Tag: Kasper Schmeichel

  • Last minute scramble saves German giants; ‘horror show’ knocks out seven-time champs – CL Wrap

    Last minute scramble saves German giants; ‘horror show’ knocks out seven-time champs – CL Wrap

    Alphonso Davies scrambled the ball in with seconds left to give Bayern a 3-2 aggregate victory over Celtic and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League.

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    Bayern started the playoff second leg leading 2-1 from the first game in Glasgow but the visitors cancelled out that lead after 63 minutes.

    Nicolas Kuhn, a former Bayern reserve team player, pounced on an error by Kim Min-jae to sweep the ball home.

    Bayern dominated and peppered the Celtic goal but could not beat Kasper Schmeichel, until, with regular time almost up, the goalie could only parry Leon Goretzka’s header to substitute Davies. The ball bounced in off the Canadian’s shin to give Bayern a 1-1 draw in the match.

    MUNICH, GERMANY – FEBRUARY 18: Alphonso Davies (C) celebrates with Josip Stanisic (L) and Leon Goretzka (R) of Munich his team’s first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between FC Bayern München and Celtic FC at on February 18, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Markus Gilliar – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    – Feyenoord advance as Hernandez lets down AC Milan –

    Feyenoord reached the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday after taking advantage of Theo Hernandez’s damaging sending off to draw 1-1 at AC Milan and go through 2-1 on aggregate.

    Julian Carranza thumped home the winning header in the 73rd minute at a frigid San Siro, sending around 5,000 away fans wild at the same ground where Feyenoord won the old European Cup in 1970.

    Argentine attacker Carranza, who told reporters he was too sick with fever to start the match, cancelled out Santiago Gimenez’s first-minute opener for the seven-time European champions Milan and sent the Dutch through to meet either Inter Milan or Arsenal in the next round.

    The only sour note for Feyenoord was right-back Givairo Read being sent off after the final whistle as tempers flared on the touchline between both sets of players.

    “The 25 minutes that I played, or 30, I was not feeling great and I think everyone could see it, because after every single sprint there was coughing,” said Carranza.

    “It’s the most important goal I’ve ever scored so I’m really happy for that.” Carranza struck for Feyenoord shortly after coming on as substitute as the away side pushed to reach the next round following Hernandez’s red card five minutes after half-time.

    Already on a booking for a needless foul on Anis Hadj-Moussa just before half-time, Hernandez was ruled by referee Szymon Marciniak to have dived in the penalty box when under pressure from Read.

    – Hernandez horror show –

    The France full-back, who went close to putting Milan ahead in the 23rd minute when he crashed a close-range effort off the post, was dismissed, leaving Milan on the back foot after having dominated up to that point.

    Hernandez’s sending off and Carranza’s tie-winning header ruined what looked to be Gimenez’s night when he nodded home the opener against his old team after just 36 seconds.

    Mexico forward Gimenez, who transferred to Milan from Feyenoord during the winter transfer window, pushed the ball home from practically on the line after Malick Thiaw did brilliantly to keep in Christian Pulisic’s cross.

    “Yes, today Theo was sent off but that could happen to anyone. That’s football,” said Gimenez to Sky.

    “We all have great respect for Theo and we ask that he is supported because he always gives everything for Milan and is one of the best full-backs in the world “Now we can’t look back, we have to look forward. We’re still in the (Italian) cup and have work to do in the league so all we can do is keep our heads down and work hard.”

    The 23-year-old Gimenez has already scored three times for Milan since signing from Feyenoord but his sixth goal in the Champions League this season was also his last.

    Milan coach Sergio Conceicao was quick to deflect blame away from Hernandez. “You can talk about whether Theo was touched or not but we need to be stronger emotionally and mentally,” said Conceicao.

    “This elimination is down to me, not Theo or anyone else. I’m the one who’s responsible. Theo has given a lot to Milan.” Milan are by no means assured of a spot in next year’s tournament as they sit seventh in Serie A, five points off the top four with a game in hand.

    And their season has been greatly compromised by the dismal way they lost the first leg in Rotterdam and Hernandez’s poor discipline which led to Tuesday’s painful elimination.

    – Benfica hold off Monaco –

    Benfica snatched a nailbiting 3-3 draw against Monaco on Tuesday to reach the Champions League last 16 with a 4-3 aggregate victory in the play-off round.

    Monaco twice led on the night and came close to forcing extra-time but Orkun Kokcu’s 84th minute equaliser helped Benfica scrape through in Lisbon, with Barcelona or Liverpool awaiting in the next round.

    Kerem Akturkoglu put the hosts ahead against the run of play, with Takumi Minamino levelling for Monaco after 32 minutes.

    Eliesse Ben Seghir fired the visitors ahead but Vangelis Pavlidis struck from the spot to keep the score tied on the night.

    French youngster George Ilenikhena netted in the 81st minute for Monaco but Kokcu prodded home to send Benfica through.

    “It was a tough night, we knew Monaco would put pressure on us from the start and we felt it, we didn’t play our best game,” Kokcu told SportTV.

    “Still, we’re happy to have progressed to the last 16, I’m happy to have contributed to the result.”

    Monaco hammered Nantes 7-1 on Saturday in the French top flight, sharpening their pencils ahead of their crucial exam at the Estadio da Luz.

    Both sides were without key players through injury and suspension, with Benfica missing Angel Di Maria among others, while Monaco started with just one recognised midfielder.

    Wingers Maghnes Akliouche and Ben Seghir played more centrally than usual and both shone in Lisbon, despite ending up on the losing side.

    Benfica goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin made a good save to deny Monaco’s Krepin Diatta early on, as the Ligue 1 side looked to get back on level terms in the tie and had the better of the first half.

    However it was the hosts who took the lead after superb work by Benfica striker Pavlidis.

    The Greek attacker, who netted a hat-trick against Barcelona in the group stage, turned provider on this occasion and, after darting into the area, crossed to the back post for Akturkoglu to turn home.

    Swiss international Breel Embolo almost levelled for Monaco but his header hit the post, although the visitors netted less than a minute later.

    Embolo did well to hold off veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, allowing former Liverpool attacker Minamino room for a shot and he drilled home at the near post.

    Monaco should have taken the lead just before half-time but Embolo fired a glorious chance high over the crossbar after the impressive Akliouche surged through the middle and teed him up.

    – ‘A lot of fight’ –

    The Moroccan winger produced a deadly accurate first-time finish inside the near post after Akliouche cut the ball back to him from the right.

    Bruno Lage’s side struggled to find a foothold in the match but Thilo Kehrer handed the hosts a lifeline when he went to clear the ball but arrived late and kicked Fredrik Aursnes in the box.

    Pavlidis, who netted the only goal of the first leg, powered home from the spot for his seventh of the tournament.

    Ilenikhena put Monaco back ahead on the night mere seconds after coming on from the bench, with Trubin unable to keep his low rifled effort out despite getting a hand to it.

    Adi Hutter’s side could not hold on for more than three minutes, with Alvaro Carreras firing in a dangerous cross which Benfica midfielder Kokcu flicked home.

    Benfica were awarded another penalty in stoppage time when Diatta seemed to bring down Samuel Dahl, but the referee changed his mind after a VAR review.

    “What made the difference today was 100 percent the team’s spirit, with a lot of fight,” said Dahl.

    “The game had its ups and downs, they attacked, we attacked… in the end, we scored three goals.

    “We also conceded three, but we advanced, which was the main objective.”

    – Club Brugge knock Atalanta out –

    Club Brugge of Belgium claimed a shock 3-1 win over Atalanta in Italy on Tuesday to win their Champions League play-off tie 5-2 on aggregate and progress to the last 16.

    Leading 2-1 from last week’s first leg, Club Brugge scored three times in the first half with Chemsdine Talbi netting twice and Ferran Jutgla once.

    Ademola Lookman pulled one back for Atalanta but the Belgians go through to play either Lille or Aston Villa next.

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  • Salah’s staggering milestone in contract statement as Liverpool extend perfect run: Champions League Wrap

    Salah’s staggering milestone in contract statement as Liverpool extend perfect run: Champions League Wrap

    Champions League group phase leaders Liverpool virtually sealed a place in the last 16 with a tight 1-0 victory at Girona on Tuesday after Mohamed Salah struck from the penalty spot.

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    Liverpool have made a stunning start in the competition under coach Arne Slot, winning all six of their matches to move provisionally five points clear of second-placed Inter Milan.

    The English giants, six-time winners of the competition, were given a tough night by Champions League debutants Girona, who fell to a fifth defeat and are on the verge of elimination.

    Teams finishing in the top eight will avoid an extra round of play-off matches. “If you ask me about all six games, I’m really pleased with all the results… (but) I’m far from pleased about the performance tonight,” Slot told reporters.

    “(We had) hardly any control at all over the game, maybe the second half was a bit better but then I’m trying to be positive.”

    Slot started fit-again goalkeeper Alisson Becker after a two-month injury lay-off and the Brazilian showed no sign of rust on a busy night.

    After their Merseyside derby clash at Everton was called off because of a storm at the weekend, Slot was able to pick a fresh side, going with arguably his strongest available team to try and assure a top eight finish as soon as possible.

    Newcomers Girona, who lost several key players in the summer and are still rebuilding, opted for Arnaut Danjuma in attack with support from spritely duo Bryan Gil and Yaser Asprilla.

    GIRONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 10: Arne Slot, Manager of Liverpool, interacts with Joe Gomez of Liverpool after the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at Montilivi Stadium on December 10, 2024 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Liverpool pinned the hosts back in the first 10 minutes and Girona stopper Paulo Gazzaniga pushed away a Joe Gomez header.

    After that Girona found their footing on a chilly night at their sold-out Montilivi stadium, reduced to under 10,000 capacity due to UEFA regulations, and they began to put Alisson to the test.

    – Alisson sharp on return –

    The goalkeeper saved from Alejandro Frances and then denied former Tottenham winger Gil, who slipped as he ran through on Liverpool’s goal.

    Alisson also beat away a Miguel Gutierrez drive as the qualities of the side which pushed Real Madrid close for the Spanish title last season shone through.

    Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper #01 Alisson Becker celebrates at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)Source: AFP

    “Maybe the players wanted to see how fit he really was, so they gave him so much work,” joked Slot.

    “Alisson has been so important for this club for so many years, and showed today he is one of the best, the best in my opinion, goalkeeper in the world.” Darwin Nunez spurned Liverpool’s first big chance after Salah slipped him in, with Gazzaniga keeping out the Uruguayan striker’s low poke.

    Alisson was tested again early in the second half by former Bournemouth forward Danjuma.

    The Dutchman then gave Liverpool’s defence the slip with a clever dribble but fired over, as Slot’s words ahead of the game were proven true — Girona were better than the standings suggested.

    Liverpool’s Egyptian forward #11 Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring the opening goal with Liverpool’s Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk during the UEFA Champions League, league phase football match between Girona FC and Liverpool FC at the Montilivi stadium in Girona on December 10, 2024. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)Source: AFP

    Despite their valiant efforts, the Liverpool juggernaut is proving hard to stop and the Premier League leaders took the lead with a controversial penalty won by Luis Diaz.

    The Colombian winger went down under a challenge from Donny van de Beek and after a VAR review, the referee pointed to the spot, much to the home side’s frustration.

    Salah sent Gazzaniga the wrong way to net his 50th Champions League goal, pulling the Egyptian level with Filippo Inzaghi as the 10th highest goalscorer of all-time in the competition.

    The winger is out of contract at the end of the season but his 16 goals across all competitions have been essential in Liverpool’s superb first half of the season.

    Slot replaced the wasteful Nunez with Cody Gakpo as he tried to kill the game off, but Girona were deflated after conceding and unable to make further inroads as their Champions League dream draws towards a close.

    “I almost feel sorry for them because they deserve so much more in this Champions League campaign than the three points they have,” admitted Slot.

    CELTIC KEEP HOPES ALIVE

    Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb played out an uninspiring 0-0 draw in the Champions League on Tuesday.

    The result leaves both sides still firmly in contention for a place in the next stage of the tournament, with the Scottish champions sitting 17th and Zagreb in 21st.

    Teams placed ninth to 24th in the new league format will enter a play-off round to reach the round of 16.

    Zagreb started their campaign with a 9-2 thrashing at the hands of Bayern Munich but have won two and drawn two of their subsequent five matches, and have eight points.

    Celtic have enjoyed their best recent run in European football this term under Brendan Rodgers after several disappointing seasons, and are one spot outside securing themselves a seeded draw in the play-off round.

    Rodgers’ side have nine points, the same as six-times winners Bayern in 13th and one more than 2023 champions Manchester City, though both sides now have a game in hand.

    The first half was one of few chances for either side, with none of the four shots recorded in the opening 45 minutes troubling either goalkeeper.

    Celtic’s Nicolas Kuhn came close to breaking the deadlock early in the second period but his rifled effort on goal was deflected over the bar by home defender Maxime Bernauer.

    The match then opened up a bit, with the pace of Celtic’s attacking trio of Kuhn, Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi worrying Zagreb on the counter-attack.

    Marko Pjaca unleashed from the edge of the box but his fierce goalbound effort was bravely blocked by centre-half Auston Trusty, before Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel made a comfortable save from Martin Baturina — the tie’s first shot on target, coming two minutes before the hour.

    Furuhashi came close to touching in a cross and the previously underworked Danijel Zagorac palmed the ball out to Cameron Carter-Vickers, who blazed over from close range.

    Zagreb and Celtic rang the changes, and inside the final 20 minutes the chances dried up again for both.

    Schmeichel made a fine save from Pjaca on 80 minutes as the tie finished goalless, breaking Zagreb’s run of 43 games in European competition without a 0-0 draw.

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  • Chelsea become latest victim to Schmeichel’s heroics as Celtic thrash Blues

    Chelsea become latest victim to Schmeichel’s heroics as Celtic thrash Blues

    Kasper Schmeichel once again proved to be Celtic’s hero as he made a number of sensational stops in the 4-1 victory over Chelsea.

    While the Blues deservedly lost the pre-season clash at the Notre Dame Stadium, the scoreline could have been very different had it not been for the Denmark international.

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    Schmeichel was a man possessed between the sticks in Celtic’s win over ChelseaCredit: ESPN via X formerly Twitter

    Schmeichel proved to be Manchester City’s nemesis earlier in the week after starring between the sticks in a 4-3 win for the Hoops on his debut.

    And the 37-year-old was at it again to help Celtic claim another Premier League scalp, with his free transfer already looking to be a masterstroke signing by Brendan Rodgers.

    The Scottish champions went into the break 2-0 up through goals from Matt O’Riley and Kyogo Furuhashi.

    But they could have found themselves behind with Schmeichel expertly keeping out Christopher Nkunku twice as well as Carney Chukwuemeka.

    He then parried away Raheem Sterling’s low curling effort early in the second half to leave fans waxing lyrical over the ex-Leicester man.

    Celtic later made it 4-0 through Luis Palma and Michael Johnston, before Nkunku finally got on the score sheet from the penalty spot – but only after Schmeichel was brought off.

    While Enzo Maresca’s men are winless from their two games during their pre-season tour of America, it is Schmeichel that has once again proved to be the big talking point on social media.

    Taking to X, one fan posted: “Kasper Schmeichel is a generational talent.”

    Another messaged: “Schmeichel is keeping the dam from bursting.”

    A third added: “Schmeichel, stop man. let our boys score some goals.”

    Nkunku was denied twice by Schmeichel in the first half of the Blues' 4-1 defeat

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    Nkunku was denied twice by Schmeichel in the first half of the Blues’ 4-1 defeatCredit: ESPN via X formerly Twitter
    The Hoops scored twice in either half at the Notre Dame Stadium

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    The Hoops scored twice in either half at the Notre Dame StadiumCredit: AFP

    This fan then quipped: “Is it to early to give Kasper Schmeichel PFA POTY?”

    Meanwhile one commented: “Can Schmeichel stop channeling prime buffon please?”

    And this supporter said: “Not to get ahead of myself, but Schmeichel might be the best keeper ever.”

    David Ornstein was on trial at top Premier League club before becoming journalist

    One then simply stated: “Schmeichel is superhuman.”

    Celtic’s win over Chelsea was their final pre-season game, with the Glasgow outfit to kick off their title defence against Kilmarnock next weekend.

    As for Chelsea, they face Mexican side Club America on August 1 with fans desperate to see a better performance.

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  • ‘We know how this ends’: England booed in ugly scenes as unthinkable Euro exit looms

    ‘We know how this ends’: England booed in ugly scenes as unthinkable Euro exit looms

    England failed to guarantee its place in the knockout stages of Euro 2024 after Morten Hjulmand’s spectacular strike earned Denmark a 1-1 draw on Friday morning AEST.

    A point was the least the Danes deserved as England again flattered to deceive in Frankfurt after an underwhelming 1-0 win over Serbia to open their tournament.

    Harry Kane had given the Three Lions an early lead as England pounced on a Danish defensive error.

    Hjulmand’s rocket from outside the box levelled before half-time and Denmark were left to rue missing late chances to secure a famous victory.

    England remain on top of Group C, two points clear of Slovenia, who they face in Cologne on Tuesday, and Denmark.

    “There’s an imbalance in the team, square pegs in round holes,” Manchester United legend Gary Neville said on ITV.

    “Because of that you start to drop deep as a protective measure because you feel like you are not comfortable. Then the third thing occurs, which has happened to England over the years, and you can’t play out through midfield and play out from the back. You end up giving the ball away and we look like a mess.

    “We know how this ends. He has to change something now.”

    Serbia’s late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia earlier on Thursday also keeps their destiny in their own hands.

    “We said before the tournament there’s no easy games and I think that’s showing,” England captain Harry Kane said after the draw.

    “We’re top of the group. We know we can improve. I know there will probably loads of noise and a bit of disappointment back home. Step by step, we’ll get there.”

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    England forward Ollie Watkins. Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFPSource: AFP

    England boss Gareth Southgate said on Wednesday that he avoids media coverage during tournaments to escape negative stories.

    But will be braced for more criticism after another flat display from one of the pre-tournament favourites.

    “Gareth (Southgate) at the minute is not getting the best out of England’s best players,” former England striker Alan Shearer said on BBC.

    Ex-England defender Rio Ferdinand continued: “The current balance of the team is not allowing the players to reach the levels that they have done for clubs.

    “Phil Foden is out of position and not playing his best, maybe Jude Bellingham would be better playing at number eight. It is a big concern.”

    Denmark coach Kasper Hjulmand and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel claimed on the eve of the game they would not be fuelled by revenge for their Euro 2020 semi-final heartbreak to England three years ago.

    However, the Danes were a different beast from the side that disappointed at the 2022 World Cup and in drawing against Slovenia to open their tournament in Germany.

    “I can’t say we are disappointed but it’s a shame. There was a result there we could have gotten,” Hjulmand said.

    “We believed we could win. We played well but the most important thing is that we play like we did today in the upcoming games.

    “I know we have been looking for this kind of game for some time. It’s taken us a while.

    “Today we showed how we really play and express ourselves – with quality, with fire – this is how we want to play.”

    Denmark head coach Kasper Hjulmand. Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFPSource: AFP

    Denmark had made the brighter start as both sides struggled to cope with a bobbly pitch in Frankfurt that cut up badly in just its second game of five at Euro 2024.

    Yet, England capitalised on a howler from Hjulmand’s men to take the lead on 18 minutes.

    Victor Kristiansen was caught unaware of Kyle Walker’s run down the right and his deflected low cross fell perfectly for Kane to roll in his 13th goal at major tournaments.

    Failing to build on early 1-0 leads has been a consistent criticism of England under Southgate.

    In the 2018 World Cup semi-final and final of Euro 2020, Croatia and Italy were able to wrestle away momentum from the Three Lions.

    This time Denmark were not deterred by conceding, although it took a spectacular strike to bring them level.

    Hjulmand was given far too much room by the England midfield to take aim but he took full advantage form long range with a blistering shot that clipped the inside of the post on its way in.

    Southgate made no changes at the break, but the future of his experiment of playing Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold in a midfield role is in doubt after he was hooked for Conor Gallagher on 55 minutes.

    Phil Foden’s form for England had been a source of much debate after he again failed to shine at international level against Serbia.

    The Manchester City playmaker looked much more like the man that won Premier League player of the year awards this season and was inches away from restoring England’s lead with a low drive that came crashing back off the post.

    Southgate’s caution has been criticised in the past, but he was bold with his changes in the search for a winner as Kane, Foden and Bukayo Saka were sacrificed for Eberechi Eze, Ollie Watkins and Jarrod Bowen.

    Watkins nearly made an immediate impact as he was denied by Schmeichel after a brilliant through ball from Jude Bellingham.

    Yet, it was Denmark who had the better chances to take all three points in the closing stages.

    Andreas Christensen spooned over when unmarked from a corner before Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg curled inches wide.

    England midfielder Jude Bellingham. Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFPSource: AFP

    Southgate admitted England’s lacklustre draw against Denmark showed they are struggling to cope with the pressure of being one of the Euro 2024 favourites.

    “Clearly we are disappointed with the level of the two performances. We have to analyse that in depth and find some solutions to the issues we have. We will spend a lot of time doing that,” Southgate said.

    “We know the level can be higher. Maybe the biggest thing is we have to accept the environment we are in and walk towards the expectations.

    “These boys aren’t lacking effort. We have to find more quality in what we do. If anything they are showing they care too much.”

    England would have wrapped up first place in the group with a win over the Danes, but instead were greeted with jeers by frustrated fans after their lethargic display.

    “If we don’t win we have to accept what comes our way. I can completely understand the fans’ frustration with the way we played,” Southgate continued.

    “That is my responsibility as the manager. I have to find solutions. England have never won back to back group matches I was told. There is a reason for that. We have to stay calm inside the group and find answers.

    “The challenge is to do something that has never been done before. So it couldn’t be any bigger.”

    Southgate said the key to England’s failings against a combative and intelligent Danish side was their failure to press hard enough and a lack of quality on the ball.

    “We have to accept that we didn’t press with enough intensity. We kept conceding possession too easily. When you do those things it’s hard to have control, it led to an anxious performance,” he said.

    “We have to be better if we are to progress to the later stages of the tournament and deliver what everyone expects us to do.”

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  • $168m star powers Poms to perfect start; Ex-Man Utd flop’s prediction rings true: Euro Wrap

    $168m star powers Poms to perfect start; Ex-Man Utd flop’s prediction rings true: Euro Wrap

    A bullet header from Jude Bellingham has got England off to a winning start at Euro 2024 as they secured a 1-0 victory over Serbia.

    Bellingham, who moved to Real Madrid for an eye-watering $AUD168 million last summer, scored the only goal of the contest in the 13th minute.

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    The midfielder leapt into the air over Serbian defender Nikola Milenkovic to nod home a cross from winger Bukayo Saka.

    England skipper Harry Kane came awfully close to doubling England’s advantage in the 78th minute when he powered a Jarrod Bowen cross at goal.

    Despite Serbia’s goalkeeper Predrag Rajkovic seemingly wrong-footed, he managed to get a hand to Kane’s header and push it onto the crossbar as the ball was eventually cleared.

    Bellingham scored the only goal of the contest. (Photo by OZAN KOSE / AFP)Source: AFP

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    FORMER MAN UTD FLOP SPARES DUTCH BLUSHES

    Substitute Wout Weghorst snatched a late winner for the Netherlands in a 2-1 victory over Poland on Sunday in their opening Euro 2024 clash.

    The Burnley striker, who burst into life at the 2022 World Cup, once again brought his best game to the big stage in Hamburg as Poland looked to have frustrated their opponents, despite injured striker Robert Lewandowski being unable to play.

    The Barcelona striker’s replacement Adam Buksa, headed Poland in front after 16 minutes before Cody Gakpo levelled with a deflected effort at the Volksparkstadion.

    Netherlands failed to convert further openings and Poland improved as the game seemed to be heading for a draw, before Weghorst intervened in the 83rd minute to delight his team’s fans.

    The Netherlands, who performed strongly two years ago at the Qatar World Cup after failing to reach Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup, came out of the blocks quickly.

    Despite lacking the star power of previous generations — the likes of Arjen Robben, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie — their current trio of forwards are dynamic.

    Liverpool winger Gakpo took the creative reins alongside Memphis Depay and Xavi Simons, and tested Wojciech Szczesny with a low drive.

    Midfielder Tijjani Reijnders steered a good chance narrowly wide before Michal Probierz’s Poland took the lead against the run of play with one of their first forays forward.

    Antalyaspor striker Buksa planted a glancing header beyond Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen from Piotr Zielinski’s corner after 16 minutes.

    Wout Weghorst’s late winner secured three points for the Netherlands. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Szczesny saved well from Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk and Depay flashed two efforts off-target before Gakpo levelled.

    The forward’s effort from just outside the area deflected in off Bartosz Salamon, leaving Juventus goalkeeper Szczesny with no chance.

    Gakpo put Netherlands ahead from close range after being teed up by Nathan Ake but his shot rose fractionally too high.

    Poland largely managed to stifle their opponents in a more even second half, with the Netherlands short of ideas.

    Verbruggen saved from Jakub Kiwior at his near post, while the rampaging Denzel Dumfries threatened twice at the other end.

    Stefan de Vrij headed a corner over but the fluency Koeman’s side produced in the opening period was harder to come by as Poland’s confidence grew.

    It took Weghorst to finally put the Oranje ahead. He finished clinically with his first opportunity two minutes after coming on.

    Ake, who also teed up Gakpo for the opener, slid a low cross into the box and Weghorst diverted it home with a tidy finish.

    It was a scenario the towering striker predicted right before the game.

    “I knew this was going to happen,” Weghorst said.

    “I can show you the WhatsApp texts. This morning I texted my girlfriend: ‘It will be 0-0 or 1-1 about 20 minutes before FT whistle, and then…’ My goal came a bit later, but still.”

    Gakpo scored the equaliser for the Netherlands against Poland. (Photo by Odd ANDERSEN / AFP)Source: AFP

    STAR SAVES DENMARK THREE YEARS AFTER NEAR-DEATH AT EUROS

    Christian Eriksen scored for Denmark in a 1-1 draw with Slovenia at Euro 2024 on Sunday, almost three years to the day since he nearly died in his team’s opening game at the last tournament.

    The Manchester United midfielder fired his team ahead on 17 minutes in front of a Stuttgart stadium filled overwhelmingly by Denmark supporters, but Erik Janza’s late deflected effort earned Slovenia a point in their first match at the Euros since 2000.

    Highly-rated Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko nearly caught Kasper Schmeichel out with a powerful long-range drive, but moments later it was Denmark who struck.

    A quick throw-in was flicked on by Jonas Wind into the stride of Eriksen, who crashed a low shot into the far corner to give the Danes the lead.

    With Sesko being closely monitored by the Danish defence, Andraz Sporar failed to take advantage of a hole in the backline as he miscontrolled a bouncing ball forward when he looked through on goal.

    Sesko almost handed Denmark a second as he hacked a clearance in his own area against his teammate, Jan Oblak watching on in hope as the ball skipped just wide of his goal.

    Christian Eriksen scored for Denmark three years after he almost died on the field. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    Eriksen blazed over just before halftime after more excellent work from the lively Wind, with Slovenia defender Jaka Bijol close to heading into his own net after a Denmark set-piece early in the second half.

    Oblak produced a brave stop to prevent Rasmus Hojlund doubling the advantage, blocking the United forward’s effort from point-blank range to keep his team in it.

    Adam Gnezda Cerin glanced a cross wide as Slovenia pressed for an equaliser and Sporar stabbed wide as he lunged to meet a free-kick.

    Sesko was desperately unlucky to see his rasping drive cannon back off the post, but Slovenia were soon level.

    Denmark could not properly clear a corner and Janza’s thumping half-volley from just outside the penalty box brushed off Morten Hjulmand to leave Schmeichel stranded.

    Sporar had the chance to snatch victory for Slovenia after bursting past Jannik Vestergaard, but he powered into the side-netting as Schmeichel appeared to get the faintest of touches.

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  • How miracle club went from heaven to hell — and the ‘colossal’ error that sealed PL demise

    How miracle club went from heaven to hell — and the ‘colossal’ error that sealed PL demise

    It seemed unfathomable.

    They were deemed too big to go down.

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    After all, they’d overcome 5000-1 odds to win the Premier League seven years prior, made it to a Champions League quarterfinal in 2017 and hoisted the FA Cup in 2021.

    But now, Leicester City must face the cold, harsh reality that now stares them in the face: they are a Championship club.

    Despite a 2-1 victory over West Ham United on the final day, a long range pile-driver from Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure rendered the Foxes’ victory irrelevant and condemned the club to relegation.

    An off-season of uncertainty awaits, with no fewer than eight players out of contract and a raft of stars like James Maddison and Harvey Barnes set to be sold.

    The wage and transfer budget will have to be slashed to comply with the significantly decreased income due to the vast difference in revenue streams between Premier League and Championship clubs.

    It still feels remarkable how steep this decline has been.

    But it is the culmination of a mess entirely of the club’s doing.

    And it is one former Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers saw coming before a ball had been kicked in anger this season.

    Full wrap of final day EPL action | 07:44

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    HOW £50M ‘COLOSSAL DISAPPOINTMENT’ BEGAN INEVITABLE SLIDE

    En route to Leicester’s Premier League title in 2016, one aspect of their football department was the envy of not just England, but the world.

    The Foxes’ fearsome trio of Jamie Vardy, N’Golo Kante and Riyad Mahrez had been bought for a collective $AUD13 million, highlighting the club’s unrivalled eye for talent.

    Although Vardy has remained at the club, Kante and Mahrez were flipped for a combined $142 million.

    Over the coming seasons Leicester developed a reputation for selling a player for significant profit and reinvesting it in the squad.

    Harry Maguire was bought for $22 million in 2017 and sold two years later to Manchester United for a staggering $142 million, a world record fee for a defender.

    Ben Chilwell, who came through Leicester’s academy, moved to Chelsea in the summer of 2019 for $82 million while Wesley Fofana departed to the Blues last August for $131 million.

    But, as The Telegraph’s John Percy noted, Leicester’s greatest weapon soon became its biggest enemy.

    “For many years, Leicester were a well-run club but, equally, recruitment in recent times has been a colossal disappointment,” Percy wrote.

    “The £50 million spent on Patson Daka, Boubakary Soumare and Jannik Vestergaard in the summer of 2021 was a huge waste. Ryan Bertrand also signed as a free agent on big wages and has not started a match since December 21.

    Jannik Vestergaard struggled to make his mark at Leicester City. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “After winning the title in 2016, most of the signings who followed were underwhelming.”

    The Foxes soon struggled to find homes for players deemed not good enough.

    The club also had to deal with players they knew would be out of contract at the end of the 2022/23 season, but no willing buyers — well, at the valuation Leicester wanted for them — emerged.

    Percy described the contract farce as “mismanagement on a grand scale”.

    Compounding the club’s financial woes further was the vast expenditure on the new training ground at Seagrave.

    It is a facility to make most European clubs green with envy, but set the Foxes back an estimated $188 million and is a large and costly operation to continue running.

    With the big outlays on players and the training ground and receiving little in the way of transfer fees or European qualification money, it forced Leicester to turn off the money tap for Rodgers.

    It was a situation that caught the Northern Irishman, who had already commenced conversations with prospective transfer targets, by serious surprise.

    Almost immediately, the goalposts were shifted.

    And not for the better.

    Leicester City invested heavily in their new training facilities. (Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    “From that moment onwards, Rodgers adopted a negative tone, talking about a challenging season before a ball was kicked and about the target being 40 points,” The Athletic’s Rob Tanner wrote.

    “People around the club were genuinely shocked when he placed the bar so low. That message didn’t match Leicester’s ambition or the surrounds of the media suite at Seagrave where he said it.

    “Ultimately, Rodgers has been proven right, but that negativity had already seeped into the psyche at the club, making it a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

    In the end, Leicester made just one signing in the summer: centre-back Wout Faes from Reims for $27 million.

    But just two players of note went out the exit door in the form of Fofana and former skipper Kasper Schmeichel, who moved to Nice in Ligue 1.

    It was the latter’s departure that spun the wheels of relegation faster, even if he was one of the club’s highest earners, with Percy labelling the sale as “a grave mistake.”

    The Foxes failed to replace Schmeichel and instead put their faith behind backup goalkeeper Danny Ward, a decision that backfired significantly.

    It wouldn’t take long for Leicester’s botched recruitment plans to seep out onto the field as the irreversible decline of the 2015/16 champions set in.

    Danny Ward was symbolic of Leicester’s failures this season. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    PROPHETIC RODGERS WARNINGS EVERYONE IGNORED

    Rodgers already had plenty of credits in the bank as Leicester boss.

    Since his arrival from Celtic in February 2019, he guided the Foxes to consecutive fifth-place finishes and an FA Cup triumph in 2021 before dropping back to eighth last season.

    The divide between the manager and Leicester’s passionate fanbase slowly crept in last season.

    An embarrassing 4-1 thrashing in the fourth round of the FA Cup at the hands of Nottingham Forest, a Championship outfit last season, was a key moment that highlighted the disconnect.

    After the defeat, Rodgers claimed the majority of his team “had achieved everything they can” in what was yet another prophetic call from the manager.

    If anything, the eighth-place finish glossed over the fact two of Leicester’s three wins in the final four games of the season were big wins against teams who had already been relegated in Norwich City and Watford.

    It was a wildly inconsistent season in which they won as many as they lost and failed to string more than two consecutive wins together.

    Leicester’s malaise worsened at the start of the 22/23 season as the Foxes drew its first game against Brentford before losing their next six games in a row, including 5-2 and 6-2 defeats to Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur respectively.

    With the Foxes rooted to the bottom of the ladder, Percy felt the Spurs defeat was “surely the time to part ways,” especially since it was around the first international break of the season.

    Yet Leicester owner Aiyawatt “Khun Top” Srivaddhanaprabha and director of football Jon Rudkin boldly elected to stick rather than twist.

    Percy felt the decision simply proved what many had feared: Leicester had essentially blinded itself from the worst fate possible.

    “The absence of ruthlessness allowed the club to drift,” Percy wrote.

    The fans turned on Rodgers. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP

    “It seemed to suggest a mindset of ‘everything will be OK’, despite all the warning signs.”

    However, results turned in Leicester’s favour after the international window with five wins from eight games and went into the mid-season World Cup break sitting in 13th.

    But normality for Leicester in terms of their season as a whole quickly resumed post-Qatar.

    Four consecutive losses didn’t quite send Leicester plummeting down the table, but it certainly decreased the gap between them and the chasing pack fighting tooth and nail for survival.

    A mini-revival of two wins in February over Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur — in which they scored eight goals — proved to be nothing more than a false dawn.

    Despite several more defeats, including one against rock-bottom Southampton, Rodgers still remained in the dugout at the King Power Stadium.

    However, the baffling patience of Khun Top and Rudkin wore out after Leicester’s 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace on April 1 as Rodgers was dismissed the next day with the club sitting 19th.

    Although it left Leicester with 10 games to salvage its season, it seemed as if there was no way to halt what felt like the inevitable.

    “There was a realisation that things were going in one direction and Leicester’s slide has proven to be irreversible,” Tanner wrote.

    “The damage was done.”

    Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell were installed as caretaker managers in the hope of providing a bounce which often accompanies a change in the dugout, but it was not forthcoming.

    Sadler and Stowell oversaw two defeats from two before former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith was handed the keys with only eight games left.

    Smith had masterminded a miraculous escape once before with Villa during the Covid-affected 19/20 season and no doubt felt he could do the same again with former Foxes boss Craig Shakespeare and John Terry alongside him.

    Rodgers’ successful tenure as Leicester boss rapidly spiralled out of control towards the end. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    A win against Wolves and draws against Leeds and Everton provided glimmers of hope, but consecutive defeats to Fulham and Liverpool ultimately proved to be the death knell for Leicester.

    Even though the Midlands side did all they could on the final day to survive, their reliance on Bournemouth to get a result against Everton proved fruitless.

    An off-season of significant change awaits Leicester.

    The likes of Caglar Soyuncu, Ryan Bertrand, Jonny Evans and Youri Tielemans will leave the club as free agents, representing a net loss of $115 million.

    Then there’s the group of Leicester stars who will be forced out the exit door to help finance new signings.

    James Maddison, who is also out of contract at the end of next season, is almost certain to depart in a deal estimated to be $65 million.

    Electric winger Harvey Barnes is another likely departure too.

    But most pressing is which manager will be entrusted with the duty of getting Leicester promoted.

    Former Chelsea and Brighton manager Graham Potter is the Foxes’ dream candidate but at this stage it seems highly unlikely he would drop a division.

    Regardless, Manchester United legend Roy Keane believes the vacancy is one that will have several parties highly interested.

    “A lot of managers would love to take that job,” Keane told Sky Sports.

    “Especially if you get the backing they’ve had over the last few years — obviously it’s not been great the last 12 months — but generally Leicester have had good backing.”

    It remains to be seen if Dean Smith will stay on as Leicester boss next season. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

    WHY REMARKABLE DECADE HAS FOXES PRIMED FOR PL RETURN

    Although it is a sombre mood at the King Power Stadium, it presents a time to reflect on what has been the greatest period of the club’s rich history filled with long-lasting memories.

    There’s the great escape of the 2014/15 season under Nigel Pearson when the Foxes looked dead and buried, only to survive by the skin of their teeth.

    It provided the platform for Leicester to complete one of the most remarkable stories in the history of sport when they won the Premier League title.

    A memorable run to the Champions League quarter-finals in the following season also provided plenty to sing about.

    Unfortunately the period of success was not without a tragedy which rocked the entire football world.

    Former Leicester owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha was one of five people who died in a helicopter crash just outside the King Power Stadium after the Foxes’ game against West Ham United on October 27.

    His son Khun Top continues to work tirelessly to honour his late father’s vision he had for the club he loved dearly.

    There is certainly frustration in the manner with which Leicester went down, especially since it was largely preventable.

    But they are no strangers to the Championship and, with the star power they already have in the squad, are primed to bounce straight back.

    Socceroos star Harry Souttar, a January signing for the club, could prove to be a key figure in Leicester’s push for an immediate return given Soyuncu and Evans, two fellow centre-backs, will depart in the summer.

    It promises to be a massive off-season for the club as they prepare for life in the second division for the first time since 2014.

    With a new face in the dugout required and a squad refresh, this moment presents a golden opportunity for Leicester to turn a new page.

    But it’s also a timely reminder for other clubs: if you dare to fly too close to the sun, it will end in flames.

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