Football

England, the Three Lions, are poised to make a bold statement at Euro 2024 as they set their sights on capturing their first major trophy since 1966. Led by manager Gareth Southgate, England will face Serbia, Denmark, and Slovenia in Group C, aiming to navigate the group stage and advance deep into the tournament.Despite recent near misses, including a heartbreaking penalty shootout loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final, England remains a formidable force. Boasting a squad brimming with world-class talent, including Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and Phil Foden, they are considered one of the favorites alongside France and hosts Germany.Southgate, who is entering what could be his final tournament in charge, is embracing the expectations and believes England has the potential to triumph in Berlin on July 14. "Everybody is waiting for that headline ('We can win the Euros')," he said. "There is no doubt what's possible, they have gone close already."England's journey begins on June 16 in Gelsenkirchen against Serbia, who finished second in their qualifying group behind Hungary. Four days later, they will face Denmark in Frankfurt, a team that pushed them to the brink in a dramatic Euro 2020 semi-final. The group stage concludes on June 25 in Cologne against Slovenia, a team participating in a major tournament for the first time since 2010.Finishing top of Group C would be crucial for England's aspirations, as it would grant them a more favorable last-16 tie against a third-placed team from another group. However, a second-place finish could potentially set up a daunting clash against Germany.Denmark, with their impressive squad led by Christian Eriksen, will pose a significant challenge for England. Slovenia, despite being the underdogs, will be determined to make an impact in their first European Championship appearance in 24 years.Serbia, with Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic and AC Milan forward Luka Jovic in their ranks, will also be a threat. England's success will hinge on their ability to maintain focus, execute their game plan, and overcome the pressure that comes with being one of the tournament favorites.

Borussia Dortmund's remarkable Champions League journey culminates in a daunting clash against the formidable Real Madrid in Saturday's final at Wembley Stadium. The Spanish giants, boasting an unparalleled 14 European Cup triumphs, are overwhelming favorites against a Dortmund side that has defied expectations to reach the showpiece event.Real Madrid's unwavering resilience has been a hallmark of their Champions League campaign. They overcame a relentless Manchester City in the quarterfinals on penalties and staged a dramatic late comeback against Bayern Munich in the semifinals. Their confidence is sky-high as they seek to cap a memorable season with another European crown.In contrast, Dortmund's domestic campaign has been less impressive, finishing fifth in the Bundesliga. However, they have reserved their best performances for the Champions League, topping a challenging group featuring Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. They then eliminated PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid before a heroic defensive display against PSG in the semifinals.Dortmund's success has been built on a strong team spirit and the emergence of young talents. Jude Bellingham, who left Dortmund for Real Madrid last year, believes his former club has prepared meticulously for this moment. "They've played amazingly, the character and mentality they've shown in a lot of games," he said.However, Dortmund recognize the magnitude of the task ahead. Real Madrid's rich history and star-studded squad make them a formidable opponent. "Our goal is to win the Champions League," said Dortmund coach Edin Terzic. "And if you want to win the Champions League, you have to beat the champions."For Real Madrid, the final presents an opportunity for several personal milestones. Carlo Ancelotti could become the first coach to win the European Cup four times, while Dani Carvajal, Luka Modric, and Toni Kroos could join Paco Gento as the only players to win the competition six times.The match will also be a test of UEFA's security measures after the chaos that marred the Euro 2020 final at Wembley. The English Football Association has invested heavily in improving safety and infrastructure to ensure a smooth and incident-free event.

Real Madrid's relentless march towards the Champions League final continued with a resounding 5-0 victory over Alaves at the Santiago Bernabeu. Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior were the stars of the show, inspiring Carlo Ancelotti's side to a comprehensive demolition of their Basque visitors.Bellingham opened the scoring with a fortunate goal, directing Toni Kroos' cross towards the far post where Dani Carvajal was running in, but the ball sank directly into the net. The England international then played a pivotal role in Madrid's next three goals, threading a pass through for Eduardo Camavinga to set up Vinicius for a tap-in.Fede Valverde rattled home the third in first-half stoppage time after Bellingham played him in, hammering a strike into the top corner at the near post. Vinicius extended Madrid's lead after Bellingham played him in, lashing home his second of the night with a fine finish.Turkish teenager Arda Guler added a late fifth to put the cherry on Madrid's cake, moving them 17 points clear of second-place Barcelona. The victory was Madrid's 30th consecutive league game unbeaten, a testament to their defensive solidity."We've had just one defeat in the league and I think that a big part of the success is because of (the defence)," Ancelotti said after the match.Despite celebrating their title with an open-top bus parade on Sunday, Madrid remain focused on the Champions League final against Liverpool on May 28. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who made a fine double save from Samu Omorodion in the opening minutes, is hoping for a start in the final and boasts three clean sheets in three matches since his return from injury."I knew I'd come back strongly -- I'm the same Courtois, or even better," said the goalkeeper.Alaves, who have enjoyed a strong season and are safely ensconced in mid-table, were dismantled with consummate ease by Madrid. Coach Luis Garcia Plaza lamented, "Every time a small team comes here, it's a torment."

Real Madrid's dominance in Spanish football has reached new heights as they clinched the La Liga title with four games to spare, leaving their rivals Barcelona trailing in their wake. The comprehensive 3-0 victory over relegation-threatened Cadiz, even with a lineup predominantly of bench players, was enough to secure the title as Barcelona stumbled to a 4-2 defeat against Girona.Barcelona's hopes of silverware this season have been dashed, as they now trail Real Madrid by an insurmountable 14 points. With Girona leapfrogging Barcelona into second place, Madrid's coronation as La Liga champions for the 36th time was confirmed, marking another chapter in the club's illustrious history.Real Madrid's triumph is a testament to their resilience and depth. Despite losing star forward Karim Benzema to injury at the start of the campaign, youngster Jude Bellingham stepped up with consistent performances, scoring 18 league goals and providing leadership in the midfield. Vinicius Junior's brilliance also played a crucial role in Madrid's success.Madrid's only loss in 34 rounds so far highlights their dominance. They beat Barcelona in both league "clasico" matches and dealt Girona a pair of lopsided losses in their two meetings.Ancelotti's decision to overhaul his lineup ahead of the decider against Bayern Munich paid off. Brahim Díaz broke through Cadiz's defense in the 51st minute, while Bellingham tapped in a second goal in the 68th. Joselu Mato added a third in injury time.Barcelona's double blow of watching Madrid claim the title and falling behind Girona in the Catalan derby was a bitter pill to swallow. Girona's top-four finish and Champions League berth is a significant achievement, but it also poses a potential issue for UEFA due to their ownership group's involvement with Manchester City.

Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham, two of England's most promising footballers, will face off in a highly anticipated Champions League semi-final first leg on Tuesday. The match pits Bayern Munich, Kane's current club, against Real Madrid, where Bellingham has established himself as a global superstar.Kane, 30, has been a beacon of consistency for Bayern this season, scoring 42 goals in all competitions. Despite Bayern's struggles in the Bundesliga, Kane's individual brilliance has kept them in contention for the Champions League.Bellingham, on the other hand, has emerged as one of the world's best midfielders at just 19 years old. His performances for Real Madrid have been instrumental in their pursuit of the La Liga title.The two England internationals have never faced each other before, but they have played alongside each other 22 times for the Three Lions. They have developed a strong on-field partnership, with Bellingham providing three assists for Kane at international level.Kane is eager to win his first major trophy with Bayern, while Bellingham is looking to add to his growing collection of silverware with Real Madrid. Both players will be determined to lead their teams to victory in the first leg of this highly anticipated semi-final.The match will also have implications for the England national team. Kane and Bellingham are expected to play key roles for the Three Lions at Euro 2024, which will be held in Munich. A strong performance in the Champions League semi-final could boost their confidence and momentum heading into the tournament.

Jude Bellingham's arrival at Real Madrid has been nothing short of spectacular. The English midfielder has already etched his name into the club's history books by becoming the first player to score in his first two Clasicos since Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2007.Bellingham's impact was evident in Real Madrid's thrilling 3-2 victory over Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu. After Andreas Christensen gave Barcelona an early lead, Bellingham's fellow countryman Vinicius Junior equalized from the penalty spot.In the second half, Fermin Lopez put Barcelona back in front, but Real Madrid responded with a swift equalizer from Lucas Vazquez. With the game seemingly destined for a draw, Bellingham emerged as the hero.In the 91st minute, Vazquez sent a teasing cross towards the far post, which Bellingham met with a clinical left-footed strike. The Bernabeu erupted in a chorus of "Hey Jude," as Bellingham sealed the victory for Real Madrid.Bellingham's performance was all the more impressive considering the absence of key players like Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos. The 19-year-old showed maturity beyond his years, dictating the tempo of the game and creating chances for his teammates.Barcelona's defeat was a major setback in their pursuit of the La Liga title. The Catalan giants are now 11 points behind Real Madrid with just 15 games remaining. Xavi Hernandez, who is stepping down as Barcelona manager at the end of the season, expressed his frustration with the lack of goal-line technology in La Liga.Despite the defeat, Xavi praised Bellingham's performance. "He's a special player," Xavi said. "He has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the world."Bellingham's rise to prominence has been meteoric. After impressing at Borussia Dortmund, he joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 for a reported fee of €100 million. In his first season at the Bernabeu, he has already established himself as a key player for Carlo Ancelotti's side.With his exceptional talent and unwavering determination, Jude Bellingham is poised to become a legend at Real Madrid. The future looks bright for the English star and the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid's unwavering "mentality" proved decisive as they overcame Manchester City in a thrilling Champions League quarter-final second leg, securing a 4-3 penalty shoot-out victory after a 1-1 draw.Jude Bellingham, who scored one of Real's penalties, hailed the team's ability to handle pressure under the guidance of manager Carlo Ancelotti. "Our biggest strength is he finds a way to let a lot of boys play with freedom," Bellingham said. "As a man, he fills you with calmness and confidence."Real took an early lead through Rodrygo, but Kevin De Bruyne's late equalizer forced the match into extra time. Despite City's dominance, Real held firm, with Bellingham crediting their belief and character. "You have to see it as a responsibility, not a pressure, if you want to play for a team like Real Madrid," he said. "Today it came down to mentality."Bellingham acknowledged City's formidable opposition, but expressed satisfaction with Real's revenge for last season's semi-final defeat. "It's belief," he said. "We stood up really well."Ruben Dias, City's defender, expressed disappointment at the result. "We dominated the game," he said. "It's obviously difficult to take."The victory was particularly special for Bellingham, who played in front of his brother Jobe for the first time since joining Real. "It's beautiful," he said. "My brother is here today, the first time he's seen me play for Madrid."Real's triumph sets up a semi-final clash with either Chelsea or Arsenal, while City will face Chelsea in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday.

Real Madrid secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig in the second leg of their Champions League Round of 16 clash at the Santiago Bernabeu, advancing to the quarter-finals with a 2-1 aggregate victory.The match started with both teams cautious, but it was Madrid who broke the deadlock in the 65th minute. Jude Bellingham, who had been impressive throughout the tie, initiated the move in his own half and surged forward before releasing a perfectly weighted through ball to Vinicius Jr. The Brazilian forward calmly slotted the ball past Janis Blaswich to give Madrid the lead.However, Leipzig responded swiftly, with Willi Orban equalizing just three minutes later. The German defender headed home a corner kick to level the score and give Leipzig hope of a comeback.Despite Leipzig's efforts, Madrid held firm and managed to see out the match, securing their place in the last eight. The result extends Madrid's impressive record in the Champions League, as they have reached the quarter-finals in 12 of the last 14 seasons.Bellingham's performance was particularly noteworthy, as he became the third-youngest player to either score or assist a goal in six consecutive Champions League appearances. The 20-year-old midfielder has been in scintillating form this season and is attracting interest from some of Europe's top clubs.After the match, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti admitted that his team had struggled to control the game. "We had to dig deep, more than we thought we might have to," he said. "It was difficult and we played badly. Now we're pleased to reach the quarter-finals."Ancelotti also highlighted the need for improvement in Madrid's mental resilience. "When we have a small lead, we don't know how to handle it mentally," he said. "We don't press and we lack intensity. That's where we have to improve and evaluate what we didn't do well."

Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham has been handed a two-match suspension by La Liga for his actions following the 2-2 draw with Valencia on Saturday. The England international was shown a red card after the final whistle for showing contempt towards the referee, Jesus Gil Manzano.According to the referee's report, Bellingham displayed an "aggressive attitude" as he disputed Manzano's decision to blow the whistle when he headed Brahim Diaz's cross into the net in the ninth minute of added time. The goal would have given Real Madrid a dramatic victory.Bellingham's suspension means he will miss Sunday's home game against Celta Vigo and the trip to Osasuna on March 16. The 20-year-old is the leading scorer in La Liga with 16 goals in his first season at the club.Despite the suspension, Bellingham will be available for Real Madrid's Champions League last-16 second leg against RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Spanish giants hold a 5-2 advantage from the first leg.Real Madrid are seven points clear of Girona at the top of La Liga. They will be looking to extend their lead when they face Celta Vigo on Sunday.