New Manchester City midfielder and Germany international Ilkay Gundogan has no hesitation in stating that his international side are the best at Euro 2016, but he hates watching them on television.
The former Borussia Dortmund man was unveiled alongside City manager Pep Guardiola on Sunday, and while he is excited for his club future, he admitted it has been tough watching the Euros from home as he recovers from a knee injury.
Germany booked their spot in the semi-finals, where they will face hosts France, with a penalty shoot-out win over Italy.
It s not so easy to watch them playing and being successful, because I know exactly what the feeling is. It s really sad I can t take part in it, like two years ago at the World Cup, he said.
It is not easy for…
Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane is set to return to training next week as he looks to regain fitness in time for Euro 2012.
Keane had been a doubt to join up with Giovanni Trapattoni s squad in the coming days after suffering a hamstring injury while playing for current club LA Galaxy.
However, a scan has since revealed that the former Tottenham striker has not suffered a tear and will be fit to feature in upcoming friendlies against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Hungary.
A spokesman for the Football Association of Ireland said: Robbie Keane s scan result came through today and showed all clear with no sign of any tear or blood.
He will be assessed when he comes in and should be fine.
The 31-year-old has 115 caps for the Republic of Irela…
In terms of football nations, Croatia is relatively small compared to many of the teams currently in Russia. However, the Eastern European nation has produced some top players. For me, with the quality player at their disposal, Croatia has underachieved at international tournaments.
However, World Cup 2018 could just be the tournament that the experienced Croatians fulfil their potential. On Thursday night, Zlatko Dalic’s team produced a 3-0 win over South American giants Argentina.
While many criticised Argentina for their poor performance, nothing should be taken away from Croatia’s display. The Eastern European team have now qualified for the knockout stages of the competition after winning both of their group games.
The midfield brains the key
Croatia h…
AC Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf will not be making an appearance for his national team at the upcoming European Championships.
Seedorf, who represented the Dutch team 87 times, has been having difficulties with current manager Marco van Basten in recent years.
After having been left out of the squad for two and a half years, the former Ajax, Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Real Madrid player returned to the team but only to be brought on as a substitute five times in ten games.
I didn t expect this. I told him that I respect him as a person and a player, but his mind was made up, said Van Basten.
Seedorf played his first major tournament with the Netherlands in 1996, at the European Championships in England where he missed the eventually deciding penalt…
Julen Lopetegui lost his first Premier League game in charge of West Ham, as Jhon Duran s strike secured a 2-1 victory for Aston Villa at the London Stadium.
West Ham have spent big in the transfer market to back their new coach, but the Hammers ultimately fell short in their opening match of 2024-25.
Lucas Paqueta s penalty cancelled out an early opener from Villa debutant Amadou Onana, while Leon Bailey had struck the woodwork for the visitors too.
Substitute Duran – who was reportedly a target for the Hammers – would have the final say though, neatly finishing off a team move to restore Villa s lead with 11 minutes of normal time remaining.
Villa s win takes them into the top four, while West Ham sit in 15th, albeit both teams will not be paying to…
After nine years, Spain are back in the semi-finals of a major tournament – and, boy, has it felt like hard work.
A group-stage slog, an extra-time thriller with Croatia and then this, a match against Switzerland that seemed under their control but still required 120 minutes of football and a penalty shoot-out to decide.
Yet here they are: exhausted, written off, but in with a shot of a third European Championship final out of the past four. The passing might not be as slick, the control not as imperious as it once was, but one thing Euro 2020 has given these players is belief. After this latest challenge posed by the Russian summer and the Swiss Sommer, it will only be stronger.
It seemed Spain had found the ideal antidote to any lingering fatigue from the l…
Former Germany defender Carsten Ramelow believes Spain will become the first team to defend their European title.
Germany cruised into the knockout rounds of Euro 2012 with three victories in the group stage, and were dealt a favourable draw against Greece.
However, should they overcome the Euro 2004 winners on Friday, the will face either Italy or England in the semi-finals, and Ramelow believes they will come undone against Cesare Prandelli s men.
Italy are always good for a surprise, and they are always the favourites, the former Bayer Leverkusen man told Goal.com.
I think it depends on the form on the day. Italy are the secret favourites, and therefore I d tip them to win.
Ramelow went on to say that he would back Spain to overcome Portug…
Sevilla s Brazilian-born striker Luis Fabiano, the Primera Liga s second top scorer with 24 goals last season, has extended his contract with the club until June 2011, the Spanish side said Saturday.
The new contract includes a termination clause of 25 million euros (40 million dollars) and an undisclosed raise which the club said will make him one of its best-paid players along with fellow striker Frederic Kanoute and centre back Sebastien Squillaci.
The 27-year-old joined Sevilla in 2005 from Portuguese giants FC Porto and helped them to win the 2006 and 2007 UEFA Cups, plus the Spanish King s Cup in 2007.
Last week Fabiano, who reportedly was being chased by other clubs including Real Madrid, obtained Spanish citizenship, meaning he no longer takes up one …
Alexis Sanchez was on the scoresheet as Serie A leaders Inter brushed aside Salernitana 5-0 at Stadio Arechi on Friday.
Linked with a possible January move to Barcelona in recent days, the Chile forward was handed just his third league start of the season and repaid coach Simone Inzaghi with his first top-flight goal since May.
Ivan Perisic and Denzel Dumfries had already put the Nerazzurri comfortably in control in the first half, the latter scoring his side s 100th league goal of 2021.
Substitutes Lautaro Martinez and Roberto Gagliardini added fourth and fifth goals for Inter, who now lead Serie A by four points with one game left this year.
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Inter dominant in Salerno
A huge win for our lads!
— Inter (@Inter_en)
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone applauded the work of his opposite number Carlo Ancelotti after losing to the Italian s Real Madrid in Sunday s derby.
Los Blancos claimed a 2-1 win at the Civitas Metropolitano to ensure they go into the international break at the top of the table.
Madrid have won all of their first six LaLiga games in the 2022-23 season and rarely looked especially worried against Atletico, despite the hosts dictating the tempo for much of the second half.
Goals from Rodrygo and Federico Valverde in the first period sent Madrid on their way and, although Mario Hermoso – who was also sent off late on for two bookings – pulled one back, the away side were good value for the win.
Simeone subsequently struggled to hide his admiration …