The Republic of Ireland host Slovakia on Friday hoping to retain the lead in Euro 2012 qualifying Group B.
Coached by veteran Italian Giovanni Trapattoni, Ireland have managed four wins, one draw and one defeat from their six matches played to date.
They top the group but are level on points with second-placed Russia and Slovakia in third.
Both of those teams have more recent pedigree in major championships Russia reached the semi-finals of Euro 2008 before losing to eventual winners Spain.
And Slovakia reached the round of 16 at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
By contrast, Ireland have not qualified for a tournament since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.
A home win over Slovakia would take them a step closer to achievin…
Brighton and Hove Albion are in talks with Pascal Gross over a new contract, according to . Gross is out of contract at Brighton at the end of next season, and the Premier League club are keen on keeping the midfielder beyond that.
Gross has been on the books of Brighton since 2017 when he joined from Ingolstadt for £3 million. The 32-year-old has been a superb player for the Seagulls since then and has established himself as one of the best and most important players in the team.
The 32-year-old Germany international midfielder made 34 starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League for Brighton last season. He scored four goals and gave 10 assists in those games. Gross has scored 30 goals and given 45 assists in 228 appearances in the Premier League so fa…
Bosnia and Herzegovina boss Safet Susic has declared Portugal favourites to win in their Euro 2012 playoff tie.
Bosnia and Herzegovina missed out on automatic Euro 2012 qualification to France in Group D, but they have a second chance against Portugal.
They host Cristiano Ronaldo and his men on Friday, before travelling to Lisbon on Tuesday for the second leg.
Portugal with Cristiano Ronaldo are the favourites yet we have our own qualities, Susic told UEFA.com.
I don t want it to end 0-0. I have some problems in defence but we will find a solution.
Portugal coach Paulo Bento is aware his opponents are missing several key players, with defenders Sasa Papac and Boris Pandza suspended and Mensur Mudjza injured.
But Bento is not underestim…
Former Barcelona and Brazil star Ronaldinho has announced he is set to retire from football in 2018, having spent the last two years without a club.
Ronaldinho s agent suggested earlier in 2017 that the 2002 World Cup winner was ready to sign with another professional club after leaving Brazilian side Fluminense three months into his contract in September 2015.
Since then, the former Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan attacking midfielder has been taking part in exhibition matches all over the world.
And Ronaldinho an ambassador for Barca has confirmed he plans to walk away from professional football next year in order to focus on interests outside of the sport.
There is this chance, I think I m saying goodbye to football next year, officially, Ronaldin…
France are preparing to open their Euro 2024 campaign against Austria on Monday, and Les Bleus cannot wait to welcome back a familiar face in N Golo Kante.
The former Chelsea man has been hampered by hamstring issues before requiring surgery, while his move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittihad saw Kante dropped by Didier Deschamps.
Diminutive midfielder Kante had not appeared in international football over the last two years but made his return to Les Bleus squad for the tournament in Germany.
Calling upon years of trophy-winning experience in the middle, Kante s France team-mates have been impressed with the 33-year-old s efforts in warm-up friendlies against Luxembourg and Canada.
I had the impression that there were three of him, French forward Marcus …
Fabian Hurzeler insisted Brighton will always have setbacks as the German revelled in his side finding their missing confidence after Sunday s comeback victory over Tottenham.
Brighton were outclassed in the first half at the Amex Stadium as Brennan Johnson and James Maddison sent Spurs deservedly leading 2-0 into half-time.
Hurzeler s high line was once again punished at will by the visitors in that opening period, though Yankuba Minteh s blasted finish shortly after the break offered the home side hope.
Georginio Rutter swiftly followed Minteh s strike up with a fine goal of his own, before the former Leeds United man played a key part in the winner as his deflected cross found Danny Welbeck.
Questions appeared to be mounting on Hurzeler after a four-ga…
Chicago Fire head coach Frank Klopas insisted his side must overcome their slow start against D.C. United in order to push for the playoffs ahead of facing the New York Red Bulls this weekend.
Klopas watched on as his side conceded twice in three minutes midway through the first half against D.C. as Christian Benteke and Gabriel Pirani’s struck to secure the triumph for the visitors.
The result leaves the Fire 14th in the Eastern Conference standings, with Klopas stressing the importance of energy from the first whistle to his players.
“We needed to come out with energy. If we did that, I felt that we were in the game,” Klopas said.
“We got that goal. And then, if you see the second half, the amount of possession, and it s a team that was sitting …
Alvaro Morata says he knows why he has been the target of the boo boys during Euro 2020 but is not prepared to talk about the reasons until after Spain s campaign is over.
The Juventus striker has scored twice during the tournament, including a fine effort that put Luis Enrique s side back in front during extra time of the exhilarating 5-3 win over Croatia in the last 16.
At the same time, Morata has missed a glut of opportunities. Indeed, his six missed big chances – as defined by Opta – is the most of any player, and the return lower than an expected goals rate of 3.95.
More may also have been expected given Morata has had 15 shots in total (joint highest with Cristiano Ronaldo), eight of which have been on target – the joint-best with Patrik Schick, who …
CF Montreal full-back Tom Pearce believes his new side have all the capabilities of reaching the playoffs, preaching confidence within the group as key to their recent success.
After back-to-back defeats to New England Revolution and FC Cincinnati, conceding nine goals in those games, this weekend’s hosts have gone three unbeaten in the MLS.
Montreal currently sit 10th in the Eastern Conference, two points behind the Philadelphia Union in the final playoff place heading into the last four games of the regular season.
And Pearce, who joined the club from Wigan Athletic in July, has every confidence his team-mates can pull together to keep their campaign going.
“We’re in a good place after picking up seven points out of nine in one week. It’s a conf…
The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in January and February 2024, rather than between June and July 2023, according to CAF president Patrice Motsepe.
Africa s premier international tournament was due to be held in Ivory Coast during the European off-season next year, but the threat of heavy flooding in the country at that time of year means it will again take place midway through the club campaign.
Speaking in the Moroccan capital Rabat, where a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee was taking place, Motsepe said: We cannot take the risk.
January is not the ideal time because of the European clubs, but it is the only choice we have.
In 2017 CAF announced its intention to play the tournament at the end of the European clu…