Ronaldo caps dream year with fourth Ballon d'Or

PARIS, France -- Cristiano Ronaldo called it "a dream come true again" as he won his fourth Ballon d'Or on Monday to get one over his nemesis Lionel Messi for the title of best player in the world.

It was the perfect ending to another fantastic year for the Real Madrid star, who won the Champions League for the second time in three seasons and then led Portugal to their first major title at Euro 2016 -- albeit he went off early injured and in tears in the surprise victory over France.

As has been the case for almost a decade now, the 31-year-old's main rival was Messi -- but the Barcelona and Argentine maestro had to relinquish the crown after a less-than-stellar year for club and country by his lofty standards.

Ronaldo is now one Ballon d'Or behind Messi, who was second this time with French striker Antoine Griezmann third.

Never one to play down his achievements, Ronaldo was spotted midweek in training having dyed his hair gold in anticipation and several media outlets published a photo earlier on Monday appearing to confirm he was the winner, before organisers France Football magazine made the official announcement.

"For me it's a great honour to receive my fourth Ballon d'Or. The emotion is like the first one -- it's a dream come true again," Ronaldo, who is at the Club World Cup in Japan, told L'Equipe TV.

"I never thought in my mind to win four times the Ballon d'Or, I'm so pleased and so happy.

"I have to thank all my team-mates, the national team, Real Madrid, all the people, the players who helped me to win this individual trophy.

"I want to enjoy this moment because it's not easy to win this."

Fourth was Luis Suarez and fifth his fellow Barcelona attacker Neymar, with Ronaldo's Welsh team-mate Gareth Bale sixth.

- 'Sensational year' -

Ronaldo was the firm favourite to win, but the prestigious prize comes at a time when the prolific forward has generated negative headlines in the past week over accusations of tax evasion.

Denying any wrongdoing, he responded by publishing his financial records last week, showing last year he earned a whopping 227 million euros ($240 million).

"You believe I am worried? He who owes nothing, fears nothing," Ronaldo told broadcaster RTP at the time.

Ronaldo, the highest-paid sportsman in the world, first won the Ballon d'Or in 2008 after Premier League and Champions League triumphs with Manchester United.

But it was only in 2013 that he added his second -- Messi had hogged it before then -- and Ronaldo made it a hat-trick the following year.

United were quick to offer their congratulations on Twitter, calling a fourth Ballon d'Or "incredible".

Real said Ronaldo, who last month signed a bumper new five-year contract, had enjoyed "a sensational year".

The first Ballon d'Or was won by Stanley Matthews, at the time with Blackpool, who beat Alfredo Di Stefano for the inaugural title in 1956.

The Ballon d'Or is decided by a vote of 173 journalists.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Portugal stuns France to win Euro 2016

PARIS - Portugal found an unlikely hero as Eder's thunderous finish deep into extra time secured their first European Championship title after they overcame the early loss of Cristiano Ronaldo to snatch a 1-0 victory over hosts France on Sunday.

The substitute picked the perfect time to score his first competitive goal for his country, marauding forward before letting fly with a bullet shot from 25 metres in the 109th minute.

It was a magic moment for the 28-year-old, who plays for French club Lille after a largely unglamorous career, and a cruel blow for France and their coach Didier Deschamps.

His side had dominated the match, but squandered a number of chances, in front of their devastated home support, who arrived at the Stade de France hoping to celebrate a third European crown.

The trophy was lifted triumphantly by Portugal captain Ronaldo, who broke down in tears at the final whistle after his own game had come to a frustrating end after 24 minutes when he was carried off the pitch on a stretcher with a knee injury.

The script had been written for him to produce a performance to match his status as one of the game's greats, but he had to settle for a back-stage role after Dimitri Payet's challenge left him in a heap on the floor.

So much of the build-up had focused on Ronaldo and his hopes of crowning a glittering career with the only achievement missing from his CV, a piece of international silverware.

That was achieved, but, with Eder stealing the limelight and his own role reduced to that of a cajoling cheerleader, it was probably not how Ronaldo would have envisaged his evening panning out.

Yet having been part of the Portugal side that were stunned in the final as hosts by Greece in 2004, he celebrated wildly with his team mates as ticker tape rained down from the rafters.

"This is one of the happiest moments in my career," he said. "I've always said I wanted to win a trophy with the national team and make history. And I did it. Thank God, things went well for us."

Coach Fernando Santos, whose side had won only one match inside 90 minutes out of seven at the tournament, hailed a perfectly executed tactical display.

"We were as simple as doves and as wise as serpents," he said.

"Wherever we've gone there have always been Portuguese fans. This lifted our souls. It's hard to describe the players' emotions -- it's incredible."

DEBILITATING DEFEAT

For France it was a debilitating defeat after they had come into the match as heavy favourites and hoping to lift the spirits of a nation still recovering from last November's attacks in Paris.

"We missed a chance, maybe not a unique chance, but a great chance to become European champions," Deschamps said.

"Our disappointment is immense and will take time to digest. We won together, we suffered together and we lost together. It would have been magnificent to offer this trophy to our supporters, here at home."

For the much of the match, there had looked like being only one winner as France began with early attacking intent, fuelled by the bullish presence and charging runs of Moussa Sissoko in midfield.

His 34th-minute shot was well-parried by Portugal keeper Rui Patricio, but by that point the match had settled into a pattern of France probing and pushing but struggling to break down their more defensively-minded opponents.

Without Ronaldo, Portugal seemed in no hurry to rush the ball forward, happy to see the game descend into a cagey, tactical battle.

They had a scare, however, in the 67th minute when Kingsley Coman's cross found Antoine Griezmann unmarked six metres from goal, only for the tournament's top scorer to head a golden opportunity over.

Minutes later, Olivier Giroud, fed by sprightly substitute Coman, forced a diving save from Patricio, who then parried away a pile-driver from Sissoko as France turned the screw.

France's best chance of the night arrived in stoppage time when substitute Andre-Pierre Gignac turned his marker inside out before scuffing a shot past the keeper and against the post, with the ball bouncing across the face of goal and then out of harm's way.

While Portugal continued to sit back in extra time, they had the better chances with Eder's header parried by Hugo Lloris and Raphael Guerreiro striking the crossbar with a free kick before Eder's moment of magic.

(Editing by Ed Osmond/Greg Stutchbury)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Soccer mad Germans declare sympathy for France before Euro clash

BERLIN - Germans appear to be tempering characteristic ambition to win the day in a Euro 2016 clash against France with higher sympathies for a core European partner hit by economic travails and militant attacks.

Thursday's soccer match decides who will qualify for next weekend's final at the Paris Stade de France, one of the targets of Nov. 13 attacks that shook Europe.

In an editorial on Tuesday entitled "Allez, allez", the Sueddeutsche Zeitung wrote how France needed to beat Germany.

"Of course there is more at stake than football. France is feeling its economic weakness and it must look on enviously as the whole of Europe becomes more German," it wrote.

"A victory over Germany would be far more than a game won. It would be an act of liberation... A strengthened France helps Europe and the Germans."

The match, in Marseille, is all the more poignant because of the Nov. 13 attacks when the two teams played out their friendly match at the Stade de France despite audible bomb blasts nearby.

Bombers and gunmen murdered 130 people in Paris and shaken German players who spent the night holed up at the Stade de France have since spoken of feeling close to the France team.

Top-selling Bild daily combined headlines about how Germany would win the match with a comment from Franz Josef Wagner saying he had two hearts in his chest. One beat for Germany while the other embraced croissants and Brigitte Bardot.

"One heart says France has suffered enough, so many dead from terrorism, the economy is in decline, 10 percent unemployment. France needs some solace," he said.

Berlin's Tagesspiegel said the two teams symbolized the core EU values of solidarity and peace in the face of Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

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'Dragon-slayer' Ronaldo shatters Wales big night

LYON -- Cristiano Ronaldo became the "Dragon-slayer" as his record-equaling ninth European Championship goal helped power Portugal past Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bales' Wales and into the Euro 2016 final.

Ronaldo brilliantly rose above the Wales' defense to score his country's first goal in the 2-0 win in front of 50,000 fans in the Stade de Lyon on Wednesday.

Nani deflected the Portugal hero's shot for the decisive second goal that saw their country into Sunday's final against tournament hosts France or world champions Germany.

Ronaldo and Bale had not spoken in the tournament before Wednesday's match. With victory sealed, Ronaldo embraced his club teammate at the end.

"The team did a marvelous job to reach the final. I hope on Sunday you'll see me crying with joy," said Ronaldo, who as a 19-year-old wept on the pitch after Portugal lost 1-0 to Greece as hosts of the Euro 2004 final.

"I have always dreamed of winning for Portugal -- I hope it is our time now.

"I am very confident. I deserve it, Portugal deserves it, all the Portuguese people deserve it."

Bale paid tribute to the three-time world player of the year with whom he has not always had an easy relationship in Madrid.

"He's a natural goal-scorer and he scored yet again," said Bale. "We're obviously massively disappointed. We've got to be proud of ourselves first and foremost."

Amazing run

"We gave everything, we have no regrets," he added, predicting Wales would be a force in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"We've given everything, on the pitch, off the pitch," Bale said of Wales stunning campaign in their first major tournament since 1958 when it took a Pele goal to beat them in the World Cup quarter final.

British media called the 31-year-old Ronaldo the "Dragon-slayer" as they recounted how the sharpshooter had stunned Welsh fans brandishing flags and t-shirts with the national red dragon symbol.

Bale had the better of the first half showing off his pace and power to threaten the Portuguese goal.

But five minutes into the second period, Raphael Guerreiro curled a cross to the back post and Ronaldo leapt above James Chester to head past Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey.

Three minutes later, Nani, who has just completed a move from Turkey's Fenerbahce to Valencia in Spain, instinctively pushed out his leg to deflect a Ronaldo shot past Hennessy.

Tens of thousands of fans celebrated in Lisbon's Praca do Comercio. Heads dropped in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

Ronaldo said he had congratulated Bale on Wales' "amazing run."

"They were the revelation team. I wished him good luck and as for the rest (of the conversation) I'd rather not say."

Ronaldo is desperate to win on Sunday at the Stade de France in what could be his last big chance of winning a Euro or world title.

Portugal did not win a match in regulation 90 minutes before the semi-final.

"Maybe it didn't start as we wanted, but this is not a 100 metre dash, it is a marathon," said the captain.

'My flag, my fatherland'

Portugal coach Fernando Santos, 61, said the final will be the highlight of his long and much-traveled career.

Santos said he would be closely analyzing Thursday's game between France and Germany for potential weaknesses.

"It is my country, my flag, my fatherland, so from a personal point of view it is very important for me.

"Two very strong teams face off tomorrow. I will watch the game very attentively to analyse our opponent."

Germany were boosted ahead of the Marseille game by the news that captain Bastian Schweinsteiger had recovered from injury and would start the match.

But they will still be missing centre-back Mats Hummels through suspension and striker Mario Gomez and midfielder Sami Khedira through injury.

France, like Portugal, have become stronger as the tournament has progressed and hammered Iceland 5-2 in the quarter-final while Germany needed a penalty shootout to beat Italy.

There is an air of revenge for France, whose fans have never forgotten a 1982 defeat in a World Cup semi-final when Patrick Battiston suffered serious injuries.

French coach Didier Deschamps wants a win to end a run of three defeats in major competitions -- including 1982 -- against their neighbours and rivals.

"We can't change past history, but we've got our own page to write," said Deschamps. "We're facing the best team in the world, but the lads have to believe."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Iceland stun England as Euro dream continues

NICE, France - Iceland pulled off one of the biggest shocks in European Championship history when they stunned abject England 2-1 on Monday, leading Roy Hodgson to quit and sending the tiny nation into a quarter-final against hosts France.

Although the soccer pedigrees of the two countries could not be more different, Iceland looked the better team in just about every aspect of the game and fully deserved to extend their dream run on their first tournament appearance.

After falling behind to a fourth-minute Wayne Rooney penalty they levelled almost immediately through Ragnar Sigurdsson and struck again in the 18th with a shot by Kolbeinn Sigthorsson.

A ponderous England never looked remotely capable of finding a way back into the game and even at the end when they were reduced to launching long balls into the box, Iceland dealt with everything comfortably.

"It feels fantastic to come here as an underdog and perform in this way," said Iceland joint-coach Lars Lagerback, who also claimed two wins and four draws against England in his days as Sweden manager.

Pundits were quick to rank England's defeat alongside that against the amateurs of the United States in the 1950 World Cup but such a judgement conveniently overlooks the progress the Icelanders have made in recent seasons, not least in beating the Netherlands home and away to get to France in the first place.

It also fails to take into account England's miserable European Championship record, where they have won only one knockout match, on penalties at home to Spain in 1996.

Hodgson, who steered the team to 10 straight wins in qualifying, duly became the latest in a long line of England managers to fall on his sword after a failure to get to the business end when it really matters.

"Now is the time for someone else to oversee the progress of a hungry and extremely talented group of players," Hodgson said, reading a prepared statement.

"They have done fantastically, and done everything asked of them," he added in a bizarre account of yet another failure to perform at a major tournament.

Hodgson, 68, then refused to take further questions

SHORT LEAD

It all looked so different for England at the start when Raheem Sterling was hauled down by keeper Hannes Halldorsson, allowing Rooney to smash them ahead from the penalty spot on his 115th appearance, matching David Beckham's outfield record.

The lead lasted less than two minutes, though, as Iceland, scored via an Aron Gunnarsson long throw, just as they had predicted. It was flicked on by Kari Arnason to an unmarked Ragnar Sigurdsson to sweep home.

If England's defending was bad for that goal it was disastrous for the second as Iceland were allowed time and space on the edge of the box to set up Sigthorsson for a low shot that Joe Hart should have saved but merely took the power off as it rolled over the line.

England looked shell-shocked and spent the rest of the half struggling to make any inroads, their front men and attacking midfielders static, and were booed off by their own fans.

England threw on midfielder Jack Wilshere for the second half and then striker Jamie Vardy but the team's passing was awful and their movement sluggish.

Harry Kane, the Premier League's leading scorer last season, summed up the poor quality on show when he took three free kicks and launched each one high into the stands without a team mate even close to connecting with the ball.

The final whistle produced extraordinary scenes as the entire Iceland squad and coaches sprinted to the corner of the pitch to celebrate ecstatically with their fans.

They can now look forward to facing France with the prize for the winner being a semi-final against Germany or Italy.

"Everyone started to run towards the fans so I did that too and then I flipped out completely," said Ragnar Sigurdsson.

"This is the biggest thing everyone in the squad has experienced. I don't know how big it is, but it's damn big."

In contrast England's players sank to the turf in despair, with a deluge of jeers, boos and whistles raining down from the fans all around them, finally being encouraged to leave the pitch to a chant of "You're not fit to wear the shirt."

(Editing by Ken Ferris)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Messi retires from international football

EAST RUTHERFORD --Lionel Messi sensationally announced his retirement from international football here Sunday after Argentina crashed to an upset defeat against Chile in the final of the Copa America.

The heartbroken Barcelona superstar was distraught after missing a spot-kick as Chile snatched victory in a penalty shoot-out -- Messi's fourth straight defeat in a major final while representing Argentina.

"For me the national team is over," the crestfallen 29-year-old told reporters.

"I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion.

"It's a hard moment for me and the team, and it's difficult to say, but it's over with the Argentina team."

Messi's dramatic announcement followed Argentina's third loss in a major final since 2014.

They were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final of the World Cup in 2014 and lost on penalties, also to Chile, in the final of the 2015 Copa America.

Messi also tasted defeat with Argentina in the final of the 2007 Copa America.

Despite a glittering career that has seen him be named FIFA World Player of the Year on no fewer than five occasions, Messi has often faced baffling criticism from Argentina fans.

Although universally regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever, he has regularly been criticised for his failure to land a major title in the colours of Argentina.

Messi's failure to match the achievements in the Argentina jersey of Diego Maradona, who single-handedly carried the team to victory in the 1986 World Cup, has often been held against him.

Maradona himself has often taken potshots at Messi, criticizing him on the eve of the tournament for a perceived "lack of personality."

"He's a really good person, but he has no personality," Maradona said in Paris shortly before the start of Euro 2016.

"He lacks the character to be a leader."

Messi's bombshell decision comes after a gruelling season which was disrupted by injury last year.

He recovered to help Barcelona win the Spanish title once more and was relishing the prospect of leading Argentina to glory in the Copa America Centenario.

His commitment to playing for Argentina was reflected in his decision to fly from Spain to Argentina for a low-key friendly against Honduras shortly before the tournament, where he suffered a back injury.

He then returned to Spain to give evidence at his trial for tax fraud before jetting off to the United States to join up with his Argentina team-mates.

Although he was injured for his team's opening group game against Chile, he came on as a substitute in a 5-0 hammering of Panama to score a hat-trick in 19 minutes.

He then equalled Argentina's international goalscoring record of 54, held by Gabriel Batistuta, in the quarter-finals before setting a new mark with his 55th international goal in the semi-final win over the United States.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Ronaldo and Portugal grab quarters place at Euro 2016

LENS, France -- Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal snatched a place in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016 on Saturday as the Real Madrid superstar's parried shot was headed into a gaping net by Ricardo Quaresma to defeat Croatia late in extra-time.

The 1-0 win in a game which only burst into life in the final minutes in Lens earned Ronaldo's side a quarter-final meeting with Poland in Marseille on Thursday.

After scraping through their group without a single victory, Portugal's star power finally shone through just as the match seemed to be heading for penalties.

"The best team doesn't always win and that happened tonight," Croatia coach Ante Cacic said.

Poland progressed to the quarter-finals of a Euros for the first time by beating Switzerland in a penalty shootout in Saint-Etienne, delighting celebrity fan Russell Crowe.

Arsenal-bound Granit Xhaka's wild and wide spot kick cost the Swiss dear as the Poles were a perfect five from five from the spot.

"POL!!! Final 8!!!" tweeted "Gladiator" star Crowe, who has taken this rugged Polish team and swashbuckling winger Jakob Blaszczykowski to his heart.

- Post-Brexit clash -

Ronaldo's Real Madrid teammate Gareth Bale failed to score for Wales in a post-Brexit all-British clash against Northern Ireland, but his cross was deflected into his own net by Gareth McAuley for the decisive goal.

The 1-0 win at a raucous Parc des Princes in Paris was probably the dullest game of the tournament so far, but Bale said Wales could not care less as they reached the last eight of a major tournament for the first time since the 1958 World cup.

"It's an ugly win but who cares," said Bale.

"You can't ask for any more. It's incredible."

Wales will face Belgium or Hungary in Lille on Friday for a place in the semi-finals.

In Lens, a Croatia team that has played some of the most attractive football of the finals failed to find a way past the Portuguese defence.

Ronaldo was muzzled for the vast majority of a dull encounter that became the first match in Euros history in which neither team managed a shot on target during the regulation 90 minutes.

Domagoj Vida had a golden chance to settle the game for Croatia but headed wide after Portuguese goalkeeper Rui Patricio failed to collect a corner.

However, Patricio saved his country seconds later when he turned Ivan Perisic's header onto the post.

Portugal then snatched their first victory of the tournament at the death as Quaresma was perfectly positioned to head in after Subasic saved Ronaldo's low shot.

A jubilant Quaresma sprinted to the corner flag where he disappeared under a heap of celebrating teammates.

- Goal of the tournament -
At Saint-Etienne's Stade Geoffrey Guichard, Blaszczykowski opened the scoring for Poland but Switzerland drew level in spectacular style with Xherdan Shaqiri's bicycle kick, a potential goal of the tournament.

When the teams could not be separated in extra-time, it was Xhaka who cracked first in the penalty shootout, blasting well wide with Switzerland's second spot kick.

The Poles scored all five penalties, rounded off by Grzegorz Krychowiak's emphatic finish which put his nation into the quarter-finals of a major tournament for the first time since the 1982 World Cup.

"I'm delighted, it was a historic moment for us, because we are in the top eight in Europe," Blaszczykowski said.

After Crowe added his congratulations, European Union president Donald Tusk, who is Polish, shared his nation's joy, tweeting: "I have waited for this for so many years! My God I am happy!"

France's clash with the Republic of Ireland on Sunday, which evokes memories of Thierry Henry's infamous handball in a 2009 World Cup playoff, was given further edge with a row over tickets.

Ireland coach Martin O'Neill is angry because Irish fans received just 4,500 tickets for the match in the 59,000-capacity Stade de Lyon.

"It's totally disproportionate for a stadium of this size," O'Neill complained.

"For us, or any team that was going to be playing in the round of 16 here, to be allocated less that 5,000 tickets is, I think, pretty unfair, honestly."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Rooney hopes for 'special' Wembley moment

LONDON -- Having matched Bobby Charlton's England goal-scoring record against San Marino, Wayne Rooney plans to set a new mark in front of a home crowd against Switzerland at Wembley on Tuesday.

Rooney's penalty opener in Saturday's 6-0 win in San Marino, which secured a place at Euro 2016, was his 49th international goal and left him needing one more to become the first England player to reach a half-century.

Substituted mid-way through the second half in Serravalle, Rooney believes it will be more fitting if he breaks the record at Wembley, but admits that it is trophies, rather than personal milestones, that fire him.

"It would have been nice tonight (Saturday) as well, but to do it at Wembley would be a lot more special and hopefully on Tuesday I can do that," the Manchester United striker said.

"It was my 106th game and as much as I love playing for England and scoring goals, there would be nothing better than being successful with England and that's all any player wants to do.

"I'm sure the other lads are no different. It's the ultimate goal and if I don't, I'll be disappointed.

"Hopefully the young players in the future can, but it's the ultimate goal for me and that's what I want to do -– be successful with England."

Euro 2016 will be Rooney's sixth major championship with England and he knows that time is running out for him to atone for a litany of tournament disappointments by getting his hands on an international trophy.

The England captain will be 30 by the time England travel to France, but he fully intends to play on until the 2018 World Cup in Russia and potentially beyond.

"I still feel fine," he said. "I think I can go to Russia and then see how I feel, but that's not something I'm thinking about."

- Hodgson wants 'headaches' -

Manager Roy Hodgson wants his team to make sure of top spot in Group E -- a draw on Tuesday will suffice -- so that he can use England's remaining qualifiers against Estonia and Lithuania in October to experiment.

"Hopefully, one point on Tuesday night and we will have won the group as well," said Hodgson, whose side have won all six group games since beating Switzerland 2-0 in Basel in their first match.

"That would be nice to do that because, quite frankly, I don't think we would lose to Estonia and Lithuania with players like (Ross) Barkley, (Jonjo) Shelvey, (Nathaniel) Clyne, (Jamie) Vardy etc.

"It would be nice for me to say: 'Look, get out there, I'm trusting you, give me a few headaches because I'm resting these ones who have been playing all the time.' It would be a nice headache."

Hodgson praised Swansea City midfielder Shelvey for his display against San Marino, but said that Rooney's United team-mate Michael Carrick would take over in the midfield holding role against Switzerland.

In a previous job, Hodgson led Switzerland to the World Cup finals in 1994 -- the first time they had reached the tournament since 1966 -- and the country he once called home is hoping he might do them another favour.

Switzerland's qualification hopes looked in serious jeopardy after they fell 2-0 down at home to Slovenia on Saturday, but a stirring late fightback yielded a remarkable 3-2 victory that means they can secure at least a play-off place by winning at Wembley.

"We had a bit of luck, but we deserved to win," said coach Vladimir Petkovic, whose side prevailed courtesy of three goals in 14 minutes from Valentin Stocker and substitute Josip Drmic, whose brace included a 94th-minute winner.

"We said that, as a team, we wanted to stay together and be positive. I'm really proud of the team. It's not every day you manage to do something like this."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com