Many thought Lionel Messi s World Cup hopes had evaporated in the Kazan sun four and a half years ago when Argentina were beaten 4-3 by France in the quarter-finals of Russia 2018.
Qatar 2022 brought the possibility for revenge, but again those chances looked to be vanishing as a Kylian Mbappe-inspired France simply refused to go away in Sunday s utterly enthralling final, which ended 3-3 after extra time.
But with Emiliano Martinez doing the business in a penalty shoot-out for the Albiceleste, Argentina would not let the most elusive of opportunities slip from Messi s grasp again.
As the story goes, he still has sleepless nights because of the 2014 final defeat to Germany; those nightmares will be overwritten with the 2022 final replaying in his dreams for the r…
World Cup final referee Nicola Rizzoli heads a list of 18 selected by UEFA for Euro 2016.
The Italian oversaw Germany s extra-time victory over Argentina in Brazil two years ago and will be flanked by a matchday team that includes fellow Serie A referees Luca Banti and Antonio Damato.
England is the best-represented nation with two teams of officials heading to France for the tournament Mark Clattenburg leading one and Martin Atkinson the other.
Cuneyt Cakir, who took charge of last season s Champions League final, is also included, as is Bjorn Kuipers, who refereed the conclusion of that tournament in 2014.
In total, eight referees who went to the World Cup have been called up for European duty
Euro 2016 gets under way on June 10, when France …
Roy Hodgson has told his England players that how they perform in the games against Germany and Netherlands will have a big bearing on their chances of selection for Euro 2016.
England are in Berlin to play the world champions on Saturday, before the Dutch visit Wembley on Tuesday in the second match of the friendly double-header.
Hodgson insisted that while the two games are not the final chance for his players to impress prior to the tournament in France, this international break would be a crucial period for him in assessing the performances of his key options.
I think for all national coaches, this time will be important, he said at his pre-match media conference on Friday.
Especially with the level of opposition we are playing against, so I can t…
Saturday was quite a day in the Premier League, with shock results impacting both ends of the table, and the middle.
Liverpool appear to be live challengers again in the title race after their 3-1 victory against Norwich City was followed by Tottenham s dramatic 3-2 win away to leaders Manchester City.
Mohamed Salah scored his 150th goal for Liverpool and Luis Diaz bagged his first in English football, while former City target Harry Kane insisted on shoving narrative into everyone s faces with a sensational performance for Spurs at the Etihad Stadium.
Elsewhere, a late Hakim Ziyech goal secured Chelsea a win at Crystal Palace, Arsenal s youngsters earned them a 2-1 win against Brentford, while West Ham were held to a 1-1 draw by Newcastle in the early game.
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Cristiano Ronaldo never told Erik ten Hag he wanted to leave Manchester United before the forward s explosive interview aired.
The five-time Ballon d Or winner parted ways with United by mutual consent last month after a wide-ranging interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV in which he said he felt betrayed by the club.
Ronaldo also lamented zero progress since Alex Ferguson departed Old Trafford in 2013, while hitting out at former interim boss Ralf Rangnick and stating he had no respect for current United manager Ten Hag.
The Dutchman claimed the 37-year-old never came to him to discuss his desire to leave, though Ten Hag conceded there was no way back for Ronaldo after his public comments.
Until that moment he never told me I want to leave , Ten Hag told…
England set up a World Cup semi-final clash with Australia following a 2-1 last-eight comeback victory over Colombia.
Lauren Hemp cancelled out Leicy Santos’ strike just before half-time and Alessia Russo found the winner to send the Lionesses to the final four.
They face a tough task against the co-hosts, who reached the next stage thanks to a thrilling 7-6 penalty shootout win against France.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the side standing in England’s way of a spot in the World Cup final.
Coach
Tony Gustavsson is no stranger to success on the international stage, with the Swede having assisted Jill Ellis with the United States Women’s National Team and won two World Cups with them in 2015 and 2019.
With experience coaching in …
Barcelona must rediscover their firepower when they attempt to keep in-form Atletico Madrid s waiting for an elusive win at Camp Nou on Sunday.
A goalless draw at Getafe last weekend meant Barca have failed to find the back of the net in three games.
Xavi s side remain well on course to win the LaLiga title, leading Real Madrid by 11 points with nine matches to play, but have stuttered in recent weeks.
The Blaugrana have not been beaten at home by Atleti since back in 2006, but Diego Simeone s third-placed side head into the game on a six-match winning run in LaLiga.
Using the standout Opta data, Stats Perform preview a huge game in Catalonia.
Barca must rediscover cutting edge
The leaders have not scored a goal since a 4-0 hammering of El…
Erling Haaland scored his sixth hat-trick of the season as Manchester City swept Championship leaders Burnley aside in a 6-0 victory in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Just days after hitting five against RB Leipzig in the Champions League, the Norwegian added another match ball to his collection after a dominating performance.
Julian Alvarez netted a second-half brace either side of a Cole Palmer strike, ensuring a miserable return to Etihad Stadium for Clarets boss and former City captain Vincent Kompany.
It leaves City s quest for a treble well and truly on, with an FA Cup semi-final now added to the schedule for Pep Guardiola s side.
6 Erling Haaland has scored six hat-tricks this season at the Etihad Stadium, which is more games than he has failed …
Carlo Ancelotti compared Karim Benzema s relationship with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo to the one the striker shared with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, after his first-half hat-trick helped Real Madrid down Almeria.
Benzema needed just 42 minutes to complete another treble in a 4-2 win over the LaLiga strugglers, benefitting from fine assists from Vinicius and Rodrygo before converting a penalty.
Rodrygo then added a spectacular fourth from range, while goals from Lazaro and Lucas Robertone ensured Almeria kept the scoreline respectable at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
After the game, Ancelotti was asked whether Madrid s current forward trio could match the talents of those who fired Los Blancos to four Champions League titles in five seasons between 20…
Wales captain Aaron Ramsey is set to miss the Euro 2024 play-off against Finland, Cardiff manager Erol Bulut has revealed.
Ramsey made two substitute appearances for Cardiff earlier this month after spending five months out with a knee injury.
But Ramsey reported a calf problem last week and a scan has now shown that a tendon issue will rule him out until the end of March.
Wales play Finland in the play-off semi-final in Cardiff on March 21.
The winners will host Poland or Estonia in Cardiff five days later for a place at Euro 2024 this summer.
“The last time we spoke about Ramsey I got a report that it was a strain,” Bulut said after Cardiff’s 0-0 draw with Blackburn in the Sky Bet Championship.
“But yesterday (Monday) I hear it w…