Putting in what was a professional first-leg display on Tuesday night, Inter Milan clinched a 1-0 Champions League victory against Atletico Madrid.

Although Simone Inzaghi’s men might have been bracing themselves for a frustrating night at the San Siro as they missed a string of clear-cut chances on either side of the half-time break, the Nerazzurri eventually claimed a late winner.

While Marko Arnautovic might have squandered a pair of wonderful opportunities after coming off the bench during the half-time break, the Austrian international tapped home in the final 10 minutes and handed the Italian icons a deserved first-leg advantage.

Failing to muster a single shot on target here and recording just a single victory from any of their previous five appearances…

Goals were flying in on Sunday, as hosts France came back from the brink and Germany and Belgium swaggered into the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 alongside them. But the 17th day of this extravaganza proved to be one where the fans were often the star performers.

GRIEZY DOES IT

France booked a trip back to the capital with their stirring 2-1 comeback win over the Republic of Ireland in Lyon. When they return to Paris for Sunday s quarter-final at the Stade de France, Didier Deschamps will find a city that is beginning to fall in love with them.

There was tension, furrowed brows and cross words after 45 minutes at the Eiffel Tower fan park on Sunday all ingredients amid the twists and turns of the classical Parisian romances. Ireland were leading but Des…

FIFA has been asked by South America s footballing governing body to expand the 2022 World Cup finals to include 48 teams.

Under current proposals, the number of countries involved in the tournament will go up from 32 to 48 in 2026, with FIFA delegates having voted for the change last January.

However, CONMEBOL and its president Alejandro Dominguez have sent a formal request to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino to bring forward their plans by four years.

As we think big and because we want to do justice, I want to deliver an application letter, signed by the 10 nations of CONMEBOL, for the 2022 World Cup to be played with 48 teams, Dominguez said during the CONMEBOL congress on Thursday.

Under the 48-team proposal, six South American sides would qualify for th…

Widely recognized as the most distinguished club competition on the planet, the UEFA Champions League that was initially introduced in 1992 replacing the European Cup, which had run since 1955, is still the most anticipated and beloved sports event in the world.

Since 1992, thirteen teams from five different countries have managed to lift the famous trophy, with Real Madrid and Barcelona emerging as two most dominant sides, winning twelve titles combined.

With Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City frantically trying to wrap up their first ever Champions League title, Los Merengues and the Blaugrana will have to be at the top of their game if they want to get to the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano. The Ligue 1 champions, as well as, the Premier League outfit, both crave fo…

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Looking to extend on their history-making La Liga romp, Girona will welcome Alaves to the Estadi Montilivi.

Girona

Starting with the hosts, last seen putting in another famous performance as they stormed their way to a 4-2 victory away at defending champions Barcelona, Girona are in the midst of a stunning La Liga romp. Firmly cementing their spot as Europe’s surprise package this season, it is no secret that Michel Sanchez’s men have continued to receive a string of public praise. Opening this weekend’s fixtures holding a remarkable two-point buffer at the top of the table, it appears that that Catalonia-based outfit are cruising their way to a Champions League ticket in 2024. Riding what has been an iconic wave of momentum and…

Wayne Rooney believes England can go all the way at Euro 2012, adding that teams will not want to play against them in the knockout stages.

After coming back from a two-game suspension, the striker scored what turned out to be the winning goal as Roy Hodgson s men put in a somewhat shaky display against co-hosts Ukraine on Tuesday night.

And the Manchester United man believes that by finishing top of Group D and earning an extra day s rest by playing in the fourth quarter-final on Sunday, the Three Lions are in good stead for the rest of the tournament.

I think we know our qualities and what we re capable of, Rooney told ITV. We ve got together and worked really hard, we ve done a lot of tactical play in training and we re difficult to beat.

I don t th…

Former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher has caught onto the feel-good vibe of Euro 2012 with his High Flying Birds concert in Gdansk.

With the quarter-finals getting underway from Thursday, Gallagher s concert comes at the perfect time to take fans minds off of the eagerly anticipated clashes.

Support acts included The Vaccines and Ziemianie at Plac Zebran Ludowych on Wednesday night as over 30,000 fans attended.

The concert in the fan zone is one positive among several off-field negatives at the tournament this year, with several fines issued for racism from fan groups.

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Jill Scott has become the second member of England s Euro 2022-winning squad to announce her retirement in as many days, with the nation s second-most-capped player hanging up her boots at the age of 35.

The midfielder, the only member of the victorious Lionesses squad who remained from their previous final defeat in 2009, brings the curtain down on an 18-year career just weeks on from beating Germany at Wembley.

Scott follows England s record goalscorer Ellen White in announcing she is bowing out of the game, revealing her decision in a lengthy feature penned for The Players Tribune.

Two things have always been true about me, the former Manchester City stalwart wrote.  I ve always been stubborn, and I ve always loved football. It s been in my blood ever since…