Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Spain to win against Czech Republic
Odds:
Spain lock horns with the Czech Republic at the Stadium Municipal for their opening Euro 2016 Group D clash this afternoon, and are hoping to begin their defence of the European Championships with a win.
Currently three points behind Group D leaders Croatia, who won their maiden game of the tournament against Turkey, but could finish the day level on points with the potential dark horses if they can dispatch of the Czech Republic this evening.
Spain are still somewhat recovering from their humiliating World Cup exit in 2014, and are determined to get off to a perfect start in their quest to win a third consecutive European Championships. Coming off the back of two wins from thei…
Market: Sport Recife win
Odds: 4/6 @
Looking to extend their buffer in the promotion chase in the early hours of Thursday, Sport Recife will welcome Operario to the Ilha do Retiro.
Starting with the hosts, while Sport Recife might have eventually fallen short during their top-four charge last season, the Lions have embarked on a real purple patch this time around. Last seen putting in a thumping performance as they stormed their way to a 3-1 romp away at Novorizontino, Pepa’s men will be looking for a repeat display when they return to the Ilha do Retiro. Getting October underway with a 2-1 win against Ceara, the former Cruzeiro boss finds the mood in his camp at a real high. Marking their return in the early hours of Thursday sat in the promotion spots, the m…
Brian Schmetzer urged Seattle Sounders to rediscover their home form ahead of Saturday s meeting with Chicago Fire in MLS.
The hosts sit ninth in the Western Conference standings, but are 12 points adrift of the top three sides in the table.
Schmetzer s side have not won back-to-back MLS games all season, though that is a possibility when the out-of-form Chicago visit Lumen Park.
Seattle will be invigorated by last-gasp drama in their 3-2 win over FC Dallas last time out, and the head coach hopes his team can utilise that momentum going forward.
We need to follow up that crazy, exciting, perfect for the fans, but horrible for the coaches win, he said. We ve got two more home games to come, and we need to re-establish some home form.
I haven t me…
Grace Clinton netted a debut goal as Manchester United got off to a winning start in the Women s Super League, cruising to a 3-0 victory over West Ham.
The new-look United side were in control throughout, and almost took an early lead as Leah Galton s cross was tipped onto the bar before Elisabeth Terland saw a header blocked on the line.
Geyse starred in the first half and soon got her reward after brushing aside Camile Saez at the byline to whip a shot in from a tight angle on the right of the box.
She almost got a second shortly after, meeting Maya Le Tissier s knockdown from a corner with an overhead kick that rattled the crossbar.
Galton doubled their advantage on the stroke of half-time, cutting inside from the left before rifling a powerful effort …
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli is not expecting his team to feature at the business end of Euro 2012.
Injuries and form slumps will see several of Italy s best players missing from the provisional 30-man squad for this year s tournament when it is named on Sunday.
Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi succumbed to a knee injury while Milan s Antonio Cassano has only recently returned to the field following heart surgery.
Our potential has been decreased by 50 percent, but I m not worried and I ll have to improvise, he told Corriere della Sera.
Our desire to surprise has to be stronger than our difficulties. We shouldn t forget that you can find some nice surprises in the most difficult moments.
We have the time to prepare for our first game against …
His figures for Arsenal have been equally as impressive, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists as the Gunners finished second in the Premier League last season.
With two goals and an assist to his name just four games into the new campaign and the carrot of Euro 2024 next summer, Saka now wants to continue his progression as a key player for both Arsenal and England.
Asked if his target is to improve on his numbers this year, he replied: “Yes, 100 per-cent.
“I’m always looking to improve and progress each season. So, I’m definitely aiming for more this year.
2021-22 2022-23
— England (@England)
“I think it’s about commitment, you know, commitment to being better so obviously, it requires me to do a lot of thi…
Virgil van Dijk will play for the Netherlands at least until the 2026 World Cup after discussions with Ronald Koeman over his future.
The Liverpool defender, who has earned 74 caps since making his debut for the national team in October 2015, was awarded the captaincy by Koeman in 2018, during the manager s first spell in charge.
He has since led the team through three major tournaments, including two World Cups, with the Netherlands making it to the semi-finals at Euro 2024 before being knocked out by England.
And Koeman revealed he flew to Liverpool to have a face-to-face conversation with Van Dijk to persuade him to appear at the next major finals should they get there.
I thought it was so important to go to him to see and feel with him: are you going…
Belgium clinched their spot at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a routine 3-1 victory over Estonia in their penultimate qualifier.
Roberto Martinez s men were predictably in control throughout the Group E encounter, Christian Benteke s simple finish putting them on course for victory inside a quarter of an hour.
The Red Devils peppered the Estonia goal to no avail for the rest of the first half before Yannick Carrasco, having played a part in the opener, thrashed home a second in the 53rd minute.
Erik Sorga pulled one back for the group s second-bottom side but Thorgan Hazard, after replacing brother Eden, restored Belgium s two-goal advantage, their five-point lead at the summit ensuring they will be at the Finals in the Middle East, which begin next November…
Arne Slot appears to be at the front of the queue to replace Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager.
Klopp confirmed in January that he would be leaving the Reds at the end of the season.
Xabi Alonso, who has led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, was swiftly established as a leading candidate to take the helm at Anfield, where he starred as a player for the Reds between 2004 and 2009.
The 42-year-old, however, is staying put in Germany, and Liverpool s search for Klopp s successor has taken them to Feyenoord s door.
Slot has been previously linked to jobs in the Premier League. Leeds United wanted to appoint him last season before their relegation to the Championship, while he was targeted by Tottenham before they appointed Ange Postecoglou.
When Cristiano Ronaldo touched down in Turin, it sparked pandemonium in northern Italy, but drew a collective gasp from Juventus rivals.
Already enjoying a stranglehold on Italian football, the seven-time reigning Serie A champions had just signed one of the all-time greats from Real Madrid.
The addition of Ronaldo to a squad overflowing with quality – plus the arrivals of Emre Can, Joao Cancelo, Mattia Perin and the return of Leonardo Bonucci – has Juve as favourites yet again to claim an eighth successive Scudetto, though the Bianconeri s transfer business also has Massimiliano Allegri primed to deliver a coveted European crown.
Juve have only won two Champions League titles having lost five finals since 1996, so Ronaldo s arrival has the club fighting on a…