European football
UEFA Champions League Football 2021-22: Group Stage Draw and Fixtures
UEFA confirmed the complete group stage fixtures for the upcoming Champions League 2021/2022 season in a ceremony held in Istanbul on Thursday (August 26). Two former Chelsea players Branislav Ivanovic and Michael Essien attended the ceremony and assisted with the draw. Twenty-six teams were automatically qualified for the group stage and the last six spots were determined by a play-off. The group stage matches will begin on September 14th and will last until December 8. The round of 16 draw will take place on December 13th. Let's have a look at the UEFA Champions League Football 2021-22 group stage draw and fixtures.
Summer Football Transfer 2021: Latest Rumours on Mbappe, Ronaldo, Kane, Lewandowski, Haaland
Football teams in Europe build their squads by buying players during the summer transfer window, which fascinates football fans across the world. Despite the coronavirus epidemic, Europe's top clubs are hoping to add superstar players during the summer transfer window this year. Lionel Messi has already signed a two-year contract with PSG in Ligue 1, and Chelsea have acquired Romelu Lukaku for 115 million euros from Serie A champion (2020/2021) Inter Milan. Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappe, Cristiano Ronaldo, Harry Kane, and Kylian Mbappe are all available for a new challenge. Let's look at some of the latest summer football transfer news in 2021.
Transfer Rumours: Potential Transfers Before the Deadline
Kylian Mbappe
PSG signed one of the greatest ever footballers, Lionel Messi earlier this month with the aim of creating a strong attacking line-up in Europe with Neymar, Mbappe, and Messi upfront. However, their wish may not be fulfilled because Mbappe has reportedly declined to extend his current deal with the Paris-Saint Germain.
Read: Argentina to Face Brazil in FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers
According to rumors, he is considering leaving the club for Real Madrid this summer. He has also no worries about finishing his current contract, which will expire at the end of the 2021/2022 season. Real Madrid have officially made a 160 million euro offer to PSG to lure Mbappe to the Santiago Bernabéu.
PSG's Director of Football, Leonardo, has confirmed that he would not be sold for a low price. Various reports claim, any team interested in acquiring Mbappe this season will have to pay 220 million euros. In the coming days, this Mbappe transfer saga may take some unexpected twists.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The agent for Cristiano Ronaldo, Jorge Mendes is now working on a transfer for his client. Ronaldo may be forced to finish his present deal with Juventus if he cannot find a suitable club. Earlier, PSG had expressed interest in luring Cristiano Ronaldo if Mbappe left the club. However, according to recent rumors, Paris Saint-Germain are no longer interested in purchasing him this summer.
Read: Lionel Messi signs 2-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain
So, Cristiano Ronaldo's only feasible alternative would be to join Manchester City. If he departs Juventus for Manchester City, it would be a huge shock to Manchester United supporters.
Ronaldo established himself as a global superstar during his time with the Red Devils from 2003 until 2009. He also won his first Ballon d'or with Manchester United. As per sources, he would cost around 25 million euros, making this spectacular transfer possible.
Erling Haaland
Borussia Dortmund forward Erling Haaland is one of the most talked-about players in Europe right now. Since joining German club 2020, this big forward has been in excellent form. All of Europe's major teams are vying for his signature. However, Borussia Dortmund will not sell him for a low price. This summer, Haaland will cost more than150 million euros.
Chelsea attempted to sign him earlier this month, but Dortmund refused to sell him. In the following season, Erling Haaland would be available at a considerably lower price. So, we may expect him to leave next summer rather than this window. Manchester City, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Manchester United are the favorites to sign him next season.
Read:2021 SAFF Championship: Bangladesh Seek First Title Since 2003
Robert Lewandowski
Robert Lewandowski has established himself as a legend after spending more than a decade in the Bundesliga. He has set numerous Bundesliga records. He broke Gerd Muller's most goals in a single season in the 2021/2021 season. Lewandowski is eager to leave Bayern Munich in search of a new challenge.
At the age of 33, he can only move to a team that badly need a striker for a limited period of time. For the time being, Manchester City appear to be the best choice for him. PSG might be an alternative if Mbappe leaves for Real Madrid. Because of his age, both Manchester City and PSG can purchase him for a low price. But one thing is certain: he will score a lot of goals wherever he goes.
Harry Kane
Harry Kane was keen to leave Tottenham Hotspur in search of silverware. Because he does not feel Tottenham is capable of winning a trophy. Kane was widely linked with a move to Manchester City.
Man City allegedly offered Spurs 125 million pounds for Kane, but Daniel Levy, the Spurs chairman, turned down the offer. As per reports, they are seeking more than 150 million pounds.Finally, Harry Kane has confirmed that he will not leave Tottenham this summer, and he is allegedly demanding a weekly salary of £400,000 from the club. It will be interesting to see whether Man City make a January transfer window move for Harry Kane.
Read:Tokyo Olympics 2020 –Brazil and Spain are Favorites to Meet in the Men’s Football Final
Verdict
According to the latest transfer news, some big signings might be completed before the end of the summer transfer window 2021. The window will end at midnight on August 31st, giving teams less than a week to execute their desired deal. As per the latest transfer rumors, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappe are the most likely to leave their present clubs for a new challenge. Their transfer will affect the equation in terms of Champions League football. So, the next few days of this transfer window are crucial for all of Europe's big clubs.
Record-Breaker Lionel Messi Can Guide PSG to Champions League Crown
Lionel Messi became a free agent on July 1, although he was anticipated to re-sign with FC Barcelona. However, on Thursday (August 5) Barcelona confirmed that they will not sign Messi due to financial regulations by La Liga. Just five days after the announcement, French club PSG have signed Lionel Messi for a two-year deal with an option for a third year. PSG have become an immediate favorite to win the Champions League next season after acquiring Messi on a free transfer. Here we will discus Lionel Messi's illustrious football career and how he can guide PSG to Champions League crown.
Details of Lionel Messi's PSG contract
Europe's big teams began contacting Messi's management in an attempt to sign him following the announcement that Lionel Messi will not sign a new contract with Barca. However, only PSG had the available funds and ambition to recruit the former Barcelona forward.
Read Lionel Messi signs 2-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain
Lionel Messi's father Jorge Messi immediately contacted the Paris Saint-Germain hierarchy to secure the deal as early as possible. The contract talks moved quickly, and Lionel Messi and his family landed in Paris on Tuesday (August 10) to finalize the paperwork.
After completing his medicals, Lionel Messi formally signed a contract with Paris Saint-Germain in the presence of President Nasser Al-Khelaifi and sports director Leonardo.The 34-year-old reportedly agreed to a two-year contract that includes a base salary of €25 million after taxes, with an extra €10 million in bonuses.According to sources, the Argentine will also get a €25 million signing bonus, as well as a third-year option on the same financial conditions.
Read Lionel Messi is Leaving Barcelona Despite Wanting to Stay
The Role Lionel Messi will Play at PSG
Lionel Messi refused to take Neymar's number 10 jersey. Instead, he's opted for the number 30 jersey. Messi began his professional career with Barcelona with this jersey number and he wants to start fresh at PSG with this concept.
Messi's primary responsibility at PSG would be to build lethal attacking combinations with Neymar and Mbappe. He could play as a false 9 on the right wing or in the center. Messi may drop into the middle if necessary to create a holistic attack on the opposition defense.
Read Lionel Messi Contract: PSG Set to Sign Former Barcelona Forward
Messi's football knowledge and experience will be crucial in reviving the squad. The Paris Saint-Germain side would be much more balanced and positive with the inclusion of two veteran former La Liga players Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi.
Ramos and Messi have both won the Champions League four times and know what it takes to win Europe's most coveted club competition. Their presence will be vital, particularly in the knockout stages. That's why Lionel Messi may lead PSG to their first Champions League title.
Aside from Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos, PSG have also signed Georginio Wijnaldum, Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Achraf Hakimi during the summer transfer window 2021.
Read Messi breaks down, says he wasn’t ready to leave Barcelona
At a Glance: Lionel Messi's Remarkable Football Career
Lionel Messi has a long list of achievements to his name, both with his club and for his country. His major success, though, has come at the club level.
Lionel Messi made his professional debut for Barcelona against Porto at the Camp Nou stadium on November 16, 2003. Messi won 35 titles and 672 goals in 778 games during his 17 years at FC Barcelona.
Read PSG explores Messi signing; Pochettino in contact
With Barcelona, Lionel Messi won 10 La Liga trophies, four Champions Leagues, seven Copa Del Rays, eight Supercopa de Espana, three UEFA Super Cups, and three FIFA Club World Cups. Lionel Messi has also won a record-breaking six Ballon d'Or awards.
Lionel Messi broke several club, La Liga, European, and world records during his stint at FC Barcelona. From a teenage star at Barcelona, he has grown into one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Lionel Messi has only won one major trophy with Argentina's national team. He won the Copa America 2021 trophy in Brazil. However, Messi has appeared in four Copa America finals as well as the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil. At age level tournament, Messi won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005 and the gold medal at the Summer Olympics 2008 in Beijing.
Read End of an era: Barcelona says Messi won’t stay with the club
Lionel Messi is expected to play at the highest level for at least two more seasons. We can anticipate him to break more records and dazzle football fans in the coming years.
Verdict
Ligue 1 club PSG are currently the strong favourite to win the 2021/2022 Champions League trophy following their marquee signings during the summer transfer window. Also, Lionel Messi's incredible career achievements indicate that he is a true winner who can really help PSG go to the next level.
Veterans Sergio Ramos and Lionel Messi will provide stability to the team. Their experience will be crucial if Paris Saint-Germain are to win the Champions League for the first time. It would be difficult for other teams to stop PSG if they can maintain consistency in the knockout stage of the tournament.
Read Copa America 2021: Lionel Messi vs Neymar da Silva
Lionel Messi is Leaving Barcelona Despite Wanting to Stay
Lionel Messi has officially confirmed his departure from Barcelona after 21 years of service. Messi flooded the emotions of football fans by arriving at the news conference with tears in his eyes on Sunday (August 8). The little magician wanted to continue his career with Barcelona when Joan Laporta took over as president earlier this year. However, the Argentine superstar will not be able to sign a new deal with FC Barcelona due to La Liga's financial and structural obstacles. Lionel Messi confirmed his exit from Barcelona during the press conference, despite the fact that he expressed his desire to stay.
Highlights of Lionel Messi's Press Conference
Lionel Messi addressed his farewell to everyone at the start of the press conference. Later, he responded to a variety of media questions. Here are a few highlights of Messi's press conference.
On leaving FC Barcelona
Messi feels that this is the right time to leave Barcelona, but he has promised that he would return in a few years. He is really pleased with what he has accomplished with this club.
On signing a new contract
Messi has indicated that adjusting to life after Barcelona will be difficult. He had made up his mind to stay with the club for a few more years.He also revealed that everything was finalized, but that the deal could not be completed due to the pay structure in La Liga.
Read: Messi breaks down, says he wasn’t ready to leave Barcelona
Message to his teammates
In a message to his teammates, Lionel Messi expressed gratitude to everyone who had assisted him in his development as a player. He also claimed that he did his best to treat everyone with respect.
On Barcelona Supporters
Lionel Messi was also lamented for not being able to say his final goodbyes in front of tens of thousands of Barcelona supporters. He wanted to share his final thoughts in front of Barcelona's most ardent supporters.
In the context of reminiscing for Barcelona
Lionel Messi feels that Barcelona is still the finest club in the world and that he had really enjoyed his time with the club. Messi promised that he will return one day and help Barcelona in their progress.
Read Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar: Who Has Acquired Most International Achievements?
On his best moment with FC Barcelona
Messi had so many wonderful moments with FC Barcelona. However, he picked his debut match as his favorite.
The most difficult moment in his football career
Lionel Messi believes that leaving FC Barcelona is the most difficult decision he has ever made in his professional career. He has his rough moments, but leaving Barcelona is really difficult for him.
Regarding Barcelona without Messi
Messi is confident that FC Barcelona will continue to be one of the most successful clubs in the world, and therefore that supporters will become used to seeing Barcelona without Lionel Messi. Because Messi feels that no one is more important than the club as well as its fans. Messi assures that his professional career should be ok soon since he will be accompanied by his family. He will always be up for a challenge.
Read: Lionel Messi Contract: PSG Set to Sign Former Barcelona Forward
Lionel Messi Contract: PSG Set to Sign Former Barcelona Forward
After months of speculation and rumors, Barcelona revealed on Thursday that their star Argentine forward Lionel Messi would not sign a new contract due to financial and structural issues. Lionel Messi became a free agent on July 1 following his contract with Barca ended on June 30. Messi's agent and FC Barcelona reached a verbal agreement in the midst of July. However, they were unable to sign Messi due to La Liga's economic and constitutional provisions. PSG are now the favourite to sign Messi following this announcement. In this article, we looked at what PSG might offer in Lionel Messi's contract.
Lionel Messi Contract: PSG are Favourite to Sign the Argentine Superstar
Lionel Messi has been a member of FC Barcelona's senior team since 2004. He has had tremendous success at the Catalan-based club. Messi has 35 titles to his name and 672 goals in 778 games for Barcelona. He has many club records, including six Ballon d'Or honors. However, Messi has decided to leave Barcelona after a two-decade stint at the club due to financial limitations.
Read: End of an era: Barcelona says Messi won’t stay with the club
Following the news that Lionel Messi would be leaving Barcelona, all of Europe's major clubs began contacting Messi's agent to acquire his services. According to recent reports, Lionel Messi will sign a new deal with PSG in the coming days. PSG does have the financial resources and can provide Messi with a comfortable setting in the locker room.
PSG have already booked the Eifel Tower for Tuesday (August 10) for a unanimous reason. However, if the rumors are true, PSG have reserved the Eifel Tower for Lionel Messi's unveiling ceremony. The 34-year-old Argentina national team captain is set to sign a two-year contract for £25 million per year after taxes next week, with an option for an additional year.
Read: Ballon d'Or 2021 Predictions: Lionel Messi in Pole Position to Win the Coveted Award
PSG are convinced that they can balance their budgets by selling players and signing Messi without breaching FFP laws, thanks to their Qatari owners. In addition, any Messi agreement would be a big boost for Qatar as it gears up to host the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Verdict
Ligue 1 club PSG are now the overwhelming favourite to sign one of the best footballers in history. Lionel Messi's arrival will undoubtedly increase PSG's global appeal. Any Lionel Messi contract will bring them a lot of money. On the other side, Messi will be surrounded by close friends who can help him adapt to the beautiful city of Paris.
Read Messi, Ronaldo, Neymar: Who Has Acquired Most International Achievements?
Ballon d'Or 2021 Predictions: Lionel Messi in Pole Position to Win the Coveted Award
The Ballon d'Or has been presenting to the best footballer of the year since 1958. Journalists, coaches, and national team captains vote to choose the best footballer in Europe. The European Football Championship was held this year. A notable number of players from European football leagues competed in Copa America. Apart from those who have performed well in the domestic leagues, individuals who had thrived in these two international tournaments will also be evaluated. We can expect several potential candidates for the 2021 award. Among them are Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Ballon d'Or 2021 predictions are discussed in this article.
The Probable Contenders for the Coveted Ballon d'Or 2021 Award
We have created a list of the top performers this year thus far to find out who could win the prestigious Ballon d'Or 2021 award. Let's have a look at the players who made it onto our list.
10) Luis Suarez (Uruguay&Atletico Madrid)
Key achievements in 2021: La Liga
Lethal striker Luis Suarez joined Atletico Madrid last season. He played a key role in Atletico Madrid's success. Suarez led his team with 21 La Liga goals in the 2020/2021 season, helping Atletico win their tenth La Liga title. Though Suarez had a quiet Copa America 2021 tournament. Colombia knocked Uruguay out in the quarter-finals.
Read:Copa America 2021 Final: Di Maria’s Early Strike Sinks Brazil
09) Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain& Brazil)
Key achievements in 2021: Coupe de France &Trophee des Champions
Neymar had a good 2020/2021 season with PSG. He helped PSG to win two domestic competitions. Later, he was instrumental in guiding Brazil to the Copa America 2021 final. Neymar was one of the best players in the tournament despite losing the final 1-0 to Argentina. He scored twice and had three assists in the competition.
08) Robert Lewandowski (Germany& Bayern Munich)
Key achievements in 2021: Bundesliga &Fifa Club World Cup
Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski maintained his goal-scoring abilities In the 2020/2021 season. He scored 41 goals in 29 games for Bayern Munich, helping them win the Bundesliga and the Fifa Club World Cup. Lewandowski scored three goals for Poland in the EURO 2020 tournament, however they finished bottom in their group and were eliminated from the competition.
Read:Italy wins Euro 2020, beats England in penalty shootout
07) Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal&Juventus)
Key achievements in 2021: Coppa Italia &SupercoppaItaliana
Cristiano Ronaldo scored most 29 goals in the 2020/2021 Serie A season and helped Juventas to win Coppa Italia &SupercoppaItaliana. Ronaldo also finished top in the most goal scorers chart at EURO 2020 with 5 goals. He's a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award.
06) RomeluLukaku (Belgium& Inter Milan)
Key achievements in 2021: Serie A
Last season, Inter Milan won Serie A for the first time in 11 years, thanks to Belgian striker RomeluLukaku's 24 goals and 11 assists. He has been in fantastic form this year. Lukaku also had four goals in the Euro 2020 competition.
Read Racist abuse targets 3 English players who missed penalties
05) Gianluigi Donnarumma (Italy, AC Milan, & PSG)
Key achievements in 2021: EURO 2020
Gianluigi Donnarumma had the most clean sheets with 14 for AC Milan in the 2020/2021 season. He was a key member of the Milan side that finished second in the league. However, Donnarumma grabbed everyone's attention with his outstanding performances in the EURO 2020 knockout rounds.
04) Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium& Manchester City)
Key achievements in 2021: Premier League &Carabao Cup
Kevin de Bruyne is the most important player for Manchester City and Belgium. This excellent midfielder assisted Manchester City in winning many titles in the 2020/2021 season. However, Kevin de Bruyne failed to take Belgium to another big international final. Belgium were knocked out of the competition in the quarter-finals.
Read:EURO 2020 Final: Italy Seal European Football Championship
03) Jorginho (Italy& Chelsea)
Key achievements in 2021: Champions League &EURO 2020
Jorginho is enjoying a fantastic 2021 year. He won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea in May and the EURO 2020 with the Italian national team two months later. He is a gifted midfielder who should be a candidate for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award.
02) N'Golo Kante (France& Chelsea)
Key achievements in 2021: Champions League
N'Golo Kante was the most important player in Chelsea's 2021 Champions League victory. His contribution to Chelsea in the Champions League semifinals and finals was immense. However, he had a quiet Euro 2020 tournament, as France were eliminated in the Round of 16 by Switzerland. Despite that, Kante remains one of the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or in 2021.
Read Messi’s Argentina beats Brazil 1-0, wins Copa America title
01) Lionel Messi (Argentina& Barcelona)
Key achievements in 2021: Copa del Rey& Copa America 2021
Lionel Messi has been in incredible form this year. Messi helped Barcelona win the Copa del Ray last season. However, he has emerged as the leading contender for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award following Argentina's Copa America 2021 triumph. Messi was the tournament's top scorer, with four goals and five assists. It will be his seventh Ballon d'Or if he wins.
Bottom Line
Professional footballers in Europe dream to win the Ballon d'Or award at least once, so this individual honor carries a lot of importance. Chelsea's French midfielder N'Golo Kante was the clear favorite to win the Ballon d'Or 2021 prior to the continental tournaments. However, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Jorginho have emerged as favorites following their outstanding performances in the respective regional championships. This year still has five months left. There might be a lot of twists and turns in the following months and equations could change once again.
Read Copa America 2021: Lionel Messi vs Neymar da Silva
Italy wins Euro 2020, beats England in penalty shootout
Italian soccer’s redemption story is complete. England’s painful half-century wait for a major title goes on.
And it just had to be because of a penalty shootout.
Read: Italy vs England Final: EURO 2020 Match Preview
Italy won the European Championship for the second time by beating England 3-2 on penalties on Sunday. The match finished 1-1 after extra time at Wembley Stadium, which was filled mostly with English fans hoping to celebrate the team’s first international trophy since the 1966 World Cup.
“It’s coming to Rome. It’s coming to Rome,” Italy defender Leonardo Bonucci shouted into a TV camera amid the celebrations, mocking the famous lyric “it’s coming home” from the England team’s anthem.
For England, it was utter dejection again — they know the feeling so well when it comes to penalties — after Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy’s imposing goalkeeper, dived to his left and saved the decisive spot kick by 19-year-old Londoner Bukayo Saka, one of the youngest players in England’s squad.
That was England’s third straight failure from the penalty spot in the shootout, with Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho — players brought on late in extra time seemingly as specialist penalty-takers — also missing.
Read: England, Italy set for thrilling EURO 2020 showdown on Sunday
As Saka and Sancho cried, Donnarumma was mobbed by his teammates as they sprinted toward him from the halfway line at the end of the second penalty shootout in a European Championship final.
Then Italy’s jubilant players headed to the other end of the field and ran as one, diving to the ground in front of the Italian fans who have witnessed a rebirth of their national team.
It was less than four years ago that Italy plunged to the lowest moment of its soccer history by failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in six decades. Now, they are the best team in Europe and on a national-record 34-match unbeaten run under Roberto Mancini, their suave coach who has won an international trophy in his first attempt to add to the country’s other European title — in 1968 — and its four World Cups.
Mancini joined his players on the podium as Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy to the backdrop of fireworks and tickertape.
“It was impossible even to just consider this at one stage,” Mancini said, “but the guys were just amazing. I have no words for them.”
For England, it’s the latest heartache in shootouts at major tournaments, after defeats in 1990, 1996, 1998, 2004, 2006 and 2012. They ended that losing streak by beating Colombia on penalties in the round of 16 at the 2018 World Cup, but the pain has quickly returned.
“The boys couldn’t have given more,” England captain Harry Kane said. “Penalties are the worst feeling in the world when you lose. It’s been a fantastic tournament — we should be proud, hold our heads up high. It’s going to hurt now, it’s going to hurt for a while.”
Read: Euro 2020 final: Italy holds historical edge over England
England’s first major final in 55 years had all started so well, too, with Luke Shaw scoring the fastest goal in a European Championship final by meeting a cross from opposite wing back Kieran Trippier with a half-volley that went in off the post in the second minute.
It was Shaw’s first goal for England and it prompted a fist-pump between David Beckham and Tom Cruise in the VIP box amid an explosion of joy around Wembley, which had at least 67,000 fans inside. Maybe more, given dozens of ticketless England fans managed to barge their way past stewards and police and into the stadium in unsettling scenes before kickoff.
That was the only time Italy’s famously robust defense was really opened up in the entire 120 minutes.
Indeed, after Shaw’s goal, England barely saw the ball for the rest of the game.
Italy’s midfielders dominated possession, as widely predicted before the match, and England simply resorted to dropping deep and getting nine or even all 10 outfield players behind the ball. It was reminiscent of the 2018 World Cup semifinals, when England also scored early against Croatia then spent most of the game chasing its opponent’s midfield before losing in extra time.
Italy’s equalizer was merited and Bonucci was the unlikely scorer. He put the ball in from close range after a right-wing corner was flicked on to Marco Verratti, whose stooping header was tipped onto the post by goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
England managed to hold on for extra time — the way three of the last six European finals went — and actually had the better of the final stages.
Just not the shootout, again.
After the misses of Rashford — he stuttered up to the ball and then hit the post — and Sancho, whose shot was saved by Donnarumma again down to his left, Jorginho had the chance to win it for Italy.
Incredibly, the midfielder who converted the decisive penalty in a shootout win over Spain in the semifinals also failed to score as Pickford tipped the effort off the post.
It was Donnarumma who then made the crucial saves and within minutes he had also been named player of the tournament, the first goalkeeper to be so honored.
So instead of coming home, the trophy is headed to Rome.
“We’d heard it day in, day out from Wednesday night — we heard it would be coming home to London,” Bonucci said. “I’m sorry for them, but the cup will be taking a nice flight, making its way to Rome so Italians all over the world can savor this.”
England, Italy set for thrilling EURO 2020 showdown on Sunday
England and Italy are set to face off on Sunday to be crowned the best in European football at London's iconic Wembley Stadium.
Italy are looking forward to win their first European title after 53 years when they beat Yugoslavia (1-1 and 2-0) in the EURO 1968 final, Anadolu Agency reported.
They then lost two finals in European Championships, a 2-1 loss to France in EURO 2000 and a 4-0 defeat to Spain in EURO 2012.
The Azzurri's defeat to Spain in EURO 2012 final is the biggest margin of defeat in a European Championship final.
With four final matches at the European Championships, they are now tied with Spain and the Soviet Union for second place behind Germany, which appeared in six finals.
Also read: Brazil and Argentina clash in a soccer final for 5th time
Roberto Mancini's side topped Group A by beating Turkey and Switzerland 3-0, and sealing a 1-0 victory against Wales.
Following the group stage, they beat Austria in the last 16 and Belgium 2-1 in the quarterfinals, moving to the final after defeating Spain on penalties in the semifinals.
They conceded three goals, while Ciro Immobile, Federico Chiesa, Manuel Locatelli, Lorenzo Insigne and Matteo Pessina scored two goals each.
According to Anadolu Agency, the historic EURO 2020 game with 60,000 spectators will be the Three Lions' first-ever final in the European Championship, and their first final appearance in a major tournament since claiming the 1966 World Cup title.
England won only two of their last 14 games against Italy in all competitions, 2-0 in June 1997 and 2-1 in August 2013 – both friendly matches.
However, in the 1977 World Cup qualification, the English team won against Italy 2-0 – the only victory in eight competitive games during the tournament.
Also read: Copa America 2021: Lionel Messi vs Neymar da Silva
They are unbeaten in their last 12 matches in all competitions, keeping 10 clean sheets and conceding just two goals.
Collecting seven points, England won Group D in the EURO 2020 ahead of Croatia, Czech Republic, and Scotland.
The Three Lions reached the final, eliminating Germany, Ukraine, and Denmark, respectively, conceding just one goal following the conclusion of the group stage.
Only three nations have ever lifted the Euros title on home ground – Spain (1964), Italy (1968), and France (1984).
Portugal (2004) and France (2016) made it to the final, but lost.
The match will be officiated by Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers.
The 48-year-old was also the referee in the 2014 World Cup's group stage match when England suffered a 2-1 defeat to Italy.
UEFA asks Euro 2020 teams to stop removing sponsor bottles
Reacting to a bottle-snatching trend at the European Championship started by Cristiano Ronaldo, players on the 24 teams have been asked to stop removing strategically placed sponsor drinks from the news conference platforms, UEFA said Thursday.
Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Manuel Locatelli all removed sponsor bottles away from the view of cameras when taking their seats at this week.
Euro 2020 tournament director Martin Kallen said UEFA has “communicated with the teams regarding this matter.”
“It is important because the revenues of the sponsors are important for the tournament and for European football,” Kallen said in a briefing.
Pogba, who is Muslim and does not drink alcohol, objected to the distinctive green bottle of official Euro 2020 beer sponsor Heineken. The beer is marketed as 0.0% alcohol.
Also read: ‘A complete midfielder’: Locatelli does it all for Italy
Kallen said tournament rules require compliance with UEFA’s promises to sponsors, though players with religious objections “don’t need to have a bottle there.”
Pogba had to take questions in the interview room after being named best player in France’s 1-0 win over Germany on Tuesday. The player awards are sponsored by the brewer.
Ronaldo started the trend on Monday at a mandatory pre-game news conference by hiding two Coca-Cola bottles and replacing them with a water bottle, which was also one of the drink maker’s brands.
A drop in Coca-Cola’s share price this week was attributed by some to Ronaldo’s snub, but without any evidence that the two things were connected.
Locatelli copied the Portugal great on Wednesday after helping Italy beat Switzerland.
Also read: Sergio Ramos bids farewell to Madrid, says he wanted to stay
It prompted UEFA to remind officials with the teams that players should respect the sponsors and the contributions they make to European soccer. Media managers at each of the 11 stadiums across Europe should also help with removing beer bottles ahead of the arrival of a player of Muslim faith.
Coca-Cola and Heineken are among 12 top-tier sponsors for Euro 2020 who contribute to UEFA’s total tournament revenue of almost 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion).
The values of individual sponsor deals are not published, but UEFA got 483 million euros ($576 million) in sponsor deals from 10 partners at Euro 2016 in France.
Players also indirectly get money from Euro 2020 commercial income via their national federations and clubs.
The 24 national federations competing at Euro 2020 will share 371 million euros ($442 million) in UEFA prize money, which typically helps pay player bonuses. The champions can get a maximum of 34 million euros ($40.6 million) from UEFA by also winning all three of their group games.
Also read: Eriksen to be fitted with implanted heart monitoring device
Hundreds of clubs worldwide also get shares from at least 200 million euros ($239 million) allocated by UEFA from Euro 2020 revenue as a reward for releasing their players to European national teams. Of that money, 130 million euros ($155 million) is allocated on a daily rate for about 630 players taking part in the final tournament.
Euro 2020 revenue will also fund 775 million euros ($925 million) UEFA has promised to its 55 member federations in annual grants and development project funds for the period of 2020-24.
European Football Season 2020-21: Individual Award Winners
The European football season 2020-2021 has come to a close. Several star footballers emerged across Europe last season. Also, the majority of the world's finest footballers contributed to their teams' success. Usually, the top performers of the champion teams are picked for the best player awards and the expected players won trophies in the European football season 2020-2021.
Award-winning footballers of 2020-2021 European season
Let's take a look at the award-winning footballers from the top five European leagues – the English Premier League, Italian Serie A, Bundesliga, and French League.
English Premier League award winners
We saw a superb contest between Premier League clubs until the middle of the season. However, Manchester City turned their fortunes around with a 15-game winning streak and eventually won the Premier League for the fifth time and the third time in the past four seasons.
Belgian midfielder Kevin de Bruyne was Man City's most important player last season. He scored 10 goals in 40 appearances for the Citizens and earned his second consecutive PFA Player of the Year award. Before that, only Arsenal's Thierry Henry and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo won two players of the year awards in a row. Meanwhile, Manchester City's defender Ruben Dias earned the Premier League Player of the season 2020-2021 award.
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Premier League award winners
Player of the Season: Ruben Dias (Manchester City)
Young Player of the Season: Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Goal of the Season: Erik Lamela (Tottenham)
Manager of the Season: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City)
Italian Serie A award winners
Inter Milan won the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years while Juventas failed to win it for the first time in ten years. Belgian striker RomeluLukaku was the most important player for Inter Milan. He scored 24 goals for the Nerazzurri to help them win the league for the 19th time.
Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo and AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma also won awards.
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Italian Serie A award winners
Most Valuable Player: Belgium RomeluLukaku (Internazionale)
Best Striker: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Midfielder: NicolòBarella (Internazionale)
Best Defender: Cristian Romero (Atalanta)
Best Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan)
Best Young Player: DušanVlahovic (Fiorentina)
Winners in Bundesliga
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski received the player of the season award, breaking Gerd Muller's record of most goals in a season. The Polish striker scored 42 goals in only 29 games for the Bavarians, helping them win the German Bundesliga for the 31st time.
Lewandowski won the award for the fifth and second seasons in a row. Dortmund's English midfielder Jude Bellingham was named the Silver Arrow award winner for the best young player.
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Ligue 1 award winners
Paris Saint-Germain striker KylianMbappé has won the Ligue 1 player of the year award for the second year in a row despite failing to win a major trophy last season. Lillie won the French league title in 2020-2021. However, only two Lillie players made the cut in the team of the season.
PSG's KylianMbappé had a fantastic season, scoring 42 goals in 47 games. Meanwhile, Mbappé's teammate Keylor Navas was named the best goalkeeper of the year following another outstanding season with the club.
Bottom Line
Some new players emerged in addition to the well-known ones at the end of the European football season 2020-2021. The Messi-Ronaldo era is coming to an end. So, stars like KylianMbappé andErlingHaalandwill have to fill the void. Also, the major teams were not very active on the transfer market last year because of Covid-19. So, the big teams did not perform the way they had hoped to and they are likely to be more active in the transfer market this year to make the 2021-2022 season more competitive.
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