Embraces

Real Madrid remains staunchly against allowing any of their footballers partaking in either the European Championship or Copa America to compete in the forthcoming Paris Olympics. Kylian Mbappe has made peace with missing the Olympics and cheers for France to claim the gold in his stead. The star striker, set to make his move to Real Madrid by June end, didn't make the cut for Thierry Henry’s initial 25-player roster for the Games commencing on July 24, shortly after the Euro 2024 concludes. Mbappe had harbored…

Jordan Pickford has rallied the English squad to thrive under the mounting pressure as clear contenders for Euro 2024's crown. The team reached the Euro 2020 finals, succumbing to Italy in a heart-wrenching shootout, and made notable progress in the preceding World Cups, under Gareth Southgate's leadership. Opta's calculations set England as front-runners for Euro 2024, with a 19.9% likelihood of victory, edging slightly past France at 19.1%. Pickford believes the youthful team can handle the weight of expectation that…

Euro 2024 is on the horizon, and Ilkay Gundogan is gearing up to captain Germany in the initial clash against Scotland this Friday. "Leading Germany in Euro 2024 is both a monumental honor and a rare chance," declared Gundogan, brimming with pride. Germany is hosting its premiere major international event since the 2006 World Cup, where Italy outplayed them in the semis. The team claimed a respectable third place, though. Under the guidance of Julian Nagelsmann, Germany aims to overturn their recent downturns, including…

Niclas Fullkrug is poised to serve as Germany's backup striker, providing robust support for Kai Havertz during Euro 2024. Julian Nagelsmann, Germany's coach, has entrusted Havertz with spearheading the team's attack, announcing this just as their opening match against Scotland approaches. Despite participating in five fewer matches, Fullkrug outshone Havertz in the 2023-24 season. He netted 16 goals compared to Havertz's 14 and notched 11 assists over Havertz's seven. Fullkrug's expected goals (xG) stood at 19.18,…

Dubai (AX) - On Thursday, Somali Ambassador Hussein Halane handed over his credentials to Saif Abdulla Alshamisi, the Assistant Undersecretary for Protocol Affairs at the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Dubai. The Emirati dignitary conveyed his best wishes to the ambassador for a fruitful tenure and the bolstering of relations and cooperation between Somalia and the UAE. Ambassador Halane voiced his honor in serving as his nation's representative in the UAE, a country revered regionally and globally, owing much to…

Hansi Flick will lead Barcelona in their quest to reclaim the top spot in Spanish football after finishing second to Real Madrid in LaLiga. Flick will follow Xavi at Camp Nou, signing a two-year contract after Xavi's sudden departure. Despite initial reluctance, Barcelona decided to part ways with Xavi amidst internal turmoil. The former Bayern Munich boss is eager to embrace Barcelona's philosophy and legacy, as he had great success at Bayern. Flick aims to maintain the possession-based and attacking style of play that…

Upon arrival at Liverpool, Arne Slot will be warmly greeted by Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch. Van Dijk confirmed his commitment to Liverpool and approved of Slot's appointment as the new manager, replacing Jurgen Klopp. Slot arrives at Anfield following a successful tenure at Feyenoord, where he clinched the league title in 2023. Van Dijk expressed his excitement about the upcoming season under Slot's leadership and assured his full support. Slot's impressive track record at Feyenoord includes six consecutive league…

Xavi expressed his departure from Barcelona without any regrets, resigning as head coach. He plans to remain a loyal fan of the team once he leaves. He initially announced his intention to leave Barca at the season's end. But events led him to prolong his tenure, ultimately ending with Club President Joan Laporta confirming his exit. Prior to Barcelona's final LaLiga match against Sevilla, Xavi was officially declared to be parting ways with the club. Last season, he led them to a LaLiga victory but fell short this time…

Erik ten Hag, under scrutiny as Manchester United boss, refuted claims of his imminent sacking. With reports swirling, he put to rest the notion that new part-owner Jim Ratcliffe wanted to axe him. Amid criticism, he maintained that INEOS is in his corner and wants him to lead the club through a rebuilding phase. Reflecting on United's recent struggles, he defended his tenure, underscoring the club's high expectations despite not being fully prepared for success. He also pushed back against pundits who he believes are quick…

The Chicago Fire aim to break their losing streak by defeating D.C. United in their next MLS match. Frank Klopas, the team's coach, is urging them to approach the game with a "relegation battle" mentality. After losing four consecutive games, including a recent defeat against the Columbus Crew, the Fire currently sit 14th in the Eastern Conference standings. This losing streak is their fifth since the start of 2021, but they haven't lost five in a row since 2018. Klopas emphasized the need to simplify their approach in…