Latest news with #EuropeanUnder-21Championships
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Significant law change introduced today to stop goalkeepers time wasting
UEFA's European Under-21 Championships will be the first competition to see the new law enforced after it was implemented for the start of the tournament after trials Goalkeepers will concede a corner for holding onto the ball too long after a change of the law by UEFA. The new punishment will see shotstoppers permitted to cling onto the ball for a total of eight seconds instead of six. Previously an indirect free-kick would be awarded against goalkeepers holding possession in their hands too long. Now, with the start of the UEFA European under-21 Championship in Slovakia, Europe's governing body have decided to implement that law that was agreed upon by the International Football Association Board earlier this year. Officials will now be required to utilise a 'visible five-second countdown' to signal the end of the time limit. The eight seconds will begin when 'the goalkeeper has full control of the ball and is not being challenged by an opposing player' per guidelines. The change comes after studies showed referees rarely enforced the previous law due to the difficulty in managing an indirect free-kick or it seeming too great an advantage to award. All UEFA competitions will introduce the new law. The change has undergone rigorous testing which saw it introduced in Premier League 2. Trials in Malta showed goalkeepers held onto the ball on 796 occasions and never exceeded eight seconds amid the change in punishment. Patrick Nelson, the Irish FA's chief executive and a board member of IFAB, spoke in favour of the law-change in December. "The data that's coming out of it so far is very, very interesting, in that the two trials so far have been that if the goalkeeper is holding on to the ball too long, the referee will award a corner," he said. 'The instances of corners being awarded are almost non-existent, which would indicate to us, certainly looking at the data, that the deterrent is exactly what we would want it to be at this point, and it's speeding up the goalkeepers letting go of the ball and bringing it back into play. "The wrath of any coach for any goalkeeper who's given away a corner or a throw-in that leads to a goal is always certainly going to mean the goalkeeper is not going to do that twice. It's going to change goalkeeper behaviour." The 'double touch' penalty rules have also been changed following the controversy that engulfed Julian Alvarez's disallowed kick in Atletico Madrid's Champions League defeat to neighbours Real. A circular memo released by Ifab, has provided clarity around the rare instance. '(When) the penalty taker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet simultaneously or the ball touches their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick: If the kick is successful, it is retaken," the memo said. 'If the kick is unsuccessful, an indirect free kick is awarded (unless the referee plays advantage when it clearly benefits the defending team) or, in the case of penalties (penalty shoot-out), the kick is recorded as missed.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'An absolute master, a wizard with the ball' - who is new City man Cherki?
Rayan Cherki is only the latest talent fresh off the Lyon production line, but he may be the best yet. He joined Lyon at the age of seven from AS Saint-Priest and, aged 16 years and 140 days, became their youngest goalscorer in January 2020. Advertisement Before that, in November 2019, a Champions League debut came against Zenit, while he also helped France reach the quarter-finals of the European Under-21 Championships in 2023. Cherki has just enjoyed a breakout campaign in Ligue 1, providing 11 assists, 22 big chances - the most in the league - 13 through-balls and 48 successful dribbles. A return of 12 goals is by far the best of his short career, but it is his work and understanding of the game off the ball that has arguably improved the most this term. French football expert Julien Laurens, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Euro Leagues podcast, said: "He has been incredible this season. Since he was 16 - even before that - the talent is there, left foot or right foot. Advertisement "A player at this level who takes corners with each foot depending on which side of the corner it is, to be an inswinger every time is just incredible. "He is one of the greatest technicians in Europe right now." Of the 44 shots he took with his feet in Ligue 1 last season, 22 came with the left and 22 with the right. Cherki's growing reputation was only enhanced by Thursday's stunning international debut on Thursday against Spain, when he sparked France's comeback from 5-1 down. And Laurens certainly isn't Cherki's only admirer. France legend Thierry Henry has previously said he has "never seen a player in history who dribbles as quickly as him", while Lyon's captain Alexandre Lacazette described him as "special". Advertisement Cherki, also part of the France squad that finished runners-up at the 2024 Olympics, scored in both legs for Lyon against Manchester United in a Europa League quarter-final defeat in 2024-25. Speaking to BBC Sport in April about him, Lyon's former Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles said: "He is the best natural talent I've ever seen. An absolute master, a wizard with the ball. "He is taking chances, assists and dragging us up the pitch by taking people on and nutmegging them - he is a genius."
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Loanee's Middlesbrough message - and reflections on Michael Carrick's coaching work
SAMUEL ILING-JUNIOR feels his time at Middlesbrough has turned him into a better player, and has praised Michael Carrick for the one-one-one tuition he received from the former Boro boss at Rockliffe Park. Iling-Junior joined Boro on loan in January, having spent the first half of the campaign in Italy with Bologna, and made 11 starts and five substitute appearances for the Teessiders. Advertisement He played in a number of different positions, but was Boro's first-choice left-back for most of the last two months of the season, having been moved into the back four after Neto Borges suffered an injury. The 21-year-old enjoyed his time working under Carrick and was disappointed to see the former Manchester United midfielder dismissed last week. Iling-Junior is currently in Slovakia with the England Under-21 squad preparing for Thursday's opening game of the European Under-21 Championships against Czechia, and feels he is in a much stronger position thanks to his time on Teesside. 'There's definitely been a lot of lessons learned this season,' said Iling-Junior, who will return to his parent club, Aston Villa, for pre-season training later this summer. 'A lot of things that I can bring into my game and that's something that I'll take forward. Advertisement 'The biggest lesson, definitely, has been how to manage different loans because it's been my first time out. I was and am comfortable living abroad – it's something that I can adapt to and I've done it before – but being back home was exciting for me. READ MORE : 'I can only look at my time with Middlesbrough as a positive. And I've only got good things to say about Michael Carrick, who's a good gaffer and man-manager. 'Tactically, he could work with players one-to-one and he developed myself. He gave me trust and I was able to show that on the pitch. 'I definitely settled into the left-back role and going up and down the pitch. I enjoyed that, bringing my parts into the team with assists, tricks and being creative.' Advertisement While Iling-Junior was named amongst the forwards when the FA published England's squad list for the Under-21 Euros, he is one of only two realistic options for the left-back slot in Lee Carsley's team. He is competing with Newcastle United's Tino Livramento, who is more naturally a right-back, for a starting role, and is confident he will do himself justice if selected on the left of England's back four. 'It's an honour to be one of the players that the manager's chosen and I want to repay that on the pitch,' he said. 'Tino has obviously had that great season with Newcastle. The competition is always healthy. If I can bring out the best of him and he brings out the best of me and we go and win the tournament then it's happy days.' Iling-Junior has represented England at every age-group level since Under-15s, and is hoping to end his time as an Under-21s player with the high of being crowned European champions. Advertisement He will have a brief break at the end of this month's tournament, then will report back to Villa hoping to impress Unai Emery. Middlesbrough will be keeping a close eye on the situation in the hope that Iling-Junior might be made available for another loan, but the youngster will be doing everything he can to try to force his way into Villa's first-team group for next season. 'You have to put the World Cup in your sights,' he said. 'You have to knock on that door, or at least put yourself in a position to be knocking on that door. There's a pathway and there's always someone watching. 'All the boys that have made their debut from the Under-21s and are now in that (senior) squad, that just goes to show that if you keep putting your mind to it and work with the coaches, then you'll get repaid for your hard work. 'And I definitely want to get back into Villa after this tournament and have some conversations and make an impact there as well. Unai Emery has always had conversations with me, so that helps. and he's kept track of my loans. 'So, that's definitely a good relationship and once we get back after the tournament then we'll have those conversations. For now, it's about just focusing on the Euros, and we'll see (what happens) when I get back to Villa.'
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sunderland keen to keep Bellingham and consider Henderson approach
Jobe Bellingham has attracted interest from clubs in Germany after a fine season for Sunderland in the Championship. Jobe Bellingham has attracted interest from clubs in Germany after a fine season for Sunderland in the Championship. Photograph: Malcolm Mackenzie/ProSports/Shutterstock The Sunderland owner, Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, is determined to keep Jobe Bellingham after the club's promotion to the Premier League despite growing interest from Germany in the England Under 21 midfielder. The newly promoted club are also considering an attempt to re-sign Jordan Henderson 14 years after he was sold to Liverpool for £20m. The 34-year-old England midfielder was at Wembley to watch the playoff final victory and is expected to be allowed to leave Ajax this summer. Advertisement Related: Men's transfer window summer 2025: all deals from Europe's top five leagues Bellingham is believed to have held talks with Eintracht Frankfurt earlier this week before heading to Ibiza to meet up with his brother Jude for a holiday. Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also interested in the 19-year-old, who scored four goals in 42 appearances in the Championship last season. But while reports in Germany have stated that Bellingham – who is expected to be part of Lee Carsley's England squad for the European Under-21 Championships later this summer – could be allowed to leave for around €30m (£25m), Louis-Dreyfus is understood to be reluctant to sanction his sale because he is considered to be a crucial member of the team. Tommy Watson, the 19-year-old who scored the dramatic last-minute winning goal in the playoff final against Sheffield United, has already been snapped up by Brighton for next season and Sunderland would prefer to retain their best players to give themselves a better chance of Premier League survival. Crystal Palace have also shown an interest in signing Bellingham, although he is thought to prefer to follow in his brother's footsteps by moving to the Bundesliga. If he is allowed to depart, then former club Birmingham would be due a sizeable sell-on fee.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lyon hotshot Cherki called up by France for Nations League
Lyon striker Rayan Cherki has forced his way into the France squad for the Nations League Finals (Olivier CHASSIGNOLE) Lyon striker Rayan Cherki, who has been linked with a summer move to the English Premier League, is in line to win his first France cap after coach Didier Deschamps called him up Wednesday to his squad for the Nations League Final Four. A product of Lyon's youth academy, the 21-year-old enjoyed a highly successful season in Ligue 1, scoring eight goals and providing 11 assists. Advertisement That return has prompted interest, according to media reports on both sides of the Channel, from both Liverpool and Manchester United. Cherki, who is also eligible to play for Algeria and Italy, has been a regular with France's Under-21 team but his selection ends speculation about his international future. He is one of 25 players called up to face Spain in the Nations League semi-final in Stuttgart on June 5. The final and the match for third place are scheduled for June 8. His elevation to the senior squad all but rules him out of the European Under-21 Championships in Slovakia which begin just after the Nations League finals. Advertisement Deschamps, however, will have to do without almost his entire first-choice defence, with Dayot Upamecano, William Saliba and Jules Kounde all withdrawing through injury. Instead, Deschamps has been able to restore Paris Saint-Germain's Lucas Hernandez to his defence and there are call-ups for uncapped pair Loic Bade and Pierre Kalulu as well as Chelsea's Malo Gusta and Atletico's Clement Lenglet. He will also be without Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga, who is out with a hamstring injury. Squad Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier (Lille), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA), Brice Samba (Rennes) Advertisement Defenders: Loic Bade (Sevilla/ESP), Malo Gusto (Chelsea/ENG), Lucas Digne (Aston Villa/ENG), Lucas Hernandez (PSG), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool/ENG), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan/ITA), Clement Lenglet (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Pierre Kalulu (Juventus/ITA) Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Lazio/ITA), Adrien Rabiot (Marseille), Manu Kone (Roma/ITA), Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), Aurelien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid/ESP) Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Randal Kolo Muani (Juventus/ITA), Michael Olise (Bayern Munich/GER), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan/ITA), Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid/ESP), Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Ousmane Dembele(PSG), Desire Doue (PSG) kn/cyj/bsp/gj
