Beth Mead admits England’s Euro qualifying group is “not the nicest” but hopes they can achieve “consistency” in their upcoming fixtures.
The Lionesses begin their European Championship title defence with qualifying games for next year’s tournament, starting with Sweden at Wembley on April 5 before facing the Republic of Ireland in Dublin four days later. Group A3 also includes France, who England will play in May.
April’s fixtures will be the first set of competitive games since their Nations League disappointment in December, where England’s hopes of securing a spot for Team GB in the Paris Olympics were ended and Mead believes they are in a “tough group” for the upcoming qualifiers.
Speaking about her reaction to the draw, the England forwa…
Scotland will kick off Euro 2024 after they were drawn to face tournament hosts Germany in Group A.
Steve Clarke’s side, who sealed qualification for the finals with two matches to spare, will play in the opening match in Munich on June 14 before games against Switzerland and Hungary.
Gareth Southgate’s England were drawn to face Denmark, Slovenia and Serbia in Group C.
All set for EURO 2024!
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024)
Wales still need to win two play-off matches in March if they are going to make it, but face a difficult assignment against 2022 World Cup finalists France, the Netherlands and Austria if they do.
Scotland lost to Germany at the group stage of Euro 92, a 2-0 defeat preventing the Scots from progressing. Scotland a…
After 36 intense games, Euro 2016 celebrated the second of two rest days on Friday ahead of the upcoming round-of-16 clashes.
But despite the lack of games, there was still plenty of action to be seen in France. As ever, we present the pick of the more seldom-seen moments, featuring a rap about a not so free-scoring Belgian attacker.
CALL ME BENTEKE, BENTEKE
It s fair to say Euro 2016 has not been Belgium striker Christian Benteke s tournament just yet.
The Liverpool man remained on the bench for the full 90 minutes against Italy, while he featured for a combined total of 11 minutes during two substitute cameos against the Republic of Ireland and Sweden.
That s not stopped Benteke from inspiring other people, though.
Young Belg…
Chelsea are interested in signing Victor Boniface from Bayer Leverkusen in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Chelsea are on the hunt for a number nine and Boniface is one of the players on the radar of the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners.
Boniface has been on the books of Bayer since the summer of 2023 when he joined from Union SG. The striker has been superb for the German club and has established himself as one of the better players in his position in the Bundesliga. The 23-year-old helped Bayer win the league title last season.
The young striker has scored three goals and given one assist in three starts and one substitute appearance in the Bundesliga for Bayer so far this season. Boniface scored 14 goals …
Arsene Wenger s Arsenal reign came to an end in winning fashion on Sunday as his side claimed a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield Town at John Smith s Stadium.
A first-half goal from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, his 10th in the Premier League since arriving from Borussia Dortmund, was enough to
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secure the Gunners first points away from home in 2018.
It also allowed Wenger to celebrate victory in his 828th and final top-flight match in charge at the 54th different ground he has visited as Gunners boss in the competition.
A guard of honour greeted Wenger as he made his way out onto the pitch and two planes carrying banners wishing him a fond farewell were flown over the ground during the first half.
There was little to shout about on the pitch, with Ar…
Thiago Motta is relishing the chance to end Juventus three-match winless run in Serie A against former club Genoa this weekend.
Motta, who has taken nine points from his first five games as Juventus head coach, returns to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris after playing and managing the Grifone.
The 42-year-old made 27 appearances for Genoa in all competitions, scoring six goals in the 2008-09 season before moving to Inter the following campaign.
Motta then returned as their head coach in 2019, replacing Aurelio Andreazzoli, but managed just two wins from his 10 games in charge (D3 L5) before being sacked.
I ve experienced so many good moments. It was a privilege. I enjoyed it both as a player and as a coach. I m always happy to return there, Motta said.
…
Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp is close to signing a contract extension with the Bundesliga leaders which looks set to keep him in the Ruhr valley until at least 2014, it was revealed Thursday.
The 43-year-old is enjoying a stellar season at the helm of Dortmund who are seven points clear of second-placed Mainz in the German league and have a 14-point lead over defending champions Bayern Munich, who are eighth.
Klopp s current contract is valid until June 2012.
Both sides want this now, we must still find a way that it works well, Klopp s agent Marc Kosick told German magazine Kicker.
The contract is expected to be signed before the end of the year.
Since joining Dortmund in July 2008, Dortmund have steadily improved under Klopp.
They finis…
Tip of the hat to Russia.
As much for their team going as far as the quarter final off the back of a seven-match winless streak in the warm-up to the tournament and for hosting what will be remembered as one of the most exciting World Cups in football history.
With four matches remaining and as many teams none of which are pre-tournament’s main favourites Germany and Brazil a few would dare predict the winner at this point. England, Belgium, France and perennial dark horses Croatia have all got equal chances heading into the semi-final.
As far as the individual markets are concerned, this particular niche offers a genuinely better betting prospect in which the things are very much alive and kicking.
The World Cup 2018 Golden Boot
With six goals on h…
Gareth Southgate and his England squad have the support of Queen Elizabeth and the Royal Family heading into their Euro 2020 final against Italy.
England beat Denmark 2-1 after extra-time on Wednesday to book their place in the final of a major tournament for the first time since 1966, the year they won the World Cup at Wembley.
The national stadium is again the venue for England s second final, with Roberto Mancini s Italy side standing in the way of Southgate s men.
Ahead of the fixture, England s manager received a letter of support from the monarch.
Fifty-five years ago I was fortunate to present the World Cup to Bobby Moore, and saw what it meant to the players, management and support staff to reach and win the final of a major international foot…
The winner of France Football s 2017 Ballon d Or is set to be announced on Thursday, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi the two frontrunners to be crowned the world s best player yet again.
Kaka was the last player to beat either of them to first place in 2007, with every single one taken home by the Real Madrid and Barcelona stars since.
Ronaldo, the current holder, is thought to be the favourite once again and, should he win, he will go level on five with Messi as the player with the most Ballons d Or.
The pair have enjoyed an immense rivalry over the years which has arguably helped to drive them both on to become the incredible performers that they are.
in 2009, Leo Messi then only 22 won the Ballon d Or award for the first time.
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