Month: March 2023

Louis Dennis scored a dramatic late winner as promotion hopefuls Bromley snatched a frantic 3-2 win over bottom side Maidstone in the Vanarama National League.

Dennis grabbed his second of a remarkable game in which both sides were reduced to 10 men when he pounced on a rebound in the final minute.

Maidstone, who are eight points adrift at the bottom, had taken an early lead at the Gallagher Stadium through Josh Shonibare, but Dennis and Ayodeji Elerewe hit back for the visitors.

Sam Bone levelled for the hosts and Bromley looked set to be frustrated after Charley Kendall was sent off until Dennis struck late on. Maidstone had Raphe Brown dismissed in injury time.

Gareth Bale bade an emotional farewell to Wales fans after his retirement, telling the supporters who “make it so special” they “are Welsh football” on Tuesday.

Rob Page’s side made it four points from two games in Euro 2024 qualifying after Kieffer Moore scored in a 1-0 victory over Latvia at Cardiff City Stadium.

Wales fans were met by a familiar face prior to kick-off as Bale, who announced his retirement from professional football in January, spoke to the crowd to say his final farewell.

“I just want to say what an honour it has been to represent this country and play in front of the best fans in the world,” he said.

“You’ve supported me and my family through the lowest of the lows and the highest of highs. I can’t thank you enough.”

Bale has been central to Wales’ successes on the international stage, leading his country to their first European Championships in 2016, in which they reached an unlikely semi-final before defeat to Portugal.

The former Real Madrid winger scored in all three group-stage matches at that tournament, before Wales and Bale returned to the same competition five years later and progressed to the last 16 at Euro 2020.

A first World Cup appearance in 64 years followed for Wales as they made it to Qatar, with Bale scoring their first goal at the tournament in a 1-1 draw with the United States.

That campaign ultimately ended in an early exit and disappointment, but Bale urged Wales fans to get behind their side as he moves from the pitch to the stands to become a supporter.

“It’s been the biggest pleasure playing in front of you for my whole career,” he added. “Obviously I’m going to miss playing in front of you, but make sure you support the boys.

“You, the fans, are Welsh football, you make it so special, you make it what it is. I’ll be cheering on like you lot, and hopefully I’ll see you soon in the future. Thank you.”

Tottenham’s managing director Fabio Paratici believes Antonio Conte’s exit was “the right decision for everyone” and is confident interim boss Cristian Stellini can oversee a successful end to the season.

Conte and Spurs parted company on Sunday, eight days after the Italian launched a remarkable rant in the wake of his side squandering a two-goal lead in a 3-3 draw at Southampton. 

As well as labelling Tottenham’s players “selfish”, Conte appeared to criticise the club’s hierarchy by adding: “Tottenham’s story is this – 20 years and they never won something. Why?”

While Paratici acknowledges Conte – who recently missed several games after undergoing gallbladder surgery – has endured a difficult few months in his personal life, he believes his exit will benefit all parties.

“We know how difficult this season was for him personally,” Paratici told the club’s website.”[Spurs’ fitness coach] Gian Piero [Ventrone] died and [Gianluca] Vialli, and then his surgery. 

“The club supported him a lot with it, and everyone is close to each other but then we arrived in this mutual agreement, and I think the decision that we made was the right decision for everyone.”

Stellini – who served as Conte’s assistant at Juventus and Inter – has taken the reins as Spurs battle for a top-four Premier League finish, and Paratici thinks the 48-year-old is ready to make the step up.

“Cristian managed the team even when Antonio was sick this season and was good,” Paratici added. “He has a lot of experience as a second coach and he was even first coach in the past. 

“Then we have Ryan Mason who can help him a lot. He has been a part of this club for a long time, and he knows everything about this club and this group of players. We are really, really confident that these two people can do a very good job.”

Several high-profile coaches – including Julian Nagelsmann and Mauricio Pochettino – have been touted as possible long-term replacements for Conte, but Paratici will not discuss the search for a permanent boss while the season is ongoing.

“We have to have everyone focused on the last part of the season,” he said. “We do not speak about other coaches or follow the speculation in the media because it is just speculation. 

“We are focused, we are now concentrating on helping Cristian and helping the staff, Ryan, and the players. It is an important moment.”

Tottenham sit fourth in the Premier League ahead of the run-in, though they are just two points clear of Newcastle United in fifth, having played two games more than the Magpies.

Leon Goretzka limped off injured for Germany in Tuesday’s clash with Belgium, making him a doubt for Bayern Munich’s crunch Bundesliga clash with Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern trail Dortmund by just one point at the Bundesliga summit but may have to do without Goretzka for Saturday’s crucial Klassiker after the midfielder suffered an apparent ankle injury.

The Germany international initially went down and required treatment in the 29th minute before failing to continue as Hansi Flick sent on Felix Nmecha three minutes later at RheinEnergieStadion.

That was in a double substitution, the second part of which was not enforced as Emre Can replaced Florian Wirtz with Germany trailing 2-0 after early goals from Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku in Cologne.

A potentially title-deciding meeting with Dortmund will also mark Thomas Tuchel’s first game in charge of Bayern, who brought in the former Chelsea coach after dismissing Julian Nagelsmann last week.

The Bundesliga champions will hope Goretzka soon returns to fitness, with the two-legged Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City also on the horizon.

Son Heung-min feels “responsible” for Antonio Conte’s Tottenham exit because of his indifferent form on the pitch.

Conte left Spurs on Sunday following a week of intense speculation suggesting his days were numbered after an underwhelming run of form.

The final straw proved to be the 3-3 draw at Southampton – during which Spurs led 3-1 before a late collapse – and Conte’s remarkable post-match tirade, which saw him blast his players as “selfish”.

Conte also appeared to aim criticism at the club’s hierarchy during his rant but reportedly clarified to bosses a few days later that all comments were targeted at the players.

Nevertheless, his employers seemingly decided the relationship between Conte and the club had reached breaking point, with a divorce by “mutual agreement” announced.

Son, speaking on international duty, could not help but feel partly to blame, with the South Korea international’s form suffering a significant drop-off this season. He shared the Premier League’s Golden Boot last term with 23 goals but has managed only six in 26 appearances in 2022-23.

“As a player, I’m very sorry to him,” Son told reporters after South Korea’s 2-1 defeat to Uruguay.

“He is a world-class manager and we had a great journey together, I thank him a lot. I don’t know how other players are thinking about him, but I’m sorry to him.

“I should have shown more, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t help the team and I feel responsible because the coach took responsibility and left the club.”

Son added: “He has great skills and experience as a coach, I’m sure he’ll have great success in his future career.”

Conte’s assistant Cristian Stellini has been placed in charge until the end of the season, or until Spurs appoint a new head coach.

Julian Nagelsmann, recently sacked by Bayern Munich, is rumoured to be among the frontrunners, while former Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino has been linked with a return.

Arsenal head coach Jonas Eidevall believes the continued growth of the Women’s Super League should lead to an English team winning the Women’s Champions League soon.

The Gunners won the UEFA Women’s Cup in 2006-07, but no English side has lifted the trophy since the inception of the Champions League format in 2009, with Chelsea losing to Barcelona in the final in 2020-21.

Ahead of Arsenal’s quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich, with the German outfit leading 1-0 from the first leg, Eidevall expressed his optimism for WSL teams in Europe in future.

“It’s natural that the clubs who have invested the most have also been the most successful ones,” the Swedish coach said. “If you see how the WSL has grown this year with more games played at bigger stadiums, good attendances, but also great atmospheres.

“We also see the excitement and competition around all three things that matter in the league – competition to win the league, competition to qualify for the Champions League, [and] competition to not be relegated.

“That means that a lot of games here in the spring will have an important sporting outcome, which is great for the entertainment value. Maybe not for managers’ hearts and ability to not have grey hair colour, but for everyone else, that’s exciting.

“That’s building a brand that no other European league has at the moment. That’s also going to be reflected then in how you can build and grow the product.

“While I think other European clubs have been successful because they’ve had owners and the structure to invest, English clubs will be successful because of the product we build together, with the league being the driving force behind that. It’s going to create a better future for all English clubs if we are co-operating and building this together.

“I know that’s what the players are looking for, they want to come to the most competitive league, the best environment, the best atmosphere.

“We’re not there yet, but the first steps have been taken and it’s important to keep taking those steps so the future can be for English clubs in Europe also.”

According to Eidevall, it is a case of ‘if you build it, the trophies will come’, and he hopes his Arsenal team are the ones to get over the line in Europe.

“If you build things over here, it’s only of matter of time before an English club wins the Champions League,” he added. “Both clubs that are in the competition this year have the potential to do it [Arsenal and Chelsea], it doesn’t have to be in the distant future. Time will be in the English clubs’ favour as long as this progression continues.

“Being the champion of a continent, it is probably the greatest thing you can win in club football in Europe and we very proud in our history to be the only English club that did it. If, in the future, we could repeat that, it would be great.

“I have the belief that we can beat any team on any give day so let’s make the most of it tomorrow and maybe we can progress. Then once you reach semi-finals, everyone is capable of winning the trophy.”

Thomas Tuchel will not have had enough time with his Bayern Munich players to have a significant impact on Saturday’s Klassiker, according to Borussia Dortmund sporting director Sebastian Kehl.

Former BVB boss Tuchel has been appointed Bayern coach, replacing Julian Nagelsmann ahead of a huge game against their title rivals.

Ten-in-a-row champions Bayern are a point behind Bundesliga leaders Dortmund heading into their meeting, hoping Tuchel can inspire an upturn in form after a run of only five victories in 10 matches let their opponents back into the title race.

But Tuchel was appointed in the middle of the international break, meaning Kehl cannot see how he would have a big say in proceedings right away.

“I don’t know if FC Bayern will be better on Saturday with Thomas Tuchel than before under Julian Nagelsmann,” Kehl told reporters.

“I don’t think that this coaching staff will necessarily affect this game, because many international players are still away until the middle of the week and a great number of training sessions cannot take place.

“They will not have that many opportunities to work on tactical things.”

Tuchel left Dortmund in 2017 after clashing with the club’s hierarchy, but Kehl again does not foresee those events playing a part.

“It doesn’t matter at all,” he said. “I think the issues from back then have long since been forgotten and cleared up.”

Kehl added: “I don’t think it’s a game against Thomas Tuchel at the weekend; in the end, it’s between the first-placed team and the second-placed team.

“All parties are so professional. It’s part of the process that coaches change and sometimes come to play against old clubs.”

Either way, Kehl does not see Saturday’s result deciding the title race, even if Dortmund have a huge opportunity to move four points clear.

“We can make a big step up the table because we’re playing against a direct competitor,” he said. “First plays second, a game everyone can look forward to.

“It’s nice that we were able to make it such an exciting game. But the title will not be decided at the weekend.”

James Maddison grasped his England opportunity with both hands — and his performance against Ukraine could prove the catalyst for a summer switch.

Leicester have suffered a hugely disappointing Premier League campaign with Maddison and his team-mates currently in the thick of an unexpected relegation battle.

The Foxes will struggle to keep hold of their talisman, who is out of contract next summer and being strongly linked with the likes of Arsenal, Newcastle and Manchester City.

Ahead of Leicester’s return to action against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace on Saturday, we turn the spotlight on their star man.

Shining bright

Maddison had to bide his time for his second senior England appearance — 1,228 days, to be exact.

The creative midfielder was given his debut by Gareth Southgate in a 7-0 drubbing of Montenegro in November 2019, at a time when he looked certain to become a regular starter for his nation.

Yet a combination of cruel injuries, other impressive performers and questions over his attitude have seen the Coventry native consistently overlooked since his debut.

There was no ignoring Maddison ahead of last winter’s World Cup with a fine start to the season earning him a long-awaited recall to the Three Lions squad.

But fate would once again conspire against the 26-year-old as a knee issue restricted his involvement in Qatar to little more than a cheerleader role.

Taking a positive

Rather than sulk about his bad fortune, Maddison claims he tried to be a positive presence around England’s World Cup group — and that effort clearly did not go unnoticed by Southgate.

The pragmatic boss saw fit to start him for the first time against Ukraine at the weekend and was rewarded with a majestic display. 

And though the 2-0 England victory will not live long in the memory of some, Maddison’s five chances created was the most recorded by any player on their first senior start since Theo Walcott against Andorra in 2008.

Former striker Chris Sutton believes the Leicester ace has already shown enough to become a regular starter for his country going forward.

Sutton told the BBC: “A lot of people have been calling for James Maddison to start for England long before now.

“I think he deserved a start earlier and he must be undroppable on the basis of today’s performance.”

In demand

Though Maddison is an extremely popular figure at his club, even the most optimistic Leicester fans know an exit could be imminent.

His current deal runs out in summer 2024 and talks over an extension appear to have reached an impasse with no update having been given by either side in recent months. 

Even if the Foxes do avoid relegation — something Maddison is determined to make sure of — the Foxes cannot afford to let another valuable asset run down their contract ahead of a free transfer.

Belgian international Youri Tielemans is poised to leave the club for nothing this summer so raking in a sizeable fee for Maddison would help balance the books somewhat.

With nine goals and six assists to his name in a struggling side, several Premier League clubs are ready to make a move and a bidding war could easily ensue come July.

Keeping focus

Arsenal, Newcastle and City are thought to be leading the chase for Maddison but the man himself is not looking beyond the next few weeks.

After his impressive England display, Maddison said: “It felt brilliant to play. It’s refreshing to be out there with the lads in a strong team and a big game. I really enjoyed it.

“It’s Leicester head back on now though. it’s too much of an important run-in. And then hopefully some good international games to look forward to in the summer.”

Having skippered the side in the absence of Tielemans and Jonny Evans in recent weeks, Maddison is shouldering plenty of responsibility in Leicester’s battle for safety.

Dragging the Foxes over the line may well end up being a fitting farewell.

Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall is confident Lotte Wubben-Moy will be able to brush off her exclusion from Sarina Wiegman’s latest England squad and focus on the Gunners’ Champions League quarter-final. 

Eidevall’s side will host Bayern in Wednesday’s second leg hoping to bounce back from a 1-0 loss in the opening fixture. 

An estimated 19,600 tickets have already been sold for the encounter at the Emirates Stadium — a whopping increase on the 5,018 snapped up for the same round last year. 

Wubben-Moy was part of the Lionesses squad that successfully defended the Arnold Clark Cup last month but on Tuesday morning was not one of the 25 names called up to face Brazil in April’s inaugural Women’s Finalissima at Wembley. 

Eidevall said: “Challenges are going to occur all around you, both during matches and before and after matches, but we challenge you to put your focus on the things that you can control. 

“I can definitely understand if Lotte is disappointed by not being called up, because when she has started for us I think she has played very well. 

“But of course the competition is also very tough to come into England. 

“So in the end that is Sarina’s position, but Lotte like all other players have to focus on the things they can control. 

“And if they do we all know what an incredible talent and character Lotte is, and I am sure she will find her way back in.”

Wiegman said the decision to drop the 24-year-old was simply due to an abundance of options at the back, admitting: “That’s a hard one. 

“It has to do with the plans I have in those positions. The competition for centre-back is really high. Some players can play at full-back but also at centre-back. At this moment we chose other players.”

Harry Kane finds himself in the spotlight once again after Tottenham parted ways with Antonio Conte on Sunday — another coach unable to secure silverware for the North Londoners.

The Italian was relieved of his duties by chairman Daniel Levy following a public outburst criticising his “selfish” players.

Kane is set to return to Hotspur Way this week with Cristian Stellini the interim boss tasked with guiding Spurs to a top-four finish.

Ahead of their trip to Everton on Monday, we take a look at Tottenham’s situation and the future of their homegrown hero.

Record breaker

Kane’s individual achievements are not to be ignored despite the lack of trophies in his collection.

His penalty against Italy was a monumental moment for the 29-year-old as he became England’s all-time top goalscorer, surpassing Wayne Rooney who netted 53 times for the Three Lions.

Reports suggests the world-class finisher would prefer to remain in England in order to next chase down Alan Shearer’s Premier League record of 260 goals.

That would rule out a move to Bayern Munich, with the Bavarians said to be interested in the England captain.

Stevie’s support

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard sympathises with Kane’s conundrum.

Speaking after England’s 2-0 win over Ukraine, Gerrard said: “He’s got a big decision to make.

“I’ve been there myself, where you’re thinking ‘is my team good enough to get me the medals? Am I going to get out of my career what I want to get?’

“It’s different for me. I knew winning one trophy more with Liverpool would have meant a lot more to me than being anywhere else.

“He’s [Kane] got a big decision to make. I can’t give him any advice on that but I bet you every single day of his life now moving forward, it’s going to be on his mind.”

European hopes

It would be understandable if Tottenham’s all-time top goalscorer were to be keen on a new challenge but his focus now will be on helping his side secure European football for next term.

Morale at the club will be low and any hopes of clinging on to their No10 may rest on playing in the Champions League in 2023-24.

Success in the final 10 league matches will rest on the shoulders of the 82-cap international who has averaged 3.59 shots and 1.54 chances created per 90 this year. 

If he can continue to perform at his current level, it may act as the perfect audition for suitors such as Manchester United and Bayern who would be expected to fork out at least £100million for the striker.

But if the team can pull together under the leadership of Stellini and assistant coach Ryan Mason, then there may yet be hope that Spurs’ talisman could be convinced to stay beyond the summer.

Harry says stay

Kane is contracted to Tottenham until 2024 and former boss Harry Redknapp expects him to extend his current deal.

Redknapp said: “I think he [Levy] will get him [Kane] to sign another contract.

“I don’t think he will be keen to move now. He wanted to go to Manchester City. I think he would have gone two years ago.

“His contract is amazing. He is a family man. I just don’t think he will move.”

Should the club be able to secure Kane’s long-term future and bring a shrewd operator to the dugout, the future may yet look bright for Spurs.

Yet failure to secure Champions League football next term could leave them without their star man or an elite coach at the helm.