Europe

Three European Countries Looking To Co-Host The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands unveiled plans on Monday for a joint bid to host the Women’s World Cup in 2027.

A statement released by the three countries' football associations said they had already expressed their intention to bid to world football’s governing body FIFA and that they would put together a formal agreement by the end of the year.

Ronald Koeman Says Messi Should Play Better, Barça Not Among UCL Contenders

Barcelona coach Ronald Koeman believes his side are not among the favorites to win this season’s Champions League with the Catalans having made a stuttering start to the new season.

Speaking ahead of Tuesday's visit of Hungarians Ferencvaros in their Champions League Group G opener, Koeman played down media talk that the Catalans could be European champions.

“When you’re at Barcelona you always want to be there fighting for trophies, be it in LaLiga or Europe. We aren’t the favorites, but we can go far,” he told a news conference.

Manchester United Without Key Players For Tuesday’s Trip To PSG

Edinson Cavani's hopes of making his Manchester United debut against former club Paris St Germain in the Champions League were dashed after the Uruguayan striker was left out of the traveling squad on Monday.

United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer confirmed Cavani as well as captain Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood, Eric Bailly and Jesse Lingard have missed the trip to the French capital for Tuesday's opening group stage match. Solskjaer confirmed Cavani still needs to work on his fitness levels, while Maguire has sustained a minor knock.

Variant Of “Özil Bounce” Technique Leaves Keeper Clawing At Air In Denmark

There are so many subtle, rarely magnified ways in which professional footballers are infinitely better than the rest of us. 

There’s the level of physical fitness that comes with being a professional athlete, amounting to Herculean feats of stamina and mental wherewithal that allow for essentially the same level of play in the first minute as in the 90th, and then there’s the freakish ability to complete a task in one touch whereas it’d take the rest of us five. 

Arjen Robben Is Football's Most Prolific Cyclist

Arjen Robben's trademark is probably his lethal left-footed finishes — most notably the curling far-post strikes he's converted so many times after cutting in from the right wing. But the former Bayern Munich winger might become renowned in the footballing world for his method of transportation to first team matches.

The Dutch legend arrived at FC Groningen's Eredivisie match against FC Utrecht on Sunday via a pair of wheels that many footballers are unaccustomed to.

David Silva’s Real Sociedad Goes Top Of LaLiga

A strange weekend in LaLiga that included defeats for both Real Madrid (1-0 to Cádiz) and Barcelona (1-0 to Getafe) ended with Real Sociedad at the top of the table following a 3-0 win over Real Betis at the Benito Villamarín on Sunday. 

Sociedad showed promise last season by advancing to the Copa del Rey final and finishing sixth in the league (the club’s highest standing in seven years), but the return of Martin Ødegaard to Real Madrid and transfer of Diego Llorente to Leeds United seemed like big losses — even with David Silva arriving from Manchester City on a free transfer.

Schalke Issues Apology To Youssoufa Moukoko After Fans Racially Abuse BVB Teenager

Schalke 04 on Sunday apologized to 15-year-old Borussia Dortmund player Youssoufa Moukoko after their fans hurled abuse at the teenager following his hat-trick in the Under-19 Ruhr derby.

"We can only apologize to Youssoufa Moukoko for what fans shouted during the Under-19 game," Schalke said on Twitter. "Putting emotions of a derby aside, we fully condemn such insults and reject them. We will take the necessary measures together with the Schalke fan department."

Kylian Mbappé Reveals The One Player He Idolizes More Than Cristiano Ronaldo

Kylian Mbappé appears to have all the talent to become the next Cristiano Ronaldo. I know, I know — “next Cristiano Ronaldo” is thrown out far too often, but this young man has already won a World Cup and reached the Champions League final all before his 22nd birthday and has repeatedly said he idolizes the Portuguese legend. 

With Mbappé likely to be Ronaldo’s true successor at Real Madrid next summer, it’s a great narrative to say he’ll be replacing his idol, especially when you think about those now-iconic photos of a young Mbappé in his room surrounded by Ronaldo posters.

Philadelphia Teen Signs With RB Salzburg, Breaks Transfer Record For Homegrown Player

The Philadelphia Union are transferring homegrown midfielder Brenden Aaronson to Austria's FC Red Bull Salzburg after the 2020 MLS season.

The team said the deal announced Friday includes a record transfer fee for a U.S.-based homegrown player — "close to $10 million," according to NBC Sports.

Davies Faces Stiff Competition For Becoming First CONCACAF Golden Boy Winner

The 20-man (boy) shortlist for the 2020 Golden Boy award was revealed on Thursday and it’s bursting at the seams with talent. Here's the full list of star players under the age of 21 that could win this prestigious award.

2020 Golden Boy Shortlist

I’m thanking my lucky stars that I'm not in charge of choosing the winner because picking only one is nearly impossible.

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