France champions of the world

France 4 Croatia 2 (Moscow)

France lifted the World Cup in Russia after a 4-2 victory over Croatia. The French took the lead in the 18th minute when a free-kick was floated into the box by Griezmann and flicked on by a defensive header for an own goal, but 10 minutes later a Croatian free-kick was headed back and eventually fell to Ivan Perisic who knocked the ball into the box and drilled home with a ferocious shot past Lloris. In the 36th minute the referee was alerted to a decision by VAR and after a lengthy delay decided to award France a doubtful penalty for hand ball which Antoine Griezmann accepted and sent Subasic the wrong way to give France a half-time lead. Three minutes after the break, Rebic saw his angled shot tipped over by Lloris, but in the 59th minute Griezmann set up Paul Pogba whose right-footed shot was blocked and he hit the return with his left foot past the unbalanced Subasic to give France some breathing space. France seemed to have put the match to bed in the 65th minute when Kylian Mbappe found a gap and rifled in a low shot from outside the area to become the first teenager since Pele in 1958 to score in the final of a World Cup, but 4 minutes later Lloris couldn't deal with a back pass and Mario Mandzukic took advantage of his sloppiness to give Croatia a glimmer of hope that evaporated with time and the French were crowned world champions.
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Portugal Euro win breaks French hearts

Final
France 0 Portugal 0 (0-1 after extra time) (Paris)

A Portuguese goal in extra time stunned France as Portugal lifted the Euro 2016 trophy in Paris. In the 10th minute Payet floated in a diagonal cross but Griezmann's header towards the top corner was tipped over by Rui Patricio in the Portuguese goal. The major talking point of the first half was Ronaldo's knee injury sustained early in the match that lead to him finally being stretchered off in the 25th minute. Griezmann missed a header from close range in the 66th minute and in the 80th minute at the other end Nani's goal-bound cross had Lloris flapping with Quaresma overhead kicking the rebound into the arms of the grateful keeper while 4 minutes later Patricio dived to his right to parry Sissoko's long distance piledriver. In stoppage time France were inches away from victory when Gignac turned in the box to beat Pepe but saw his effort from the corner of the 6-yard box agonisingly roll off the post. In the 108th minute Guerreiro's free kick from an erroneously awarded handball came off the underside of the bar and a minute later Lloris was once again beaten when Eder held off a defender and smacked a low ball from outside the box into the corner of the net to break the deadlock and give Portugal the European crown.
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Germany win World Cup in Brazil

Final
Germany 0 Argentina 0 (1-0 after extra time) (Rio de Janeiro)

Mario Götze scored in extra time as Germany beat Argentina 1-0 at the Maracana to win the 2014 World Cup. A misplaced header from Kroos sent Higuain clear on goal in the 21st minute but he scuffed his shot and in stoppage time Höwedes thumped his close-range header from a corner against the Argentine post. Messi, who had threatened Germany with several runs in the first half, came close 2 minutes after the break when his shot from inside the box narrowly missed the far post. In the first minute of extra time Schürrle's angled shot from the edge of the 6-yard box was beaten away by Romero and 6 minutes later at the other end Palacio lifted the ball over Neuer but wide of the post. The winning goal came in the 23rd minute of extra time when Schürrle crossed the ball from the left onto the chest of Götze who slid his volley past Romero into the far corner making Germany the first European side to win the World Cup outside Europe.
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England draw fight back

England 2 Ecuador 2 - Miami friendly 4 June 2014

Raheem Sterling was sent off and Oxlade-Chamberlain suffered an injury scare as England drew after coming from behind to lead Ecuador in Miami. Ayovi crossed the ball for Enner Valencia to score with a firm header into the corner of the net in the 9th minute, but England were level in the 29th minute when Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross fell to Lambert whose back-heel from close range came off the post for Rooney to knock in and in the 51st minute Barkley advanced towards to 18-yard area and passed the ball to Lambert who fired in a bullet across goal to give England the lead. In the 67th minute Enner Valencia's scuffed shot came off England's post but 3 minutes later Montero Arroyo smashed the ball into the top corner from outside the box to level the match. Sterling was dismissed in the 78th minute for a rash challenge on Antonio Valencia who also saw red for retaliating.

England 0 Honduras 0 - Miami friendly 7 June 2014
In their final warm-up match, that had to be suspended for 40 minutes due to an electrical storm, in Miami England dominated a goalless draw with a physical Honduras side who had Beckeles sent off midway through the second half.

Real kings of Europe

Real Madrid 4 Atletico Madrid 1 (after extra-time ) - Champions League final 2014 Lisbon

Real Madrid won the European Cup for the 10th time after brushing aside neighbours Atletico Madrid 4-1 in extra time. Atletico took the lead in the 36th minute when a headed clearance from a corner kick was headed back into the box for Diego Godin to head over the stranded Casillas who tried in vain to rush to his goal line and claw the ball back into play. Real increased the pressure as the game went on but were almost beaten by Atletico and the clock until 3 minutes into stoppage time when Sergio Ramos headed accurately past Courtois from a corner kick to take the match to extra time. In the 110th minute when Di Maria ran skilfully into the box from the left Coutois blocked his shot but Gareth Bale was on hand to head in for Real. With 2 minutes left Marcelo ran unchallenged and fired home from just inside the area and in the last minute, after a foul in the box, Cristiano Ronaldo put the icing on the cake with an emphatic shot from the spot sending Coutois the wrong way.

Arsenal claw back FA Cup win

Arsenal 3 Hull City 2 (after extra-time ) - FA Cup final Wembley 2014

The nine-year wait for a trophy is over for Arsenal as the Gunners came from 2 down to overcome Hull City in extra time. The Tigers roared into an early lead when Huddelstone volleyed an outswinging corner from just outside the box for James Chester to sidefoot past Fabianski in the 4th minute and only 4 minutes later Hull doubled their lead when a downward header from Bruce came off the post and Curtis Davies squeezed in the rebound from a tight angle. It was almost 3 in the 14th minute when Bruce headed across goal towards the top corner but Gibbs made a vital clearance from under the crossbar and 3 minutes later Arsenal were back in the game when Santi Cazorla brilliantly curled a free-kick into the top corner. In the 71st minute Sagna's header from a corner kick fell to Koscielny who turned in the equaliser and in the 79th minute Gibbs blazed the ball over the bar from 7 yards out. With 8 minutes remaining McGregor got down to beat away Giroud's volley and secure extra time but in the 109th minute Giroud backheeled the ball to Ramsey who fired in the winner. Hull gave Arsenal moments of concern when Aluko ran past the outrushing Fabianski down the left flank but failed to find the target from a tight angle in the 116 minute and then in the final minute when Fabianski had to dive down to his right to hold on to a long-range daisy cutter from the same player and secure the extra-time win for Arsenal.

Sevilla deny Benfica Europa spotlight

Sevilla 0 Benfica 0 (Sevilla win on penalties) - Europa League final Turin 2014

Benfica lost yet another European final, this time to Sevilla on penalties. Beto made 2 saves in first-half stoppage time foiling a Maxi Pereira lob in front of goal and beating away a shot from Rodrogo moments later. Benfica were at it again 3 minutes after the break with the Sevilla defenders frantically blocking their shots and Beto tipped over Lima's dipping shot in the 84th minute to keep the match goalless. Sevilla's best chance came in the 101 minute when Bocca was through on goal but he screwed the ball wide of the target with the outside of his right foot. In the penalty shootout Lima sent the keeper the wrong way and Bocca dispatched the ball into the roof of the Benfica net, but Cardozo saw his hesitant shot saved and Mbia smashed the ball home sending the keepr the wrong way to give Sevilla the advantage. Rodrigo had his weak shot saved and Coke's powerful shot into the bottom corner took Sevilla one step closer. Luisao tucked the ball away to keep Benfica alive but Gameiro slammed in the winner to give Sevilla the 2014 Europa Cup.

City comeback stuns spirited Sunderland

Manchester City 3 Sunderland 1 - League Cup final Wembley 2 March 2014

Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini won his first trophy in England as his side struck 3 times in the 2nd half to overcome Sunderland and lift the Capital One Cup at Wembley. Fabio Borini beat Kompany to a long ball from Johnson in the 10th minute and slid his angled shot past Pantilimon to give Sunderland a dream start that lasted until the 10th minute of the 2nd half when from out of the blue Yaya Toure nonchalantly swung in an unstoppable 30 yarder. A minute later Kolarov crossed the ball into the box for Samir Nasri to whack in from just inside the area and complete the turnaround. With the 90 minutes up, Toure broke into the Sunderland half and passed the ball to Jesus Navas who fired in the 3rd, dashing any hope the Black Cats may have had of forcing extra time.

Last Bayern kick denies Chelsea Super Cup

Bayern Munich 2 Chelsea 2 (Bayern win on penalties) - Europa Super Cup 30 August 2013 Prague

Bayern Munich won the Europa Super Cup on penalties after a last gasp equaliser in extra time brought Chelsea celebrations in Prague to a halt. Eden Hazard turned skilfully and ran into the Bayern half to feed Schurrle who passed the ball to Fernando Torres to slam into the top corner on the volley after only 8 minutes, but 2 minutes into the 2nd half Franck Ribery beat Cech with a powerful shot from outside the area. A 63rd minute slip by Dante presented Oscar with a glorious chance but his dink was foiled by Neuer who was tested several times as Chelsea looked dangerous until the dismissal of Ramires for a second yellow after a dangerous tackle 5 minutes from time. The German side were unable to take advantage and fell behind in the 3rd minute of extra time when Hazard cut in from the left and fired past Neuer, but having forced Petr Cech into making several vital saves in his home city finally equalised when the ball fell to Martinez who found the net from 6-yard out. With Alaba, Luiz, Kroos, Oscar, Lahm, Lampard, Ribery, Cole and Shaqiri having converted from the spot Neuer went down to his left to save a weak penalty from Lukaku and separate the teams in Bayern's favour.

Moyes starts with Community Shield

Manchester United 2 Wigan Athletic 0 - 2013 Community Shield 11 August Webmley

A double from Robin van Persie against Wigan Athletic won Manchester United the 2013 Community Shield in David Moyes' first competitive match in charge of the Premier League champions. After only 6 minutes van Persie found the corner of the net with a header across goal and the Dutchman doubled his tally in the 59th minute with an innocuous shot from the edge of the area that was deflected past Carson into the Wigan goal. Wigan never threatened the outcome of the match and the final whistle signaled a successful start for David Moyes as Manchester United manager.

Keeper helps Germans keep Cup

Germany 1 Norway 0 - Women's Euro 2013 final 28 July

German keeper Nadine Angerer saved 2 penalties as Germany won their 6th straight European title by beating Norway in the women's final in Stockholm. The Norwegians were presented with a chance to take the lead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute but Angerer foiled Trine Ronning's effort with a trailing knee. Anja Mittag came on after the break and made her mark within 4 minutes, side footing Da Mbabi's pass across goal into the net, after a sweeping German move from the left. Norway, who cleared a header off the line in the 57th minute, had the opportunity to draw level 2 minutes later when the referee once again pointed to the spot, but Angerer saved from Solveig Gulbrandsen and Germany went on to lift the trophy.

Brazil masters of the Maracana

Brazil 3 Spain 0 - Confederations Cup final 30 June 2013

In an electrifying Maracana, Brazil overwhelmed Spain to claim their third consecutive Confederations Cup. With only 2 minutes gone a cross fell to Fred who knocked the ball in from a lying position in front of goal. Spain came close in the 40th minutes when Pedro beat Julio Cesar but David Luiz slid in heroically to clear off the line and a minute before the break Brazil went 2 up when Neymar received the ball in the box and slammed it into the roof of the net. Two minutes into the second half Hulk found Fred who slotted the ball into the far corner to wrap things up for Brazil. Spain were awarded a penalty in the 54th minute, but Ramos hit wide and in the 68th minute Pique was shown a straight red for hacking down Neymar on the run. Julio Cesar denied Spain a consolation goal with 2 outstanding saves in the last 10 minutes as Brazil went on to lift the Confederations Cup a year before hosting the World Cup.

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Thiago hat trick helps young Spain to trophy

Spain 4 Italy 2 UEFA U21 final Jerusalem 18 June 2013

Spain retained their European Under 21 title as a Thiago hat trick brushed Italy aside in Jerusalem. In the 6th minute Morata crossed the ball from the byline onto the head of Thiago who obliged from close range, but 4 minutes later Ciro Immobile ran onto a long ball and lobbed David de Gea to level the score. Thiago put Spain ahead in the 31st minute when he brought the ball down in the box and forced it past Bardi, and he completed his hat trick from the penalty spot when he fired down the middle in the 38th minute. Isco sent Bardi the wrong way from the penalty spot in the 66th minute for Spain's 4th and with 10 minutes left Fabio Borini found the corner of the net with a low shot from 20 yards out to salvage some pride for the Italians.

Nigeria claim African Cup

Nigeria 1 Burkina Faso 0 South Africa 10th February 2013
The Super Eagles won their 3rd Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over Burkina Faso. The winner came 5 minutes before the interval when Sunday Mba clipped the ball over a defender and knocked it into the corner of the net. Stephen Keshi became only the second man to lift the trophy as a player and as a coach after Egyptian Mahmoud El Gohary.

Mali third in Africa More Africa 2013 reports

Unstoppable Spain reign supreme

Spain 4 Italy 0 Kiev 1st July 2012

Spain retained their European crown with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Italy in Kiev. Iniesta threaded the ball to Fabregas who got to the byline and swiftly pulled it back for Silva to head into the top far corner giving Spain the lead in the 14 minute and with 4 minutes of the half remaining the Spaniards doubled their lead when Jordi Alba latched onto a Xavi pass and slotted the ball past Buffon. Italy, who had already used their 3 substitutes, were forced to play the last 30 minutes with 10 men as Motta went off injured, and the world champions finally capitalised on their numerical advantage in the 84th minute when Torres picked the ball up in the box and slid it past Buffon. Four minutes later Torres once again found himself in a similar position and flicked the ball to Mata, teeing it up for the fourth, making Spain the first country in the world to win 3 major tournaments in a row.
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Zambia African champions

Zambia 0 Ivory Coast 0 (Zambia win on penalties) February 12 Liberville

In an emotional night Zambia lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in memory of the 1993 Zambia team lost in an air crash close to the match venue. The Zambians started dangerously with a low corner in the 2nd minute resulting in a snap shot from Sinkala that Barry did well to get down and smother. The Ivoirians also had chances with Yaya Toure drilling wide after a clever backheel from Drogba on the half-hour mark, but it was Drogba himself who missed the best chance of the match when he blazed his 70th minute penalty over the bar, and when substitute Max Gradel rolled the ball past the far post with 2 minutes to go, the match went into extra-time in which Zambia came inches away from scoring when Chris Katongo's close effort in the 95th minute was pushed onto the post by the outstretched foot of keeper Barry. After 5 perfect penalties each including a retake from Ivoirian Bamba that was initially saved by Mweene, the shootout went to sudden death and with Kolo Toure having his penalty saved and the next penalties from Kabala and Gervinho going over the bar, Sunzu stepped up to convert the winning penalty and spark wild celebrations and scenes of jubilation.

Diabate double defeats Ghana for third

United overturn City for Community Shield

Manchester United 3 Manchester City 2 (Wembley 7 August 2011)

Manchester United overcame a 2 goal deficit with 3 in the 2nd half against their city rivals to win the Community Shield at Wembley. Manchester City took the lead in the 38th minute when a free-kick was delivered onto the head of Lescott who flicked the ball past De Gea in the United goal, and City doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when Dzeko beat De Gea with a deceptive daisy-cutter from 30 yards out. United pulled a goal back in the 52nd minute when Smalling latched onto a Young free-kick to steer it past Hart, and within 6 minutes after some delightful one-touch passing Nani received the ball and swept it past Hart to draw United level. Johnson tested De Gea in the 76th minute but in the 4th and last minute of stoppage time Nani picked the ball up on the midway line, raced on to round Joe Hart and roll in the winner for Manchester United.

Uruguay cruise to Copa America win

Uruguay 3 Paraguay 0 Copa America final (Buenos Aires, Argentina 24 July 2011)

Diego Forlan scored twice as Uruguay outplayed Paraguay to lift the Copa America with a convincing 3-0 win in Buenos Aires. Paraguay were lucky not to have fallen behind as early as the 2nd minute when Villar saved brilliantly from Lugano's thumping header and Piri kept the ball out by handling the rebound without paying the penalty, but after 10 minutes of further pressure Suarez received the ball in the box, dragged it onto his left foot and put Uruguay ahead in off the far post. Forlan was foiled by Villar in the 33rd minute but 3 minutes before the break Arevalo robbed a Paraguayan defender and teed the ball up for Forlan to fire past Villar. After the interval Paraguay ventured briefly into their opponent's half and in the 54th minute Muslera tipped a sweet volley from Haeldo Valdez onto the bar, but Villar who was the busier of the 2 keepers made another excellent save to keep Eguren's deflected shot out in the 74th minute. Paraguay looking for a late consolation goal allowed Uruguay to launch a swift counter-attack with Cavani finding Suarez who headed the ball into the path of Diego Forlan to slot past Villar and put the icing on the cake.
Read about the 2011 Copa America

Japanese girls shake the world

Japan 2 USA 2 aet, Japan win on penalties Women's Wold Cup final (Frankfurt, Germany 17 July 2011)
Japan lifted the women's World Cup in Germany after twice coming from behind to force extra- time and penalties against the U.S.A. Wambach broke free and hit the Japanese crossbar with a thunderous shot in the 28th minute and 4 minutes after the break Japan scrambled the ball away after Morgan's effort came off the post. Kaihori tipped Wambach's header over the bar in the 64th minute and 5 minutes later the deadlock was broken when Alex Morgan got on the end of a long ball dispatching it into the corner of the net, but with 10 minutes remaining the Americans failed to clear a low cross and Miyama poked the ball home to take the match into extra time. Wambach's thumping header a minute before the break in extra time once again gave U.S.A. the lead but the tireless Japanese rallied on and with only 3 minutes of the match left Homare Sawa flicked the ball in at the near post from a corner kick. Iwasimizu was shown a straight red for a desperate challenge just outside the box in the dying seconds and the World Cup final had to be decided on penalties. With the Americans failing to convert 3 spot-kicks it was Kumagai who stepped up to send the decisive kick into the top left corner and land Japan the 2011 women's World Cup.
Read about the 2011 women's World Cup

Mexican boys on top of the world

Mexico 2 Uruguay 0 Under 17 Wold Cup final (Aztec stadium, Mexico City 10 July 2011)
Mexico won the under 17 World Cup by beating Uruguay 2-0 in a packed Aztec stadium. The hosts took the lead just after the half-hour mark when a cross from the right was headed back at the far post for Antonio Briseno to volley in with a side-footer from just inside the 6 yard box, and despite Uruguay hitting the post twice, it was Mexico who played quick neat football until the end when in stoppage time Gonzales broke through and squared the ball for Giovani Casilias to force past Jonathan Cubero and confirm victory for the young Mexicans.
Read about the 2011 under 17 World Cup

Mexico storm back to US gold

USA 2 Mexico 4 Gold Cup final (Pasadena, California 25 June 2011)
In a pulsating final Mexico came from an early 2 goal setback to once again show superiority over their northern neighbours and lift the Gold Cup on American soil. The Americans had suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Panama but reached the final by getting past Canada 2-0, Guadeloupe 1-0, Jamaica 2-0 and Panama 1-0 in the semi-final while Mexico swept aside El Salvador 5-0, Cuba 5-0 and Costa Rica 4-1 before getting the better of Guatemala 2-1 and defeating Honduras 2-0 in extra time to reach the Pasadena final. The U.S.A. took the lead totally against the run of play when Michael Bradley met a corner-kick with a glancing header in the 8th minute, and despite bombarding the American goal, Mexico fell further behind in the 23rd minute when Dempsey played Donovan through to double the lead with a clinical finish, but 6 minutes later Barrera raced onto a long ball from Hernandez to knock it past Howard. Mexico drew level in the 36th minute when Dos Santos cut in from the right and fired in a low shot which was blocked by Goodson only for Guardado to toe-poke under the body of keeper Howard, and 5 minutes after the break Barrera curled in a low shot past Howard with the outside of his right foot to give Mexico the lead. Giovani dos Santos sealed the win for Mexico 14 minutes from time when he dribbled the ball away from a frantic Tim Howard to float it exquisitely over the heads of the American defenders into the top corner

Spain on top of the World

Spain 1 Netherlands 0 after extra time (Johannesburg) World Cup final 11 July 2010
Andres Iniesta scored late in extra time as European champions Spain lifted the World Cup for the first time and condemned the Netherlands to their third defeat in a World Cup final. Stekelenburg made a diving save to keep out a header from Ramos in the 5th minute and 6 minutes later Ramos got into the box and drove the ball across goal but Heitinga diverted it over the bar. Casillas got down to turn a shot from Robben round the post just before the break and got the better of Robben again in the 61st minute with a trailing foot as the Dutchman was through on goal. Heitinga allowed a low cross to reach Villa in front of goal in the 69th minute but made amends with a last ditch block, and in the 77th minute Spain came close again but Ramos saw his free header from a corner fly over the bar. Robben ran towards goal in the 83rd minute but the physical presence of Puyol and the reaction of Casillas averted the danger, as did the foot of Stekelenburg 5 minutes into extra time when Farbregas was through on goal for Spain. A minute later Mathijsen headed the ball over from a corner and in the 101st minute a shot from van Bronckhorst was deflected into the side netting. Heitinga who was one of the 13 players booked in this match received his 2nd yellow and took an early shower for a foul in the 109th minute and with 4 minutes of extra time left the ball broke to Iniesta in the box who hammered it past Stekelenburg into the far corner to win the World Cup for Spain.
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German girls finish off England

Germany 6 England 2 Women's Euro final (Helsinki 10 September 2009)
Germany continued their domination of women's football by thrashing England 6-2 in the final of Euro 2099 in Finland. Grings laid the ball on for Prinz to roll past Brown in the 19th minute and 3 minutes later Melanie Behringer let fly from 41 yards to double the German lead, but within 2 minute England pulled a goal back when Kelly Smith ran onto a long ball in the box and dribbled her way along the by-line to present Karen Carney with a tap-in. Five minutes into the 2nd half Krahn's volley came off the post and Kim Kulig knocked the rebound into the roof of the net, but 5 minutes later Kelly Smith skilfully beat a German defender in the box to fire past Angerer in the German goal. Inka Grings restored Germany's 2 goal lead with a firm header in the 62nd minute and caught England's defence flat-footed on the counter attack to cue the ball up for a shot past Brown in the 73rd minute. Birgit Prinz lashed in the 6th a few minutes later to cap a magnificent victory for Germany.
How they reached the final

Argentina 1 Nigeria 0 (August 23rd 2008 Olympics Final in Beijing)

A single goal against Nigeria in the final was enough to give Argentina gold in the scorching Beijing heat. A through ball from Messi in the 58th minute fed Angel di Maria who lifted the ball past Nigeria keeper Ambruse Vanzekin to decide the match. Nigeria created very few chances and had to settle for silver as the midday sun took its toll. Brazil had won bronze a day earlier with a convencing but somewhat flattering 3-0 win over Belgium. In the women's final Carli Lloyd struck a powerful low shot past Brazilian keeper Barbara 6 minutes into extra time to win the USA another gold. Bajramaj scored both goals as Germany defeated Japan 2-0 for the bronze. More ....