France manager Didier Deschamps says he is not concerned with his side s recent struggles in front of goal ahead of their final Euro 2024 group game against Poland on Tuesday.
Les Bleus are all but through to the knockout stages of the European Championships, sitting joint-top of Group D with four points, but need to avoid defeat to ensure progression.
Yet France s only goal at the tournament so far has come courtesy of Maximilian Wober turning into his own net in the opening 1-0 victory over Austria, before a goalless draw with the Netherlands on Friday.
France failed to score with any of their 15 shots in a wasteful display against the Oranje as Deschamps went without Kylian Mbappe, who was only fit enough for the bench due to his broken nose.
Asked abo…
Market: Lille win
Odds: 4/11 @
Turning their attention back to Ligue 1 duties on Saturday evening, Lille will welcome Angers to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Starting with the hosts, booking another top-four finish last season, the Mastiffs have once again come flying out of the traps this time around. Opening up the 2024/25 campaign with a routine performance away at Reims as they secured a 2-0 victory, Bruno Genesio’s men will certainly be smelling the chance to extend on their recent flurry. Picking up some perfect momentum and securing a first-leg advantage as they clinched a 2-0 win against Slavia Prague, the former Rennes boss should find the mood in his camp at a real high. Collecting a real Champions League scalp earlier in the month as they edged past Turk…
Switzerland playmaker Xherdan Shaqiri proved Serbia s nemesis once more by helping knock Dragan Stojkovic s men out of the World Cup on a tumultuous night at Stadium 974.
Shaqiri netted a last-minute winner against Serbia at the 2018 tournament in Russia and celebrated by making an eagle shape with his hands to show his support for Kosovo, the country of his birth and a former Serbian province that declared independence in 2008. That independence is not recognised by Serbia.
The Chicago Fire man was booed and jeered throughout while at least one Serbia fan was thrown out for anti-Kosovo chanting.
Shaqiri had the last laugh with the opening goal as Switzerland, who came into the game knowing a draw would most likely be enough, advanced from Group G with a dramati…
Harry Kane moved just one goal away from becoming Tottenham s joint all-time leading goalscorer to secure a 1-0 FA Cup third-round win over Portsmouth.
Kane is only a solitary goal behind the great Jimmy Greaves staggering haul of 266 for Spurs after opening the scoring with a sublime second-half finish.
The England captain s 17th goal of the season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday was enough for the Premier League club to seal their place in the fourth round.
Antonio Conte s men had failed to register a shot on target in a poor first-half display, but were much improved following the interval against a side without a win in nine League One games – resulting in boss Danny Cowley s sacking this week.
265 and counting
— Tottenham Hotspu…
Market: Both teams to score
Odds:
With both sides handed the chance to enter the weekend topping Group E, Croatia will welcome Hungary to the Stadion Maksimir on Thursday night.
Starting with the hosts, while Croatia s 4-0 win over Slovakia last month may have improved the mood around Zagreb and moved the World Cup finalists to top spot in Group E, they once again some crashing back down to earth on foreign soil. Only managing to pick up a 1-1 draw against Azerbaijan in their last appearance, Zlatko Dalić s men have failed to find top gear. Including suffering a shock 2-1 defeat away in Hungary in their second qualifying outing, there still remains some defensive issues that need resolving. Thursday s hosts have managed to record just a single clean sheet in …
Declan Rice insists England will fear no-one at Euro 2024 and wants Gareth Southgate’s side to take inspiration from the Rugby World Cup.
England beat Italy 3-1 on Tuesday to seal their place at the finals in Germany next summer, where the 2020 runners-up will once again be among the favourites.
It will be 58 years since the men’s senior team lifted a major trophy but – after improved showings in recent tournaments under Southgate – Rice believes the hurt could finally come to an end.
Thank you for your support, Wembley.
— England (@England)
“There is no need for fear,” he said.
“Even though we went out in the World Cup (quarter-finals), it was like we took another step in terms of the way we played against France.
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There was no shortage of thrills and spills on matchday one of the Champions League, and Wednesday s action promises more of the same as one of the world s most in-form strikers faces his former club.
Erling Haaland has made a spectacular start to his Manchester City career, hitting 12 goals in all competitions since his move from Borussia Dortmund, but how will he fare when his old team visit the Etihad Stadium?
Elsewhere, Graham Potter will hope to have an immediate impact in his first game as Chelsea s head coach as they bid to bounce back from last week s 1-0 defeat to Dinamo Zagreb.
Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain, meanwhile, are among the favourites to be crowned European champions, and will both be hopeful of making it two wins from two outings.
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West Ham United are interested in signing Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Premier League rivals Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Hammers are in advanced talks over a deal for the right-back.
Wan-Bissaka is out of contract at United at the end of next season. The former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners are now looking to move on the English right-back and cash in on the 26-year-old. TEAMtalk has claimed that a potential move to the Hammers is in its advanced stage.
The right-back has been on the books of United since 2019 when he joined from Palace. Wan-Bissaka has made 172 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. He has scored two goals, given 13 assists and kept 51 clean sheets in thos…
Wales suffered heartbreak in their first-ever penalty shoot-out as Poland booked their place at Euro 2024 after a goalless 120 minutes.
Spot-kicks were needed on a tense evening in which Ben Davies had a first-half header disallowed for offside but chances were scarce in this play-off final.
Wales were reduced to 10 in the final seconds as Chris Mepham was banished for a second yellow card and Cardiff City Stadium held its breath following an impromptu rendition of the national anthem.
Poland converted five perfect penalties with Robert Lewandowski, Sebastian Szymanski, Przemyslaw Frankowski, Nicola Zalewski and Krzysztof Piątek successful against Danny Ward.
Wales matched them as Ben Davies, Kieffer Moore – via the underside of the crossbar – Harry …
The Republic of Ireland sit second in Group B Euro 2012 qualifying following a 0-0 draw away to Russia on Tuesday.
Giovanni Trapattoni s men earned a valuable point to keep their qualification hopes alive after a solid defensive display in Moscow.
Ireland worked tirelessly to thwart Russia s constant attacks on goal, with goalkeeper Shay Given s save from
Andrey Arshavin s low drive from 20 yards a highlight.
Defender Richard Dunne then cleared off the line just past the half-hour mark, while Sergei Ignashevich s late header from an Arshavin set-piece rocketed into the side netting.
Ireland sit on 14 points in the group standings, three adrift of leaders Russia.
Elsewhere in Group B, Slovakia were beaten 4-0 at home to Armenia.
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