Former England striker, Gary Lineker, has admitted he became emotional after Bukayo Saka took a penalty during the shoot-out win over Switzerland at Euro 2024.

Saka had already equalised during the 90 minutes, with the game eventually decided via penalties.

According to Lineker, the moment reminded him of watching Stuart Pearce enjoy a similar moment of redemption.

Lineker and Pearce were teammates during the 1990 World Cup when the left-back saw a spot-kick saved in a semi-final defeat to West Germany.

Pearce, however, converted a kick during a quarter-final shoot-out win against Spain at Euro 96.

Saka was one of England’s three players who missed a penalty during the Euro 2020 final.

“I did actually, watching it, get a little bit emotional,” Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast.

“It reminded me so much of the Stuart Pearce moment. Pearce missed in 1990 when I played. I know Stuart; you know Stuart. He’s such a diamond of a bloke and a wonderful football player.

“Then we played against Spain, penalty shootout, in ’96 in the Euros. And he stepped forward again. I was in the crowd thinking, please, please score, don’t miss, and everyone in the crowd was thinking the same thing. There was a silence that was palpable.

“When he knocked that in, I cried. I was sitting there in the crowd, crying tears of joy. I don’t cry when I’m sad; I cry when I’m happy, and it [Saka’s penalty] reminded me of that. He took the penalty that basically lost us the Euros, and then to come back, a young lad having scored a brilliant goal to drag us level almost immediately. He’s amazing!”

Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala has hailed the arrival of Michael Olise to the club.

Both players spent time together at Chelsea Academy.

But Olise arrives from Crystal Palace in a deal worth £45 million plus £5 million add-ons.

“We used to play together at Chelsea Academy; it was nice. He’s super talented. His skills are excellent.

“He has scored many goals at Palace. So, I’m happy that he’s joining Bayern,” Musiala said.

The Squirrels claimed a famous 2-1 victory over their close door neighbour in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers last month.

The two countries were drawn again in the same group for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday.

Rohr, who managed the Super Eagles for six years is adamant his team what it takes to record another victory against the three-time African champions.

“It’s a difficult draw, because there’s Nigeria again. And we have Rwanda, an adversary that we know well and of whom we are wary. There is also Libya who have a good team, it will be a difficult trip there,” Rohr was quoted by the official website of Benin Football Federation.

“Another reunion with Nigeria. That’s going to be three more games with them [including the upcoming second leg, counting for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers]. It’s a reunion against a very good team. But we gained confidence and we know we can beat them.’

Arsenal star Jakub Kiwior could leave Emirates Stadium, with Riccardo Calafiori close to joining Mikel Arteta’s side from Serie A club Bologna.

Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano disclosed this.

Romano stated this in a tweet via his X account on Sunday.

“Jakub Kiwior could leave Arsenal in case of good proposal, with Riccardo Calafiori close to joining,” Romano tweeted.

“Understand there’s possibility for loan but only with a mandatory buy clause. Italian clubs are keeping close eye on the situation; no formal proposals yet.”

...Click Here To Continue Reading>>

Ahmed Musa, the Super Eagles captain, has clarified rumours that he has stepped aside from international duty.

Musa did not feature in any of Nigeria’s seven matches at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, where the team finished as runners-up.

The ex-CSKA Moscow winger last started a game for the national team in 2021 during a World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde.

He played 67 minutes in a 2-0 victory.

His most recent appearance was a seven-minute cameo in a friendly game against Guinea in January.

Musa has also been without a club since his contract with Turkish side Sivasspor was terminated in February.

But speaking with reporters after a friendly match he organized, Musa explained: “I only took a little break from the national team.
“But I didn’t exit the team.”

Chelsea, on Sunday, announced that academy graduate, Michael Golding, has completed a permanent transfer to Premier League club Leicester City.

The Blues disclosed this in a statement on their website.

“We wish Michael the best of luck in the next chapter of his career and thank him for all his efforts during his time as Blue,” Chelsea’s statement partly read.

Golding joined Chelsea as an Under-12 and represented the youth teams.

His performances for Chelsea also earned him international recognition between the Under-15 and Under-18 age groups.

He captained the England side that competed in the Under-17 European Championship in the summer of 2023 and later that year played three times at the Under-17 World Cup.

Golding recently featured for England Under-18s.

The Super Falcons of Nigeria trained for the first time in Sevilla, Spain on Sunday as they start preparations for the 2024 Olympic Games.

The team landed in Sevilla for a two-week training tour on Friday.

All the 18 invited players are expected to hit camp this week.

Randy Waldrum’s side will face Olympic champions Canada in a friendly on July 17.

The Super Falcons will then depart for Paris a day later.

The nine-time African champions will face Spain, Japan and Brazil in Group C at the Olympics.

Former Arsenal winger, Theo Walcott, has said Bukayo Saka is England’s main threat.

Saka scored for the Three Lions, as they drew 1-1 with Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-final clash, before converting during the penalty shoot-out win.

Gareth Southgate’s men will now play the Netherlands in the semi-final next Wednesday.

Walcott said: “Saka kept us guessing, and what he’s doing right now, he’s keeping his full-back guessing.

“You don’t know if he’s going to come inside, outside, and as well they need to double up on him a lot more.

“When you get tight on Bukayo Saka, he can just roll you, he’s so positive in his mind. He’s literally playing to his strengths and that’s what you want to see more of… he’s our main threat.”

Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa, has clarified rumours that he has stepped aside from international duty.

Musa did not feature in any of Nigeria’s seven matches at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, where the team finished as runners-up.

The ex-CSKA Moscow winger last started a game for the national team in 2021 during a World Cup qualifier against Cape Verde.

He played 67 minutes in a 2-0 victory.

His most recent appearance was a seven-minute cameo in a friendly game against Guinea in January.

Musa has also been without a club since his contract with Turkish side Sivasspor was terminated in February.

But speaking with reporters after a friendly match he organized, Musa explained: “I only took a little break from the national team.

“But I didn’t exit the team.”

Rivers State government has expressed total confidence in the ability of Rivers United’s head coach, Finidi George.

The state Commissioner for Sports, Chris Green stated this in a chat with the club’s media.

Green said the state government is expecting the best results from the former Super Eagles player.

Finidi was appointed as a replacement for Stanley Eguma, who was sacked following the team’s struggles in the NPFL last season.

“We have decided to bring in our own, Finidi George, a serial winner who has won domestically and internationally,” Green stated to Rivers United Media.

“He belongs to the greatest in football in Nigeria, bringing home the Cup of Nations in 1994.

“We are blessed to have him back home, and we expect nothing but the best from him.

“This time, it’s not business as usual. Discipline is our watchword. We won’t tolerate sabotage. The best must come to Rivers United.”