Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Portugal to win Group F
Odds:
Portugal enjoyed a 2-1 win against Belgium to end their international break on a high after a disappointing home defeat to Bulgaria days before. Having been drawn in a seemingly straight-forward group (F), Portugal go into this summer’s European Championship as big favourites to make the knockouts as table-toppers.
Austria, Iceland and Hungary are the three other sides challenging Portugal in the group, but the latter are still expected to come out on top. Their form has been inconsistent of late, however, with the national team having won two and lost two of their last four games.
Portugal’s competitive form has been more impressive, boasting four consecutive wins in the qualifiers la…
Raul Jimenez missed a glorious late chance as Fulham and Brentford shared a goalless draw in a profligate Premier League clash at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Both sides saw their Premier League winless runs extend on Saturday, with Brentford without victory in two games and Fulham not triumphing in their last three.
It could have been a different story, though, if not for substitute Jimenez lifting a gilt-edged 73rd-minute opportunity over as Marco Silva s Cottagers failed to snatch that late chance.
This draw leaves Brentford – who saw Bryan Mbeumo denied by the crossbar in the first half – in 16th but with their Premier League status already secure, while Fulham are 12th.
The points are shared.
0-0
— Fulham Football Club (@Fulha…
Al-Ittihad have announced the signing of Danilo Pereira from Paris Saint-Germain.
The midfielder, who was often deployed at centre-back for PSG, has moved to the Saudi Pro League in a deal reportedly worth €5million.
Pereira made 157 appearances for the French champions in all competitions over four years, winning three Ligue 1 titles, the Coupe de France twice, and the Trophee des Champions three times.
However, he had fallen out of favour, having not featured in any of Luis Enrique s matchday squads so far this season.
Pereira had the most blocks (25) among PSG players in the league last season, and completed the most passes (2084), while he won possession back 128 times, the fourth-best tally in the team.
| Danilo Pereira is a Tiger
New Manchester United signing Sofyan Amrabat has revealed manager Erik ten Hag is one of the most important people in his career after being reunited with the Dutchman at Old Trafford.
The 27-year-old, who joined on loan from Fiorentina on deadline day, came through Utrecht’s academy to play 50 times for the senior side during Ten Hag’s spell in charge between 2015 and 2017.
“It was very important because I was very young,” he told the club’s website.
Sofyan Amrabat s first interview as a United player is now live
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
“I was 18, 19 years old and he gave me the chance to play in the first team with Utrecht.
“We had a fantastic time, a really good season. I learned a lot from him so maybe he’s o…
Borussia Dortmund forward Marco Reus has been left out of Germany s final squad for Euro 2016.
Reus, who turned 27 on Tuesday, has been cut from the squad due to concerns over his fitness, according to head coach Joachim Low.
He can only just about run at the moment, Low said of Reus, who also missed the World Cup two years ago due to injury.
It s a bitter decision, for us and for him. He would have been an asset.
Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira, who earned a place in the final 23, added: It s never easy for the team when players are cut from the squad. Marco took the disappointing news in a very composed manner.
Hoffenheim midfielder Sebastian Rudy, as well as Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielders Karim Bellarabi and Julian Brandt, have als…
Thomas Delaney has suffered torn ligaments in his right ankle and will be out of action until January.
Borussia Dortmund confirmed the nature of the 28-year-old s injury on Wednesday after he returned from international duty.
Midfielder Delaney was substituted 13 minutes into Denmark s crucial Euro 2020 qualifier against Republic of Ireland on Monday, unable to assist his country as they secured a 1-1 draw to qualify for the finals.
Delaney has played six times in the Bundesliga this season, having appeared 30 times last term following his move from Werder Bremen.
Thomas Delaney tore ligaments in his right ankle and will be available again in January.
Wishing you a speedy recovery, Thomas!
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow)
…
Barcelona boss Jonatan Giraldez believes experience will be key in the Women’s Champions League final against Wolfsburg.
The teams face off in Eindhoven on Saturday with Barca going for a second title and Wolfsburg a third.
Barca have won one – in 2021 – and lost two – in 2019 and last year – of the finals they have played.
Wolfsburg have been beaten finalists three times, most recently in 2020, and won the competition in 2013 and 2014.
Barça gearing up in Eindhoven //
— UEFA Women’s Champions League (@UWCL)
Giraldez said: “Experience is one of the most important things and that goes for all areas of life. The more experience you have the better you will do.
“That doesn’t just go for Barcelona but also nati…
Radamel Falcao is playing the long game as Colombia prepare to take on El Salvador in a friendly in New Jersey on Friday.
The striker currently on loan at Manchester United from Monaco missed the World Cup earlier this year with a knee injury, but Colombia thrived despite his absence.
Jose Pekerman s men made it to the quarter-finals, losing 2-1 to hosts Brazil, while attacker James Rodriguez claimed the golden boot with six goals.
Falcao still rues missing out on Colombia s Brazilian adventure and is determined to feature in Russia in four years time. The forward views forthcoming friendlies against El Salvador and Canada as the first step towards achieving that goal.
Colombia will have to give 100 per cent to beat El Salvador and Canada, and on the oth…
Christian Eriksen and Rasmus Hojlund have been named in Denmark s squad for Euro 2024, although there is no place for Matt O Riley in the 26-player party.
Eriksen s Euro 2020 campaign was notoriously curtailed after he suffered a cardiac arrest during his nation s opening match against Finland in Copenhagen.
The midfielder watched on from hospital as the Red and Whites went on to reach the semi-finals, but he will feature again this time around alongside Manchester United team-mate Hojlund.
However, O Riley has been left out, despite an impressive season with Scottish Premiership champions Celtic in which he scored 18 goals.
It s hard to disappoint someone, these are boyhood dreams that come up short, head coach Kasper Hjulmund told reporters, [but] I m …
Hirving Lozano s 53rd-minute strike against Panama secured Mexico s place at the 2018 World Cup on Friday but coach Juan Carlos Osorio knows the hard work starts now.
Mexico s 1-0 win maintained their unbeaten record in qualifying and ensured they will return to Russia after finishing fourth at this summer s Confederations Cup.
It is the seventh successive World Cup that Mexico have qualified for but on each of those occasions they have failed to get past the round of 16.
And while Osorio is keen to celebrate their latest achievement, he knows he must begin plotting how they can go deeper in the competition next year.
The most important thing is to enjoy this moment. We set a goal for Mexico to qualify for the World Cup without any fuss, we have achi…