Under-fire manager Stephen Kenny was spared further punishment as the Republic of Ireland eased to a 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying victory over Gibraltar.
Brighton teenager Evan Ferguson fired the visitors into an eighth-minute lead at the Estadio Algarve with his third senior international goal before Celtic winger Mikey Johnston, Wolves defender Matt Doherty and substitute Callum Robinson struck to wrap up just a second win of the Group B campaign.
Kenny had gone into the game insisting he would remain in charge until a review of his reign has been carried out after November’s fixtures, although a poor result here would only have increased the clamour for change.
FT | Two goals in each half means the three points are coming back to Ireland
Good job, lads …
FIFA president Sepp Blatter hopes Spain will bid for the 2018 World Cup, possibly jointly with neighbouring Portugal, Spain s sports press quoted him as saying on Tuesday.
The time has come for Spain to organise another World Cup. I would like the president of the Spanish Football Federation to make official Spain s bid for the 2018 World Cup, he said Monday in Zurich, sports daily AS reported.
Blatter was speaking at the Swiss headquarters of football s world governing body to a visiting delegation made up of members of Spanish clubs and the Spanish Football Federation.
Spain hosted the 1982 World Cup which was won by Italy who beat West Germany 3-1 in the final held at Real Madrid s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
In November the president of the Portug…
Italy shot six points clear in Group C following a hard-fought 1-0 win at Slovenia in Friday s Euro 2012 qualifier, while Serbia also won.
The Azzurri had to wait until the 73rd minute for Thiago Motta to find the net, the Inter Milan midfielder ensuring Italy would leave Ljubljana a step closer to qualification to the 2012 finals in Poland and Ukraine.But it could have been much worse for Cesare Prandelli s side, who might have been made to rue their profligacy after missing a couple of straightforward first-half chances.The best of those fell to Inter s Giampaolo Pazzini, whose one-timed shot at Christian Maggio s cross crashed off the upright in the 23rd minute.At the other end, Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon produced a magnificent diving save to redirect Robert Koren s a…
Unai Emery has praised special Jhon Duran after his late brace secured Aston Villa a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League on Monday.
The Reds looked to be on their way to a 3-1 victory despite Youri Tielemans’ strike after Cody Gakpo and Jarell Quansah added to Emiliano Martinez’s early own goal.
However, Duran s 79th-minute introduction changed the game as the Colombian scored twice in three minutes to salvage a draw.
Villa needed a win to secure a Champions League spot, but a point keeps their fate in their own hands despite Tottenham having a game in hand against Manchester City on Tuesday.
Emery was full of praise for his forward, acknowledging how important his goals could be by Sunday.
Speaking to Sky Sports…
Crystal Palace forward Jean-Philippe Mateta has no issues with the club s refusal to sell him this past transfer window.
Mateta had a strong second half of the season at Palace, and was a key performer for Oliver Glasner.
The striker subsequently helped France win gold at the Paris Olympics.
Mateta was, however, open to leaving Palace over the summer, though with the club having rejected interest, the 27-year-old is happy to put thoughts on his future to one side.
In an interview with L Equipe, he said: I m a realistic person: the club didn t want to sell me.
Well, I m moving on and I m doing everything so that the team obtains better results than last year. And when it s time to ask ourselves these kinds of questions [about the future], we will …
Jordan Pickford will become England s leading appearance maker at major international tournaments against Denmark at Euro 2024.
The Everton goalkeeper will make his 21st appearance for the Three Lions at a major international competition in Frankfurt, surpassing Peter Shilton s record.
Pickford made his debut for his country in 2017 in a draw with Germany at Wembley, and was included in Gareth Southgate s 23-man squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The 30-year-old has since established himself as England s number one, and has kept 10 clean sheets for his nation at major tournaments, the latest of which coming last Sunday against Serbia.
A landmark match for
He s set to become the record English appearance maker at major tournaments, passin…
Netherlands midfielder Teun Koopmeiners was expected to star for his country at Euro 2024, but instead is left rueing a nightmare injury that has ruled him out of the tournament.
Koopmeiners was an integral figure as Atalanta secured their first-ever European trophy this term, beating Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa Conference League final last month.
With Ronald Koeman already missing Barcelona s Frenkie de Jong for the upcoming tournament in Germany, the Netherlands boss was dealt another blow on Tuesday.
Koopmeiners took to Instagram to confirm his absence for UEFA s 17th edition of their flagship competition after his injury in Monday s warm-up victory over Iceland.
What should have been a wonderful month has unfortunately turned into a nightmare, wro…
Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has hinted Antonio Cassano will be included in his Euro 2012 squad, and is satisfied with the striker s condition.
The Azzurri boss watched Cassano train with his Milan team-mates to check up on the forward, who returned to action earlier in April after being sidelined since October following an emergency heart procedure.
Cassano played a major role in Italy s qualification for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, so the fact that he is now working his way back to full fitness is a major boost.
I can see that he is playing more and more, and that s important for a quality player like him, the former Fiorentina coach told Milan Channel.
I thing he s doing very well. I came here to see exactly that and I m satisfied.
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With this summer’s European Championship crown up for grabs on Saturday evening, England will meet Spain in Batumi.
England U21
Starting with England, putting in another rampant display earlier in the week as they cruised their way to a routine 3-0 semi-final romp against Israel, the Young Lions have continued to shine this summer. Reaching their first European Championship final since 2009, Lee Carsley’s men find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Storming their way to the knockout stage after winning each of their three Group C appearances by a 2-0 scoreline, the one-time Everton midfielder will be hugely excited by his side’s continued success at the back. In fact, England are yet to concede a single European Champions…
Portugal midfielder Joao Moutinho thinks success in Euro 2016 will be the first of many major trophies for his country.
Fernando Santos men stunned hosts France in winning Sunday s final 1-0 thanks to substitute Eder s superb long-range strike in extra time.
The victory at Stade de France saw Portugal taste continental glory 12 years after they were stunned as hosts at the final hurdle, losing out in the Euro 2004 showpiece to Greece.
Monaco midfielder Moutinho, 29, now believes the ingredients are in place for further Portugal silverware in future tournaments.
We have a team with a mixture of experience and youth really good young players, he told reporters after the match.
This is the first title, but God willing, we can go on to have mo…