Analysis, features, news plus more – on European football and sports galore!
For all the talk of focusing on defending against the brilliance of Kylian Mbappe, it was France’s all-time top goalscorer Olivier Giroud – who spent nine years playing in England’s top-tier – delivering the final blow as Gareth Southgate’s men showed spirit but ultimately crashed out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage with a jarring 2-1 defeat by the defending champions. Continue reading “France 2-1 England: Giroud the matchwinner as Kane’s penalty miss sends Southgate’s men out”
Olivier Giroud surpassed Thierry Henry to top the all-time goalscoring charts for France, scoring against a former teammate in goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny no less, before Kylian Mbappe’s second-half brace ended Poland’s fading hopes of a late comeback. Barcelona forward Robert Lewandowski scored a retaken penalty late, on what could be his last World Cup appearance. Continue reading “France 3-1 Poland: Giroud breaks all-time record, Mbappe’s second-half brace puts Poles to the sword”
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Four of the last five World Cup winners have gone on to crash out in the group stages at the subsequent tournament, a statistic beginning with France themselves back in 2002. For a 20-minute spell in their Group D opener against Australia, you could be forgiven for thinking history would repeat itself. Now though, they’ll be expecting to build on a display highlighting some strengths while lluminating weaknesses with tougher challenges in the days to come.
Continue reading “France 4-1 Australia: World champions rally from early scare to earn big win in World Cup opener”
Six years after his last call-up with politics, allegations of racism and an ongoing court case bubbling beneath the surface, Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema has been named in Didier Deschamps’ 26-man France squad for the rescheduled Euro 2020 tournament – which begins in less than a month’s time. He’s expected to lead the line after an excellent season at club level.
Continue reading “Euro 2020: Karim Benzema to make France return after six-year absence”
In news which will put their Premier League rivals on alert, Chelsea are prepared to activate RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner’s £49m release clause as reports suggest the Blues are close to signing him this summer – under Liverpool’s noses. Continue reading “Chelsea will activate Timo Werner’s £49m release clause, close to signing him”
Chelsea have agreed one-year extensions for Willy Caballero and Olivier Giroud, as the Blues today returned to Premier League training in small groups – this marking the first time since football was suspended indefinitely on March 13. Continue reading “Chelsea’s experienced duo Willy Caballero, Olivier Giroud agree extensions”
Olivier Giroud has admitted he saw himself ‘far away from Chelsea’ during a difficult January window, one which saw his proposed exit eventually blocked by manager Frank Lampard: with the experienced Frenchman set to join Inter Milan.
Continue reading “Olivier Giroud reveals his January move to Inter was blocked by boss Lampard”
Bayern Munich maintained their 100% win record in this season’s Champions League as a Serge Gnabry brace and yet another Robert Lewandowski goal sealed a comprehensive 3-0 away win over Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side in west London. Continue reading “Chelsea 0-3 Bayern Munich: 5 Hits and Flops as Bavarians excel in London again”
Manchester United captain Harry Maguire steered home a second-half header to help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men to all three points with a 2-0 win over fourth-placed Chelsea. But amid their big win, VAR controversy reared its ugly head as match-defining moments were ruined by poor officiating at Stamford Bridge.
Frank Lampard spoke highly of Tammy Abraham’s progression, revealed updates on Olivier Giroud’s future with Inter Milan lurking and delivered some interesting insight in the build-up to their lunchtime clash against Burnley tomorrow. Continue reading “Frank Lampard praises Tammy Abraham, clarifies Giroud’s future pre-Burnley”
Mason Mount made a memorable return to Stamford Bridge and scored on his senior home debut but was helpless to stop Frank Lampard’s Chelsea side from dropping two points against a dangerous Leicester side unfortunate not to snatch a late winner in west London. Continue reading “Mason Mount thrills on Stamford Bridge debut, Chelsea drop points again”
Chelsea’s transfer ban, preventing them from signing new players for two windows, will provide opportunities to those who have been patiently waiting for a chance to shine. Tammy Abraham, who flourished on-loan at Aston Villa, is no exception. Continue reading “Chelsea transfer ban good for me, Tammy Abraham insists”
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