Belgium became the first team to secure qualification for Euro 2020 with a huge 9-0 win at home to minnows San Marino.

Romelu Lukaku s 50th international goal broke the deadlock in Brussels on Thursday, and the striker set up Nacer Chadli for the second before Cristian Brolli s own goal made it 3-0.

Lukaku struck again, Andrea Grandoni deflected in Toby Alderweireld s shot and Youri Tielemans scored ahead of the interval, after which Roberto Martinez s side took their foot off the gas.

Christian Benteke, Yari Verschaeren and Timothy Castagne wrapped up the scoring and, with seven wins out of seven in Group I, Belgium are guaranteed to finish in the top two and can look forward to the European Championship.

Despite dominating, it took Belgium until the 28…

Harvey Elliott insists he is ready to take his game to the next level as he eyes Euro 2024.

The Liverpool midfielder captained England Under-21s for the first time on Monday, leading the Young Lions as they slipped to a late 3-2 defeat to Ukraine in Slovakia.

He returns to domestic action this weekend, looking to force his way into the Liverpool line-up for Saturday’s Merseyside derby with Everton.

Despite a frustrating lack of starts for the Reds this term, Euro 2024 remains a real goal for Elliott, after England’s 3-1 win over Italy on Tuesday booked their place in Germany, and he is primed to take his chance.

He said: “Absolutely, I’ve felt ready for a while now. It’s just about making sure I keep applying myself to be the best possible playe…

It is fair to say La Masia is one of the more famous football production lines.

Barcelona have built legendary teams using many of the graduates to have come through their academy.

While the club may have gone for more of a transfer-based approach in recent years, there remains a romance about the idea of La Masia churning out more stars of the future.

With the announcement on Wednesday that the latest product, Gavi, has signed a new deal until 2026 after becoming a vital cog in Xavi s first team despite only turning 18 in August, Stats Perform has taken a look at other teen sensations who broke through over the years; those who flourished, and those who did not.

From promise to stardom

Lionel Messi

Let s start with the most obvious one. …

Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has confirmed midfielder Adrien Rabiot has left the club ahead of the 2024-25 Serie A season.

Rabiot, who featured for France in their semi-final run at Euro 2024, made 212 appearances for Juventus since arriving from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019.

The 29-year-old featured in 35 matches for the Old Lady under Massimiliano Allegri last season, helping them to a 15th Coppa Italia title.

Rabiot became the fifth Frenchman to reach 200 appearances for Juventus, leaving him third in the list of the club s all-time French appearance makers alongside Zinedine Zidane.

Only Michel Platini (224) and David Trezeguet (320) have completed more outings for the 36-time Serie A champions.

I want to thank Adrien Rab…

Rob Page believes Wales possess a bright future and are “going places” despite Euro 2024 play-off heartbreak.

Wales missed out on a third successive European Championship as Poland won 5-4 on penalties at Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday following a goalless 120 minutes.

But boss Page insists Wales’ young squad are heading in the right direction ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifying.

“I just know I’ve got a good group players, great staff, and we’re going on the right path,” said Page, who has over two years left on his contract.

“There are younger players to be introduced as well, so that’s my next aim.

“We haven’t got there this time, but with the games in June we can start to introduce a couple of the younger players and build…

A first-half strike from Ashley Young put England on the brink of Euro 2012 qualification as they beat Wales 1-0 at Wembley on Tuesday.

Young drilled home Stewart Downing’s cross after 35 minutes to secure the three points for Fabio Capello’s team, but it was far from plain sailing against a spirited Welsh side who belied their lowly ranking.

And they could have come away with a point if substitute Robert Earnshaw had not missed an open goal with 10 minutes remaining.

For England, it is a first win in three competitive matches at Wembley and means a draw in Macedonia next month will secure qualification to Euro 2012.

But they will not have been greatly enthused by a performance which, Young and Downing aside, was not very encouraging.

Instead…

Antonio Rudiger wants to use his experience with Real Madrid for the benefit of Germany at Euro 2024, seeking to find a killer instinct for Julian Nagelsmann s team.

Germany duo Toni Kroos and Rudiger helped Madrid to their record-extending 15th Champions League crown last Saturday, defeating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the final.

That European glory added to this season s LaLiga success for Los Blancos, who continue to power on as a title-winning machine under the tutelage of veteran coach Carlo Ancelotti.

With Germany s Euro 2024 opener against Scotland less than two weeks away, Rudiger hopes to embed his club s efforts into Nagelsmann s national side.

These are two different pairs of shoes, Rudiger said on Wednesday, referring to the difference between G…

Goals from Diogo Dalot and Bruno Fernandes saw Manchester United ease into the fourth round of the FA Cup and avoid any unwanted drama in a 2-0 win over League One Wigan.

As they should have, United dominated a side 53 places below them, and the only complaint would be that they did not convert more of their 33 attempts on goal.

As it was, Dalot’s 22nd-minute curler and a second-half penalty from Fernandes set up a tie away to either League Two Newport or non-League Eastleigh.

Pura qualidade, Diogo! ||

— Manchester United (@ManUtd_PT)

With Sir Dave Brailsford and Jean-Claude Blanc watching on as Sir Jim Ratcliffe awaits ratification of his 25 per cent stake in United, a straightforward win was just what Erik ten Hag needed after a December…

A hectic, congested year of football culminates in the delayed European Championship, which starts on June 11 when Turkey take on Italy in Rome.

Euro 2020, hosted in 11 cities spread across the continent, was meant to be a celebration of the 60th anniversary of UEFA s international tournament. Instead, the coronavirus pandemic derailed the plans, forcing the postponement of the event until 2021.

Though the qualified teams had been readying themselves to play last year, and the pandemic has forced a much-altered football calendar in 2020-21, some countries may have benefitted from the delay.

For others, it may be a case of what might have been. Here, using Opta data, Stats Perform looks at how the main favourites to go all the way have been boosted by the postpon…

Gareth Bale believes Wales Euro 2016 exploits will earn them more respect from other nations and the Real Madrid star is keen for further experiences of major international tournaments.

Wales sensational run in France ended in a 2-0 semi-final defeat to Portugal in Lyon on Wednesday, with two goals in the space of three second-half minutes from Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani proving decisive.

Bale was unable to find his fourth goal of the competition as he battled to haul Chris Coleman s side back into the match, but he believes his team-mates will now be viewed differently having claimed victories over Slovakia, Russia, Northern Ireland and Belgium during a memorable campaign.

I think we ve grown in confidence and grown in stature, he said. We ll be more respected…