LEIPZIG, Germany: N’Golo Kante was the unlikely star of the show in the absence of a frustrated Kylian Mbappe as France and the Netherlands edged toward the last 16 of Euro 2024 after a 0-0 draw in Leipzig.
Recalled from a two-year international exile, Kante has rolled back the years in Germany with back-to-back man-of-the-match awards to become the fulcrum of Didier Deschamps’ midfield once more.
A star of France’s World Cup winning team in 2018, Kante’s time with Les Bleus appeared spent after he departed Europe to join Saudi side Al-Ittihad 12 months ago.
Injuries had blighted the end of his spell at Chelsea and cost him a place at the World Cup two years ago.
Deschamps’ decision to bring back the 33-year-old has proven inspired despite some initial skepticism.
“N’Golo is still out there running,” Deschamps quipped in his post-match press conference on Friday.
“But he doesn’t only run. He also has a capacity to carry the ball up the field, which is important to complement our other players in midfield so we have variety and we are not always predictable.”
Questions have been raised over how big European names lured by the riches of the Saudi Pro League would fare when thrust back into the intensity of an international tournament.
But Kante has shown that a less demanding Saudi campaign could even be beneficial in comparison to those players worn out by gruelling seasons in Europe’s top-five leagues.
“It’s important (to make a good impression), especially when you come back to the national team,” said Kante.
As impressive as his ball-winning and boundless energy has been against Austria and the Netherlands, the fact the diminutive midfielder has been France’s star so far tells its own story.
The 2022 World Cup finalists have managed just one goal in their opening two games and even that came via Austria defender Maximilian Wober.
Mbappe’s broken nose against Austria, which ruled him out on Friday, has not helped.
But more is expected of a forward line that also boasts Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Marcus Thuram, Ousmane Dembele and Kingsley Coman.
Thankfully for France’s hopes of becoming European champions for a third time, Mbappe looks set to be able to return with the aid of a mask.
The Dutch stalemate continued a worrying trend for Deschamps without their star man.
Over the past two years, France have not won any of the seven games that Mbappe has not started.
“Obviously the team is on a different plane when Kylian is in it,” added Deschamps.
The France boss conceded his caution with the Real Madrid forward would have been different had it been a knockout game.
The French have been here before under Deschamps and know underwhelming group games are easily forgotten — as long as they click in time for tougher tests in the knockout stages.
France have reached three finals in their last four major tournaments.
The exception came at Euro 2020 when an out-of-sorts Mbappe failed to score and missed the crucial penalty in a shock last-16 exit to Switzerland.
This time it is injury that threatens to ruin his Euros and France can ill-afford for their masked captain to be under par when he does return.
Despite France having an abundance of talent, Mbappe remains the inspiration to complement Kante’s perspiration that would make them the team to beat at Euro 2024.
Kante sparkles again but France lose shine without Mbappe magic
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Kante sparkles again but France lose shine without Mbappe magic
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.”
France beat Portugal in shootout to reach semis and end Ronaldo’s dream
- France edge Portugal 5-3 on post match penalties
HAMBURG, Germany: France converted all their kicks in a shootout to edge Portugal 5-3 on penalties after a goalless stalemate in their European Championship quarter-final on Friday, likely bringing the curtain down on Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career.
Theo Hernandez stroked home the winning kick for a perfect sequence after Joao Felix’s effort, the third for Portugal, hit the post. France will now play Spain in the semifinals on Tuesday in Munich.
Defeat for Portugal is set to spell the end of the 21-year international career of 39-year-old Ronaldo, who converted their first kick in the shootout but was also responsible for one of the night’s many glaring misses.
Success for France makes up for shootout heartbreak at the last Euros, when they were eliminated by Switzerland in the round of 16, and in the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina.
Ousmane Dembele, Youssouf Fofana, Jules Kounde and Bradley Barcola all netted their spot kicks for victorious France.
A game that was slow in firing up ended with a myriad of missed opportunities at either end, with clear chances for both sides in 90 minutes as well as the half hour of extra time.
France now find themselves in the semis without scoring in open play at the tournament, having benefitted from two own goals and a penalty in their previous four games.
But the French have also not conceded in open play at Euro 2024 with goalkeeper Mike Maignan making two key saves in Friday’s match that proved key for his side.
Both teams started cautiously, intent on keeping possession and avoiding mistakes. The play was therefore often pedestrian with periodic bursts of action.
It took 16 minutes before the first shot was fired off in anger – Bruno Fernandes’ effort hitting Hernandez and deflected away for a corner.
Soon after the second half kicked off, the contest rose from its slumber.
A rare contribution from the masked Kylian Mbappe was a clever combination with N’Golo Kante that produced a rapid fire shot, swallowed up by goalkeeper Diogo Costa. France’s captain Mbappe had another off night in attack.
Within minutes, Hernandez’s square ball from the left beat the Portuguese defense as it went invitingly across goal, crying out for a tap-in but with no one to meet it.
Maignan then made two crucial saves in the space of three minutes – a stiff arm reaction to deny Fernandes on the hour, followed by a point blank stop from Vitinha after another of Rafael Leao’s probing runs.
“We knew it was going to be a tough game but we were solid in defense and we had a lot of mental strength and kept our cool during the shootout, that’s what made the difference,” Maignan said.
In the 67th minute, a quick break from Randal Kolo Muani, in tandem with Kounde, had the striker in on goal but Ruben Dias made a goal-saving tackle.
France’s profligacy continued straight afterwards when substitute Dembele’s trickery teed up Eduardo Camavinga but the young midfielder inexplicably spurned the chance from close range.
The worst miss, however, belonged to Ronaldo three minutes into extra time as Francisco Conceicao’s enterprise saw him cut in on the byline and pull the ball back for his captain to deliver a fairytale finish but the forward fluffed his lines, having done little hitherto.
Ronaldo’s future with Portugal after 212 caps and 130 goals now looks at an end, as does the international career of 41-year-old center back Pepe.
“Football is cruel ... and sadness is part of it. We were aiming to win for our country and bring joy to our people,” said Pepe, who made some outstanding tackles. “Five days ago we won on penalties and now we’ve lost on penalties.”
Merino last-gasp goal sends Spain to Euro 2024 semis after dramatic extra-time win over Germany
- “It was the game we expected,” Merino said, “because we were facing one of the best teams in the world”
- The result ended the career of Germany’s Toni Kroos, who announced he would retire at the end of the tournament
STUTTGART, Germany: Substitute Mikel Merino headed Spain into the semifinals of the European Championship as they snatched a 2-1 win over Germany in extra time on Friday.
Florian Wirtz’s equalizer in the last minute of regulation time sent the gripping quarterfinal to extra time after Dani Olmo — who set up Merino’s winner — netted the opener early in the second half.
“It was the game we expected,” Merino said, “because we were facing one of the best teams in the world. This could have been a final, and it sure played out that way. This was a game between elite teams, a constant back and forth, and we showed that we have a great team.”
Spain defender Dani Carvajal was sent off late in extra time for a second yellow card and will be suspended from Tuesday’s semifinal against Portugal or France. Fellow defender Robin le Normand will also miss that match after picking up another booking.
The result ended the career of Germany’s Toni Kroos, who announced he would retire at the end of the tournament.
The quarterfinal pitted the teams who have played the best soccer at Euro 2024, and it didn’t disappoint.
There was a blistering pace from the start with crunching tackles and end-to-end action.
Kroos was lucky not to be booked for a mistimed challenge that upended Spain midfielder Pedri.
Another hefty challenge moments later saw Pedri leave the field injured and in tears as he was replaced by Olmo in the eighth minute, the fastest replacement in the history of the Euros.
From the resulting free kick, Lamine Yamal almost became the youngest ever goal-scorer at the tournament, but the 16-year-old’s effort flashed past the right post.
Yamal did have a hand in the opener as he cut inside from the right and rolled the ball across for Olmo to hit it first time into the bottom left corner.
It was Yamal’s third assist of the tournament, the most by a teenager at a Euros.
Substitute Nico Füllkrug hit the post in a late desperate onslaught by Germany, which was rewarded just in the nick of time.
Joshua Kimmich nodded Maximilian Mittelstädt’s cross back to Wirtz, whose effort went in off the far post.
Both teams had more chances to win in extra time before Merino leapt high to head in Olmo’s cross and send the Spanish fans behind the goal into a frenzy.
Misfiring England face on-form Switzerland for a semifinal spot
- Jude Bellingham is available after avoiding a ban for an offensive gesture
- England will play their fourth quarterfinal at a major tournament under manager Gareth Southgate
DUESSELDORF, Germany: England will play Switzerland in the quarterfinals of the European Championship on Saturday. England manager Gareth Southgate says his team looks “in a different place mentally” after struggling to an extra-time win over Slovakia.
Jude Bellingham is available after avoiding a ban for an offensive gesture.
Switzerland exceeded expectations by knocking out defending champion Italy.
The winner will play the Netherlands or Turkiye in the semifinals.
England will play their fourth quarterfinal at a major tournament under manager Gareth Southgate and have won two of the previous three. Southgate’s cautious tactics have brought hefty criticism from England fans, some of whom threw plastic cups at him in the group stage.
Bellingham’s last-minute overhead kick to send England’s last-16 game with Slovakia to extra time has been one of the most dramatic moments of Euro 2024.
Defender John Stones said that surviving that brush with elimination gave the team new confidence.
Meanwhile, Switzerland coach Murat Yakin has won a reputation for smart tactics at Euro 2024, especially by outclassing an Italy team packed with more famous names in the round of 16.
England are playing two days after a general election ended 14 years of rule by the Conservative Party. It didn’t make waves in the England camp, which Stones called a “politics-free zone.”
Bellingham is available after he avoided an immediate ban from UEFA, which investigated an allegedly crude gesture he made during the Slovakia game. He was fined 30,000 euros ($32,500) and given a one-game ban that only takes effect if he breaks the rules again during a one-year probationary period.
He has denied he was mocking Slovakia when he seemed to gesture toward his crotch.
Southgate has refused to rule out switching to a back five against Switzerland.
“We’re always considering the best way to approach a game,” he said on Friday when asked about the prospect.
Defender Marc Guéhi is suspended after picking up a second booking against Slovakia. Ezri Konsa, who came off the bench in extra time in that game, is the favorite to replace him in the center of defense alongside Stones.
The latter wore heavy strapping on his right knee in training Wednesday but said Thursday he’s fit to play.
Bellingham, forward Phil Foden and full back Kieran Trippier are among five England players who would miss the semifinals if booked against Switzerland. Captain Granit Xhaka is one of four Swiss players in the same situation.
He is fit after training individually earlier this week, Yakin said on Friday.
Southgate is marking his 100th game in charge and it could be his last. His contract expires after the tournament.
Switzerland haven’t beaten England for 43 years. Harry Kane scored the winning goal when England had a comeback 2-1 win the last time they played in a 2022 friendly.
It’s only the third time the Swiss team are playing in the quarterfinals of a major tournament. They have yet to reach a semifinal. A penalty-shootout loss to Spain in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020 was their best European Championship showing.
“Every team wants to excite, every team wants to score goals. We’ve played opponents who’ve made it very, very difficult for us. ... There’s been a lot of expectation on the team in the early part of the tournament, especially. I feel that the team, even in training now, look in a different place mentally. They look more fluid and I’m expecting us to play well tomorrow,” said Southgate.
Defender Stones said: “The other night, I thought we were going home after 60 minutes of the game. To change the mindset of us all and keep that belief and faith, it’s got a lot of power behind that for ourselves, other teams. Everyone watching at home knows that we’re there to do it right until the last minute, literally. And, I think we should take great confidence from that.”
“No matter how they played, they are in the quarterfinals, so no one is interested how they played in the group stage and in the games before that. They have a lot of quality and any time they can hurt their opponents, so we need to be prepared for that,” Switzerland defender Fabian Schär warns against underestimating England.
Brazilian defender Marlon Santos to join Emirati club Al-Ain
- 28-year-old expected to sign contract in coming days
- AFC Champions League winners ‘aim to attract best players,’ chairman says
AL-AIN: UAE’s Al-Ain on Thursday announced the signing of Brazilian defender Marlon Santos for an undisclosed sum, the Emirates News Agency reported.
The 28-year-old center back, who has played for Barcelona, Nice and Fluminense, is set to arrive in the UAE in the next few days to undergo medical checks and sign his contract with the AFC Champions League winners.
The announcement was made by the Pro League team’s club chairman, Sheikh Sultan bin Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan.
He said the new signing reflected the “generous support” of Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, deputy ruler of Abu Dhabi, for the club and Argentinian coach Hernan Crespo in striving for the highest levels of success in all competitions.
“The aim is to attract the best players to strengthen the team’s formation so that the substitutes would be at the same level of the main players,” Sultan said.
“The first deal is the signing of Santos, which is an important step in strengthening the team’s defense … I trust the player’s ability to make a difference in the team’s system. Other new contracts will be announced soon.”
Winning the AFC Champions League 2023-24 title was the start of a new era for the club, he said.
“Al-Ain Club embodies the principle of applying actual professionalism, which is an approach to institutional work that will lead to a qualitative shift in sports management starting from the new season.
“Work in the company proceeds with a clear vision and confident strategic plans in preparation for the next season. Efforts are not limited to a specific aspect, but rather focus on the details related to the mechanism of the company’s system, which is indivisible and includes interest in a promising future for the club in creating football talents to strengthen the ranks and activate the concept of investment and increase resources.”
On reports that Laba Kodjo, Sofiane Rahimi and Alejandro Cacau are set to leave the team, Sultan said: “It is certain that Sofiane, Kako and Laba are the main pillars and the team’s preparation for the new season is based on them, but involving the name of the Asian champion in promoting some names at the regional level is normal due to the value of the club’s name and the great achievement it has recently achieved.
“Al-Ain FC works with a clear approach and there are technical plans and a well studied budget that has been allocated for contracts according to the team’s needs and not according to the requirements of promotion.”
Talking about the club’s fans, Sultan said they were ‘No. 1 player’ and one of the main reasons for its success.
“Working to achieve their ambitions and make them happy is the duty of the management,” he said.
