22nd June 2012
Having suffered a narrow escape in their final group game against Croatia, Spain need to show a major improvement if they are to stay on track to third successive title at major tournaments. France, too, need to raise their game after losing to Sweden on Tuesday, and les Bleus will be hoping to repeat the performance that saw them outclass very good Ukraine side in the second round.
Never have a national team won three major tournaments in a row, meaning that Spain have got a great chance to enter the history books by winning the Euro 2012, having already won Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup. That could prove to be almost impossible task unless La Furia Roja can show a major improvement on their performances from the group stage. Vincent del Bosque’s side m…
Mikel Arteta was the first victim and the first beneficiary of the new law changes after Arsenal won the Community Shield 4-1 on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Manchester City.
Gunners boss Arteta was booked in the first half by referee Stuart Attwell for protesting a decision, part of the new clampdown on the touchline behaviour of managers.
But the fiery Spaniard was celebrating after the new law on timewasting and keeping the ball in play – meaning extended periods of stoppage time – allowed his side to equalise with 101 minutes on the clock.
That winning feeling
— Arsenal (@Arsenal)
“It is really good to do that,” he said. “It was going too far and now teams are going to have to think twice. We have to prepare to play 100 min…
Jefferson Montero has agreed terms with Mexican outfit Monarcas Morelia, bringing an end to his three-year association with Villarreal.
The Ecuadorian winger moved to El Madrigal in 2009, but had failed to cement a regular starting spot with the La Liga side.
He was subsequently sent on loan to Levante and Real Betis, where he managed to secure a regular starting spot, appearing 34 times at the latter this season, helping the club retain their top-flight status.
However, the 22-year-old will now leave Spain has now agreed a three-year deal with Monarcas for an undisclosed fee.
Montero has represented his country on 19 occasions, scoring twice.
…
Sunderland defender Phil Bardsley has undergone ankle surgery and will miss the start of the Premier League season.
The former Manchester United full-back joined the Black Cats in 2008 and has since gone on to make 130 appearances for the club, cementing himself as a first-team regular.
Manager Martin O Neill expressed his disappointment that the 27-year-old required an operation on an injury sustained in an earlier pre-season fixture and will miss the start of the new season.
Phil Bardsley has had an operation, O Neill told reporters. That s a real blow for us.
But there was positive injury news for the Stadium of Light boss with Stephane Sessegnon, Wes Brown and David Vaughan all doing well in their recoveries from injury.
However, all thre…
Rafael Sobis had a goal and an assist as Tigres UANL overturned a first-leg deficit to advance to the Copa Libertadores semi-finals.
Tigres lost last week s opening leg 1-0 to Emelec in Ecuador via a second-half goal from Miller Bolanos but the Mexicans were too strong on home soil on Tuesday, winning 2-0 to claim a 2-1 aggregate victory.
Goalless in three of their past four matches in all competitions, Tigres opened the scoring in the sixth minute thanks to Sobis at Estadio Universitario de Nuevo Leon.
The Brazilian attacker s free-kick from long range eluded everyone inside the penalty area, including Emelec goalkeeper Esteban Dreer as Tigres moved level on aggregate.
Neither team added to the scoreline before the break, but the deadlock was finally bro…
Tottenham Hotspur full-back Kyle Naughton has signed a new contract, keeping him at the club until 2016.
The former England under-21 international enjoyed a successful loan spell last season at Norwich City, where he made 32 appearances.
Naughton has also spent time at Middlesbrough and Leicester.
While at Leicester in 2010/11, he was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.
The right-back joined Tottenham in 2009 from Sheffield United, along with Kyle Walker, who he will now compete with for a first-team spot at White Hart Lane.
The 23-year-old is yet to start an English Premier League game for Spurs and has only made four appearances for the north London club in all competitions.
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Verdict: Spurs/Spurs
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After climbing back to second position in the Premier League standings, Tottenham Hotspur turn their attention towards the FA Cup clash against local rivals Millwall. The Lions are again enjoying a very good FA Cup run and they head to White Hart Lane hoping to claim another major scalp.
Tottenham
Up until few weeks ago, Spurs were performing well in three major competitions, although they have since suffered a disappointing exit from the Europa League. That could easily prove a blessing in disguise considering that Tottenham can now focus on the Premier League and FA Cup, where they stand a decent chance of matching pre-season ambitions. Spurs recovered well from the aggregate defeat to KAA Gent as the…
Jermain Defoe made a goalscoring return to the international fold as England chalked up a routine 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania.
The 20th strike of Defoe s international career came after 21 minutes at Wembley and four years on from his 19th versus minnows San Marino in March 2013.
Aside from the 34-year-old Sunderland striker celebrating a starting berth in familiar style, there was little else to write home about in a forgettable encounter.
Manchester City centre-back John Stones was forced into a goal-line clearance on the stroke of half-time but Gareth Southgate s side closed out victory in comfort after Defoe s replacement Jamie Vardy doubled their advantage midway through the second period.
Burnley s Michael Keane made his competitive…
Portuguese champions Benfica are said to have started negotiating a deal for the 19-year-old forward Javairo Dilrosun who is currently a part of the Manchester City Under-23 setup.
The Citizens have had high hopes for the Netherlands Under 19 international but face a proper struggle in efforts to keep him past the current campaign.
Dilrosun’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire at the end of the season and the likes of Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Valencia and Juventus are all said to be keeping track of his situation.
Portuguese outlet O Jogo claims, however, that Benfica have now emerged as one of the favourites to land the talented forward who joined the Etihad base club in 2014 from Ajax.
Benfica are said to have already ope…
It was a game that had everything; a controversial early penalty claim when Cristiano Ronaldo went down inside the area, Lionel Messi bloodied after a collision with Marcelo s elbow, a stunning goal from the Argentine wizard, a red card for Sergio Ramos, a late James Rodriguez equaliser and then a stoppage-time winner from the irrepressible Messi to cap it all off. In short, Sunday s Clasico lived up to its billing.
The 3-2 victory saw Barcelona displace Real Madrid at the top of LaLiga due to their superior head-to-head record and, although Zinedine Zidane s men have a game in hand, the race for the title is well and truly open again. Yet the game also brought a familiar issue to light for the Catalans.
There was a time at Camp Nou not too long ago when the goalsc…