Page 33 - Football

Euro Cup 2024: Uefa fines Germany over selfie-seekers on field with Ronaldo

UEFA has fined its tournament co-organizer Germany for failing to stop selfie-seekers from coming onto the field to get photos taken with Cristiano Ronaldo at the European Championship. UEFA published a slew of disciplinary rulings Monday that included two fines totaling 20,000 euros ($21,500) for the German soccer federation. The charges related to order and security at games and protection of the playing area at Portugal's games against the Czech Republic and Turkey. Multiple fans have invaded the playing field to take photos with Ronaldo during and after games. The Portugal star posed for one in-game photo with a young boy but grew visibly frustrated at the repeated security failures during the game against Turkey. UEFA announced it would review and increase security at stadiums. After a brief brawl between Georgia and Turkey fans in the stadium before their game at Dortmund, UEFA announced fines Monday of 30,000 euros ($32,200) for the Georgian soccer federation and 25,000 eu

Euro cup 2024: Portugal clashes debutant Slovenia in knockout clash

Portugal plays Slovenia on Monday in the pre-quarterfinals at the European Championship. The game kicks off at 9 pm local time (1900 GMT, 12.30 am [Tuesday]) at the Waldstadion in Frankfurt. The winner will advance to face Belgium or France in the quarterfinals on Friday. Here's what to know about the match: Match facts Portugal starts the group stage with wins over the Czech Republic and Turkey, then rests some starters in the third game and loses 2-0. Sound familiar? Portugal started Euro 2008 just as it has 16 years later. Then, Portugal did not get momentum back and was eliminated in the first knockout round to a German team heading to the final. Slovenia is a different kind of test. Slovenia will play its first knockout game at a major tournament in 32 years as an independent soccer nation. Slovenia went home after the group stage at Euro 2000, and the World Cups of 2002 and 2010, though only the top two advanced at those tournaments. Slovenia started Euro 2024 the same way

Former Indian midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat passes away at 85: AIFF

Former India midfielder Bhupinder Singh Rawat, who played in the 1969 Merdeka Cup in Malaysia died after a brief illness, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) stated. He was 85 and is survived by his wife, one son and daughter. A darling of the crowd for his speed and ability to cut through the rival defence despite his diminutive figure, Rawat was nicknamed "Scooter" by the fans. "Bhupinder Singh Rawat was a classy winger and also a prolific scorer, who served the game with distinction," the AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey said in his condolence message. "I extend my sincerest condolences to his family in this hour of sorrow." A speedy winger of the 1960s and 1970s, Rawat was part of the Indian team that finished seventh in the Merdeka Cup with a win over Western Australia in a classification match. In domestic football, he played for top teams like Delhi Garrison, Gorkha Brigade and Mafatlal. He represented Services and Maharashtra in the National Football Championship for t

Euro 2024: Penalty shootouts set to take center stage as new tactics beckon

Here's a quiz question: What do the 2022 World Cup final, the 2021 African Cup of Nations final, the 2020 European Championship final and the 2016 Copa America final have in common? Answer: They were all settled by a penalty shootout. Like it or not, the shootout that tense battle of wills over 12 yards (11 meters) has increasingly become a huge part of soccer, an unavoidable feature of the knockout stage in the biggest competitions. Added to the laws of the game in 1970, penalty shootouts have marred careers (Roberto Baggio has never gotten over his miss in the 1994 World Cup final), spawned pizza adverts (Gareth Southgate starred in one after his decisive failure from the spot at Euro 1996) and, in Lionel Messi's case at the most recent World Cup, earned a win that definitively secures a player a place in the pantheon of soccer greats. It's why those who delve into the psychology and science of soccer are perplexed why this tiebreaker system has been and continues to be ...

Smart match balls to AI: Tech changing face of football at Euro 2024

From smart-enabled match balls and artificial intelligence to cryogenic recovery chambers, soccer is being transformed by the cutting-edge technology available to players, coaches and officials. That much has been evident at Euro 2024, where advancements in areas such as equipment and sports science have been deployed on and off the field, designed to improve the game, the fan experience and player welfare. Not all of it is a hit with everyone. For instance, there are still complaints about VAR decisions just as there were about decisions in the days before VAR was introduced. Regardless, the world's most popular sport continues to be impacted by rapidly-developing technologies in the wider world. Right calls VAR decisions have, in large part, seemed to be a smoother process here than seen, for instance, in the Premier League last season. UEFA is deploying semi-automated offside technology, along with AI and Adidas' connected ball technology to speed up the review process and im

Euro Cup 2024 Round of 16 full schedule, live match time, telecast details

Sony Sports Network will telecast the Euro Cup 2024 Round of 16 matches in India. It's live streaming will be available on the Sony LIV app and website

Euro Cup 2024 tonight game: UKR vs BEL live match time SLO vs ROU streaming

The Ukraine vs Belgium football match as well as the Slovakia vs Romania football match will begin at 9:30 PM IST on June 26

Euro Cup 2024 tonight game: GEO vs POR live match time CZE vs TUR streaming

The Georgia vs Portugal football match as well as the Czechia vs Turkiye football match will begin at 12:30 AM IST on June 27

Euro 2024: England coach Southgate criticised after 0-0 draw with Slovenia

Top of the group, unbeaten and on the favorable side of the draw for the knockout phase of Euro 2024. It's a case of job done for England at this stage of the tournament. Try telling that to the fans who jeered loudly and threw beer cups as the final whistle blew on a 0-0 draw with Slovenia at Cologne Stadium. Criticism of England's performances in Germany has been fierce. I've not seen any team qualify and receive similar, manager Gareth Southgate said. Southgate believes he and his England team could be paying the price for its success under his leadership. Safe passage through to the round of 16 maintains his personal record of advancing from the group stage of every major tournament he's taken charge of, dating back to the World Cup in 2018. I think probably expectation (is different). We've made England over the last six or seven years fun again. I think it has been enjoyable for the players, Southgate said. We've got to be very, very careful that it stays that way. England

Euro 2024: France secures Round of 16 spot with 1-1 draw against Poland

A draw was enough to secure a spot for France in the Round of 16 as they secured a second-spot finish in Group D

Euro 2024: Denmark advances to last 16 after 0-0 draw with Serbia

Denmark advanced to the last 16 at the European Championship after a 0-0 draw with Serbia on Tuesday. The Danes finished Group C with three points, the same as Slovenia, but ended up in second place because of a better qualifying ranking. Slovenia, which drew 0-0 with group-winner England, also advanced to the knockout stage. Denmark had most of the chances even though Serbia needed a victory to reach the next round. And almost all of those Danish opportunities came through Christian Eriksen, who was making a record 133rd appearance for his country. Denmark and Slovenia finished even on points, goal difference, goals scored and disciplinary points.

Copa America 2024: Argentina beat Chile 1-0, seal quarterfinal place

Lautaro Martinez scored off a rebound in the 88th minute, giving defending champion Argentina and Lionel Messi a 1-0 victory over Chile that guaranteed them a berth in the Copa America quarterfinals. Messi's corner kick led to a shot blocked by goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, and Martnez scored his second goal of the tournament on Argentina's 21st shot of the match. Players stood and waited for three minutes while the goal, Martnez's 26th for the national team, was confirmed in a video review. Argentina leads Group A with six points, followed by Canada with six, and Chile and Peru with one each. The Albiceleste finishes the first round against Peru at Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, when Canada meets Chile in Orlando, Florida. Playing a day after his 37th birthday, Messi frequently flaunted his talent to spin around and slalom through defenders before an adoring sellout crowd of 81,106 at MetLife Stadium, site of the 2026 World Cup final. Argentina dominated 21-3 in shots and 11-0 i

Much-changed Spain beats Albania 1-0 at Euro 2024 to finish group stage

Spain changed almost its entire lineup and still kept up its victorious start to the European Championship with a 1-0 win over Albania, which was eliminated. With his team already assured of winning Group B, coach Luis de la Fuente changed 10 of his starters and Spain won all three group games at a Euros for the first time since 2008, when it went on to win the tournament. A 13th-minute goal from Ferran Torres and goalkeeper David Raya's stoppage-time save from Armando Broja ensured Spain completed the group stage without conceding a goal. Every player is ready to play in this first 11 and that's key. Anyone can decide a game for you and players coming off the bench are very important as well, Torres, who made his first start of Euro 2024, said through a translator. I will try to make things difficult for my coach so that he will have to play me. Torres scored with a deflection off the post from Dani OImo's pass, and put his fingers to his ears in his goal celebration. He said the

Italy advances at Euro 2024 after Zaccagni equaliser against Croatia

Italy substitute Mattia Zaccagni scored in the last minute of stoppage time for Italy to advance to the knockout stage of the European Championship after drawing Croatia 1-1. Luka Modric's second-half strike looked like sending Croatia through as the Group B runner-up, but Zaccagni swept a brilliant shot inside the far post in the eighth minute of added time to cap a furious finale from the defending champions. Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic was unhappy so much time was added after a battling performance from his side. You can't have eight minutes of added time after that game, it's nonsense, Dalic said. There weren't so many breaks in play, or so many fouls to justify that. I don't want to cause a fuss but I think Croatia needs to be acknowledged and respected. We played for almost three hours. Italy needed a point to progress, while Croatia realistically needed a win to stay in the tournament. The Croatians have two points from their three games and were at the mercy of other results

Euro 2024: England to play Slovenia in final Group C game on Tuesday

England plays Slovenia in its final Group C game at Euro 2024 on Tuesday. Negativity has surrounded Gareth Southgate's team following its unconvincing 1-1 draw with Denmark, but England still tops the group on four points and a draw will be enough to guarantee it advances to the round of 16. Kickoff is at 9 p.m. local (1900 GMT) in Cologne. Here's what to know about the match: Match facts: England's 1-1 draw with Denmark has sparked heavy criticism of the team, despite it topping Group C and being likely to progress even if it loses to Slovenia. While England could still finish third, four points has always been enough to advance to the knockout phase of the Euros as one of the best third-placed teams. England beat Serbia 1-0 in its opening game. Winning the group would mean England faces one of the best third-placed teams from Group D, E or F. Slovenia on two points goes into the game knowing it could finish top or bottom of the group, depending on results. Slovenia has drawn .

Stimac's conduct affirms correctness of contract termination: AIFF

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) on Monday accused ousted coach Igor Stimac of making attempts to show the country's football fraternity in a bad light in international conferences, saying excuses and failures became emblematic of his tumultuous five-year tenure. In a strong rebuttal to the series of allegations made against the AIFF by the former men's team head coach, the federation said it left no stone unturned in its effort to provide the gaffer with everything he had asked for to lift the team's performance. In a long statement, the AIFF said Stimac's sole intention of calling the press conference, four days after his sacking, was to malign the federation. "This conduct (by Stimac) has only reinforced the AIFF's belief that the right decision was made, with just cause, to terminate his contract and move forward in the interests of Indian football," the AIFF said in the statement. Launching a stinging attack on AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey, Stimac had said the sooner

Germany confirms Rdiger strained hamstring ahead of Euro 2024 last-16 game

Antonio Rdiger strained a hamstring muscle in Germany's 1-1 draw with Switzerland at Euro 2024, his team said Monday. The Real Madrid defender was seen holding his leg as he left the field after Sunday's game, which saw Germany level the score with a header from Niclas Fllkrug in stoppage time. Germany didn't give any details of Rdiger's condition in a brief statement confirming the injury Monday or indicate whether he's likely to be fit to play in the round of 16 on Saturday. If Rdiger can't play, it would leave Germany without either of its first-choice central defenders. The other central defender from the last game, Jonathan Tah, will be suspended for the round of 16 after picking up his second yellow card of the tournament. It's likely to mean a bigger role for Nico Schlotterbeck, who replaced Tah off the bench on Sunday. The other central defenders in the squad are Eintracht Frankfurt's Robin Koch and Stuttgart's Waldemar Anton. Neither has played in Euro 2024 so far.

Euro Cup 2024 today match: ALB vs ESP live match time, CRO vs ITA streaming

The Albania vs Spain football match as well as the Croatia vs Italy football match will begin at 12:30 AM IST on June 25

Mirlind Daku banned by Uefa for 2 Euro 2024 games after nationalist chants

Albania player Mirlind Daku was banned on Sunday for two games after leading fans in nationalist chants at the European Championship, that UEFA said brought soccer into disrepute. Daku took a megaphone after Albania's 2-2 draw with Croatia on Wednesday in Hamburg and joined in chanting slogans against Serbia and North Macedonia. The incidents and fallout from the game in Hamburg have been the most serious involving Balkan politics at a Euros with the most-ever teams from the region playing and offering a stage for some fans to air its issues. It also has highlighted rifts in soccer between Albania and Serbia at a time when their soccer federations have tried to heal them by teaming up, despite opposition from many fans, in a bid to co-host the Under-21 Euros in 2027. On Sunday, UEFA said its disciplinary judges found Daku guilty of failing to comply with the general principles of conduct, for violating the basic rules of decent conduct, for using sports events for manifestations o

Hungary forward Barnabas Varga stable after injury against Scotland

Hungary forward Barnabs Varga was in hospital in stable condition after a serious-looking injury at his team's final group match at the European Championship. Varga will likely undergo surgery after fracturing several bones in his face. The 29-year-old also has concussion and will take no part in the rest of Euro 2024 should Hungary advance to the round of 16 as one of the four best third-place teams. The Group A game against Scotland was halted for nearly 10 minutes so Varga could get treatment after colliding with opposing goalkeeper Angus Gunn midway through the second half. Varga's teammates held up blankets to shield the player as he was tended to by medical staff, while everyone looked on in concern. Both sets of fans applauded when Varga was stretchered off. Several bones in Barnabs Varga's face were broken during the collision during the match, and he also suffered a concussion, the Hungarian soccer federation wrote on X, formerly Twitter, after the match. The Ferencvros