Europe

Criticized As A ‘Parasite’ In Spanish Media, Gareth Bale Goes On The Offensive

Gareth Bale hit back at "malicious" criticism from Spanish media on Friday, saying an article in Madrid-based paper Marca was a "piece of slanderous, derogatory and speculative journalism."

Marca called the Welsh captain a "parasite" and accused him of faking a back injury that kept him out of Real Madrid's humiliating loss to Barcelona at the weekend, four days before he scored both goals in Wales's win over Austria in their World Cup playoff game.

After Summer Of 'Most Beautiful Joy,' Italy Experiences 'The Greatest Disappointment'

Italy broke English hearts last July as they won the European Championship final but after failing to qualify for the World Cup for the second straight tournament they have left fans thinking their Wembley triumph was a flash in the pan.

For a country who have won the World Cup four times, Italy's recent record is a national embarrassment.

Since lifting their fourth World Cup trophy in 2006, they have not played a knockout game in the showpiece event, having only won one group stage match at the finals in that time. Their recent World Cup record is even more distressing.

Italia Es Un Mar De Lágrimas: Macedonia Del Norte Dejó A La Azzurra Fuera Del Mundial

Sorpresa e incredulidad son los sentimientos que mejor resumen lo vivido hoy en el Estadio Renzo Barbera. Porque Italia, actual campeón europeo, cayó inesperada y agónicamente ante Macedonia del Norte y con ello se perderá su segundo mundial consecutivo.

North Macedonia Just Pulled Off The Greatest Upset In Soccer History To Deny Italy From World Cup

North Macedonia pulled off one the biggest upsets in sporting history on Thursday when the minnows took on European champions Italy in a World Cup playoff and somehow pulled off a 1-0 victory in Palermo.

This game could've been played 100 times and Italy wins 99 times.

But I watched this game from start to finish and I must say the North Macedonia win was absolutely deserved. I don’t know if I've ever seen a more valiant display of defending in my life. Italy recorded 32 shots but only five ended up on target. 

Ball Don’t Lie: Turkey Misses Soft Penalty To Help Portugal, Ronaldo Eke Through

Sometimes, the ball knows more than the referee and video replay.

With Portugal nursing a one-goal lead late in its UEFA World Cup qualifying playoff, Turkey was awarded a Charmin-soft penalty. Burak Yılmaz stepped up to the spot, but the ball knew what had to happen.

Yılmaz skied his penalty over the crossbar, Portugal scored a late insurance goal and Cristiano Ronaldo’s side advanced to the qualifying final with a 3-1 victory on Thursday. 

Portugal now will play North Macedonia, which stunned Italy 1-0, on Tuesday for the right to go to the World Cup in November. 

Godly Gareth Bale Performance Puts Wales On Cusp Of First World Cup Since 1958

Gareth Bale's 2021-22 Real Madrid season was summed up by last Sunday's Clásico, when rumors of a surprise start in replace of the injured Karim Benzema led to nothing more than the Welshman missing out on the matchday squad entirely.

Bale's played a total of just 270 minutes in five appearances across all competitions, including only 77 minutes this calendar year, and his only goal of the campaign came way back in August.

But as we all know, Bale's an entirely different animal when representing his national team: Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order.

¿Aló Necaxa? ¿Aló MLS? Mesut Özil Se Peleó Con Su Técnico Y Ya Le Buscan Un Nuevo Club

Mesut Özil vive días turbulentos en el Fenerbahçe y no faltan aquellos que especulan con un nuevo destino para el talentoso volante, entre ellos el Necaxa de México y la MLS.

Pelea de Mesut Özil con su técnico

El seleccionado alemán arribó al club turco en enero de 2021, luego de una tóxica relación con el Arsenal.

Hay Gente Que Siempre Cae De Pie: El Vasco Aguirre Tiene Nuevo Equipo En LaLiga

Javier Aguirre no tardó mucho en encontrar un nuevo trabajo. Menos de un mes después de ser despedido por el Monterrey – por su mala campaña en Liga MX y un papelón en el Mundial de Clubes –, el Vasco fue presentado oficialmente como entrenador del Mallorca, en LaLiga.

Guess Who's Back? Ada Hegerberg Returns To Norway Squad After Five-Year Absence

Lyon forward Ada Hegerberg returned to the Norway squad for the first time in nearly five years on Thursday, handing a huge boost to the team ahead of this year's European Championship.

Hegerberg, who won the inaugural women's Ballon d'Or in 2018, quit the national team in 2017 because of a dispute with the Norwegian Football Federation over the treatment of women's soccer in the country. The federation's attempts to break the impasse failed.

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