Hungary 0 - 4 Belgium: Belgium power into quarter-finals with thumping win over Hungary

Belgium produced their best performance of Euro 2016 to power into the quarter-finals with a convincing 4-0 win over Hungary.

Toby Alderweireld set up victory with an early header before the brilliant Eden Hazard teed-up substitute Michy Batshuayi for the second after 78 minutes and then scored a superb solo goal himself.

Yannick Carrasco wrapped up victory in Toulouse in injury-time.

After some disjointed performances earlier in the tournament, this was a display that marked out the highly-rated Belgium as serious contenders in France.

Hungary did trouble them in spells, but they were generally outclassed.

Belgium went straight onto the offensive with the impressive Kevin de Bruyne, revelling in a central role behind Romelu Lukaku, shooting wide after four minutes.

De Bruyne linked superbly with Lukaku throughout and the Everton striker twice went close early on after being played in by the Manchester City man.

Hungary goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly kept out one of them and he also blocked another De Bruyne shot before the opener came.

Again De Bruyne was the key figure, swinging in a curling free-kick that Alderweireld rose above Lukaku to head powerfully past Kiraly.

Hungary tried to tighten up and they did launch some sporadic attacks, with Balasz Dzsudzsak getting in one shot at Thibaut Courtois, but Belgium remained on the front foot.

De Bruyne headed at Kiraly from a Lukaku cross and then forced a brilliant save from Kiraly from a free-kick, with the former Crystal Palace goalkeeper tipping onto the crossbar.

The wider forwards, Hazard and Dries Mertens, were also heavily involved in the attacks and the former teed-up the latter but again Kiraly produced a good save.

Belgium were almost caught out when Gergo Lovrenesics thundered a fierce drive just over but normal service seemed to be resumed when Hazard tested Kiraly after a powerful run straight after the break.

But Hungary, summoning the spirit of their dramatic 3-3 draw with Portugal, fought back and worried Belgium for a spell.

Adam Szalai shot over and Courtois needed to back-pedal to push over a deflected effort from Adam Pinter. Roland Juhasz then twice went close as he flashed a low shot across goal after a free-kick found its way to him on the right and he headed a corner wide.

Belgium decided to send on Batshuayi for Lukaku and it paid instant dividends, although his goal owed much to the brilliance of Hazard.

Hazard lost his man on the left with a superb change of pace and his low ball into the box presented Batshuayi with an unmissable chance in front of goal.

Hazard was not finished there and went even better two minutes later, easing past defenders as he cut in from the left and then curled a low shot inside the far post from 18 yards.

In those two moments the game was won and Hazard was taken off to a huge ovation shortly afterwards.

Hungary might have had a consolation in the last minute but Courtois saved from Akos Elek and Belgium broke upfield to score again with Carrasco racing on to a Radja Nainggolan pass to tuck home the fourth.

 Source:7msport.

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Germany 3 - 0 Slovakia: Confident Germany progress to quarter-finals of Euro 2016 with comfortable win

Jerome Boateng's first goal for his country set Germany on their way to the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 with a 3-0 victory against Slovakia in Lille.

Slovakia had defeated the Germans 3-1 in a pre-tournament warm-up game last month but there was to be no repeat on Sunday as Boateng drilled in the opener after eight minutes and Mario Gomez flicked in a second goal, after Mesut Ozil had seen a penalty saved, just before half-time.

Julian Draxler put the result beyond doubt just after the hour mark and Germany, seeking an unprecedented fourth European Championship title, will play the winner of Monday's clash between Italy and Spain in the last eight in Bordeaux on Saturday.

The Stade Pierre Mauroy held good memories for both teams with both winning at the stadium in the group stages, with Germany beating Ukraine and Slovakia winning against Russia, but it was the world champions who adjusted quickest to the newly-laid pitch.

A lively start by Joachim Low's side was soon rewarded. Toni Kroos' corner was headed out by Milan Skriniar but only as far as the edge of the penalty area where Boateng returned the ball with a low shot which flicked off Skriniar en route to the bottom corner of the net.

Germany had the chance to extend their lead after 13 minutes when Martin Skrtel pushed Gomez in the back but Matus Kozacik dived to his left to push away Ozil's penalty kick.

Germany were a constant threat and it seemed only a matter of time before they would score again. Kroos and Ozil sent efforts narrowly wide and Thomas Muller brought a smothering save from Kozacik before the half hour mark.

Draxler then showed good strength and technique to control the ball on the edge of the penalty area before turning and shooting just wide in the 39th minute.

The second goal finally came two minutes before half-time and Draxler was the architect, brilliantly drifting past Juraj Kucka and getting to the byline inside the box where he picked out Gomez at the near post who flicked the ball in from close range.

Draxler got on the scoresheet himself in the 62nd minute when he was afforded too much time and space inside the six-yard box to spin and volley home a loose ball following a corner. It was a shame for Slovakia who had started the second half well but now faced an almighty task to get back into the match, which never seemed likely.

Jan Durica tried to reduce the deficit as the midway point of the second half approached and his driven low free-kick worried Manuel Neuer enough for the German goalkeeper to fling himself across his net, but the ball flew wide.

Confident progression was assured so Low made changes, taking off scorers Boateng and Draxler as well as Sami Khedira.

Germany still created opportunities, the best of which saw Muller cut the ball back for Kroos but Kozacik parried away his effort in injury-time.

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Antoine Griezmann can make Euro 2016 his own after stepping up for France against Republic of Ireland

    Antoine Griezmann scored twice for France against Republic of Ireland

Antoine Griezmann has had to overcome a number of hurdles at Euro 2016 but he stepped up when France needed him as they beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 in Lyon. With the Euro 2016 hosts facing a possible quarter-final against England, can he now make the tournament his own?

Griezmann has not had it easy this summer. The heartache of his missed penalty in Atletico's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid was only two weeks old when France started Euro 2016, and he was dropped along with Paul Pogba after a subdued display in the tournament opener against Romania.

His late header helped France beat Albania after he came on as a substitute in their second group game, but he struggled again when he returned to the starting line-up against Switzerland. French newspaper L'Equipe gave him a rating of 4/10 as they were held to a goalless draw. It summed up the entire nation's frustration.

The Switzerland game was Griezmann's 63rd appearance since August. A long, arduous season appeared to have taken its toll on a player who had been tipped to shine after 32 goals at club level, and the early indications were not encouraging at the Stade de Lyon on Sunday, where his weak challenge allowed Stephen Ward to cross for the Republic of Ireland's penalty.

The circumstances made Griezmann's match-winning recovery all the more impressive. The Atletico forward's equaliser came in the shape of a bullet header from Bacary Sagna's cross early in the second-half, and the turnaround was complete when he collected Olivier Giroud's flick and finished unerringly past Darren Randolph three minutes later.

    Griezmann rises above James McCarthy to head home France's opener

Even in the first half, with France labouring under the weight of expectation, Griezmann had looked like the only player capable of changing their fortunes. He sent a header over from a Pogba cross shortly after Robbie Brady's opener, and a few minutes later his brilliant diagonal cross for Giroud required a desperate clearing header from Shane Duffy.

Griezmann tested Randolph twice more before the break and had one close-range effort blocked in stoppage time, but France went down the tunnel knowing drastic improvement was required. Didier Deschamps needed one of his stars to step up and take responsibility. Griezmann found the resources to answer the call.

His influence was total. Kingsley Coman's introduction added pace and width on the right-hand side, and Griezmann found himself playing closer to Ireland's goal after the break. He took up menacing positions across the front line, and he constantly demanded the ball, with only Pogba having more touches across the 90 minutes (88).

Diego Simeone - who describes Griezmann as "one of the best three players in the world" - has transformed Griezmann into a devastatingly effective central striker at Atletico, and those instincts were certainly evident at the Stade de Lyon. He had more shots (eight) than Ireland managed between them despite not playing as France's No 9, and the goals showed the breadth of his talent.

  

 Griezmann has now scored three times in four appearances for France

 The first, like his vital strike against Albania, demonstrated his remarkable aerial ability, and the second showed his predatory instincts in the penalty area. Griezmann's low finish took a slight deflection as it went into the net, but it was perfectly placed into the bottom corner and the composure was impressive.

Griezmann contributed without the ball, too. Simeone demands defensive dedication from the 25-year-old at Atletico, and he showed it against Ireland, with no player on either side making more tackles (five). He was able to use his searing pace to get Duffy sent off as Ireland tired in the closing stages, and he came close to completing a hat-trick in the stoppage time.

    Griezmann celebrates with Andre-Pierre Gignac and Paul Pogba

 In the end, that missed opportunity was a mere afterthought. Griezmann had rescued France and ignited their Euro campaign. He is now the first French player to score three goals at a European Championship since Zinedine Zidane in 2004, and this was compelling evidence to suggest he has more to offer.

Griezmann has put the pain of the Champions League final behind him, and France's newest superstar could yet finish the season on a high. If England can see off Iceland on Monday night, Grizou will be the man to stop in the quarter-finals.

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger eying five superstars in HUGE summer spending spree

ARSENE WENGER is ready to break his transfer record to ensure he doesn’t get caught in the slipstream of Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola’s expected buying blitz this summer.

He’s targeted FIVE players worth between them £250MILLION in response to the pair making Manchester the spending capital of football.

Marco Reus, David Alaba, N’Golo Kante, Aymeric Laporte and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are on his list of top names as Wenger goes for broke.

Germany international Reus has been given a £60m price-tag by his club Borussia Dortmund.

Despite missing this Euros with a groin injury, he is still rated as one of football’s top wingers.

Already home from the Euros, Austrian Alaba, 23, is rated at around £40m by Bayern Munich.

Although primarily used as a left-back, his hero when growing up was Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira.

Kante, meanwhile, has always been on Wenger’s radar but he never expected him to shine the way he did last season for Leicester.

His defensive midfield duties would allow Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere or Mesut Ozil to get forward more. He’d be a £40m buy.

Laporte, 22, is a much-admired central defender, again with a £40m release clause.

Athletic Bilbao would love to keep him but money usually talks in football. Manchester City are also keen.

Aubameyang, 27, would be the final piece in Wenger’s jigsaw.

Borussia Dortmund’s Gabon international can play as a striker or winger and, like Laporte, he is also a target for Guardiola at City for £65m.

And he has also been linked to Manchester United in the past.

A move for the fab five signals Wenger is ready to shred his purse-protecting reputation to ensure his final years at the club end in riches.

Arsenal go into the new season with a strong squad.

He wants to make it stronger and put up a decent fight for the title and Champions League.

The Frenchman came under fire last season from Arsenal fans, who at one stage called for him to end his long reign.

Ozil arrived for a club record £42.5m from Real Madrid in 2013 and Alexis Sanchez cost £32.2m from Barcelona but these have been his only true big signings.

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U.S. loss to Colombia in third-place game is some consolation for Copa America efforts

U.S. loss to Colombia in third-place game is some consolation for Copa America efforts

As far away as the USA felt from being able to compete with Argentina, a tight match against Colombia was some consolation for the Copa.

As distant as fourth place might seem from first in Copa America Centenario, it did not seem terribly far from third.

Is that enough of a consolation for the United States men’s national team to take from a consolation game?

The U.S. lost to Colombia 1-0 in the Copa America third-place game Saturday night in Glendale, Ariz., which was half the deficit for the Americans when these two teams opened the tournament in California more than three weeks ago. And they seemed to play twice as well, but ultimately could not find a goal to counter the game-winner delivered by forward Carlos Bacca late in the first half.

The Americans outshot Colombia, 10-9, and possession was split almost evenly. The Americans pushed hard for a tying goal that would have forced a penalty shootout, but Colombia’s withdrawn defense made it difficult to find room for an ideal shot and its ability to control the ball after winning it cut down on the time available to create that chance.

It was the third time in six games of the tournament the U.S. was shut out, but this was nothing like the embarrassment that occurred Tuesday night in Houston when Argentina threw a 4-0 pounding at the Americans.

With Jermaine Jones, Alejandro Bedoya and Bobby Wood back from the card suspensions that cost them an opportunity to play the semifinal against Argentina, coach Jurgen Klinsmann continued his emphasis on older, more experienced players. Promising young midfielders Darlington Nagbe and Christian Pulisic were left on the bench.

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Juventus plot audacious move for Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez to replace Alvaro Morata

JUVENTUS will make an audacious move for Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez as replacement for Alvaro Morata, who has returned to former club Real Madrid.

 

The Italian club were forced to sell their striker when Madrid activated his £23million buy-back clause last Tuesday.

Now they will use the money to try and lure the 27-year-old Chllean international Sanchez from Arsenal.

Sanchez, currently on Copa American Cup duty with his country, was signed by Arsenal for £32.2million from Barcelona and has become a fans' favourite.

Juventus are also looking at Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and Paris Saint-Germain forward Edinson Cavani.

But Sanchez remains their No.1 target.

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Manchester United make bid for Euro 2016 star

WANTED: Julian Draxler is being eyed by Manchester United

United see Draxler, 22, as an alternative target to Borussia Dortmund’s Armenia star Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 27.

New United boss Jose Mourinho wants a wide, attacking midfielder.

And the Daily Star Sunday can reveal that talks on Draxler were held in the last week.

German sources at Euro 2016 say United’s interest in Draxler is strong.

His Bundesliga club, Wolfsburg, have made it clear they have no intention of selling their prize asset.

But if United decide to make him their top target for that position, it would be hard for Wolfsburg to resist if Draxler decides he wants to leave.

The former Schalke man was a member of Germany’s World Cup-winning squad in Brazil two years ago and is currently at Euro 2016.

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RUMOURS: Man Utd set to sign Mkhitaryan and Ibrahimovic

he pair are the Old Trafford outfit's top transfer priorities this summer and have taken a step towards making the move as the club are willing to pay £30 million for the Armenian

 

Manchester United are closing in on the signings of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Henrikh Mikhitaryan, according to The Guardian.

The Red Devils are looking to boost their squad as they prepare for their first season under Jose Mourinho and have long been linked to the signing of the 34-year-old Sweden international following his departure from Paris Saint-Germain.

United have also shown an interest in Borussia Dortmund's attacking midfielder but a move was put in doubt over the German side's asking price.

However, the Red Devils are now prepared to offer £30 million, The Guardian says, and are sure that a deal will be completed soon.

United are also willing to pay Ibrahimovic £220,000 per week, the newspaper claims, and that the former Juventus and Barcelona player will complete his move in July.

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Manchester United could have new-look front 6 under Jose Mourinho

The dynamic at Manchester United looks set to well and truly change ahead of the 2016/17 campaign.

Jose Mourinho replaced Louis van Gaal at the helm at Old Trafford at the end of last season and there's every chance that the Special One will put together a special team in the immediate future.

The Portuguese tactician has already secured the signature of Ivory Coast defender Eric Bailly and it's highly unlikely that he will stop there.

Indeed, if reports are to be believed, the new United boss is set to bring a number of high-profile names to the club.

After a disappointing season in front of goal under Van Gaal, United's front six could look extremely different with Mourinho in charge.

Reports have indicated that the club are set to swoop for the trio of Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but how would they fit into the United team? Well, here's how:

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Pep Guardiola set to release backroom trio at Manchester City – report

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is set to release three members of the club's backroom staff as he steps up preparations for his first season in charge.

The club's long-serving masseur Paul Webster is the most notable departure and he will be followed through the exit door by the physiotherapist Craig Yiull and the team manager Paul Banks.

Changes to a club's backroom staff regularly occur when a new manager arrives at a club, and Guardiola has already secured deals for his trusted team of Carles Planchart, Domenec Torrent and fitness coach Lorenze Buenaventura.

They have all worked alongside the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich manager before and he is expected to make further changes behind the scenes before the season kicks off in August.

Former Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta, who like Guardiola graduated from Barcelona's decorated La Masia academy, is one of those tipped for a coaching role at the club.

Guardiola is known for his obsessive attention to detail and he will leave no stone unturned in his quest to guide the Citizens to major honours during his three-year stay at the club.

Ilkay Gundogan is the only major signing at Manchester City this summer but given how Guardiola has regenerated his squad at his previous clubs, more arrivals and departures over the next few months are a certainty.

City endured a disappointing campaign under Guardiola's predecessor Manuel Pellegrini last term, finishing fourth in the Premier League after losing ten matches in total.

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