Ian Hawkey
Ian Hawkey
European Football Correspondent


Achraf Hakimi was part of the Moroccan team that enjoyed a remarkable 2022 World Cup in Qatar. PA
Olympics gold will be pinnacle for Moroccan football's golden generation

Achraf Hakimi the star of another talented bunch that will look to take the country's burgeoning legacy forward at summer Games

July 23, 2024, 6:15 AM
Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Final - Spain v England - Berlin Olympiastadion, Berlin, Germany - July 14, 2024 Spain's Alvaro Morata lifts the trophy as he celebrates with teammates after winning Euro 2024 REUTERS / Angelika Warmuth     TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Euro 2024: Depth, diversity and unity fuel Spain's historic triumph

All corners of nation represented in squad that rose to every challenge placed in front of them in Germany

July 15, 2024, 11:13 AM
Soccer Football - Euro 2024 - Final - Spain Training - Donaueschingen, Germany - July 13, 2024 Spain's Lamine Yamal during training REUTERS / Robin Rudel
Spain v England: Football's coming home in Euro 2024 final

Three Lions out to end to '58 years of hurt' but Spanish can clinch record fourth European Championship title

July 14, 2024, 3:30 AM
(From L) England's defender #03 Luke Shaw, England's defender #02 Kyle Walker, England's midfielder #04 Declan Rice, England's forward #07 Bukayo Saka, England's forward #21 Eberechi Eze, England's defender #05 John Stones, England's forward #17 Ivan Toney, England's midfielder #24 Cole Palmer and England's midfielder #10 Jude Bellingham celebrate at the end of the penalty shootout as they win the UEFA Euro 2024 quarter-final football match between England and Switzerland at the Duesseldorf Arena in Duesseldorf on July 6, 2024.  (Photo by Adrian DENNIS  /  AFP)
Youngsters light up Euro 2024 to upstage subdued stars

France, England, Spain and Netherlands have all relied on younger players who have delivered under extreme pressure

July 08, 2024, 3:34 AM
Turkey's defender #03 Merih Demiral heads the ball and scores his team's second goal during the UEFA Euro 2024 round of 16 football match between Austria and Turkey at the Leipzig Stadium in Leipzig on July 2, 2024.  (Photo by Adrian DENNIS  /  AFP)
Demiral is comeback king after powering Turkey into Euro quarter-final

But Saudi Pro League defender may face Uefa sanctions over his gesture after scoring in 2-1 win against Austria

July 04, 2024, 5:33 AM
Guram Kashia (2-R) of Georgia and his teammates celebrate after winning the UEFA EURO 2024 group F soccer match between Georgia and Portugal, in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, 26 June 2024.   EPA / FRIEDEMANN VOGEL
Euro 2024: Tactical freedom, upsets and great goals in Germany

Shock results and chaotic matches have been features of tournament where players have shrugged off the constraints of club football

June 27, 2024, 3:20 PM
Georgia's goalkeeper #25 Giorgi Mamardashvili celebrates with a teammate after winning the the UEFA Euro 2024 Group F football match between Georgia and Portugal at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen on June 26, 2024.  (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA  /  AFP)
Euro 2024 team of the group stage

We take a look at the best players so far as teams prepare for last 16

June 27, 2024, 7:46 AM
Hakan Calhanoglu during Turkey's 3-0 defeat against Portugal at Euro 2024. AP
Euro 2024: Calhanoglu back on home turf looking to guide Turkey through

Captain leads team into battle against Czech Republic at his old ground in Hamburg where he established himself as one of football’s great dead-ball virtuosos

June 26, 2024, 7:15 AM
Croatia's Lovro Majer, right, fights for the ball with Spain's Nacho during a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024.  (AP Photo / Manu Fernandez)
Nacho eyes Euro 2024 glory with Spain before Saudi Arabia switch

Veteran Real Madrid defender, who is injury doubt for game with Albania on Monday, looks set for summer move to kingdom

June 24, 2024, 2:45 AM
Portugal's forward #07 Cristiano Ronaldo (C) and his teammates take part in the MD-1 training session at the Leipzig Stadium in Leipzig, eastern Germany on June 17, 2024, on the eve of their UEFA Euro 2024 Group F football match against the Czech Republic.  (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL  /  AFP)
Ronaldo and Neves lead charge to prove Saudi Pro League sceptics wrong

Portugal begin their campaign on Tuesday and are one of several teams with key players operating in Saudi Arabia

June 18, 2024, 7:21 AM
Pascal Gross of Germany (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 2-1 lead during the international friendly soccer match between Germany and Greece in Moenchengladbach, Germany, 07 June 2024.   EPA / CHRISTOPHER NEUNDORF
Germany focused on positives despite setbacks in build-up to Euro 2024

Tournament hosts have potential problems in various positions while their form over the past 12 months has been patchy

June 09, 2024, 7:48 AM
Libya national team coach Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredojevic. Photo: Libyan Football Federation
'Medicine to unite souls': Libya coach Micho aims to inspire nation

Ambitious 'Knights of the Mediterranean' eye qualification for next year's Afcon and the expanded 2026 World Cup

June 06, 2024, 3:01 AM
Brahim Diaz celebrates after scoring for Real Madrid against RB Leipzig in the Champions League last-16 first leg. Getty Images
Back-up stars Brahim and Guller helping build Real Madrid dynasty

Moroccan and Turkish attackers have made a big impact this season, with Kylian Mbappe's imminent arrival set to give Champions League finalists a fearsome array of offensive talent

June 01, 2024, 6:26 AM
Olympiakos striker Ayoub El Kaabi celebrates with Kostas Fortounis after scoring his second goal in the Europa Conference League semi-final second leg victory against Aston Villa. Reuters
El Kaabi, Rahimi and the Moroccan masters putting on a show

Atlas Lions stars are having a huge impact on the biggest competitions, with El Kaabi looking to cap stunning form for Olympiakos with victory in Europa Conference League final

May 29, 2024, 2:46 AM
Former Tottenham Hotspur players Osvaldo Ardiles, left, and Ricardo Villa before a match during the 2023/24 Premier League season. Reuters
Ossie Ardiles: Yokohama F Marinos a 'wonderful club'

Intrepid Argentine and former Marinos manager was part of the 'J-League revolution' that saw Japan emerge as a force not only in Asia but on the world stage too

May 21, 2024, 10:16 PM