Month: November 2024

Netherlands will be without Marten de Roon at Euro 2024 after an injury blow capped a cruel period for the Atalanta midfielder.

De Roon suffered a muscle injury two weeks ago in Atalanta s 2-0 Coppa Italia final loss to Juventus, subsequently missing Gian Piero Gasperini s side lifting the Europa League with victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

The Netherlands international was in the stands in Dublin for the 3-0 win over Xabi Alonso s Bundesliga champions that secured Atalanta s first European trophy in history.

Having already been named in Ronald Koeman s 30-man provisional squad for the Euros in Germany, starting in June, De Roon suffered another gut-wrenching punch after his absence was confirmed.

I can t imagine I ve had a week in my career, or in my life…

Germany boss Joachim Low will be confident that his side can go all the way.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia is less than a year away and Germany are the bookies’ favourites to go all the way.

Joachim Low’s side are the defending champions, boasting a wealth of talent and have been consistent performers in the last handful of major international tournaments.

So will Germany be the first side to defend the World Cup since 1962?

Confederations Cup performance highlights strength in depth

Germany are currently in the semi-finals of the FIFA Confederations Cup with a considerably weakened squad. Most recently, the Eagles thrashed an experienced Mexico side 4-1 in the semi-finals of the tournament, having progressed through Group B unbeaten.

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Ferran Torres says Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has got us all excited after they stayed perfect at Euro 2024 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Albania.

La Roja were already assured of top spot in Group B and qualification for the last 16, but ensured they advanced to the knockout stages with three wins from three games, and without conceding a goal.

Torres, one of 10 changes from Thursday s 1-0 win over Italy, scored the only goal after just 13 minutes in Dusseldorf, latching onto Dani Olmo s precise throughball and beating Albania goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha with a wonderful first-time finish.

The Barcelona forward s seventh direct goal involvement (five goals, two assists) is the joint-most by any Spain player since De la Fuente took charge (level with Joselu).…

Verdict: Both teams score

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Following a disappointing start to their Serie A campaign, Inter and Atalanta aim to climb in the standings as the 3rd round completes. The game will be played at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan, with 80,000 fans expected to see an improved output from the current Serie A winners against the Europa League champions.

Inter

After an impressive previous season that culminated with Inter winning the 20th Scudetto by defeating bitter rivals AC Milan, the start of the new era failed to have the desired impact. Although Simone Inzhaghi hoped to receive a spending spree to strengthen his championship-winning squad, the Piacezna-born manager was disappointed to receive on a free transfer both Piotr Zielinsky (N…

Phil Neville warned Portland Timbers have no time for sulking as the head coach offered an eye-opening appraisal of his side s struggles ahead of their MLS meeting with San Jose Earthquakes.

The Timbers are winless in a club-record nine straight matches after their 2-1 defeat to Seattle Sounders on Saturday.

Portland sit bottom of the Western Conference table and former Inter Miami boss Neville acknowledged the Timbers must improve – and rapidly.

Massively disappointed, the result in these games is the most important thing, Neville said, looking back at the Seattle loss.

I have to take full responsibility for this run, in life you get difficult moments and we have to really work hard; make sacrifices – that is the message for the players.

T…

Arne Slot confirmed Alisson is set for a spell on the sidelines after being forced off injured late in Liverpool s 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Diogo Jota scored the only goal nine minutes in after Eddie Nketiah had a goal disallowed in the first minute for offside.

Palace attempted to find a late equaliser, but amid their flurry of chances, Alisson went down after a routine clearance holding his right leg.

Having only just returned from a thigh injury, it is a worrying sign for the Brazilian, with big games against Chelsea and Arsenal coming up.

And though Slot was pleased to get the win that secured their stay at the top of the table over the international break, he confirmed it was unlikely Alisson would be available for their next games.

Phil Foden has left the England squad to fly back home temporarily due to a pressing family matter, an FA spokesperson confirmed.

The Manchester City star played 89 minutes in the Three Lions final Group C fixture against Slovenia on Tuesday night.

Foden has started in all three of Gareth Southgate s side s group games, featuring in England s win over Serbia and 1-1 draw with Denmark.

After confirming top spot in Cologne, the Three Lions last-16 match will take place this Sunday at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen, with their opponents to be confirmed after Wednesday s final group games.

Phil Foden has temporarily left the England camp, the FA has confirmed.

We hope all is well back at home.

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballont…

Iraq will definitely not make an appearance at the 2010 World Cup. Their chances were slim, but did exist as long as FIFA hadn t replied to an appeal concerning their qualifier with Qatar in March.

Qatar fielded Brazilian-born Emerson in their first of two matches with Iraq. It turned out however, that the player had already represented the Brazilian U-20 team using the name of Marcio Passos De Albuquerque.

Since this is against FIFA regulations, Iraq tried their luck and filed an appeal against the result of that match, a 2-0 defeat.

But the world governing body on Monday announced that it will not be treating the issue, as Iraq paid the required fee eleven days too late.

The second game was lost 0-1, allowing Qatar to advance to the next round.

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Euro 2020 is disappearing before our eyes, with the delayed tournament somehow already at the business end as we head into the final three matches.

It s been a thrill ride since the very beginning. From Italy making a sparkling start and Denmark rallying after Christian Eriksen s medical emergency, to France falling at the last 16 and England reaching the semi-finals of a second successive major tournament.

Italy, England, Spain and Denmark are all that s left as Euro 2020 enters its final week, and at this point it seems particularly tricky to call, particularly between first three.

But, given how integral statistics are to football these days, data can potentially give you edge when attempting to predict certain outcomes, and this is where Stats Perform s Artif…

France midfielder Yohan Cabaye believes the team should not be ashamed of their Euro 2012 exit at the hands of European champions Spain.

Les Bleus were comfortably beaten courtesy of two Xabi Alonso goals to see their challenge in Poland and Ukraine end at the quarter-final stage.

We were not ridiculous, the former Lille man told the French Football Federation s official website.

We have done the essential which was to reach the quarters.

We knew that in the game, we could win, but we couldn t quite do it.

France will begin their bid to win a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil later this year, and will once again meet Spain, who have been drawn in the same qualification group.

Cabaye believes Les Bleus will be ready to dish out so…