Latest news with #Euro2012
The Irish Sun
31-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I tried to fight Sergio Ramos but he wasn't even bothered' – Ireland legend's hilarious memory from Euro 2012 hammering
RICHARD Dunne and Glenn Whelan hilariously reflected on their Euro 2012 campaign in the 'group of death.' 3 The 45-year-old would not like to relive the tough 90 minutes against Spain 3 Sergio Ramos and Spain went on to win the third major competition in a row 3 Fernando Torres caused awful problems for Dunne and Ireland scoring two goals Ireland equalled Yugoslavia's 1984 record of the worst performance by a team in the group stage of the Euros , finishing with no points and a goal difference of −8. Ireland's highlight of the tournament came in the opening game against Croatia as Sean St Ledger's strike chalked off Mario Mandžukić's early goal, before they went on to lose 3-1. A 4-0 loss to Spain was then followed by a 2-0 loss to Italy to end Ireland's Euro campaign without a point. Italy and Spain then went on to play each other in the final of the tournament with Vicente del Bosque's side running out 4-0 winners. Read more on Irish football On "The team sheets came in and David Silva, (Cesc) Fabregas and Juan Mata were only on the bench. They couldn't get in. Most read in Football "And we were going 4-4-2. I was going 'no let's go 5-5-6 or whatever.' I was delighted to be on the pitch with them in the right way but in the wrong way I wish I was sick." Dunne had similar bad memories from the "nightmare" of a game against the world champions. Amorim refuses to guarantee Hojlund Man Utd future amid Sesko transfer push The former Aston Villa, Everton and Man City defender shared: "It was s***. It was really s***. "You've reached a level of football where you think 'right we are capable of competing against the best,' and then you're not. "And you are miles of it and you think 'I can't do anymore here, to just try survive on this pitch for the next half an hour' or whatever." The fans seemed to enjoy the spectacle a lot more than the players at the Republic of Ireland's first European Championships in 24 years. The fans were lauded for the support of the team, especially in the Spain game were they gave an inspiring rendition of 'The Fields of Athenry.' Unfortunately the sing-song didn't have its effect on the pitch where for Dunne the match couldn't end quick enough. The Dubliner added: "Fair play to the fans, they were singing and having a great time. "We were literally crying on the pitch and going 'please end this.' It was a massacre. We couldn't get the ball, we couldn't do anything. "I tried to start a fight with
Irish Examiner
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Isak, Gyokeres and Ekitike herald a new age of the centre-forward
It's only been a decade since it seemed the centre-forward was being refined out of existence. Spain had won Euro 2012 with Cesc Fabregas as a false nine, and Germany, who largely took Spain as a model, were less than convinced they needed one at the 2014 World Cup. They fielded Thomas Muller as a false-ish nine until the quarter-final, when Jogi Löw finally went back to basics and turned to Miroslav Klose. That he was 36 only seemed to confirm that the old-fashioned No 9 was an old-fashioned phenomenon — a dying breed. Yet this summer, the main interest in the transfer market has been the carousel of strikers. Of course, strikers never entirely disappeared. The four leading scorers in the Premier League in 2014–15 were Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane, Diego Costa, and Charlie Austin. Mauri Icardi and Luca Toni topped the charts in Italy, while Cristiano Ronaldo, his conversion to a No 9 complete, was top scorer in Spain (although that he was followed by Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, and Neymar suggested a greater variety of goalscorer there). The feeling, though, was that the cleverest football — the most advanced football — involved a central forward who was there at least as much for his movement and ability to link play as for his finishing. The phenomenon of goalscoring wide players — such as Messi at Barcelona, Arjen Robben at Bayern, or Eden Hazard at Chelsea, a mantle which has been taken up today by Mohamed Salah, Kylian Mbappe, and Raphinha — meant goals came from a greater array of sources. But while the goalscoring wide forward remains, there has been a return to top-level acceptance for the central striker. Pep Guardiola, the coach who seemed most sceptical of traditional No 9s — never even really seeming entirely convinced by Aguero — perhaps began it when Manchester City signed Erling Haaland. The big Norwegian has caused City to make a significant adjustment to their style. He does not join in play in the way every other Guardiola player does. He does not drop into midfield or pull wide — a creative tension that brought a treble in his first season at the club, but which was perhaps a factor in City's disappointment last season. At the same time, the most common criticism of Arsenal was that they lacked a centre-forward. They needed to play well to win, because they didn't have a player who could pounce on a half chance to steal a victory from a tight game, or at times even convert their good play into goals. Alexander Isak would have seemed a very natural fit for them, but a fee of £120m or more was never within range, and so they have ended up with Viktor Gyokeres. It's a calculated risk given he is 27 and has only really been prolific in the last four seasons — two in the Championship with Coventry and two in Portugal with Sporting — but so long as concerns that he takes too long to get his shot away in crowded situations prove unfounded, he would seem to answer a specific need, even if there are times when Kai Havertz is preferred in that central role. It's Isak, though, who stands at the centre of the great striker shuffle. He is tall and quick, his movement intelligent, and he has proved over the past two seasons a consistent Premier League scorer. It's understandable why Newcastle are so desperate to keep him, but understandable too that he feels undervalued on £120,000 a week/£6.2m a year. He has three years left on his contract, so beyond the fear that he could sulk, there is little reason for Newcastle to let him go. They can insist on a fee of £140m or more — certainly enough to buy a high-class replacement, possibly Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. Which is what makes it odd that Isak made his availability public only after Liverpool had signed Hugo Ekitike, who has a similar profile to Isak but, at 23, is far less developed. Chelsea might also have been interested in Isak had they not already bought two centre-forwards in Joao Pedro and Liam Delap. Perhaps, by selling one or both of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz, Liverpool could afford him. To sign a second central forward would be a remarkable step for a club where for several years one of the main roles of the center-forward has been to clear the way for Salah. That perhaps suggests change is coming — Liverpool beginning to prepare for life without Salah, who is, after all, 33. But Isak is not an old-school striker. Alan Shearer was perhaps the last of his line, at least at elite level in England. From Marco van Basten onwards, through Andriy Shevchenko and Thierry Henry, forwards have become much more complete figures, combining elements of the target-man, the channel-runner, and the poacher. Isak and Joao Pedro have the full range of skills; Ekitike and Sesko are developing them. Central forwards, with a wider range of attributes than their predecessors, are suddenly fashionable again as football moves into a new age of the striker. Guardian
Scottish Sun
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Andy Carroll had ‘6 or 7 bigger clubs' chasing him for ‘more money' as he reveals why he chose Dagenham and Redbridge
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ANDY CARROLL has revealed he could have been playing at a higher level before signing for Dagenham and Redbridge. The former Premier League striker joined the sixth-tier side on a three-year contract after leaving Bordeaux. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Andy Carroll joined Dagenham and Redbridge despite interest from bigger clubs Credit: Getty 2 He will now play just 10 miles from his old club West Ham Credit: Getty Images - Getty Carroll, 36, has already made his first appearance for the club in a pre-season friendly against League Two outfit Crawley Town. The match was not a dream return to England as Dagenham were thrashed 5-1. However, he has admitted that he had offers from at least half a dozen clubs that play at a higher level. The striker has also insisted that his decision was made after speaking to the Daggers' owners and manager. READ MORE ON FOOTBALL END OF THE WORLD Man Utd, Man City and Liverpool STRIPPED of status as world champions He told The Athletic: "From the first meeting with the manager (Lee Bradbury), I just knew it was the right club. "I had probably six or seven clubs on the phone at higher levels, driving distance from home, and more money, but for me, it was the whole package of the club. "I could speak to the owners, and they'd tell me what the future was going to look like. "I could also speak to the manager, and he could tell me what it would be like. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS "I just felt like I wanted to be part of it." His move to Dagenham sees him land just 10 miles away from his old stomping ground, the London Stadium. Footballer Andy Carroll signing for Dagenham and Redbridge FC Carroll spent seven years at West Ham after joining the club from Liverpool - where he was once a £35million signing from Newcastle. During his prime, he earned nine caps for England and scored two goals, including a header at Euro 2012 against Sweden. Now, Carroll has taken on a player-owner role at Dagenham, which has recently been taken over by a Qatari-led investment group.
Metro
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Premier League side favourites to sign Arsenal and Liverpool hero on a free
Former Arsenal and Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been tipped to join a Premier League rival on a free transfer. Oxlade-Chamberlain is fondly remembered at both the Emirates and Anfield having won seven major trophies during his time at both clubs. There were huge expectations when the then-17-year-old joined Arsenal from Southampton in 2011, instantly becoming a first-team regular under Arsene Wenger despite his tender years. The midfielder also broke into the England team, winning 35 caps, the last of which in 2019, and was part of the squads that went to Euro 2012 and the 2014 World Cup. 'The Ox' spent six seasons in north London, making 198 appearances and winning three FA Cups, but in 2017 he completed a surprise transfer to Liverpool for a fee of £35million – still the most expensive sale in Arsenal's history. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. After a great start under Jurgen Klopp, it seemed he would be a key player for club and country for many a season to come, but that all fell apart after suffering a serious knee injury that ruled him out for over a year. Fitness issues continued to plague him and he was eventually released in 2023, but not before adding a Premier League and Champions League title to his trophy cabinet. The former Three Lions star has spent the last two seasons with Besiktas but found himself struggling for game time following the arrival of former Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Oxlade-Chamberlain had one more year left on his contract but earlier this week the Turkish giants paid £1.2m to end his deal early, according to reports. Now a free agent, the 31-year-old has been linked with a return to England and according to the bookmakers, Leeds United will be his destinantion. Clubs: Arsenal, Liverpool Appearances: 235 Goals: 20 Assists: 24 Major Trophies: Premier League (2019/20), FA Cup (2013/14, 2014/15, 2016/17), Champions League (2018/19), League Cup (2021/22), Club World Cup (2019) Betfair have the Yorkshire club as the favourites to sign the Oxlade-Chamberlain as they look to add some experience ahead of their return to the Premier League. More Trending The Athletic report that Leeds are currently working on deals for midfielders Sean Longstaff of Newcastle and Anton Stach from Hoffenheim. Fellow recently promoted sides Sunderland and Burnley are also in the running, as are the player's boyhood club Southampton and the Tom Brady-backed Birmingham, both of the Championship. An emotional return to Liverpool and a controversial switch to Manchester United have also been mooted. Leeds – 3/1 Southampton – 7/2 Birmingham – 5/1 Sunderland – 6/1 Burnley – 8/1 Liverpool – 20/1 Man Utd – 25/1 Odds courtesy of Betfair For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Man Utd star left out of squad for game vs Leeds after transfer decision MORE: Noni Madueke sends message to Arsenal fans after toxic reaction to transfer MORE: Why Arsenal fans don't want Noni Madueke and the alarming data that will worry them
Scottish Sun
12-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Fugitive ‘White Widow' terrorist Samantha Lewthwaite ‘is still alive and active in terror cell financing jihadists'
A new investigation has given fresh clues as to where the long-wanted extremist might have been WIDOW MOST WANTED Fugitive 'White Widow' terrorist Samantha Lewthwaite 'is still alive and active in terror cell financing jihadists' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE notorious 'White Widow' Brit terrorist linked to 400 deaths who married a 7/7 suicide bomber is still alive and active in terror cells, a new investigation has claimed. Samantha Lewthwaite has been one of the world's most wanted terrorists having eluded capture for years. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Samantha Lewthwaite 6 The wreck of the Number 30 double decker bus is pictured in Tavistock Square in central London, 08 July, 2005 Credit: AFP 6 Samantha Lewthwaite has long been wanted in connection to a string of terror related incidents 6 A photo of Samantha Lewthwaite taken from her fake South African passport released by Kenyan police in December 2011 Credit: AFP Rumours have circulated since her disappearance that she died in a drone strike. But an investigation from the Daily Mail has shed lights on the possible whereabouts of a figure linked to a series of ghastly attacks. It comes as Britain marks 20 years since the London bombings on July 7, 2005 this week, in which 52 people died and hundreds were injured. Lewthwaite, who was born in Northern Ireland and grew up in Aylesbury, was married to one of the suicide bombers, Germaine Lindsay. read more in world news PILOT 'MISTAKE' Air India pilots made fatal error after takeoff, crash investigators claim She denied knowing he planned to blow up a tube train, but her subsequent alleged involvement with other terrorists has cast doubt on that. The now 41-year-old left the UK in 2009 and went to South Africa, before heading on to Tanzania in 2011 and then to Kenya. Lewthwaite was put on Interpol's red list of fugitives in 2013 after a shopping mall massacre in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, in which 67 died. She is also accused of orchestrating the attack in Mombasa targeting England fans during Euro 2012, and two other deadly attacks in the country. The Brit has been in total linked to around 400 deaths. Security services across Africa and the Middle East have tried to track her down without any success for a decade and a half. At a court hearing in 2014, one Kenyan detective said: "She is a person with multiple identification. "She keeps moving. We think she is using plastic surgery including her nose." But it is now believed she is still alive and was spotted in Uganda as recently as last year. She is allegedly now based in Somalia, where she is part of an al-Shabaab cell - an al-Qaeda affiliate. "Despite not knowing her exact location, we believe she is active in terrorism activities under al-Shabaab control in Somalia," a source said. The White Widow was also reported to be the "main financier" of the cell, operating in a logistical role. In this position, she allegedly controls the money instead of working on the front lines. She is also said to be a fan of Beyonce and Weetabix. Police previously crossed paths briefly with Lewthwaite when investigating a property in Mombasa in 2011. A British man called Jermaine Grant was arrested when fuses and ammunition were found stashed under a sofa - and he named Lewthwaite as the senior cell member. While cops discovered she was in the adjacent apartment, the passport they found was in a different name. Lewthwaite had fled by the time they realised the passport was a fake. This was the last confirmed sighting of her. It is now alleged the officers accepted a bribe of five million Kenyan dollars (nearly £30,000) from her when they went to the apartment. In 2018, there were alleged sightings in Yemen where she was said to be offering as little as £300 to the desperate families of young women to persuade them to become suicide bombers. She has not yet been charged with any of those offences. As a teenager she was seduced by the teachings of extremist cleric, Trevor Forrest, or Sheik Abdullah el-Faisal. Lewthwaite even visited him in prison in 2006, a year after the bombings. Through el-Faisal she met first husband, bomber Germaine Lindsay who killed himself and 26 others on the Tube in July 7, 2005. 6 Germaine Lindsay and Samantha Lewthwaite Credit: ©2020 Netflix, Inc.
