Author: Timi-Zacchaeus Oluwaferanmi

In a dramatic and emotional news conference on Sunday, Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti announced that he would be leaving his role following the team’s 3-0 defeat to Norway in their opening World Cup 2026 qualifier. The 66-year-old revealed that Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina informed him of his dismissal after the disappointing result in Oslo. Despite the news, Spalletti confirmed he would still take charge of Monday’s qualifier against Moldova before officially stepping down. “Last night we were very together with president Gravina,” Spalletti told reporters. “He told me that I will be relieved of my position as…

France secured third place in the UEFA Nations League with a composed 2-0 win over hosts Germany in Stuttgart, thanks to a goal and an assist from captain Kylian Mbappé. The Paris Saint-Germain forward marked a personal milestone in the process, becoming only the third Frenchman to score 50 international goals. The MHPArena played host to a match filled with drama, missed opportunities, and video assistant referee (VAR) interventions. While the home crowd had hoped to see Germany respond positively after their semi-final defeat to Portugal, it was France who emerged stronger, showing more clinical edge and tactical discipline. Mbappé…

Jack Grealish’s Manchester City story looks set to end just four years after it began with a record-breaking £100m move from Aston Villa. The England international, once a centrepiece of Pep Guardiola’s attacking puzzle, is now on the fringes — and preparing for a new chapter. Grealish, now 29, played just 715 Premier League minutes in the 2024–25 season. Plagued by injuries and poor form, he failed to make a sustained impact and was an unused substitute 10 times in the latter half of the campaign. His lack of club action also led to omission from England’s Euro 2024 squad.…

Lyon midfielder Nemanja Matic has been handed a two-match suspension after concealing an anti-homophobia message on his sleeve during a Ligue 1 fixture. The 36-year-old Serbian veteran was seen covering the rainbow-coloured emblem with tape in Lyon’s 2-0 win over Angers on 17 May, in an act that has drawn widespread criticism. The emblem is part of Ligue 1’s annual anti-homophobia campaign, now in its fifth year. The initiative includes players wearing rainbow symbols and banners displayed across stadiums to promote inclusion and support the LGBTQ+ community. Matic was not alone in his action. Le Havre striker Ahmed Hassan, 32,…

Crystal Palace may have to wait until the end of June to learn if they can compete in the 2025-26 Europa League, with UEFA deliberating over a potential conflict of interest involving multi-club ownership. The uncertainty stems from Palace’s connection to Eagle Football Holdings, which also controls French side Lyon. Club representatives, including co-owner Steve Parish, travelled to UEFA headquarters in Switzerland earlier this week to present their case. Palace are arguing that John Textor, who owns a 45% minority stake in the Premier League club through Eagle Football, does not exert “decisive influence” over operations and should not be…

Just 16 days after delivering Tottenham Hotspur their first major trophy in 17 years, Ange Postecoglou has been sacked by the club. The shock decision comes on the two-year anniversary of the Australian’s appointment, which began with optimism and ended in division despite European glory. Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao was supposed to be a turning point—a statement of progress. Instead, it proved the final act of a tumultuous second season that saw the club flirt dangerously with relegation. Spurs finished 17th in the Premier League, losing 22 of their 38 matches…

In one of the most electrifying matches in UEFA Nations League history, Spain booked their place in the final after surviving a stunning second-half comeback to defeat France 5-4 in Stuttgart on Thursday night. The clash at MHPArena will be remembered for its breathtaking goals, relentless pace, and an ending that nearly defied belief. Spain came out of the blocks with precision and purpose, taking a commanding 2-0 lead into the break. Nico Williams opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a sharp finish after a fine delivery from Mikel Oyarzabal. Just three minutes later, it was Oyarzabal again…

Cristiano Ronaldo has broken yet another barrier – this time, a psychological one. In a high-stakes Nations League semi-final clash in Munich, the 40-year-old netted the winner to finally end his hoodoo against Germany, a nation that had dealt him five straight defeats in past meetings. The goal was Ronaldo’s 137th international strike in 220 appearances – both men’s world records – and marked his 937th career goal overall, keeping the 1,000-goal milestone tantalisingly within reach. One More Record Falls Until now, Ronaldo had never beaten Germany in his career. His record stood at 0 wins in 5 games, with…

Chelsea have won the race to sign highly-rated England Under-21 striker Liam Delap from Ipswich Town in a £30m deal, beating off stiff competition from several Premier League rivals including Manchester United, Everton, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest. Delap, 22, was one of the most sought-after young strikers on the market following Ipswich’s relegation from the Premier League, which triggered a £30m release clause in his contract. Though Manchester City had included a buy-back clause when they sold him to Ipswich for £20m last summer, they opted not to activate it. Chelsea’s successful pursuit was built on a compelling pitch: Champions…

Two of the most electrifying talents in world football, Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele, are set to face off in the Nations League semi-final, as Spain takes on France in Stuttgart on Thursday night. While a place in the final against Portugal is the prize, all eyes will also be on the personal duel between the two men leading the charge for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Both players have just concluded sensational club campaigns and were instrumental in their countries’ quarter-final victories. Yamal, only 17, dazzled for Barcelona, while Dembele, aged 28, enjoyed a stunning revival at Paris Saint-Germain. Their…