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.
09 April 2025 GMT: 14:44
World Football
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.
Copa America kicks off in Atlanta with Messi-mania driving Argentina past Canada
June 21 – The chants of ‘Mes-si! Mes-si! Mes-si!’ started more than an hour before kickoff and kept up throughout Argentina’s 2-0 win over Canada in the Copa America opening game in Atlanta.
UEFA mourns passing of guiding force Gerhard Aigner, 80
June 21 – There was a moment of silence ahead of the Spain-Italy Group B match on Thursday in honour of former UEFA general secretary and chief executive Gerhard Aigner, who has died aged 80.
Spalletti licks his wounds after Spanish schooling, De La Fuente says they will get even better
June 21 – Italy manager Luciano Spalletti admitted that his side were outplayed by Spain in a 1-0 defeat, but said that the humbling reality check must prompt his side to improve.
Southgate says England have work to do and have to improve, really?… no-one noticed
June 21 – England manager Gareth Southgate says the country must improve after suffering a barrage of criticism for failing once again to get the best out of his talented side.
Macedonians and Serbs demand sanctions for Albania’s Daku offensive chanting
June 21 – The North Macedonia FA has demanded a public apology from Albanian international Mirlind Daku for his offensive chants after Wednesday’s Euro 2024 match between Croatia and Albania.
Austria’s Rangnick wary of Lewandowski’s return for Poland
June 21 – Austria manager Ralf Rangnick insists his team is ready to face Poland in today’s matchup in the German capital, as Polish star Robert Lewandowski eyes a return to the starting team after missing out last week due to injury.
Security fears prompts Brussels to pull out of hosting Belgium-Israel Nations League tie
June 20 – The city of Brussels has refused to host a Nations League match between Belgium and Israel in September because of the “dramatic situation in Gaza”.
Bulgarian champions Ludogorets set to begin construction on Huvepharma Arena revamp
June 20 – Bulgarian champions Ludogorets are poised to begin a large-scale reconstruction of the club’s Huvepharma Arena in Razgrad, according to Angel Petrichev, the club’s executive director who was speaking before the start of the team’s summer training camp.
Copa America’s transplant to the US opens tonight in Atlanta with Messi vs Canada
June 20 – With all eyes still very much on Euro 2024, across the Atlantic in Atlanta the Copa America gets under way tonight with the opening game between Canada and two-time defending champions Argentina.
UEFA fines Serbia and Albania for fans’ ‘provocative’ banners
June 20 – UEFA’s disciplinary committee has punished the national federations of Serbia and Albania after the first matches in the group stage of Euro 2024 for the behaviour of their fans in the matches against England and Italy.
Comment – James Dostoyevsky: Arrogance is the step-sibling of ignorance
For the past 26 years, a lot has changed (and not only) in football. At FIFA, what started in 1998 with serial betrayal on an epic scale, ended in mayhem in 2015: Blatter’s reign. At UEFA, what was a period of solid progress throughout the tenure of Lennart Johannson, was followed by the incompetence of a deified footballer who was just that but didn’t have the first clue about running a confederation or the governance required: it,
Mediapro agrees handover of OneSoccer channel to Canada’s Timeless
June 19 – Canada Soccer is moving on from its previous media partner Mediapro following a settlement with Canadian Soccer Business (CSB) to the legal action filed in January 2024 with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.