
Exceeding expectations: Europe's 2024/25 overachievers
Nottingham Forest will compete in European competition next season for the first time since 1981.
Mainz 05 in the Bundesliga and RC Strasbourg in Ligue 1 are also on the cusp of European qualification.
For fans of these teams, the season ended better than they could have ever dreamed.
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France 24
3 hours ago
- France 24
Man City sign Cherki in time for Club World Cup
Cherki, 21, joins a new-look City, seeking to bounce back after a dismal trophyless season for Pep Guardiola's men, for a fee of 36.5 million euros ($41 million, £30.3 million) plus an extra six million euros in add-ons. "This is a dream for me," Cherki said in a City statement. "To be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special. "I have worked so hard for this all my life. I love this sport, and I can't wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep and his backroom staff. "Everyone knows how good City are – they have been so successful for many years now. The responsibility to help the team continue winning is something I want to embrace." Cherki joins Rayan Ait-Nouri, who joined City from Wolves on Monday, as new signings for the Club World Cup, while a deal for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is expected to be completed before Tuesday's deadline. City will face Moroccan side Wydad AC and Emirati club Al Ain before a clash of European heavyweights with Juventus in the group stage, which kicks off on June 14. They also spent more than £172 million in January on Omar Marmoush, Abdukodir Khusanov, Vitor Reis and Nico Gonzalez. A product of the Lyon youth academy, Cherki made his debut at 16 and became the club's youngest ever scorer in 2020. In total he scored 29 goals in 185 appearances for his boyhood club, including two in two games against City's rivals Manchester United in a remarkable Europa League quarter-final this season, won 7-6 on aggregate by the Red Devils. Cherki made his senior international debut last week, scoring and assisting in France's 5-4 Nations League semi-final defeat to Spain. "There's no doubt that he's now in the best place possible to develop further under Pep's guidance and I really believe he can become a world-class player with our support and direction," said City director of football Hugo Viana.


France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Japan, South Korea celebrate World Cup qualification with big wins
Japan romped to a 6-0 thrashing of Patrick Kluivert's Indonesia in Osaka, while South Korea cruised to a 4-0 win over Kuwait in Seoul where fans were treated to a late appearance by their idol Son Heung-min. FA Cup winner Kamada struck twice in the first half for already qualified Japan, who finished as Group C winners. Takefusa Kubo, Ryoya Morishita, Shuto Machino and substitute Mao Hosoya were also on target against Indonesia, who came fourth in the group and moved on to a further qualifying round. Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has set the ambitious target of winning next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. His side will play friendlies against teams from outside Asia over the next 12 months and Kamada is looking to learn from the experience. "Playing against Asian teams and against the kind of European teams who will be at the World Cup is totally different," said the 28-year-old. "As we play these games, we will start to see a lot of areas where we need to improve. We need to come together as a team and overcome these problems when they crop up." Moriyasu said his players need to keep improving "in all departments" and praised their attitude against Indonesia. "The challenge for the players is to break past their limits and grow," he said. China consolation Wang Yudong's 90th-minute penalty enabled already eliminated China to avoid finishing bottom of Group C with a consolation 1-0 win over Bahrain in Chongqing. Second-placed Australia will face third-placed Saudi Arabia later in Group C in Jeddah to decide the final Asian qualifier from this round. Iran and Uzbekistan are already through to next year's finals from Group A and Jordan will finish second in Group B to South Korea, who secured qualification last week with a game to spare. Jeon Jin-woo, who plays in the K-League for Jeonbuk, gave South Korea a 1-0 half-time lead against Kuwait in Seoul. The Koreans took control after the break with strikes from European-based trio Lee Kang-in of PSG, Oh Hyeon-gyu of Belgium's Genk and Lee Jae-sung of German Club Mainz 05. Tottenham's Son Heung-min, who has been struggling with injury, came on as a 75th-minute substitute to an ovation from the home fans but could not add to the 4-0 margin. Third and fourth-placed teams in each of the three groups go into a fourth round of Asian qualifying with two more places up for grabs.


France 24
7 hours ago
- France 24
Dortmund sign Bellingham brother Jobe from Sunderland
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