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."

AC Milan's five-year reign under Stefano Pioli is coming to an end, with the Italian coach set to depart the club after the final Serie A game of the season. Pioli's departure has been widely anticipated, with club legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic reportedly involved in the search for his successor.Pioli's tenure at Milan has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks. He guided the Rossoneri to their first Serie A title in 11 years in 2022, ending Inter Milan's dominance in the city. However, Milan's title defense has been disappointing, with the team finishing second behind their crosstown rivals.Pioli's future has been in doubt since February, when RedBird Capital owner Gerry Cardinale and Ibrahimovic declined to commit to him. Reports in Italy have linked Pioli to Napoli, where he could replace Luciano Spalletti.Pioli's departure marks the end of an era for Milan. He has been a popular figure among fans and players alike, known for his calm demeanor and tactical acumen. Under his leadership, Milan ended a seven-year absence from the Champions League and reached the semifinals last season.However, Milan's failure to advance from a tough Champions League group this season and their elimination from the Europa League by Roma have raised questions about Pioli's suitability for the long term. The club's American owners are reportedly seeking a more experienced coach with a proven track record in European competition.Pioli's legacy at Milan will be mixed. He will be remembered for leading the club to their first Serie A title in over a decade, but his inability to sustain that success and his shortcomings in European competition will also be part of his story.

Claudio Ranieri, the legendary Italian manager, has bid farewell to Cagliari, bringing an end to a remarkable four-decade coaching career. In his final match in charge, Cagliari suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Fiorentina in the 13th minute of added time.Ranieri's departure marks the end of an era for Cagliari, a club he guided to Serie A in 1989 and 1990. He returned to the club last season and saved them from relegation, fulfilling a promise he made to the fans.Despite the defeat, Ranieri's legacy at Cagliari remains intact. He is revered as a father figure by the players and fans, who chanted his name and gave him a standing ovation before the match.Ranieri's decision to retire was made with a "heavy heart," as he feared tarnishing his two brilliant spells with Cagliari. However, he leaves behind a lasting impact on the club and the players he has coached."He's taught us things that are valuable not just on the pitch, but in life in general," said Gianluca Lapadula, a Cagliari striker. "If you don't fight for your teammate, the man next to you, you'll never go anywhere."Ranieri's career has been marked by both triumphs and setbacks. He famously won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2016, but he has also experienced relegation and managerial dismissals.Despite the ups and downs, Ranieri remains a beloved figure in the world of football. He is known for his warmth, his tactical acumen, and his ability to inspire his players.As Ranieri steps away from club management, he leaves behind a legacy of success and a reputation as one of the most respected and admired figures in the game.

India's 27-member squad for the crucial World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait on June 6 has been announced, marking the end of Sunil Chhetri's illustrious international career. The squad, selected by head coach Igor Stimac, includes notable absences due to injuries.Forward Parthib Gogoi and defender Muhammad Hammad have been ruled out after sustaining minor injuries during training. Stimac expressed his appreciation for their professionalism and hard work, emphasizing the intense competition within the team.The remaining players will continue their training in Bhubaneswar until May 29, when they will travel to Kolkata for the match against Kuwait at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan. India currently sits second in Group A with four points from four matches.The top two teams in the group will advance to Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and secure a berth at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. Chhetri, India's all-time leading scorer with 94 goals, will retire from international football after the Kuwait match.He will leave the scene as India's most-capped player with 151 appearances, bowing out as the third-highest goal scorer among active players behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. Chhetri's retirement marks the end of an era for Indian football, as he has been a symbol of the sport's growth and popularity in the country.The squad includes experienced players such as goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defender Sandesh Jhingan, and midfielder Anirudh Thapa. Young talents like forward Rahim Ali and midfielder Jeakson Singh Thounaojam will also be looking to make their mark.India will face a tough challenge against Kuwait, who are ranked 146th in the FIFA World Rankings, 20 places above India. However, the Blue Tigers will be determined to give Chhetri a fitting farewell and secure a positive result in their quest for World Cup qualification.

Fortuna Duesseldorf is on the cusp of returning to the Bundesliga after a 3-0 victory over Bochum in the first leg of their relegation playoff. The win puts Duesseldorf in a commanding position ahead of the second leg on Monday, where they need only avoid defeat to secure promotion.Duesseldorf's triumph was built on a calamitous start for Bochum. Just 13 minutes into the match, Cristos Tzolis' quickly taken corner rebounded off Philipp Hofmann's leg and into the goal. The visitors doubled their lead early in the second half through Felix Klaus, who finished off a lightning-fast counterattack.Yannik Engelhardt sealed the victory with 18 minutes remaining, pouncing on a rebound from a Tzolis free-kick. The result gives Duesseldorf a significant advantage in their bid to return to the top division for the first time since 2019-20.Historically, the top-league side has held a clear advantage in the end-of-season playoff. However, Duesseldorf is one of only three second-flight teams to have won promotion via the playoff since its reintroduction in 2008-09.Duesseldorf's triumph over Hertha Berlin in 2011-12 is a testament to their ability to overcome the odds. Union Berlin, who leapfrogged Bochum out of the third-last spot on the final matchday, was the last second-division team to win promotion via the playoff, doing so on away goals in 2019.With the away goals rule abolished, Duesseldorf will secure promotion on Monday by winning, drawing, or losing by fewer than two goals. The stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the relegation playoff, with Duesseldorf poised to make a triumphant return to the Bundesliga.

Bayer Leverkusen, fresh off their first loss in nearly a year, face second-division Kaiserslautern in Saturday's German Cup final. The Bundesliga champions were thoroughly outclassed in a 3-0 loss to Atalanta in the Europa League final on Wednesday, their first defeat in any competition since May 2023.Leverkusen's unbeaten run, which broke a 59-year-old record set by Benfica in 1965, was bound to end sometime. However, it was the manner in which they capitulated that will concern manager Xabi Alonso the most. The Germans were outmuscled by a determined Atalanta, with key players Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka having off nights.Winger Jonas Hofmann summed up the club's struggles, lamenting "many mistakes, individual mistakes, bad passes and simple technical errors." He said the performance was "not Bayer-like."Despite the disappointment, beating Kaiserslautern would make Leverkusen just the sixth side in German football history to do the double. Alonso urged his side to "transform our pain into positive energy."Kaiserslautern, despite their run to the final, only played one top-division side in the Cup, beating relegated Cologne. However, striker Ragnar Ache believes Leverkusen's vulnerability after Wednesday's loss could play into their hands."They have a very big squad with high quality players, and they're used to it," Ache said. "But it's still not going to be easy for us. We have to look at ourselves and what we are going to do."Leverkusen will be hoping to make amends for their Europa League disappointment, while Kaiserslautern will be looking to pull off a major upset. The final promises to be a fascinating clash between a wounded giant and a determined underdog.

Kylian Mbappé's illustrious tenure at Paris Saint-Germain will culminate on Saturday in the French Cup final against Lyon. The match marks the 308th and final appearance for the French superstar, who joined the club in 2017 from Monaco for a staggering €180 million.Mbappé's time in Paris has been a trophy-laden affair, with six Ligue 1 titles and two League Cups to his name. A victory against Lyon would add a fourth French Cup medal to his collection. However, his tenure has been overshadowed by PSG's elusive pursuit of the Champions League trophy.Despite scoring 42 goals in 64 Champions League appearances, Mbappé has yet to lift the coveted trophy. His closest attempt came in 2020 when PSG lost to Bayern Munich in the final. With Real Madrid reportedly his next destination, Mbappé will be eager to add a Champions League title to his resume.Mbappé's legacy in France is secure. As a teenage prodigy, he played a pivotal role in Monaco's Ligue 1 triumph in 2017. He has since become an icon in his home country, following in the footsteps of legendary French players like Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, and Thierry Henry.Mbappé's French Cup history has been mixed. He was sent off in the 2019 final and injured in the 2020 final. However, he has also been a key figure in PSG's three Cup victories.Lyon, under the guidance of Pierre Sage, has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence since languishing at the bottom of the league in December. They have secured European qualification and pose a significant threat to PSG's hopes of a domestic double.The final will be played at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, marking the first time the match has been held outside of Paris and its surrounding region. The venue's capacity of 50,000 is expected to create a vibrant atmosphere for Mbappé's farewell performance.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag faces a pivotal moment in his tenure as he aims to salvage his job by thwarting Manchester City's historic bid in the FA Cup final on Saturday. The Wembley showdown marks the second consecutive Manchester derby in the showpiece event, with City triumphing 2-1 last year en route to an unprecedented treble.Despite United's League Cup triumph earlier this season, their turbulent campaign has left Ten Hag's future in jeopardy. The Red Devils finished eighth in the Premier League, their lowest final position since 1990, and failed to progress beyond the Champions League group stage. Ten Hag has attributed their struggles to injuries, but his reported clashes with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford have raised concerns about squad harmony.United's path to the FA Cup final was far from convincing, as they squandered a three-goal lead and survived a penalty shootout against second-tier Coventry in the semi-final. The erratic nature of Ten Hag's team has fueled speculation about his potential replacement, with Gareth Southgate, Mauricio Pochettino, and Kieran McKenna among those linked with the Old Trafford job.Ten Hag's hopes of remaining at United hinge on spoiling City's bid to become the first English club to win both the Premier League and FA Cup two years in a row. "I came here to win trophies," Ten Hag declared. "I'm just focusing on the job I have to do. That is first to win the game on Saturday and then keep going in the project."United, who have lost six of the past seven Manchester derbies, must lift the Cup for the first time in eight years to avoid their first season without European action since 2014/15. Goalkeeper Andre Onana, despite a challenging debut campaign, is determined to repay the fans' support with victory at Wembley.City's dominance in the Premier League has extended to six titles in seven years, solidifying their status as one of the greatest English teams of all time. Pep Guardiola's men pipped Arsenal by two points after winning their last nine league games, setting the stage for more history at Wembley.City captain Kyle Walker attributes their success to Guardiola's relentless drive and intensity. "He's addicted to winning. He is addicted and it rubs off on us," Walker said. Playmaker Bernardo Silva believes City thrive under pressure, stating, "Sometimes at the beginning of the season when we don't have that much pressure, the team relaxes when it shouldn't and at the end of the season we always compensate for it."

British Indian Trishan Patel Joins Pakistan Football Squad as Assistant CoachTrishan Patel, a British Indian UEFA A-level coach, has been appointed as the assistant coach and performance analyst for the Pakistan football squad. The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) announced the appointment, stating that Patel will assist head coach Stephen Constantine in preparing the team for the upcoming World Cup preliminary qualifying matches in the Asia region.Patel brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Pakistan team, having previously worked with the Liverpool academy and Luton Town FC. He has also provided online coaching to the Pakistan team in the past."He will be assisting head coach Stephen Constantine in preparing the team for the World Cup preliminary qualifying matches in the Asia region," said a PFF official.Patel will be with the team for the matches against Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan. The home match against Saudi Arabia will be played on June 6, while the away game against Tajikistan is scheduled for June 11.The PFF official highlighted Patel's extensive coaching experience, noting that he has worked with some of the top clubs in England."Patel has a lot of coaching experience, having worked with the Liverpool academy and also with Luton Town FC," the official said.Patel's appointment is expected to bolster the Pakistan team's preparations for the upcoming qualifiers. The team will be aiming to secure a spot in the next round of the World Cup qualifying process.