Competition: Euro 2016 qualifier
Market: Denmark to win against Serbia
Odds:
Denmark face strugglers Serbia in this weekend‘s Euro 2016 qualifier, and are hoping to pick up all three points to boost their chances of finishing top of Group I. Currently two points adrift of first-place, victory for Denmark tonight may well see them topple Portugal at the summit should the table-toppers falter in their qualifier.
As a result, it’s all to play for in the group, especially with Albania level on points with Denmark. The form of the home side have been inconsistent, however. Three wins and as many defeats from six games makes Denmark a tricky side to predict, but they will be confident of coming out on top against Serbia, given how woeful the visitors have bee…
Ronald Koeman claimed the unsavoury scenes as he left Camp Nou after the defeat against Real Madrid reflect greater social issues.
Barcelona sit ninth in LaLiga after a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid on Sunday, Koeman becoming just the second coach to suffer defeat in his first three Clasico meetings.
The Blaugrana also made it five wins without a LaLiga Clasico victory, their longest winless run against any team in the Spanish top flight since May 2008.
After the game at Camp Nou at the weekend, under-fire Barca boss Koeman had his car mobbed by a crowd of fans as he attempted to depart the stadium.
The Catalan club released a statement to condemn those actions and Koeman suggested the incident reflected wider problems as he prepares to face Rayo Vallecano…
Christian Eriksen has been training in Denmark with former club Odense for the first time since his cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
In concerning scenes, Eriksen collapsed during Denmark s tournament opener against Finland in June and was given CPR before subsequently undergoing successful heart surgery.
The 29-year-old was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), meaning he is unable to play for Inter in Serie A due to not meeting the requirements of achieving sporting fitness in Italy.
Eriksen would be allowed to play in other domestic leagues across Europe and, according to reports from BT in Denmark, the midfielder has been using his former club OB s training facilities to improve his fitness.
The former Tottenham man has been workin…
Lionel Messi was left annoyed at the state of the pitch at the Estadio Monumental de Maturin as Argentina drew 1-1 in Venezuela on Thursday.
Heavy rain in Maturin had initially caused kick-off to be delayed by half an hour, although when the players eventually took to the field it was clear that the ball was holding up in water and bounced very little.
Argentina, who had eight shots to Venezuela s 16, went ahead in the first half through Nicolas Otamendi before Salomon Rondon equalised in the 65th minute.
And Messi did not hold back in expressing his anger at the playing conditions.
It was very difficult, it makes for very ugly matches, said Messi.
We could not complete two passes in a row. In the second half we did it on the right a little more…
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis insists the Scudetto frontrunners do not have to sell rumoured Manchester United and Chelsea target Victor Osimhen.
Nigeria international Osimhen is reportedly a target for the Premier League pair, as well as other big names across Europe, after starring for Serie A leaders Napoli this season.
The 24-year-old has 17 goals this campaign – the joint-sixth most of any player across Europe s top five leagues – and has assisted a further three goals in his 21 appearances.
While interest in Osimhen will only intensify between now and the transfer window reopening in advance of next season, De Laurentiis has made it clear Napoli are not looking to cash in.
Victor is not for sale, he told German outlet Bild. Our players…
After Anthony Gordon saw a goal ruled out with 20 minutes left for Morgan Gibbs-White blocking a free-kick in the build-up, England continued on the front foot and were eventually rewarded during stoppage time when substitute Smith Rowe slotted home following a counter-attack.
England reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2017, but failed to make it out of the group stage in both 2019 and 2021.
With holders Germany and Israel having played out a 1-1 draw in Kutaisi, Carsley’s side now find themselves in the driving seat for qualification from Group C.
“I am really pleased to get the result,” Carsley said on UEFA.com.
…
Kieran Dowell is ready to handle the challenge at Rangers as he prepares for a different football life north of the border.
Rangers announced in May that the 25-year-old midfielder would officially move to Ibrox from Norwich at the start of July on a three-year deal.
Dowell was the first of boss Michael Beale’s six summer signings so far as the Govan outfit look to wrench the cinch Premiership title – as well as both domestic cups – away from Old Firm rivals Celtic.
With the move to the Light Blues comes expectation, pressure and scrutiny but former England Under-21 international Dowell is relishing the prospect.
He said: “When I first met the manager he said it was a new challenge for me, he sold it to me and it is something I am excited about.
The official line is that it doesn t matter. It s an irrelevance. In fact, why are we even talking about it?
I don t think that it plays any role. It was two years ago, said Julian Brandt on Friday.
But Spain s 6-0 slicing and dicing of Germany in November 2020 looms large over Sunday s re-match at Al Bayt Stadium, however much any protagonists pretend to ignore its presence.
Germany s record defeat in a competitive international came in that Nations League contest played in Seville, and while Joachim Low hung on a little longer as coach, that was the night when his fate was as good as sealed.
So there s one thing that has changed since the humiliation at La Cartuja: Low has gone and Hansi Flick is pulling the strings for Germany, the former Bayern Munic…
Giovanni van Bronckhorst bemoaned Rangers failings against immense Champions League opponents after another hammering at Napoli edged them closer to an unwanted record.
Rangers have shipped 19 goals in the Champions League this season, the most in a single group stage by a Scottish side, after a 3-0 dismantling by in-form Napoli in Group A on Wednesday.
Van Bronckhorst s side have lost five straight games in Europe for just a third time, with this being their first such sequence in a single campaign.
But Rangers could hit a new low with defeat in their final group outing against Ajax, entering that match with a goal difference of -18.
Dinamo Zagreb hold the worst group-stage record in Champions League history, pointless and with a -19 goal difference in t…
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots believes his team are outsiders to challenge for the Euro 2016 trophy, along with Portugal and Italy.
Wilmots guided his nation to the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where they were eliminated by eventual runners-up Argentina.
Belgium subsequently moved to the top of the FIFA Rankings, but were overtaken by the South American nation in April.
Despite being ranked as the top European side, Wilmots does not see his team as favourites for glory in France.
We ve worked well, as it s 30 years since Belgium last qualified for two straight tournaments on the pitch. There are teams like Spain, Germany and France that have a lot of quality, he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
We are amongst the outsiders like It…