Football

Argentina's Olympic football campaign got back on track with a 3-1 victory over Iraq on Saturday, while Spain and Japan became the first teams to secure quarter-final berths.After a chaotic opening defeat to Morocco, Argentina bounced back in Lyon with goals from Thiago Almada, Luciano Gondou, and Ezequiel Fernandez. Iraq's Aymen Hussein had equalized in the first half, but Argentina's second-half dominance proved too much.In the same group, Ukraine snatched a dramatic 2-1 win over Morocco in the dying seconds, leaving all four teams level on three points.Spain, the Tokyo silver medallists, also made it two wins from two in Group C with a 3-1 victory over the Dominican Republic. Fermin Lopez, Alex Baena, and Miguel Gutierrez scored for Spain, who are now through to the last eight.Egypt's 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in Nantes also helped Spain's cause, as it eliminated the Central Asian nation.Thierry Henry's France team edged Guinea 1-0 in Nice, with Kiliann Sildillia's late header proving decisive. France are not yet through from Group A, but they need only a point against New Zealand on Tuesday to guarantee progress.Japan, the Asian Under-23 champions, secured their quarter-final berth with a 1-0 victory against Mali in Bordeaux. Rihito Yamamoto scored the only goal in the 82nd minute, despite Mali having a late penalty chance.In Group D, Paraguay scored twice in stoppage time to beat Israel 4-2 in an entertaining game in Paris. Marcelo Fernandez scored twice for Paraguay, who are now level on points with Japan.

Football ignited the flame of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Tuesday, with Spain and Argentina, the reigning FIFA World Cup and Copa America champions, respectively, taking center stage in Paris and Saint-Etienne.At Parc des Princes in western Paris, Spain faced Uzbekistan, while Argentina, without Lionel Messi, encountered Morocco at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne. Spain's Marc Pubill etched his name in history by scoring the first goal of the Summer Games in the 29th minute.FIFA president Gianni Infantino graced the occasion, meeting players before the Uzbekistan-Spain match at Parc des Princes, the former home of Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe.As the beautiful game kickstarted the action-packed Summer Olympics in Paris, let's delve into the world of football and highlight some of the biggest names vying for Olympic gold:Marta (Brazil)Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer, Marta, is set to retire from international football after the Paris Games. The 38-year-old legend captains the Selecao and holds the distinction of being the first footballer to score in five consecutive Olympic Games.Aitana Bonmati (Spain)Spain, the reigning world champions, boast Aitana Bonmati, the 2023 Ballon d'Or winner, as their star player. The European giants are making their debut in women's football at the Summer Games in Paris, having lost only twice in 14 matches since their historic FIFA World Cup triumph over England.Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi is a prominent figure at the Summer Olympics. The 25-year-old led Morocco to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and has opted to miss PSG's pre-season preparations to compete in the Games.Alexandre Lacazette (France)Thierry Henry's choice to lead France in the Summer Games is Alexandre Lacazette. The former Arsenal forward has not played for France since 2017 but has been an impressive force for Lyon, scoring 22 goals in 35 games last season.Julian Alvarez (Argentina)Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez arrives in Paris after a stellar season with Pep Guardiola's side. The 22-year-old was instrumental in Manchester City's Premier League triumph and also lifted the Copa America with Argentina.

UEFA has charged Spain captain Alvaro Morata and midfielder Rodri with violating its "basic rules of decent conduct" after they sang about a sovereignty claim on Gibraltar at the team's European Championship title celebration. The charges also include "bringing the sport of football, and UEFA in particular, into disrepute."Morata and Rodri led thousands of fans in singing "Gibraltar is Spanish" at a celebration in Madrid last week after Spain's 2-1 win over England in the Euro 2024 final. Gibraltar, located on the southern tip of Spain, has been a British overseas territory for more than 300 years.The Gibraltar soccer federation filed a formal complaint to UEFA, which has now opened disciplinary proceedings against Morata and Rodri. The federation welcomed the move, saying it was "an important first step in order to establish the unlawfulness of the chant."UEFA's disciplinary body will rule on the case at a later date, with the players facing a possible suspension from Nations League games in September. In a similar incident at Euro 2024, UEFA banned Albania player Mirlind Daku for two games after he led fans in nationalist chants against Serbia and North Macedonia.Morata recently completed a move from Atletico Madrid to AC Milan, while Rodri, who was named player of the tournament at Euro 2024, plays for Manchester City.

Europe has crowned a new champion. As the sun rose over the German grounds that witnessed the month-long conquest for European supremacy, the air still reverberated with the vamos and viva chants. The dramatic German summer fairytale came to its worthy nail-biting end with the winds of change, the winds of a Spanish second coming.Football could not make it home neither could any dark horse reign as the Spanish Armada bore the winds of chings behind its sails to recapture part of its empire that it ruled over till a decade ago. And it made sure no question arose over its authority. Spain, under Luis de la Fuente, dominated the tournament in every sense of the word. From finishing first in the group of death — which had holder Italy and World Cup semifinalists Croatia — with all wins and no goals conceded, through the difficult path to the final facing world-class opponents in host Germany and former world champion France to the final against the talent-filled golden generation of England, Spain left no stones unturned.W. W. W. W. W. W. W.#EURO2024While disappointments for Spain in the last decade was a lesson on how tactics become outdated, Spanish success in Germany is a lesson on how to take what is outdated and transform it to the requirements of time. It did the same to set off the first era of Spanish dominance which began with a Euro Cup victory in 2008.Reeling from failures at big stages, then-Spanish coach Luis Aragones realised that his players were not physical enough for the style of play most teams adopted then and decided to bring in short passes to the game, something a certain Pep Guardiola was trying out with Barcelona club then.The first era of Spanish supremacy could also be called the era of Tiki Taka as its midfield bamboozled opposition players with quick short passes, controlling possession, and moving the ball around with ease. The short passes brought Spain its second national title and first since the 1964 Euro Cup in the form of the 2008 Euro championship. The team followed it up with the World Cup two years later and went on to successfully defend its continental title two years later.Reality strikesBut then came the new reality. Being at the receiving end of Tiki Taka for six years gave other teams enough time to decipher it and work out counter-measures. Spain did not see the need to keep updating its gameplay and crashed out of the 2014 World Cup in the group stages, spelling out the beginning of the end.But Spain’s obsession with passes and possession grew with the years, but that obsession, like all obsessions, only led to more tragedy. Spain also failed at transition of generation as it struggled to find replacements for its champion players and found it difficult to strike the chemistry between those it managed to find. And its exit from 2022 World Cup, bowing out to Morocco in penalty shoot-out, after not managing to score seemed like the end of the once-feared La Roja.The World Cup defeat paved the way out for manager Luis Enrique, who failed to replicate his success with Barcelona with the national team, and the lesser known de la Fuente took over.Familiar figureThough de la Fuente was new to the global limelight, he was well known to the Spanish players, many of whom played under him at junior levels. de la Fuente started his shifts with Spain national teams in 2013 when he became the manager of the under-19 outfit. And while their seniors went farther off their game, de la Fuente led the youngsters to glory in the European championships in 2015. He became the manager of the under-21 side in 2018 and brought home the European title for the category a year later.When de la Fuente took over the senior side, he knew what he had to do. And one year later, Spain seniors got its first silverware in 11 years in the form of UEFA Nations League and is now the champion of Europe.New identityde la Fuente spread out the game from midfield to the flanks, and with the arrival of young guns Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams to set the wings on fire, Spanish football is getting a new identity.Runner-up England — which had a bumpy ride to the final circumventing the odds, depending on individual brilliance and last-minute stroke of luck — gave the champion an unexpected fight in the final. Though arguably better teams than England stumbled on the way, the fact that England came close to a football homecoming for back-to-back tournaments could give its coach Gareth Southgate some legitimacy.First actAs the tournament became the first act for a handful of new stars with the likes of Lamine Yamal, the young player of the tournament, Nico Williams and Arda Guler, some goodbyes were inevitabe. With players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Luka Modric at their sunsets and Toni Kroos calling it a day, the winds of change are whistling through the whole of Europe.

Gareth Southgate's tenure as England manager has been a rollercoaster of emotions, marked by both triumphs and heartbreaks. After transforming the Three Lions' fortunes at major tournaments, Southgate once again fell short in the final of Euro 2024, extending England's 58-year wait for international glory.Prior to Southgate's appointment in 2016, England had a dismal record in major tournaments, reaching only three semi-finals and one final in their history. Under Southgate's leadership, however, they have reached three semi-finals and two finals in the last four tournaments.Despite their impressive run, England's familiar failings resurfaced in the Euro 2024 final against Spain. Spain's metronomic midfield dominated possession, while their wing wizards, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, tore through England's defense.Southgate's decision to rely heavily on the same core of players throughout the tournament, despite having a deep squad, also came under scrutiny. Eight England players started all seven games, and Southgate only turned to his bench when trailing against Slovakia, Switzerland, and Spain.The defeat has raised questions about Southgate's future as England manager. His contract expires at the end of the year, and he has admitted that the criticism he faced earlier in the tournament took its toll. However, he is also aware of the potential of this generation of English players.Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, and Declan Rice are all still in their prime and will be key figures for England in the years to come. Southgate believes that England has "some fabulous young players" who will continue to challenge for major honors.Despite his record of reaching the latter stages of tournaments, doubts remain whether Southgate is the best man to lead this talented group of players. England's lack of control and physical issues in the final against Spain have highlighted areas where they need to improve.As England head home, the wait for international glory continues. Southgate will take time to ponder his future, but the pressure will be on him to deliver a major trophy in the next two years at the 2026 World Cup.

Spain experienced an unforgettable Sunday in the realm of sports. First, 21-year-old tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz triumphed at Wimbledon for the second consecutive year, defeating the formidable Novak Djokovic in the championship match. Hours later, the nation erupted in celebration as Spain's men's football team captured their fourth UEFA European Championship title.Alcaraz, who had been tweeting throughout the football final, expressed his jubilation as Spain defeated England 2-1 in Berlin. "CAMPEONES! CAMPEONES! CAMPEONES! Qué grandes sois @SEFutbol!!! Vaya espectáculo de Eurocopa (CHAMPIONS! CHAMPIONS! CHAMPIONS! How great you are @SEFutbol!!! What a Euro Cup spectacle)," he tweeted.Earlier, Alcaraz had expressed his hope for a "good day for Spanish people" on Centre Court at Wimbledon, where he held the iconic trophy. The predominantly English crowd had cheered him on against Djokovic, but they playfully booed him after his comment."Being a Spaniard, yeah, it would be a perfect Sunday," Alcaraz said. "Obviously these last days I've spoken with a few players. We send best of luck in every match. Obviously we send the best of luck on Sunday."Spain's victory in the football final was inspired by the brilliance of young wingers Niko Williams and Lamine Yamal. The duo combined to give Spain an early lead, and Mikel Oyarzabal sealed the triumph with the winning goal.Spain coach Luis de la Fuente praised the "gift from god" that the young players brought to the team. Their inclusion in the starting lineup proved to be a masterstroke, as Spain secured their first major title since 2012.

England's Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain has left captain Harry Kane devastated, with the Three Lions' second consecutive loss in the tournament's showpiece game leaving a deep wound.Kane, who was substituted off after 60 minutes, expressed his anguish after Spain's late winner: "It's tough to take. We did well to get back into the game but struggled to build on that."England's tournament heartbreak follows their penalty shootout loss to Italy in the Euro 2020 final and their quarter-final elimination by France in the 2022 World Cup, where Kane missed a crucial penalty.Despite a stellar individual career, Kane remains without a team trophy. Prior to the final, he had stated his willingness to "swap everything in my career" for Euros glory."It's an opportunity missed," Kane lamented. "These finals aren't easy to get to. You have to take it when it comes and we haven't done it again.""It's extremely painful and it'll hurt for a long time."Kane also addressed the future of England manager Gareth Southgate, who has been in charge since late 2016: "We wanted to win it for him."Southgate's future is now uncertain, with the manager expected to take time to consider his options.

Spain's dominance in European football continues as they triumph in the 2026 World Cup final, adding to their record-breaking four European Championship titles. Their victory is a testament to their exceptional footballing prowess, showcasing a slick and sharp style of play that has set them apart.The tournament witnessed Spain's unwavering dominance, with seven consecutive victories leading up to the final in Berlin. Their 3-0 rout of Croatia in the opening match set the tone for their impressive run. Against England in the final, Spain maintained their relentless pressure, with Nico Williams scoring the opening goal. Cole Palmer briefly revived England's hopes, but Mikel Oyarzabal restored Spain's lead. Dani Olmo's crucial clearance in the dying minutes sealed the victory for Spain.Spain's triumph is attributed to their exceptional young talents, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who have added speed, strength, and width to the team. Yamal's role in the first goal, setting up Williams, highlighted their ability to create scoring opportunities.Despite England's possession deficit, they managed to equalize through Palmer's stunning strike. However, Oyarzabal's timely run and goal regained Spain's advantage. England's late efforts, including a header from Marc Guehi, were thwarted by Olmo's heroic clearance.Spain's victory marks a new era for the team, who have also claimed the 2023 Nations League title. Their success is a testament to their unwavering commitment to beautiful football and their ability to produce exceptional players.

The UEFA Euro 2024 final promises to be a captivating clash of contrasting football philosophies as Spain's attacking prowess faces off against England's defensive resilience.Spain, under Luis de la Fuente, has showcased an exhilarating brand of football, effortlessly dismantling opposition defenses. Their attacking trio of Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal has been a constant threat, with Olmo emerging as the joint-top scorer of the tournament.In contrast, Gareth Southgate's England has adopted a more conservative approach, relying on moments of individual brilliance to navigate their way to the final. Despite reaching back-to-back Euro finals, England remains the underdog in this matchup.Former Manchester City defender Mark Seagreaves believes the final will be a tight affair, with both teams possessing strengths that could neutralize each other. "England's defensive approach could counteract Spain's attacking flair," he said. "It could go to extra time and penalties, where England's experience could give them an edge."Spain's newfound hero, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, has been a revelation in the tournament. With three assists and a stunning goal against France, he has become the youngest player to achieve these feats in the Euros. However, former player Terry Phelan cautions against comparing Yamal to Lionel Messi. "Messi is Messi," he said. "Yamal has a long way to go before he reaches those heights."The UEFA Euro 2024 final will be a battle of wits and tactics, with both Spain and England determined to claim the coveted trophy. The outcome remains uncertain, but one thing is for sure: it will be a spectacle that will captivate football fans worldwide.