Pablo Maffeo of RCD Mallorca and Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid compete for the ball during the La Liga match between RCD Mallorca and Real Madrid CF at Estadi de Son Moix on August 18, 2024 in Mallorca, Spain
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Defending champion Real Madrid couldn’t manage more than a 1-1 draw at Mallorca in Kylian Mbappe’s first Spanish league match.

In his second game with Madrid after debuting midweek, Mbappe failed to break through on Sunday. The France World Cup winner had scored in Madrid’s 2-0 win against Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday.

Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti started with the same squad that beat Atalanta, with Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Mbappe in attack.

“They change position from time to time,” Ancelotti said of Vinicius and Mbappe.

“Sometimes Mbappe plays more centrally and sometimes one of the two has to occupy this flank, without a particular plan. It depends on how they feel about it.”

It was Rodrygo who put Madrid ahead against Mallorca 13 minutes into the match, but the hosts equalised with Vedat Muriqi’s goal in the 53rd.

“We got off to a good start, taking the lead and then had a chance to get the second goal,” Ancelotti said.

“We didn’t find the balance in the second half. We could have lost as there was no balance at the back. It wasn’t a good game. We need to defend better. We’re a very attacking team, but defensive balance is a fundamental factor.”

Madrid defender Ferland Mendy was sent off deep into second-half stoppage time for a hard foul on Muriqi.

“I don’t want to make excuses for anything, but we just need to do better and with a better attitude,” Ancelotti said.

“We can learn a lot from this match. It’s quite clear where our problems could come from.”

Rafael Nadal, who is from the island of Mallorca, was among those watching the match at the Son Moix Stadium.

Mallorca’s players provided a guard of honour for the Super Cup winners, lining up to applaud the Madrid team as they entered the field before kickoff.

Sociedad stunned at home

Real Sociedad, which finished sixth last season, was upset 2-1 at home by Rayo Vallecano, which fought to avoid relegation in the last campaign.

Jorge de Frutos and Sergio Camello scored second-half goals to put Rayo in front, while Sociedad only found the net with Martín Zubimendi’s goal deep into stoppage time.

On Saturday, Robert Lewandowski scored twice to give Barcelona a 2-1 win at Valencia in coach Hansi Flick’s Spanish league debut.

Atletico Madrid visits Villarreal on Monday.

England’s forward Ollie Watkins and England’s defender Kieran Trippier celebrate at the end of the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final football match between the Netherlands and England at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund on July 10, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

England reached a second straight European Championship final by beating the Netherlands 2-1 thanks to substitute Ollie Watkins’ stoppage-time winner on Wednesday.

Watkins, who came on for captain Harry Kane in a bold call by coach Gareth Southgate, turned and smashed a fierce shot into the bottom corner in the first minute of added-on time.

England will play Spain in Sunday’s final in Berlin. It will be the nation’s first title match on foreign soil, having won the World Cup in 1966 and lost to Italy in the Euro 2020 final — both times at Wembley Stadium.

In an open first half, Harry Kane’s 18th-minute penalty canceled out Xavi Simons’ brilliantly struck opener for the Dutch in the seventh minute.

Dani Olmo of Spain celebrates scoring his team’s second goal with teammate Lamine Yamal during the UEFA EURO 2024 Semi-Final match between Spain and France at Munich Football Arena on July 09, 2024 in Munich, Germany.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Spain fought back to beat France 2-1 in an entertaining Euro 2024 semi-final on Tuesday with a stunning Lamine Yamal strike and a Dani Olmo goal booking their spot in Sunday’s final in Berlin.

France struck early when Kylian Mbappe, not wearing a mask after breaking his nose earlier in the tournament, picked out Randal Kolo Muani who headed in from close range for his side’s first goal from open play at the tournament.

Yamal levelled for Spain in the 21st minute when he launched a ferocious left-footed drive from outside the penalty area that glanced off the post on its way into the net, making the 16-year-old the youngest scorer at a Euro or World Cup tournament.

Spain took the lead four minutes later after a period of sustained pressure when Olmo took a clever touch inside the penalty area and fired home a half-volley that deflected off France’s Jules Kounde. France kept Spain penned in during the second half and created a few chances but could not find a way back.

Luis Diaz of Colombia controls the ball during the CONMEBOL Copa America 2024 Group D match between Brazil and Colombia at Levi’s Stadium on July 02, 2024 in Santa Clara, California.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Costa Rica scored two early goals to beat Paraguay 2-1 in their final Copa America Group D match on Tuesday but failed to move into the quarter-finals after finishing third following Brazil’s 1-1 draw with Colombia.

Colombia finished as group winners with seven points while Brazil also advanced as runners-up with five. Costa Rica return home with four points while Paraguay exit after three losses.

“This was a very tough group. We were playing against Brazil and Colombia, two of the four favourites to win the Copa,” Costa Rica coach Gustavo Alfaro told reporters.

“We had our strengths, our achievements and our mistakes, but we grew and we’re analysing the performance rather than the results.

“The important thing is that we learn and that this was a very short tournament that we had to seize to the fullest.”

Costa Rica needed results to go their way along with a big swing in goal difference to qualify and they wasted no time getting on the board when skipper Francisco Calvo and Josimar Alcocer made it 2-0 inside seven minutes.

Calvo headed home from the edge of the six-yard box in the third minute while 19-year-old Alcocer powered past several players before pulling the trigger from well outside the box to beat the keeper.

But Paraguay came to life in the second half and Costa Rica’s hopes of qualifying dwindled 10 minutes after the restart when Ramon Sosa scored his first goal for his country.

Costa Rica’s defence could do nothing as Mathias Villasanti dribbled into the box and set up Sosa, who blasted the ball into the top corner past the outstretched hand of goalkeeper Patrick Sequeira.

Costa Rica nearly conceded again from a corner in added time, the ball deflecting off Fabian Balbuena’s head to Angel Romero but his shot failed to make it past the fingertips of Sequeira.

It marked the first time since 1925 that Paraguay had lost all of their group matches.

“It was a bad tournament, a bad performance,” coach Daniel Garnero said.

Speaking about his future, he added: “I am here because the association requested my services and if they don’t want me to continue, that is their decision. I’ll have to discuss that with them.”

Brazil advances

Brazil played out an action-packed 1-1 draw with Colombia in California on Tuesday to set up a mouth-watering Copa America quarter-final against Uruguay.

Colombia, who finished top of Group D on seven points, will face Panama in the last eight.

Daniel Munoz’s first-half strike for Colombia cancelled out an impressive early free kick from Brazil’s Raphinha. The result extended Colombia’s unbeaten streak to 26 matches, though it did mark the end of their 10-match winning run.

France’s Kylian Mbappe is pictured wearing a protective face mask during the warm up before a match
| Photo Credit: Reuters

By this stage of the European Championship, favourites France and contenders Belgium would have wanted to be well into their stride and hitting their straps as they enter the knockout stages.

Instead, the neighbours go spluttering into the last 16 and into a head-on collision in Duesseldorf on Monday after both failed to finish top of their first-round group.

France’s much-vaunted attack is suffering from a crisis of confidence and coach Didier Deschamps, usually a steady hand guiding the squad, looks unsure of what his next move will be.

Belgium will have had some motivation sucked out of their cause following an astonishingly hostile reaction from their own supporters after they limped into the next stage of the tournament in Germany.

Despite Wednesday’s draw with Ukraine assuring them progress, they were subjected to loud barracking from their fans and have since closed ranks.

Captain Kevin De Bruyne did not take kindly to the abuse. His attitude and demeanour will set the tone for the rest of the Belgian side as they look to leave behind them the limp performances from the group stage.

Romelu Lukaku needs to find his scoring touch after a number of missed opportunities in the tournament. His record 85 goals for Belgium does not include any from Euro 2024, and overall he has a poor scoring record at major tournaments.

Few would have envisaged a French forward line failing to score in open play in their opening three matches at the tournament. One of their two goals was a penalty from Kylian Mbappe, the other an own goal from Austria in their opening game.

Deschamps must now decide whether to restore Antoine Griezmann to the line-up and pair him up front with Mbappe.

Griezmann no longer the mainstay

Griezmann has been a long-time mainstay for Deschamps but was dropped for their last game, a 1-1 draw with Poland, which allowed Austria to emerge unexpected winners of Group D, which also included the Netherlands.

Belgium is France’s oldest and most frequent opponent. The first international for both countries was a 3-3 draw in Brussels 120 years ago.

Belgium lead the win count of 75 past meetings 30-26 but France won the last two — the semi-final at the 2018 World Cup in St Petersburg and the Nations League semi-final in Turin in October, 2021.

The winner of Monday’s clash at the Duesseldorf Arena will take on Portugal or Slovenia in the quarter-finals.

Kick-off: July 1, 9.30 p.m.

Brazil’s Vinicius Junior celebrates with teammates after scoring his side’s third goal against Paraguay during a Copa America Group D match in Las Vegas, Friday, June 28, 2024
| Photo Credit: AP

Brazil’s Vinicius Jr scored twice in his side’s 4-1 Copa America victory over Paraguay in a Group D clash in Nevada on Friday, bouncing back from a lacklustre display in his first game of the tournament.

Colombia, who have qualified for the quarter-finals, top Group D with six points after two matches, with Brazil in second on four points.

Costa Rica are third with one point and Paraguay, who are bottom with zero after two defeats, have been eliminated from the competition in the group stage for only the second time since 2001.

This victory marked Brazil’s first win in six competitive matches and their maiden competitive win under the management of Dorival Jr, who took charge of the team in January.

From the whistle, Vinicius’ pace and trickery posed a constant threat to Paraguay down the left flank, a far cry from his performance in Brazil’s 0-0 draw with Costa Rica in their opening group stage match, in which he was largely ineffectual.

Despite Brazil’s strong start, it was Paraguay who almost went ahead in the 15th minute as Damian Bobadilla’s goal-bound effort took a massive deflection off Eder Militao and nearly wrongfooted Brazil goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who showed quick reflexes to keep out the strike.

Brazil earned a 28th-minute penalty for a handball, which was fired wide by Lucas Paqueta, but the midfielder made up for his miss seven minutes later as he set up Vinicius with a first-time pass to cap off a flowing team move.

Girona winger Savio doubled Brazil’s advantage after pouncing on a rebound inside the box, before Vinicius stuck out a boot to divert a clearance from Omar Alderete into the net for his second goal of the night in first half stoppage time.

Paraguay got a goal back after the break as Alderete netted a superb long-range, but any hopes of a comeback were swiftly dashed when Brazil were awarded a penalty in the 68th minute after a handball by Mathias Villasanti.

Despite his earlier miss, Paqueta stepped up and made no mistake at the second time of asking to send Brazil’s fans at the Allegiant Stadium into delirium.

Towards the end of the match, tempers flared and Andres Cubas was shown a red card after kicking out at Douglas Luiz, with Brazil using their man’s advantage to comfortably see out the game and clinch the three points.

“In particular the first half, up to the 40 minutes, it was very even,” Paraguay coach Daniel Garnero told reporters.

“I think we created some opportunities. Unfortunately, in the three minutes we got a bit distracted and they scored two goals that made a great difference in the result. And Vinicius is an elite player, no doubt about it.”

Brazil next face group leaders Colombia in California on Tuesday, where a draw would be enough to secure qualification for the quarter-finals.

Paraguay face Costa Rica, who retain a slim chance of progressing to the quarter-finals, in Texas.

Curtains are down after the first act of European drama playing out in the German theatre and the audiences have witnessed every emotion playing out. From elation to heartbreak, from scare to survival, the group stage of Euro 2024 delivered more than what fans expected from a continental tournament.

After a delayed tournament with reduced and controlled crowds owing to the pandemic and a World Cup held in West Asia, Europe has come alive to celebrate international football in its backyard with no distancing and disruptions, and the exuberance brimmed in the stands for each match.

What played out in Leipzig’s Red Bull Arena sums up the emotions that were on display throughout. Croatia, needing nothing less than a victory to go through to the knockouts was leading Italy since the 55th minute of the game when its veteran talisman made amends for a missed penalty to become the oldest goalscorer in the history of the tournament.

But Italy took the game back with the last kick of the game, silencing the Croats waiting for the final whistle to storm the pitch. And when their joy turned to tears, the defending champion let out a sigh of relief having come back from the brink of elimination to see another day.

“Football is cruel,” Modric said after the loss. “That’s part and parcel of football. Sometimes it brings a lot of happiness, but sometimes it makes you very sad as well.”

Meanwhile Georgia had another story to tell.

Arriving at the tournament with no expectations and celebrating its entry itself as a historic moment, the team managed by Frenchman Willy Sagnol has conjured up a miracle.

“The only responsibility we had was to make the Georgian nation proud of their players. And I think we’ve done it the best way, “ Sagnol said.

Given the same requirements as Croatia to make the grade in its first ever major tournament, Georgia had a real Goliath in front in the form of former champion Portugal and the mighty Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line. But Georgia had its slingshot loaded and struck in the second minute of the game through Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. And its grit proved more than enough to fend of Portugal’s relentless attacks and won the game with a comfortable 2-0 scoreline to book a place in the round of 16.

“When you’re the small team, you know you have nothing to lose,” Sagnol said after qualification. “The only thing we said before the competition is whatever happened, we don’t want any regrets after the competition, the regret of maybe not having played our football or maybe not having enjoyed the competition as much as we should have done.”

“So, you have no weight on your shoulders. It’s difficult when you’re France, when you’re England, when you’re Spain, when you’re Portugal, because you’re under pressure, because people expect you to win.”

While every tournament has its own dark horses, looked over during discussions and predictions only to go farther than anyone could have imagined, Germany has been a tournament of Davids so far. Though no major Goliaths other than Croatia fell in the group stage, the heavyweights and favourites had their task cut out. The underdogs made it clear from the first matchday that every group was a group of death, and no one should expect a cakewalk.

But as every team struggled at one point or the other, from hosts Germany on the hunt for a sommermarchen (summer fairytale) to give a perfect farewell to their beloved Toni Kroos, who came back from retirement to provide much needed anchor to the team, to the star-studded France seeking to re-establish dominance and England looking to bring football home but nearly stumbled along the way from lack of chemistry and incompatible tactics, one team stood tall and brought back memories of its scary prime.

Spain became the first team to lock in its position in the knockout roster and was the only team to win all three matches in its group: the group B pundits had declared it the group of death. And what makes it more appreciable is the fact that it did it without conceding a goal, again the only team to do so.

There is a visible shift in gameplay and mentality of La Roja, who have moved on from their tiki taka era, whose loss of steam was evident from the way the team played for majority of the last decade.

Gone are the days when the team prioritised possession over offensive manoeuvrers, and the current crop of players under the guidance of former national youth team coach Luis de la Fuente are making use of young guns Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal in the wings to thrust forward at every chance possible.

As with every tournament, such dominance is by no means a measure to predict the trajectory of the team, but the Spanish armada has spread its sails, full wind behind and looking formidable. Yet, de la Fuente is trying his best not to get the performances make them lose focus. “It doesn’t cost anything to dream, but we need to keep our feet on the ground,” he said after the conclusion of the group stage.

With Spain, Germany, France and Portugal on a collision course after being slotted into the same side of the knockout roster, the tournament is far and wide open.

With stunning goals, end-to-end gameplay and new records, the tournament still has a long way to go before a champion is crowned, and judging by the way the group stage has gone, the second act has the potential to make this German summer indeed a fairytale for football fans around the world.

Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez, second from right, celebrates scoring his side’s opening goal against Chile during a Copa America Group A match on June 25, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

After nearly 90 minutes of total domination, Lionel Messi and defending champion Argentina advanced to the Copa America quarterfinals after the ball ricocheted in front of the net during a frantic scramble that led to the breakthrough.

Lautaro Martínez scored off the last in a series of rebounds in the 88th minute, lifting the Albiceleste over Chile 1-0 on Tuesday night and into the quarterfinals with a game to spare.

“The ball ended up right at me and I was able to convert it,” said Martínez, who scored the second goal in last week’s opening 2-0 win over Canada.

Messi started the leadup to the goal with a corner kick that was sent sent toward goal with a glancing header by defender Lisandro Martínez. The ball landed in front of goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, where Argentina’s Giovani Lo Celso and Chile’s Nicolás Fernández were wrestling. Lo Celso kicked the ball off Bravo and it rebounded to Chile’s Igor Lichnovsky, who tried to poke it wide.

Lautaro Martínez, who entered in the 73rd, calmly one-timed that rebound into the roof of the net on Argentina’s 21st shot. Players stood and waited for three minutes while the goal, Martínez’s 26th for the national team, was confirmed in a video review.

“We deserved the win. It was not an easy match,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said. “We managed to win at the moment least expected.”

Argentina leads Group A with six points, followed by Canada with three, and Chile and Peru with one each. The Albiceleste finish the first round against Peru at Miami Gardens, Florida, on Saturday, when Canada meets Chile in Orlando, Florida.

Playing a day after his 37th birthday, Messi frequently flaunted his talent to spin around and slalom through defenders before an adoring sellout crowd of 81,106 at MetLife Stadium, site of the 2026 World Cup final. Argentina dominated 22-3 in shots and 11-0 in corner kicks. Chile didn’t take its first attempt until the 72nd minute.

Messi came the closest to scoring before Martínez with a 30-yard shot that glanced off the post to Bravo’s left in the 36th minute. Messi had received treatment on the thigh area of his right leg for nearly two minutes after getting kicked by Gabriel Suazo in the 24th.

Nicolás González’s shot from another Messi pass in the 62nd was parried off the crossbar by Bravo.

“I always have to save one or two every match. And I’m lucky to keep doing it,” Martínez said.

On the 46th anniversary of Argentina’s first World Cup title, the teams returned to the stadium where Chile beat Argentina on penalty kicks in the 2016 Copa America final. That defeat prompted Messi to announce his international retirement only to reverse his decision seven weeks later.

At least 90% of the fans wore Argentina jerseys, most with Messi’s name and No. 10.

There were some small brown patches behind one goal on a grass field installed at a stadium where the usual surface is artificial turf. The surface was narrow, with construction scheduled to allow a wider field for the World Cup.

Bravo, at 41 the oldest player in Copa America history, had eight saves in his 150th international appearance. He and Messi, former Barcelona teammates, spoke with each other while leading their teams onto the field for the national anthems.

“Losing this way leaves a bitter taste,” Bravo said. “We played against a tremendous opponent.”

Italy’s Mattia Zaccagni celebrates scoring against Croatia in the group match of the Euro 2024 at Leipzig, Germany.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

Luka Modric’s 55th minute seemed to send Croatia into the next round but Mattia Zaccagni’s late equaliser ensured defending champions Italy will play Switzerland in the round of 16

Mattia Zaccagni curled home a 98th minute equaliser as defending champions Italy booked a last-16 spot at Euro 2024 on Monday with a 1-1 draw against Croatia, whose tournament hopes were left hanging by a thread, and will next face Switzerland.

Luka Modric gave Croatia a 55th-minute lead, moments after missing a penalty, and that looked like sending them through before late substitute Zaccagni bent a stunning finish past the despairing dive of Dominik Livakovic into the far corner.

The result left Italy second in Group B on four points, with Croatia third but now playing an anxious waiting game to see whether two points will be enough to take them through to the knockout stage as one of the best four third-placed sides.

Spain, who topped the standings, beat Albania 1-0 to finish with a perfect record in their three games and leave the eliminated Albanians rock bottom with one point.

Albania’s loss also propelled sides not in action into the last 16 with England, France and the Netherlands now guaranteed to finish at least among the four best third-placed teams.

Italy had been rocked with defeat by Spain, which could have been more emphatic than the 1-0 scoreline, yet if there was some solace for Luciano Spalletti’s side heading into Monday’s match it was that Croatia had been even less impressive at the finals.

The Croats’ 3-0 loss to Spain and 2-2 draw with Albania had left them on the precipice and one of the main issues that had dogged them at the tournament – how to turn possession into a goal threat – re-emerged in the first half against Italy.

Croatia barely gave the Italians a kick for most of the first 20 minutes but it was not surprising that they only had Luka Sucic’s long range pile-driver, which was parried over by Gianluigi Donnarumma, to show for their efforts.

Italy looked far more purposeful with Mateo Retegui’s having a couple of half chances before Alessandro Bastoni had the best opportunity of the first half, meeting Nicolo Barella’s lofted ball to the far post with a header saved by Dominik Livakovic.

However, the second half was only minutes old when Croatia were awarded a penalty. Andrej Kramaric’s shot struck the outstretched arm of halftime substitute Davide Frattesi and while referee Danny Makkelie waved play-on the VAR sent him to have a look at the screen and he swiftly changed his mind.

Modric stepped up to take the spot kick but his effort was saved brilliantly by Donnarumma low to the keeper’s left, although it was only a momentary reprieve for Italy.

Seconds later, Croatia’s halftime substitute Ante Budimir’s header drew another superb save from Donnarumma but Modric was on hand to gobble up the rebound, which he fired into the roof of the net to atone for his penalty miss.

Italy pushed hard for a route back into the game and substitute Gianluca Scamacca was inches away from connecting with a cross in the 87th minute.

However, with Croatia’s fans starting to celebrate what they though would be a victory, Italy struck a devastating late blow.

(Reporting by Toby Davis; Editing by Kebn Ferris)

File picture of AC Milan’s manager Stefano Pioli
| Photo Credit: AP

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli is leaving the Italian club at the end of the season after a near five-year stint that included the 2022 Serie A title.

Milan announced Pioli’s departure on Friday, a day before its final league game of the season at home to Salernitana.

Pioli stepping down had been widely expected, with club great Zlatan Ibrahimovic — who has been given a front-office role by Milan’s American owners — reportedly already involved in the search for a successor.

The club thanked Pioli for “securing an unforgettable league title and re-establishing AC Milan’s consistent presence in the top European competition.”

“Stefano’s professionalism and human touch have significantly contributed to the growth of the squad, embodying the club’s core values from day one,” Milan said in a statement.

The 2022 league title was Milan’s first in 11 years. It will finish this season in second place, behind crosstown rival Inter Milan.

Milan was taken over after its 2022 title by American investment firm RedBird Capital. Pioli’s future had been in doubt since February, when RedBird owner Gerry Cardinale and Ibrahimovic declined to commit to him when asked about speculation of a coaching change after the season.

Reports in Italy have linked Pioli to taking over Napoli. The 58-year-old coach also previously coached Inter, Fiorentina, Lazio, Bologna, Parma and several other clubs.

Under Pioli, Milan ended a seven-year absence from the Champions League in 2021 and reached the semifinals last season, losing to Inter.

This season, Pioli’s team failed to advance from a tough group that included Borussia Dortmund, which plays in the final next week, and Paris Saint-Germain. Milan then switched to the second-tier Europa League and was eliminated by Roma in the quarterfinals.

Inter’s runaway Serie A title success has established its supremacy in the city and Italian soccer, despite financial turmoil that saw the club also fall into American ownership this week. Both Milan and Inter had Chinese owners who lost control of the clubs to American investment funds after missing loan repayments.