Nigerians risk missing Olympic opener as money row leaves team stuck in Atlanta
August 4 – Not for the first time, Nigeria’s footballers have been locked in a payment dispute, this time as they head for the Olympics in Brazil.
World Tournaments
Brazil praying Neymar’s stardust will deliver Olympic dreams and national pride
By Samindra Kunti, Rio de Janeiro
August 3 – The Rio games kick off today with the women’s football tournament but Brazilian football focus and Olympic hopes will be on the men’s tournament that starts tomorrow and whether mercurial superstar Neymar can deliver them a much-coveted gold.
Olympic opener gives SA women opportunity to push on
August 3 – When South Africa’s women footballers kick off the Rio Olympics later today, it will represent another crucial step in the long struggle for recognition back home.
Women provide Olympic warm-up as Brazil set to take challenge to US
By Samindra Kunti in Rio de Janeiro
August 2 – The Women’s football tournament will kick off competition at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games tomorrow with six matches across three venues in Rio, Sao Paulo and Mineirao. The official games opening ceremony takes place two days later in the Maracanã Stadium.
Brazil’s women aim for Rio Gold, but post games future is uncertain
By Samindra Kunti
July 21 – Brazil’s women will start as one of the favourites for the Olympic gold medal next month, but the host nation’s players fear the permanence of the team may be under threat.
Asylum seeking footballers urged not to go on the run in Rio
July 13 – Former Sierra Leone international Sheriff Suma hopes the country’s Olympic footballers will not be tempted to abscond when attending this month’s Rio Games.
Euros verdict: rich in feel-good stories and cash, lacking in football quality
By Andrew Warshaw and Samindra Kunti
Portugal, as one of the best third-place finishers in the group stage, may not have won Euro 2016 but for the tournament’s new 24-nation arrangement but Uefa has no intention of scrapping the expanded format – not in the short term at least.
Euro 2016 organisers call for future collaboration to beat hooliganism dangers
July 11 – The head of the Euro 2016 organising committee wants better collaboration at future finals to prevent the kind of hooliganism that marred the early stages of the competition in France.
Portugal shatters French dream and leaves nation, and Ronaldo, in tears
By Andrew Warshaw
July 11 – They only won one game in regulation time and didn’t have shot on target in the final until the 80th minute. Yet what Greece did to them 12 years ago in Lisbon, Portugal have now done to France: upsetting the host nation to become European champions and wrecking a nationwide party in the process.
France and Portugal compete for €27m Euro jackpot, Les Bleus to get €300k each
By Samindra Kunti
July 8 – Les Bleus players stand to receive €300,000 each from the French Football Federation FFF if they win the European Championship against Portugal on Sunday.
Euro 2016 final preview: France vs Portugal, a party waiting to happen
July 8 – No side ever wins a major football tournament without a modicum of good fortune and France arguably had theirs in the semifinal against Germany when they were outplayed for large parts of the game and were awarded a soft penalty.
Whether France or Portugal lift trophy, Nike win Euro 2016’s Battle of Brands
By David Owen
July 8 – We will have to wait and see whether hosts France or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal lift the European Championship trophy at the Stade de France on Sunday. But we can already say with absolute clarity that the US mark Nike has won Euro 2016’s Battle of the Brands.
Euros semi-final preview: France vs Germany
July 7 – Is this the moment when France finally write a new chapter in their football history by beating Germany for the first time for 58 years in a competitive match? Anticipation has reached fever pitch ahead of the host nation’s Euro semifinal but a giant hurdle faces Didier Deschamps’ team in one of the tightest games to call.
Euros semi-final preview: Wales vs Portugal
July 6 – Their motto is Stronger Together and it has worked a treat so far. Can Wales, the smallest country population-wise ever to get this far, now carry on living the dream when they face Portugal in the Euro 2016 semi-finals tonight?
Germany and Nordic nations head bid lists for Euro 2024 hosting
July 4 – Germany and a combined bid from Nordic nations are possible candidates to host the 2024 European Championship, according to UEFA interim general secretary Theodore Theodoridis.