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.

…

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…

Signings have been made and new managers are now in charge at some clubs, but how much will actually change in the Premier League this season?

The two teams who finished at the top seem nigh-on impossible to shift, at least according to the statistical evidence compiled after an incredible 2018-19 title race.

Champions Manchester City and runners-up Liverpool lost five games between them as they battled for the trophy until the final day, leaving others trailing well behind.

Will the gap widen with Eden Hazard torn from Chelsea, or can Manchester United close in after laying stronger defensive foundations?

We assess those questions and more in the Opta data preview for 2019-20.

City and Liverpool set to dominate again

It will…

Aston Villa s Jordan Nobbs is now the outright leader for Women s Super League appearances after playing her 193rd game.

The midfielder started on Saturday, though she could not help Villa avoid a 4-2 defeat to Brighton, who were inspired by full debutant Nikita Parris.

While Nobbs could not mark her special day with a victory, there can be no taking away from the 31-year-old s achievement.

Nobbs tally includes eight appearances in the WSL Spring Series. Before Saturday, she was level with Chelsea s Sophie Ingle, who is out injured.

The new all-time appearance holder!

— Barclays Women s Super League (@BarclaysWSL)

She has started 158 games in total, and taken part in a hugely impressive 124 wins only now-retired Stephanie Ho…

This clash is really Liverpool s last chance to stake a claim for Champions league football this year, but they will have their work cut out against a Chelsea side who really need to win this match to maintain their push for the premier league title.

Liverpool s chances in this match will also be hampered by the fact that they will have played three days earlier in the second leg of their Europa League semi final second leg match against Athletico Madrid. Benitez also has real selection problems up front with Torres ruled out, and Ngog and Kuyt both doubtful for the games ahead. One piece of fortune for the Anfield outfit is the return to form of Steven Gerrard. After riding serious allegations about his personal life in recent weeks, Gerrard has come out the other side firing …

Harry Kane may have suffered an untimely injury, but England boss Gareth Southgate could well be blessed with a wealth of attacking options heading into Euro 2020.

Kane s hamstring injury should not see him miss the European Championship, but it has handed plenty of England hopefuls the chance to prove their worth.

And it seems as though this season, the Premier League belongs to homegrown forwards.

Jamie Vardy – who has retired from international duty – leads the way with 17 goals, ahead of three players sharing second place in the scoring charts with 14: Danny Ings, Marcus Rashford and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Arsenal striker Aubameyang is one of only four non-English players to take their place in the Premier League s list of leading scorers as t…

Wigan produced one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history when they beat Manchester City 1-0 at Wembley, on this day in 2013.

Ben Watson’s late header clinched a fairytale win for the Latics, who won their first major trophy just 35 years after becoming a Football League club.

Roberto Mancini’s big-spending City, who won the FA Cup in 2011, were overwhelming favourites having been crowned Premier League champions in 2012.

The Latics were in the Premier League’s bottom three and were given little chance after beating Bournemouth, Macclesfield, Huddersfield, Everton and Millwall to earn their chance of glory.

But manager Roberto Martinez said: “We all know Manchester City are the major favourites, and rightly so. But there are many examples of majo…