Following Sunday s Africa Cup of Nations final, we take a look at some of the highs and lows of the tournament.
Highs
Tournament actually goes ahead
After three weeks of action in Equatorial Guinea, it is easy to forget the turmoil that overshadowed the build-up. Morocco had originally been set to host the tournament, but then asked for it to be delayed due to fears over the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) rejected that request and subsequently stripped Morocco of the tournament, as well as ejecting their national team from the competition. Having previously been barred from the event themselves for fielding an ineligible player in qualifying, Equatorial Guinea stepped in to take on hosting duties, while Morocco h…
It is often said that international tournaments are not about playing the prettiest football, but the most effective, about finding a way to get over the line.
When France – a team that had only scored via a penalty and two own goals as they somehow ground their way through Euro 2024 – took an eighth-minute lead in Tuesday s first semi-final versus Spain, it looked like those old adages might stand.
La Roja, and their wonderkid Lamine Yamal, had other ideas.
The 16-year-old Barcelona winger curled home a magnificent 25-yard strike to become the youngest ever scorer at a World Cup or Euros, before Dani Olmo s fine touch and finish completed the turnaround by the 25th minute.
Spain had to show another side to their game in the second half as they dug in…
Didier Deschamps will make a decision on his France future in the new year after overseeing Les Bleus dramatic penalty shoot-out loss to Argentina in the World Cup final.
Kylian Mbappe s hat-trick – just the second to be scored in a men s World Cup final – saw France twice come from behind in a thrilling 3-3 draw after extra time at Lusail Stadium.
However, it was Mbappe s Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Lionel Messi who got his hands on the famous trophy, with Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni failing to convert in the shoot-out.
The defeat will likely revive speculation regarding Deschamps future, with France great Zinedine Zidane having long been touted as a potential successor.
Deschamps, however, will take his time to weigh up whether to exte…
Barcelona returned record revenues of €679million during 2015-16, according to the club s financial results for the season.
The LaLiga champions released the figures on Monday, with the overall revenue mark representing a substantial increase of the figure originally budgeted for this area .
Barca returned a net profit of €29m after tax and believe they are on course to hit the marks of a strategic plan that targets revenue of €1billion in 2021.
FC Barcelona close the 2015/16 season with record revenues of 679 million euros:
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
The strategic plan includes the Espai Barca renovation project for Camp Nou and its surrounding area.
Barcelona also announced the board have approved a one-year extension of t…
Gerard Pique lauded Lionel Messi following his latest masterclass, saying the Barcelona star should have won the Ballon d Or every year since 2009.
Messi led the way for Barca again on Sunday, scoring a goal and setting up another in the 2-1 LaLiga win at Sevilla.
The five-time Ballon d Or winner cancelled out Vitolo s opener prior to the interval before he assisted Luis Suarez for the decisive goal just past the hour mark.
Messi s display drew praise from injured team-mate Pique, who used Twitter to laud the 29-year-old.
If the Ballon d Or were given to the best player in the world, he wrote. Leo would have won it every year since 2009. He s on another level.
Messi s 43rd-minute equaliser helped him reach a new milestone for Barca his 500th car…
Just a few days ago, a Week 11 matchup between the Washington Football Team and Carolina Panthers would be far from must-see TV for football fans.
But since the Panthers blew the dust off the No. 1 jersey and brought back the former face of the franchise, Cam Newton, interest has peaked in this game. NFL betting odds have Carolina as a 3.5-point favorite with Newton expected to start at quarterback against his former coach Ron Rivera and the WFT.
We try to make sense of this crazy contest with our NFL free picks and predictions for Washington at Carolina on November 21.
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It’s already been a thrilling NFL season, and we’re just two weeks into the 2022 campaign! We’re expecting some offensive fireworks in a pair of early-window games this Sunday and are fairly confident in a pair of late-afternoon favorites to get the job done for chalk players.
Without further ado, here are our two top parlay plays for the third Sunday of the NFL season.
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We have an exciting AFC North matchup for the second leg of an NFL Week 2 Monday Night Football doubleheader when the 1-0 Cleveland Browns head to Pittsburgh for a divisional battle with the 0-1 Steelers.
The MNF odds for this crucial early season encounter list the Browns as a -2.5 favorite to win this game, and the NFL prop markets are bustling with several interesting prop bets for this AFC North encounter.
Please continue reading to find out our free NFL prop picks for Browns vs. Steelers tonight. And be sure to check out our Browns vs. Steelers predictions and Kenny Pickett odds and props spotlight.
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It’s deja vu all over this evening as the Seattle Seahawks are set to appear in their second straight Thursday Night Football game. The last time viewers saw Geno Smith & Co. was on Thanksgiving, when the ‘Hawks were grounded by the 49ers 31-13. Seattle surrendered 377 total yards of offense, including 139 to Christian McCaffrey, who scampered in for two touchdowns.
It was a very different story last Thursday for the Dallas Cowboys, who crushed the Commanders 45-10. Dallas saved the biggest turkey leg of all for Dak Prescott, who threw for 331 yards and a season-high four TDs in the lopsided win.
While there are a number of different subscription-based TV channels and streaming services available to watch tonight’s game, you can also live stream Seahawks v…
The NFL Draft Combine has come and gone, which means it’s time to update my NFL mock draft.
Who is rising up draft boards since 2024 NFL Mock Draft Version 1.0, and who is falling? And how can we take advantage of that in the NFL Draft odds? Plus, this year’s draft could be quarterback crazy at the top. That means trades. Lots of ’em.
Who makes a splash in version 2.0 of my 2024 NFL mock draft? Find out as I tease some early leans and free betting picks for the 2024 NFL Draft.
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