British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said he was appalled at racial abuse targeting England’s football stars, after they lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy on a penalty shoot-out. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka, the three players who missed England’s penalties on Sunday, were the victims of a stream of abuse […]
FBL
Canada cruise past Martinique in Gold Cup opener
Canada romped to a 4-1 victory over Martinique on Sunday in the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Canada, stung by the loss of Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies to an ankle injury on the eve of the tournament, nevertheless had no trouble in their Group B opener in Kansas City thanks to goals from Cyle Larin, Jonathan […]
Euro 2020 crowning moment for Roberto Mancini, Italy’s renaissance man
Roberto Mancini marked the crowning moment of his career on Sunday by winning the European Championship title with an Italy side transformed from the dark days of their 2018 World Cup qualifying fiasco. The four-time world champions beat England 3-2 on penalties as the Euro 2020 final finished 1-1 after extra time at Wembley, with […]
Triumphant Italy return to Rome after Euro 2020 victory
Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini lifted the gleaming cup towards the Rome sky Monday as his triumphant team touched down on home soil after winning Euro 2020 by beating England in a tense penalty shootout in Wembley. Chiellini, the 36-year-old veteran at the heart of Italy’s defence, wore a crown as he held the trophy aloft […]
‘The biggest day’: Atmosphere builds ahead of Euro 2020 final
Hundreds of jubilant England fans descended on Wembley Stadium early Sunday singing songs, drinking beer and savouring the atmosphere as the country competes in its first major football tournament final in over half a century. Supporters draped in red and white flags congregated along the famous approach to the stadium, Wembley Way, downing pints of […]
Messi’s Argentina trophy odyssey ends in Brazil
When Lionel Messi, already a regular starter for the mighty Barcelona, made his international bow in 2005 as an 18-year-old for a powerful Argentina side he surely never imagined it would take him 16 years to finally claim a trophy with his country. But the six time Ballon d’Or winner had to suffer numerous disappointments, […]
Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister wish England luck in Euro final
Queen Elizabeth and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent good luck messages to the England team ahead of Sunday’s Euro 2020 final against Italy at Wembley. Gareth Southgate’s side have reached the European Championship title match for the first time, ending England’s 55-year wait for a major final appearance. The queen, 95, handed England captain […]
England and Italy brace for Euro 2020 showdown
England and Italy are counting down to Sunday’s Euro 2020 final, with Gareth Southgate’s men seeking to end a 55-year trophy drought while the Azzurri aim to spoil the Wembley party. Sporting immortality beckons for England captain Harry Kane and his team-mates, who are desperate to etch their names into the record books by winning […]
Raja survive battering with 10 men to win CAF Confederation Cup
Moroccan club Raja Casablanca survived a second-half battering from Algerian rivals JS Kabylie with 10 men to win the CAF Confederation Cup final 2-1 in Benin’s economic capital Cotonou on Saturday. In a tale of two halves at the Stade de l’Amitie the Casablanca outfit raced into a two-goal lead within 14 minutes through goals […]
Japan’s Fukushima, Hokkaido ban fans at Olympic events
Japan’s northern Fukushima and Hokkaido regions have banned spectators from Olympic competitions in their areas, expanding unprecedented steps to hold the Games mostly behind closed doors due to the pandemic. The announcements by their regional governors reversed a decision Thursday evening by Olympic organisers to save competitions outside the greater Tokyo area for live viewing. […]