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Poland hire new coach after Lewandowski fallout

Jan Urban has been appointed as the coach of Poland, the country’s football association (PZPN) said on Wednesday, with the 63-year-old replacing Michal Probierz. Probierz resigned in June following a row over his decision to replace Robert Lewandowski as captain. Urban becomes Poland’s fifth coach since 2021, with Probierz lasting the longest having taken charge of 21 games before the fall-out from his captaincy choice which led to Lewandowski refusing…

Henderson joins Brentford on two-year contract

Jordan Henderson has signed for Brentford on a two-year contract after leaving Ajax on a free transfer. Brentford coach Keith Andrews highlighted the 35-year-old’s experience as a key factor in the decision to sign him. “When we became aware of Jordan’s availability, it was a pretty simple decision,” Andrews said. “We did our due diligence around his recent games to see where he is: he’s still phenomenally fit and he’s…

How Norway’s nine-tournament wonder Mjelde overcame injury to reach Euro 2025

ZURICH — Maren Mjelde had sung Norway’s anthem 180 times before, but as she lined up for her country’s Euro 2025 opener against hosts Switzerland on July 2, this rendition of “Ja, vi elsker dette landet” (Yes, We Love This Country) was poignant. It marked her ninth major tournament, but also provided a moment of self-gratification. Just three months previous, the 35-year-old defender had suffered a partial tear of her…

Euro 2025 group games draw record crowds

The group stage of the Women’s European Championship which finished on Sunday had record-breaking attendances with close to half a million fans attending games, and 22 of the 24 of them sold out. As well as 461,582 fans attending matches, there were several individual game records as well, according to European football’s governing body UEFA. The Germany vs. Denmark match in Basel drew 34,165 fans, which was the highest attendance…

Club World Cup triumph shows Chelsea can win the Premier League

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Chelsea have “won it all,” but can the newly crowned world champions now win the Premier League? As Enzo Maresca’s team head back to London with a shiny new cup to place in the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet, big Club World Cup performers such as Cole Palmer, João Pedro and Moisés Caicedo need to start turning their thoughts to domestic challenges. Sunday’s success in becoming first…

Wrexham’s Australia-NZ tour diary: Will back-to-back-to-back promotions catch up with them?

Wrexham are touring Australia and New Zealand for the very first time. While the Championship awaits the Welsh side in 2025-26, they will first have to play three A-League clubs across three cities on their preseason tour. ESPN will be with them every step of the way as Phil Parkinson, Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac & Co. plot their path to the Premier League. SYDNEY, Australia –When you secure historic back-to-back-to-back…

FIFA, players agree to mandatory rest periods

Football’s player unions have secured an apparent victory in their battle for mandatory rest periods after a meeting in New York between FIFA president Gianni Infantino and senior figures from global player unions resulted in an agreement on the need for standardized player breaks. Amid concerns of player burnout, players’ groups had demanded action on player welfare following FIFA’s decision to stage this summer’s inaugural 32-team Club World Cup during…

Wrexham’s Australia-NZ tour diary: How did they break ‘No Sherrin Rule’, and what is it?

Wrexham are touring Australia and New Zealand for the very first time. While the Championship awaits the Welsh side in 2025-26, they will first have to play three A-League clubs across three cities on their preseason tour. ESPN will be with them every step of the way as Phil Parkinson, Ryan Reynolds, Rob Mac & Co. plot their path to the Premier League. MELBOURNE, Australia — After a week in…

Club World Cup final: How Chelsea, PSG compare; who will win?

It’s the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday, and Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea will battle it out at MetLife Stadium for the honor of becoming the first winner of the 32-team tournament. After a monthlong competition in the United States, which has at times been overshadowed by low attendance, weather-enforced delays and extreme heat, as well as the pre-tournament concerns of player burnout, either UEFA Champions League winners PSG…

Palace out of Europa League amid Lyon conflict

Crystal Palace have been demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) ruled the Premier League club was too closely linked to Lyon. Palace are now expected to take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, as has been the case with the other clubs excluded this summer. Nottingham Forest, who were due to enter the Conference League in the…