Emery.Aurelien Tchouameni, who is a doubt for June's Champions League final, Mike Maignan and Kingsley Coman all made the squad despite currently carrying injuries.PSG's Lucas Hernandez missed out after rupturing his anterior cruciate knee in May.After defeat in the final at home in 2016 and a disappointing early exit in 2021, France come into Euro 2024 among the pre-tournament favourites to win a third European Championship after victory in 1984 and 2000.France will begin their Euro campaign in Germany on June 17 against Austria, before taking on the Netherlands four days later and completing their group-stage matches against Poland on June 25.

Germany's head coach, Julian Nagelsmann, unveiled his initial 27-man squad for the upcoming European Championship in a unique and inclusive manner. The announcement was made through a video message featuring a diverse group of individuals from various walks of life, reflecting the multicultural fabric of German society.Nagelsmann expressed his satisfaction with the squad, stating that it could have been his own selection. He emphasized the importance of involving the public in the announcement, as it showcased the team's connection to the nation and its aspirations for success in the home tournament.The squad largely maintains the core group that Nagelsmann has been developing since March. Despite strong performances in the season's latter stages, Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels and Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka were not included. However, Hummels' teammate Nico Schlotterbeck returns to the fold after an absence since September.Schlotterbeck and Dortmund teammate Niclas Füllkrug will join the squad later due to their involvement in the Champions League final. Real Madrid's Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger, also named in the squad, will also join the team after the final.Nagelsmann acknowledged that the late arrival of these players will pose some challenges in training, but he expressed confidence in their ability to contribute to the team's success.The squad announcement was preceded by leaks in the media, but the official confirmations through the video message added an element of excitement and anticipation. Thomas Müller, Germany's most experienced player with 128 caps, was among those who hinted at his inclusion on social media before the official announcement.Germany will host Euro 2024 from June 14 to July 14. Nagelsmann's team will begin its preparations in Blankenhain from May 26-31 before moving to Herzogenaurach on June 1. The team will play friendlies against Ukraine, Greece, and Scotland before opening the tournament against Scotland in Munich.Nagelsmann expressed optimism about Germany's chances in the tournament, stating that he believes the team can win it. He emphasized the importance of building confidence and momentum in the lead-up to the tournament.

Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck has been named the first player in Julian Nagelsmann's 26-man squad for Euro 2024, according to German media reports. The news was revealed by football website Kicker, citing a source close to the German Football Association (DFB).The DFB is reportedly unveiling players individually ahead of the official announcement in Berlin on Thursday to minimize the risk of leaks. Schlotterbeck, 24, made two appearances for Germany at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but was subsequently dropped by Nagelsmann.However, his impressive performances for Dortmund, who have qualified for the Champions League final against Real Madrid, have earned him a recall to the national team. Germany will kick off their Euro 2024 campaign against Scotland in Munich on June 14.Schlotterbeck's inclusion in the squad is a testament to his resurgence at Dortmund. After a difficult start to his career at the club, he has become a key player under Edin Terzić, forming a formidable partnership with Mats Hummels at the heart of the defense.His performances have not only helped Dortmund secure a top-four finish in the Bundesliga but also reach the final of the Champions League. Schlotterbeck's versatility, as he can also play as a left-back, makes him a valuable asset to Nagelsmann's squad.With Euro 2024 being played on home soil, Germany will be eager to make a strong impression. Nagelsmann has a wealth of talent at his disposal, and Schlotterbeck's inclusion is a sign that he is willing to give opportunities to players who are in form.

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has expressed his belief that England has the potential to triumph at Euro 2024, drawing parallels to his club's journey to Champions League glory. Guardiola, who guided City to their maiden European crown last season, sees similarities between the English national team and his own squad.England has endured a string of near misses in recent tournaments, including a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 final and a quarterfinal exit at the 2022 World Cup. However, Guardiola believes that the Three Lions are on the cusp of success."They are really good. It's not just the talent of the strikers, it's the whole package, the whole group," Guardiola said. "Gareth [Southgate] knows perfectly what he has to do."Guardiola emphasized the importance of belief and the unwavering support of the English fans. "When you arrive at these stages every two years, it's going to happen. It's quite similar to us, we were close, and in the end we lifted it," he said.The Spaniard also highlighted the role of Phil Foden, who has emerged as a key player for both City and England. "If he continues his career until the end here, and continues that level, he can be one of the best, that's for sure," Guardiola said.Guardiola's comments come as England prepares for their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, which begins in March. The Three Lions will be aiming to build on their recent progress and finally break their trophy drought.