England Retain Euro Under-21 Title After Rowe Extra Time Goal Sinks Germany

Football - UEFA Under 21 Championship - Final - England v Germany - Tehelne pole, Bratislava, Slovakia - June 28, 2025 England's Jonathan Rowe celebrates scoring their third goal (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Under 21 Championship - Final - England v Germany - Tehelne pole, Bratislava, Slovakia - June 28, 2025 England's Jonathan Rowe celebrates scoring their third goal (Reuters)
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England Retain Euro Under-21 Title After Rowe Extra Time Goal Sinks Germany

Football - UEFA Under 21 Championship - Final - England v Germany - Tehelne pole, Bratislava, Slovakia - June 28, 2025 England's Jonathan Rowe celebrates scoring their third goal (Reuters)
Football - UEFA Under 21 Championship - Final - England v Germany - Tehelne pole, Bratislava, Slovakia - June 28, 2025 England's Jonathan Rowe celebrates scoring their third goal (Reuters)

Jonathan Rowe came off the bench to score an extra-time goal which gave holders England a 3-2 win over Germany in the Under-21 European Championship final on Saturday after they had let slip a two-goal lead.

Lee Carsley's side retained the title won two years ago which brings England's total haul to four, but they were pushed all the way by a German side who came into the final as favorites and had beaten England in the group stage.

England took the lead in the fifth minute when Omari Hutchinson had his effort saved by the keeper and a defensive clearance fell to Harvey Elliot who had time and space to pick his spot and steer a low shot inside the near post.

Elliot began the move for England's second goal with a chipped pass into the path of James McAtee and when the midfielder found his route blocked by two defenders he laid off the ball to Hutchinson who drilled his strike through the keeper's legs.

Hutchinson somersaulted away in celebration after his 24th-minute goal but Germany pulled one back in added time before the break. Paul Nebel crossed from the wing and Nelson Weiper rose unchallenged to power a header past England keeper James Beadle.

The equalizer came in the 61st minute from a corner kick which went all the way to Nebel, out wide in the area, who pulled inside and drove the ball into the far top corner.

Both sides created further chances but extra time was needed and England went back in front within two minutes when substitute Tyler Morton floated a perfect ball into the box and the unmarked Jonathan Rowe headed home.

Rowe had replaced Elliot at the end of normal time, making an immediate impact, and this time there was no way back for Germany as England held firm under relentless pressure towards the end, with the Germans hitting the woodwork in added time.



Gattuso Prioritizes Mental Issues Over Tactics as Italy Face World Cup Playoff

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
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Gattuso Prioritizes Mental Issues Over Tactics as Italy Face World Cup Playoff

Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)
Italy's head coach Gennaro Gattuso gestures during the 2026 World Cup Group I qualifier match between Italy and Norway in Milan, Italy, Nov. 16, 2025. (AP)

Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso has called for composure ahead of Italy’s World Cup playoff semi-final against Northern Ireland on Thursday, urging his players to block out the trauma of past failures.

With the specter of failed 2018 and 2022 qualification campaigns looming over the squad, Gattuso knows his players must overcome the mental weakness that has plagued Italy's World Cup ambitions.

Seeking to avoid a third consecutive qualification failure, the Italians ‌have managed only ‌one victory at a World Cup, a ‌2-1 ⁠group-stage win over ⁠England 12 years ago, since lifting the trophy in 2006 for the fourth time.

"We must be able to make the players feel lighter," Gattuso told reporters at Italy’s Coverciano training base on Monday. "Italy didn’t play in the last two World Cups... but there is no need to suffocate them. These are players who have won the Euros ⁠and played in Champions League finals. They are accustomed ‌to these games."

"There are no excuses; ‌we must only think about Thursday’s game," Gattuso said. "We must have the ‌right mentality and serenity. We respect the opponents... but we must ‌be clear-headed and smell the danger."

Should they get past Northern Ireland they would face a final against Wales or Bosnia & Herzegovina on March 31 to qualify for the showpiece tournament in North America.

Gattuso confirmed that Liverpool forward ‌Federico Chiesa had left the camp.

"He had a few physical problems, and we decided it was ⁠useless for him ⁠to stay here," Gattuso said. "When I heard that he had problems and doubts, I had to make a decision. He didn’t feel up for it, so he decided to return home. When one wants to return home, it’s right to let him do it."

Gattuso revealed he personally chose the 23,000-seat Stadio di Bergamo over the San Siro for the clash, admitting he feared the "caustic" atmosphere of a larger stadium if the team struggled early.

"At a 60,000-seat stadium like San Siro, they might start booing after a few wrong passes," Gattuso explained. "I want to create a real cauldron-like atmosphere. Thursday’s game is the only target. All the rest is the past."


Griezmann Given Go-Ahead to Talk with Orlando City

 Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
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Griezmann Given Go-Ahead to Talk with Orlando City

 Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)
Soccer Football - La Liga - Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - March 22, 2026 Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann in action with Real Madrid's Fran Garcia. (Reuters)

France's World Cup-winning striker Antoine Griezmann is to hold talks with Major League Soccer's Orlando City, having been permitted by his present side Atletico Madrid to go to the US during the international break, a source close to the player told AFP.

Should both parties agree a deal, the 35-year-old would move to Orlando this summer after seeing out the present campaign with the La Liga outfit.

Griezmann "has been authorised by his club to travel to Orlando during his days off in order to make progress in the discussions linked to his future," said the source on Monday.

A move to the MLS has been rumoured for years, with the 2018 World Cup winner known to be an admirer of other American sports leagues such as the NBA and NFL.

Atletico had shut the door on their all-time record goalscorer -- he has scored 211 goals over two spells -- moving this season with the MLS transfer window opening on March 26.

Griezmann, who also played in the 2022 World Cup final defeat by Argentina, retired from the French national side in 2024 having made 137 appearances, scoring 44 goals.

Griezmann signed an extension last year to his present contract, taking him up to June 2027, but is no longer an automatic first choice for Atletico.

Despite falling down the pecking order he has scored 13 times this season and can entertain hopes of ending his time with Atletico with one last hurrah.

They play Real Sociedad, the club he began his professional career with, in the final of the Copa del Rey on April 18, just after facing Barcelona in their two-legged Champions League quarter-final.

Griezmann inspired Atletico in his first spell to 2018 Europa League glory, but missed out on the biggest prizes, losing in the 2016 Champions League final and finishing runners-up in the title race in 2018 and 2019.

Orlando are badly in need of a cutting edge up front as in the present MLS campaign they have won just one of their five matches, losing the other four.


Saliba Ruled Out of France Squad, Lacroix Called up as Replacement

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
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Saliba Ruled Out of France Squad, Lacroix Called up as Replacement

Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)
Soccer Football - Premier League - Arsenal v Chelsea - Emirates Stadium, London, Britain - March 1, 2026 Arsenal's William Saliba celebrates scoring their first goal. (Action Images via Reuters)

Defender William ‌Saliba has been ruled out of France's squad due to injury ahead of this month’s friendlies against Brazil and Colombia, with Maxence Lacroix called up to replace him, the country's football federation (FFF) said on Sunday.

Arsenal's Saliba played the full 90 minutes in a ‌2-0 defeat ‌by Manchester City in ‌Sunday's ⁠League Cup final, ⁠before the FFF announced his injury.

"The Arsenal center back is suffering from recurring pain in his left ankle, requiring treatment and a minimum rest period of ⁠10 days," it said in ‌a statement.

"National ‌coach Didier Deschamps has decided to replace ‌him with Maxence Lacroix," the ‌FFF added.

The Crystal Palace defender, 25, has earned his first France call-up, ahead of the 2026 World Cup. ‌He has played 43 games in all competitions this season.

Saliba ⁠was ⁠among the expanded 27-man France squad announced by Deschamps on Thursday.

France will face Brazil in Boston on March 26 before taking on Colombia in Washington on March 29.

The 2022 World Cup runners-up are in Group I at this year's tournament with Senegal, Norway and a winner from the inter-confederation playoffs.