THERE will be no EnglIsh clubs involved in the three European finals this year and already pundits are talking of underperformance and in doing so, they are also exposing an underlying sense of entitlement. Rio Ferdinand, interviewing Jude Bellingham, had the audacity to ask the Real Madrid star if he was slightly disappointed that Borussia Dortmund were at the end of their run to the final. A rather clumsy question to ask, but one that also confirmed the media really hankers for finals between the elite clubs rather than unexpected finalists providing the sort of romantic stories that once pr ..read more

TWO goals from Real Madrid substitute Joselu sent the Spanish champions into the UEFA Champions League final, beating Bayern Munich at the Bernabéu Stadium. Bayern were 1-0 ahead with two minutes of normal time remaining thanks to an outstanding 68thminute goal from Alphonso Davies. They had taken the lead against the run of play, with Manuel Neuer pulling off some excellent saves, notably from Vínicius Juníor. Sadly, Neuer’s uncharacteristic blunder in the 88th minute allowed Real to equalise with Joselu prodding home from close range. Two minutes later, Joselu netted again and ..read more

REJOICE! The UEFA Champions League final has produced a major surprise in Borussia Dortmund confounding the experts by beating one of the wealthiest teams in the world to reach the June 1 final at Wembley. A team valued at over € 1 billion was beaten not once, but twice, by a German side that is worth half as much. The narrative was supposed to be all about Kylian Mbappé leaving Paris Saint-Germain with the Champions League trophy in his back pocket, but it was destroyed by an old fashioned rearguard action, marshalled by Mats Hummels and Nico Schlotterbeck, and a classic two-leg “job”. There ..read more

FOOTBALL in Greece has had a troubled season, but Olympiacos are keeping the flag flying in Europe as they go into the second leg of their Conference League semi-final with a 4-2 lead. On the domestic front, Greek football has been shambolic in recent months with violence tarnishing games involving top clubs. Games have been played behind closed doors in recent months and the trouble on the field has involved club officials as well as players. The Super League is a tight battle this season with any one of four capable of winning the title. AEK Athens are currently top with 75 points ..read more

HE was unlike anything or anyone we had ever seen in the dugout, a tall, long-haired, chain-smoking observer, resembling a hotel lounge lizard rather than a football coach. He looked calm, serious but confident, aware that failure could lead to more than just the sack. César Luis Menotti had the monumental task of winning the FIFA World Cup for the right-wing Junta dictatorship in Argentina. He had the sort of pressure placed upon him that few managers have had since, but he did it with a team that played exciting, occasionally over-zealous football.  Menotti, known as El Flaco  ..read more

IF Carlo Ancelotti was a noisy devil, prancing around the technical area like a jack-in-the-box, or berating fourth officials to spoil for a fight, then perhaps he would earn the plaudits of those that believe the “visible” approach is the best way to run a team. Ancelotti looks more like an investment banker on a field trip or a politician looking for election votes. His general body language suggests a man who is confident in his ability, somebody who trusts the players he sends out onto the pitch. He has managed the Real Madrid side since 2022 and has just led them to their 36th La Lig ..read more

FOR the third year in the last four, a Manchester City player has been named Football Writers’ Association player of the year. Phil Foden, 23, received 42% of the votes from FWA members, with Arsenal’s Declan Rice in second place and Foden’s team-mate, Rodri, in third. Martin Ødegaard (Arsenal), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa) and Cole Palmer (Chelsea) make up the top six. Bunny Shaw of Manchester City was named women’s player of the year. Khadija Shaw, 27, is the top scorer in the Women’s Super League with 21 goals.  Shaw, who broke a foot last week, and Lauren James claimed 80% of the ..read more

THE whole structure and ethos of domestic football is in danger and not because of the European Super League hovering in the background. The commoditisation of the game and attempts by broadcasters and corporates to take Europe’s best leagues and send them on tour, poses multiple threats to the stability of football. It would be foolish to assume the Premier League totally “belongs” to England because it has so obviously become a global business, but the company’s product is English domestic football, which by definition is something that most certainly is part of the country’s sporting cultur ..read more

TERRY Medwin, a member of the Tottenham Hotspur side that won the double in 1961, FA Cup in 1962 and European Cup-Winners’ Cup a year later, has died aged 91. Medwin, a Welsh international won was capped 30 times, played in the 1958 World Cup in Sweden and scored a vital goal for his country that secured a place in the quarter-finals. Medwin was a fast winger who was signed from Swansea in 1956 for £ 25,000 and played 345 Football League game for his two clubs. His career was ended in 1963 with a broken leg. Real Madrid displayed their Champions League expertise with a 2-2 draw at Bayern Munic ..read more

England: The Premier League title race is effectively down to two clubs after Liverpool dropped more points away to West Ham United while Arsenal and Manchester City powered on. Arsenal raced into a 3-0 half-time lead in the north London derby, but Spurs came back to put pressure on the league leaders. They hung on to win 3-2. Manchester City won 2-0 at Nottingham Forest with Erling Haaland coming on to score the clinching goal late on. Liverpool, in the early Saturday game, were held 2-2 at West Ham.  Northern Ireland: Larne are champions for the second successive season, the f ..read more