Italy Comes Agonizingly Close in Euro 2016 Exit to Germany

On Saturday night in Bordeaux, France, two titans of football went head-to-head. The quarterfinal match between Italy and Germany had been hailed as worthy of being the final of the 2016 UEFA European Championship, and the game lived up to its hype. The two teams waged a pitched battle at the Stade de Bordeaux in the mold of some of the classics. It took 120 minute to try to separate them, but all efforts to do so were in vain. The score was locked at 1-1 when referee Viktor Kassai blew his whistle for the final time—but that was only the beginning. The standard five-round shootout wasn’t... 

Why Jurgen Klinsmann Could Become England’s Best Manager Since Terry Venables

With Queen Elizabeth II watching on, Jurgen Klinsmann lifted the Henri Delaunay Cup above his head. Germany had just won the 1996 European Championship—their third overall and first since 1980—beating Czech Republic 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium. Four days earlier, Klinsmann and his team-mates had defeated Terry Venables’ host side on penalties after a dramatic 1-1 draw. England’s feelgood Euro ’96 came to an end with the powerful spot-kick and preening celebratory strut of Andreas Moller. In the 20 years since, they have not enjoyed a major tournament... 

Rebuilding Spain: Del Bosque’s Successor Faces Tricky Task After Euro 2016 Exit

This wasn’t a Roy Hodgson-style exit, but ultimately the same result was coming, and right there he knew: It was time. “I have more or less decided,” Vicente del Bosque said succinctly. Spain had just been defeated by Italy in Paris on Monday at Euro 2016, and the post-match press conference hadn’t taken long to get to the subject of the manager’s future, Spain’s future. There, Del Bosque expressed his belief that this wasn’t the end of an era despite the widespread conclusion of such and his clear hint that he was on his way. “We have a... 

Can Stuttering Hosts France Still Go All the Way at Euro 2016?

The French might have invited the rest of the continent to Euro 2016, but so far they haven’t been the most accommodating or entertaining hosts. Of course, they are unbeaten, and in to the quarter-finals, where they will Sunday night face Iceland at the Stade de France in Paris for a place in the last four. But it has all been a bit of a struggle; France have not glided through this tournament with sumptuous displays of attacking football, but rather they have had to huff and puff, and narrowly secure their wins. They had an attack of first-night nerves in their opening game against Romania... 

Sami Khedira Injury: Updates on Germany Star’s Groin and Recovery

Germany’s bid to win UEFA Euro 2016 has taken a blow, as Sami Khedira left the pitch during their quarter-final match against Italy on Saturday with a groin injury. It is uncertain when he will be ready to play again. Continue for updates. Khedira Ruled Out of Euros Sunday, July 3 Sky Sports announced Khedira is set to miss the remainder of the tournament, adding: “According to German football magazine Kicker, the Juventus midfielder suffered ‘at least a partial tear in the adductor of his left thigh.'” Khedira suffered the injury just a few minutes into... 

Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann Tandem Is Key to France Victory vs. Iceland

Despite Iceland’s impressive 2016 UEFA European Championship campaign so far, France will be considered favourites when the two sides meet at Stade de France in Paris on Sunday. The hosts have only just started to warm up after their second-half recovery against the Republic of Ireland to win 2-1 at Parc Olympique Lyonnais last weekend, while the Icelanders have played out of their skins to come this far. Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men beat England 2-1 in Nice on Monday and will come into their clash with Les Bleus high on confidence. As reported by ESPN FC, France’s... 

France Must Learn from Ireland Mistakes for Quarter-Final vs. Plucky Iceland

France and Iceland will meet at Stade de France on Sunday for the last of the 2016 UEFA European Championship quarter-finals, and by then, the other three semi-finalists will already be known. The hosts are only just starting to find form after a slow start, while Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson’s men have been the surprise package of the tournament so far. Could the Icelanders do the unthinkable this weekend and eliminate Didier Deschamps and his players from their own party? Judging by the performances of the 34th-ranked nation so far in France this summer, particularly in their... 

Ranking Spain’s Players Following Their Euro 2016 Exit

The dynasty is over. Spain’s empire is no more.  On Tuesday, La Roja returned home empty-handed from Paris, where Italy had ambushed them a day earlier at Euro 2016 to strip them of the second of their two titles that they’d so famously held at once.  The manner of it was brutal and painful; the extent of Italy’s dominance was striking. When eras end, such is often the case, and Spain will now look ahead and rebuild, aware that evolution is necessary for them to return to the top.  Already, manager Vicente del Bosque has departed, as reported by the Guardian, and... 

Cristiano Ronaldo Talks Renato Sanches and More After Portugal Beat Poland

Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo has said the team’s results are more important than his own displays after he disappointed in Thursday’s penalty-shootout win over Poland in their Euro 2016 quarter-final, where Renato Sanches was the star man.  The Real Madrid superstar has failed to shine consistently for the national team and missed a raft of chances in the 1-1 draw after extra time in Marseille, but he told reporters his individual success doesn’t matter to Portugal’s European Championship chances: My own performance is not important. What counts is... 

Devising a Game Plan for Germany to Finally Beat Bogey Team Italy

No matter how cool he seems in the buildup to the match, and no matter how often everyone in the Germany camp says they aren’t afraid of Italy, head coach Joachim Low knows Saturday’s Euro 2016 quarter-final against the Azzurri is going to be a special game. And it will take a special performance to finally get over the hump. Germany have never beaten Italy in a competitive match, as detailed in an earlier piece, and even though the 56-year-old said, per Jonathan Wilson for Sports Illustrated, “we have no Italy trauma,” Germany will play against that record just as... 

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