Southgate appointed England manager on four-year deal.

Gareth Southgate was named as England's permanent manager on a four-year contract on Wednesday having impressed the Football Association during a four-match stint as interim coach.
The 46-year-old succeeds Sam Allardyce who departed 67 days into the job after being caught up in a newspaper sting.
Southgate said: "I am extremely proud to be appointed England manager. However, I'm also conscious that getting the job is one thing, now I want to do the job successfully."
Former England under-21 manager Southgate has overseen two wins and a draw in three 2018 World Cup qualifiers, leaving England top of the group, plus a friendly draw with Spain.
Southgate's contract will run through England's campaigns for the next World Cup and 2020 European Championship 

Former arsenal midfielder blames injury for not clinching the ballon D'or

Former arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby has said only injury prevented him from the ballon D'or.

The French international, who has not been able to wrack 200 appearance in thirteen years of  professional football  has claimed he has the potential of winning the ballon D'or  if not for  injuries.

The former arsenal midfielder Endured 10 years with the north London outfit making just 180 appearance and scoring 19 goals

The 30 year old midfielder  who feels he has the potential to be world best if not for injuries now plays for Marseille where he has only managed two appearances this season due to ankle injury.

'I have no limits. Once upon a time, people would ask me about the Ballon D'Or,' he told France Football.

'I told them I dreamt about it. I have always had big ambitions, like to become one of the best in my position. I think that I had the potential to achieve that.

'I am not saying it pretentiously, but some people in life are ambitious, others aren't.

Sturridge and Ali scores as Southgate begins on a bright note

It was the first test for Gareth Southgate as England's temporary Mannager against Malta.

After so much pressure from the 3lions, it's was only a matter of time before Daniel Sturridge found the back of the net from henderson's cross.

The English team wasn't done yet as Bamidele Ali neted  the second after his initial was shot stoped by the impressive Hogg.

England continued their domineering play but the likes of Walcott failed to take their chances.

Jesse Lingard was also handed his debut.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic slams Pep Guardiola once again ahead of Manchester United's tie with City

Zlatan Ibrahimovic slams Pep Guardiola once again ahead of Manchester United's tie with City


Zlatan Ibrahimovic has aimed another volley at ex-manager Pep Guardiola
Ibrahimovic branded Guardiola a 'spineless coward' in his autobiography
The Swede has claimed that Jose Mourinho is a superior man-manager
'He (Mourinho) is direct with everyone; he will not go behind your back' said the striker ahead of Saturday's all-important Manchester derby
Zlatan Ibrahimovic's feud with Pep Guardiola simmered on Friday as the Manchester United striker aimed another volley at his former manager.

The pair's relationship broke down at Barcelona, with Ibrahimovic branding Guardiola a 'spineless coward' in his explosive autobiography and then later labelling him 'not a man'.

He was at it again before Saturday lunchtime's highly-anticipated Manchester derby, claiming that Jose Mourinho has superior man-management techniques.

Ibrahimovic's feud with Pep Guardiola simmered on Friday ahead of  the Manchester derby

Ibrahimovic branded Guardiola a 'spineless coward' in his explosive autobiography
'He (Mourinho) is direct with everyone,' said Ibrahimovic. 'He will not go behind your back, he will tell you. I prefer it like that.

'Wherever Guardiola has gone he has won and he has been very successful.

'How he works today I don't know and I don't care because he is not my coach.'

Guardiola — who has also had to contend with barbs from Ibrahimovic's outspoken agent Mino Raiola this week — kept his decorum and refuted any suggestions by the Swede that he shut him out.

Guardiola said: 'I was clear, I spoke with him always face to face, always.

'I never used the media to explain what I wanted from Zlatan on the pitch. I was so clear and direct to him.'

Forget Jose Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola... watch out for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the Manchester derby!

Retirement surely not a barrier to wonderful skills, as arsenal beats AC Milan

 The Nigerian striker was in impressive form as Arsenal comprehensively beat a Milan side which featured the likes of Christian Vieiri and Cafu.
A Nwankwo Kanu hat-trick and goal from Robert Pires gave Arsenal Legends a 4-1 win over Milan Glorie in a charity match at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners attempted to start the match with 12 men when Nigerian striker Kanu didn’t realise he had been named as a substitute, but the 40-year-old made up for his mistake when he scored a header from Emmanuel Petit’s cross on 27 minutes, before Milan’s Christian Vieri equalised with a scrappy effort five minutes before the break.

Kanu scored a second on 72 minutes before Pires got in on the act just a day after playing at the Wembley Cup, while Vieri netted a late consolation for Milan when he rebounded in a penalty which was well saved by David Seaman.

Highlights included Martin Keown begging Arsene Wenger to bring him on throughout the match and Nigel Winterburn squaring up to Paolo Di Canio in a mock incident of when the Italian confronted a referee against Sheffield Wednesday in September 1998.

Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg and Kolo Toure all featured for the home side while Wenger and Fabio Capello took charge of the respective squads in a match which is expected to raise £1 million for the Arsenal Foundation’s mission to build pitches for children in London, Jordan and Somalia.

Source: goal.com

Okiki Afolabi joins Argentinian club side Atletico cordobar on loan.

 13 goals Sunshine Stars FC ace, Okiki Afolabi has joined Argentine club Atletico Cordoba on a season-long loan with an option for a permanent deal.

The second leading goal scorer in the Nigeria professional league said he is thrilled to have secured the deal following uncertainty over his football career in almost a year.

Okiki was quoted as saying by completesportsnigeria.com, " I'm happy that the move has been completed because at some point I was having doubts. It's time for me to repay my new coach for believing in me and I pray I score many goals for the club."

Prior to this move, there was an uncorfirmed news that the  has been duped by an unnamed agent who took him to Argentina inorder to help him secure a deal with a club in the country.

All completed deals in the EPL.

As it is expected, the final day of transfers is always nail biting and suspense packed.

So we have decided to come up with all concluded deals in the EPL.

ARSENAL 

IN

Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach, £35m)

Rob Holding (Bolton, £2.5m)

Lucas Perez (Deportivo La Coruna, £17m)

Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia, £35m)

OUT

Isaac Hayden (Newcastle United, undisclosed)

Serge Gnabry (Werder Bremen, £4.5m) 

Mikel Arteta (released)

Tomas Rosicky (released)

Mathieu Flamini (released) 

Joel Campbell (Sporting Lisbon, loan)

Jack Wilshere (Bournemouth, loan) 

 

BOURNEMOUTH

IN

Jordon Ibe (Liverpool, £15m)

Brad Smith (Liverpool, £6m) 

Lewis Cook (Leeds United, £6m) 

Lys Mousset (Le Havre, £5.4m)

Marc Wilson (Stoke City, £2m)

Mihai Dobre (Viitorul Constanta, undisclosed) 

Emerson Hyndman (Fulham, compensation)

Nathan Ake (Chelsea, loan)

Jack Wilshere (Arsenal, loan) 

OUT

Matt Ritchie (Newcastle United, £12m) 

Tommy Elphick (Aston Villa, £3.6m)  

Lee Tomlin (Bristol City, £2.75m)

Shaun MacDonald (Wigan Athletic, undisclosed) 

Eunan O'Kane (Leeds United, undisclosed) 

Sylvain Distin (released)

Stephane Zubar (released)

Josh Carmichael (released)

Josh Wakefield (released) 

Glenn Murray (Brighton & Hove Albion, loan)

Matt Butcher (Yeovil Town, loan) 

Baily Cargill (Gillingham, loan) 

Tokelo Rantie (Genclerbirligi, undisclosed)

 

BURNLEY

IN

Jeff Hendrick (Derby County, undisclosed) 

Steven Defour (Anderlecht, £7m) 

Johann Berg Gudmundsson (Charlton Athletic, £2.5m)

Nick Pope (Charlton Athletic, £1.1m)

Jon Flanagan (Liverpool, loan) 

Patrick Bamford (Chelsea, loan) 

OUT

David Jones (Sheffield Wednesday (undisclosed) 

Joey Barton (Rangers, free) 

Matt Gilks (Rangers, free)

Steven Hewitt (Accrington Stanley, free)

Lloyd Dyer (Burton Albion, free) 

Matt Taylor (Northampton Town, free)

Michael Duff (retired)

Chris Long (Fleetwood Town, loan) 

Lucas Jutkiewicz (Birmingham, loan) 

Daniel Lafferty (Sheffield United, loan) 

 

CHELSEA 

IN

Michy Batshuayi (Marseille, £33m) 

N'Golo Kante (Leicester, £32m)

David Luiz (Paris Saint-Germain, £32m)

Marcos Alonso (Fiorentina, £23m) 

Eduardo (Dinamo Zagreb, £2m) 

OUT

Mohamed Salah (Roma, £16m)

Papy Djilobodji (Sunderland, £8m)

John Swift (Reading, free) 

Nathan Ake (Bournemouth, loan)

Tomas Kalas (Fulham, loan)

Tammy Abraham (Bristol City, loan) 

Bertrand Traore (Ajax, loan)

Izzy Brown (Rotherham United, loan) 

Patrick Bamford (Burnley, loan) 

Loic Remy (Crystal Palace, loan)

Juan Cuadrado (Juventus, loan) 

Christian Atsu (Newcastle United, loan) 

 

CRYSTAL PALACE 

IN 

Christian Benteke (Liverpool, £32m) 

Andros Townsend (Newcastle United, £13m)

James Tomkins (West Ham United, £10m) 

Steve Mandanda (Marseille £1.5m) 

Loic Remy (Chelsea, loan) 

OUT 

Yannick Bolasie (Everton, £30m) 

Dwight Gayle (Newcastle United, £10m)

Mile Jedinak (Aston Villa, £4m) 

Alex McCarthy (Southampton, undisclosed)

Jerome Binnom-Williams (Peterborough United, undisclosed)

Jake Gray (Luton Town, free) 

Emmanuel Adebayor (released)

Marouane Chamakh (released)

Brede Hangeland (released)

Adrian Mariappa (released)

Paddy McCarthy (released)

Freddie Ladapo (Oldham, loan) 

Jonny Williams (Ipswich, loan) 

 

EVERTON 

IN

Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace, £30m) 

Ashley Williams (Swansea, £9m) 

Idrissa Gana Gueye (Aston Villa, £7.1m) 

Maarten Stekelenburg (Fulham, undisclosed)

Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Sheffield United, £15.m) 

Enner Valencia (West Ham United, loan) 

OUT

John Stones (Manchester City, £47.5m)

Steven Pienaar (Sunderland, free) 

Tony Hibbert (released)

Leon Osman (released)

Luke Garbutt (Wigan Athletic, loan)

Aiden McGeady (Preston North End, loan) 

 

HULL CITY 

IN

Will Mannion (AFC Wimbledon, compensation) 

David Marshall (Cardiff, undisclosed)

Ryan Mason (Tottenham, undisclosed)

James Weir (Manchester United, undisclosed) 

Dieumerci Mbokani (Dynamo Kiev, loan) 

Markus Henriksen (AZ Alkmaar, loan) 

OUT

Mohamed Diame (Newcastle United, £4.5m) 

Sone Aluko (Fulham, free)

Calaum Jahraldo-Martin (Oldham Athletic, free) 

Ryan Taylor (released) 

 

LEICESTER CITY 

IN

Islam Slimani (Sporting Lisbon, £29.7m) 

Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, £18m) 

Nampalys Mendy (Nice, £13m) 

Bartosz Kapustka (Cracovia, £7.5m)

Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 69, undisclosed)

Luis Hernandez (Sporting Gijon, undisclosed)

Raul Uche Rubio (Rayo Vallecano, undisclosed)

OUT

N'Golo Kante (Chelsea, £32m)

Liam Moore (Reading, £1m) 

Gokhan Inler (Besiktas, undisclosed) 

Andrej Kramaric (Hoffenheim, undisclosed)

Joe Dodoo (Rangers, compensation)

Paul Konchesky (Gillingham, free) 

Ryan Watson (Barnet, free) 

Dean Hammond (released)

Harry Panayiotou (released)

Mark Schwarzer (released)

Michael Cain (Blackpool, loan) 

Tom Lawrence (Ipswich, loan) 

 

LIVERPOOL 

IN 

Sadio Mane (Southampton, £30m)

Georginio Wijnaldum (Newcastle United, £25m) 

Ragnar Klavan (Augsburg, £5m)  

Loris Karius (Mainz, £4.7m) 

Joel Matip (Schalke, free)

Alex Manninger (Augsburg, free)

OUT 

Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace, £32m) 

Jordon Ibe (Bournemouth, £15m)

Joe Allen (Stoke City, £13.5m)

Brad Smith (Bournemouth, £6m)  

Martin Skrtel (Fenerbahce, £5m)

Luis Alberto (Lazio, £4.3m) 

Jerome Sinclair (Watford, £4m)

Sergi Canos (Norwich City (£2.5m) 

Lawrence Vigouroux (Swindon Town, £400,000)  

Jordan Rossiter (Rangers, £250,000)

Mario Balotelli (Nice, free) 

Jose Enrique (released)

Kolo Toure (released)

Samed Yesil (released)

Jon Flanagan (Burnley, loan) 

Danny Ward (Huddersfield Town, loan)

Adam Bogdan (Wigan Athletic, loan)

Ryan Kent (Barnsley, loan) 

Andre Wisdom (Red Bull Salzburg, loan) 

Lazar Markovic (Sporting Lisbon, loan) 

 

MANCHESTER CITY 

IN

John Stones (Everton, £47.5m)  

Leroy Sane (Schalke, £42m)

Gabriel Jesus (Palmeiras, £27m) 

Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund, £21m)

Claudio Bravo (Barcelona, £17m) 

Nolito (Celta Vigo £14m)

Marlos Moreno (Atletico Nacional, £4.5m) 

Oleksandr Zinchenko (Ufa, undisclosed)

Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City, swap deal)  

OUT

Marlos Moreno (Deportivo La Coruna, loan) 

Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield, loan) 

Martin Demichelis (released)

Richard Wright (retired) 

Sinan Bytyqi (Go Ahead Eagles, loan)

Joe Hart (Torino, loan) 

Wilfried Bony (Stoke City, loan) 

Samir Nasri (Sevilla, loan)

Eliaquim Mangala (Valencia, loan) 

Jason Denayer (Sunderland, loan) 

 

MANCHESTER UNITED 

IN

Paul Pogba (Juventus, £100m) 

Eric Bailly (Villarreal, £30m)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Borussia Dortmund, £26m)

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint-Germain, free)

OUT

Donald Love (Sunderland, combined £5.5m)

Paddy McNair (Sunderland, combined £5.5m) 

Ashley Fletcher (West Ham United, £700,000) 

Tyler Reid (Swansea City, undisclosed)

James Weir (Hull City, undisclosed) 

Victor Valdes (Middlesbrough, free)

Nick Powell (Wigan Athletic, free) 

Guillermo Varela (Eintracht Frankfurt, loan)

Adnan Januzaj (Sunderland, loan)

James Wilson (Derby County, loan) 

Andreas Pereira (Granada, loan) 

 

MIDDLESBROUGH

IN

Marten De Roon (Atalanta, £12m)

Viktor Fischer (Ajax, £3.8m)

Antonio Barragan (Valencia, £3m)

Fabio da Silva (Cardiff City, undisclosed)

Adama Traore (Aston Villa, undisclosed) 

Victor Valdes (Manchester United, free)

Brad Guzan (Aston Villa, free) 

Bernardo Espinosa (Sporting Gijon, free) 

Jordan McGhee (Hearts, loan)

Alvaro Negredo (Valencia, loan) 

OUT

Albert Adomah (Aston Villa, undisclosed)

Adam Reach (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed) 

Rhys Williams (Perth Glory, free)

Jordan Jones (Kilmarnock, free) 

Jonathan Woodgate (released)

Damia Abella (released)

Connor Ripley (Oldham Athletic, loan) 

Albert Adomah (Aston Villa, loan) 

 

SOUTHAMPTON 

IN

Sofiane Boufal (Lille, £16m) 

Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Bayern Munich, £12m)  

Nathan Redmond (Norwich City, £11m)

Alex McCarthy (Crystal Palace, undisclosed)

Jeremy Pied (Nice, free) 

Stuart Taylor (Unattached, free) 

OUT

Sadio Mane (Liverpool, £30m)

Graziano Pelle (Shandong Luneng, £13m) 

Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspur, £11m) 

Gaston Ramirez (released)

Kelvin Davis (retired)

Jason McCarthy (Walsall, loan) 

Paulo Gazzaniga (Rayo Vallecano, loan)

Sam Gallagher (Blackburn Rovers, loan) 

 

STOKE CITY 

Joe Allen (Liverpool, £13.5m) 

Ramadan Sobhi (Al Ahly, £5m)

Cameron McJannett (Luton Town, undisclosed) 

Ryan Sweeney (Wimbledon, loan) 

Lee Grant (Derby County, loan) 

Wilfried Bony (Manchester City, loan)

Bruno Martins Indi (Porto, loan) 

OUT

Marc Wilson (Bournemouth, £2m) 

Steve Sidwell (Brighton, free) 

Peter Odemwingie (released) 

 

SUNDERLAND 

IN   

Didier Ndong (Lorient, £13.5m) 

Papy Djilobodji (Chelsea, £8m)

Donald Love (Manchester United, combined £5.5m)

Paddy McNair (Manchester United, combined £5.5m)

Steven Pienaar (Everton, free) 

Adnan Januzaj (Manchester United, loan) 

Javier Manquillo (Atletico Madrid, loan) 

Jason Denayer (Manchester City, loan) 

OUT 

Younes Kaboul (Watford, £3.5m) 

Emanuele Giaccherini (Napoli, £2m)

Jordi Gomez (Wigan Athletic, undisclosed) 

Liam Bridcutt (Leeds United, undisclosed)

Danny Graham (Blackburn Rovers, free) 

Steven Fletcher (Sheffield Wednesday, free) 

Wes Brown (released)

Steve Harper (released)

Mikael Mandron (released)

Liam Agnew (released)

Will Buckley (Sheffield Wednesday, loan) 

Adam Matthews (Bristol City, loan) 

Jeremain Lens (Fenerbahce, loan)

 

SWANSEA CITY 

IN

Borja Baston (Atletico Madrid, £15.5m) 

Leroy Fer (QPR, £3.5m)

Mike van der Hoorn (Ajax, £2m)

Tyler Reid (Manchester United, undisclosed)

Fernando Llorente (Sevilla, loan) 

George Byers (Watford, free)

Mark Birighitti (Newcastle Jets, free) 

OUT

Andre Ayew (West Ham United, £20.5m)

Ashley Williams (Everton, £9m) 

Alberto Paloschi (Atalanta, £6m) 

Eder (Lille, £4m)

Daniel Alfei (released)

Lee Lucas (released)

Bafetimbi Gomis (Marseille, loan) 

Matt Grimes (Leeds United, loan) 

Kyle Bartley (Leeds United, loan) 

Liam Shephard (Yeovil Town, loan) 

Kenji Gorre (Northampton Town, loan)

Adam King (Southend United, loan)

Josh Sheehan (Newport County, loan) 

Franck Tabanou (Granada, loan)

Marvin Emnes (Blackburn Rovers, loan) 

 

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR  

IN

Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle United, £30m) 

Vincent Janssen (AZ Alkmaar, £18.5m) 

Victor Wanyama (Southampton, £11m)

Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Marseille, £10m)

Pau Lopez (Espanyol, loan) 

OUT

Nacer Chadli (West Bromwich Albion, £13m) 

Alex Pritchard (Norwich City, £8m)

Dominic Ball (Rotherham United, undisclosed) 

Ryan Mason (Hull, undisclosed) 

Federico Fazio (Roma, loan) 

Clinton Njie (Marseille, loan)

 

WATFORD

IN

Roberto Pereyra (Juventus, £13m) 

Isaac Success (Granada, £12m) 

Christian Kabasele (Racing Genk, £5.8m)

Jerome Sinclair (Liverpool, £4m)

Brice Dja Djedje (Marseille, £4m)

Younes Kaboul (Sunderland, £3.5m) 

Stefano Okaka (Anderlecht, undisclosed) 

Juan Zuniga (Napoli, loan)

Adrian Mariappa (Crystal Palace, free) 

OUT

Ikechi Anya (Derby County, £4m)

Allan Nyom (West Bromwich Albion, undisclosed) 

Gabriele Angella (Udinese, undisclosed) 

Jurado (Espanyol, undisclosed)

Almen Abdi (Sheffield Wednesday, undisclosed)

Daniel Pudil (Sheffield Wednesday (undisclosed) 

George Byers (Swansea City, free) 

Joel Ekstrand (released) 

Josh Doherty (released)

Steven Berghuis (Feyenoord, loan) 

 

WEST BROMWICH ALBION 

IN

Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur, £13m) 

Matty Phillips (QPR, £5.5m)

Allan Nyom (Watford, undisclosed) 

Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading, free) 

Brendan Galloway (Everton, loan) 

OUT

Rickie Lambert (Cardiff City, undisclosed) 

Anders Lindegaard (Preston North End, free) 

Victor Anichebe (released)

Stephane Sessegnon (released)

Tyler Roberts (Oxford United, loan) 

Cristian Gamboa (Celtic, undisclosed)

Sebastien Pocognoli (Brighton, loan) 

 

WEST HAM UNITED 

IN

Andre Ayew (Swansea City, £20.5m)

Arthur Masuaku (Olympiacos, £6m) 

Edmilson Fernandes (Sion, £5.5m)  

Toni Martinez (Valencia, £2.4m)

Ashley Fletcher (Manchester United, £700,000)

Sofiane Feghouli (Valencia, free)

Havard Nordtveit (Borussia Monchengladbach, free)

Gokhan Tore (Besiktas, loan)

Jonathan Calleri (Deportivo Maldonado, loan)

Alvaro Arbeloa (Real Madrid, free) 

OUT

James Tomkins (Crystal Palace, £10m) 

Elliot Lee (Barnsley, free)

Joey O'Brien (released) 

Jordan Brown (released)

Leo Chambers (released)

Diego Poyet (released) 

Stephen Hendrie (Blackburn Rovers, loan) 

Kyle Knoyle (Wigan Athletic, loan) 

Josh Cullen (Bradford City, loan)

Lewis Page (Coventry City, loan)

Enner Valencia (Everton, loan)

 

Source: daily mail.

Confirmed! Watford signs Nigerian twenty year old Isaac success for a club record fee.

Watford has payed a club record fee  £12.5 for the Nigerian Under 23 striker Isaac Success from the Spanish outfit Granada.

Success whom was named Granada player for the season the last season has agreed a five year deal with watford.

He made 56 appearances and could only manage 7 goals.

The twenty year old Nigerian international will meet up with fellow compatriot odion ighalo.

Impressive Wales matches on to semifinals after a convincing win against Belgium. To set up a bale v Ronaldo show down.

The spirit of Johan Cruyff lives on. Of all the players that would embody it at this European Championship, however, few were expecting Hal Robson-Kanu.

The Wales striker doesn’t even have a club right now. Released by Reading, no takers so far. There will be after this. The greatest goal in Welsh history – in both senses of the word? Probably. Robson-Kanu put Wales into the semi-final of their first tournament since 1958, so no goal has been more significant.

And the quality – well it’s up there, too, a Cruyff turn in the penalty area of such perfect execution that Thomas Meunier needed his passport to get back in the country. It is a short trip to the Belgium border and Meunier and several team-mates were well on the way before they realised Robson-Kanu had changed direction.

Radja Nainggolan smashes the ball goalwards from distance, a blistering strike that flew into the top corner to give Belgium the lead

Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey opted to go for the ball two-handed, and although he got fingertips to the ball he could not  stop it

Wales captain Ashley Williams rises, almost unmarked, seven yards out to meet Aaron Ramsey's corner and head in the equaliser

Kevin De Bruyne tries to clear the ball off the line, but having come off his post the Manchester City midfielder could not prevent the goal

Williams shows his delight after the equaliser that Wales had thoroughly deserved, and he sets off in celebration with Bale behind him

Robson-Kanu, without a club after being released by Reading at the end of this season, celebrates his quite brilliant goal to make it 2-1
Sam Vokes rises above Toby Alderweireld to sublimely head Chris Gunter's cross  over Courtois to wrap up the win for Wales

MATCH FACTS

Wales (3-4-2-1): Hennessey 7.5; Chester 7.5, A Williams 8.5, Davies 7.5; Gunter 8, Allen 8, Ledley 8 (King 78 mins), Taylor 8; Bale 8 Ramsey 9 (Collins 90); Robson-Kanu (Vokes 80) 8

Subs not used: Fon Williams, George Williams, Edwards, Richards, Cotterill, Jonathan Williams, Vaughan, Church, Ward

Manager: Chris Coleman 9

Booked: Davies, Chester, Gunter, Ramsey

Goals: Williams 30, Robson-Kanu 55, Vokes 85

Belgium (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Meunier 7.5, Alderweireld 6, Denayer 5, J Lukaku 5.5 (Mertens 76); Nainggolan 7, Witsel 6; Carrasco 6 (Fellaini 46 5), De Bruyne 6, Hazard 6.5; R Lukaku 6

Manager: Marc Wilmots 5

Subs not used: Mignolet, Origi,Kabasele, Dembele, Benteke, Ciman, Gillet

Booked: Fellaini, Alderweireld

Goal: Nainggolan 13

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia) 7

Ratings by Laurie Whitwell

Belgium were on top of the time, and had probably grown complacent. Aaron Ramsey was allowed to carry the ball upfield untroubled, find Robson-Kanu in a tight space. First he battled to keep Meunier off, then he twisted and pulled the ball inside as the Dutch master would.

And in one leap, he was free. Alone. Only Thibaut Courtois to beat. Don’t let anyone tell you that, by then, Robson-Kanu had done the hard part. It would have been so easy to miss from there. So easy to panic and rush the shot, or hit it straight at Courtois.

Robson-Kanu placed it, beautifully, and with the same effect as Iceland’s second goal in Nice. Belgium, from there, looked done. Scared. Jittery.

They knew this was their match – their tournament maybe – to win. This is their golden generation.

It’s funny how nobody ever says that of Wales. Maybe that is the secret. Maybe that is what is pushing this team to greater and greater heights.

Certainly, the denouement was unimagined. A Belgium fightback? A Welsh Alamo? Hardly. With four minutes to go, Chris Gunter crossed from the right and Sam Vokes met his head in a way a succession of Belgian giants – Romelu Lukaku, Marouane Felaini – could not.

Courtois was beaten and so were the tournament’s dark horses. Beaten by the darkest horses of all. The one man team that is, in reality, about anything but one man.

It will have come as some surprise to those who blame English lethargy at tournaments on the absence of a winter break to see this, arguably the most exhilarating opening 45 minutes of tournament football so far.

Of the 22 players that started, 15 are based in England, yet there was little sign of tiredness on either side, as both went at it hammer and tongs.

Belgium were outstanding from the off and deservedly went ahead, but Wales responded magnificently, got a goal back, forged more chances, particularly from set pieces and went in at half-time deservedly level.

Indeed, far from sitting back and soaking up pressure as many expected, they were as comfortable having the ball as chasing it. When the possession statistics flashed up on the board after 37 minutes, Wales had 55 per cent.

As with Iceland, it is patronising to suggest they are a team without attacking ambition.

SUPER STAT

10 - Sam Vokes’ header was Wales’ 10th goal of the tournament. No one has scored more than them in this Euros.

Belgium are second with nine, France, Iceland, Germany and Portugal areon six.

No team with Gareth Bale in it is ever boring and with three of Belgium’s first-choice defenders missing, there was always the chance he would get on the ball and cause Belgium a significant problem.

That is what he did when Wales defeated Belgium last year and it was clear they feared a repeat here.

Jordan Lukaku – younger brother of Romelu, the striker – was required to deal with Bale, but he invariably had reinforcements. The only time Bale got away in the first-half was on the counter-attack after 34 minutes, a breakaway that saw him pursued and closed down by three Belgian defenders, before aiming a lot shot which Thibaut Courtois easily mopped up.

The biggest problem for Wales in the first-half was the number of bookings they racked up – three in the first 25 minutes, the majority of Chris Coleman’s defence.

The game was just five minutes old when Ben Davies fouled Kevin De Bruyne, receiving a yellow card from Slovenian referee Damir Skomina. Davies knew from then he would miss the semi-final, if Wales could get that far.

It should have served as a warning – instead Wales continued to make silly, and costly, fouls. James Chester blatantly tripped Romelu Lukaku after 16 minutes, and was rightly booked, before Gunter very obviously pulled back De Bruyne in an innocuous position nine minutes later.

By then, Wales must have known Skomina was not scared to produce a card for a first offence, which he  surely did.

Only a superb reaction save from Courtois to deny Neil Taylor prevented Wales levelling on 25 minutes, but it didn't keep them out for long

Williams' header found the corner of the net, as clever movement and an excellent delivery allowed him the perfect opportunity

Throughout this period, Belgium were in the ascendancy and Wales were fortunate not to go behind sooner.

From one move alone, Belgium spurned three chances to score.

There were seven minutes gone when Lukaku senior broke down the left flank and put in a cross that should have created Belgium’s first goal. It fell to Yannick Carrasco at the far post, but slightly behind him, and he needed time to bring it under control. When he did, Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was already diving full length to smother his shot, which he did, brilliantly.

The ball flew out to right back Thomas Meunier who returned it with venom, only for Neil Taylor to block on the line. Out it came again, this time to Eden Hazard, and smashed goalwards again – but between them Taylor and Hennessey somehow diverted it over the bar.

Hazard then swung in the corner which Romelu Lukaku failed to meet at the far post, unmarked. Wales were living dangerously indeed.

In the 13th minute, Belgium took the lead. Joe Allen gave the ball away in midfield, allowing them to attack. Jordan Lukaku went down the wing, found Hazard inside and he slipped the ball into the path of Radja Nainggolan.

It was a goal almost as soon as it left his boot – one of those positions where the audacity of trying the shot is the first thought, quickly erased by the excellence of the goal.

It went in like a rocket, Hennessey getting no more than fingertips to the ball and with no chance of altering the trajectory.

For Nainggolan, it was redemption of sorts, having been blamed for the mistake that allowed Wales to win the last meeting between the sides.

For Hazard, it was his fourth assist of the tournament – overtaking the number he recorded for Chelsea through the entire Premier League season. One would like to be a fly on the wall at Jose Mourinho’s holiday resort.

Jason Denayer can only watch on as Robson-Kanu, having tricked his way past a static defence, slots the ball past Courtois

Robson-Kanu's goal saw Wales take the lead against the tournament's highest-ranked side, and put them on course for the last four

Wales could have crumbled – England probably would – but Coleman’s team is made of sterner stuff. From that reverse, they carved their best chance of the match, and an eventual equaliser.

Courtois in Belguim’s goal hadn’t had much to do until that point, but he pulled off the save of the match after 26 minutes.

It came from a cross by Aaron Ramsey, cut back from the right by-line and met by the unlikely figure of Taylor, already on the scoresheet at these championships, much to everyone’s amazement.

He hit it first time, but Courtois somehow got a hand to it recovering his position across goal, diverting it for a corner.

Yet set pieces are where Wales are dangerous – and five minutes later that was confirmed. It looked like a rolling maul in the centre of the area before Ramsey’s corner came in, but that was all part of the diversionary plan. When the smoke cleared, there was captain Ashley Williams, unmarked.

Jason Denayer recognised the danger but too late, and Williams gave Courtois no chance with his header.

De Bruyne, on the line, might have been able to do something about it – but he had come out slightly, and couldn’t get boot to ball in time.

From there, the action swung to the other end. Now it was Belgium’s turn to try to retrieve the advantage. Carrasco crossed and Hennessey’s fingertips took the ball from Romelu Lukaku’s head at a vital moment. Meunier crossed and Lukaku steered a free header wide.

On the left, Hazard cut inside – his trademark move – and curled a shot out of reach of Hennessey and just wide of the far post.

The crowd at the Stade Pierre Mauroy, predominantly Belgium having popped over the border, must have felt a goal was bound to come.

Wales, and Robson-Kanu had other ideas.

Wales celebrate in front of their delighted fans as Vokes header confirms their place in the last four, where they  will meet Portugal.

Spain's reign ends in pain. As Italy advances to the last eight in there expense.

QUARTER-FINAL DRAW

Poland vs Portugal

Wales vs Belgium

Germany vs Italy

France vs Iceland

Not just the end of a tournament for Spain but the end of an era. In all likelihood this meek defeat to a terrific and emerging Italian team will spell the end of coach Vicente del Bosque too.

This was a crushing defeat for Spain, the European champions of 2012 and 2008. Del Bosque’s team were outplayed and out thought by a magnificent Italian side led by the incredible life force that is the incoming Chelsea coach Antonio Conte.

It was a two goal margin but it could have been more.

Goalkeeper David de Gea was Spain’s best player and they only created one good chance all game, Italian totem Gianluigi Buffon saving brilliantly from Gerard Pique in the very last minute of normal time.

Who would have thought we would ever say such a thing about Spain? As usual, they had much of the ball but this time they did nothing with it.


Graziano Pelle fires the ball past David De Gea in the dying stages of the match to make sure of Italy's knockout victory over Spain


MATCH FACTS

Italy (4-4-2): Buffon 8, Barzagli 6, Bonucci 8.5, Chiellini 7, Florenzi 7 (Darmian 84), Parolo 6, De Rossi 6 (Motta 54, 6), Giaccherini 7.5, De Scigilio 7, Pelle 7.5, Eder 7 (Insigne 81)

Subs not used: Ogbonna, Candeva, Zaza, Immobile, Sirigu, Marchetti, Stuaro, Bernadeschi, El Shaarawy

Booked: De Sciglio, Pelle, Motta

Scorers: Chiellini 33, Pelle 90

Manager: Conte, 7

Spain (4-4-2): De Gea 8, Juanfran 6, Pique 5.5, Ramos 5, Alba 5.5, Fabregas 5, Busquets 5, Iniesta 6.5, Silva 6, Morata 4.5 (Vazquez 70, 5), Nolito 4 (Aduriz 45, 5, Pedro 81)

Subs not used: Casillas, Azpilicueta, Bartra, Koke, Bellerin, Alcantara, San Jose, Bruno, Rico

Manager: Vicente Del Bosque, 6

Booked: Nolito

Referee: Cuneyt Cakir, 5

While Italy looked youthful and energetic and hungry, Spain looked like a team short of inspiration and ideas, like a team that knew there was a plane home waiting. They looked like a team that needs the change of direction that will surely now come with a change of coach.

Del Bosque has done his bit, that’s for sure. Two European Championships and one World Cup. His team taught the world a few things in South Africa in 2010 and we shall never forget that. They played football in that tournament that most teams reserve for the five-a-side pitches in training.

Here in France, though, Del Bosque has looked a little like the struggle to maintain impossible standards has finally caught up with him and it has been reflected in his team’s football over their last two games. Maybe, on refection, this was a tournament too far for the 65-year-old.

Yesterday in Paris Spain were caught on the back foot by Italy’s purposeful start and never really recovered. De Gea kept his country in it early on but he is a goalkeeper not a brick wall. Eventually even he had to roll over.

Italy were excellent, surprisingly so. Really they were. Conte’s team have only conceded one goal in the whole tournament but here we saw more than clichéd Italian stubbornness. We saw a team with imagination, dexterity and confidence.

In the Bologna midfielder Emanuele Giaccherini Italy had the game’s best player. The galloping left-wing back Mattia De Sciglio was terrific, too, as was Southampton’s Graziano Pelle in attack. When Pelle’s goal arrived in added time, nobody deserved it more.

Earlier on in the game, as the rain poured down, the signs of what was to come were there, if not the goals.

Italy sprang from the blocks and De Gea was required to make two really good saves in the first eleven minutes. The first, from a Pelle header, was instantly recognisable, a plunge low to the left. Then another followed, this time from a Giacceherini scissor kick.

As Spain struggled to settle and began to visibly ask each other questions, we wondered when they would find themselves.

Cesc Fabregas had a chance but struck the shot poorly and then previous service resumed, Marco Parolo heading a De Sciglio cross wide and another cross from the Milan full-back being sliced over his own bar by a nervous Ramos
Ramos and Pique were awful all game, just as they had been against Croatia last week. Theirs looks less like a partnership and more like an arranged marriage. It will be interesting to see what the next Spain coach makes of it and pretty soon the two of them were reflecting on the first Italian goal.

A free-kick conceded by Ramos was struck fiercely by Parolo and when De Gea couldn’t hold it defender Giorgio Chiellini hacked the ball over the line.

The lead was fully deserved and Giaccherini would have extended it had De Gea not saved his curling shot just before half-time.

Beyond that, Spain did improve but they were never convincing. A beautiful Pelle flick released Eder in the 56th minute only for De Gea to block and Italy then retreated in an attempt to draw the Spaniards’ sting.

Buffon, 39 next season, had not been over-employed but perhaps knew what was coming. First, he repelled two strong shots from distance from Andres Iniesta and Pique before producing the kind of save of which he is still eminently capable as the clock ticked towards full-time.

Italy conceded a needless free-kick in their own half and when a flick-on dropped over the blue rear guard, Pique turned it goalwards. It was not a sweet contact from the Barcelona player but it looked like being enough until Buffon dropped to his right and pawed the ball away with his bottom hand.

In terms of importance, it was the save of the tournament so far and Italy made good on it by breaking quickly. Lorenzo Insigne spread the ball to Matteo Darmian and when the substitute’s pass was deflected up in to Pelle’s path he crashed the ball past De Gea to settle the argument.



FIXTURES & RESULTS GROUP TABLE KNOCKOUT STAGE


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