EFL nixes Birmingham City request to play Wrexham in US
June 25 – American-owned Birmingham City have had a request to play their home fixture against Hollywood-owned Wrexham in the US turned down by the English Football League (EFL).
World Football
Luis de la Fuente warns caution but says Spain will improve again
June 25 – Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has called for his side to “keep their feet on the ground” following their 1-0 victory against Albania and perfect record in Group B.
Improving Mbappé ready to return for Poland tie
June 24 – Didier Deschamps has said that Kylian Mbappé is “getting better every day” after he sustained a broken nose against Austria, but did not say whether the star would feature against Poland in France’s final group game.
Hero to zero. Wales fire Rob Page after series of poor results
June 24 – The Football Association of Wales has terminated head coach Rob Page’s contract following the country’s failure to qualify for Euro 2024.
CAF shifts 2025 AFCON to make way for FIFA’s expanded 2025 Club World Cup
June 24 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) have moved the dates of the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from June-July 2025 to December 21 2025 to January 18 2026.
Balkan brouhaha: UEFA bans Daku, Croatia and Albania face sanctions
June 23 – The verbal warfare between the respective Balkan countries at Euro 2024 has taken yet another twist with Albania’s Mirlind Daku banned for two games after leading fans in nationalist chants.
Rubin Kazan to sanction Daku on his return to Russia
June 24 – Russia’s Rubin Kazan FC said that Albanian national Mirlind Daku will be punished when he returns to the club after the Euros. Daku face a “disciplinary and financial” sanction.
Croatia and Italy primed for life-or-death battle
June 24 – Azzurri centre-back Alessandro Bastoni (pictured right) has vowed that Italy will set aside their fears as they strive to avoid the embarrassment of an early exit from Euro 2024 as his team set their sights on a clash with Croatia in Leipzig on Monday night.
Belgium back Lukaku to come good against Ukraine
June 23 – Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco is not worried by his side’s profligacy in front of goal at Euro 2024, and is keeping faith in Romelu Lukaku to come good.
Austria’s Rangnick focussed on Dutch decider
June 22 – Poland were put to the sword against Austria as the bottom-placed sides clashed in Group D, giving Ralf Rangnick’s side a lifeline headed into the final game versus Netherlands on Tuesday.
Chechia’s Ivan Hašek says they are ready for Georgia’s Kvaratskhelia
June 21 – Czechia are eyeing their first points of their Euro 2024 campaign against Georgia on Saturday afternoon after their last-second loss to Portugal left a bitter taste in an otherwise encouraging opening performance.
Belgium’s Tedesco relying on proven returnees for crucial Romania clash
June 21 – Counting on reinforcing their defence, Belgium will need a result in their second Group E encounter against Romania after a shock 1-0 defeat to Slovakia.
UEFA opens multiple investigations as Balkan nationalist fervour boils over
June 21 – The complex and fever-pitch intensity and rivalry among the various Balkan neighbours at Euro 2024 continues to take centre stage with UEFA now opening an investigation into Serbian claims that fans of Albania and Croatia chanted ‘kill, kill, kill the Serb’ during their Group B game on Wednesday.
Montagliani says Copa America in the US is preparation for Concacaf’s 2026 competitiveness
June 20 – Much has been made of the Copa America in the US being a test event for the 2026 World Cup, but there has not been so much comment about the importance of the event for six Concacaf nations competing as they build their teams towards 2026.