Inside World Football

Comment: Forget Russia, Qatar and Saudi. Time to make the game accessible to all

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 18:05:44 +0000

It has been said that football is the most important of the least important things. When you come to a country like Germany for the European Championships you realize just maybe that football is the most important thing.

I challenge anyone to name another event that has the power to attract millions of people from so many diverse countries and cultures. One could argue that religion has a similarity to football, however, devotees gather for one deity whereas football is about multiple deities,

Hjulmand calls the VAR and handball rules that sent Denmark home ‘ridiculous’

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 13:30:58 +0000

June 30 – Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand has taken aim at football’s “ridiculous” handball rule after his side were beaten 2-0 by Germany in a controversial, storm-ravaged last-16 tie that was settled in the space of two dramatic minutes.

“This is not how football should be,” Hjulmand bemoaned after two VAR decisions against his brave team helped knock them out.

First Joachim Andersen’s goal on 48 minutes was ruled out following a VAR intervention that highlighted a marginal offside involving Denmark midfielder Thomas Delaney in the build-up.

Southgate says England know their task, Slovakia promise caution

Paul Nicholson — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 07:51:10 +0000

June 30 – England manager Gareth Southgate is confident his misfiring side will finally come good when they take on Slovakia in the last 16 of Euro 2024.

England won their group but despite the luck of the draw throughout the competition have failed to ignite, scoring only two goals despite their supposedly fearsome strike force.

Southgate’s richly talented squad arrived in Germany as a tournament favourite but optimism has waned after three drab group games amid uncertainty over his best line-up.

Sagnol says Georga have learnt the lesson of 7-1 spanking by Spain in qualifers

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 21:49:51 +0000

June 29 – Euro 2024 revelation Georgia will go in search of another Iberian scalp against Spain, tournament favourites, after triumphing over Portugal to progress for the last 16 on debut.

They can draw lessons from the 7-1 pummelling by the Spanish in qualifying, says manager Will Sagnol.

Georgia have become the darlings of European football following their heroism in Group F. After losing to Turkey and drawing with the Czech Republic,

Germany ride the storm, VAR and Demark to win 2-0

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 21:41:45 +0000

June 29 – This is what knockout football is all about. A pulsating encounter saw hosts Germany battle their into the quarterfinals of Euro 2024 as they overcame not only a Denmark side who gave everything but also a violent first-half monsoon that caused a 20-minute suspension.

Two second-half goals, including a somewhat fortuitous penalty, were enough to see off opponents who displayed their trademark teamwork but simply couldn’t muster enough cutting edge in the final third.

Swiss give Italians a lesson in style

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 20:10:42 +0000

June 29 – The last time the current European Champions, Italy, graced the Olympic Stadion in Berlin, they ruled the world after beating France on penalty kicks to win the 2006 FIFA World Cup. That match is best remembered for Zindine Zidane’s outrageous ‘Panenka’ penalty and of course, his headbutt into the chest of Marco Materazzi.

On a sun-baked Berlin evening with temperatures in the high 80s, the round of 16 kicked off with Switzerland attempting to achieve something they hadn’t managed in 31 years,

The post Swiss give Italians a lesson in style appeared first on Inside World Football.

Denmark unfazed by Germany as they look back to ‘92

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 10:26:51 +0000

June 29 – Denmark will look to invoke the memory of their famous victory over Germany in the Euro 92 final when they take on the host nation in the last 16 of the competition on Saturday.

Just like back then, when they shocked then-world champions Germany with a 2-0 win, the odds are stacked against the Danes, now managed by Kasper Hjulmand.

The two situations, of course, are hardly comparable.

Nagelsmann says Germany are not done, but Danes are an ‘uncomfortable’ opponent

Paul Nicholson — Sat, 29 Jun 2024 08:03:43 +0000

June 19 – Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said his team is “not done yet” as they prepare to face Denmark in the last-16 of Euro 2024.

Nagelsman says images of fans celebrating in the streets inspired the hosts to continue their Euro 2024 run, saying the “special” scenes reminded him of the 2006 World Cup on home soil.

That year, hosts Germany reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual champions Italy in extra-time in Dortmund – where Saturday’s knockout tie takes place.

Rosetti says VAR is now quicker and yellow cards are coming faster

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 14:23:13 +0000

June 28 – The head of UEFA’s refereeing department has leapt to the defence of his officials at Euro 2024 insisting most decisions have been right and presenting a detailed graphic to prove it.

At a briefing today analysing decision making during the group stage of the competition, Roberto Rosetti was quizzed about controversial individual cases, not least those that contributed to teams’ elimination, Scotland and Czech Republic being two cases in point.

FIFA seeks funding partners to expand its FIFA+ broadcast platform

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 12:40:38 +0000

June 28 – FIFA has enlisted UBS to raise up to $2 billion for the expansion of its streaming platform FIFA+, Bloomberg reports.

The world governing body is working with Switzerland’s UBS Group AG to raise $1 to $2 billion for the streaming platform that FIFA launched to offer a wide range of matches from around the world, and which to date has predominantly broadcast games from smaller markets and smaller member associations.

Georgia’s controversial ex-prime minister gifts $10.75m to national team

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 11:24:27 +0000

June 28 – Georgia’s Euro 2024 heroes are set to receive a $10.75 million gift from the country’s billionaire ex-prime minister Bidzina Ivanishvili after they stunned Portugal in the competition’s greatest ever upset to reach the knockout stage.

Ivanishvili, who founded the ruling Georgian Dream political party and became prime minister of the country in 2012, said he would donate the same sum to the squad and coaching staff should they also beat Spain in the last 16.

Adidas secure Argentine FA through to 2038

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 11:14:31 +0000

June 28 – The Argentine Football Association (AFA) have added 14 years to their Adidas partnership, taking a relationship that was formalised in 2001 through to 2038.

Prior to that the AFA and Adidas had worked together since the 1970s.

Adidas have been an ever-present part of Argentina’s recent men’s team successes that include the 2019 Copa America and capped by the 2022 World Cup win.

The deal was announced before the Argentina match with Chile in the Copa America currently being played in the US and which saw the Argentinians qualify for the knock-out rounds.

The post Adidas secure Argentine FA through to 2038 appeared first on Inside World Football.

Tyremaker BKT adds 4 years to Serie B title sponsorship

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 10:45:05 +0000

June 28 – Indian tyre maker BKT has renewed its title sponsorship of Italy’s Serie B – Serie BKT – for a new four-team term starting this coming season and ending in 2028.

No value was given for the sponsorship, which is now entering its third term, the first two being for the 2018-2021 and 2021-2024 cycles. The first two covered It’s now official.

Mauro Balata, president of Lega Serie B,

Blessin quits Belgium’s Union for St Pauli’s return to Bundesliga

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:34:07 +0000

June 28 – Manager Alexander Blessin has departed Belgian club Union Saint Gilloise for St Pauli in Germany.

The German is returning home to lead the Hamburg-based cult club which gained promotion to the Bundesliga. Blessin had previously stated that he wanted to stay in the Belgian capital, but could not resist the lure of St Pauli.

In a statement, the club said: “Union was keen to keep its coach on board,

USSF condemns racist abuse after Copa America loss to Panama

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 09:26:22 +0000

June 28 – The US soccer federation has condemned online racist abuse of their players after their 2-1 defeat by Panama at the Copa America.

“There is absolutely no place in the game for such hateful and discriminatory behaviour,” U.S. Soccer said. “These actions are not only unacceptable but also contrary to the values of respect and inclusivity that we uphold as an organization.”

Tim Weah, who is black, was one of the players targeted by the abuse.

AC Milan greenlighted to enter Milan Futuro into Serie C

Paul Nicholson — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 08:56:36 +0000

June 28 – AC Milan has officially unveiled its Milan Futuro project: a newly formed team of young players that will compete in the Serie C Championship starting from the upcoming season.

The club said that it had formally received a positive response from the Federal Council of the FIGC to their application for registration in Serie C.

The acceptance of the registration application means that the roster of 60 teams that will participate in the 2024/25 Championship season has been finalised.