Antonin Panenka reflects on his revolutionary penalty kick that won the 1976 European Championship for Czechoslovakia against West Germany. The audacious chip down the middle, which humiliated goalkeeper Sepp Maier, has become a legendary move in football, with Panenka expressing pride and amusement at its continued use, though lamenting the lack of royalties.
Luka Modric's nearly two-decade career with Croatia, marked by a pivotal 2006 qualifier against England, has seen him become a constant in a transforming national team. Despite Croatia's fluctuating fortunes, Modric's leadership and mentality have been key to their success, including a memorable 2018 World Cup semi-final win over England.
Russian canoeist Sergey Svinarev won a gold medal at the European Championships in Portugal, finishing the 200-meter race in 38.279 seconds. Spain's Pablo Grana took silver, and Belarus's Alexander Zubok secured bronze. Russian athletes are competing under a neutral flag.
Christian Eriksen collapsed during a friendly match against Ukraine, was conscious when taken off, and is 'doing well' according to Denmark's football federation. His implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) responded appropriately.
The Ironman European Championship in Hamburg on Sunday will lead to significant road closures affecting traffic and public transport. Major routes for the cycling and running events will be blocked from early morning until late evening, with limited access to the main train station and disruptions on S-Bahn and U-Bahn lines.
For the first time in 28 years, Scotland fans will attend the World Cup, bringing their renowned passion and vibrant atmosphere. Despite the team's historical performance, around 200,000 supporters garnered praise at Euro 2024 for their contribution to the atmosphere.
The Turkish Women's and Men's National Volleyball Teams will compete in the European Championship organized by the Turkish Volleyball Federation. The women's team will face Greece, Algeria, Kosovo, and North Macedonia in Group B, while the men's team will play against Syria and Tunisia in the same group. The tournament will take place in Taranto, Italy, from August 21 to September 3.
Russian gymnasts won the most medals at the European Championships in Varna, Bulgaria, securing 9 awards including 2 gold. Federation President Andrey Guryev praised their "true Russian character" and representation of the country.
Ukrainian karateka Andriy Zaplitny refused to take a joint photo with Russian opponent Ernest Sharafutdinov at the European Championships in Frankfurt. Both athletes won bronze medals in the under 75kg category.
Uefa introduces a new qualifying format for men’s World Cup and European Championship, effective post-Euro 2028, featuring larger groups based on Nations League rankings to reduce mismatches and enhance competitiveness.
Millie Bright has announced her immediate retirement from football at age 32, ending a distinguished career with Chelsea where she won 8 WSL titles and 6 Women's FA Cups. The defender, who won 88 caps for England including leading the team to the 2022 Euro win and 2023 World Cup final, will stay at Chelsea as a foundation trustee and ambassador. She made 314 appearances for the Blues since joining in 2014, helping them lift 20 trophies.
Four-time British champion Jess Warner-Judd tells BBC Sport that the London Marathon 2026 represents a 'second chance' at running after she suffered a seizure during the 2024 European Championship 10,000m final, which led to a later epilepsy diagnosis.
Jessica Warner-Judd, Britain's third-fastest female 10,000m runner, suffered a focal seizure with 600m to go at the 2024 European Championships in Rome, collapsing on the track and being sedated. After battling depression, autism diagnosis, and a subconscious trauma response that prevented her from racing fast, the 31-year-old underwent trauma therapy and made a stunning marathon debut in New York (2:24:45). She now prepares to run in Sunday's London Marathon with her sights set on the Los Angeles Olympics.
British runner Jessica Warner-Judd is set to compete in the London Marathon after a remarkable recovery from a focal seizure during the 10,000m at the 2024 European Championships in Rome. The 31-year-old, who collapsed with 600m to go and was carried off and sedated, reveals she underwent trauma therapy, was diagnosed with depression and autism, and feared she would never run again. She now works up to 20 hours a week at Booth's deli counter while targeting the Los Angeles Olympics.
British runner Jess Warner-Judd will make her London Marathon debut on Sunday, 14 years after winning the Mini London Marathon, in a remarkable comeback story. The 31-year-old collapsed during the 2024 European Championships 10,000m final in Rome, suffering a seizure caused by undiagnosed focal epilepsy. After a year of therapy and with her condition now controlled by medication, Warner-Judd feared her running career was over but has recovered to compete in the marathon near her hometown of Canvey Island, Essex.
Jess Warner-Judd, a 31-year-old British long-distance runner, will make her London Marathon debut in 2026 after collapsing during the European Championship 10,000m final at Stadio Olimpico in Rome in June 2024, suffering a seizure caused by undiagnosed focal epilepsy. The athlete, who had placed eighth in the world over 10,000m less than 10 months earlier, required a year of therapy to process her trauma and feared her running career might be over.
UEFA is considering an adapted Nations League format to revamp men's European Championship qualifiers after Euro 2028. Plans were presented to UEFA's national team competitions committee, with a final decision expected in Istanbul before next month's Europa League final. The proposed format, similar to women's World Cup qualifying, would group similarly-ranked teams to ensure top nations face each other. However, lower-ranked countries risk feeling sidelined, and consensus across European federations may be difficult to achieve.
Gheorghe Hagi has been appointed manager of the Romanian national team for the second time, replacing the late Mircea Lucescu. The 61-year-old former Barcelona midfielder, nicknamed the 'Maradona of the Carpathians', has signed a four-year contract with ambitions to win the Nations League and qualify for Euro 2028. This marks his return to the role over two decades after a brief stint in 2001.
