By David Owen
June 28 – Just when it looked like Euro 2016’s Battle of the Brands was about to come down to a straight shoot-out between Nike and Adidas, along came the tournament’s Manic Monday to make sure that four kit suppliers are still in with a chance of glory at the quarter-final stage.
By Paul Nicholson
June 27 – Lionel Messi has hung up his international boots, his last act for Argentina being missing a penalty in the final shoot out last night that saw Chile win the Copa America Centenario in the US.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 27 – The issue of Gianni Infantino’s salary and when he might put pen to paper is back in the spotlight after another independent member of the compensation committee that set the FIFA president’s pay resigned.
By Paul Nicholson
June 27 – One of the major legacies of the France 2016 European Championships will be the new and renovated stadia that the French clubs are left to play in. But with 19 of Ligue 1’s club stadia owned by municipalities, will the clubs really benefit from the increased revenue opportunities?
By Samindra Kunti
June 27 – Olympique de Marseille (OM), struggling financially under president Vincent Labrune, look poised to announce new money into the club with Iranian investors reported to be ready to splash the cash to rejuvenate the French giant.
By Andrew Warshaw
June 27 – British football clubs could find it more difficult to operate in the transfer window as a result of the country’s shock decision to leave the European Union.
By Paul Nicholson
June 27 – The Copa America Centenario concluded in front of 82,026 fans in the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with a penalty shoot-out win for Chile over Argentina.
June 27 – As if losing to Chile on penalties in the final of Copa America for the second successive time wasn’t painful enough Argentina are embroiled in an escalating crisis off the field with FIFA saying they have taken control of the national federation and will help pick an emergency panel to manage its affairs.
June 26 – Two of Europe’s traditional giants meet in what is undoubtedly the tie of the last 16 knock-out round. The winners of the Spain vs Italy clash of the giants will set up another titanic match-up against world champions Germany. In the final tie of the round perennial tournament under-performers England face Iceland, probably the biggest over-performers of the competition from the smallest nation in it.
June 26 – Day two of the Last 16 play-off matches sees the Irish hungry to reverse Thierry Henry’s handball injustice and spoil the French party, Lille’s relain pitch welcome the Germans and Slovaks, and Belgium’s stars preparing to feast on Hungary.
By Bernd Fisa
June 26 – Monday, three years to the day after Stefano Borgonovo passed away, Chantal, the widow of the former striker of the Italian national team, will attend Italy’s game against Spain to remember her husband and his courageous struggle against MND.
June 24: Lewandowski, Bale, Ronaldo. Three big players for three big games? Lewandowski has still to score, Bale has scored in every game and Ronaldo came to life scoring twice in Portugal’s last group game. Will they step-up as the European Championships enter the last 16 knockout phase?
By Paul Nicholson
June 24 – Manipulation of football administration in the Caribbean is nothing new. But in a region desperate to shake off the long shadows of former presidents Jack Warner and Jeff Webb, the old ways of operating seem to be alive and kicking. They may have even taken a turn for the worse with regional confederation CONCACAF stepping into the game with the support of FIFA and its new president Gianni Infantino.
By Samindra Kunti in Lens
June 24 – The French rail union SNCF has announced the end to strike action that has left the country struggling to function but which, in reality, has had only limited impact on fans attending the Euro 2016 tournament.
By Samindra Kunti
June 24 – The All India Football Federation (AIFF) is once again fighting fires. A rival futsal competition and the departure of two I-league clubs have caused new headaches for the federation that is managing the merger of the high profile Indian Super League into its professional league structure.