Euros

Israel’s captain displays shoe of kidnapped child ahead of his side’s 1-1 draw vs. Switzerland

FELCSUT, Hungary, Nov 15 (Reuters) - Israel scored an 88th-minute equalizer to grab a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their European Championship qualifier in neutral Hungary on Wednesday to keep alive their hopes of reaching next year’s finals in Germany.

The match was due to be played last month but was postponed because of the security situation in Israel following the conflict with the Palestinian group Hamas.

New Euro 2024 ball includes built-in technology to assist in VAR decisions

BERLIN — Organizers of Euro 2024 on Wednesday unveiled the official ball for the continental tournament next year, with its colorful pattern designed to reflect the energy of the event and with built-in technology to assist in VAR decisions.

Tournament director Philipp Lahm, along with others including Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, led the reveal of the Adidas-made "Fussballliebe" (love of football) on the Maifeld, next to Berlin's Olympic stadium, where the final will be played on July 14.

Newcastle’s $74 million signing Tonali receives 10-month ban for illegal sports betting

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali has been banned from soccer for 10 months over breaches of rules on betting on matches in Italy, the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) said on Thursday.

Tonali was sanctioned with an 18-month ban, eight of which will be commuted to alternative treatment, after an agreement was reached with the Federal Prosecutor's Office, the FIGC confirmed.

It will rule Tonali out for the remainder of the club season and next summer's Euro 2024 tournament should Italy qualify.

Euro qualifier abandoned after two fans shot dead

BRUSSELS – The Euro 2024 qualifier between Belgium and Sweden was suspended at halftime and subsequently abandoned following the fatal shooting of two Swedes in Brussels earlier on Monday, UEFA said. 

Belgium raised its terror alert to the highest level as a man in a video on social media claimed that he was the assailant and that he was from Islamic State. 

Ukraine score goal from 35+ yards after North Macedonia’s keeper goes on vacation

A long-distance Ukraine goal vs North Macedonia helped secure an important 2-0 victory on Saturday and moved the team one step closer to Euro 2024 qualification.

The second goal for Ukraine came in the 95th minute when Oleksandr Karavayev caught North Macedonia’s goalkeeper WAY out of position.

After replacing Chelsea’s Mykhailo Mudryk in the 88th minute, Karavayev scored a goal from over 35 yards out. While the goalkeeper definitely failed here, you have to give some credit for the strike.

UEFA announces hosts for Euro 2028 and 2032 with UK and Ireland jointly hosting

NYON — The United Kingdom and Ireland will host the 2028 European Championship, while Italy and Turkey will stage the 2032 edition of the tournament, UEFA announced on Tuesday.

By accepting a joint Italy-Turkey bid for Euro 2032 last week, and with Turkey withdrawing from the race for Euro 2028, the hosts for both tournaments were already all but assured.

Pooch invader! Dog enjoys a minute of glory on the field before being carried away

A dog invaded the pitch during the UEFA Euro U-21 group stage match between Georgia and Netherlands on Tuesday. In the 12th minute of the game play had to be stopped when man’s best friend went for a stroll on the pitch.

Netherlands vs Georgia dog runs on the field

Forget Messi! Ronaldo's number one enemy is now the wrinkles around his eyes

We spent over a decade thinking Lionel Messi was Cristiano Ronaldo's biggest nemesis, but how wrong we were: the player's real enemy is no other than the wrinkles surrounding his eyes.

He hates them.

I know it sounds egregious, but we have proof.

Cristiano scores a bazillion goals every season and keeps his body in perfect shape, masking the fact he's already 38. But he's no fool. He knows that the passage of time is ruthless, and he's very conscious of it.

Cristiano Ronaldo hates wrinkles

Take, for instance, his last game against Iceland.

Courtois walks out on Belgium after decision to hand captain's armband to Lukaku

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois asked not to travel with Belgium for their Euro 2024 qualifier in Estonia on Tuesday, telling shocked coach Domenico Tedesco he did not feel respected within the team as he walked out of the squad.

Courtois, 31, played in Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Austria but told Tedesco after the match that he would not make himself available for the Estonia game.

Tedesco says Courtois's unhappiness spilled over when striker Romelu Lukaku was given the captain's armband for the Austria game in the absence of injured regular skipper Kevin De Bruyne.

Ciro Immobile suffers spinal cord injury and compound rib fracture in car accident

Lazio forward Ciro Immobile is under observation in hospital after he fractured his rib and hurt his back in a car crash in Rome, the Serie A club said on Sunday.

Italian media reported Immobile, who scored in Lazio's 3-0 win at Spezia on Friday, was involved in an accident after the Italy international's car collided with a tram in Rome.

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