Sports
Switzerland shock Italy, secure Euro 2024 quarter-final spot
Switzerland shock Italy, secure Euro 2024 quarter-final spot
Switzerland dumped reigning champions Italy out of Euro 2024 with a stunning 2-0 victory on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals for the second time in their history.
Murat Yakin’s supremely well-drilled side outplayed the flat two-time winners in the last 16 clash in Berlin and will face England or Slovakia in the next round.
Ruben Vargas teed up Remo Freuler for Switzerland’s 37th minute opener before curling home superbly himself right at the start of the second half to deservedly double their lead.
A new-look Italy, short on star power and without many of the key figures that led them to Euro 2020 glory, offered little in response to Switzerland’s energetic display.
“It hurts, it really hurts,” said Italy’s captain and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.
“We can only say sorry to everyone, we were disappointing today and they deserved to win. We struggled all game long.”
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, arriving at the Euros after a stunning season with German champions Bayer Leverkusen, pulled the strings as the Swiss rarely looked like letting the lead slip away.
“I’m at a loss for words, it was the most important game of my career,” said Swiss midfielder Fabian Rieder.
“Everyone played for each other, we worked well in defence and attack… we have an incredibly great team.
“We want to enjoy the moment now but keep working hard for the next game.”
Italy coach Luciano Spalletti dropped Jorginho after his worrying group stage performances, bringing in Nicolo Fagioli in defensive midfield among a hefty six changes which failed to bring the Azzurri to life.
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Spalletti said the second goal had knocked the stuffing out of his side and their limitations had been exposed.
“Right now, for too many reasons, we are unable to do anything more than this,” he said.
Spalletti had called on his team to improve in the knock-out rounds after they scraped into the Last 16 with a last gasp equaliser in the 1-1 draw with Croatia.
However it was Switzerland who grew in confidence and pulled off their best display yet at the Olympiastadion in a sweltering Berlin, where a far more impressive Italy won the 2006 World Cup.
Former goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, now Italy’s delegation head, has been regaling the squad with stories from that triumph but it did not inspire a convincing performance — apart from by his modern day counterpart, Donnarumma.
The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper, key in Italy’s Euro 2020 conquest, made a fine save to thwart Breel Embolo midway through the first half as Switzerland created the first real chance by playing him through.
– Freuler opener –
Donnarumma could not stop Freuler from firing Switzerland ahead after 37 minutes when the midfielder controlled Vargas’ low cross and drilled home at the near post.
Switzerland kept the ball for well over a minute in the build-up, stringing together 33 passes before Freuler, who plays for Serie A side Bologna, applied the finishing touch.
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Donnarumma produced a fine save to tip Rieder’s free-kick on to the post before the break as the Swiss sought to equal their best ever performance at the last Euros by reaching the last eight.
Hosts Germany needed a late leveller to avoid defeat against the Swiss in the group phase, while in the previous edition they knocked out much fancied France in the last 16, so Italy cannot say they were not warned.
Spalletti hooked Stephan El Shaarawy at half-time for Zaccagni, but Italy gave the ball away from the kick-off and Switzerland doubled their lead just 27 seconds into the second period.
Augsburg midfielder Vargas, who started in place of the suspended Silvan Widmer but on the left of the attack, broke into the area and arced a superb curling shot over Donnarumma.
The closest Italy came to scoring was when Swiss defender Fabian Schar misjudged a header and hit the frame of his own goal.
The near-invisible Gianluca Scamacca also hit the post from close range, but appeared to be offside.
The sides drew twice in World Cup 2022 qualification with the Azzurri failing to make the tournament but went one better in Germany, securing their first win against Italy since 1993, after 11 without victory.
AFP
Switzerland shock Italy, secure Euro 2024 quarter-final spot
Sports
Saudi club Al-Ittihad woo Ademola Lookman with €11m salary
Saudi club Al-Ittihad woo Ademola Lookman with €11m salary
Saudi club Al-Ittihad has made a generous offer to Atalanta for forward Ademola Lookman, proposing an annual salary of nearly €11 million, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
According to transfer expert, Rudy Galetti, the Saudi club have also offered Atalanta €30m for the transfer, with negotiations between the clubs ongoing.
Lookman recently won his team’s first European trophy in the UEFA Europa League final, scoring three goals against previously unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen and becoming the match’s hero.
Despite his success, the forward is not in a rush to leave La Dea or European football just yet, but Al-Ittihad is attempting to lure him with substantial financial incentives.
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Lookman has been playing for Atalanta since the summer of 2022, joining from Leipzig for €9.35m. Last season, he scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 45 matches for the Italian club.
The 26-year-old’s performances have attracted interest from several top clubs across Europe. Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Serie A side Juventus are reportedly keen on acquiring Lookman, alongside several top Premier League clubs.
Since making the switch from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig to the Italians, Lookman has scored 32 times in 78 matches across all competitions for La Dea. His current contract with Atalanta expires in 2026, and while he is content at the club, he is keeping his options open ahead of the pre-season.
Saudi club Al-Ittihad woo Ademola Lookman with €11m salary
Sports
Man United keen on getting Osimhen, offer Hojlund plus cash
Man United keen on getting Osimhen, offer Hojlund plus cash
Manchester United are keen on signing Victor Osimhen with the Red Devils reportedly plotting a player plus cash deal to sign the 25-year-old Napoli striker.
The Nigerian has been linked with clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal and PSG but a report from CalcioNapoli24 states that United are very much in the race as well.
According to the report, the Red Devils have offered cash plus striker Rasmus Hojlund in a deal for the Napoli man, and it will be interesting to see if the Italian giants are willing to accept such an offer.
Hojlund joined United last season and was quite impressive in his debut campaign in England. It would be quite surprising if they decided to sanction his departure. The Denmark international is a prodigious talent with a bright future, and he could develop into a key player for the club.
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Sports
Joshua moves out of mom’s £175k house ahead Dubois fight
Joshua moves out of mom’s £175k house ahead Dubois fight
Former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua recently moved out of his mother’s north London flat into a new mansion.
The 2012 Olympic champion with nearly £100 million in the bank, revealed that he recently moved out and praised his mother, Yeta, adding that he stayed in his mother’s flat to ensure her well-being.
“I didn’t want to leave my mom alone,” he said on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.
“I wanted to make sure that her foundations were strong—the nest was strong—so that when I leave, mom’s good. For me, that’s freedom. Knowing no matter where I am in the world, mom’s happy and taken care of.”
The British-Nigerian fighter will face fellow Brit Daniel Dubois on September 21 at Wembley Stadium in London for the IBF belt. This bout was arranged following the confirmation by current titleholder Oleksandr Usyk that he would vacate the world title.
Usyk became the first heavyweight to hold the IBF, WBO, WBA, and WBC belts when he defeated Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia last month. However, he was set to be stripped of the IBF title, with the body stipulating he must face its mandatory challenger, Dubois, to retain it.
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Dubois, who beat Filip Hrgovic to become interim IBF champion earlier in June, said he is determined to dethrone the two-time world champion, Joshua. “That’s just what I’m aiming for—to be the best,” Dubois said.
“To fight the best and beat the best. Joshua has been the king for a long time. On the night, I need to become the king slayer. That’s my goal, and that’s the mission I have. I’m ready to let my fists do the talking. A hundred percent ready to go, train like a beast. So bring it on.”
Joshua, 34, was beaten twice by Usyk in 2021 and 2022, while the Ukrainian knocked out Dubois last year. However, Joshua is currently on a four-fight winning streak, enjoying three stoppages in his last three outings. It will be his fourth appearance at Wembley, though Dubois will be stepping out as a main event at the national stadium for the first time.
“Congratulations to Daniel for winning his last fight (against Hrgovic); I went to watch it live,” Joshua said.
“It was a good fight between the two of them. I picked Dubois to win as well; I watch boxing closely, and I picked him before. He came through, and we are here. I’ve been having Dubois on my mind for a while. He’ll be on my mind for the next 12 weeks until I’ve got my hand raised.”
Joshua moves out of mom’s £175k house ahead Dubois fight
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