Category Euro 2024 qualifying

Cardiff turns into a theatre of pain and leaves Wales facing an empty summer | Wales

Well, that’s one thing new no less than. And don’t fear. It solely takes about 30 years, a bit little bit of scar tissue, and maybe a mournful novelty tune to recover from it. Poland had 5 pictures on course all night time on the Cardiff Metropolis Stadium. Sadly for Wales all 5 got here within the penalty shoot out on the finish of two and a half hours of relentlessly draining Euro 2024 qualifying playoff soccer. Within the course of a primary ever aggressive shootout for Wales turned additionally a primary ever defeat by that almost all knuckle-biting of margins. It fell to Dan James to contribute the decisive miss at 5-4 down, all the time the worst option to lose on this self-contained theatre of ache. The kick felt incorrect from the second James lined it up. The run was too brief. There may be that feeling, in these moments, of a footballer all of a sudden cramped in their very own area, the radar beginning to bleep, the dials whirring, the day beginning to slide the incorrect method. Wojciech Szczesny didn’t actually have to reserve it, simply stay within the path of…

Read MoreCardiff turns into a theatre of pain and leaves Wales facing an empty summer | Wales

Ramsey reliant no longer: Wales’s new class are filling the void | Wales

Listening to Rob Web page final week talk about resisting the temptation to name up Lewis Koumas, the 18-year-old who scored on his Liverpool debut final month, was to ram residence the sense that this actually is a brand new period for Wales. A couple of minutes later, Matty Jones, the Wales Underneath-21s supervisor who performed with Koumas’s father, Jason, jested concerning the line doing the rounds at their base within the Vale of Glamorgan. “I feel it’s an inside joke in the mean time that I simply see former teammates of mine and look if their sons are taking part in,” he stated. Web page believes Wales are in impolite well being; the most effective place they’ve been in his tenure as a result of so many gamers – besides, worryingly, his 4 goalkeepers – are recurrently making a dent for his or her golf equipment. However maybe probably the most telling indication of the shift was when he instructed they don’t want Aaron Ramsey in fairly the identical means they as soon as did. It was the 33-year-old’s double that propelled Wales to Euro 2020, the same night Gareth Bale’s flag stole the…

Read MoreRamsey reliant no longer: Wales’s new class are filling the void | Wales

Serbia seal historic Euro 2024 finals place after nervy draw with Bulgaria | Euro 2024 qualifying

Serbia have certified for Euro 2024 – their first Euros finals berth as an impartial nation – after a nervy 2-2 house draw towards Bulgaria of their closing Group G sport on Sunday. Dragan Stojkovic’s facet knew some extent could be sufficient, even when Montenegro beat already certified Hungary. Montenegro, the third-placed workforce within the group, went forward in Budapest however misplaced 3-1. Serbia, in the meantime, fell behind within the second half earlier than Srdjan Babic made sure of qualification with a late leveller. It had appeared easy for the hosts when Milos Veljkovic headed house to open the scoring within the sixteenth minute, however followers in Leskovac started to really feel the nerves after Slobodan Rubezic’s first-half strike for Montenegro about 500 miles away. Bulgaria, backside of the group and in search of their first win, fought again within the second half with Georgi Rusev levelling within the 59th minute with a positive end. Kiril Despodov, who had hit the bar within the first half, surprised the house crowd 10 minutes later as he lifted the ball over Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to place the guests forward. Fortunately for Serbia, information shortly got here by…

Read MoreSerbia seal historic Euro 2024 finals place after nervy draw with Bulgaria | Euro 2024 qualifying

Clarke calls for Scotland to ‘never ease off’ before victory parade with Norway | Scotland

In circumstances the place the go to of Norway to Hampden Park held that means, the absence of Erling Haaland would result in wild celebration throughout the Scotland camp. As a substitute, Steve Clarke has expressed his disappointment that the prolific Manchester Metropolis striker will miss out via harm as Group A rumbles to an in depth in Glasgow. As the general public sighed, so, too, did Scotland’s administration. A knock to the foot, sustained within the victory over the Faroe Islands on Thursday, means Haaland will sit out the assembly. With the Norwegian Soccer Federation insisting Haaland’s harm is just not critical it appears protected to imagine he would have been risked had been computerized qualification hopes for Euro 2024 nonetheless alive. Scotland and Spain will emerge from this section, that means Hampden will host one thing of a victory parade for Clarke and his staff. “Within the context of this recreation, sure after all I needed Haaland to play,” mentioned the Scotland supervisor. “It will have been good for the Scotland followers to see him on the pitch at Hampden. It’s unlucky that he’s injured. If it was aggressive, my reply would in…

Read MoreClarke calls for Scotland to ‘never ease off’ before victory parade with Norway | Scotland

Harry Kane strikes in England’s lacklustre win over Malta | Euro 2024 qualifying

Probably the very best illustration of how toothless England have been for lengthy spells of this never-in-doubt victory over the fourth-worst workforce in Europe was that they mustered their first shot on track within the sixty fourth minute. It got here from Trent Alexander-Arnold and it was routine for the Malta goalkeeper, Henry Bonello. England had been forward since Enrico Pepe’s eighth-minute personal purpose, compelled by Phil Foden, who was the very best participant on the pitch. Nevertheless it was all a bit vanilla, Gareth Southgate’s workforce not needing to overexert themselves and never doing so. Qualification for the European Championship finals subsequent summer time had already been secured, the jeopardy lengthy since faraway from the marketing campaign and it was troublesome to get too indignant concerning the failure to rack up the targets. The huge Wembley crowd didn’t. They have been relaxed as England slightly went by way of the motions. Harry Kane was incensed to be proven a yellow card for a Twenty eighth-minute dive inside the realm; it was a seen-them-given penalty attraction, the contact with Bonello there however he might smile after sweeping dwelling the second purpose following a stunning workforce…

Read MoreHarry Kane strikes in England’s lacklustre win over Malta | Euro 2024 qualifying

Belgium v Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier abandoned after Brussels shooting | Euro 2024 qualifying

Belgium’s Euro 2024 qualifier in opposition to Sweden was suspended at half-time and subsequently deserted following the deadly taking pictures of two Swedes in Brussels on Monday night. Belgium raised its terror alert to the best stage after a person, seen in a video on social media, claimed that he was the assailant and that he was from the Islamic State. “Following a suspected terrorist assault in Brussels, it has been determined after session with the 2 groups and the native police authorities, that the Uefa Euro 2024 qualifying match between Belgium and Sweden is deserted,” Uefa stated in a press release. Swedish reporters on the recreation stated they’d been knowledgeable of the assault simply earlier than the nationwide anthems had been performed. Each units of gamers advised Uefa they didn’t need to play the second half. The rating was stage at 1-1. Viktor Gyökeres had given Sweden a Fifteenth-minute lead earlier than Romelu Lukaku equalised. Sweden’s supervisor Janne Andersson stated: “The workforce agreed 100% that we didn’t need to play on out of respect for the victims and their households.” When information of the suspension got here the Sweden supporters had been requested to…

Read MoreBelgium v Sweden Euro 2024 qualifier abandoned after Brussels shooting | Euro 2024 qualifying

Luis de la Fuente’s faith in youth underpins Spain charge to Euro 2024 | Spain

The Spain coach, Luis de la Fuente, has discovered a approach to flip his doubters into supporters. Almost a 12 months after he was appointed amid a wave of scepticism, De la Fuente now has widespread backing on the helm of La Roja, having turned Spain right into a contender once more and comfortably securing the group a spot at Euro 2024. Spain certified for subsequent 12 months’s event in Germany on Sunday with a 1-0 win in Norway – the group’s sixth straight triumph since a loss at Scotland in March had left De la Fuente underneath strain simply two video games into his stint. “We’re at all times studying,” stated De la Fuente. “At that second the evaluation was completely different than it’s now. We’ve simply reached an vital goal and we have now to maintain working and studying. We recognise what was finished nicely, however we all know there are nonetheless issues to enhance.” The 62-year-old changed Luis Enrique after the group’s exit at the hands of Morocco within the final 16 of the World Cup in Qatar. He was then comparatively unknown in Spain after spending years teaching the nation’s youth…

Read MoreLuis de la Fuente’s faith in youth underpins Spain charge to Euro 2024 | Spain

Wales v Croatia: Euro 2024 qualifier – live | Euro 2024 qualifying

Key occasions Present key occasions solely Please activate JavaScript to make use of this characteristic 36 min: Croatia actually not having fun with themselves, the Welsh forwards operating again to deal with after they suppose they’ve time on the ball. 33 min: Brozovic, one among that trio of midfielders that took Croatia to such heights, steps ahead. None of them have had it simple in Cardiff. 31 min: Croatia making an attempt to step out, having been penned again, however then Wales go lengthy, and Neco Williams follows up on Harry Wilson’s flick and lets fly. Good save from Livakovic once more. Will Wales come to rue their dominance not leading to a purpose? 29 min: Beautiful holdup play from Kieffer Moore, such a very good contact for a giant man. Perhaps not the very best finisher ever, however a fantastic footballer. Bournemouth ought to use him extra, and by the tip of the season, might nicely do. 28 min: A Croatia assault, and Ben Davies covers nicely to chop off Majer. 26 min: Livakovic collects the ball from a flick-on and takes his time. Croatia want a breather, and are in peril after that…

Read MoreWales v Croatia: Euro 2024 qualifier – live | Euro 2024 qualifying

Ogbene sympathises with Kenny after Ireland’s Euro 2024 hopes finally ended | Republic of Ireland

Chiedozie Ogbene has admitted he feels sorry for Stephen Kenny, the under-fire Republic of Ireland supervisor, after their lingering hopes of Euro 2024 qualification had been lastly dashed. Kenny’s reign seemingly reached the purpose of no return on Friday night time when a 2-0 residence defeat by Greece left his group with simply three factors from a attainable 18 in Group B and mathematically unable to clinch a spot within the prime two. Eire head for Gibraltar on Monday night with solely pleasure at stake and, whereas Kenny obtained assurances final week that he would stay in cost till after subsequent month’s fixtures, discontent with the course of journey underneath his cost has reached fever pitch. Requested in regards to the supervisor’s future, the Luton striker Ogbene mirrored on early possibilities which went begging and mentioned: “Had we scored these possibilities, then the sport could be totally different. We’d have been 2-0 up. However we didn’t take these possibilities and a constructive begin finally ends up negatively. I really really feel sorry for the supervisor. We weren’t sharp in our decision-making and total it’s disappointing, the outcome.” Kenny took over from Mick McCarthy in April…

Read MoreOgbene sympathises with Kenny after Ireland’s Euro 2024 hopes finally ended | Republic of Ireland

Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo leave Italy training camp amid investigation | Italy

The Italy internationals Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo left the Azzuri’s headquarters on Thursday after being advised they have been concerned in an investigation by prosecutors, the nation’s soccer federation has confirmed. The gamers, of Newcastle and Aston Villa respectively, have been notified of the inquiry by Turin prosecutors whereas on the nationwide workforce’s coaching centre in Coverciano, earlier than European Championship qualifiers in opposition to Malta and England. The Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) didn’t specify what the investigation was about however mentioned the 2 midfielders have been allowed to go residence on the premise they aren’t in the proper state to face upcoming matches. A press release on Thursday learn: “The federation proclaims that this afternoon the Turin Public Prosecutor’s Workplace has carried out investigations into gamers, Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo, who’re presently coaching with the nationwide workforce on the Coverciano Federal Coaching Centre. “Whatever the nature of the occasions, contemplating that the 2 gamers are usually not within the crucial situation to face the matches scheduled for the subsequent few days, the federation has determined, additionally for his or her safety, to permit them to return to their respective golf equipment.” Nicolò…

Read MoreSandro Tonali and Nicolò Zaniolo leave Italy training camp amid investigation | Italy