Lists

  1. Why Wiegman has made teen Parkinson her youngest-ever call-up

    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.

  2. Why has Romelu Lukaku gone AWOL on Napoli?!

    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.

  3. Chelsea need Palmer now more than ever to save their season

    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.

  4. Madrid icon Marcelo: Messi tougher than Ronaldo

    The age-old debate between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo has seen another heavyweight chime in with a definitive verdict. Despite spending nearly a decade as a teammate and close friend of the Portuguese superstar at Real Madrid, former Brazilian international Marcelo has revealed who truly caused him the most problems on the pitch.

  5. Ex-Juventus chief explains 'problem' Ronaldo created

    Former Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici has opened up about the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo’s high-profile move to Turin, admitting that the forward's incredible efficiency created an unexpected "problem" within the squad. While the Portuguese superstar was signed to deliver Champions League glory, his arrival predated a period of significant financial and institutional instability for the Bianconeri.

  6. Marseille boss admits Greenwood's presence creates 'defensive deficit'

    Marseille head coach Habib Beye has addressed the growing debate over Mason Greenwood's off-the-ball contributions at the Stade Velodrome, admitting that his presence creates a "defensive deficit". While the Englishman has been the club's standout performer in front of goal, questions have been raised about whether his lack of work rate is beginning to destabilise the team's balance.

  7. 'One of the best defenders in the world' - Maguire makes bold statement

    Harry Maguire has never been one to shy away from scrutiny, and the Manchester United defender has now made a series of bold claims following his recent contract extension at Old Trafford. The 33-year-old reflects on a career defined by resilience, asserting that his aerial dominance keeps him among the global elite while insisting United can fight for the Premier League title next season.