Off Topic Non-Sunderland games

Should be a good game either way. Again, a couple of good clubs back in a final. I remember Olympiakos being CL not so long ago

 

Class from Lookmans dad there. Really genuine

 

19:30
VFL Bochum v Fortuna Dusseldorf
Bundesliga Relegation Play-Off 1st Leg
Sky Sports Football

19:45
Cagliari v Fiorentina
Serie A
TNT Sports 2

20:00
Raith Rovers v Ross County
Scottish Premiership Play-Off Final 1st Leg
Sky Sports Mix

Thursday night meal with the Mrs so won't catch any of these.

 

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'Just the beginning' - Atalanta hat-trick hero Lookman eyes more glory nights

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4nnmwgpkd0o

Ademola Lookman etched himself into Atalanta folklore with a Europa League final hat-trick that he says didn’t catch him by surprise – although boss Gian Piero Gasperini admitted nobody could have expected his progress.

The London-born Nigeria winger became only the sixth player to score a hat-trick in a European final - the first since Jupp Heynckes for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1975 Uefa Cup - with all three goals in the Italian side's win over Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin.

That is the Bayer Leverkusen side led by Xabi Alonso, which had not lost a single game of football for 361 days.

Lookman, 26, had never managed double figures in a season for Charlton, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham or Leicester.

After this treble the former England Under-21 winger, who now represents Nigeria at international level, has netted 15 goals in each of his two seasons with Atalanta.

Gasperini said: "We had a senior manager at Atalanta [Lee Congerton] who had worked at Leicester, who saw the opportunity to bring him in and thought he was a possible useful player.

"Nobody could ever imagine he'd could make this much progress. He wasn't overly prolific in England. I changed his position to a more attacking role.

"Tonight he achieved something which will remain in the annals of football history - a stunning hat-trick."

Lookman was asked afterwards if he could have imagined this growing up in Wandsworth and when he started out at Charlton's academy.

"Probably, yeah," he replied. "I've always had the confidence in my ability.

"In the past two years I've been able to take my game to a new level and show it on a more consistent basis.

"Maybe it could have come earlier but it's come now. I'm pleased with the progress I've made but this is just the beginning. I hope for more nights like this."


Immediately after the final whistle Lookman told TNT Sports "it's one of the best nights of my life". Perhaps understated.

A Dublin party was "100%" planned, he added. "We've got to celebrate, we made history tonight."

Lookman joined Gasperini's post-match news conference midway through and after the manager had left he spoke about the role he has had in his career.

"The past few years, the club and coach have supported me in terms of giving me minutes… it's helped me elevate my game to a new level," he added.

"The first few conversations we had, made me look at football a bit differently. It made it simpler in my mind in terms of what he expected from me.

"It made me look at, and play, my game in a different light. I'm very grateful to him."

Lookman laughed when an Italian journalist claimed a street may be named after him in Bergamo one day.

The forward is one of about 120,000 people who live in the northern Italian city close to Milan.

"I feel the support from the fans from the first minute I was in Bergamo," he added. "The city of Bergamo gives me a sense of calmness. It's a very calm, relaxed city and that has helped me a lot with my living style. I'm focused on the important things.

Lookman's mentor and coach of former youth side Waterloo, Felix Emanus, also spoke to TNT Sports after the game.

"I really can't tell you my emotions - sky high," he said. "We've been dreaming about this for a long time, since Ade was a kid at Waterloo. Tonight was a dream come true.

"I cried when the third goal went in. I'm so happy for Ade. He works so hard, quiet lad. Sometimes misunderstood because of his quietness but he's a great kid. Wants to learn, wants to always get better and wants to reach the top."

 

Cagliari 0-1 Fiorentina - half time

 

Fiorentina were 2-1 down going into the 89th minute. Equalised and then scored a winning penalty 13 minutes into stoppage time, that qualified them for Europe Unbelievable.

 

18:30
Portugal U17 v England U17
UEFA Under-17 Championship Group Stage
BBC Red Button BBC iPlayer BBC Sport Website

19:45
Genoa v Bologna
Serie A
TNT Sports 3

20:00
Girona v Granada
La Liga
Premier Sports 1 LA LIGA TV

This was why Rigg was withdrawn from the U21 game.

England expects.

 

Oooooppppssss

 

Jobe called up to the England 'Elite' squad. Formerly the u20s

https://x.com/England/status/1793952584086024576?t=hbDf8m4IZYbzxx7tE1bzVA&s=19

 

Rigg captain for the u17s

 

This club just keeps getting better

 

1830 on Iplayer and bbc red button (as per @Blond Bombshells thread)

 

Transport police will have an easy day tomorrow, with City fans going south and Reds fans heading north.

 

Get in, equaliser from Moore. 3rd goal for him in 2 games. England need to wake up a bit

 

Certainly do, as captain Rigg needs to be more vocal imo.

 

Hes played a few nice passes but hasn't really dominated the midfield and stamped his authority on othe game

Feck 2-1

 

3-1. We've been a bit timid here, have really got close to them. Shame after a great win the other night.

 

4-1. Riggy subbed off. Could be 5 or 6 this if we aren't careful, they could run a bus straight through the middle of us.

 

He looked knackered tbh, has played quite a lot of football recently.

 

Which the commentator seemed to think was a bad thing playing for a 'lower league club'. I think he was saying that England should be playing more Man City kids who haven't played any men's footy, which I found a bit odd.