By Andrew Warshaw
June 13 – Spain-Czech Republic: Spain are not quite the unstoppable force they were four years ago. Witness them being eliminated from the last World Cup at the first hurdle. But the defending champions still have a fearsome look about them as they try to clinch a third consecutive European title, having already made history by retaining it.
June 11 – Day 2 of the 2016 sees brotherly love between Albania and Switzerland, a Welsh galactico making a championship debut, and two nations who must win at all cost.
By Paul Nicholson
June 10 – A fresh row has broken out in the Caribbean over what is being interpreted by national associations as back-door interference in the region’s affairs by regional confederation CONCACAF. The moves further undermine the management of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) and its executive at a time when it has already seen its power base at the region’s top political table eroded and its membership split and marginalised.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 10 – The waiting is over, the anticipation at fever pitch. France, looking to win their third European title following their 1984 and 2000 triumphs, finally kick off their Euro 2016 campaign tonight with both coach and captain seeking to downplay their role as favourites.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 10 – As if contending with the unprecedented security operation wasn’t a big enough headache for Euro 2016 organisers, striking train drivers are causing mayhem.
By Samindra Kunti in Paris
June 10 – Euro 2016 will be UEFA’s most profitable national team championship to date with the confederation set to bank a 41% increase in revenue to €1.9 billion on the 2012 tournament.
June 10 – Kosovo and Gibraltar, both accepted into the FIFA fold last month, have as expected been fast-tracked into the 2018 World Cup qualifying programme that kicks off in September.
June 10 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the eight candidates who will contest the election for the three available Asia places on on the new FIFA Council.
By Samindra Kunti
June 10 – A year has passed since Jan Van Winckel took up the role of Technical Director at the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF). This mild-mannered Belgian rarely gives interviews, but in an exclusive interview with Insideworldfootball, Van Winckel opens up about his new role as he strives to reform football in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
By Paul Nicholson
June 9 – FIFA seems to have become the gift that keeps on giving, not just to journalists in terms of stories, but especially to its new president Gianni Infantino, according to new information published today regarding his expense claims.
By James Dostoyevsky
The last few weeks have been bad ones for the new FIFA President. No matter what he does, whether boarding easyjet or a private jet, someone always has a quarrel with his choice.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 9 – The show will go on as planned with every possible precaution taken to keep spectators safe and offset the threat of terrorism. That is the message from organisers of Euro 2016 who are taking a realistic, pragmatic approach to the build-up to Euro 2016 which kicks off Friday with the host nation taking on Romania amidst the biggest security operation ever mounted for a sporting event of this magnitude.
By Andrew Warshaw in Paris
June 9 – Will he attend or won’t he? The jury seems to still be out over whether Michel Platini will be showing his face at Euro 2016 in his own backyard despite his four-year ban.
June 9 – Premier League club Southampton may have lost a manager this week, but they have gained a new main club sponsor. TV and broadband provider Virgin Media will take over from consumer electronics firm Veho in a three-year deal.
June 8 – With a month to go before the start of the two-day World Football in Paris, July 7-8, organisers have confirmed that the conference theme will be the ‘New Geography of Football’.