Euro 2016: Griezmann Brace Fires France Into Quarter-Finals

Football Soccer – France v Republic of Ireland – EURO 2016 – Round of 16 – Stade de Lyon, Lyon, France – 26/6/16 France’s Antoine Griezmann celebrates after the game.

Lyon: Antoine Griezmann scored twice in four minutes as Euro 2016 hosts France came from behind to claim a 2-1 win over ten-man Republic of Ireland on Sunday.

Victory in the last 16 clash in Lyon means France face either England or Iceland in the Stade de France quarter-final next Sunday.

Paul Pogba brought Shane Long down within seconds of kickoff and Robbie Brady, who netted the Republic’s winner against Italy, converted a penalty with just two minutes gone to give the Irish a shock lead.

But Griezmann underlined a superb performance as the main strike threat with two knockout goals in the second-half as the hosts floored the Irish.

“At this stage of the tournament you don’t have the right not to qualify,” French coach Didier Deschamps said, expressing relief at the fightback as French fans celebrated.

Ireland’s problems were compounded by playing the last 25 minutes with ten men.

Centre-back Shane Duffy was sent off on 66 minutes for bringing down Griezmann, who was through on goal.

France’s win came at a cost as both midfielder N’Golo Kante and defender Adil Rami are suspended for the quarter-final after picking up bookings.

Defeat means more heartache for the Irish in their first meeting with France since a controversial World Cup play-off in November 2009.

Thierry Henry’s infamous handball, dubbed ‘Le Hand of God’, helped seal a 2-1 aggregate victory to send France to South Africa 2010 at Ireland’s expense.

The Irish came flying out of the traps in Lyon.

A long ball caused the French all manner of problems and when Southampton striker Long tried to turn and shoot, Pogba made contact.

• Brady boy –
  With just 70 seconds played, referee Nicola Rizzoli pointed straight to the spot.

Brady was again the darling of the travelling ‘Green Army’ as the Norwich City winger put the Irish ahead with a shot that rebounded off a post.

It was the fastest goal at a Euro finals since Russia’s Dimitri Kirichenko scored after 67 seconds against Greece in 2004.

Celebrations erupted amongst the small band lucky enough to get one of the paltry 4,500 tickets allocated to Irish fans at the 59,000-capacity stadium.

The hosts responded by laying seige to the Irish goal.

Griezmann, twice, and Olivier Giroud both tested Irish goalkeeper Darren Randolph, as did Pogba with a long-range free-kick.

No quarter was asked or given as things got heated on the pitch with four yellow cards dished out in the first-half.

France coach Didier Deschamps injected some pace after the break by bringing on fleet-footed winger Kingsley Coman for N’Golo Kante.

The French played at a much higher tempo and Randolph was thoroughly tested by Blaise Matuidi’s shot from just outside the box on 55 minutes.

France drew level when Griezmann rose highest to meet Sagna’s pin-point cross on 58 minutes.

Randolph got a glove on the bullet header, but it was destined only for the back of the net.

Griezmann struck again three minutes later when Giroud headed down into the Atletico Madrid winger’s path to slam his shot past Randolph.

With France in top gear, Duffy’s desperate lunge clipped Griezmann’s ankle on the edge of the area and Rizzoli had to show the Irishman the red card on 66 minutes.

Only Irish determination, and a lack of a final touch, prevented Griezmann finishing with a hat-trick.

Brexit: Sports in limbo, Lineker blasts ‘selfish’ 50-somethings

London’

England football great Gary Lineker led a host of sports stars expressing their anger at Britain’s shock vote to leave the European Union on Friday.

On a practical level there was confusion over what the EU exit would mean for foreign players, not only in the lucrative English Premier League, but also in cricket and rugby union.

Sports lawyers say it is crucial that Britain negotiates successfully to remain part of Europe’s single market, which enshrines freedom of movement.

Failure to do so could lead to an exodus of foreign talent and also restrictions on buying players.

Clubs could also lose the right to sign young players under the age of 18. At the moment, they can carry out such deals under a special arrangement between football world governing body FIFA and the EU.

Lineker, though, was more concerned about what impact the vote would have on his four sons.

• ‘Ashamed of my generation’ –

The 55-year-old former Barcelona and England striker blasted the 50+ generation — the majority of whom voted to leave — for letting down the young.

“Feel ashamed of my generation,” tweeted Lineker, whose middle name is Winston in honour of World War II leader Winston Churchill and whose birthday he shares.

“We’ve let down our children and their children,” said Lineker.

“It’s not a time for triumphalism. Not a time for division. Not a time for hatred. It’s a time for change. A time for calm. A time in history.”

Former Liverpool and England defender, and father of two, Jamie Carragher, a Champions League winner in 2005, also aimed his vitriol at the 50+ generation.

“A vote for (UKIP leader Nigel) Farage, (Leave figurehead) Boris (Johnson) & a recession, well done to the over 50s for thinking of the future!,” tweeted the 38-year-old, who since retiring splits his time between TV punditry and charity work.

Northern Irish golf superstar Rory McIlroy cheekily suggested going back to January 1 and starting the whole year over again.

Northern Ireland was one of the few geographical regions — London and Scotland being the other two — where a majority of voters wished to remain.

“With #Brexit and the way the US presidential race is going…. Can we take a mulligan on 2016??,” tweeted the 27-year-old four-time major champion, using the golfing term to retake a shot.

• Foreign talent question mark –

In terms of the effect on foreign playing talent in English football, Football Association (FA) chairman Greg Dyke — a pro-Remain campaigner — said it would take a while to assess the impact.

“It could take two years to really know, but there could be quite an impact on English football because of Brexit,” he said.

“It would be a shame if some of the great European players can’t come here but I don’t think that will happen. Whether the total number reduces will depend on the terms of the exit.”

Dan Lowen, a partner at a leading specialist sports law firm, said staying in the single market was essential to ensure the Premier League remained competitive in the transfer market for foreign talent.

However, if at the end of the future negotiations over exiting the EU Britain did not succeed in remaining a member then all bets were off.

The extent of the impact “will be dependent in part on the terms of the renegotiated relationship with the EU. If we remain within the single market and accept freedom of movement as a result, the position may not change significantly.

“On the other hand, if there is no freedom of movement, it will be left to the UK government to determine the work permit rules that apply to players with EU citizenship.”

 

AFP

Diego Maradona to Argentina in Copa final: Win or don’t return

NEW JERSEY

Argentina legend Diego Maradona has said that the Albiceleste should win Sunday’s Copa America Centenario final against Chile in New Jersey, but warned his compatriots that if they lose they should not return home.

Argentina advanced to the tournament decider with a 4-0 victory over the United States as Lionel Messi became the nation’s all-time leading scorer.Messi has now scored more goals for Argentina (38) as captain than Maradona (34) did in his entire Argentina career.

Argentina are out to clinch their first continental title since 1993, this time in a rematch against the same side that beat them on penalties in last year’s final.

Maradona, who led the Argentines to World Cup glory in 1986, told C5N on Wednesday: “Of course I think we’ll win.”

But he also issued a warning to Tata Martino’s men: “But if you don’t win, don’t come back.”

On the 30th anniversary of his famous solo goal against England at Mexico ’86, Maradona looked back on the strike.

“[England defender Terry] Butcher gave me a real big kick,” he recalled. “But when I saw the ball going in it stopped hurting right away. It was a dream goal.”

 

Ronaldo on target as Portugal and Hungary go through

LYON, FRANCE

Hungary and Portugal reached the Euro 2016 knockout stages after a rip-roaring 3-3 draw in which Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice and became the first player to score at four European Championship finals on Wednesday.

The Portuguese came from behind three times as Ronaldo, who also set a tournament record of 17 appearances, finally rediscovered his touch to help Portugal make the last 16, where they will meet Croatia in Lens on Saturday.

Group F winners Hungary finished above Iceland, who also qualified after a last-gasp 2-1 win over Austria in Paris, and third-placed Portugal.

Football Soccer – Hungary v Portugal – EURO 2016 – Group F – Stade de Lyon, Lyon, France – 22/6/16 Hungary’s Balazs Dzsudzsak celebrates after scoring their second goal REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Hungary will play the Group E runners-up, which will be decided later on Wednesday between Belgium, Sweden and Ireland, while Iceland will face England.

Ronaldo equalised twice in the second half after Zoltan Gera’s early strike was cancelled out by Nani just before the break. Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak had twice put his side ahead before Ronaldo burst into life with a double strike.

“We’re happy as we’re still in the tournament. It was a tough game but we created chances and se scored goals,” said Portugal coach Fernando Santos.

Portugal had promised the goals would flow and they did.

Like in their previous two matches against Iceland and Austria, Portugal enjoyed sterile possession in the early stages and rarely troubled their rivals with a flurry of crosses easily dealt with by the Hungarian defence.

With Ronaldo totally subdued, Hungary looked more likely to score through sporadic but dangerous raids.

In the 19th minute, the 37-year old Gera took a half-cleared corner into his stride and unleashed a fizzing low-half volley past Rui Patricio from 25 metres.

Rocked by the setback, Portugal nearly fell two goals behind several minutes later after Patricio was forced to parry a stinging shot by the hardworking Akos Elek.

However, Ronaldo, struggling for form at Euro 2016, released Nani with a defence-splitting pass and his strike partner beat Gabor Kiraly with a neat finish from inside the penalty area three minutes before the break.

The Hungarians were back in front in the 47th minute as Dzsudzsak beat Patricio with a free kick.

After throwing a reporter’s microphone into a lake earlier in the day during a morning walkabout, Ronaldo produced his best moment of the tournament in the 50th, beating Kiraly with a clever back-heel after good work by Nani.

Hungary took the lead for the third time.

Having had another free kick blocked by the wall, Dzsudsak took the rebound in his stride on the edge of the area and fired a speculative shot which sailed past Patricio.

Hungary’s joy was short-lived, however, as Ronaldo levelled with a thumping header after a superb cross by substitute Ricardo Quaresma, drawing an eruption of joy from the Portuguese fans behind Kiraly’s goal.

Reuters

Turkey beat Czechs to stay in last-16 contention

Football Soccer – Czech Republic v Turkey – EURO 2016 – Group D – Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Lens, France – 21/6/16 – Turkey’s players celebrate after the match. REUTERS/Carl Recine

LENS, FRANCE

Turkey snatched a Euro 2016 lifeline with a 2-0 victory over Czech Republic on Tuesday that secured third place in Group D and left them waiting to see if they had done enough to reach the last 16.

After defeats to Croatia and Spain in their first two games, goals by Burak Yilmaz and Ozan Tufan gave the rejuvenated Turks hope, although they need results to go their way when the group stage concludes on Wednesday.

Should they go through, Turkey will face either Wales in Paris or hosts France in Lyon. The Czechs, however, will definitely go home, having finished bottom of the group with one point from three matches.

The Turks opened the scoring in the 10th minute when Arda Turan sent Emre Mor scampering away down the right before he crossed for Burak Yilmaz, who ghosted in to send a simple first-time shot from close range flying past Petr Cech.

The Czechs almost levelled soon afterwards when Borek Dockal headed against the foot of the post and Tomas Necid could not reach the rebound, before the latter awkwardly volleyed another good chance over 10 minutes later.

Although Turkey looked a lot more resilient than they had in their opening two games, they were on the back foot for much of the first half and the Czechs had plenty of chances to score.

Full back Pavel Kaderabek missed two great opportunities, firing a shot that Turkey keeper Volkan Babacan saved with his foot before the defender blazed wide following a slick attack down the right.

Babacan also pushed a stinging shot from Jaroslav Plasil wide as the Czechs started to find some space on the flanks.

Turkey came out all guns blazing in the second half and Emre Mor could have put them two up as he picked up a long ball and drifted in from the right before clipping a shot just over.

Yet seconds later Babacan had to make another smart save at the other end from Vladimir Darida.

Moments after Turkey were raging at an offside call that went against them, Ozan Tufan sent thousands of Turkish fans into ecstasy as Mehmet Topal teed him up to smash an unstoppable shot into the top corner from a tight angle.

The goal was greeted by a half-dozen flares lighting up the Turkish end of the ground, with some being thrown onto the pitch during the ear-splitting celebrations.

Their spirits lifted by the goal, the Turks battled for every ball in a superb defensive effort, never letting the Czechs settle as they weathered the storm to hold on for a precious victory.

Reuters

Euro2016: Croatia win group by beating holders Spain

Football Soccer – Croatia v Spain – EURO 2016 – Group D – Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France – 21/6/16 Spain’s Gerard Pique in action with Croatia’s Ivan Perisic REUTERS/Michael Dalder Livepic

BORDEAUX, FRANCE

Holders Spain lost for the first time in 15 matches at the European Championship finals on Tuesday when Croatia beat them 2-1 to win Group D at Euro 2016.

Ivan Perisic scored the winner with three minutes left after Croatia keeper Danijel Subasic had saved a penalty from Spain captain Sergio Ramos with 20 minutes remaining.

Croatia’s Nikola Kalinic had cancelled out an early goal from Spain striker Alvaro Morata in the first half.

Spain meet Group E winners Italy in a heavyweight last-16 tie on Monday in Paris — a rematch of the 2012 final — while Croatia will play one of the third-placed teams in Lens on Saturday.

Kalinic’s goal just before the break was the first goal conceded by Spain in 948 minutes of European Championship matches since October 2014.

Croatia’s excellence and commitment in battling back from behind condemned Spain, going for a third straight title, to their first defeat in a European Championship finals since they were beaten 1-0 by Portugal in the 2004 group stages.

The deserved winners overcame the disappointment of their second group match against the Czech Republic by starting confidently, seeking to set the tone with an intense press.

However, it was the Spanish who struck decisively in the seventh minute with a goal that encapsulated the technical prowess, the movement and the vision that sets them apart from the rest of this summer’s contenders.

David Silva drove inside before sending a delicious reverse pass out to Cesc Fabregas, whose diagonal run across the box went unnoticed by everyone else.

His cross was met by Morata, arriving at the back post, and on the day that his move back to Real Madrid from Juventus was announced, the striker touched home for his third of the tournament, moving level with top scorer Gareth Bale.

Spain, unchanged and enjoying the cohesion that familiarity breeds, could have doubled their lead when Nolito directed Silva’s searching cross just wide, but Croatia held tight and steadily began to rediscover their early menace.

Ivan Rakitic sent an ambitious chip onto the bar with the goalkeeper stranded while Kalinic, picked ahead of goalless Mario Mandzukic, offered mobility and a tenacity that had previously been missing.

With Spain eying a second, it was Croatia who struck, as Perisic’s cross found Kalinic, stealing in ahead of Ramos, who flicked the ball past De Gea with the outside of his foot.

It was hugely entertaining fare, thankfully unaffected by the crowd troubles that have accompanied Croatia’s other matches this summer.

Croatia began the second half confidently and David De Gea was called into action to tip away Darijo Srna’s cross before closing down Tin Jedvaj’s follow up.

They were then left fuming at an unjust penalty in the 72nd minute when Silva, chasing a delicious lofted ball from Andres Iniesta, fell under imperceptible pressure from Sime Vrsaljko.

Captain Ramos sent a hesitant spot kick down the centre of the goal and Subasic, advancing well off his line before the shot, was able to bat it away as justice was served.

Late goals have been a theme of this tournament, and while Spain struck late to down the Czech Republic in their opener, here they were on the receiving end.

A Spanish foray forward was halted abruptly and Marko Pjaca surged on the counter before laying the ball off to Perisic, whose low shot, aided by the merest deflection, evaded De Gea at his near post as Croatia were able to celebrate a famous win.

REUTERS

Albanian football club has filed an appeal against UEFA

Lausanne, 21 June 2016 – The Albanian football club Klubi Sportiv Skenderbeu has filed an appeal at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against the decision issued by the UEFA Appeals Body on 1 June 2016 (the UEFA Decision) in which it was declared ineligible to participate in the UEFA Champions League competition 2016/2017 following an investigation into alleged match-fixing. KS Skenderbeu seeks a ruling from the CAS overturning the UEFA decision and declaring its eligibility to compete in the UEFA Champions League competition 2016/2017. The parties have agreed to stay the execution of the UEFA Decision while the CAS arbitration is in progress and to put in place an expedited procedural timetable which will allow the CAS to render a decision, at the latest, on 6 July 2016. In the meantime, the CAS will not comment any further on this matter.

Football player convicted in rape case

JUN. 18, 2016

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A jury has convicted a former Vanderbilt football player of encouraging his teammates to rape an unconscious woman he had been dating. It took jurors just over four hours of deliberation Saturday before finding Brandon Vandenburg guilty on multiple counts of aggravated rape and aggravated sexual battery. In addition, he was convicted of one count of unlawful photography.

The jurors in the case had to decide whether to hold Vandenburg criminally responsible for what other players were accused of doing to the female student in a dorm room in June of 2013.

Four former players were all charged in the case but only two were accused of raping and sexually assaulting the woman.

Vandenburg’s attorneys had argued that he was too drunk to form the necessary intent to direct or encourage players he didn’t even know to commit the crime.
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The defense had maintained that Vandenberg was a newly-arrived recruit to the Nashville school and had asked teammates outside the dorm to help him carry the unconscious woman into his room after he couldn’t get her into her apartment. Vandenberg’s lawyers told jurors that the other players were on the woman as soon as they got her in the room.

Ronaldo misses penalty as Portuguese stumble to goalless draw

Portugal vs Austria, Euro 2016:  Cristiano Ronaldo misses penalty as Portuguese stumble to goalless draw

Portugal’s last attack runs aground and Austria run down the last few seconds to seal a point.

Ronaldo tucks his captain’s armband into his shorts, and applauds the fans while looking bereft. Attack after attack, cross after cross, shot after shot…and Austria held firm for 78 minutes until Ronaldo had the chance to bury them.

 

More to follow ….

 

UEFA charges Croatia soccer body for fan disorder, racism

PARIS: UEFA formally opened a disciplinary case against the Croatian soccer federation on Saturday for racism and fan disorder at a European Championship match.

Play was stopped for several minutes late in Croatia’s 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic in Saint-Etienne on Friday when firecrackers and lit flares were thrown on the field from one end of the stadium where its fans were sitting.

Croatia fans then fought among themselves as players appealed for calm.

UEFA’s anti-discrimination monitors said Saturday they also reported hearing fans sing far-right songs and displaying offensive banners at the stadium.

UEFA said the charges against Croatia related to racist behavior, crowd disturbances, throwing of objects on the field, and setting off fireworks.

The Croatian federation faces at least a five-figure fine when UEFA’s disciplinary panel judges the case on Monday.

It is the second round of charges involving Croatia fans in France. UEFA charged the federation over flares being lit and a fan running on the field to celebrate a goal with Croatia players in a 1-0 win over Turkey last Sunday. That case will be judged on July 21.

Croatia has a track record of disruptive fans at the European Championship.

The national team has a faction of fans with far-right views, and also groups who are protesting against the widely unpopular national soccer body led by former Croatia great Davor Suker.

“This deserves zero tolerance,” Suker said in a statement on the federation’s website. “Croatian Football Federation is doing its job, and I call upon government institutions to do theirs. We’ll ask French police for help. “

All three Croatia games at Euro 2012 were also delayed because of flares and fireworks being thrown on the field.

Then, UEFA fined the federation a total of $170,000 for a series of incidents including racial insults aimed at Italy forward Mario Balotelli, a fan running on the field, and fans’ offensive chants and banners.

UEFA already deducted a point from Croatia in Euro 2016 qualifying when fans created a swastika image on the field before a home qualifying match in Split.

The Italy game, and a subsequent qualifier against Bulgaria, were played in empty stadiums as punishment from UEFA for fans using far-right chants and banners.

In separate cases, FIFA has already barred fans from attending the first two of Croatia’s five 2018 World Cup home qualifying matches in Zagreb in September and November.