Madrid (AFP) – A patched-up Real Madrid began a crucial week by beating Eibar 2-0 on Saturday to increase the pressure on Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga. With Liverpool to come in the Champions League on Tuesday and a Clasico against Barcelona next weekend, Madrid welcomed a comfortable win thanks to goals…
Alguacil calls on Real Sociedad to make history in all-Basque cup final
Madrid (AFP) – Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil urged his players on Friday to make history by beating Athletic Bilbao in the final of the Copa del Rey. La Real will face bitter rivals Bilbao on Saturday in the postponed final from last season, which has been put off as long as possible in the…
North Macedonia hails ‘Miracle of Duisburg’ after Germany win
Skopje (Republic of North Macedonia) (AFP) – North Macedonians on Thursday were revelling in their football team’s remarkable victory over Germany, dubbed “the Miracle of Duisburg”, in World Cup qualifying. Goals from veteran striker Goran Pandev and Napoli’s Eljif Elmas helped North Macedonia inflict only a third ever World Cup qualifying loss on Germany, and…
Germany’s Kroos slams World Cup hosts Qatar amid protests
Berlin (AFP) – Real Madrid and Germany midfielder Toni Kroos has sharply criticised 2022 World Cup host nation Qatar in the wake of several European teams protesting about conditions in the Emirate state. “I think the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar was not a good thing for several reasons,” said Kroos in his…
Mauritania, Ethiopia qualify for Africa Cup of Nations
Johannesburg (AFP) – Mauritania won and Ethiopia were trailing in an abandoned match as they secured places Tuesday at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, raising the number of qualifiers to 21 for the 24-team tournament. Ethiopia were losing 3-1 to already-qualified Ivory Coast in Abidjan after 80 minutes when the Ghanaian referee collapsed and…
Mbulu sends Malawi to third Cup of Nations
Johannesburg (AFP) – Richard Mbulu scored after 16 minutes to give Malawi a 1-0 Group B victory over Uganda on Monday, and qualification for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. The 27-year-old forward headed powerfully past Uganda goalkeeper Denis Onyango off a cross from former Atletico Madrid youth squad member Robin Ngalande. It was the…
Kane ends England goal drought to sink Albania
Tirana (AFP) – Harry Kane ended his six-game England goal drought as he inspired a 2-0 win in Albania in Sunday’s World Cup qualifier. Gareth Southgate’s side struggled to break down the well-organised underdogs until the Tottenham striker netted late in the first half at the Air Albania Stadium in Tirana. It was the England…
Cristiano Ronaldo’s breathtaking bicycle kick against Juventus
There are few players who relish the Champions League stage quite like Cristiano Ronaldo. The greatest goalscorer in the history of club football’s leading competition, Ronaldo has set extraordinary standards in modern times, providing no end of jaw-dropping moments with his unworldly ability to decide games at the very highest level. Ronaldo has scored a…
Mourinho used to criticism of ‘one of most important managers’
London (AFP) – Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho says he has learned to deal with people questioning the methods of “one of the most important managers in the game”. Mourinho has been a serial trophy winner throughout his career with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United. But in more recent years, the Portuguese,…
Celtic icon Brown agrees move to rivals Aberdeen
London (AFP) – Scott Brown is to join Aberdeen as a player coach ending a success-laden 14 year spell at their Scottish Premiership rivals Celtic a club he says will “forever be in my heart.” The 35-year-old former Scotland international signed a pre-contract with Aberdeen which is a “real coup” for the side according to…