Euro 2016 has kind of sucked. There haven’t been more than about four honest-to-goodness entertaining games, the over-expanded field and the resulting imbalanced matchups have given us too many teams too content to play—“play”—for 0-0 draws, and only a couple of the best teams and players have put on shows worthy of the event. So it made sense that today’s Portugal vs. Wales, Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Gareth Bale, Meh Team vs. Formerly Fun But Now Boring Team was another nigh-unwatchable spectacle that, at the very least, mercifully ended after 90 minutes. Seriously, almost nothing of interest happened all game. The performances of Wales, and Bale in particular, were probably the biggest disappointment, as they looked so good and fun for much of the tournament. Bale made some pretty good runs throughout the contest, and took a bunch of whacks on goal from distances where he was never going to score from, but overall he appeared neutered without the aid of Aaron Ramsey, the Robin to his Batman, after the bleach-blond Arsenal man got suspended thanks to the Euros’ bad yellow card accumulation policy. Portugal impotently shot a whole lot in the group stages without much reward, still managed to advance despite finishing third behind Hungary (???) and Iceland (???????), and proceeded to attack the knockout rounds in the most defensive way possible. Ronaldo hasn’t had a great tournament overall (not his fault, really, since Portugal’s lack of a natural center forward meant he had to occupy a role in the team that doesn’t play to his strengths) and wasn’t great today, either. Renato Sanches was as cute and energetic as always, but he too failed to make anything cool happen. The Portuguese were able to orchestrate a brief and ultimately decisive burst of action early on in the second half, when a leaping Ronaldo header gave Portugal the lead in the 50th minute, and a sliding Nani effort doubled the margin just three minutes later: Not exactly goals you’ll tell your grandkids about one day after you explain to them, deep down in a post-nuclear fallout bunker below the Earth’s surface that you and what remains of your family escaped to after WWIII, that there used to be a funny sport played with your feet on this green stuff called grass that could at its best achieve true beauty. And so Portugal progress to the final, while Wales—one of the few earnestly heartwarming stories to emerge from the Euros—go home. Tomorrow we’ll get to see Germany take on host nation France in what on paper looks set to be one of the few games where, if we’re lucky, an actually engrossing competition has a good chance of breaking out on the pitch. After today’s game and the myriad of similarly drab affairs that have plagued the tourney so far, God knows we need a good one.
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Germany full-back Philipp Lahm has once again endorsed his credentials on the big stage after impressive displays at Euro 2008.ÂÂ
The Bayern Munich star, playing in his third major tournament, has been a rock at the back for the Germans and his flexibility has proved invaluable to Joachim Low.
Lahm burst onto the international scene at Euro 2004 and he was nominated for FIFA World Player of the Year after his success at the 2006 World Cup.ÂÂ
The 24-year-old has been employed at left-back and right-back this time around in Austria and Switzerland and he has used his blistering pace to great effect in support of a midfield which has lacked natural width.ÂÂ
Low does give Lahm licence to get forward and he is a useful attacking outlet fo…
Inter Milan are preparing a bid for Euro 2008 star Yuri Zhirkov, according to the Corriere dello Sport. Zhirkov has been one of the uncovered gems of this summer’s European Championships, helping an outstanding Russia side make it all the way to the semi finals.
The 25-year-old plays for CSKA Moscow, and he has really caught the eye at left full back with his pace and skill going forward. The player’s versatility is said to impress Jose Mourinho, as he can play at full back, left midfield, or even as a winger.
The Corriere says that Inter, who are currently in negotiations to sign Roma’s Amantino Mancini and Porto’s Ricardo Quaresma, are now considering making a move for Zhirkov. However, the Russian w…
Pep Guardiola lavished praise on Phil Foden s performance in Manchester City s 0-0 Champions League draw at Porto.
City were frustrated by their dogged hosts at Estadio do Dragao, with Gabriel Jesus having a goal ruled out for a VAR offside against Joao Cancelo 10 minutes from time.
Nevertheless, the stalemate saw the Premier League side secure top spot in Group C with a game to spare.
Foden has started four successive Champions League matches, although the England midfielder has been a substitute for City s past five domestic outings.
Speaking to BT Sport, Guardiola seemed to acknowledge the growing clamour for the 20-year-old to become a permanent fixture in his first XI, irrespective of the opponents or competition.
What a player, what a playe…
Ten-man Barcelona battled to a nervy 1-0 win over strugglers Valencia at Camp Nou to move 10 points clear of Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga.
Barca suffered a shock loss to Almeria in their last league game, prior to beating Madrid in Thursday s Copa del Rey semi-final first leg, and were made to work hard by Valencia.
Raphinha put the hosts ahead early on but Ronald Araujo s 59th-minute red card, shortly after Ferran Torres missed a penalty, set up a nervier-than-expected final half an hour.
Valencia had good chances either side of Araujo s dismissal, but they failed to test Marc-Andre ter Stegen and remain two points from safety in the relegation zone.
R22
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
Barca head coach Xavi was in the stands for thi…
Philippe Coutinho has the characteristics to be a success at Barcelona if he moves to the club from Liverpool, according to fellow Brazilian Rivaldo.
Barca are reported to be preparing a fresh bid worth an initial €110million for Coutinho, having failed with a number of offers for the midfielder in August.
Ernesto Valverde indicated on Wednesday he was unsure whether the club would move for Coutinho again, the player having been featured on leaked promotional material from Nike this week to spark fresh intrigue.
Barca icon Rivaldo, who won a brace of league titles in his five-year spell at Camp Nou, has backed Coutinho for a switch to the Catalan giants.
Coutinho is a very good player and if he ends up signing for Barcelona, he will succeed easily, …
Burnley have completed the signing of Tottenham winger Georges-Kevin N Koudou on loan until the end of the season.
The 22-year-old has only played once in the Premier League for Spurs in 2017-18, although he scored in his last appearance for the club against APOEL in the Champions League in December.
The Frenchman has now chosen to spend the rest of the campaign at Turf Moor, having spoken with Spurs team-mate Kieran Trippier – who spent three years in Lancashire – before deciding on the move.
When I spoke with Trippier he told me good things about this club, about the players and everything about Burnley. I am happy to be here, so thank you Trippier, N Koudou told Clarets Player.
Everyone is shocked because Burnley is just after the big six [in…
Hull City manager Steve Bruce has blasted DJ Campbell s actions after the striker walked out during transfer talks with his side on Thursday.
The 31-year-old was in the middle of transfer negotiations with Hull but allegedly walked out to begin talks with Blackburn Rovers after claiming he was going to get lunch.
However, Campbell could not finalise a deal and ended up staying at Loftus Road, prompting Bruce to describe the forward s behaviour as shocking .
The way they handled the situation, saying they were going for lunch and then going to Blackburn, was shocking, Bruce told BBC Radio Humberside.
I ve never felt so disappointed. We were left trying to find out where they were for the best part of two hours.
I ve got absolutely no problem…
Paris Saint-Germain coach Carlo Ancelotti said it would be hard to turn down Real Madrid if the Spanish champions approached him.
Madrid have been linked with a number of coaches in recent weeks amid ongoing speculation that current trainer Jose Mourinho could leave the club at the end of the season, and Ancelotti said the chance to take the Portuguese coach s place come June would be hard to turn down.
I don t think there is a single coach in the world who could say no to a club like Real Madrid, the former AC Milan coach told TVE.
It would be very difficult to turn something like that down. All I can say for now, though is that I am happy at PSG at the moment.
Ancelotti took charge of Paris Saint-Germain in December 2011, and has guided them to the knockout stages of the C…
Neymar has not considered leaving Paris Saint-Germain, he claims, as the club continue contract negotiations with both the Brazil forward and strike partner Kylian Mbappe.
The world s two most expensive footballers have been in talks over new deals, with less than two years remaining on their existing respective agreements.
Signs have been encouraging for PSG, and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said on Wednesday he was very confident and both want to stay with us .
Neymar certainly seems to be on the same page as he told RMC Sport: I am very happy here in Paris. I am very happy at the club, with my team-mates.
The idea of leaving does not cross my mind. We have to discuss. We have a very good relationship. I am very happy and seeing what happens in t…
Erling Haaland will reportedly cost a suitor €75million next year, while Dele Alli could be set for a Tottenham exit.
Haaland is linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund after dominating with the Bundesliga giants.
And the 20-year-old could be available for an affordable fee next year.
TOP STORY – HAALAND AVAILABLE FOR €75M NEXT YEAR
Haaland can leave Dortmund for €75m next year, according to Esport3.
Real Madrid have been most heavily linked with a move for the forward, while Manchester United and Liverpool are also credited with interest.
Haaland, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury, has scored 33 goals in 32 games since arriving at Dortmund from Salzburg in January.
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