Football news

Former Belgium head coach Georges Lekens has assessed the prospects of the national team at Euro 2024. Recall, at the group stage, the Belgian national team will play in one group with Ukraine, Romania and Slovakia.

"The Belgian national team can beat anyone at Euro-2024. But on one condition: it is essential that all the team leaders are at their best level.

Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku must be 100 per cent ready - that's above all. Amadou Onana is also a key player, even if he doesn't play as much for Everton as he would like. We can also mention Jeremy Dock, Leandro Trossard. We have enough good footballers.

Again, we can beat any team. But defence is a question mark. Do we have enough stability? We must not make mistakes. And above all, we need to be smart if we want to beat great teams. France were smarter than us in the 2018 World Cup semi-final," Footnews quoted Lekens as saying.

The International Centre for Sports Research (CIES) has published another ranking of clubs. This time it presents the top ten most stable teams according to the results of their performance in the last three seasons.

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On Thursday, 23 May, the match of the 38th round of Cagliari vs Fiorentina, Italian Championship 2023/2024 will take place.

In the upcoming match between Cagliari and Fiorentina, fans can expect a tense and competitive battle between two talented Serie A teams. Cagliari, known for their solid defence and strategic play, will be looking for a win on home soil. On the other hand, Fiorentina boast a squad of experienced strikers and quick-footed midfielders who will be looking to outwit their opponents.

Both teams have been training hard in preparation for this match, honing their skills and analysing their opponents' strategies to come out on top. The passionate fans will be cheering them on from the stands and the players will be fuelled with adrenaline and determination to give it their all on the pitch. When the final whistle blows and the score is settled, only one team will emerge victorious. Whether it's Cagliari showing their defensive prowess or Fiorentina showing their attacking prowess, this match is sure to be a thrilling spectacle for football fans around the world. Be sure to keep an eye on how these two teams will fight for bragging rights and crucial points in the Serie A standings.

Where to watch Cagliari vs Fiorentina:

Spain: Movistar+, Movistar Liga de Campeones, #Vamos.

Poland: Eleven Sports 1 Poland.

Ukraine: MEGOGO Football 2, MEGOGO Football 1, MEGOGO Football 3.

Italy: 214 DAZN Zona, SKY Go Italia, DAZN, Sky Sport Calcio, Sky Sport Uno, NOW TV, Sky Sport 251, Sky Sport 4K.

Germany: DAZN, DAZN1, DAZN2.

France: beIN SPORTS CONNECT, beIN Sports 1, Free, beIN Sports MAX 8, beIN Sports 2, beIN Sports MAX 5, beIN Sports MAX 4.

England: BTSport.com, BT Sport 1, BT Sport App, BT Sport 2.

During the summer off-season Odessa Chornomorets may leave 10-12 players, including foreigners, for various reasons.

At the same time, the general director of the "sailors" Anatoliy Misyura confirmed that such a development of the situation is possible.

"Yes, it is possible. However, all specific decisions will be made after 25 May (on this day "Chernomorets" will host "Dnipro-1" in Odessa in the final round of the Ukrainian championship of the current season - ed.).

Now I can only confirm the information about two players - Maxim Bragaru and Ilya Putra. The first of them goes to Dynamo Kyiv, and the second - to Cherkasy LNZ," Misyura said.

Legendary Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has revealed what he thinks about the competition in the goalkeeping position of this team between Belgian Thibaut Courtois and Ukrainian Andriy Lunin.

"What I will say is my personal opinion because I am not a coach. I believe Courtois is the number one in the current Real Madrid. He was the main goalkeeper of the team last year and this year he is recovering. I think he is very good at getting back to his former level.

I understand Lunin, who had a great season and his play contributed to Real Madrid reaching the Champions League final, but the coach makes the decision.

I'm glad Courtois has returned to a great level and I'm glad Lunin has shown he can be trusted too. Ancelotti has a choice, so he has to decide what is best for the team. Lunin has shown that he has class and that he can compete with an experienced goalkeeper like Kepa.

Lunin has had a number of great matches, but it is also true that he has not been good in other matches. Lunin continues to grow day by day, but he is still very young and it is very difficult for him to compete with Courtois," Mundo Deportivo quoted Casillas as saying.

Former Dynamo Kyiv midfielder and now a famous Ukrainian coach Serhiy Kovalets considers the result of the match of the 29th round of the Ukrainian championship Dynamo vs Kryvbas (3:1) as natural.

"The match was principled. "Dynamo won it by right. I would mark the game of Yarmolenko, who acted productively.

As for Kryvbas, they still need to work. This defeat was the third in a row in the championship. But be that as it may, and next season Kryvorizhzhy will again fight for the prize, there is no doubt about it. We see that the club is developing - and this is very important," UA-Football quoted Kovalets as saying.

The previously circulated information about the amount of the pay-off for the Ukrainian striker of Spanish side Girona Artem Dovbik, prescribed in his contract with the club, turned out to be inaccurate.

Famous insider Fabrizio Romano reported that the clausula 26-year-old footballer is 40 million euros, however, according to the authoritative publication Mundo Deportivo, this amount is slightly more, namely 45 million euros.

It should be recalled that Italian Juventus and Napoli are interested in Dobwick, while Atletico Madrid, according to the latest information, have already entered into negotiations with Girona on the transfer of the striker.

Steaua Bucharest general manager Mihai Stoica has revealed what he thinks about the Romanian national team's prospects at Euro 2024, where its group opponents will be Ukraine, Belgium and Slovakia.

"Counting on the fact that we will manage to win the matches against Ukraine and Belgium is very difficult. So the Romanian head coach should think about a competent defensive game in these matches. Against such opponents we will simply have to play more defensive football than offensive.

I have seen the last two matches of the Ukraine national team in the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, and I can say that they looked unconvincing in those games. But even if we can imagine a draw with Ukraine, we won't stand much of a chance against Belgium - their midfield is overwhelming. I think we should try to get four points in the group. This should be enough to qualify for the play-offs," Gazeta Sporturilor quoted Stoica as saying.

Chelsea forward Cole Palmer commented on Mauricio Pochettino's departure from the Blues.

"Coach, thank you for everything you've done for me. For making my dreams come true. All the best," Cole Palmer wrote on Instagram.

As a reminder, Chelsea officially announced Mauricio Pochettino's resignation on 21 May.

Bournemouth's head coach Andoni Iraola has attracted the attention of the top club in the English Premier League.

According to Daily Sports, the 41-year-old could become Mauricio Pochettino's successor at Chelsea. However, it is noted that the Spaniard's recently extended deal with Bournemouth somewhat complicates his move to Stamford Bridge.

At the end of the 2023/24 season, Iraola finished 12th in the English Championship standings with Bournemouth.

The Europa League final took place. The match was held on 22 May. Here are the results.

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The final Europa League match of the 2023/24 season took place at the Dublin Arena in Dublin on Wednesday 22 May.

Europa League. Final

"Atalanta" (Bergamo, Italy) - " Bayer" (Leverkusen, Germany) - 3:0 ( 2:0)
Goals: Lukman (12, 26, 76)

"Atalanta": Musso, Zappacosta (Hatebur, 84), Gimshiti, Kolasinac (Scalvini, 46), Hin, Ruggeri, Kopmeiners, Ederson, De Ketelare (Paschalic, 57), Lukman, Scamacca (Toure, 84).

"Bayer": Kovarz, Stanisic (Boniface, 46), Ta, Tapsoba, Inkapie, Grimaldo (Glozek, 69), Frimpong (Tella, 81), Djaka, Palacios (Andrich, 69), Wirtz (Schick, 81), Adli.

Thus, Atalanta won the Europa League for the first time in history (including holding this tournament under the name of the UEFA Cup). The record holder in terms of the number of triumphs here is Spanish Sevilla, which has won this European Cup seven times.