MANCHESTER, England - Four teams head to London for the final week of Euro 2020 and as well as promising close battles, the two semifinals present a fascinating clash of football styles and tactical approaches.
While football has its ideologues, who insist that a particular approach is the right way to play the game, the “final four” are proof that there really is no single formula to success.
MANCHESTER - England have the chance to reach a first major final since their 1966 World Cup triumph when they take on Denmark at Wembley in Wednesday's Euro 2020 semifinal, but they will need to banish a history of stumbling at this stage.
Gareth Southgate's side were impressive in their 4-0 dismantling of Ukraine in Rome on Saturday, heralding a wave of euphoria in the country as media showered the team in praise.
LONDON - Spain coach Luis Enrique has coped with personal tragedy and the impact of negative public opinion to rally his young squad and lead them to the Euro 2020 semifinals.
Tuesday's game against Italy at Wembley is Spain's biggest match since they won the Euro 2012 final and victory would complete an eventful few weeks for the coach, who has been in the eye of the storm since before the tournament began.
SEVILLE - Spain's Euro 2020 had been turbulent before it began due to COVID-19 complications, but now the crisis is on the pitch where players lack spark, confidence or cutting edge — and are in serious danger of a shock group stage exit.
Saturday's 1-1 draw with Poland was a step back performance-wise from the opening 0-0 draw with Sweden and left Spain in the unexpected position of third in an unimposing Group E and needing to beat Slovakia in their last game to go through.
Looking at North Macedonia's obscure warmups heading into its match against Ukraine, there is no surprise it later lost. As fun as it looked, with the players racing up the pitch and passing the ball between each other using upturned cones, it didn't seem like the appropriate warmup for the Euro 2020 Group C match on Thursday.
Colombia comenzó con un triunfo su andar por la Copa América 2021. La selección dirigida por Reinaldo Rueda venció a Ecuador por 1-0, gracias a una elaborada jugada de laboratorio que inició y terminó el volante de Boca Juniors, Edwin Cardona. Tan excepcional fue la combinación que ya se candidatea para ser considerada como el mejor gol de la competencia.
The U.S. men's national team defeated Mexico in a highly contested match on Sunday to win the CONCACAF Nations League, marking the country’s first competitive victory over its rivals since September 10th, 2013.
The fruitless streak continued so long that I personally graduated middle school, high school and was just one year away from graduating college before the U.S. was victorious again. Christian Pulisic, the American captain who scored the go-ahead goal, was just 14 years old when the U.S. last claimed victory.
As the world heals from the pandemic, pick-up matches are on their way back as well. Pick-up matches exemplify all the best parts of soccer: intense rivalries, healthy competition and the opportunity to sharpen your skills.
PORTO, Portugal — It was billed as the night when Pep Guardiola would lead Manchester City to their first Champions League title but it ended with questions again being asked about the Spaniard's decision-making in the biggest games in Europe.
City were expected to beat Chelsea in this year's final but instead they lost 1-0 on Saturday courtesy of a first-half goal by Kai Havertz after Spaniard Guardiola was outfoxed by his German counterpart Thomas Tuchel.
PORTO, Portugal — Manchester City face Chelsea in the Champions League final on Saturday. Here are five key tactical battles to watch out for.
WILL CHELSEA'S WING-BACKS BE ABLE TO ATTACK?
Thomas Tuchel's system at Chelsea has been designed to give licence to the wing backs to attack, whether it be Cesar Azpilicueta or Reece James on the right and Ben Chilwell or Marcos Alonso on the left, the German has players who are effective in transition and provide width.