LONDON: Vinicius Junior scored and sealed a record-extending 15th European Cup for Real Madrid after a 2-0 win against Borussia Dortmund in the final on Saturday.
The Brazil forward doubled Madrid’s lead in the 83rd minute at Wembley Stadium, nine minutes after Dani Carvajal headed the Spanish giant in front.
Victory sealed a record-extending fifth Champions League title for coach Carlo Ancelotti, his third with Madrid.
Meanwhile Carvajal, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Nacho have won European club soccer’s biggest prize on six occasions to equal the benchmark set by Madrid icon Paco Gento.
Dortmund paid the price for not making the most of its first half dominance when Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pulled off a series of saves and Niclas Fullkrug hit the post.
Madrid took full advantage after the break.
Carvajal met Kroos’ corner at the near post in the 74th to power a header past Dortmund keeper Gregor Kobel.
Jude Bellingham nearly doubled the lead moments later, but then turned provider when slipping in Vinicius. With just Kobel to beat, the forward fired his shot into the far corner and raced off in celebration.
Rock star Lenny Kravitz got the crowd going before kickoff with a pre-game show that included fireworks and some of his biggest hits like “Are You Gonna Go My Way.”
It was Vinicius who was dancing after his goal effectively killed off Dortmund’s hopes of pulling off one of the biggest Champions League upsets in recent memory.
For a long time, the German side looked capable of halting Madrid after dominating the chances in the first half.
Coach Edin Terzic tactically outmaneuvered Ancelotti in every department, with Madrid’s stars subdued.
Only a combination of Courtois and the frame of the goal kept the scores level at the break after the keeper twice kept Karim Adeyemi from scoring and then watched as Fullkrug’s sliding effort came back off the post.
The break clearly helped Madrid and it slowly took control in the second half.
Carvajal’s goal came straight from the training ground, with the defender heading over from one corner before eventually converting, while Vinicius put the game beyond doubt.
Champions League final: Real Madrid seals 15th European Cup after 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund
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Champions League final: Real Madrid seals 15th European Cup after 2-0 win over Borussia Dortmund
- Victory sealed a record-extending fifth Champions League title for coach Carlo Ancelotti, his third with Madrid
England beat Switzerland in a penalty shootout to reach Euro 2024 semifinals
- Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winner as England swept all of their penalties to win the shootout 5-3
- England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford earlier saved from Manuel Akanji, who took Switzerland’s first penalty kick
DUESSELDORF, Germany: Three years on from losing the European Championship final on penalties, England beat Switzerland in a shootout to reach the semifinals of Euro 2024.
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the winner as England swept all of their penalties to win the shootout 5-3 after a 1-1 draw in extra time on Saturday.
England converted their first four penalties and Alexander-Arnold won the game with the fifth, blasting his shot into the top corner. Another who scored was Bukayo Saka, who missed the last penalty kick of the final shootout in 2021.
England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford earlier saved from Manuel Akanji, who took Switzerland’s first penalty kick.
England go on to play Turkiye or the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday for a spot in the final.
Switzerland, which have never reached the semifinals of a major tournament, exit the European Championship on penalties in the quarterfinals for the second time running after defeat to Spain three years ago.
It was the second game in a row that England left it late to win, after beating Slovakia 2-1 in extra time in the last 16.
The quarterfinal went to extra time after England forward Saka scored with a shot off the post in the 80th minute to cancel out Breel Embolo’s goal five minutes earlier for Switzerland.
The Swiss had the better chances to win in extra time, including substitute Xherdan Shaqiri hitting the frame of the goal direct from a corner.
England were without captain and striker Harry Kane for the shootout after he collided with manager Gareth Southgate on the touchline while challenging for a ball and appeared to be hurt. He was replaced by Ivan Toney.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah mourns Egypt teammate Ahmed Refaat who died after a heart attack
- 31-year-old winger who played for Egyptian Premier League club Modern Future was reported to have had a rare medical condition
- Former Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz said: ‘Thank you, my good friend, for all what you did for football, Egypt and me’
BEIRUT: Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah was among the first to mourn Egypt national football teammate Ahmed Refaat, who died following a heart attack early on Saturday.
The 31-year-old winger, who played for Egyptian Premier League club Modern Future, was reported to have had a rare medical condition that caused the cardiac arrest.
After news of Refaat’s death went viral on Saturday, Salah mourned his teammate on his X handle. He wrote: “May God grant patience to his family and all his loved ones.”
Egyptian press reported that in March Refaat collapsed on the pitch during a match against Al-Ittihad of Alexandria. He was rushed to hospital and recovered after being placed an induced coma for nine days.
His club Modern Future confirmed that the winger was taken to hospital on Saturday, but was pronounced dead.
Ashraf Eissa, head of the medical team following Refaat’s case, said that the footballer’s heart stopped in the early hours of Saturday.
Former Egypt coach Carlos Queiroz paid tribute to Refaat, telling Cairo 24: “One gifted, gentle and natural football talent. His game was gracious and skilful which helped him bring magic to football stadiums. Was my privilege to share my life with Ahmed Refaat. He will remain in my heart and prayers. Thank you, my good friend, for all what you did for football, Egypt and me.”
Last month Refaat confirmed during a TV interview that he would not be able to play football again.
The Egyptian Football Association offered condolences to Refaat’s family and relatives following his death.
Emotional Nagelsmann lauds returned belief despite Germany’s Euros exit
- “A few months ago it would have been unthinkable for us to come back from a goal down,” Julian Nagelsmann said
- “From March onwards, it was clear that the fans felt something. When we see the videos of fans, it’s emotional. We would have liked to have given the supporters even more“
HERZOGENAURACH, Germany: An emotional Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann said Saturday the team’s “belief in ourselves has returned” despite a 2-1 extra-time elimination by Spain in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals.
Germany pushed Spain all the way in Stuttgart on Friday, coming from a goal down to send the game into extra time when Florian Wirtz scored an 89th-minute equalizer.
The host nation had a penalty claim denied late before conceding a Mikel Merino goal in the 119th minute.
The tearful coach praised the team after almost a decade of failures at major tournaments and said the performances, built on passionate home support, had bridged gaps between fans and the national team.
“The faith has grown, (the fans) believe in us again,” Nagelsmann told reporters at Germany’s base camp in the Bavarian village of Herzogenaurach.
“A few months ago it would have been unthinkable for us to come back from a goal down.
“You can tell I’m fighting back tears because it was very emotional. I’ve always said we need the fans behind us across the country.
“From March onwards, it was clear that the fans felt something. When we see the videos of fans, it’s emotional. We would have liked to have given the supporters even more.”
Nagelsmann took over in September after Hansi Flick became the first coach in Germany history to be sacked.
After two successive World Cup group stage eliminations and a last 16 loss to England at the Euros in 2021, Germany won just three of 11 games in 2023, giving rise to fears of a disastrous showing on home soil.
The 36-year-old coach however steadied the ship, bringing in a host of new players and dropping several big names from the squad.
Friday’s loss was Germany’s first defeat in 2024 after an eight-game run which included wins over France, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Asked if he had successfully reset the nation’s hopes, Nagelsmann said: “I think we all saw that the hard drive has been cleaned.
“I don’t know if it has definitely been completely erased, but it definitely has been cleaned.
“We are much more solid and our belief in ourselves has grown.”
Considered young for a national coach, the former Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig manager was only given a nine-month contract when appointed.
In April, the coach however extended his deal by two years, taking him past the 2026 World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Speaking immediately after the match, Nagelsmann said “we want to become world champions” and on Saturday told reporters he wishes the next major tournament was sooner.
“That’s the bitter thing about being a national coach, there’s too much time between tournaments for you to get back on the attack.
“I’m very happy I extended my deal. I’m looking forward to attacking again but I need a couple of days before I’m ready.”
Saudi national team beats UAE to win Arab Diar Championship
- The Saudi team qualified for the final match after beating their Syrian counterpart 2-0
TAIF, Saudi Arabia: The Saudi national team won the Arab Diar Championship for West Asian U-19 teams, after defeating UAE 1-0 at the King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Taif Governorate on Friday night.
The team qualified for the final match after beating their Syrian counterpart 2-0, state news agency SPA reported.
Talal Haji scored the winning goal in the 43rd minute of the first half, bringing victory and gold medals to the team.
The UAE came in second and was awarded silver medals.
Canada stun Venezuela on penalties to reach Copa America semifinals
- Canada triumphed in the shootout to set up a last-four meeting with world champions Argentina
- Both teams failed to score from the spot twice in the shoot-out, leaving it at 3-3 after five penalties each
ARLINGTON, Texas: Canada reached the semifinals of the Copa America on Friday after beating Venezuela 4-3 on penalties after the 90-minute game finished 1-1.
Jacob Shaffelburg fired Canada into the lead in the 13th minute but Salomon Rondon equalized in the 64th, before Canada triumphed in the shootout to set up a last-four meeting with world champions Argentina.
The Canadians, under American coach Jesse Marsch, who only took over the team in mid-May, are playing in the Copa America for the first time and produced a relentless display of pressing in what was a frantic game.
Both teams failed to score from the spot twice in the shoot-out, leaving it at 3-3 after five penalties each and sending the contest into sudden death.
Canada keeper Max Crepeau, who had made a major error for Venezuela’s equalizer, made amends as he saved Wilker Angel’s kick.
That left Ismael Kone with the chance to win the game. He converted with an ice-cool penalty to set off the celebrations in front of a crowd of 51,080 mostly Venezuela supporting fans.
Canada played Argentina in the opening game of the group stage, losing 2-0 to the defending champions and will start as huge underdogs again in the semifinal.
But after a performance of remarkable energy and determination against a Venezuela team that won all three of their group stage games, Marsch will believe his team could pull off another upset and reach the final in Miami on July 14.
Canada roared out of the blocks, giving Venezuela no time on the ball and getting forward in numbers in the early stages.
“Vinotinto” keeper Rafael Romo had to race out of his area to stop Cyle Larin as he raced on to a ball over the top, but there was nothing he could do minutes later when the Canadians took the lead.
Jonathan David bustled in from the right and winger Shaffelburg arrived right on time to slot the ball into the bottom corner.
Shaffelburg, a speedy left-winger who plays in Major League Soccer for Nashville, then forced Romo into a diving save and then delivered a low cross which David was unable to finish.
Canada were going for the jugular and Richie Laryea zipped a ball across the face of the box but the stretching David was unable to reach it.
Larin wasted a big chance just after the interval when he found the ball in space in the box but leaned back and fired his shot well over the bar.
Marsch’s high-energy tactics were starting to take a toll on his players and as they tired Venezuela grew into the game.
Jose Martinez should have done better when a poor clearance landed at his feet in the box but he stabbed his shot wide.
But then a long ball forward was won by Rondon, who spotted Crepeau far off his line and from 35-yards out the veteran striker produced a perfect lob to beat the stranded keeper and make it 1-1.
There were late chances for Canada to win the game in regulation time, but neither Liam Millar nor Tani Oluwaseyi, both on as substitutes could provide a composed finish.
With no extra-time in Copa America, it was straight to penalties and after Rondon and David both converted, Yangel Herrera hit the post for Venezuela.
Millar then put his effort over the bar and after Tomas Rincon scored for Venezuela, Moise Bombito levelled for Canada.
But Jefferson Savarino hit the post and Canada’s Stephen Eustaquio saw his soft effort saved by Romo before both teams scored to make it 3-3.
Then in sudden death, Crepeau dived to deny Angel leaving Kone with the pressure shot to win which he handled with aplomb.
“Everybody needs to realize the respect this country deserves and these footballers deserve,” Crepeau told Fox Sports.
“Everybody says ‘these Canadians’, well these Canadians are in the semifinals of Copa America.”
