Oliver Kay

Football Writer

Before joining The Athletic as a senior writer in 2019, Oliver Kay spent 19 years working for The Times, the last ten of them as chief football correspondent. He is the author of the award-winning book Forever Young: The Story of Adrian Doherty, Football’s Lost Genius.

Forget everything you've seen at Euro 2024 - the real tournament starts now

Group stages at major tournaments seem important at the time but history suggests they are rarely remembered

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Euro 2024 verdict so far: Most boring team, favourite kit, best fans - and who will win it

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England starting XI to face Slovakia: Mainoo? Shaw? Foden at No 10? Our writers' picks

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What we learned from the Euro 2024 group stage - Ronaldo, Hala Madrid and big-man denial

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Cristiano Ronaldo is raging - at referees, his luck and maybe time itself

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Georgia 2 Portugal 0: Biggest shock of Euro 2024, Ronaldo's frustration, glorious Kvaratskhelia

Analysis of Georgia's shock win over Portugal

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Phil Foden temporarily leaves England's Euro 2024 camp before birth of third child

Follow live coverage of Switzerland vs Italy at Euro 2024 today Phil Foden has left England’s European Championship camp ahead of the birth of his third child. The Football Association (FA) announced on Wednesday that the midfielder was returning home because of a “pressing family matter”. No other details were given, but the 24-year-old Manchester City player’s departure was described as “temporary”. It raises the possibility that Foden could return to Germany in time for England’s round-of-16 match in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday. This is not the first time an England player has...

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Euro 2024 and the lopsided draw affecting which teams are considered likely finalists

One side of the knockout-stage draw contains France, Spain, Portugal and Germany, while the other half of the bracket looks less daunting

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Gareth Southgate blames 'strange environment' after objects thrown at him following Slovenia draw

Gareth Southgate said England are facing an “unusual environment” at Euro 2024 after he objects from the crowd thrown in his direction while some supporters booed his team off following the goalless draw with Slovenia in Cologne. Southgate said he hopes supporters stick with the team after they progressed to the knockout phase of Euro 2024 by wining their group in unconvincing fashion. Topping group C, in theory, keeps them on the more favourable half of the tournament’s draw as they head into the last 16. GO DEEPERThe Briefing: England 0 Slovenia 0: Southgate's side seal top...

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England 0 Slovenia 0: Southgate's side seal top spot in Group C but underwhelm again - The Briefing

We break down the key moments from England's game with Slovenia in Cologne

Dan Sheldon, Daniel Taylor and more461

France, racial politics and why 'the Mbappe effect' is shaping a bitter election

France is divided ahead of a seismic vote, with the far right on the rise. Now its football team have entered the debate

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If this is Kevin De Bruyne's last dance for Belgium, he's not ready to leave the stage yet

Vision and precision was stamped all over De Bruyne's display against Romania - he's not quite done at the very top just yet

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Belgium 2 Romania 0: Lukaku denied again, a 73-second goal and the tightest of groups

Our writers break down the key moments from Saturday evening's game in Cologne

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Is Harry Kane a symptom of England's malaise or one of the causes of it?

The England captain has looked off the pace so far at the Euros, though he has started other tournaments slowly too

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Euro 2024 day four: Three games, two shocks, one Mbappe worry for France

We guide you through the main talking points from the fourth day of the 2024 European Championship

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$Kylian Mbappe fractures nose for France at Euro 2024, will wear mask to return to play$

Kylian Mbappe fractures nose for France at Euro 2024, will wear mask to return to play

Kylian Mbappe suffered a fractured nose during France’s Euro 2024 win over Austria on Monday but will not undergo surgery at this time. The Real Madrid forward sustained the injury in the 86th minute of the game at the Dusseldorf Arena after colliding with the shoulder of Austria defender Kevin Danso as he contested an aerial ball. The 25-year-old was seen bleeding heavily from his nose as he was attended to by medical staff on the pitch. His France shirt was also stained with blood following the injury. France confirmed the diagnosis following X-rays at a local hospital. Mbappe will...

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England start Euro 2024 with a win - but there was that familiar issue of losing control

England played well for 30 minutes against Serbia but their initiative and momentum was then lost. It feels like something in their DNA

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Jude Bellingham defends England performance against Serbia despite 'negative theme'

Jude Bellingham has defended England’s performance in opening Euro 2024 with a win over Serbia. The Real Madrid midfielder, 20, scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 victory over their Group C rivals in Gelsenkirchen. The display wasn’t the most fluid from Gareth Southgate’s side and they had to withstand pressure in the second-half as Serbia looked in vain for an equaliser. They held on, however, to leave themselves in a strong position to progress to the next phase. GO DEEPERThe Briefing: Serbia 0 England 1 - Bellingham inevitable but did Alexander-Arnold midfield role...

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Serbia 0 England 1 - Bellingham inevitable but did Alexander-Arnold midfield role work? - The Briefing

Our writers break down some of the key talking points from Sunday night's game in Gelsenkirchen

Jack Pitt-Brooke, Mark Carey and more553

Toni Kroos' greatness goes beyond data - enjoy it while you can

The retiring midfielder is bowing out at the peak of his powers - as Scotland found out to their cost

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Can Trent Alexander-Arnold thrive in England midfield role at Euro 2024?

Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to play in midfield if he starts for England — it could kickstart his England career

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How England changed their culture and restored a long-lost sense of identity

Every step of the way for England under Gareth Southgate, it has been about togetherness, and about changing the team culture

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Scotland can 'make history' at Euro 2024 - Andy Robertson

Captain Andrew Robertson has told his Scotland team-mates to go and make history and qualify for the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time. Euro 2024 is Scotland’s 12th major tournament — their fourth European Championship — and they have never before progressed beyond the group stage. Liverpool full-back Robertson emphasised the opportunity for the side to make history in Germany. “We don’t want to have any regrets,” the 30-year-old said on the eve of the tournament opener against the hosts in Munich on Friday night. “What’s the worst that can happen? The...

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England XI to face Serbia - our writers' picks: Cole Palmer? Lewis Dunk? Kobbie Mainoo?

While Gareth Southgate will get the final say on who lines up for England against Serbia (fair enough), our writers have also had a go

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Euro 2024: How are England, France, Germany, Spain and the other favourites shaping up?

Whas has preparation been like for the potential winners of Euro 2024 and what outstanding issues do they have to resolve?

Oliver Kay, Jacob Whitehead and more31