Football

Napoli extended their dominance at the summit of Serie A with a commanding 2-0 victory over AC Milan at the San Siro on Tuesday. The triumph propelled Napoli to a seven-point lead over their rivals, solidifying their position as the league's frontrunners.Antonio Conte's resurgent Napoli side wasted no time in asserting their authority, with Romelu Lukaku opening the scoring within five minutes. The Belgian striker capitalized on a pass from Frank Anguissa, outmuscling a defender before coolly slotting the ball past Mike Maignan in the AC Milan goal.Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret was called into action twice before the half-hour mark, making crucial saves to preserve his side's advantage. As the clock ticked down to half-time, Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia doubled the visitors' lead with a sensational strike.Picking up the ball on the left wing, Kvaratskhelia drove inside on his right foot, evading Youssouf Fofana before unleashing a powerful shot from distance that flew into the far post beyond the reach of Maignan.AC Milan thought they had found a lifeline two minutes after the break when Alvaro Morata headed home. However, VAR intervened, ruling the goal offside in the build-up. The hosts continued to search for a way back into the encounter, but Napoli's defense held firm, with Meret making a fine reflex save to deny Rafael Leao in the 83rd minute.Elsewhere in Serie A, Bologna climbed to 10th in the table with a 2-0 win at Cagliari, thanks to goals from Riccardo Orsolini and Jens Odgaard. Lecce moved off the foot of the table by beating nine-man Verona 1-0, with Patrick Dorgu scoring the only goal of the game.

Romelu Lukaku's impressive form continued as he led Napoli to a 3-1 victory over Como, solidifying their position at the top of Serie A. The Belgian striker assisted Scott McTominay's opening goal within 25 seconds and converted a penalty in the second half. He also set up David Neres for Napoli's third goal, extending their league lead to four points.Lukaku has quickly become a key player for Napoli under Antonio Conte, scoring three goals and providing four assists in just five league appearances. His impact has been significant, helping Napoli emerge as a serious contender for the league title."We're getting there. It's going to take time because I got here late. It's all thanks to my teammates, the coaching staff, and fans that we're doing so well," Lukaku said after the match.Despite Napoli's dominance, Como proved to be a challenging opponent. Cesc Fabregas' team equalized in the first half with a stunning strike from Gabriel Strefezza. However, Napoli regained control in the second half, with Neres scoring the decisive goal in the 86th minute.McTominay has also been impressive since joining Napoli from Manchester United, adding a new dimension to the midfield. He scored his second goal for the club, following his strike against Palermo in the Italian Cup."It was great to get off to a good start. It was a great ball. Obviously for me it's nice to get a goal and then we lost a little bit of control in the first half and then we tweaked a through things at half-time and it made a difference," McTominay said.Napoli's unbeaten run continues, with their only defeat coming on the opening day of the season against Verona. Under Conte, they have rediscovered the form that led them to the Scudetto in 2023."We just want to take it game by game. We want to play football and hopefully win as many games as we can," McTominay added. "The boys have been great with helping me bed in. Game by game, no-one's looking any further past the next game."

Belgium's national football team coach, Domenico Tedesco, has announced his squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Italy and France. Notably, Manchester City's star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne will miss the matches due to injury.De Bruyne, 33, had previously hinted at potentially retiring from international football. However, he has since assured Tedesco that he intends to continue playing for Belgium for the next two years, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup."I had a long conversation with Kevin," Tedesco said. "He's injured now, but he's highly motivated to continue with us and play in the World Cup. He asked to be excused from this camp and the November camp to focus on his physical recovery."Another notable absence from the squad is Napoli striker Romelu Lukaku. Tedesco has decided to rest Lukaku, who recently joined the Italian club, to allow him to "work individually" and settle into his new surroundings.Belgium will face Italy in Rome on October 10th and then host France in Brussels on October 14th. The squad includes a mix of experienced players and rising stars, with several players representing top clubs across Europe.Goalkeepers: Koen Casteels (Al Qadsiah), Matz Sels (Nottingham Forest), Maarten Vandevoordt (RB Leipzig)Defenders: Sebastiaan Bornauw (Wolfsburg), Timothy Castagne (Fulham), Zeno Debast (Sporting Portugal), Maxim De Cuyper (Club Bruges), Wout Faes (Leicester), Matte Smets (Genk), Arthur Theate (Eintracht Frankfurt), Koni De Winter (Genoa)Midfielders: Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta), Amadou Onana (Aston Villa), Orel Mangala (Lyon), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa), Arne Engels (Celtic), Malick Fofana (Lyon)Forwards: Johan Bakayoko (PSV), Jeremy Doku (Manchester City), Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla), Lois Openda (RB Leipzig), Cyril Ngonge (Napoli), Leandro Trossard (Arsenal)

Romelu Lukaku's debut for Napoli was a memorable one, as he scored the equalizer that set up a dramatic 2-1 victory over 10-man Parma. The Belgian striker, who joined Napoli from Chelsea on Thursday, came off the bench in the second half and made an immediate impact.Parma had taken a shock lead through Ange-Yoan Bonny's penalty in the 19th minute. Napoli struggled to break down the Parma defense, but Lukaku's introduction changed the game. The former Manchester United and Inter Milan forward scored his first goal for Napoli in the 92nd minute, lashing home a shot past Enrico Delprato, who was playing in goal after Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki was sent off in the 76th minute.Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa then headed home the winning goal four minutes later, giving Napoli a dramatic victory. The win was Napoli's second in three matches, while Parma remain winless after three games.In another Serie A match, AC Milan were held to a 2-2 draw at Lazio. Milan coach Paulo Fonseca made several changes to his team following two disappointing opening displays, but the Rossoneri still struggled to find their rhythm.Lazio took the lead in the 66th minute through Valentin Castellanos and Boulaye Dia, but Milan fought back with goals from Strahinja Pavlovic, Rafael Leao, and Tammy Abraham. The draw leaves Milan in 14th place on two points, while Lazio are in seventh place on four points.

Ukraine vs Belgium: Euro 2024 Round of 16 Contenders Clash in StuttgartAs the Euro 2024 group stage nears its conclusion, Ukraine and Belgium will face off in a crucial match that could determine their fate in the tournament. Belgium, with a win against Romania under their belt, are poised to secure a spot in the Round of 16. Ukraine, on the other hand, faces an uphill battle after a disappointing 3-0 loss to Romania.Belgium's star striker, Romelu Lukaku, will be eager to make his mark on the tournament after having three goals ruled out for offside. His presence in the box will pose a significant threat to the Ukrainian defense. Ukraine, meanwhile, will need to find a way to contain Lukaku and create scoring opportunities of their own.The match will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at the Stuttgart Arena in Stuttgart, Germany. Kick-off is scheduled for 9:30 PM IST. The match will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website.Ukraine's hopes of advancing to the knockout stage rest on a positive result against Belgium. With only three points from their first two matches, they are currently at the bottom of Group E. Even a draw against Belgium may not be enough to secure a top-three finish, which is required for qualification.Belgium, on the other hand, are in a more comfortable position. A win against Ukraine would guarantee their place in the Round of 16. However, a draw or a loss could leave them vulnerable to being overtaken by Finland or Romania, who are also on three points.The match between Ukraine and Belgium promises to be an exciting and closely contested affair. Both teams have the potential to reach the latter stages of the tournament, and this match could be a pivotal moment in their respective campaigns.

Belgium Faces Romania in Crucial Euro 2024 ClashWith the pressure mounting in Group E, Belgium faces a pivotal match against Romania on Sunday, June 23. After a disappointing loss to Slovakia, the Red Devils find themselves in a precarious position, needing a victory to avoid falling behind in the race for qualification.Romania, on the other hand, has made a strong start to the tournament, securing a convincing 3-0 win over Ukraine. Their confidence will be high as they take on a Belgian team that has struggled to find its rhythm.Belgium's attacking prowess is undeniable, with Kevin de Bruyne, Eden Hazard, and Romelu Lukaku leading the charge. However, their defense has been shaky, conceding three goals against Slovakia. Lukaku will be eager to make amends after having two goals ruled out by VAR in the previous match.Romania's defense has also been impressive, keeping a clean sheet against Ukraine. They will need to be at their best to contain Belgium's attacking threats.The match will be played at the Cologne Stadium in Cologne, Germany, and will kick off at 12:30 AM IST. It will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network and streamed live on the SonyLiv app and website.With both teams desperate for a win, this match promises to be a thrilling encounter. Belgium will be looking to bounce back from their defeat, while Romania will aim to continue their impressive start to the tournament.

In a stunning upset at the European Championship, Slovakia stunned Belgium 1-0 on June 17, 2023, in a match marred by two disallowed Romelu Lukaku goals.Slovakia struck early, with Ivan Schranz scoring in the seventh minute after a defensive error by Belgium's Jérémy Doku. Despite Belgium's dominance in possession, they struggled to break down Slovakia's resolute defense, which featured two 37-year-old outfield players.Lukaku, Belgium's record scorer, had two goals ruled out by video review. His first was overturned for offside, while the second was deemed to have been handled by Loïs Openda before his pass to Lukaku.Belgium's frustration was compounded by a brave goal-line block from Slovakia's Dávid Hancko, who left the field with a face injury after colliding with a teammate's knee.Slovakia's victory was their first in the European Championship finals and a triumph for their Italian coach, Francesco Calzona. The win also preserved the record of two 37-year-olds starting a match in the tournament, which could be broken if Portugal selects Cristiano Ronaldo and Pepe on Tuesday.Belgium, who had won 14 consecutive qualifying matches under Domenico Tedesco, suffered their first loss in 15 games. They now face Romania on Saturday, while Slovakia will take on Ukraine on Friday.

Belgium's golden generation may be fading, but the Red Devils remain a formidable force in international football. Led by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, Belgium will be looking to make a deep run in this summer's European Championship.After a disappointing World Cup campaign in Qatar, Belgium has undergone a significant overhaul. Eden Hazard has retired, and coach Roberto Martinez has been replaced by Domenico Tedesco. Tedesco has brought in a number of fresh faces, while also relying on a core of experienced players.Belgium cruised through Group F qualifying, with Lukaku scoring a record-breaking 14 goals. Under Tedesco, Belgium is unbeaten in 13 matches, but few of those fixtures have come against Europe's top teams.The Red Devils will be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who is still recovering from a knee injury. Matz Sels is likely to deputise for Courtois, while Wout Faes and Jan Vertonghen are expected to form a solid partnership in central defence.Axel Witsel has been coaxed out of international retirement, but Toby Alderweireld is gone from the team. Youri Tielemans, Amadou Onana, and Orel Mangala are among the midfield options for Belgium.De Bruyne will be the key man for Belgium in attack. The Manchester City playmaker is one of the best players in the world, and he will be looking to lead Belgium to their first major trophy. With Hazard and Dries Mertens no longer involved, the likes of Lois Openda, Charles De Ketelaere, and Jeremy Doku must shoulder more of the responsibility in attack.Belgium is a team with a lot of potential, but they will need to prove themselves against Europe's best teams. The European Championship will be a good test for Tedesco's new-look side.