Sports

Spain beat France to reach Euro 2024 final

Published

2 years ago

July 9, 2024

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Tournament favourite, Spain have booked their place in the final of Euro 2024 with a comeback win over France in the semi-finals.

France took the lead when Randal Kolo Muani headed in a brilliant cross from Kylian Mbappe after just nine minutes. But their defence was broken down 12 minutes later when Lamine Yamal curled in a fantastic long-rang strike to become the youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championships.

Four minutes later, Dani Olmo brought down a rebound superbly before taking the ball away from Aurélien Tchouaméni and firing a shot towards the far post which an unlucky Jules Kounde turned into his own net.

France boss Didier Deschamps made three changes just after the hour mark, but his side failed to break down a solid Spanish defence. La Roja ultimately held on to win as they settled for a 2-1 scoreline, ensuring they have reached a final of a major tournament for the first time since Euro 2012. Here, Mirror Football rounds up the biggest talking points from the game.

Too little, too late from Mbappe
We have waited all tournament to see the best of Kylian Mbappe as he struggled through injury. As well as a back issue, the superstar broke his nose in France’s first game, forcing him to play with a protective mask up to now.

The France captain ditched it for this semi-final clash and immediately looked much brighter. Just nine minutes in, he found space before delivering an inch-perfect cross to Randal Kolo Muani who headed in the opener.

With Spain right-back Jesus Navas on a yellow-card after just 13 minutes, the stage looked set for Mbappe to finally arrive. That didn’t quite happen though, with Spain deploying a strategy of doubling up on the Real Madrid star, which kept him from making a sizeable impact.

After a few early chances, it looked plausible that France may be able to hold off Spain. But up stepped 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, who curled in a stunning equaliser after 21 minutes of the first-half.

After receiving the ball 30 yards out, Yamal set himself up before firing a shot that bounced off the post and into the net. It was a superb strike and made the Barcelona star the youngest goalscorer in the history of the European Championships.

Given he is just 16 years, 11 months, 26 days, it is a record that looks set to stand for some time to come. Yamal has been one of the brightest stars of this summer’s tournament and gave France left-back Theo Hernandez problems for much of the evening.

France entered this semi-final with the tournament’s best defensive record, with Robert Lewandowski’s penalty in the group stages the only goal they had conceded up to this point.

But in the space of four first-half minutes, their defensive walls crumbled. First, Yamal scored his stunning equaliser, before the unfortunate Jules Kounde turned Dani Olmo’s shot into his own net.

France’s progression at this tournament had been built on defensive solidity, but the Spanish caused Les Bleus huge problems at the back. With their initial tactical plans in tatters, the French became far more open.

Questions for Deschamps

France entered the tournament as one of the most-fancied squads, with an array of attacking talent. But boss Didier Deschamps has struggled to get his forward line to fire, instead focusing on defensive solidity.

It is a strategy that has served him well in his 12 years in charge, but given the wealth of talent at his disposal, some may feel France should have added a European Championship to the World Cup they won in 2018.

Questions will surely now come over Deschamps’ future, with France struggling to break down Spain after falling behind. After more than a decade at the helm, this could well have been his last game in charge after another missed opportunity.

Spain march on
Spain have undoubtedly been the best team at Euro 2024, easing through the group stage and the Last 16 before squeezing past hosts Germany in the quarter-finals. This win is easily their best so far as they fought back from a goal down.

Sports

Lionel Messi retires from international football

Published

3 weeks ago

August 31, 2026

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Argentina football legend, Lionel Messi, has drawn the curtain on his international football with Argentina after an illustrious career with the South American nation.

The 39-year-old made a total of 207 appearances, announced his retirement on Monday.

He won the World Cup in 2022, and was a runner-up in 2026 and 2014. He also secured two Copa América titles.

Messi wrote in a statement, “It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all – not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”

Messi, who made 207 appearances and reached three World Cup finals, is widely regarded by fans worldwide as the greatest footballer ever.

Sports

Tinubu orders comprehensive reform of Nigerian football after resignation of NFF board

Published

3 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football to ensure the national football team overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” he said.

Tinubu, according to a statement on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, made the decision to help the country “overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments”.

“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” the president said.

The President noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system.

He stressed that Nigerian football must begin to match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.

President Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process.

The process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework.

The President called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.

Sports

Ibrahim Gusau confirms resignation as NFF president, Mohammed Sanusi steps down as general secretary

Published

3 weeks ago

August 27, 2026

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Ibrahim Gusau has confirmed his resignation as the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The former chairman officially announced his resignation at a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday.

He said: “After consultation with family, friends and stakeholders, I just want to tell you that I have decided to resign from my position.

“As Nigerians, nobody is greater than this country. We all love our country and its progress. And as people who have been in football and managing football, we need to look at ourselves and ask, ‘What next?’ so we made a lot of consultations.”

Gusau added that he also advised members of the NFF board to follow his footsteps. He clarified, however, that he cannot say whether they would heed his advice.

A few minutes after Gusau’s announcement, the NFF, on its X page, confirmed the resignation of Mohammed Sanusi as the federation’s general secretary.

The mass resignation comes a few weeks after the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the women’s World Cup for the first time since the competition’s inception. The disappointment triggered backlash for the NFF board members.

According to rumours, the NFF leadership was pressured to step down after intervention from top brass of the Federal Government, from the National Sports Commission (NSC) to the presidency.

Gusau was elected NFF president in 2022, and his tenure was supposed to end next month, with an elective congress scheduled for September 27.

The fate of the congress is uncertain as reports claim that a normalisation committee will be set up to oversee the federation’s affairs until further notice.

Under Gusau’s leadership, the Super Eagles, like the Falcons, also failed to qualify for the men’s 2026 World Cup, despite Africa getting 10 slots for the first time. The failure also extended to age-grade football, with the men’s U-17 and U-20 teams missing out on World Cups.