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When England's Under-23s took on Norway back in November, there was no shortage of top talent on show. Be it Ruby Mace or Maisie Symonds, who have both been involved in Sarina Wiegman's senior team; Gracie Prior, a starter in seven of the first nine games of the season for Women's Super League leaders Manchester City; or Martine Fenger on the opposite side, the teenage forward who made her Barcelona debut earlier that month. And yet it was 17-year-old Erica Parkinson, a player some five years younger than some of those involved, who stood out most.

Even when Chelsea were sweeping up trophies for fun during the first two decades of the 21st century, there was still an element of jeopardy to their seasons. Back then, however, that usually revolved around whether or not they would end the year with a piece of silverware to make up for the relative inconsistency of their Premier League campaign.

On the evening of February 28 in Verona, Romelu Lukaku came off the bench at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi to score a 96th-minute winner for Napoli against Verona with a close-range left-footed finish. It was by no means a beautiful goal - goalkeeper Lorenzo Montipo had got a hand on the ball - but it was easily one of the most significant strikes of Lukaku's entire career.

The Danish sportswear company now makes kits for 26 clubs in North America, and has pushed boundaries with innovative designs for USL teams.

Crystal Palace delivered a tactical masterclass at Selhurst Park to sweep aside Fiorentina with a convincing 3-0 victory. Jean-Philippe Mateta was the protagonist, scoring once and providing another as Oliver Glasner's side took control of their Conference League destiny.

Crystal Palace dismantled Fiorentina with a ruthless 3-0 victory at Selhurst Park, leveraging a high-intensity 3-4-2-1 system to exploit the visitors' defensive frailties. While Fiorentina maintained a slight edge in possession, Oliver Glasner’s side dominated the quality of chances, accumulating a staggering 3.45 xG to secure a commanding Conference League result.

Nottingham Forest secured a hard-fought Europa League draw at the Estadio do Dragao thanks to a resilient defensive display and a stroke of luck via a Martim Fernandes own goal. Despite sustained pressure from the hosts, Forest's structure held firm to keep their semi-final ambitions on track.

Nottingham Forest secured a hard-fought 1-1 draw at the Estadio do Dragao despite being significantly out-shot by their hosts. A bizarre own goal from Martim Fernandes cancelled out an early strike from Porto's Wendel Gomes in a statistically lopsided encounter.

Aston Villa continued their remarkable European form with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dell'Ara. Unai Emery's side displayed tactical maturity and ruthless finishing to secure a vital win on the road.

Aston Villa seized a commanding first-leg advantage in their Europa League quarter-final with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bologna. Unai Emery's tactical masterclass silenced the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara and established the Villans as the undisputed favourites to reach the final four.

GOAL sat down with Auston Trusty as the Celtic defender continues his push for a USMNT World Cup spot, opening up on the journey, pressure, and belief driving him.

The scrutiny of Saudi arbitration is weighing heavily on Cristiano.

Why does Barcelona dominate domestically yet fade when the Champions League anthem plays?

Under questionable circumstances, Aaron Anselmino was forced to leave Borussia Dortmund abruptly during the winter transfer window. Chelsea FC then immediately loaned the 20-year-old defender to Racing Strasbourg, where he has struggled to make an impact.

Arne Slot admitted on the eve of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain that his side had suffered so many setbacks this season that he there wouldn't have been time to reference them all in the one press conference. In that sense, Wednesday's 2-0 loss at Parc des Princes could be passed off as just another disappointing defeat to add to an already lengthy list.

In the past few hours, the two clubs have found themselves in remarkably similar situations.

Much has been made of Arsenal's quadruple charge being dashed and downgraded to a double dream over the last few weeks, but that's still nothing to be sniffed at. The Gunners have an excellent chance of claiming the two top prizes available to them, though they are in danger of limping across the finish line rather than marching over it with the authority of champions.

As Enzo Maresca gazed out at the ocean from his infinity pool, he must have been grateful he was no longer managing Chelsea. From defeats at the hands of Newcastle, Everton and Paris Saint-Germain to controversies ranging from 'respecting the ball' to Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez heavily hinting that they would be open to leaving, Stamford Bridge resembles a battlefield when compared to Maresca's recent idyllic getaway in the Maldives.

Will the Portuguese star leave through the front door? The question echoes around the stadium and beyond. Cristiano Ronaldo’s potential departure from Manchester United is the talking point of the football world. Having arrived in 2003 as a raw teenager with a mohawk and departed a decade later as a Ballon d’Or winner, he returned in 2021 eager to add more silverware to his collection. Yet here we are, less than two years on, with rumours swirling that he could once again walk out of Old Trafford. So what does it mean to “leave through the front door”? In football parlance, it is a phrase that suggests departing on good terms, head held high, reputation intact. It implies gratitude for the memories, respect for the club and its supporters, and a clear path to the next challenge. For a player of Ronaldo’s stature, it also means acknowledging his own legacy while leaving room for the next generation to flourish. The alternative—slinking out the back way—is unthinkable for a man who has b

Serge Gnabry’s latest display against Real Madrid has underlined his value to both Bayern Munich and Germany, but the performance also presents a fresh selection headache for coach Hansi Flick. The winger, operating in a slightly reimagined position that allows him to drift inside and combine with the central playmakers, caused the Merengues constant trouble, delivering a goal and two assists. His ability to punish defenders with pace and intelligence has rarely been more evident, and the timing could not be better for a Bayern side looking to peak heading into the World Cup break. For Flick, the challenge is twofold: first, to maintain the momentum built by Gnabry without overloading the player; and second, to manage the expectations surrounding Jamal Musiala, the youngster whose own form has been impressive yet inevitably overshadowed by his senior teammate’s recent exploits. Musiala, known for his versatility and maturity beyond his years, remains a vital part of Bayern’s long-term

Liverpool's hopes of salvaging their season were dealt another devastating blow on Wednesday, as Arne Slot's struggling side slumped to a dismal 2-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash with Paris Saint-Germain. The under-fire coach had challenged his players to deliver a "strong and firm" response to last weekend's FA Cup capitulation at Manchester City, but while they never gave up at Parc des Princes, they still succumbed meekly to vastly superior opposition.

Barcelona have been left with a mountain to climb if they are to make it to the Champions League semi-finals as they went down 2-0 to Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their quarter-final on Wednesday. The Blaugrana were left to rue Pau Cubarsi's first-half red card, as goals from Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth secured victory for the visitors in Catalunya.

Mic'd Up: The USMNT are coming off a duo of friendly losses, but Maurice Edu, who was a USMNT regular in his playing days, asserts that hope remains for the World Cup

EXCLUSIVE: Weston McKennie opens up on pressure, form and why, ahead of 2026, he just wants the world to see the real him.

Barcelona’s defence under fire… and Simeone prepares the knockout blow

Neuer, Mbappé and defensive mistakes… how did Bayern impose their word at the Royal’s fortress?

England's qualifying campaign for the 2027 Women's World Cup is officially underway. The Lionesses started it with a 6-1 win over Ukraine on Tuesday and will continue their quest to secure a place in Brazil when hosting Iceland on Saturday. As runners-up in 2023, few would not expect Sarina Wiegman's side to achieve as much, but who the manager will choose to represent the European champions in South America is a little less certain.

France has a new cycling star. Paul Seixas is just 19 years old and is already capturing the imagination of the French public. Even Tadej Pogacar is full of praise for him.