Roberto Martinez will expect a vast improvement from his Belgium side when they go in search of a record-breaking World Cup win over Morocco on Sunday.
The Red Devils were fortunate to beat Canada 1-0 in their first match of the tournament on Wednesday courtesy of a clinical finish from Michy Batshuayi.
Canada were the better side and Alphonso Davies had a penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois before Batshuayi secured all three points.
Belgium looked shaky at the back and got away with a lacklustre performance, Canada failing to find the back of the net with 22 attempts in the opening match of only their second World Cup.
But if Belgium beat Morocco, they will become the first team in World Cup history to win nine consecutive group games.
Morocco held…
Newcastle United are interested in signing Yannick Carrasco from Atletico Madrid in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Newcastle see Carrasco as the ideal winger for manager Eddie Howe and are ready to pay his release clause of €60 million. For La Liga champions Atletico are reportedly willing to sell the 29-year-old, who can also operate as a wing-back, due to economic issues.
Carrasco is in his second spell at Atletico. The Belgium international winger was on the books of the Madrid club from 2015 until 2018 when he moved to Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional. Carrasco won the UEFA Europa League in 2018 with Atleti and reached the final of the UEFA Champions League in 2015-16.
The winger returned to Atletico in January…
Giovanni De Biasi basked in Albania s most valuable victory over Armenia as the Balkan nation booked their spot at Euro 2016.
Albania had never qualified for a major tournament prior to kick-off in Armenia, but that all changed thanks to a 3-0 win on Sunday.
A Kamo Hovhannisyan own goal and strikes from Ledian Memushaj and Armando Sadiku sparked scenes of elation as Albania moved ahead of Denmark in Group I to secure the second automatic qualification spot behind Portugal.
Speaking after the historic achievement, head coach De Biasi said via UEFA.com: This has been a big success, that s obvious. I m happy we ve won a ticket to EURO 2016.
To tell the truth, the score [in the 3-0 victory in Armenia] didn t matter; the important thing was to win, get the …
Brazil coach Tite believes Neymar is irreplaceable because his technical abilities are what empower the rest of the team.
Neymar was back in the starting XI for Monday s World Cup last-16 win over South Korea at Stadium 974 after injuring ankle ligaments on matchday one.
His participation for the rest of the tournament had been in doubt, but he returned and played a key role in the comfortable 4-1 victory, scoring a penalty that took him to within one goal of Pele s all-time record of 77.
Brazil were irresistible at times in the first half and Neymar was generally at the centre of their most promising attacks, even if he did not necessarily record an assist.
Before Monday, Brazil s performances had been functional if not spectacular, but Neymar s return w…
Mauricio Pochettino is eager to build a bond between his United States team and their supporters after he made a winning start to his tenure as head coach.
Pochettino s USA ran out 2-0 winners over Panama in Austin on Saturday.
Yunus Musah and Ricardo Pepi got the goals as the USA claimed a morale-boosting victory in front of a 20,000-strong crowd at Q2 Stadium.
And Pochettino stressed the importance of a strong connection between fans and team as he looks to build toward the 2026 World Cup.
It was a massive shock for me to see my face behind the goal, like you say and a different picture, said the Argentine, referring to a banner held up by some fans.
I think I am so happy; very good connection with the fans.
That s really important to…
After 15 years without success on the international stage, Italy could win a second title in three months this week as the 2021 Nations League concludes.
That may come as a surprise to some – after all, given how recent Euro 2020 was and the fact the Nations League Finals are taking place amid a busy World Cup qualification period, it wouldn t be unsurprising if most people had completely forgotten about UEFA s secondary competition.
But here we are, it s Finals week and hosts Italy have themselves a wonderful opportunity to clinch another trophy, with Portugal winning the inaugural competition – also in front of home crowds – two years ago.
France and Belgium will contest the second semi-final, with Italy going up against Spain first on Wednesday in a repe…
The Premier League provided its usual drama on Saturday with decisive penalties awarded in all but one of the fixtures.
Chelsea left it late against Leeds United in a game that saw referee Chris Kavanagh award three penalties, while Manchester United earned a narrow win thanks to another Cristiano Ronaldo spot-kick.
Liverpool also profited from the penalty spot as Steven Gerrard made his return to Anfield with Aston Villa, and another conversion from 12 yards aided Manchester City at home to Wolves.
Elsewhere, Arsenal cruised past Southampton, who are yet to win at Emirates Stadium in 23 Premier League attempts – the longest winless run for one club away to another in the competition s history.
With tons of action to unpack, Stats Perform takes an i…
Jude Bellingham hailed unbelievable human being Gareth Southgate, while Kieran Trippier and Eberechi Eze also paid tribute to the outgoing England boss.
Southgate announced on Tuesday he would step down as the Three Lions head coach following their heartbreaking Euro 2024 final defeat by Spain.
The 53-year-old was overseeing his second successive European Championship final since replacing Sam Allardyce in September 2016, while also guiding England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals.
Southgate departs having won 61 of his 102 matches at the helm, with only Walter Winterbottom and Bobby Robson managing England on more occasions.
And Bellingham saluted the man under whom he made his Three Lions debut in 2020 before becoming a key member of the side.
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Emile Smith Rowe and Alex Iwobi grabbed the goals to secure a 2-1 win for Fulham over Leicester City at Craven Cottage.
Iwobi’s goal 20 minutes from time on Saturday saw Marco Silva’s team clinch their first victory of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Another former Arsenal player – Smith Rowe, a summer signing from the Gunners – opened his Fulham account when he broke the deadlock in the 18th minute.
Wout Faes headed home an equaliser before half-time, but the hosts’ dominance ultimately paid off when Iwobi raced through to finish underneath Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen.
Adama Traore and Iwobi had already been thwarted by the time the former set up Smith Rowe to fire firmly beyond Hermansen.
Faes scored the leveller against the…
Many onlookers might have anticipated Newcastle United would soon be contending for honours with the backing of Saudi Arabia s Public Investment Fund, but few could have imagined the rapid rate of their improvement.
Just months removed from a Premier League relegation battle, Newcastle are through to the EFL Cup final and in position for Champions League qualification.
Yet this Newcastle team have not enjoyed their relative success to this point by playing in the same manner as Kevin Keegan s open, entertaining and erratic side of the 1990s.
Eddie Howe this week described Newcastle s class of 2022-23 as working within the Kevin framework , but their best attributes go back further to their roots.
Fortiter defendit triumphans – triumphing by brave defen…