Italy were unconvincing as they moved to within a win of Euro 2012 qualification, with a 1-0 victory over the Faroe Islands in Torshavn.
Antonio Cassano s 11th-minute goal proved enough for Cesare Prandelli s side to take another great leap towards the Euro finals in Poland and Ukraine next summer, but it was far from plain sailing for the 1968 champions.
The four-time World Cup winners kept an unchanged side from that which beat Spain in a friendly in Bari last month, but had plenty of trouble breaking down the stubborn minnows, who largely looked to sit tight and hit them on the break.
Cassano scored when he raced onto Andrea Pirlo’s chipped pass to chest down and somehow smuggle the ball past Islands goalkeeper Rene Torgard before tapping home into an empty…
Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Portugal to win against Austria
Odds:
Portugal lock horns with Austria at the Parc des Princes in Paris for tonight’s Euro 2016 Group F clash, and manager Fernando Santos is hoping his side can bounce back after their opening game stalemate to finally get their bid for qualification back on track.
Portugal are third in Group F with one point from one game, having drawn their opener to Iceland, of whom they are now one point adrift of in third. Portugal are three points off first-placed Hungary, and can’t afford any more slip-ups if they are to make the knockouts.
Boasting an attack featuring the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Luis Nani (Fenerbahce) and Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas), Portugal should take som…
England claimed a narrow 1-0 victory over World Champions Spain yesterday.
It was a victory which was achieved by Capello’s defensive tactics.
Fabio Capello achieved results as a club boss by using defensive tactics in the past and they worked a treat against Vicente Del Bosque’s men.
Change
Apart from the noticeable change in the tactics Capello had brought some younger players into the squad for the Spain game. The likes of Danny Welbeck and Jack Rodwell were both brought of the bench and impressed against the World Champions.
Established
It has taken Fabio Capello a long time to give younger players their chance in the full international team. Capello took over and has stuck with the established order through thick and thicker. Now…
The Brazilian Serie A also known as Brasileirao is arguably the best league in the CONMEBOL region.
It features some of the best players in South America, although the local product is quite good in comparison to other countries. But there a few players that stand out above the rest. Here are four Brazilian talents that are worth keeping an eye during 2018. They could easily make the jump and start thriving on a bigger stage.
Arthur
Arthur is one of the hottest names in the transfer rumour mill at the moment. The 21-year-old holding midfielder plays for Gremio, and several experts have raved about him. In fact, several South American experts have dubbed him as the new Xavi , and both FC Barcelona and Chelsea are interested in signing him. Gremio plan to hold on to him,…
Harry Kane dreams of winning a major tournament with England to mark the pinnacle of anyone s career , with the Three Lions star hoping to end his trophy drought at Euro 2024.
Bayern Munich striker Kane will lead his country out once more when Gareth Southgate s side open their European Championship campaign against Serbia on Sunday.
Having fallen short in the delayed Euro 2020 final against Italy, as well as World Clup semi-final elimination to Croatia in 2018, Kane is without international glory – and his lack of club success is much discussed, too.
Kane acknowledged his own shortcomings as the England captain aims for national success in Germany.
I love playing for my country, he said at Saturday s pre-match press conference. It means the world to m…
Liverpool are in talks with defender Ibrahima Konate over a new contract, according to . Konate has two more years left on his current deal, and the player and the club are in discussions over extending to.
Konate has been on the books of Liverpool since 2021 when he joined from RB Leipzig for £36 million. The 25-year-old centre-back has not always had the best of times at Liverpool, but he has been an important player under former Reds manager Jurgen Klopp and is now a regular under boss Arne Slot.
The France international centre-back has scored one goal and given one assist in six starts and one substitute appearance in the Premier League for Liverpool so far this season. Konate has scored one goal in two UEFA Champions League for the Merseyside club so far this camp…
Borussia Dortmund are determined to replicate the heroics of their remarkable Champions League campaign last season, head coach Nuri Sahin said ahead of Wednesday s opener at Club Brugge.
The 36-year-old Sahin will lead Dortmund in Europe s elite club competition for the first time when the Bundesliga side visit Bruges.
Dortmund announced Sahin, their former assistant coach, in June as their new manager to replace Edin Terzic, who led the German club to the Champions League final last term.
Terzic s men subsequently lost to LaLiga giants Real Madrid 2-0 in the Wembley showpiece, though Sahin is desperate for another deep run in Europe.
After two or three matchdays, you will see how it s going, Sahin told reporters on Tuesday. As a finalist last year, we …
Sven-Goran Eriksson heaped praise on perfectionist Roberto Mancini as the Italy head coach continues to oversee the stunning transformation of the Azzurri at Euro 2020.
Italy will face Belgium in the quarter-finals on Friday after setting a new national record by extending their unbeaten streak to 31 games thanks to a last-16 triumph over Austria.
A proud football country but a national team on their knees after failing to qualify for Russia 2018, their first World Cup absence since 1958, Mancini is the mastermind behind a drastic recovery following his appointment more than three years ago.
Banishing the nightmares of Gian Piero Ventura s dismal tenure, Italy have only conceded more than once in one of their past 18 matches at major tournaments, dating back to t…
Lionel Messi has signed a new contract with Barcelona through to 2021, ensuring the continuation of a remarkable career with the club.
When Messi made his competitive debut in October 2004 at the tender age of 17, there was already plenty of buzz about the Argentine wizard following his quick rise through the ranks of La Masia.
The forward was not only seen as one of Barca s brightest prospects, but there were also murmurs he could potentially become an all-time great.
Fast-forward 13 years and it is fair to say Messi has lived up to those prodigious expectations, to the extent his latest terms include a mammoth €700million release clause.
The prolific forward, now 30, holds numerous individual records, while acting as the driving force behind Barca s …
Germany great Alexandra Popp has confirmed her impending international retirement.
Popp, the captain of Germany s women s team, will play her final game for her country on October 28, against Australia.
The 33-year-old has played for Germany since 2010, and has scored 67 goals in 144 appearances.
She won gold at the Rio Olympics and claimed bronze in Paris this year, while also leading Germany at two World Cups and skippering them at the 2022 Euros, in which they reached the final before losing to England.
I have always stressed that my gut will make the decision, and now it has, Wolfsburg s Popp said in a video posted on social media on Monday.
Poppi hat eine Nachricht für euch
— VfL Wolfsburg Frauen (@VfL_Frauen)
Af…