In a dominant performance, England's football team secured promotion back to League A of the Nations League after thrashing 10-player Republic of Ireland 5-0 at Wembley. Three second-half goals from Harry Kane, Anthony Gordon, and Conor Gallagher, followed by maiden strikes from Jarrod Bowen and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, sealed the victory. This was the perfect send-off for interim manager Lee Carsley, who will now step down to make way for the permanent manager.
As the much-awaited ninth fixture of the Premier League approaches, the focus is on the powerhouse teams of Chelsea and Manchester City as they face off in an early-season showdown. With Man City aiming for a fifth consecutive title and Chelsea looking to bounce back after a disappointing finish last season, the stakes are high for both teams. Fans can expect a thrilling match as the talented squads battle it out on the field, with potential implications for the rest of the Premier League season.
In a fiercely contested Euro 2024 quarter-final match, Spanish defender Dani Carvajal was shown a second yellow card and sent off by English referee Anthony Taylor. However, fans were quick to applaud Carvajal's calculated move as they believed he deliberately took the card to avoid missing a potential final. Despite Carvajal's suspension, Spain managed to secure a 2-1 victory over the host nation and book their spot in the semi-finals.
The EURO 2024 Round of 16 tie between Germany and Spain was marred by a controversial decision from English referee Anthony Taylor, as a potential handball by Marc Cucurella was not given as a penalty. Italian media and fans have been vocal in criticizing Taylor's performance, citing past incidents and even backing Jose Mourinho's outburst against Taylor in a previous Europa League Final. Refereeing pundits have also pointed out the clearness of the handball, calling for the implementation of VAR in crucial matches like these.
Amidst controversy and criticism, Anthony Taylor has been assigned to referee the highly anticipated match between Liverpool and Manchester United this weekend. As a supporter of National League club Altrincham, Taylor's appointment has raised concerns about potential bias given his birthplace in Greater Manchester. However, those close to him praise his dedication to non-League football and emphasize that he should be praised rather than criticized. With this being Taylor's fourth time to referee a match between the two rivals, the debate around his appointment continues to escalate, sparking discussions around the safety and pressure that referees face in high-profile games. Despite the controversy, there is a consensus that Taylor is a competent and highly respected referee, making his upcoming performance one to watch.