Nickname: Les BleusStory so far: France topped Group A thanks to last-gasp wins against Romania and Albania and a goalless draw with Switzerland. Coach Didier Deschamps has shown an ability to correct problems with his slow-starting side. That tactical nous was again required in the round of 16 against the Republic of Ireland, when a recalibration into a 4-2-3-1 and an Antoine Griezmann double took France through after falling behind. Route to last eight: 2-1 Romania, 2-0 Albania, 0-0 Switzerland, 2-1 Republic of IrelandStar performer:
Football Update
2016/17 UEFA Champions League season kicks off
Flora Tallinn 2-1 Lincoln (Alliku 35, Sappinen 49; J Chipolina 57)Estonian champions Flora will look to defend a slender lead in the second leg in Gibraltar thanks to a goal either side of half-time, Joseph Chipolina giving Lincoln hope just before the hour.Second leg: Wednesday 6 July, 19:00CESTThe New Saints 2-1 Tre Penne (Quigley 13, Mullan 40; Fraternali 16)Welsh title holders The New Saints enjoyed the lion's share of the chances in Oswestry but could only establish a one-goal lead advantage for the second leg, Jamie Mullan getting what could prove a crucial goal before the break.Second leg: Tuesday 5 July, 20:...
Iceland heroes earn immortality after stunning England
Iceland have just done it. They really have.This is just such a big result, such a seismic one for the footballing world. Of course, the players have shown they are very good at what they do. But still, we're talking about a country of 330,000 people. Against a heavyweight like England and its population of 53 million. It's indescribable. People outside the country will struggle to grasp quite how much it means. Supporters filled the city centre in Reykjavik. Thousands and thousands showed up to watch the game. You can possibly imagine the atmosphere was there at the final whistle.
Lille beckons once more for Belgium’s Hazard
Belgium produced the biggest win of UEFA EURO 2016 in beating Hungary 4-0 to reach the quarter-finals and the deserved man of the match was Eden Hazard – who had a special motivation to get through to face Wales in Lille.The Red Devils played fast and furious attacking football from the start in Toulouse, and the captain, together with Kevin De Bruyne, was the engine. Nerves were still jangling, though, at 1-0 until Hazard set up Michy Batshuayi to make it 2-0 with the substitute's first touch with 12 minutes left. The No10 then scored the third himself, evading three Hungarian defenders before bending a shot
Belgium’s Wilmots hails Hazard and De Bruyne
Marc Wilmots, Belgium coachI told Eden [Hazard] that I wanted him to score a goal by cutting inside. He hadn’t been getting close enough to the goal and he needs to have fun when he's out on the pitch. A captain can't always do his talking with his mouth, sometimes you have to do your talking with your feet and that's what he did today.We should have been at least 3-0 up at half-time, we kept the game at 1-0 too long. We scored the second and third goals very quickly but we needed a lot of chances and in big games you don't get
Four reasons to love Icelandic football
No one is loving this EURO more than IcelandThere have been around 10,000 Icelanders at each of the team's last two UEFA EURO 2016 games – not a huge number but massive for a nation of just 330,000. Those 10,000 fans represent around 3% of the population; if a similar proportion of the population of round of 16 opponents England came to France, there would be 1.59 million people backing Roy Hodgson's side."It is like having your family at the game," defender Kári Árnason said after the 2-1 group-stage win against Austria. "I probably know at least 50% of the people in the crowd." ...
Preview: France v Republic of Ireland
France take on Republic of Ireland in Lyon unbeaten in last five games against their opponents Les Bleus triumphed 2-1 on aggregate in 2010 FIFA World Cup play-offs (1-0 away, 1-1 home)France have not won a EURO knockout tie since 2000; Ireland in knockout stage for first timeDidier Deschamps' side unbeaten in seven matches (W6 D1)France's Dimitri Payet plays with Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph at West HamPossible line-upsFrance: Lloris; Sagna, Rami, Koscielny, Evra; Pogba, Kanté, Mat...