Roy Hodgson has never had it so good in his time as England boss – and he knows it.
After winning all 10 of their Euro 2016 qualifiers, England s preparations for the tournament in France continue against Germany and Netherlands with an array of attacking options at the manager s disposal.
It s always nice to announce a squad when you have got some riches in front of you, said Hodgson after announcing his squad. We have a lot of possibilities some very good and different strikers but we need to produce on the pitch.
Captain and record goalscorer Wayne Rooney is out with a knee problem for the games in Berlin and at Wembley, which gives England s other forwards an ideal chance to stake their claims for a starting spot with the national side.
Hodgson …
Forgotten Brazilian striker Adriano is on the verge of sensationally joining Ligue 2 outfit Le Havre, confirmed the player s agent.
Adriano is a free agent following his release by Atletico Paranaense in April but new Le Havre president Christophe Maillol is willing to offer the striker a chance to revive his career, despite only making four league appearances in Brazil since 2012.
Maillol is desperate to secure a marquee signing as he attempts to help Le Havre, who sit seventh in Ligue 2 after 10 rounds, reach France s top-flight.
And the club president sees Adriano once regarded as one of the world s best strikers after helping Italian giants Inter to four successive Serie A titles between 2005-09 as the ideal signing.
Maillot confirmed the veteran fron…
Jonjo Shelvey s moment of petulance was punished by Dele Alli and Ben Davies as Tottenham opened their Premier League campaign with a 2-0 win over 10-man Newcastle United at St James Park.
Newcastle kept Tottenham, who finished runners-up last term, at arm s length during a lacklustre first half, but Shelvey trod on Alli s ankle three minutes into the second period and was shown a straight red card by referee Andre Marriner.
Rafael Benitez s side, who had already lost Paul Dummett and debutant Florian Lejeune to injury, were unable to contain Spurs thereafter, with Alli making the breakthrough when he stretched to volley Christian Eriksen s exquisite delivery into the back of the net.
Davies added Tottenham s second with 20 minutes remaining, finishing a slick mo…
Sergio Ramos now holds the joint-record for most red cards in LaLiga history after receiving his 18th in Real Madrid s victory over Deportivo La Coruna.
Madrid won 3-0 at the Riazor on Sunday, with Gareth Bale, Casemiro and Toni Kroos all scoring in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo.
But the visitors captain Ramos was involved in controversy. He was fortunate only to receive a booking in the 53rd minute for raising his hand to the face of Depor defender Fabian Schar, who was also booked, as the pair argued over whether Madrid should have kicked the ball out of play while Zakaria Bakkali was down injured.
Then, in the second minute of stoppage time, he received a second yellow after being adjudged to have fouled Depor substitute Borja Valle with his arm in an aeria…
Gian Piero Gasperini knows Atalanta will not be able to catch anyone by surprise in this season s Champions League as they aim to qualify from a difficult group that includes Liverpool.
The Serie A side marked their debut campaign in Europe s leading club competition in 2019-20 by reaching the quarter-finals, having fought back impressively from a shocking start to qualify for the knockout stages.
Atalanta overcame three straight defeats to progress behind Manchester City, and will once again come up against the reigning Premier League champions this term.
They have been drawn alongside Liverpool, a team Gasperini describes as extraordinary following their achievements in recent years under Jurgen Klopp, as well as Ajax and Midtjylland.
The aim o…
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While the attention of the football world is currently on Euro 2020 and Copa America, there are many looking ahead to the start of the new domestic season and what that ll entail. However, as Europe looks ahead to an August start date, there are other parts of the globe already embroiled in a new league campaign including the United States. Today, we re going to take a look at what should be an intriguing Major League Soccer clash between Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders.
Colorado Rapids
Colorado haven t always been enjoying the lofty heights of success in Major League Soccer on a consistent basis but when they hit their top form, they really know how to turn it on. At this moment in time they ve go…
Diego Maradona says he is baffled by some of the career choices made by Leonardo, claiming that the Brazilian is motivated by money.
After coaching spells with both AC Milan and Inter, Leonardo is now serving as sporting director of Paris Saint-Germain, who are one of the richest clubs in the world, having been taken over by the Qatari Investment Authority last May.
And Maradona, who is currently coaching in the United Arab Emirates with Al Wasl, suggested that Leonardo has been lured to the French capital by the promise of petrodollars.
I don t understand Leonardo, the World Cup winner mused during an interview with Canal Football Club.
I did not understand him when he moved to Inter Milan from AC Milan, and I understand even less what he s doing toda…
Jose Mourinho bemoaned Paulo Dybala s absence after Roma slipped to a 1-0 derby defeat against Lazio, but revealed his hope the Argentina international will return before the World Cup.
Felipe Anderson capitalised on an error from Roger Ibanez as Maurizio Sarri s team clinched a crucial win over their arch rivals on Sunday, moving to third in the Serie A table.
While Lazio were without influential duo Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ciro Immobile at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma only managed two shots on target as they toiled in the absence of Dybala – their top goalscorer with five league goals this season.
We talked about Milinkovic-Savic and Immobile, we didn t talk about Dybala, Mourinho said at a post-match news conference.
I think he is more important, …
Central Coast Mariners striker Matt Simon has announced he will quit the club next week to join Korean K-League club Chunnam Dragons.
In a significant blow to the A-League leaders, Simon has decided to try his luck in Asia and has signed a three-year deal with Chunnam.
The in-form striker will play in the Mariners home game against Gold Coast on Saturday and then the one with Melbourne Victory on January 4 before flying out for Korea.
While disappointed to be leaving his hometown club, who are favourites for this season s title, Simon said the opportunity to play abroad was too good to turn down.
It has always been a goal of mine to play overseas and this is an opportunity for me to take the next step in my career, Simon said.
I ve had a lot of…
Four-time J-League winning striker Marquinhos has returned to the Japanese top flight to sign with ex-club Yokohama F. Marinos.
The 35-year-old Brazilian, who helped Kashima Antlers to league titles in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as well as Yokohama in 2003, returns to Japan after a short stint in his homeland with Atletico Mineiro.
The 2008 J-League Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot winner had left Japan last April, walking out on Vegalta Sendai, due to emotional reasons following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in the island nation.
However, Marquinhos has decided to return to Japan to join Yokohama F. Marinos whom he spent the title-winning 2003 season with, scoring 12 goals in 31 appearances.
Marquinhos, who first moved to Japan in 2001, has also had …