Soccer

Open Extended Reactions The last time we will see Toni Kroos in a Real Madrid shirt will be at Wembley on June 1, when his club take on Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final. Kroos will retire from football after the European Championships this summer, he has announced. His deal at the Bernabeu was

May 30, 2024, 02:02 PM ET Open Extended Reactions A Spanish judge has placed former Barcelona player Gerard Piqué under official investigation for his alleged involvement in illegal payments in the relocation of Spain‘s Super Cup to Saudi Arabia. Judge Delia Rodrigo concluded there were indications of wrongdoing in the deal between Piqué’s company Kosmos

Open Extended Reactions DORTMUND, Germany — Jadon Sancho was a man alone during a miserable autumn in Manchester. Ostracised by Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag and forced to train, eat and change away from his teammates, sometimes taking his lunch break in his car, the €85 million signing was left wondering where his once-glittering

ESPN News Services May 29, 2024, 09:57 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Lionel Messi scored yet again, but it was the lone highlight for Inter Miami CF, as its 10-match Major League Soccer unbeaten run was ended by an Atlanta United side that got its first league win in nearly two months. Saba Lobjanidze scored

Roberto Rojas May 29, 2024, 10:26 AM ET Open Extended Reactions When you think must-see events in 2024, what comes to mind? There’s high demand for NFL tickets and the seismic draw of international pop singer Taylor Swift, to name just two, but equally hyped this year has been the chance to see a five-foot,

May 29, 2024, 04:43 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Manchester City are in a very strong position, both financially and with their playing squad. That said, there are always improvements and tweaks to be made, and recent history shows us they’re quite disciplined when it comes to wages and contract lengths. Kevin De Bruyne‘s extension,

ESPN News Services May 28, 2024, 07:06 PM ET Open Extended Reactions The directions called out by United States women’s soccer coach Emma Hayes carried throughout the field as her team went through drills Tuesday in their first practice together. It’s a new voice. A new way. But same lofty standards. And it’s coming from

Jeff Kassouf May 28, 2024, 09:09 AM ET Emma Hayes met with reporters in New York City last week ahead of her first camp as coach of the U.S. women’s national team. USSF/Getty Images for USSF NEW YORK — Emma Hayes smiled and laughed as she fielded questions at the head of a long conference table

May 28, 2024, 05:00 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Every week, we will bring you the best performers across Europe’s top five leagues (English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish LaLiga, French Ligue 1 and Italian Serie A) using the unique WhoScored ratings system. The ratings are based on a comprehensive algorithm that uses Opta data

Graham Hunter, Spain writerMay 27, 2024, 01:52 PM ET Close Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based freelance writer for ESPN.com who specializes in La Liga and the Spanish national team. Open Extended Reactions Courtois, left, has returned to fitness and is the natural choice to start for Real Madrid in the Champions League final. However, it’s

Gabriele Marcotti, Senior Writer, ESPN FCMay 27, 2024, 10:56 AM ET Open Extended Reactions The European soccer season concluded with domestic cups in England and Germany up for grabs as well as the final round of games in Italy, Spain and France, and boy did we get some talking points. Manchester United‘s embattled manager Erik

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentMay 27, 2024, 03:46 AM ET Open Extended Reactions Erik ten Hag believes he could still be sacked by Manchester United despite winning the FA Cup, a source has told ESPN. Ten Hag led his team to a surprise 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. But the Dutchman, who

Tom Chambers May 26, 2024, 02:35 PM ET Open Extended Reactions LONDON — It arrived in the 24th minute: the moment that the past 12 months had built towards. As Southampton striker Adam Armstrong guided the ball into the bottom corner of the goal with his right foot in front of the Leeds United fans,

Southampton won promotion back to the Premier League on Sunday after beating Leeds United 1-0 in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium in London, earning an immediate return to England’s top tier following relegation in 2023. Often described as the “richest match in football,” promotion means Southmapton are set to receive a windfall of

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentMay 25, 2024, 02:29 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Pep Guardiola has taken the blame for Manchester City‘s FA Cup final defeat by saying he got his game-plan wrong against Manchester United. United won 2-1 at Wembley on Saturday thanks to goals from teenagers Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo. – Stream on ESPN+:

Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen battled past second division Kaiserslautern 1-0 on Saturday to win the DFB Pokal (German Cup) and secure the club’s first ever domestic double. Leverkusen won the Bundesliga unbeaten, an historic feat. The only blip on the record of Xabi Alonso’s team this season was losing the Europa League final to Atalanta

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentMay 25, 2024, 02:02 PM ET Open Extended Reactions Erik ten Hag has aimed a pointed dig at Manchester United‘s owners by saying that if they do not want him as their manager he will win trophies for another club. Ten Hag lifted his second piece of silverware in as many seasons at

Rob Dawson, CorrespondentMay 25, 2024, 03:34 AM ET Open Extended Reactions André Onana has said that winning the FA Cup would not be enough to save Manchester United‘s season. A disastrous campaign which has seen United record their lowest ever Premier League finish will culminate with a second successive FA Cup final against Manchester City