Switzerland keepers Yann Sommer and Gregor Kobel have been going the extra mile in training to put their best foot forward against Harry Kane & Co.
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On Monday, Nuno Espirito Santo and Nottingham Forest heard the news that Premier League relegation rivals Everton had seen their points deduction reduced from 10 points to six on appeal, shifting the landscape at the bottom of the table. With the Toffees' points tally increasing from 21 to 25, Forest (on 24) have now dropped to 17th place, making them the immediate target for Luton Town in 18th.
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More significantly, the league have charged Forest with breaching the Profit and Sustainability Rules in the period up to the end of last season. Everton have also been charged, and it remains to be seen whether they face a further penalty.
Writing on X, The Times' chief sports reporter Martyn Ziegler shared a bleak warning for Forest ahead of their disciplinary hearing at an independent commission early next month.
Ziegler says a "points deduction looks certain" for Nuno's side, pointing to a paragraph in the Everton appeal ruling that says "any breach of rule E.51 [excessive losses] warrants a points deduction, and nothing less".
Let's say based on precedent that Forest also lose six points for their alleged breach, then they would fall into the relegation zone, two below Luton, who retain a game in hand after the abandonment of their clash with Bournemouth in December.
|
How the Premier League table would look if Forest were deducted six points |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Club |
P |
GD |
PTS |
|
15 |
Everton |
26 |
-6 |
25 |
|
16 |
Brentford |
26 |
-11 |
25 |
|
17 |
Luton Town |
25 |
-16 |
20 |
|
18 |
*Nottingham Forest |
26 |
-14 |
18 |
|
19 |
Burnley |
26 |
-33 |
13 |
|
20 |
Sheffield United |
26 |
-44 |
13 |
However, the reality is that the table will look different by the time any such penalty is applied. Indeed, based on Ziegler's report, it could be another six weeks before a verdict is reached. There's a scenario where Forest only discover their fate with six league games to go, and then there's the possibility of a challenge from the 2022 Championship play-off winners, just like we saw from Everton.
If you're a Forest player or supporter, you just want clarity this point so you know where you stand – the delay feels like a punishment in itself. What's abundantly clear, though, is that the Tricky Trees have a series of vital games on the horizon, travelling to Luton just before the international break and then hosting Crystal Palace. They will head to Goodison Park to face Everton before the end of April too.
Even if Forest avoid a deduction, which looks extremely unlikely at this point, these are arguably must-win fixtures to ensure survival. The message from Nuno to his players should be to focus on what they can control, starting with Saturday's home game against Liverpool.
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As Jurgen Klopp prepares to depart on the ultimate high at the end of the Premier League season, Liverpool have reportedly already turned their attention towards summer reinforcements with another midfield addition targeted.
The headlines surrounding Liverpool have unsurprisingly been centred around Klopp's replacement this summer, with Xabi Alonso seemingly the leading candidate. According to reports the Reds have already made an offer to Alonso in an attempt to secure his signature ahead of Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
The former midfield star has caught the attention of European football this season for his work with Bayer Leverkusen, who sit top of the Bundesliga and unbeaten in an extraordinary campaign.
If it is to be Alonso, then those at Anfield will need to turn their attention towards reinforcements who could slot into his 3-4-2-1 system. And that's where Teun Koopmeiners could come in. The Atalanta attacking midfielder has been linked with the Reds in recent days ahead of a potential summer move and could take up the role that Florian Wirtz has thrived in under Alonso, should Liverpool secure both moves.
Meanwhile, FSG have been tipped to move to hand their next manager an in-demand star. According to Foot Mercato, Liverpool are chasing Alan Varela and sent a scout to watch the Porto midfielder in his last outing – a stunning 5-0 thrashing of title rivals Benfica.
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However, if the Premier League giants do want to secure the defensive midfielder's signature this summer, not only will they have to trigger his reported release clause of €70m (£60m), but they will also have to beat the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund in a busy race to get their deal over the line in the coming months.
Anfield has seen in recent weeks just how good Alexis Mac Allister can be in a more advanced role, with Wataru Endo's return playing a large part in accommodating that. At 31-years-old, the Japan international is not a long-term solution to unlocking Mac Allister's best traits, however. And that's where Varela should come in.
The Porto midfielder, at 22-years-old, is already impressing and has even outperformed Endo in several areas so far this season, as the numbers show.
|
League stats 23/24 (via FBref) |
Alan Varela |
Wataru Endo |
|---|---|---|
|
Progressive Carries |
18 |
6 |
|
Progressive Passes |
105 |
54 |
|
Blocks |
28 |
15 |
|
Interceptions |
18 |
10 |
Given that Varela is Mac Allister's Argentine compatriot too, Liverpool could form an ideal partnership at the heart of their next manager's midfield. If the Porto man did arrive, he'd become the Reds' fifth South American in and around the current squad, adding to Mac Allister, Darwin Nunez, Alisson Becker and Luis Diaz.
What's more, Football Talent Scout's Jacek Kulig is someone who will certainly back Varela to succeed wherever he ends up, having praised the Argentine by describing him on X as a "Rolls-Royce" when detailing his ability.
Football goes beyond just being a sport to becoming a spectacle of human drama and emotion in the high-stakes arena of the UEFA European Championship, when nations clash and emotions erupt.
Over the years, there have been a number of contentious moments in football history. These incidents, which range from dodgy referee calls to controversial off-field decisions, have also generated discussions among players, spectators and officials.
And with technology now in play these days, there will surely be plenty more controversial moments to come.
With that being said, we have compiled a list of the top 10 most controversial moments in European Championship history…
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Turkey v Croatia quarter-final
The Euro 2008 quarter-final match between Turkey and Croatia was headed for a Croatian win with a late goal in extra time, only for Turkey to score an even later equaliser, taking the match to penalties, where they won.
The controversy stemmed from the timing of Turkey’s goal, with debates over whether the referee should have ended the match before the equaliser was scored. This incident remains a point of debate regarding timekeeping and referee discretion in ending matches, which is something we have seen in the Premier League and other leagues as well.
(The drama kicks in at 10:21 here…)
Marko Arnautovic’s goal celebration
Marko Arnautovic appeared to disrespect opponents of Macedonian origin during his celebration following a goal against North Macedonia during Euro 2020.
Arnautovic received a one-match ban from UEFA as a result of the celebration, which some deemed unsportsmanlike and gave rise to accusations of racism. This served as a reminder of the organisation’s opposition to racism and discrimination.
Yugoslavia's disqualification
Following a strong qualifying campaign, Yugoslavia had earned a spot in the 1992 Euro, which was scheduled to take place in Sweden. With a wealth of talent that has made major contributions to European football, the team was regarded as one of the tournament favorites. But the growing violence inside its boundaries attracted international criticism, and the UN placed economic sanctions on Yugoslavia as a result.
Less than a month before the competition was scheduled to begin in May 1992, UEFA, the organisation that governed football in Europe, came under growing pressure to take action. In the face of mounting worries about the event’s safety and security as well as the political ramifications of Yugoslavia’s involvement, UEFA took the historic decision to banish the Yugoslav squad from contention.
The dismissal occurred as a direct result of international sanctions placed on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by UN Security Council Resolution 757. The decision made by UEFA was in line with the larger international campaign to isolate Yugoslavia due to the conflict and violations of human rights that were taking place on its soil.
Denmark, who had placed second in the same qualifying group, was invited to play in the tournament to take up the void left by Yugoslavia’s exclusion. This last-minute addition proved to be a Cinderella tale as Denmark went on to win the title, overcoming Germany in the final and the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.
Sol Campbell disallowed goal v Portugal
England defender Sol Campbell headed what many English fans believed to be a worthy late winner in the quarter-final matchup against Portugal at Euro 2004. Nevertheless, the goal was disallowed by the referee, who penalised John Terry for supposedly fouling Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo in the build-up.
It has been disputed whether the referee’s ruling was excessively harsh, which resulted in England’s elimination following a penalty shootout.
Sol Campbell has come out since, talking on the incident.
Mario Balotelli racist abuse v Croatia
During Euro 2012, Mario Balotelli was subjected to racist taunts, particularly during the group stage match between Croatia and Italy in Poland, in which Croatian fans were the suspects.
UEFA investigated the racial insults after taking the matter seriously. After the investigation, UEFA fined the Croatian Football Federation €80,000 (£62,800) for the fan behaviour, which included inappropriate and racist banners being displayed, pyrotechnics being set off and thrown, as well as racist chants directed at Balotelli.
Spain's 'offside' goal v Croatia
Another controversial moment in 2012 was the dispute that erupted during Croatia’s match against Spain, leaving players and spectators arguing over the nuances of football’s offside rule.
The dispute started in the 88th minute. After receiving a pass from Cesc Fabregas, Andres Iniesta appeared to be in an offside position, but he calmly squared to Jesus Navas, who hammered the ball into an empty net. The players from Croatia, together with their coach Slaven Bilić, quickly protested the goal, who maintained that when Fabregas made the pass, Iniesta was offside.
The decision was quite close, as evidenced by post-match replays and analysis. Some angles even suggested that Iniesta might have been level with the final defender at the time the ball was played. But as there was no VAR available at the time, the assistant referee’s on-field ruling stayed and there was no chance for a video review.
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Booing of the Danish national anthem
When England and Denmark played in the Euro 2020 semi-final at Wembley Stadium, English fans booed the Danish national anthem, which caused a lot of controversy and outrage.
This move was swiftly criticised heavily by spectators as well as by those within the stadium. The media and supporters condemned the conduct as “disgraceful” and “unsportsmanlike”, emphasising that it goes against the values of respect and worldwide unity as well as the spirit of the game.
We have to agree.
Ronald Koeman's crazy celebration
One of the most talked-about moments from Euro 1988 was Ronald Koeman’s celebration following West Germany and the Netherlands’ semi-final match, which perfectly captured the fierce rivalry between the two countries.
The incident in question happened after the game when Germany’s Olaf Thon and Koeman were spotted switching shirts. Now, this doesn’t seem like anything crazy, but it was what came after that caused a rift. Television cameras captured Koeman acting as though he was wiping his behind right in front of the Dutch supporters, wearing the shirt that Thon had given him.
Outrage was instantly ignited by this move, which was seen as a deliberate act of disrespect towards the German team and its supporters.
Spain banned from playing against USSR
One famous instance of politics having a direct impact on sports during the Cold War era is Spain’s withdrawal from the 1960 European Nations’ Cup – the first edition of the European Championship – after being pitted against the Soviet Union.
Spain were scheduled to meet the Soviet Union in the tournament’s quarter-finals but dictator Francisco Franco’s administration stopped the game from being played on Spanish territory. Strongly anti-communist, Franco’s government refused to acknowledge the Soviet Union.
The Spanish Football Federation was forced to exit the competition as a result of government intervention, allowing the Soviet Union to advance to the semi-finals. The USSR defeated Yugoslavia 2-1 in the tournament final in Paris to win the title.
Sweden v Denmark match-fixing allegations
Due to claims of match-fixing, the Euro 2004 Group C encounter between Sweden and Denmark caused a great deal of controversy. Italy was eliminated from the tournament with the final score of a 2-2 draw, which sparked rumours and claims that the two Scandinavian nations may have orchestrated the outcome.
Before the game, there was a lot of talk that, regardless of Italy’s performance against Bulgaria in their last group encounter, a 2-2 draw would guarantee that both Sweden and Denmark advanced to the quarter-finals at the expense of Italy. Suspicion and tensions increased during the game, particularly among Italian supporters and the media, as it progressed and reached the controversial 2-2 outcome.
Sweden equalised after Denmark took the lead twice, and the second Swedish goal came late in the game to seal the draw that would see both teams through.
Italian supporters and media expressed their displeasure, criticising the match’s integrity and claiming that the result was too opportune to be coincidental. However, players, referees, and coaching staff from both Sweden and Denmark angrily refuted any accusations of match-fixing, insisting that the game was done honestly and competitively.
After reviewing the game, UEFA also discovered no proof of conspiracy or misconduct on the part of the participating teams, which led to them upholding the outcome.
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Fabrizio Romano has teased the possibility of Manchester United making a move for a star Premier League player this summer.
The Red Devils haven’t had the best of campaigns under Erik ten Hag, which has resulted in speculation over a new manager arriving at Old Trafford.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS now have full control over sporting decisions, with Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, England boss Gareth Southgate, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou and Brentford’s Thomas Frank all being linked as possible replacements to the Dutchman.
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Alongside the search for a potential new manager over the coming months, United may look to sign a plethora of new players in Ratcliffe’s first transfer window. However, Ratcliffe hinted that the Red Devils may not splash the cash.
Despite this, a number of targets have been named in the media in recent days, with contacts being intensified for Juventus defender Gleison Bremer. A bid has also been made to Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, whereas an important offer has been launched for AC Milan’s teenage forward Francesco Camarda.
Another forward who could be on the move this summer is Ivan Toney, and it looks as if Old Trafford may well be a potential destination.
Talking to CaughtOffside in his Daily Briefing, transfer expert Romano has said that a Man Utd move for Brentford striker Toney “could be one to watch”, with the Red Devils set to discuss their options internally.
“It’s just one of the options to be considered and discussed internally. As I said here multiple times, Man United are still in early stages of the process to decide which striker they want to sign; experienced or young. Talks are gonna take place internally, Toney will be one of the names available on the market so could be one to watch.”
Toney has been heavily linked with Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks, with reports after the January transfer window shut claiming that the Bees are holding out for £80m for the England international.
Currently, United have Rasmus Hojlund as their only fit and firing centre-forward, with Anthony Martial once again out through injury and on course to become a free agent in the summer.
Therefore, bringing in someone like Toney, who impressed for England against Belgium alongside Kobbie Mainoo, could be a shrewd move. In fact, the pair share the same CAA Stellar agency and Toney, aged 28, is now a proven Premier League goalscorer, so United could have the perfect blend of experience and youth with Hojlund and Toney.
Leeds United took another step on the road to securing automatic promotion back to the Premier League with a big 3-1 win over Hull City on Monday.
The Whites needed a late penalty from Crysencio Summerville, who took the ball off Joel Piroe to take the spot-kick, and a stoppage time long-ranger from Dan James to secure all three points at Elland Road, after Fabio Carvalho cancelled out Sam Byram's opener.
Ipswich Town are currently one point ahead of the club, in first place, whilst Leicester City are one point behind Daniel Farke's side, with one game in hand on the top two.
Leeds will be looking to avoid the lottery of the play-offs in the post-season and that means that they have to keep churning out results over the next six matches to ensure that they finish in one of the top two places to land automatic promotion to the Premier League, having been relegated from the top-flight last summer.
The Whites reportedly already have allowed some of their focus to shift to the summer transfer window and how they could improve their squad, whether they are in the Championship or the top division.
According to a recent report from the Belfast Telegraph, Leeds are one of a number of clubs interested in a deal to sign Sunderland star Trai Hume at the end of the season.
The outlet claimed that the Whites are considering a swoop to snap up the Northern Ireland international to bolster their options at full-back ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.
It named Aston Villa, Bournemouth, and Leicester as the other English teams keeping tabs on his progress at the Stadium of Light, which means that there could be Premier League competition for his signature.
Reigning Serie A champions Napoli, who were in the Champions League this season, are also said to be weighing up a move for the talented right-back, who has seemingly caught the eye with his performances on the pitch in the Championship this season.
The report did not, however, reveal how much Sunderland would demand for the defender, who they paid £200k for in January 2022, from the interested clubs.
It, therefore, remains to be seen how viable a deal is for Leeds irrespective of the division they are due to be in next season. If the Whites are promoted to the Premier League, though, they could use that to tempt the full-back into making the move to Elland Road.
Farke could now land a big upgrade on current right-back Byram, who is out of contract at the end of this season, by securing a deal for Hume.
The German boss brought the Leeds academy graduate back to Yorkshire for a second spell at the club, having also worked with him during their time together at Norwich, on a free transfer from the Canaries last summer.
Byram penned a one-year deal at Elland Road and has been a reliable performer when called upon throughout the season, at both left-back and right-back.
In four years at Norwich, the defender only played 54 matches in all competitions for the Norfolk-based outfit, with various injury issues, but has already racked up 32 appearances for Leeds this term.
|
23/24 Championship |
Sam Byram |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
29 |
|
Starts |
21 |
|
Sofascore rating |
7.17 |
|
Duel success rate |
55% |
|
Tackles per game |
1.8 |
|
Interceptions per game |
1.2 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
|
As you can see in the table above, 29 of those games have come in the Championship as the versatile ace has provided Farke with defensive quality on the left and the right flank.
Byram, who scored the opening goal against Hull on Monday by bundling the ball in at the back post, has chipped in with two goals and one assist in those matches, with only one 'big chance' created for his teammates.
Despite his solid performances in the Championship, his aforementioned injury issues with Norwich and the fact he turns 31 in September mean that it could make sense to shake hands and part ways in the summer.
His contract expires at the end of this season and Hume could be brought in as a natural successor to Byram, whilst being an upgrade on the 30-year-old gem who also has room to improve at the age of 22.
The Northern Irish whiz has been in fantastic form in the Championship for the Black Cats so far this season, and has outperformed the current Leeds man.
His progressive play on the ball could, firstly, make him a smart addition for Leeds from a stylistic perspective, given Farke's possession-based system.
Hume ranks within the top 16% of full-backs in the division for progressive passes (4.91) per 90, and the top 18% for pass success rate (81.6%), which shows that the 5 foot 11 dynamo looks to play forward to progress play for his side and is efficient at doing so in comparison to his positional peers.
The 22-year-old star, who was once hailed as "outstanding" by journalist Josh Bunting, also has fantastic defensive qualities that could make him a big upgrade on Byram.
|
23/24 Championship |
Sam Byram |
Trai Hume |
|---|---|---|
|
Appearances |
29 |
40 |
|
Tackles per game |
1.8 |
3.4 |
|
Interceptions per game |
1.2 |
1.5 |
|
Ball recoveries per game |
3.7 |
5.5 |
|
Ground duel success rate |
55% |
58% |
|
Aerial duel success rate |
54% |
60% |
|
Red cards |
0 |
1 |
|
Stats via Sofascore |
||
As you can see in the table below, the Black Cats titan has outperformed the English defender in almost every key defensive metric in the Championship this season.
Hume wins possession back for his team more frequently, through tackles and interceptions, and wins a higher percentage of his duels with opposition attackers, on the ground and in the air, which shows that he is a more effective and efficient defender.
Like Byram, the young enforcer also has the versatility to be deployed at left-back or right-back. This means that the Leeds target could be the perfect signing to replace the former Norwich ace, given that he can operate and provide cover on either side.
Therefore, Farke must push to secure a deal for the talented defender to improve his squad during the summer transfer window, as Hume could offer more quality at the back with his fantastic defensive skills whilst also having room to develop at his young age.