Julian Nagelsmann has signed a contract extension with the Germany national team, thereby remaining in his role as head coach until after the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the German Football Association confirmed on Friday.

“This is a decision of the heart. It is a great honor to be able to train the national team and work with the best players in the country,” Nagelsmann stated.

In addition to the 2026 World Cup, Nagelsmann will lead his team in the upcoming Euro 2024 competition as the host nation. Having become Germany’s head coach after being sacked by Bayern Munich in 2023, Nagelsmann was being linked with a return to the club after current manager Thomas Tuchel announced that he would depart at the end of the season. This decision has thus brought an end to such speculation.

The post Julian Nagelsmann Extends Contract With Germany Until 2026 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The first International break of the new season delivered a surprising win for The Netherlands in Hamburg over the 2014 World Cup champions Germany. At the sold-out Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany scored first after a counter-attack, when the ball was reflected to Bayern’s winger Serge Gnabry in the 9^th minute – and that was the only thing that Germany did this match! 

The Netherlanders pushed the Germans into their own half at the start of the 2^nd period and they managed to level the score in the 59^th minute through Barcelona’s new star Frenkie De Jong. He managed to ditch Germany’s defenders and ended up alone against Manuel Neuer, scoring from 6 yards away. 

In the 66^th minute, Jonathan Tah scored an own goal after a sharp Netherlands corner kick, which Neuer managed to defend but the ball was reflected from Tah’s foot and still ended behind the goalkeeper. Some minutes later, Matthijs De Ligt touched the ball with his hand in the penalty box. Although he claimed that the handball was not intentional, the decision stayed the same.  

Toni Kroos leveled the score to 2-2, but 7 minutes later the Netherlands had the lead again through Donyell Malen. Georgino Wijnaldum finished the job in the 91^st minute, making it 4:2 for the Netherlands. 

The post Netherlands Beats Germany in Hamburg With a Fantastic Turnaround appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Mesut Özil ended his international soccer career with a damning attack on the German FA, the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB).

Released on social media, his four-page statement announcing his retirement excoriated Reinhard Glinner, a former right-wing politician in the German parliament.

The past couple of weeks have given me time to reflect, and time to think over the events of the last few months. Consequently, I want to share my thoughts and feelings about what has happened. pic.twitter.com/WpWrlHxx74

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

II / III pic.twitter.com/Jwqv76jkmd

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

III / III pic.twitter.com/c8aTzYOhWU

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

The statement lays bare the player’s division with the DFB but also those within German society.

There is an element of tragedy, as well as farce, about the situation. Players expect criticism from fans and the media. However, the DFB empowered critics, exposing Özil and his family to horrendous abuse.

It leaves the midfielder to focus on his club career with Arsenal, based in north London. He returned to pre-season training this weekend and flew with the rest of the squad to Singapore. There, they face Atletico Madrid and Paris St-Germain in the International Champions Cup event.

Meanwhile, his club benefits. Özil will no longer feature during the international breaks which interrupt the soccer season. As a result, a fully-rested Özil may propel the Gunners into the top four of the English Premier League and with that comes a return to the UEFA Champions League in 2019.

The post Mesut Özil Ends International Career Amid Claims of Racism appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Isaac Bonga was selected by the LA Lakers with the 39th overall pick during the draft which was held last week.

Lakers draftee Isaac Bonga said that he will play for Lakers' Summer League team after being selected with the 39th overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft

— Sportando (@Sportando) June 25, 2018

It’s rare for rookies to play in the Summer League if they are not under contract (or close to reaching agreement) so it seems likely that the Lakers want Bonga on the team immediately.

While Bonga has qualities which could help him to succeed, he is still low in terms of weight and will need to put on pounds within the next 2-years if he wants to succeed in the NBA. Another thing which he does need to work on is his shooting. During his time in Germany with the Fraport Skyliners, he averaged 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds,2.3 assists and 1.0 steal across 21.3 minutes.

In his defense, Bonga is still young. He only turns 19 this November and still has time to develop his game. He has good ball-handling and court vision and these are the strongest parts of his game.

The post Isaac Bonga to Join Lakers During Las Vegas Summer League appeared first on SportzBonanza.

German giants Bayern Munich have named current Eintracht Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac as their new manager for next season.

Kovac will succeed the veteran Jupp Heynckes who was appointed on a temporary basis after Bayern made a slow start to this season following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti.

“Niko was a player at Bayern, he is very familiar with the people involved as well as the structure and the DNA of the club,” said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

“We are convinced that he is the right coach for the future of Bayern.”

Kovac will be appointed by Bayern on a three-year contract which becomes effective as of July 1^st.  He will also bring in his brother Robert Kovac from Frankfurt as the assistant coach.

During their playing days, both brothers played for the Croatia national team as well as for Bayern so they will be familiar with the atmosphere at the club.

The post Bayern name Niko Kovac as new manager for next season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Germany star Toni Kroos has blasted his national team-mates after they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Brazil in a friendly international on Tuesday.

The under-strength German team was largely below-par on the night and fell to a 1-0 defeat against the Germans after Gabriel Jesus scored a first-half winner to seal a 1-0 win.

For Brazil, the result would have been revenge after they fell to a 7-1 defeat against the Germans during the semi-finals of the 2014 world cup.

Speaking after the game on Tuesday, Kroos slammed his team-mates and feels that the fringe players who were given an opportunity to impress ahead of the world cup did not make the most of their opportunity.

“We had some players on the pitch who had the opportunity to show themselves at this level – they did not take it. We allowed ourselves to be bossed around and then we saw that we’re not as good as we’re always told we are – and perhaps some of us think we are. That was clearly not enough from many of us,” – he said.

The post Germany’s Toni Kroos slams team-mates following defeat against Brazil appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Julian Nagelsmann has signed a contract extension with the Germany national team, thereby remaining in his role as head coach until after the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, the German Football Association confirmed on Friday.

“This is a decision of the heart. It is a great honor to be able to train the national team and work with the best players in the country,” Nagelsmann stated.

In addition to the 2026 World Cup, Nagelsmann will lead his team in the upcoming Euro 2024 competition as the host nation. Having become Germany’s head coach after being sacked by Bayern Munich in 2023, Nagelsmann was being linked with a return to the club after current manager Thomas Tuchel announced that he would depart at the end of the season. This decision has thus brought an end to such speculation.

The post Julian Nagelsmann Extends Contract With Germany Until 2026 appeared first on SportzBonanza.

The first International break of the new season delivered a surprising win for The Netherlands in Hamburg over the 2014 World Cup champions Germany. At the sold-out Volksparkstadion in Hamburg, Germany scored first after a counter-attack, when the ball was reflected to Bayern’s winger Serge Gnabry in the 9^th minute – and that was the only thing that Germany did this match! 

The Netherlanders pushed the Germans into their own half at the start of the 2^nd period and they managed to level the score in the 59^th minute through Barcelona’s new star Frenkie De Jong. He managed to ditch Germany’s defenders and ended up alone against Manuel Neuer, scoring from 6 yards away. 

In the 66^th minute, Jonathan Tah scored an own goal after a sharp Netherlands corner kick, which Neuer managed to defend but the ball was reflected from Tah’s foot and still ended behind the goalkeeper. Some minutes later, Matthijs De Ligt touched the ball with his hand in the penalty box. Although he claimed that the handball was not intentional, the decision stayed the same.  

Toni Kroos leveled the score to 2-2, but 7 minutes later the Netherlands had the lead again through Donyell Malen. Georgino Wijnaldum finished the job in the 91^st minute, making it 4:2 for the Netherlands. 

The post Netherlands Beats Germany in Hamburg With a Fantastic Turnaround appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Mesut Özil ended his international soccer career with a damning attack on the German FA, the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB).

Released on social media, his four-page statement announcing his retirement excoriated Reinhard Glinner, a former right-wing politician in the German parliament.

The past couple of weeks have given me time to reflect, and time to think over the events of the last few months. Consequently, I want to share my thoughts and feelings about what has happened. pic.twitter.com/WpWrlHxx74

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

II / III pic.twitter.com/Jwqv76jkmd

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

III / III pic.twitter.com/c8aTzYOhWU

— Mesut Özil (@MesutOzil1088) July 22, 2018

The statement lays bare the player’s division with the DFB but also those within German society.

There is an element of tragedy, as well as farce, about the situation. Players expect criticism from fans and the media. However, the DFB empowered critics, exposing Özil and his family to horrendous abuse.

It leaves the midfielder to focus on his club career with Arsenal, based in north London. He returned to pre-season training this weekend and flew with the rest of the squad to Singapore. There, they face Atletico Madrid and Paris St-Germain in the International Champions Cup event.

Meanwhile, his club benefits. Özil will no longer feature during the international breaks which interrupt the soccer season. As a result, a fully-rested Özil may propel the Gunners into the top four of the English Premier League and with that comes a return to the UEFA Champions League in 2019.

The post Mesut Özil Ends International Career Amid Claims of Racism appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Isaac Bonga was selected by the LA Lakers with the 39th overall pick during the draft which was held last week.

Lakers draftee Isaac Bonga said that he will play for Lakers' Summer League team after being selected with the 39th overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft

— Sportando (@Sportando) June 25, 2018

It’s rare for rookies to play in the Summer League if they are not under contract (or close to reaching agreement) so it seems likely that the Lakers want Bonga on the team immediately.

While Bonga has qualities which could help him to succeed, he is still low in terms of weight and will need to put on pounds within the next 2-years if he wants to succeed in the NBA. Another thing which he does need to work on is his shooting. During his time in Germany with the Fraport Skyliners, he averaged 6.0 points, 3.1 rebounds,2.3 assists and 1.0 steal across 21.3 minutes.

In his defense, Bonga is still young. He only turns 19 this November and still has time to develop his game. He has good ball-handling and court vision and these are the strongest parts of his game.

The post Isaac Bonga to Join Lakers During Las Vegas Summer League appeared first on SportzBonanza.

German giants Bayern Munich have named current Eintracht Frankfurt coach Niko Kovac as their new manager for next season.

Kovac will succeed the veteran Jupp Heynckes who was appointed on a temporary basis after Bayern made a slow start to this season following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti.

“Niko was a player at Bayern, he is very familiar with the people involved as well as the structure and the DNA of the club,” said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic.

“We are convinced that he is the right coach for the future of Bayern.”

Kovac will be appointed by Bayern on a three-year contract which becomes effective as of July 1^st.  He will also bring in his brother Robert Kovac from Frankfurt as the assistant coach.

During their playing days, both brothers played for the Croatia national team as well as for Bayern so they will be familiar with the atmosphere at the club.

The post Bayern name Niko Kovac as new manager for next season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Germany star Toni Kroos has blasted his national team-mates after they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Brazil in a friendly international on Tuesday.

The under-strength German team was largely below-par on the night and fell to a 1-0 defeat against the Germans after Gabriel Jesus scored a first-half winner to seal a 1-0 win.

For Brazil, the result would have been revenge after they fell to a 7-1 defeat against the Germans during the semi-finals of the 2014 world cup.

Speaking after the game on Tuesday, Kroos slammed his team-mates and feels that the fringe players who were given an opportunity to impress ahead of the world cup did not make the most of their opportunity.

“We had some players on the pitch who had the opportunity to show themselves at this level – they did not take it. We allowed ourselves to be bossed around and then we saw that we’re not as good as we’re always told we are – and perhaps some of us think we are. That was clearly not enough from many of us,” – he said.

The post Germany’s Toni Kroos slams team-mates following defeat against Brazil appeared first on SportzBonanza.