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Euro 2020 is in full swing, with some of Europe's biggest heavyweights currently involved in a battle for continental glory.

The likes of England, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Portugal and France have been named as tournament favourites and there is plenty left to play for as the knockout stage looms.

Goal has what you need to know about who is playing who and where to watch the Euro 2020 knockout stages from India.
 

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Which 16 teams qualified for Euro 2020 knockouts?

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What are the Euro 2020 last-16 fixtures?

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How to watch Euro 2020 on TV & live stream in India

In India, the Euros will be broadcast live on the Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN). It will be livestreamed on the SonyLIV app.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

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Who are the defending champions of Euro?

Portugal are defending title holders of the European Championship, having won the 2016 edition in what was their first tournament win.

They defeated host team France in the final of the competition at the Stade de France, Eder scoring in the dying minutes of stoppage time to clinch the 1-0 victory.

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Austria will be hoping to pull off an upset when they take on Italy in Saturday night's Euro 2020 last-16 clash at Wembley.

While few rated them among the pre-tournament favourites, Roberto Mancini’s side is now looking like a serious contender to lift this trophy for the first time since 1968.

Having become the first ever team to come through the group stages with three wins and three clean sheets under their belt, they will be confident of seeing off a nation celebrating its first ever appearance at this stage.

Although impressive in their 1-0 victory over Ukraine, Austria will surely struggle to find a way past an opposition defence that has now gone 11 games without conceding - letting in just seven goals in the 30 fixtures since their last defeat.

Here's how to watch Italy vs Austria in India.

Contents

What time does Italy vs Austria start?

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How to watch Italy vs Austria on TV & live stream in India

In India, the Euros will be broadcast live on the Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN). It will be livestreamed on the SonyLIV app.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

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Where will Italy vs Wales take place?

Wembley Stadium | London | England

Capacity: 54,990 |  reduced to 25% capacity, subject to increase
Games: Group stage, last 16, semi-finals & final (eight games)
Year built: 2007

With three Euro 2020 Group D games held here, Wembley  will host a total of eight matches at Euro 2020 including this fixture in the Round of 16, the semi-finals and the final.

The London venue was initially only supposed to host the semi-finals and final, but was assigned an extra four games following the exclusion of Brussels as a host city and another one when Dublin was removed as a host.

Rebuilt in 2007, it is one of the biggest football stadiums in the world and second only to Barcelona's Camp Nou in terms of Europe's biggest arenas.

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Italy vs Wales: Team news & stats

Giorgio Chiellini is unlikely to feature after suffering a hamstring injury in the final group game against Wales, while Alessandro Florenzi and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also doubtful.

Konrad Laimer and Christoph Baumgartner will both face late fitness tests after coming off injured against Ukraine.

Key stats:

David Alaba created nine chances in the group stages, at least four more than any other Austria player. Four of these came in Austria’s 1-0 win against Ukraine last time out.

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Further reading: 

The first Euro 2020 last-16 match takes place on Saturday evening when Wales and Denmark do battle at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.

After losing their opening game of Euro 2020 to minnows Finland in a match which was overshadowed by star playmaker Christian Eriksen suffering a cardiac arrest on the pitch, Denmark have shown remarkable mental fortitude to get to this point.

The 4-1 victory over Russia just a few days ago was one of the finest performances by any country in this tournament and that should give them plenty of confidence against a Wales team who have faced 16 shots on target already - the third-most in Euro 2020.

In contrast, Kasper Hjulmand’s men boast the most shots on target with 21 to their name - recording at least five in each Group A match.

Here's how to watch Wales vs Denmark in India.

Contents

What time does Wales vs Denmark start?

Return to top

How to watch Wales vs Denmark on TV & live stream in India

In India, the Euros will be broadcast live on the Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN). It will be livestreamed on the SonyLIV app.

Commentary will also be available in vernacular languages across India.

Return to top

Where will Wales vs Denmark take place?

Johan Cruyff Arena | Amsterdam | Netherlands

Capacity: 54,990 | reduced to 25% capacity, subject to increase
Games: Group stage & last 16 (four games)
Year built: 1996

The  Johan Cruyff Arena has played host to three matches in Group C and this Round of 16 match will be the last in these Euros.

Located in the Dutch capital Amsterdam, it is the home stadium of Eredivisie side Ajax and the Netherlands national team, who have been playing games at the venue since it opened in 1996.

The stadium is equipped with a retractable roof and previously hosted five matches at Euro 2000, as well as being the stage for the 1998 Champions League final.

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Wales vs Denmark: Team news & stats

Ethan Ampadu saw red against Italy and is suspended for this last-16 match, which means Rob Page could revert to a back-four or bring Chris Mepham back in after the Bournemouth man was an unused substitute against the Azzurri.

Christian Eriksen remains out for Denmark, who played the same starting eleven in each of their last two Group B games.

Key stats:

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg has three assists in his three games so far at EURO 2020, with no Denmark player recording more at a single edition of a World Cup or European Championship before.

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Further reading: 

Harry Kane has brushed aside the critics after going scoreless in England's first three Euro 2020 games, saying he's ready to perform in the knockout stage when it counts.

Kane was not at his best in the group stage, though England advanced as group winners by defeating Croatia and the Czech Republic and drawing Scotland. 

Gareth Southgate's side scored just two goals in those three matches, leading to criticism of the team's style as well as Kane's individual displays.

What was said?

“It’s definitely not the first time people have doubted me in my career, that’s for sure,” Kane said.

“That’s part and parcel of it. I’ve said all along as a striker that you go through some great spells where you are scoring every game and everything you touch turns into goals and then there are some where things don’t fall your way … and that’s probably the way it’s gone in this tournament so far.

“People are quick to change their minds. It wasn’t too long ago when I won the Golden Boot and I was the best thing in the world, people were raving about me.

"You can’t get too high or too low, you just have to have that neutral mode. Self-belief is a huge thing and I’ve always believed in myself. I could go 10, 15 games without scoring but, give me a chance, and I’d back myself to score it.

“It is about trying to peak at the right time and the right time in tournament football is the knockout stages."

What's next for England?

Kane will hope to be in top form by Tuesday, when England will host Germany at Wembley in a high-profile last-16 showdown.

England will be hoping for a reversal in fortunes from recent major tournament knockout stages, having been eliminated by Germany at the 1990 World Cup, Euro 96 and the 2010 World Cup.

Further reading

Red Bull Salzburg star Patson Daka has confirmed that he is set to join Leicester City after weeks of rumours surrounding his club future.

Daka has been linked to Tottenham and Liverpool in recent weeks, but Leicester have won the race to his signature after persuading the Zambian that they could offer him more first-team chances.

Salzburg are expected to receive a fee of around €30 million (£26m/$36m) for Daka, who is now set to embark on what he called a dream move.

What was said?

"I will go to England and move to Leicester City," the striker told Krone .

"I had a great time here, Salzburg has become my second home,” he added. "I will always be happy to come back here, but the Premier League has always been my big dream."

Daka's emergence in Austria

The 22-year-old striker has shown himself to be one of the most dynamic young attackers in Europe, having scored 27 goals in 28 matches as Salzburg claimed their fifth consecutive Austrian Bundesliga title last season.

Daka has been in Salzburg since joining the club in 2017, initially proving himself with the club's youth teams.

He went on to make his senior debut in August 2019, going on to score 68 goals for the club ever since.

Daka is now set to become the latest Salzburg starlet to make the leap to a bigger league, following the likes of Erling Haaland, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino.

Further reading

Juventus could be convinced to sell defender Merih Demiral this summer if another club were to meet their valuation of the Turkish centre-back.

Goal can confirm that Juve would be willing to consider offers of around €40 million (£35m/$48m) once the summer market opens.

Demiral's representatives recently met with those in charge at the club to express their hope that the defender would have a big role under new coach Massimiliano Allegri, but Juve are unwilling to guarantee that right now.

Demiral's time at Juventus

Demiral joined Juventus in July 2019, making the move to Turin after shining at Sassuolo.

Prior to his time there, he featured for Alanyaspor and Sporting CP's reserves after originally coming up through Fenerbahce's academy.

The 23-year-old Turkish international has featured just 32 times over his two seasons, having missed extensive time due to an ACL injury.

His role at Juventus, meanwhile, is far from guaranteed as he competes with the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Matthijs de Ligt for spots in central defence.

Internationally, Demiral has made 24 appearances for Turkey and was a member of the squad for this summer's Euros, where he was on the unfortunate end of an own goal against Italy to open up the tournament.

Turkey were eliminated after the group stage having lost all three of their matches.

Further reading

Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell are hoping to end their period of isolation early as they aim to be available for Tuesday's Euro 2020 last-16 mach against Germany.

The England pair have been forced into training alone at St George's Park and missed the last group game against Czech Republic after a post-game chat with Scotland's Billy Gilmour, who subsequently contracted Covid-19.

The Chelsea stars have had five Covid tests and are understood to be fit and ready to play, but only Mount is likely to start for Gareth Southgate if he can be released early from his quarantine.

What do their team-mates say?

Declan Rice, who is Mount's childhood friend, spoke about how his Three Lions colleague is handling the situation: "It's been really tough for him. He's had to isolate with Chilly. He's been in a room here at St George's for a couple of days.

"I've been speaking to him on WhatsApp and FaceTimed him a couple of times. It's important the lads check in and talk to them because they are still here, even though they are in their own rooms and not doing much they are still part of this squad and ready to have a massive impact in this tournament.

"So I think for me it's just like a normal day with Mase. I chat with him now and again. Tonight I'll probably speak to him again and hopefully get an update on whether he can come out and start to train again."

Rice joked that he had been lost without his close friend Mount around.

"[I am a] lost soul! To be fair a few of the lads come up to me and said 'you look lost' and I had a bit of banter - 'yeah I am!' He's been alright to be fair, hopefully, he's out in the next couple of days.

"I spoke to him yesterday, he tested negative again, I'm hoping he can be back with the group soon."

Who will line up for England?

There's talk of Southgate switching to a 3-4-3 formation in an effort to match Germany's system after a run of games playing with four at the back.

After a strong showing against the Czechs, Bukayo Saka and Jack Grealish have made a case to remain in the team even if Mount returns.

Raheem Sterling is England's only goalscorer at Euro 2020, while Phil Foden was rested in the last round.

Further reading

Ghanaian singer sensation Kuami Eugene is trending as fans of Hearts of Oak have vehemently opposed a proposed musical performance during the club’s home clash with arch-rivals Asante Kotoko in the Ghana Premier League on Sunday.

Notorious big rival in African football, the two sides are set to rekindle their rivalry in the matchday 31 fixture at the Accra Sports Stadium.

There will be more than pride to battle for between Ghana’s two biggest clubs as they currently sit tied on points at the top of the league table, with four more rounds of matches to go.

Having publicly declared a love for Kotoko, reigning Ghana Music Awards Artist of the Year, Eugene, a brand ambassador for Adonko Next Level Energy Drink who sponsor both clubs, has been proposed to entertain fans during the interval of Sunday’s fixture.

The proposal was reportedly made by the drink company.  

However, Hearts fans, including renowned Ghanaian Member of Parliament, Sam George, are having none of it as they have sworn to come in the way of the musician’s performance.

Below are the best reactions to the development:

The Premier League has announced that it will provide funding to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for thousands of grassroots football clubs and facilities as the league aims to save lives of those experiencing cardiac arrest.

The use of defibrillators has become a talking point in recent weeks after one was used to help save the like of Denmark star Christian Eriksen, who was recently discharged from the hospital following a successful operation less than a week after he suffered cardiac arrest during his country's Euro 2020 opener.

And now the Premier League has partnered with the Football Foundation and The Football Association to begin the first phase of the Premier League Defibrillator Fund rollout.

What is happening?

As part of the first phase, the league will ensure that AEDs are provided to Football Foundation-funded facilities that are currently operating without a device onsite.

In phase two, grassroots clubs that own their facilities will be able to apply for funding to purchase a defibrillator of their own.

In total, the league says that more than 2,000 sites will benefit from this new program with the first 1,000 units delivered in time for the start of the 2021-22 season.

The second batch, meanwhile, won't be far behind as it is expected to arrive in September, with the two phases giving access to roughly 1.5 million people that use those facilities.

What was said?

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “The traumatic incident we all witnessed when Christian Eriksen collapsed during UEFA Euro 2020 brings into sharp focus the need for defibrillators to be more widely available across the football community.

“The welfare of participants and all those involved in football is a priority and this fund will support many people using football facilities not just with the provision of devices but also the training required to use the equipment.

"Sadly, a sudden cardiac incident could happen anytime, anywhere and we hope by enabling more facilities to have  a device, it will make the difference in saving someone’s life.”

Fabrice Muamba, the former Bolton midfielder who suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for the club, is also among those in full support of the plan.

“I am a big supporter of the Premier League’s new initiative to fund defibrillators for thousands of grassroots football clubs," he said.

"I know from personal experience the importance of having access to this type of medical equipment and how vital it is for someone’s survival after suffering from sudden cardiac arrest.

“Educating people how to use defibrillators is crucial. I really hope the clubs and facilities will encourage as many coaches, players and staff to undertake the training provided and help create safe places to play the game we all love.”

Further reading

Kaizer Chiefs are 90 minutes away from making history as they prepare for their crucial Caf Champions League semi-final second clash against Wydad Casablanca.

The Glamour Boys are carrying a 1-0 aggregate lead into the encounter which is scheduled to be played at the 2010 Fifa World Cup final venue FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

The two teams will meet two days after Caf's sister confederation, Uefa, announced on Thursday that the away goals rule is to be abolished in its club competitions this coming season.

The rule is applied to determine the winner of a two-legged knockout tie in cases where two teams have scored the same number of goals on aggregate over two games.

So if a tie ends in a draw and one team has scored more away goals, they will progress to the next round of the competition.

The reactions to the governing body of European football's decision have been mixed and it has created a debate about whether the rule is still beneficial for a two-legged knockout tie.

Caf is yet to indicate whether or not they will follow suit and abolish the away goals rule from its Champions League and Confederation Cup competitions ahead of the 2021/22 season.

Young Buffaloes from Eswatini benefitted from the ruling in the current Caf Champions League campaign in the qualifying rounds. 

The two-time Eswatini champions advanced to the first round on the away goals rule after they drew 1-1 with Burundian side Le Messager Ngozi in December 2020.

Chiefs are coming into their clash having grabbed an important away goal which was netted by Samir Nurkovic four minutes after the hour-mark at Stade Mohamed V last weekend.

The Soweto giants are chasing a draw or a win to secure passage into the final for the first time since the Naturena-based club's establishment in January 1970.

For Wydad, a 1-0 victory over Chiefs with see the tie end in a 1-1 draw on aggregate and extra-time is not to be played as the winners will be decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Wydad, who are two-time Champions League winners, would benefit from the away goals rule if the two teams draw 2-2 on aggregate. 

A 2-1 victory for the Red Castle sees the tie end in a 2-2 draw on aggregate and the North African giants would advance to the Champions League final for the fifth time.

While a win by a two-goal margin or more for Wydad will also earn them a victory on aggregate and it would also be their first-ever win on South African soil. 

The mission is quite clear for Chiefs avoid a defeat and a place in the final will be secured. 

Coach Hendrik Pieter de Jongh has welcomed the decision by Uefa to abolish the away goals rule from European competitions, with the rule change being put into place in time for the start of the 2021-22 season. 

The away goals rule has been used for over half a century but will no longer decide knockout matches in Uefa club competitions, including the Champions League and Europa League.

"I find the new changes good since teams are playing home and away," De Jong, who is former Swaziland coach, told Goal.

"The rule worked in favour of teams that were relying on counter-attacks. For example, remember two years ago the match between Ajax and Tottenham Hotspur. 

"Spurs advanced to the final because of the away goal rule. Offensively, Ajax were 10 times better [than] Spurs, but in the final seconds, the latter scored and it changed."

"The new rule will give teams an opportunity to attack more than sit back and rely on counter-attacks," De Jong continued.

"We will now see better attacking football from teams since the more you score, the better your chance of making it to the next level of the competition.

"The changes will be good for offensive football, and good for the fans as well.

"I challenge Africa to follow suit and abolish the [away goal] rule as well."

The away goals rule has been in place since the 1965-66 season when it was used in the Cup Winners Cup.

There have been many advocating for its removal from Uefa club competitions for a while now, with the likes of former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone having been against its use.

The general feeling has been that the rule was restrictive to those playing at home, especially in the first leg of knockout ties, with the view that scoring goals away from home almost counted for double.

Indeed, an official Uefa statement confirming the news that the away goals rule would no longer be used, actively highlights the fact there has been a reduction in home wins, and goals, in Uefa competitions.

Former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is in talks to become Tottenham's next manager, Goal can confirm.

Spurs have been on the hunt for a permanent manager since dismissing Jose Mourinho in April, with Ryan Mason stepping in to take charge on an interim basis.

In the months since, the club has been linked with several big-name candidates, with Nuno the latest to hold discussions with those in charge at Tottenham.

The latest candidate

Nuno is just the latest manager to be linked with the job as several familiar faces have been rumoured to be the next Spurs boss over the last few weeks.

Antonio Conte was close to a deal to take over, but the former Chelsea and Inter boss turned down a deal before admitting that he was left unconvinced by the project. 

They were then linked to Paulo Fonseca, the man that Mourinho coincidentally replaced at Roma, before those talks broke down amid links to Gennaro Gattuso.

Gattuso too walked away from negotiations, with Italy star Lorenzo Insigne saying that "a bit of mess" at Tottenham was responsible for his former boss' snub.

Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui also turned down Spurs, according to the club's president Jose Castro.

Any manager taking charge at Tottenham would potentially need to deal with a club-altering departure, with Harry Kane heavily linked with a move away from the club in recent weeks.

Nuno's history

The Portuguese manager is best known for his time at Wolves, as he turned the club into a strong Premier League side after leading them out of the Championship.

During his time at Wolves, he led them to a title win in the Championship before finishing seventh, seventh and 13th in three seasons in the Premier League.

Nuno and the club announced in May that he would leave by mutual consent, making him one of the top free-agent coaches in Europe today.

Prior to taking over at Wolves, Nuno also managed Porto, Valencia and Rio Ave.

Further reading

Manchester United youngster Shola Shoretire has described Juan Mata as the player he admires a lot in the Red Devils’ set-up and one of the cleverest players he’s ever played with.

Shoretire has been playing with the first-team at Old Trafford since he turned 17 in February.

In that same month, he became the youngest player to play for Manchester United in a European competition after he was subbed on in a Uefa Europa League match against Real Sociedad.

The Anglo-Nigerian capped his breakthrough season with the Red Devils with a cameo appearance in Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the 2020-21 Premier League campaign.

Shoretire believes that his ability to adapt in senior age groups has helped his progression in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s squad.

The 17-year-old scored 10 goals in 21 games for United’s U23 team last season which helped him claim the club’s Young Player of the Year award.

“I think since I started playing football, I’ve always played at least one year up. I think that has helped me a lot because you have to learn the game quicker as I’m not one of the big ones,” Shoretire told the club’s website.

“So you have to be quite technical, I think, and I look up to Juan Mata. He’s not the tallest or the strongest but is probably one of the cleverest players I’ve seen play and played with. He is always two steps ahead. I admire him a lot.”

Mata struggled for regular playing time at Manchester United last season, making just nine Premier League appearances, with one goal to his name.

When asked if he seeks advice from Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood, who rose through the Academy to the first-team just like him, Shoretire said: “Yeah, definitely. Like, when I’m in and around the training ground, on the pitch training, whenever we’re in between drills, I am always asking them questions because we’ve shared quite a few of the same experiences.

“I can learn from them, say from some of the experiences they’ve had in the past or things they want to help me with, they can advise me. So I can learn a lot from them on a daily basis.”

Mbeya City striker Dennis Kibu has revealed he has been in touch with both Simba SC and Yanga SC concerning a possible move when the transfer window swings open.

Kibu has been an outstanding player for Mbeya City in the season that is about to end and his performance has generated interest from the Premier League giants.

The forward, however, has stated it is Yanga who have shown more desire to sign him even though he has not decided on his next move.

"You know, football is my job and it is sometimes hard to explicitly explain which team I will be playing for next season. What I need to do is to make a mark with Mbeya City so that when I leave, I can be remembered for what I did," Kibu told Mwanaspoti.

"Of the two major teams in the country, Yanga appear to be more serious to me because they have had numerous discussions with my handlers. will not take long, since I am waiting for the season to conclude so that I can make the next move known.

"I have to make a decision whether to remain with Mbeya or sign for one of the giants."

Kibu was praised by Simba head coach Didier Gomes Da Rosa after a recent league encounter between the sides which Weklundu wa Msimbazi won by a 4-1 margin.

"If he gets more time to play, he can develop into one of the finest players around and any coach who would play against him has to come with an efficient strategy to stop him," the coach told the publication.

Yanga are looking for a striker after the current ones have failed to make the desired impact. Apart from Yacouba Sogne, Michael Sarpong, Fiston Abdulrazak, and Saidi Ntibanzokiza have not managed to find the back of the net regularly.

Recently, Timu ya Wananchi was linked with Zambian international Lazarous Kambole before talks collapsed due to the players' demands.

Simba, on the other hand, have three key goal scorers in Chris Mugalu, Meddie Kagere, and captain John Bocco, and coach Da Rosa recently stated that he is not interested in bringing in a local forward.

On Thursday, June 24, Uefa announced the abolishment of the away goal rule in their competitions from the 2021/22 season onward.

It brought to an end a rule that has been used in European competitions since the 1965-66 season when it was used in the Cup Winners' Cup. 

Those who were against it argued that the rule was restrictive to those playing at home, especially in the first leg of knockout ties, and that scoring goals away from home almost counted for double.

What do African coaches feel over the abolition of the rule in Africa?

"It is the way forward, I don't think it has any benefit in football," Gor Mahia assistant coach Sammy Omollo told Goal on Friday.

"This will encourage teams to attack more regardless of the venue. It is the fairest way to ensure deserving teams make it to the next level of the competition they are taking part in.

"I hope Caf follows suit and abolishes the rule as well. We want to enjoy football, not to feel limited."

Former AFC Leopards and Swaziland coach Pieter De Jong also welcomed the abolishment of the rule.

"I find the new changes good since teams are playing home and away," the tactician told Goal.

"The rule worked in favour of teams that were relying on counter-attacks. We will now see better attacking football from teams since the more you score, the better your chance of making it to the next level of the competition.

"The changes will be good for offensive football, and good for the fans as well.

"I challenge Africa to follow suit and abolish the [away goal] rule as well."

However, former Kenya and Uganda coach Bobby Williamson thinks otherwise.

"The changes will encourage clubs to defend even more away from home, even more than they are doing now. What idiot proposed this?" Williamson posed the question to Goal.

"Away goals were to encourage teams to attack and get a goal away from home. Now that they have scrapped it, it will lead to boring games.

"That the changes will make teams attack more? Seriously? Totally wrong! The away goal rule was meant to encourage the teams not to defend for 90 minutes."

What are African players saying?

"I have no problem with the decision that Caf may come with," Kenneth Muguna, who plays for Kenya and Gor Mahia, told Goal on Friday.

"If they do away with it or retain it is okay with me, honestly, I don't think it will have much impact."

Former Simba SC midfielder Francis Kahata welcomes the idea as he believes the games will be more open.

"There will not be that fear of getting an advantage when your team has conceded at home," he told Goal.

"Matches will be open and players will attack more."

Former Nigeria goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu said he is waiting for a call from the Nigerian government to fulfil the decade-long promise made after their triumph at the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles won their second continental title in Tunisia that year, following a 2-1 win over Zambia in the final and their success prompted former Head of State, General Sani Abacha, to promise the players and the technical crew houses in the country.

On Thursday, President Muhammadu Buhari made a move to actualise the 27-year-old promise by approving a memo sent by the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, to allocate three-bedroom houses to the former internationals and coaches (including the deceased) in their preferred state.

Shorunmu was part of Clemens Westerhof’s title-winning squad in Tunis and he expressed his gratitude to the present administration for remembering the team after previous leaders failed to hand over their gifts.

“No formal update yet, I have not received a call from the government but I've been hearing the news on TV and radio,” Shorunmu told Goal.

“We appreciate the government so much, but if we don't get the keys in our hands we can't say we have got the houses. This is because the promise has been there for 27 years ago.

“Over 10 years ago, we were promised again but nothing came up, so we are still waiting. The only confidence that we have now is that the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola is a sports-loving person.

“We still keep our fingers crossed until we get the keys in our hands but notwithstanding we appreciate the President and everyone that has brought the matter up to remember us. Thank God we are still alive to get our reward.”

Shorunmu established himself as the Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper in the early 2000s, following the retirement of Peter Rufai in 1998.

The former Besiktas shot-stopper made 36 appearances for the West African country, and he played two group matches at the 2002 Fifa World Cup hosted by South Korea and Japan - vs Argentina and Sweden.

On Friday, Uefa confirmed the away goals rule will be abolished from European competitions, with the change being put into place in time for the 2021-22 season.

The away goals rule has been used for over half a century but will no longer be used to decide knockout matches in Uefa club competitions, including the Champions League and Europa League.

While Caf is yet to confirm whether they will follow Uefa by abolishing the rule in Africa, Goal gives you the meaning behind the away goal rule and how it works.

How does the away goals rule work?

The away goals rule is a method of tiebreaking in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team’s home ground.

By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals “away from home” wins, if the total goals scored by each team are otherwise equal.

This is sometimes expressed by saying that away goals “count double” in the event of a tie, though in practice the team with more away goals is simply recorded as the victor, rather than having additional or ‘double’ goals added to their total.

The away goals rule is most often invoked in two-leg fixtures, where the initial result is determined by the aggregate score - i.e. the scores of both games are added together.

In many competitions, the away goals rule is the first tie-breaker in such cases, with a penalty shootout as the second tie-breaker if each team has scored the same number of away goals. Rules vary as to whether the away goals rule applies only to the end of normal time of the second leg, or applies in extra time as well.

For example, in the first leg, the final score is: Team A (Home) 1-0 Team B (Away). In the second leg, the final score is: Team A (Away) 0-1 Team B (Home). In this example, the aggregate score is 1-1, but as neither team scored an away goal, the match will progress to the next tie-breaker, extra time.

The away goals rule is sometimes used in round-robin competitions (that is, leagues or qualifying groups), where it may be used to break ties involving more than two teams.

If the two clubs contesting a two-legged fixture share the same stadium, each club may be the home club in one leg, and the rule may still apply. For example, the 2003 Uefa Champions League semi-finals drew Inter Milan and AC Milan together.

Both legs were played at the San Siro, their shared stadium in Milan:

Do we have alternatives to the away goals rule?

The two common alternatives are goal difference and head-to-head.

Goal difference is a tie-breaker used to rank teams who finish on equal points in a league tournament.

When teams finish level in a league or a qualifying group they have to be separated in some way and usually this is done by goal difference but sometimes the results between the two teams count instead.

In the Champions League when teams finish level on points in the qualifying group the head-to-head record is used. So, for example, if team A beats team B at home and then draws away Team A will finish above Team B in the table.

Sometimes this phrase is also used when comparing results between two teams over time – Brazil have a better head-to-head record against Germany: they have played each other 22 times with five wins for the Germans and 12 wins for the Brazilians and five draws.

Here is a good example: If Chelsea and Liverpool were level on points but Chelsea managed to beat Liverpool home and away in the league, the London side would be deemed victorious.

Africa competitions using away goals rule

All major competitions under Caf use the rule as a tiebreaker. and it is the only way used, on most occasions, to determine teams advancing to the next phase of respective competitions. 

At the club level, the away goals rule is used especially during the preliminary rounds of the Champions League and Confederation Cup. The method also applies in the group stage, all the way to the final which is usually a two-legged affair.

The same has been used in African Nations Championship qualifiers which are played on a knockout basis.

Africa Cup of Nations preliminaries also applies the away goal rule to determine the teams that make the group stage.

In ranking the teams in a given pool, the home and away rules are applied, meaning the winners as far as the away goal rule goes, make it to the biennial competition.

Preliminary rounds of the Caf World Cup qualifiers have also been applying the rule and it goes all the way to the late stages.