Italy will be hoping to seal up their trip to the 2012 European Championships with victory on Friday, but Slovenia have other ideas.
The Italians, desperate to restore themselves as a force to be reckoned with after their World Cup defence ended in the group stages, have settled into a comfortable three-point lead on top of Group C following three Euro 2012 qualifiers.But their form has been patchy at best. Discounting a 5-0 thrashing of group minnows the Faroe Islands, Italy have limped their way to a 2-1 win at Estonia, drew 0-0 at Northern Ireland and been awarded a 3-0 win over Serbia after Serbian fans rioted in Genoa.Slovenia are second in the group with seven points, with a 1-0 loss to Northern Ireland the only stain on their otherwise spotless record, and will fancy the…
Wayne Rooney insists he will always be available for selection for England as he stands on the cusp of becoming his country s all-time leading goalscorer.
Manchester United striker Rooney moved level with Bobby Charlton on 49 goals in England s 6-0 win at San Marino on Saturday that secured qualification for Euro 2016.
Rooney now has the chance to surpass that mark when England welcome Switzerland to Wembley on Tuesday and the forward, who turns 30 next month, believes he can continue to make an impact on the international stage for years to come.
I feel I ve got still quite a lot of games left to play for England, Rooney said. If I was sat here saying I just want to get 50 goals , then I d be lying. I d be disappointed if I ended my England career on 50 goal…
Gareth Southgate admitted he may have future selection headaches after England s 3-0 friendly win over Bosnia-Herzegovina at St. James Park on Monday.
Cole Palmer netted on his first England start from the penalty spot before Trent Alexander-Arnold and Harry Kane made sure of the victory late on.
With key players out injured, Southgate used the opportunity to give some of the less experienced squad members some valuable minutes ahead of Euro 2024.
The England manager still has to narrow his 33-man preliminary squad down to 26, with the announcement due later this week.
Southgate confessed the first-half performance was not what he wanted, but overall, he was pleased with how his side responded after half-time.
We had a lot of fresh players to bri…
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi managed to secure their places at Russia 2018 as Portugal and Argentina snatched automatic qualification on Tuesday.
European champions Portugal were left playing catch-up after losing to Switzerland in September last year but overcame the same opponents 2-0 in Lisbon to pip them on goal difference.
Argentina were staring elimination in the face when Ecuador took an early 1-0 lead in Quito before a virtuoso showing by Messi ended with the talisman completing a mesmerising hat-trick.
However, other stars of the world game have not been so fortunate and there will be more high-profile casualties to come during next month s play-off clashes.
For now, here is a mightily impressive dream team whose efforts to reach the World …
Late Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer will be honoured during the Euro 2024 opening ceremony on Friday, UEFA has confirmed.
Beckenbauer, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest defenders of all time, passed away in January at the age of 78.
Affectionately nicknamed Der Kaiser , he captained Germany to glory at the 1972 European Championship and 1974 World Cup, and was manager as his nation triumphed again on the global stage in 1990.
Each of Germany s record-equalling three European Championship successes will be represented during the ceremony at Munich Football Arena, before the hosts kick off the tournament against Scotland.
Beckenbauer s wife Heidi will bring the Henri Delaunay trophy onto the field with Bernard Dietz and Jurgen Klinsmann, who s…
Erik ten Hag deserves to be given more time by Manchester United, where off-pitch disruption has hampered the Dutchman s attempts to instil his preferred style.
That is the view of former Netherlands international Urby Emanuelson, who worked with Ten Hag at Utrecht and believes he can achieve long-term success under the Jim Ratcliffe regime.
Ten Hag is under pressure amid an underwhelming second campaign at Old Trafford, with United suffering an early Champions League exit and languishing 11 points adrift of the Premier League s top four.
United s total of 12 Premier League defeats this season is their joint-most in a single campaign (with 2013-14 and 2021-22), while Ten Hag s side have also been criticised for a perceived lack of off-the-ball organisation.
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Lyon star Rayan Cherki is keen on a move to Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected Italian journalist has reported that Ligue 1 club Lyon and Bundesliga outfit Dortmund still need to strike a deal over the transfer fee.
Romano wrote on : “Rayan Cherki, convinced about Borussia Dortmund project as reported last week; he s keen on the move but deal depends on the clubs.
“Olympique Lyon insist on sell-on clause to give the green light for this summer. Club-to-club talks are still needed.”
Cherki has been on the books of Lyon since 2010 and has come through the French club’s youth system to establish himself in the first team. The 20-year-old Frenchman, who can operate as an attacking …
Pepe was named Man of the Match after a stout defensive display helped Portugal beat France 1-0 after extra time to win Euro 2016.
Substitute Eder struck in the second half of extra time to secure victory, with Portugal having to play the majority of the match without injured captain Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday.
France came into the game as the tournament s top scorers and boasted the leading marksman in Antoine Griezmann.
But Pepe and defensive partner Jose Fonte kept a dangerous France front line limited for the most part, although Griezmann wasted a gilt-edged headed chance and Andre-Pierre Gignac hit the post in second-half stoppage time.
Pepe is the final Man of the Match
— UEFA EURO 2016 (@UEFAEURO)
Pepe s 12 clearances were mo…
Andrej Kramaric s 70th-minute header was enough for Croatia to clinch a 2-1 victory over Scotland, with the visitors denied a last-gasp equaliser.
The forward completed the comeback after Igor Matanovic cancelled out Ryan Christie s opener, but Kristijan Jakic s blushes were spared as his last-second own goal was disallowed for an offside against Che Adams.
In a fairly even first half, Christie got the breakthrough, latching onto Luka Sucic s sliced attempted clearance, and bundling the ball over the line with help from Duje Caleta-Car.
However, just under four minutes later, Croatia were back on level terms as Ivan Perisic cushioned the ball to Matanovic, who drilled his low shot into the bottom-right corner.
The hosts upped the pressure after the break,…
More than 1.6million requests for tickets for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa were recorded between February 20 and March 31, world football governing body FIFA announced on Wednesday.
Thirty per cent of the 1,635,136 requests were made by people from South Africa, followed by requests from in order the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Australia. FIFA said applications were made by people from a total of 205 countries.
Tickets for the opening match and the final were the most popular, while 50 per cent of requests were for the matches of particular teams.
The distribution of tickets for the most popular matches will be decided by a draw on April 15, with participants in the draw to be informed by the end of April if they have been success…