Watch highlights as Arsenal's stuttering start to the season continues as they slump to a 1-0 defeat to Inter Milan at the San Siro after a first-half penalty from Hakan Calhanoglu.
Ryan Giggs was named as Salford City's director of football earlier this year but the Welshman has begun getting involved in the dugout and during the pre-match warm-ups
Turkey’s golden generation owes little to domestic academies but Galatasaray, who face Spurs next week, are at least starting to move away from high-earning veterans Turkish football is having a bit of a moment. Teenager Kenan Yildiz – recently given the No 10 shirt at Juventus and a contract until 2029 – was the saviour for the Bianconeri at the weekend, scoring two late goals in the Derby d’Italia to earn a remarkable 4-4 draw at Inter. Hakan Calhanoglu was sidelined for that match but on Monday he became the first Turkish man to feature on the Ballon d’Or shortlist since 2003, finishing 20th above Bukayo Saka and Cole Palmer, among others. Oh, and then there’s Real Madrid’s Arda Güler, the nation’s unequivocal poster boy, who was voted the second best young player in the world – behind only Lamine Yamal – in the Ballon d’Or’s Kopa Trophy award. Bolstered by these talents playing overseas, Turkey look stronger than they have in decades, and were unfortunate not to beat Netherlands in their Euro 2024 quarter-final. Yet of the 10 outfield players that started against the Dutch, only four players were born in the country, or brought through a Turkish academy. The pathway for domestic-based Turkish talent remains filled with obstacles. Continue reading...
Sorba Thomas says Wales team-mate Harry Wilson is the ideal player to succeed Gareth Bale as a talisman for the national team.
Wales have been searching for the long-term successor to Gareth Bale ever since the former Real Madrid superstar retired in January 2023, with new boss Craig Bellamy potentially finding his man
A second coming and a Gareth Bale-matching third goal in three games for Harry Wilson - what else did we learn as Craig Bellamy's unbeaten start as Wales boss continued with victory over Montenegro?
Craig Bellamy became the first Wales manager to go unbeaten in his first four matches after edging out Montenegro. It was not all liquid football but there was more promise as Harry Wilson’s third goal in three games, this one from the penalty spot, earned victory and saw him become the first Welshman since Gareth Bale at Euro 2016 to score in three consecutive matches. Wilson has been involved in eight goals in his past nine Wales appearances (five goals, three assists). Joe Allen, 685 days after his last appearance for his country, a miserable defeat by England in Qatar, entered midway through the second half to a warm ovation. Continue reading...
Swansea midfielder returns for Nations League tiesHe stepped down shortly after 2022 World Cup in Qatar Joe Allen is to come out of international retirement and return to the Wales squad for this month’s Nations League double header against Iceland and Montenegro. Craig Bellamy will confirm his squad on Wednesday morning. The 34-year-old Swansea midfielder stepped down from Wales duty a couple of months after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after which the former captain Gareth Bale and defender Chris Gunter retired altogether. Continue reading...
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has claimed Sir Alex Ferguson had moves for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale blocked by the club in his final season in charge
Jamie Carragher has revealed the player he feels is currently the best in the Premier League and compared him to former Tottenham and Real Madrid star Gareth Bale
David Beckham was one of the most prolific free-kick takers of his generation during his time with Manchester United but ex-Tottenham star Gareth Bale does not believe he is the best of all time
Gareth Bale has finally picked a side in the ongoing debate surrounding whether Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi is the greatest player in the history of football
Gareth Bale believes Wales have a bright future ahead under new head coach Craig Bellamy.
It was certainly not the convincing and commanding display Erik ten Hag might have desired to kickstart what is hoped will be a new Manchester United era, but a winning goal from the debutant striker Joshua Zirkzee and a clean sheet against Fulham bring the platform he craves. Ten Hag knows it was a similar story last season when they bungled their way past Wolves to start a campaign that ended with an eighth-placed finish. Results are what matter but performances will need to improve once the team settles. Zirkzee arrived from Bologna in the summer and he has built expectations early and showed a clinical nature that has been lacking at Old Trafford for a number of years. His jabbed effort might have looked like a stroke of luck but it was precision finishing from the Dutch international who wears the No 11 shirt, a garment somewhat tainted since the retirement of Ryan Giggs a decade ago. Continue reading...
