Shevchenko Is New Ukraine Coach

Former Striker, Andriy Shevchenko has been appointed as Ukraine coach on a contract until the end of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying.

The 39-year old will succeed Mykhailo Fomenko, whom he assisted during UEFA EURO 2016, where Ukraine lost all three games without scoring.

Shevchenko will be aided by Mauro Tassotti and Andrea Maldera, both former members of AC Milan’s coaching staff, and Serhiy Rebrov’s ex-Dynamo Kyiv No2 Raúl Riancho.

“It’s an emotional moment and a great honour for me,” said the new man at the helm.

“My first task is creating a real unit who are able to achieve results. I also want to help the team win back the supporters’ respect with the quality of our performances. We will search for some young players but my main criteria are discipline, organisation, balance, commitment and motivation.”

Shevchenko joined the Ukraine back-room team in February, having previously scored a national-record 48 goals in 111 appearances prior to his 2012 retirement.

The former Dynamo, Milan and Chelsea forward will have his first competitive match in charge at home to Iceland in Kyiv on 5 September, with Croatia, Finland, Kosovo and Turkey also in world cup qualifying group I

Shevchenko Is New Ukraine Coach

Euro 2016: Portugal Beat Poland On Penalties To Reach Semis

Despite first half goals from Robert Lewandowski and Renato Sanches, it took a penalty shootout to separate the sides, with the Seleccao coming out on top in the first quarter final match of the Euro 2016 here on Thusrday

Portugal booked their place in the semi-finals of Euro 2016 on Thursday as they beat Poland 5-3 on penalties.

The game got off to a bright start for Poland with Robert Lewandowski scoring in the second minute but 18-year-old Renato Sanches found the net for the Portugal in 33rd minute. The sides could not be separated again after two hours of play.

With the game resorting to penalties, it was Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma who proved the hero, converting the definitive spot kick to send his side into the last four.

Poland focussed on defence and the game faded out, with the second half finishing goalless and the game heading into extra time.

Cristiano Ronaldo passed up an opportunity early in extra-time and neither side could find the breakthrough, meaning a penalty shootout was needed to separate the two.

Poland’s Blaszczykowski missed the penalty as Portugal’s goalkeeper stretched on his left to stop the ball going into the net.

Euro 2016: Portugal Beat Poland On Penalties To Reach Semis

Euro 2016: Iceland Stun England, Roy Hodgson Resigns

Roy Hodgson resigned as manager of England after a 2-1 defeat to Iceland in a press conference shortly after the match.

England had qualified for the Euro 2016 tournament with ease, but despite taking an early lead through a Wayne Rooney penalty, managed to lose 2-1 to Iceland.

It was a conspicuously poor performance from a team who have once again struggled in the spotlight.

Speaking to the press, Hodgson said,  “Now is the time” for a new manager to coach the national side.

He praised his players, saying,

“When I arrived, I was told players didn’t turn up for their country.

“These players loved to play for their country and their commitment was unquestionable.

“I’d like to thank them for their dedicated support.

“It has been a fantastic journey. It’s one I will look back on with pride.

“I’m sorry it’s had to end this way.”

Euro 2016: Iceland Stun England, Roy Hodgson Resigns

Rashford Breaks Rooney"s England Record

Marcus Rashford became England’s youngest player at a European Championship on Thursday when he broke Wayne Rooney’s record with his substitute appearance in the 2-1 win over Wales.

The teenage Manchester United striker was introduced on 73 minutes of the dramatic Group B encounter in France at the age of 18 years and 228 days – four days younger than his club and international captain Rooney was when he registered his first competition outing at Euro 2004.

After Gareth Bale had opened the scoring for Wales, England later sealed three important points thanks to second-half goals from Rashford’s fellow substitutes Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge.

Speaking after the final whistle, Rooney spoke to the BBC about Rashford’s impressive cameo performance and his Old Trafford team-mate breaking his own long-standing international record.

“He will be delighted,” he said. “I haven’t actually seen the players yet because I have been drug tested, so I am not allowed in the dressing room, but I am sure he is delighted and I am really pleased for him.

“I saw today that it was 112 days ago that he made his debut for Man United and he is now playing on the biggest stage for England. It is a great story and we are all pleased for him.”

On the game itself, which saw England come from behind to win with Rooney producing an influential midfield display, the captain was relieved and felt the Three Lions deserved the result.

“In the first half I think we did OK actually but we just had to move the ball quicker,” he said. “Unfortunately we went 1-0 down and in the second half the manager made some positive changes. It paid off for us. I thought we were fantastic in the second half. We moved the ball and made Wales work hard.

“We kept the ball, kept probing and got the win in the end. We showed a lot of character today and I am sure everyone in the dressing room will be delighted.

“I think we know as a group of players that we are not just an 11-man team; we have got 23 players in our squad who can all play, are all confident and all trust each other to know that whoever is playing will do a good job. It showed today what a good squad we have got with some very exciting players.

“We played some great stuff and it is a great feeling to win the game in the way we did. That will almost qualify us with one game to go and we will have to finish the job off on Monday.”

Manutd

Rashford Breaks Rooney"s England Record

Euro 2016: Hungary Stun Austria

Hungary produced a Euro 2016 shock with a win over 10-man Austria as both teams opened their campaigns in France.

Austria almost scored the quickest ever goal at the Euros but David Alaba’s shot after 28 seconds hit the post.

Hungary contained their rivals and took the lead when Adam Szalai slotted in Laszlo Kleinheiser’s pass.

A disappointing Austria had Aleksandar Dragovic sent off for a second bookable offence before Zoltan Steiber sealed Hungary’s win with a composed dink.

Memorable win for Magyars

Hungary were back at a major tournament for the first time since the 1986 World Cup and triumphed by virtue of superior work-rate, organisation and quality.

In the closing moments Steiber coolly lifted the ball over the keeper to seal the win.

It was also a memorable day for Hungary keeper Gabor Kiraly, 40, who overtook Lothar Matthaus’ record to become the oldest player to appear at a European Championship finals.

BBC

Euro 2016: Hungary Stun Austria

German Defender To Miss EURO 2016

Germany defender Antonio Rudiger has been ruled out of Euro 2016 after tearing cruciate knee ligaments in training on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old was taking part in the squad’s first session at their base in France when he suffered the injury.

“A decision on a new player has yet to be taken,” said a Germany statement.

The absence Rudiger, who plays for Roma in Serie A, is a blow with fellow centre-back Mats Hummels not fully recovered from a leg muscle injury.

Germany had arrived at their tournament base in Evian only hours before Rudiger was injured.

They are in the same group as Northern Ireland, Poland and Ukraine.

BBC

German Defender To Miss EURO 2016

Premier League Has Largest Representation At Euro 2016

Crystal Palace’s Yohan Cabaye (left) and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil (right) will both be at Euro 2016

The Premier League will provide nearly 20% of the players at Euro 2016 – more than any other league.

A total of 103 players out of the 552 will come from the English top flight, ahead of the German Bundesliga, which will be represented by 57 players.

Spain’s La Liga, whose clubs Sevilla and Real Madrid won the 2016 Europa League and Champions League titles, will only have 34 players in France.

A study by Polish site Ekstrastats also calculates that the English Championship will provide 31 players, more than France’s Ligue 1.

Liverpool and Juventus are the best represented clubs with 12 players, with 11 from Tottenham and 10 from Manchester United.

Eighteen of the 24 countries will contain players from the Premier League.

The Wales squad contains 13 players from the English top flight, while the Republic of Ireland and Belgium both have 12.

BBC

Premier League Has Largest Representation At Euro 2016

EURO 2016: Turkey Names Final Squad

Barcelona midfielder Arda Turan leads Fatih Terim’s final 23-man squad for Euro 2016, with Nuri Sahin also making the cut despite an injury-plagued season.

Borussia Dortmund’s Sahin had to wait until February 18 to make his first start of the campaign after a persistent tendon problem, managing just six subsequent starts in the Bundesliga.

However, the playmaker makes Fatih Terim’s final selection, along with Bayer Leverkusen ace Hakan Calhanoglu and surprise inclusion Emre Mor, who made his full international debut in last Sunday’s friendly against Montenegro after impressing for Nordsjaelland.

Eight players, included Gokhan Tore of Besiktas and Galatasaray’s Yasin Oztekin have been cut from Terim’s initial party.

Turkey start their Euro 2016 campaign against Croatia on June 12, before meeting Spain five days later and Czech Republic in their final Group D game on June 21.

 

Turkey’s Final 23-man Squad:

Goalkeepers: Volkan Babacan (Medipol Basaksehir), Onur Recep Kivrak (Trabzonspor), Harun Tekin (Bursaspor)

Defenders: Gokhan Gonul (Fenerbahce), Sener Ozbayrakli (Bursaspor), Semih Kaya (Galatasaray), Ahmet Calik (Genclerbirligi), Hakan Balta (Galatasaray), Caner Erkin (Fenerbahce), Ismail Koybasi (Besiktas)

Midfielders: Mehmet Topal (Fenerbahce), Selcuk Inan (Galatasaray), Ozan Tufan (Fenerbahce), Oguzhan Ozyakup (Besiktas), Hakan Calhanoglu (Bayer Leverkusen), Nuri Sahin (Borussia Dortmund), Arda Turan (Barcelona), Olcay Sahan (Besiktas), Volkan Sen (Fenerbahce), Emre Mor (Nordsjaelland)

Strikers: Burak Yilmaz (Beijing Guoan), Cenk Tosun (Besiktas), Yunus Malli (Mainz)

 

EURO 2016: Turkey Names Final Squad

EURO 2016: Injured Joe Ledley Makes Wales Final Squad

Wales have confirmed their 23-man squad for the European Championships, with Joe Ledley included in the squad despite breaking his leg this month.

Manager Chris Coleman, who was recently rewarded with a two-year extension by the Welsh FA, has worked wonders in charge of the national team.

Coleman guided his country to the Euro 2016 finals during the group stages over the last 18 months, which in turn will be Wales’ first finals since the 1958 World Cup.

Coleman has lost just one of his last 11 qualifiers and he will be hoping to carry that sort of form into the Championships next month.

A big boost ahead of the tournament is the return of Ledley, although it is not believed the Crystal Palace midfielder will start the opening game or two.

The 29-year-old, remarkably, missed the FA Cup final loss against Manchester United after breaking his leg on the 7 May.

Adam Matthews, Paul Dummett, Emyr Huws and Wes Burns are the ones who have been cut from Coleman’s training camp group, whilst three players withdrew with injury.

Real Madrid superstar Gareth Bale, who won the Champions League on Saturday night, linked up with the squad on Tuesday and is included as expected.

 

Wales’ 23-man Squad For Euro 2016:

Goalkeepers: Wayne Hennessey, Danny Ward, Owain Fon Williams.

Defenders: Chris Gunter, James Chester, Ashley Williams, Ben Davies, Neil Taylor, James Collins, Jazz Richards.

Midfielders: Joe Allen, Joe Ledley, Aaron Ramsey, Andy King, David Edwards, Jonny Williams, David Vaughan, George Williams.

Forwards: Gareth Bale, Hal Robson-Kanu, Sam Vokes, Simon Church, David Cotterill.

EURO 2016: Injured Joe Ledley Makes Wales Final Squad

EURO 2016: Rashford Makes England Squad, Drinkwater Axed

Marcus Rashford’s sensational rise to prominence has continued after Roy Hodgson named the teenage striker in his final 23-man squad for Euro 2016 at the expense of Danny Drinkwater, Fabian Delph and Andros Townsend.

Hodgson has named five strikers for the summer tournament with Rashford joining Manchester United teammate Wayne Rooney, Leicester’s Jamie Vardy, Tottenham’s Harry Kane and Liverpool’s Daniel Sturridge in the squad.

Delph was expected to be left out of the final squad after he picked up a groin injury in training, but Drinkwater and Townsend will be disappointed to miss out following their impressive form for both Leicester and Newcastle in the Premier League.

 

England’s final 23-man squad:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Tom Heaton (Burnley).

Defenders: Ryan Betrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Liverpool), Danny Rose (Tottenham), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), John Stones (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Ross Barkley (Everton), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal).

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Jamie Vardy (Leicester).

EURO 2016: Rashford Makes England Squad, Drinkwater Axed

Northern Ireland Name Euro 2016 Squad

Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill has announced his final 23-man squad for Euro 2016, with Will Grigg and Lee Hodson included as expected.

It emerged on Friday that Wigan striker Grigg and MK full-back Hodson would get the nod for the trip to France.

O’Neill has cut his squad from 28 players with Liam Boyce, Billy McKay, Daniel Lafferty, Ben Reeves and Michael Smith missing out.

Northern Ireland start Euro 2016 against Poland in Nice on 12 June.

O’Neill told each player on Wednesday if they would be involved in Northern Ireland’s first appearance in a major tournament since 1986.

Grigg, who scored in Friday night’s 3-0 friendly win over Belarus, beat Boyce and McKay to the final striker berth.

Smith and and Lafferty lost out to Hodson for the final full-back slot.

Northern Ireland take on Ukraine in their second Group C game in Lyon on 16 June and finish against world champions Germany in Paris five days later.

O’Neill admitted that his biggest selection dilemma was between Grigg and Ross County forward Boyce.

“It was very difficult to tell the players who were not going and it was hard choice between Will Grigg and Liam Boyce,” he said at Saturday’s squad announcement in Belfast.

“Liam had a great start to the season in Scotland before suffering a hand injury.

“Meanwhile, Will just kept on scoring – 28 goals for his team and helping them to promotion.

“So while it it was difficult decision, I think it was the right one.”

Northern Ireland squad for Euro 2016 finals:

Goalkeepers: Alan Mannus (St Johnstone), Michael McGovern (Hamilton Academical), Roy Carroll (Linfield)

Defenders: Craig Cathcart (Watford), Jonathan Evans (West Bromwich Albion), Gareth McAuley (West Bromwich Albion), Luke McCullough (Doncaster Rovers), Conor McLaughlin (Fleetwood Town), Lee Hodson (MK Dons), Aaron Hughes (Free agent), Patrick McNair (Manchester United), Chris Baird (Derby County)

Midfielders: Steven Davis (Southampton), Oliver Norwood, (Reading), Corry Evans, (Blackburn Rovers), Shane Ferguson (Millwall), Stuart Dallas (Leeds United), Niall McGinn (Aberdeen), Jamie Ward (Nottingham Forest)

Forwards: Kyle Lafferty (Norwich City), Conor Washington (Queens Park Rangers), Josh Magennis (Kilmarnock), Will Grigg (Wigan Athletic).

BBC

Northern Ireland Name Euro 2016 Squad

Benzima Confirms France Snub

Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has confirmed, that he will not be part of the French squad for Euro 2016.

Benzema met with manager of the French national team, Didier Deschamps and Noël Le Graët, President of the French Federation, in Paris on Wednesday, to decide whether or not he should be selected for the Euro 2016 squad in the wake of a sex tape blackmail scandal that has caused huge controversy in recent months.

The scandal concerns the alleged attempt by a friend of Benzema to blackmail his French teammate Mathieu Valbuena over a sex tape.

Benzema was formally investigated as a result, but his lawyer claims he was not party to any blackmail attempt.

Following the meeting, the Real Madrid Stars posted a message on Twitter, thanking those who supported him and confirming he would not be part of the squad for the tournament which takes place in France this summer.

Benzema last played for France against Armenia in October; he was left out of the squad for friendlies against Holland and Russia last month.

Benzima Confirms France Snub