Belgium back Lukaku to come good against Ukraine
June 23 – Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco is not worried by his side’s profligacy in front of goal at Euro 2024, and is keeping faith in Romelu Lukaku to come good.
Gold Cup 2025
Guate bang their drum on a night of passion in Los Angeles
Jamaica 0 Guatemala 1
June 16 – It has been 12 years since Guatemala have beaten Jamaica. Six days ago they lost 3-0 to the Jamaicans in World Cup 2026 qualifying. On the opening night of their Gold Cup campaign they turned the form book on its head.
No more Scotland, no more party. Hungary send the Tartan Army home
June 23 – In a final group game that took a nasty head injury to seemingly spark it into life with 25 minutes to play, Hungary shattered the impressive and vocal Tartan Army’s dreams with a goal in the 10th minute of added time to win 1-0.
Swiss miss out on topping Group A to last gasp German equaliser
June 23 – In 2006 as host of the World Cup, Germany came together in a way that the country had not experienced in more than 70 years. There was a huge sense of pride mixed with a twinge of nationalism that at first made Germans uncomfortable, however, by the end of the tournament, the Bundesflagge (national flag) would be flown throughout the country.
De Bryune imperious as Belgium dispatch Romania
June 22 – With a commanding performance and a goal, Kevin De Bruyne steered Belgium to a 2-0 victory against Romania, leaving all four Group E teams on three points.
Austria’s Rangnick focussed on Dutch decider
June 22 – Poland were put to the sword against Austria as the bottom-placed sides clashed in Group D, giving Ralf Rangnick’s side a lifeline headed into the final game versus Netherlands on Tuesday.
Ronaldo and Pepe give young Turks a timeless lesson in class
June 22 – There are occasions that take your breath away. When reality blows away illusions. Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund isn’t a trick of the mind, it really is a seething mass of Turkish and Portuguese humanity cranking the noise levels up to 104 decibels and beyond…as loud as a rock concert!
Fired up Georgia and Mamardashvili’s heroics hold frustrated Czechs to a draw
June 22 – Czechia were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw versus Euro debutants Georgia as the bouncing Volksparkstadion in Hamburg witnessed a game with no winners, in more ways than one.
Chechia’s Ivan Hašek says they are ready for Georgia’s Kvaratskhelia
June 21 – Czechia are eyeing their first points of their Euro 2024 campaign against Georgia on Saturday afternoon after their last-second loss to Portugal left a bitter taste in an otherwise encouraging opening performance.
Belgium’s Tedesco relying on proven returnees for crucial Romania clash
June 21 – Counting on reinforcing their defence, Belgium will need a result in their second Group E encounter against Romania after a shock 1-0 defeat to Slovakia.
Netherlands battle to a scoreless draw with France after VAR rules out Simons goal
June 21 – It wasn’t a classic but it was certainly an entertaining and full blooded encounter as the two big dogs in Group D, France and the Netherlands, squared off in Leipzig to share the points in a 0-0 draw.
Rangnick’s Austria put three past Poland in the Olympiastadion cauldron
June 21 – Berlin has been fizzing with excitement for days as Austrians and Poles poured into the city for this crucial Group D. In the end the day was won by Austria, 3-1 to earn their first points of Euro 2024.
Ukraine come from behind to keep a nation under siege very much alive
June 21 – Bringing a brief moment of joy to its war-torn people at home, Ukraine’s national team rallied to complete a dramatic 2-1 comeback against Slovakia with an 80th-minute winner from substitute Roman Yaremchuk.
UEFA opens multiple investigations as Balkan nationalist fervour boils over
June 21 – The complex and fever-pitch intensity and rivalry among the various Balkan neighbours at Euro 2024 continues to take centre stage with UEFA now opening an investigation into Serbian claims that fans of Albania and Croatia chanted ‘kill, kill, kill the Serb’ during their Group B game on Wednesday.
Montagliani says Copa America in the US is preparation for Concacaf’s 2026 competitiveness
June 20 – Much has been made of the Copa America in the US being a test event for the 2026 World Cup, but there has not been so much comment about the importance of the event for six Concacaf nations competing as they build their teams towards 2026.
Copa America kicks off in Atlanta with Messi-mania driving Argentina past Canada
June 21 – The chants of ‘Mes-si! Mes-si! Mes-si!’ started more than an hour before kickoff and kept up throughout Argentina’s 2-0 win over Canada in the Copa America opening game in Atlanta.