Galatasaray have vowed to file a criminal complaint against Jose Mourinho amid claims he made “racist statements” after Monday’s Istanbul derby.
Mourinho’s Fenerbahce side drew 0-0 away with their bitter Turkish rivals but the match was overshadowed by allegations of racism.
Former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss Mourinho claimed after the stalemate that Galatasaray had tried to get one of his team booked early on, The Sun reports.
He told a press conference that “everyone on the opposing bench was jumping around like monkeys”.
Galatasaray immediately hit back and accused the Portuguese manager, 62, of “regularly using derogatory words towards the Turkish people” since moving to Istanbul.
In a damning statement, accompanied by a #SayNoToRacism tag, the reigning Turkish champions added: “[He] has now added inhumane rhetoric to his immoral statements.
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“We would like to inform you that we will file a criminal complaint with the prosecutor’s office and that we will also file a complaint with UEFA and FIFA regarding these racist statements against Jose Mourinho.
“Furthermore, we shall diligently observe the stance adopted by Fenerbahce — an institution professing to uphold ‘exemplary moral values’— in response to the reprehensible conduct exhibited by their manager.”
Fenerbahce’s Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho looks on from the technical area during the UEFA Europa League knockout phase play-off 2nd leg football match between Fenerbahce SK (TUR) and RSC Anderlecht (BEL) at the Lotto Park Stadium in Brussels, on February 20, 2025. (Photo by Simon Wohlfahrt / AFP)Source: AFP
In his post-match press conference, Mourinho claimed Galatasary players had played for a draw and tried to get one of his players a yellow card.
Praising Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic, who was reportedly drafted in from abroad following a string of controversies surrounding Turkish officials, Mourinho said: “The reason this was a good match was because of the referee’s performance.
“He had enough honesty to manage this match well. They tried to get a yellow card for our 18-year-old player from the first minute, but the referee managed the game well.”
However, it was his comments that followed which are believed to have caused uproar.
Mourinho continued: “In the situation I mentioned, everyone on the opposing bench was jumping around like monkeys.
“If it were a Turkish referee, they would have immediately given the card, and I would have had to take the player off in a minute.
“It was a great match for him.”
Thirty thousand police were deployed. Photo by Ahmad Mora/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
“After the match, I went to the referee’s room. I said to the first referee, ‘Thank you for managing this big match well.’
“I said to the [Turkish] fourth official, ‘If it was you, this match would have been a disaster’. It was a very, very good match in terms of emotion and competition.”
Mourinho is yet to respond to the allegations made against him. The former Manchester United boss has previously spoken out on how football is plagued by racist incidents.
The feisty derby saw seven yellow cards dished out, and the match was also stopped momentarily when Fenerbahce fans launched flares into the home fans beneath them.
Some 30,000 police officers were believed to be on duty for Monday night’s match.
Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen later shared his club’s statement to his Instagram story.
Mourinho had previously criticised Osimhen for his on-pitch antics, labelling him a fantastic player, but claiming he “dives too much”.
Jose Mourinho is a multiple Premier League winning manager. Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images.Source: Getty Images
Galatasaray boss Okan Buruk later took aim at the “Special One” for going into the referee’s dressing room to talk to him.
Buruk said: “Mourinho took a long time to cry. The Crying One… He’s famous for crying. He went into the referee’s room and cried. Let him keep crying.
“Mourinho entered the referee’s room. It is very wrong for him to speak insultingly to the Turkish referee. He said that if they were the ones managing, it would be like this.
“This is very wrong. I cannot believe that he is humiliating the Turkish referees so much, I condemn it.”
Former Porto, Real Madrid and Inter Milan boss Mourinho took over at Fenerbahce last year.
Monday’s result leaves them in second place, six points behind Galatasaray with 12 Super Lig games remaining.
— This story originally appeared on The Sun and has been republished with permission
Ange Postecoglou’s path to deliver a trophy to Tottenham has become clearer, after the Spurs were confirmed to play AZ Alkmaar in the next stage of the Europa League.
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Manchester United were drawn to play Real Sociedad of Spain in the last 16 of this season’s Europa League, while Rangers will take on Jose Mourinho’s Fenerbahce.
Ruben Amorim’s United are struggling in the Premier League this season but finished third in the league phase of the Europa League.
They will travel to San Sebastian for the first leg on March 6 before the return a week later against a Real Sociedad side who reached this stage after beating Midtjylland of Denmark in the play-off round.
The clubs have met several times in European competition in recent years, with United winning a Europa League knockout phase play-off tie in 2021 before both sides each won away from home in the group stage in 2022/23. They also faced off in the Champions League group stage in 2013.
Whoever wins will advance to a last-eight tie against either Lyon or FCSB. The Romanians lost 2-0 at home to United in their last game in the group phase last month.
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Fenerbahce will welcome beaten 2022 finalists Rangers to Istanbul for the first leg of their tie in a competition coach Mourinho won with United in 2017. He also won its predecessor, the UEFA Cup, as Porto boss in 2003.
If Fenerbahce win, Mourinho could come up in the quarter-finals against one of his old clubs in Roma, with whom he won the Europa Conference League in 2022.
However, Claudio Ranieri’s Roma face a tough task in the last 16 against Athletic Bilbao, who are determined to go all the way to this season’s final, which will be played at their San Mames home on May 21.
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Spurs will go to the Netherlands for the first leg of their last-16 tie against AZ, who they defeated 1-0 in the league phase in October.
If they win, Ange Postecoglou’s team could be back in the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, with the victors in that tie playing either Ajax or 2022 tournament winners Eintracht Frankfurt.
Spurs and Manchester United cannot meet until the final, but the Old Trafford club could face either Mourinho’s Fenerbahce or Rangers in the last four.
Last season’s Conference League winners Olympiakos of Greece will play Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt in the last 16, for the right to take on either Lazio — who finished first in the league phase — or Viktoria Plzen of the Czech Republic in the quarters.
Ange Postecoglou believes Tottenham are “making progress” but says any judgements on his work should wait until the end of the season.
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The Australian has experienced a rollercoaster start to his second season in north London.
A run of one win from Spurs’ opening four games was followed by five consecutive victories, including an impressive 3-0 win at Manchester United.
Postecoglou’s men have since scored impressive home wins over West Ham, Manchester City and Aston Villa, but have lost their past three away games.
Spurs sit seventh in the Premier League but are well-placed to progress to the knockout stages of the Europa League and face United in the League Cup quarter-finals next month.
“There’s still a hell of a long way to go and, for us, what’s important is we keep progressing in the way we have been,” Postecoglou said Friday on the eve of Ipswich’s visit.
“Our football for the large part has been pretty consistent, pretty good. We’ve obviously had a few stumbles along the way.
“Within that context I still think we’re making progress and that’s what we will keep doing. There’s no point looking at the table now because ultimately where we are at the end of the season is what counts.”
Postecoglou made changes for Thursday’s 3-2 Europa League defeat to Galatasaray, with a number of key players out injured.
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Micky van de Ven, Richarlison, Timo Werner, Wilson Odobert and Mikey Moore will all be absent this weekend, but there is hope that Cristian Romero could return.
Captain Son Heung-min has been used sparingly in the past two games to nurse him back to full fitness.
“We’re managing his minutes, building him up,” said Postecoglou. “Hopefully we get him back and keep him back. We can’t afford more injuries in that position.” Richarlison is set for a longer spell on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury against Villa last weekend, having only recently returned to action.
“We tried to take a different approach. He worked awfully hard on his rehab and not just his rehab, his general fitness,” said Postecoglou.
“We eased him back into playing, trying not to overload him but unfortunately he broke down again.
“He’s disappointed but ultimately we’ve just got to keep getting him back in there and working with him to get him back up because he’s an important player.”
An executive summit chaired by Manchester United part owner Jim Ratcliffe is set to determine the future of Erik Ten Hag, which presently sits on a knife’s edge.
And while the meeting is regularly scheduled in the diaries of the clubs hierarchy and no different to one held last month in Barcelona, it will be attended by many prominent figures at the club, including Ratcliffe, chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth and technical director Jason Wilcox, as United are amidst their worst-ever Premier League start.
According to the Guardian there is no indication from within Old Trafford that Ten Hag will be sacked, United’s poor start to the season means the Dutchman’s job is under immense pressure.
Eight points in seven games, including two wins over Fulham and Southampton, and just five goals scored, means 2024-25 is the worst start United have made in three decades.
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Vale Johan Neeskens, ex-Socceroo coach | 02:31
Their next worst start? Last season, when they were one point better off than they currently are.
However, it’s just their abysmal league form that has Ten Hag teetering on the brink of unemployment, with the club’s two Europa League games this season creating cause for immense concern.
Against Ten Hag’s former side, FC Twente of the Eredivisie, United drew 1-1. A week later they let an early 2-0 lead slip against Porto to draw 3-3, with a late Harry Maguire header salvaging a point in Portugal.
After that draw Ratcliffe was quizzed about his manager’s future but insisted his opinion mattered very little when it came to ensuring the Dutchman remained at the helm after the upcoming international break.
“I don’t want to answer that question. I like Erik. I think he’s a very good coach but at the end of the day it’s not my call,” he said.
A draw away at high-flying Aston Villa, who took three points from German giants Bayern Munich midweek, may have, for now, saved United’s powerbrokers from making a call on Ten Hag, according to club great Gary Neville.
Speaking on Sky Sports following the Villa game, Neville described the point as “ a small step forward.”
“Before the game if you’d offered any Manchester United fan, player and coach a draw they would have snapped your hand off.
“I think that’s where at the end (in) Erik Ten Hag’s interview there was probably a bit of relief because it keeps the wolves at bay for a couple of weeks, gives him a little more time.”
The season’s second international break means United don’t play until hosting Brentford on October 20 (AEST). Five days later it’s a trip to Turkey to clash with Fenerbahce, managed by former United top dog Jose Mourinho.
Neville feels United will afford Ten Hag more time to turn his side around and push for Champions League football come season’s end.
“No club wants to sack a manager during the season because it’s not only a reflection upon the manager, it’s a reflection upon them,” he said.
Ashworth made the notable caveat during his public backing of Ten Hag last month that the contract extension the 54-year-old signed during the European summer was “taken prior to both our arrivals.”
Despite this, Neville doubled down on his belief Ten Hag will remain United manager beyond the conclusion of this week’s meeting.
“The club did make the decision to keep Ten Hag in the summer and they don’t want to have to basically reverse that decision (after) six, seven games,” he said, adding how the international break may prove beneficial to the club’s situation.
Coaching change won’t effect Socceroos | 01:11
“They’ve just got to hope in these next couple of weeks through maybe a reset, some thinking time, some planning,” he said.
“Manchester United fans, coaches and players have talked about this new structure that surrounds Erik Ten Hag, it needs to go to work quite quickly in these next few weeks.
“If the next international break (in mid-November) comes around and Manchester United are still 13th, 14th, there’s going to be pressure building.
“They can’t stay 14th without repercussions.”
Speaking following the Villa draw, Ten Hag showed minimal concern about his job, revealing he is in constant contact with those above him in the club’s structure.
“We communicate very openly and transparently. I speak continuously with them. Every week, I would say every day, we talk, so I expect I will speak with them,” he said.
United’s manager also feels his side’s form is largely due to their poor goalscoring abilities, which has seen them find the back of the net just five times this season, less than any other side in the English top flight.
In many ways, Ten Hag is correct with the club’s 17 big chances missed this season the second most of any side in the division.
“We know in this moment we have a lack of goals, in that perspective it’s not a good start, we have to step up,” Ten Hag said after the Villa game.
“That’s an area we have to improve. But we have four clean sheets. That’s good because we have to defend proper.”
However, several prominent football clubs believe a lack of goal threat is just one of the issues at United, with the likes of Jamie Carragher and Les Ferdinand believing the club have stagnated under Ten Hag.
“No we’re not (seeing any signs of improvement.) For him, he needs results right now,” Carragher told Sky Sports ahead of the weekend’s Villa draw.
Former Spurs and Newcastle striker Ferdinand agreed, telling that same broadcaster’s post-game coverage that United’s performances are flatlining.
“(Ten Hag) keeps talking about improvement, improvement, improvement (and) we’re struggling to see that improvement,” Ferdinand said.
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“It’s easy to stand here and hammer Manchester United because during my playing career they were the benchmark. At the moment, they’re not the benchmark.”
Gary Lineker told the Rest Is Football podcast that he feels Ten Hag’s lack of consistent tactical approach has hindered United’s ability to maximise their output in the transfer market.
Over the summer window, United brought in six players for more than $328 million AUD, none of whom have set the world alight since moving to Old Trafford. Lineker believes Ten Hag is to blame for this reality.
“I think it’s very difficult to buy a player for Erik ten Hag because he plays a different system all the time. Sometimes they’re counter-attacking, sometimes they’ll play a little bit of a high press. Sometimes they won’t,” he said.
“We’ve said it many times on here. What is their style of football? What is their identity?”
The Athletic’s Laurie Whitwell also questioned United’s transfer strategy following Ten Hag’s selection of Maguire and Jonny Evans as his centre backs against Villa.
Whitwell stated those decisions “somewhat undermines the club’s recruitment policy.”
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United’s bench against Villa, which contained seven Ten Hag-era signings, acquiried for around £400 million, was described as “striking” by Whitwell, who commented how strange it was to see “several recruits brought in by Ten Hag considered only necessary for cameo appearances when the pressure dial is turned up.”
All these factors will likely be considered and assessed by the United hierarchy at their upcoming executive summit, with current assistant coach and legendary Manchester United striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy is reportedly the club’s preferred caretaker should they opt to sack Ten Hag.
But, one potential barrier to United parting with the Dutchman is the £17.5m ($34m) payout the club would need to fork out should they opt to venture down that path, which has been reported in several outlets including the Mirror.
Johan Neeskens, part of the Ajax and Netherlands teams that created “total football” in the 1970s and a key team-mate of Johan Cruyff, has died aged 73, the Dutch football federation said Monday.
“With Johan Neeskens, the Dutch and international football world loses a legend,” the KNVB federation said in a statement, adding that the midfielder had died on Sunday from an unspecified illness.
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Neeskens was part of the Ajax team that won three straight European Cups in the early 1970s and was also a member of the ‘Clockwork Oranje’ Dutch team that reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978.
He won 49 caps for the Netherlands.
“With his characteristic tackles, sublime insight and iconic penalties, (he) will forever remain one of the leading players that Dutch football has ever produced,” said the KNVB.
After his playing career, Neeskens took part in coaching programmes around the world including as an assistant to Australian national team manager Guus Hiddink for the 2006 World Cup where the Socceroos progressed from the group stage to the Round of 16.
Known on the pitch for his uncompromising tackling, he also had a softer side, the KNVB said in its statement.
He was “a world citizen and a gentle family man who was proud of his children and grandchildren and who, until the very end, knew how to touch others with his love for football.” The KNVB said it would hold a minute’s silence at the next two international matches against Hungary and Germany.
Ajax wrote on X: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Johan Neeskens. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.” “Rest in peace, Ajax legend.” Barcelona, where he was known as “Johan The Second” (after Crujff), according to Dutch public broadcaster NOS, also tweeted condolences.
“A blaugrana legend who will forever be in our memory.” Current Dutch coach Ronald Koeman described Neeskens as his “great idol”. Playing football in the street as a boy, Koeman said his friends either wanted to be Crujff or Dutch star Willem van Hanegem.
“But I wanted to be Neeskens,” said Koeman, cited by local news agency ANP. “His style really appealed to me. His fight, for example. And he was also a great penalty specialist.”
Neeskens, tough midfielder in Cruyff’s Ajax and Dutch teams
Johan Neeskens, who has died aged 73, was the powerful but smooth engine of the Ajax and Netherlands teams that created “total football” with Johan Cruyff at their heart.
Neeskens was part of the Ajax team that won three straight European Cups and a key component of the “Clockwork Oranje” Dutch team that reached consecutive World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978, losing both.
“He was worth two men in midfield,” Ajax team-mate Sjaak Swart once told FIFA.com.
Neeskens was a relentless runner and tough tackler, but he was also skilful. He finished the 1974 World Cup with five goals, second to only to Grzegorz Lato of Poland and top scorer in a Dutch team that also contained Cruyff and the flamboyant Johnny Rep.
“I always liked to play with style — and to win,” Neeskens said. Johannes Jacobus Neeskens was born in Heemstede, west of Amsterdam, on September 15, 1951. He was signed from his home-town club by Ajax coach Rinus Michels in 1970.
Neeskens was right-back when the club beat Greek side Panathinaikos 2-0 for their first European Cup win in 1971. He then switched to central midfield, playing there as Ajax won two more titles in 1972, against Inter Milan, and 1973, against Juventus.
The Ajax team led by Cruyff and Neeskens formed the spine of the Dutch side that dazzled on the way to the 1974 World Cup final in West Germany.
After just two minutes in Munich, Neeskens set two World Cup final records, scoring the quickest goal in as he converted the first penalty, awarded before any West German and most Dutch players had touched the ball.
“As a player it is a little bit strange because sometimes you need the feeling,” he later told FIFA.
“I’d hardly touched the ball and wasn’t even warm. Then you have to make that penalty in front of 80,000 who are against you and of course the whole world is watching it.
“That was the first time that I was a little bit nervous in taking a penalty,” he said.
“When I started running, I was thinking: ‘which side am I going to shoot?’ It was more or less always in the right side of the goal. At the last step, I thought ‘no, I’m going to shoot the other way’. It was not my meaning to kick the ball straight through the middle.” But he also said: “If you’re not sure, just hit it as hard as possible. If you don’t know where it’s going, nor will the keeper.” The West Germans fought back, equalising with the second ever World Cup final penalty, converted by Paul Breitner, and winning with a goal by Gerd Mueller.
Despite the loss, “that tournament was a dream,” Neeskens told FIFA. “I was 22 and a key player.” The Dutch had caught the eye, but West Germany took the trophy. “We lost that game but everybody was talking about our team and our football,” Neeskens recalled. “We deserved to win that final.”
– ‘Kamikaze pilot’ –
Four years later in Argentina, as Cruyff opted to stay at home, Neeskens was again a key part of the Dutch team that reached the final.
He was injured early in a group loss to Scotland and missed the revenge victory over West Germany. He returned for the last two matches, including the 3-1 defeat in extra time as the Dutch again lost the final to the host nation.
By then Neeskens had followed Cruyff to Catalonia, where Barcelona fans dubbed the midfielder “Johan the Second”.
In five years at Barca, he won a Copa del Rey and European Cup Winners’ Cup before heading to the United States for five seasons with the star-studded New York Cosmos.
Bobby Haarms, Michels’ assistant at Ajax, was quoted in “Brilliant Orange”, a book on Dutch football by David Winner, as saying Neeskens was “like a kamikaze pilot.” He coached in the Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland and South Africa and spent more than four years as Netherlands assistant coach under first Guus Hiddink and then Frank Rijkaard.
He was also Rijkaard’s assistant at Barcelona and Hiddink’s assistant with Australia.
Ex-Ivory Coast international defender Sol Bamba, who overcame cancer to resume his playing career, has died at the age of 39, his former clubs announced on Saturday.
“Leeds United are devastated to learn of the passing of former captain Sol Bamba at the age of 39,” said a statement from the English side.
Bamba had been working with the coaching staff at Turkish side Adanaspor when he was taken ill on Friday.
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“Our technical director Souleymane Bamba, who fell ill before the match against Manisa Football Club yesterday, was taken to Manisa Celal Bayar University Hospital and unfortunately lost his battle for life there,” said Adanaspor in a statement on social media.
“Our condolences to his family and our community.” Bamba was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 while with Cardiff City, but was declared cancer-free after a course of chemotherapy and returned to play again for the Welsh club as well as Middlesbrough.
France-born Bamba began his playing career at Paris St Germain before moving to Scotland.
He helped Dunfermline reach the Scottish Cup final before moving to Hibs and then Leicester in 2011.
Following spells in Turkey and Italy he joined Leeds, where he was club captain, while in his first full season at Cardiff he helped them clinch promotion to the Premier League.
He played more than 100 times for Cardiff.
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Cardiff posted on X: “It is with the deepest sadness that we have learnt this evening about the passing of club legend, Sol Bamba.
“As a player and coach, Sol’s impact on our football club was immeasurable. He was a hero to all of us, a leader in every dressing room and a true gentleman.
“Our thoughts are with his friends, family and everyone lucky enough to know and love Sol.” Bamba represented the Ivory Coast at the 2008 Olympics and played in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, winning 46 international caps in total
Jude Bellingham is available for England’s Euro 2024 quarter-final with Switzerland after he was given on Friday a suspended one-game ban for his controversial celebration after scoring against Slovakia in the previous round.
In a statement, European football’s governing body UEFA said that Bellingham would be fined 30,000 euros and suspended “for a total of one UEFA competition match for which he would be otherwise eligible for violating the basic rules of decent conduct”.
“Said suspension is not immediately enforced and is subject to a probationary period of one (1) year, starting from the date of the present decision,” UEFA added.
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EPIC SAVE seals Turkey win | 00:39
Bellingham was filmed mimicking a crotch grab while apparently looking towards Slovakia’s bench after his spectacular stoppage-time equaliser which kept England in the tournament.
Bellingham will almost certainly start for England in Duesseldorf on Saturday evening after his reprieve from UEFA’s Ethics and Disciplinary body.
Previously unissued photo dated 30/06/2024 of England’s Jude Bellingham after scoring his sides first goal during the UEFA Euro 2024, round of 16 match at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Picture date: Sunday June 30, 2024. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
The Real Madrid star has scored twice in four matches in Germany as England have reached the last eight without putting in a single convincing performance.
England take on Switzerland with a great chance to finally break a 58-year major tournament duck as they sit on the other side of the knockout bracket to all of the other tournament favourites.
A win over the Swiss, who dumped out Italy in the last 16 and also impressed in a Group A draw with hosts Germany, would set up a semi-final with Turkey or the Netherlands.
Meanwhile Germany face Spain and Portugal do battle with France on the other side of the bracket.
Under Gareth Southgate, England reached the last Euros final and went deep at the last two World Cups only to fall short, in the semi-finals in 2018 and the last eight four years later in Qatar.
It was ugly, uninspiring and unimpressive, but England squeezed past Slovakia in extra time thanks to some late heroics from Jude Bellingham and a powerful Harry Kane header.
The 2-1 victory also preserved England boss Gareth Southgate’s streak of qualifying for the quarterfinals at the four major tournaments he has managed at.
But the final eight might not be the last stop for England given how lopsided the draw is.
Should the Three Lions get past Switzerland, they’ll face either the Netherlands or Turkey in the semi finals.
Yes, none of those opponents are easy beats, but considering Spain, Germany, France and Portugal are the remaining teams on the other side of the draw, it’s fair to say England wouldn’t want to trade places.
Aside from England’s lack of balance in the midfield and attack, Southgate must work out how to solve a problem perhaps all of his own doing: left-back.
Luke Shaw, who has not played since February, was picked in the squad as Kieran Trippier, a right-back by trade, has been forced to deputise in the left-back role.
However, Trippier was forced off with an injury against Slovakia as Bukayo Saka, who began his career at left-back but has evolved into a damaging right-winger, slotted into the role.
Trippier was forced off injured in England’s Round of 16 game against Slovakia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
So, how does Southgate solve the issue against Switzerland?
Trippier insists he will be fit to play, but his continuous desire to turn in-field and play the ball off of his right foot means opposition players know exactly what his next move is.
Shaw is back training with the squad but given he hasn’t played since February, there’s a risk he breaks down again.
Saka is an option and given England’s depth in the forward positions, moving the Arsenal star to left-back isn’t out of the question.
Ezri Konsa and Joe Gomez, who both logged minutes at left-back for England prior to Euro 2024, can play there but are centre-backs by trade and will offer little going forward.
It would not be a surprise to see anyone other than Trippier at left-back against the Swiss, but it also would not be a surprise to see someone else take the Newcastle defender’s place at some stage during the game.
Regardless of who ends up playing there, it is a headache Southgate could have avoided with a different team selection.
Southgate has a big selection call to make ahead of the Switzerland clash. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)Source: AFP
$414M WORTH OF ATTACKING TALENT … AND STILL CAN’T SCORE
Real Madrid may have handed Kylian Mbappe a $245 million signing bonus last June and Barcelona may have forked out $169 million to sign Ousmane Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017.
But France cannot buy a goal from these two.
Despite not scoring a single goal from open play at Euro 2024, France are still alive as Jan Vertonghen’s own goal handed Les Bleus a 1-0 win over Belgium in the Round of 16.
Yes, the same France team that boasts Mbappe, one of the best strikers in the game, and Dembele, an electric forward who can twist defenders into a pretzel.
Mbappe does have a goal to his name at this tournament but that came via a penalty against Poland in the group stage.
The only other goal from France was when they beat Austria 1-0 in their tournament opener when Maximillian Wober turned the ball into his own net.
It’s worth remembering that France are masters of knockout football.
They won the 2018 FIFA World Cup and made the final at the 2022 World Cup and Euro 2016, demonstrating French boss Didier Deschamps’ tactical nous in the latter stages of the tournament.
France also aren’t struggling to create chances, firing off 19 shots against Belgium and Poland 15 against the Netherlands and 14 against Austria.
Having conceded one goal all tournament — a penalty against Poland — France are clearly a formidable defensive unit and have a dynamic midfield.
But they desperately need their superstar forwards to click into gear against Portugal.
France haven’t scored from open play in four games. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
DAMNING EVIDENCE SUPPORTS BRUTAL RONALDO CALL THAT MUST BE MADE
Cristiano Ronaldo did not miss a second in Portugal’s penalty shootout win over Slovenia, but the burning question remains as to whether he should have remained on the field.
Despite boasting a ripped physique most males would swap their own for in an instant, Ronaldo is 39 and is nowhere near as explosive as he used to be.
And even when he had the chance to be the hero he fluffed his lines from the penalty spot in extra time.
It meant Ronaldo’s goal drought at Euro 2024 continued, despite having taken the most shots out of any player (20).
Excluding a penalty against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup, Ronaldo has also now failed to score in his last eight games at a major tournament.
If it was anyone other than Ronaldo, one might imagine Portugal manager Roberto Martinez might have dropped them by now.
But it is Ronaldo, the nation’s record goal scorer, a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and one of the greatest to ever play the game.
Martinez now faces a crucial selection call: does he stick with Ronaldo, or does he take the drastic step of dropping him?
Cristiano Ronaldo’s attacking woes are well documented. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Fernando Santos, Martinez’s predecessor, made the staggering decision to drop Ronaldo at the 2022 World Cup in place of Goncalo Ramos for Portugal’s Round of 16 tie against Switzerland.
Ramos, aged 21 at the time, proceeded to score a hat-trick as Portugal demolished Switzerland 6-1.
Although he struggled initially this season with Paris Saint-Germain, Ramos scored eight goals in his last 14 league games for the French giants so it’s not like he’s entering the tournament completely out of form.
If it’s not Ramos, Liverpool forward Diogo Jota is also a viable option up top in place of Ronaldo, so Martinez is not short of options.
Dropping Ronaldo may not be a popular call, especially given the 39-year-old’s remarkable ego.
But it might be one Martinez has to make to give Portugal the best chance of winning.
Roberto Martinez is faced with a massive call that could make or break Portugal’s Euro 2024 campaign. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
TEEN SENSATION BEHIND HEAVYWEIGHT’S FAVOURITE TAG
Spain solidified their status as a major favourite to win 2024 with a resounding 4-1 victory over Georgia that could and perhaps should have been more.
The contest gave Spain a different challenge they hadn’t faced at the tournament as the world No. 74 sat back and happily ceded possession.
Unlike the group stage when Spain averaged 54 per cent possession across the three games, La Roja had 76 per cent possession against Georgia, meaning they had to find new ways to break them down.
The challenge became even harder when Georgia took a shock lead in the 18th minute via an own goal as the minnows happily parked the bus.
Enter Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
The Barcelona standout, who is just 16 years old, played with a fearlessness you rarely see in football as he became the youngest player to appear in the knockout stages at a European Championship.
Operating as Spain’s right winger, Yamal was a menace and constantly looked to get behind the defensive line.
He’d dance across the field with the ball at his feet before passing it and darting into space in the hopes of unlocking Georgia’s defence.
In the end Yamal finished the game with an assist and will feel like should have had a goal to go with it as well.
“Nothing seems to faze the Barcelona prodigy, whose technical quality, decision making and ability to impact games in key moments is already world class,” Corrigan said.
A quarterfinal against Germany represents an incredibly difficult test for Yamal, but given how well he’s played so far, the youngster could end up having the biggest say on one of the biggest stages.
Lamine Yamal has established himself as one of the brightest talents in the game. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Tottenham have completed the signing of Leeds midfielder Archie Gray in a player-plus-cash deal which sees Joe Rodon return to Elland Road.
The 18-year-old Gray won plaudits in an impressive breakout season at Leeds and Brentford had a reported £35 million ($AUD66 million) bid rejected last weekend.
That allowed Spurs to come in for the England Under-21 international, who has signed a six-year deal.
No fee has been disclosed, but British media reported Gray had signed in a deal worth up to $AUD57 million, with the added inducement of former loanee Rodon returning to Leeds on a permanent basis.
Leeds’ failure to gain promotion to the lucrative Premier League from the second-tier Championship in May put pressure on the Yorkshire club to make big-money sales to comply with financial fair play rules.
In Gray’s first in-house interview with the club, he spoke about how Postecoglou was a “massive factor” in wanting to join Tottenham.
“I’m not going to lie to you,” Gray said.
Gray becomes Tottenham’s first signing of the summer window. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“I’m a massive Celtic fan, so I love him, my whole family love him.
“I haven’t really said this to be fair, but he’s a massive factor because playing under a really good manager is really important for me as well. I’ve still got loads to learn because I’m only 18 so that’s really important.
“It still hasn’t sunk in to be honest and I don’t think it will for the next few days and until we’ve played a few games and I’ve got to meet everyone.
“I’m just really excited and looking forward to it. It’s massive opportunity for me and I’m really excited.
“When Spurs came and I had the opportunity to play in the Champions League eventually and the Europa League this year, you know I couldn’t really say no.”
Gray, who can play at both right-back and in central midfield, became a regular under Leeds boss Daniel Farke last season. The teenager made 52 appearances in all competitions following his league debut against Cardiff in August.
Postecoglou was a big factor behind Gray’s decision to join Tottenham. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Gray’s great-uncle Eddie was a star of the successful Leeds teams of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Grandfather Frank also played more than 300 games for the club. Father Andy also played for the Elland Road side. All three were Scotland internationals.
Archie won the Championship Young Player of the Year award last season. Wales international Rodon has now headed in the other direction, bringing to an end his four-year stay at Spurs.
Rodon signed from Swansea in 2020 but only played 24 times for Tottenham with his last appearance as a late substitute against Burnley towards the end of the 2021/22 season.
After spending the last two seasons on loan at French club Rennes and then Leeds, the 26-year-old has returned to Elland Road after signing a four-year deal.
The Netherlands swept into their first European Championship quarter-final since 2008 as Donyell Malen scored twice in a 3-0 win over Romania in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Cody Gakpo gave the Dutch an early lead, but they were unable to convert pressure into a crucial second goal until the Liverpool forward set up Malen with seven minutes remaining in Munich.
Romania were gritty but outclassed, lacking the quality to punish their opponents’ profligacy before Malen added his second on the counter in stoppage-time.
The victory put the Oranje on course for a quarter-final clash with Turkey, who later in the day defeated Austria 2-1.
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“We played a good game. I’m very pleased. Especially after the last game we needed a reaction and today was a good step in the right direction,” Gakpo said.
“We talked a lot about the aggression, the intensity and defending like a team. It was a good step.
“Sacrifice something for each other and work really hard to be at your best. Good game overall.”
Ronald Koeman’s side will need to improve their effectiveness in front of goal should they wish to emulate their manager, who was a player for the Dutch when they won the 1988 Euros on German soil.
Koeman said “the only critical point was that it took us too long to score the second one”, but praised the performance overall.
“We are Dutch, we have to play well. The performance today was outstanding and that’s why we have a chance to continue,” added the 61-year-old coach.
“This is the level we need. If we drop our level, we won’t make the final.”
Donyell Malen of the Netherlands. Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Romania coach Edward Iordanescu said his team “tried to surprise the Netherlands today and it worked — until the 20th minute,” but added he saw “good things that can inspire us for the future”.
Prior to the game, Netherlands’ captain Virgil van Dijk said his side lacked energy and the “will to win” in the loss to Austria.
But the Dutch were still strangely flat in the early stages despite Van Dijk’s rallying cry.
Group E winners Romania, whose 3-0 victory over Ukraine in their opening game, was just their second-ever win in the Euros, pinned the Dutch back early.
Romania went close when Dennis Man latched onto a superb diagonal ball from Nicolae Stanciu, but the Parma winger blasted over.
The Dutch broke Romania’s momentum shortly after when Gakpo got on the end of a sweeping move to open the scoring on 20 minutes.
Jerdy Schouten sliced a perfect, long pass through the midfield to Xavi Simons, who found Gakpo on the left flank.
Gakpo eluded Andrei Ratiu and seemed to catch goalkeeper Florin Nita off-guard, blasting in at the near post.
The goal ignited a period of Dutch dominance, Stefan de Vrij heading inches wide five minutes later.
Netherlands cruise past Romania to QF! | 01:45
The Netherlands wasted a perfect chance to double their lead with halftime approaching when Denzel Dumfries picked Bogdan Racovitan’s pocket and found Simons, who got tangled up and failed to get a decent shot away.
Koeman’s team squandered an array of opportunities early in the second half. Memphis Depay and Van Dijk went agonisingly close before Gakpo’s second was ruled out by VAR for off-side.
With every missed chance, the nerves in the Dutch camp seemed to grow, but Romania lacked the quality to truly punish them.
Gakpo, the player of the match, took matters into his own hands with seven minutes remaining, dribbling through a crowded penalty area and finding Malen who tapped home.
“We work very hard with each other to do our best and I’m happy I could assist Donnie with his goal today,” Gakpo said.
With Romania launching a final attack, Malen broke through on the counter and slid the ball into the goal in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to seal the victory.
The 93rd-minute goal meant substitute Malen was the first Dutch player to score at least two goals in a Euros knockout tie since Marc Overmars and Patrick Kluivert in a 6-1 win against Yugoslavia in 2000.
Donyell Malen of the Netherlands. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
TURKEY KEEPER’S LAST-MINUTE HEROICS
Merih Demiral was Turkey’s unlikely hero with both goals in a 2-1 win over Austria on Tuesday that booked their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
The Al-Ahli centre-back smashed home after just 58 seconds and produced a towering header on the hour mark to double Turkey’s lead.
Michael Gregoritsch quickly pulled a goal back for Austria and only a stunning save from Mert Gunok denied Christoph Baumgartner a dramatic equaliser deep into stoppage-time.
Turkey advance to face the Netherlands in the last eight in Berlin on Saturday.
Austria had emerged as dark horses to go far on the perceived weaker side of the draw after topping a group including France and the Netherlands.
Ralf Rangnick’s side had also thrashed Turkey 6-1 in a friendly in March, but this time they failed to recover from a nightmare start.
Real Madrid’s Arda Guler was a constant threat to the Austrian defence and his teasing delivery from a corner caused chaos inside the first minute.
Baumgartner’s clearance off the line hit team-mate Stefan Posch, goalkeeper Patrick Pentz clawing it out to Demiral, who lashed into the roof of the net for the second fastest goal ever at a European Championship.
Turkey’s raucous fans exploded in a deafening celebration, but they were nearly brought back down to earth straight away.
Baumgartner fired inches wide form the edge of the box before Demiral somehow prevented the RB Leipzig midfielder from scoring at his home ground as a dangerous Austrian corner flashed across goal.
Austria late-minute equaliser is saved.Source: Supplied
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella said that absent captain Hakan Calhanoglu, who was missing due to suspension, was “irreplaceable”.
However, Guler assumed responsibility in the playmaking role and nearly produced a stunning second for his side with an audacious attempt from the halfway line that drifted wide.
Only Portugal, Spain and the Netherlands have had a higher winning percentage in European football since Rangnick took charge of Austria two years ago.
The former Manchester United boss made two changes at half-time, including the introduction of Gregoritsch, who scored a hat-trick when the sides met three months ago.
Rangnick got the reaction he desired as Austria began cutting through the Turkish defence.
Gunok spread himself brilliantly to deny Marko Arnautovic when one-on-one before Bayern Munich’s Konrad Laimer lacked the finish to a fine run through the middle.
However, they failed to learn their lesson from Guler corners as another inviting delivery was powered home by Demiral.
In doing so the 26-year-old became the first European defender to score twice in the knockout stages of a major tournament since Lillian Thuram for France at the 1998 World Cup.
It was also a set-piece at the other end that got Austria back in the game seven minutes later.
Posch flicked on Marcel Sabitzer’s corner for Gregoritsch to sweep high into the net.
A torrential downpour could not drown out a sensational atmosphere in Leipzig, with Turkey’s huge expat population in Germany again making it like a home game for Montella’s men.
The fervent atmosphere turned sour as Sabitzer was struck by an object thrown from the crowd as he prepared to take a corner.
Baris Alper Yilmaz was denied a third for Turkey by a fine save from Pentz in stoppage-time.
That nearly proved crucial as Gunok then had to produce a remarkable stop to prevent Baumgartner’s downward header finding the far corner.
It was an incredible save reminiscent of England keeper Gordon Banks’ iconic stop from Pele in the 1970 World Cup.
But Turkey stood firm amid an aerial bombardment from Austria to reach the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2008.
