Qatar world cup

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 4 GENEVA (AP) — In the 134 years since league soccer started in England, the European game has never scheduled such a disrupted season. FIFA's decision to move the World Cup in Qatar from the normal offseason months to November and December in order to avoid the desert heat will slice into the European domestic season in a way not seen outside of international traumas like war or pandemic. As a result, the unusual 2022-23 European season has had to start early, will cram in more midweek games and end with the Champions League final on June 10 -- the latest planned date since the inaugural European Cup final was on June 13, 1956. It will also force the domestic leagues to have lengthy midseason breaks, from six weeks in the English Premier League to a 10-week shutdown in Germany's Bundesliga and three months in Austria, where the World Cup extends the country's usual winter … [Read more...] about Europe starts unique soccer season split by Qatar World Cup

It was the first song on the lips of ­millions as the final whistle blew on the Euros – and the one the victorious Lionesses belted out as they invaded their coach Sarina Wiegman’s press conference and danced on top of her table. Frank Skinner , who penned ­football's most famous song with David Baddiel and the Lightning Seeds 26 years ago, is just as thrilled their song is being sung across the nation again – as 56 years of hurt finally came to an end. "And I quite like it an octave higher," he smiles. "It's brilliant. I've always said anyone bringing it home would make me really happy, whether it's the men or the women." The comedian adds: "The women were fantastic, it's been cracking ­football. Watching it, I really thought, this is just about loving ­football, I couldn't care less about their gender, it was just a ­brilliant performance." Frank Skinner has said he's thrilled that the England women's football team won Euro 2022 ( Image: GC Images) The … [Read more...] about Frank Skinner says it’s ‘brilliant’ to hear Three Lions sung ‘octave higher’ by Lionesses

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 8 GENEVA (AP) — The world’s richest soccer league starts a new season in England on Friday as the rest of Europe looks for ways to catch up. Off the field, the English Premier League is a commercial juggernaut with broadcasting deals worldwide fueling player transfers and wages most others cannot match. It helps explain why some clubs created the Super League project. League riches helped English champion Manchester City make the marquee summer signing. Erling Haaland’s arrival from Borussia Dortmund cost City more than 100 million pounds ($122 million) in transfer and agent fees. While Haaland was a boyhood City fan whose father played there, he was also lured to a competitive league that avoids the one-club dominance recently seen in Germany, Italy and France. On the field, five different teams have won the Premier League in the past 10 seasons, … [Read more...] about EPL sets high bar in European soccer, finances and glamor

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel said the No. 9 shirt had not been left available ahead of a potential signing, but because it was thought to be cursed after several players who wore it did not leave a mark at the London club, he said on Friday. CWG 2022 – FULL COVERAGE | IN-DEPTH | INDIA FOCUS | OFF THE FIELD | IN PHOTOS | MEDAL TALLY Lukaku was the last to wear the shirt after returning to Chelsea for a club-record fee of 97.5 million pounds ($117.69 million) but after one lacklustre season he rejoined Serie A side Inter Milan, with whom he won the 2020-2021 scudetto. Several forwards who wore the No. 9 shirt — including Hernan Crespo, Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Gonzalo Higuain and Alvaro Morata — failed to leave a mark at Chelsea despite their stellar track record. “People tell me it’s cursed… It’s not the case that we leave it open for tactical reasons,” Tuchel told reporters. “Surprisingly, nobody wants to touch it. Everybody who is here longer … [Read more...] about ‘Nobody Wants to Touch it’: Thomas Tuchel Says Chelsea Players Fear The Curse of The No. 9 Shirt

The jury in the trial of former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, facing charges of assaulting his ex-girlfriend and her sister, was told by the prosecution on Monday that the Welsh international had a “sinister” side to him. Giggs, 48, who has stepped down as Wales national team manager due to the case, faces charges of causing actual bodily harm to former partner Kate Greville and beating her younger sister Emma. He also faces one count of coercive and controlling behaviour. CWG 2022 – FULL COVERAGE | IN-DEPTH | INDIA FOCUS | OFF THE FIELD | IN PHOTOS | MEDALS TALLY The former footballer, who sat in the dock wearing a dark suit, has pleaded not guilty to the charges and his defence said the allegations were “based on distortion, exaggeration and lies”. Opening the case for the prosecution, Peter Wright QC said there was a marked contrast between Giggs the player and the way he had behaved with his girlfriend in a “toxic relationship”. “On the pitch … [Read more...] about Ryan Giggs Showed ‘Sinister’ Side Says Prosecution in Assault Trial