Japanese clubs lay down the challenge to South Koreans in ACL group battles
June 30 – Japanese and South Korean clubs are dominating the East Zone group stages of the Asian Champions League as they near the half way stage.
Author: Paul Nicholson
England break their 55 year German spell. Now they need a roman conquest
By Andrew Warshaw
June 30 – They’ve laid one of football’s great hoodoos to rest but it will mean precious little if they fail at the next hurdle.
AFC set to draw final groups of Qatar 2022 qualifiers for September start
June 30 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) will hold a virtual draw for the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur.
Brazilian clubs progress CBF breakaway league talks
June 30 – Weeks after telling the Confederation of Brazilian Football (CBF) of new winds in the game, Brazilian clubs have opened talks with potential partners to form a new league structure.
Betano taking Sporting Club Lisbon’s shirt; Betway secures three-year Schalke 04 deal
June 30 – With new seasons approaching in Europe the scramble for exclusive betting partnerships and sponosrship with top tier clubs is gathering underway.
De Boer quits Netherlands as targets are missed
June 30 – Netherlands boss Frank De Boer has stepped down from his role after his team’s 2-0 elimination by Czech Republic at Euro 2020 in the round of sixteen, admitting his “goal has not been achieved”.
End of an era: Loew bows out of German leadership after 15 years
June 30 – Outgoing Germany coach Joachim Loew rued his team’s missed opportunities in their 2-0 defeat by England on Tuesday as his 15-year spell in charge of Die Mannschaft came to a disappointing end.
England seek to change history of German dominance in Euro last 16 tie
June 29 – England will attempt to beat Germany in a major tournament knockout game for the first time since their 1966 World Cup triumph at Wembley when the two great rivals lock horns today at the same venue in a mouth-watering last-16 tie at Euro 2020.
EU ‘shares doubt’ with UEFA about staging Euro semis and finals at Wembley
June 29 – While the British government continues to trumpet the success of its vaccine rollout across the country, theEU’s head office in Brussels has warned UEFA to be careful when staging the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020 at Wembley because of the rise of the highly contagious delta variant of Covid-19.
Atletico Madrid sells off 33.9% of club for €181m to see it over debt crisis
June 29 – Atletico Madrid has had a capital injection of €181.8 million from private equity investor Ares Management who will take a 33.96% stake in the Spanish club.
AIFF to centralise a second season of I-League in Kolkata
June 29 – Kolkata will stage the 2021-22 I-League the All India Football Federation (AIFF) announced, in a move designed to head off the possibility of a third coronavirus wave in India cancelling the competition.
France and Croatia crash out on a Euros night to remember
By Andrew Warshaw
June 29 – It was dubbed, variously, Magic Monday, Manic Monday and the greatest ever day of the Euros following two epic back-to-back encounters.
Spain and Croatia deliver a classic night of Euro 2020 drama
By Samindra Kunti
June 28 – In the end, after 120 minutes of sheer drama, industry and balletic skills that reaffirmed football’s endearing qualities, there was redemption for Unai Simon, Alvaro Morata and Spain with a 5-3 overtime win for the ages against Croatia.
Brazil go crypto on Bitci blockchain, Portugal opt for Chiliz deal
June 28 – The Brazilian and Portuguese national federations have become the latest governing bodies to join the crypto-based rush to fan tokens.
Man City to showcase Expo 2020 Dubai and vice versa
June 28 – Manchester City, owned by the UAE’s City Football Group (CFG), has gone closer to home with its latest sponsorship. Expo 2020 Dubai has been designated the club’s Official Exhibition partner.