Month: November 2024

Luis de la Fuente says Spain will not make the mistake of underestimating Euro 2024 surprise package Georgia in the round of 16.

Spain cruised through the so-called group of death , winning all three of their games against Croatia, Italy and Albania without conceding a single goal.

Meanwhile, Georgia progressed as one of the best third-place teams after stunning Euro 2016 champions Portugal with a 2-0 victory in their final group game.

La Roja also met Georgia in Euro 2024 qualifying, earning a memorable 7-1 victory in the away fixture.

However, De la Fuente was quick to praise the improvement in their opponents since that meeting, noting that Spain had to expect a bigger challenge this time around.

It was a very important game for us, we arrived…

LaLiga has seen a lot of upheaval over the past few months, none more so than since the start of August as Lionel Messi s future unravelled.

This will be the first season that LaLiga has been without Messi since 2003-04, and as such there are plenty of people suggesting Spain s top tier has subsequently lost much of its appeal.

Be that as it may, even with spending significantly limited among clubs this year, there are still some interesting new arrivals to LaLiga.

Below, Stats Perform uses Opta data to look at five of them…

Memphis Depay, forward Barcelona, free transfer from Lyon

Granted, Barcelona s rocky financial situation means it is yet to be confirmed if Depay will be registered for the start of the season.

But assuming Depay is …

Rodrygo silenced San Siro with a last-gasp winner as Real Madrid overcame Inter 1-0 in Champions League Group D on Wednesday. 

A scuffed volley off a lovely cushioned pass from fellow substitute Eduardo Camavinga saw Rodrygo give Madrid all three points in former Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti s first European game since returning to the helm. 

Inter dominated the first half but both Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez failed to find a way past Thibaut Courtois when presented with chances you would have expected them to tuck away.

The game appeared to be destined for a draw until Rodrygo s 89th-minute strike left Samir Handanovic rooted to the spot, giving Madrid a win away at Inter in the Champions League for the second straight season.

FT: 0-1
89 |

…

Prediction: Argentina win

Best Odds: 

Bookmaker: 

The pause button has been hit on domestic football and in its place, we ve got the return of the international break. It s the final one of the year but it s certainly important as the road to next year s FIFA World Cup in Qatar continues.

Today, we re going to take a look at what should be an enticing clash between old rivals Uruguay and Argentina in CONMEBOL qualifying.

Uruguay

Uruguay always seem to take up the role of the bridesmaid but with their iconic squad slowly starting to age, you d have to think they ll be dying to make one last push for World Cup glory. They came close all the way back in 2010 by making it to the semi-finals and this time around, if they can edge past a tough run …

Vladimir Petkovic has asked for solidarity  and positivity  from Switzerland supporters ahead of the crunch Euro 2020 Group A match against Turkey on Sunday. 

A 1-1 draw with Wales was followed by a resounding 3-0 defeat to Italy to leave Switzerland s hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages hanging by a thread. 

They will need to beat Turkey and hope Wales lose to Italy in the group s other game to secure a top-two finish. 

Petkovic and his players have come under intense scrutiny since the Italy defeat, but the head coach has called on Switzerland supporters to get behind the team for Sunday s clash in Baku. 

Against Turkey we have another chance to qualify for the round of 16 and we have to bring all of our values and virtues back to the pi…

Federico Chiesa cancelled out a Dries Mertens strike as Juventus and COVID-hit opponents Napoli played out a 1-1 draw at the Allianz Stadium.

Thursday s game was in doubt right until kick-off due to a coronavirus outbreak in the visitors camp that left them without a number of players, as well as boss Luciano Spalletti.

Napoli led at half-time through Mertens low drive, but returning winger Chiesa equalised for Juventus early in the second half and that is how the open and lively contest finished.

Juve are now unbeaten in six and move to within three points of fourth-placed Atalanta, who have a game in hand, while Napoli stay in third.

Weston McKennie headed wide from a glorious position and Chiesa, who missed Juve s previous six games with a thigh injury…

It took just two games of the 2021-22 season for Manchester City s failed pursuit of Harry Kane to become a big problem for Pep Guardiola.

After losing the Community Shield to Leicester City, they promptly went to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and lost 1-0 again, even with Kane absent and City boasting Premier League record signing Jack Grealish.

The narrative arc was glaring: City would fall short without a recognised number nine, while Spurs were neither dependent on Kane nor foolhardy to snub the chance of a huge transfer fee. Perhaps he could realise his dream of big trophies in north London after all.

Six months on, and the world has come to its senses. Since losing to Spurs, City have won 20 and lost just one of their Premier League matches and look to be marc…

Antonio Rudiger has warned against overlooking Germany s chances of emerging victorious at the World Cup in Qatar, declaring: You can never count us out .

Having won the 2014 World Cup, Germany mounted a dismal defence of the trophy four years ago as they crashed out in the group stages in Russia following defeats against Mexico and South Korea.

Germany also suffered a last-16 elimination against England at Euro 2020 – Joachim Low s final match before being replaced by Hansi Flick – leading many onlookers to favour the likes of Brazil, Argentina and France for glory in Qatar.

While Rudiger acknowledges Germany s recent form means Flick s men may not favourites for the tournament, he believes they have the talent to spring a surprise.

Honestly, if we…

Emiliano Martinez was Argentina s penalty shootout hero once more as they edged out Ecuador to reach the Copa America semi-finals, despite Lionel Messi s failed Panenka attempt.

The reigning champions survived a huge scare at NRG Stadium, where Kevin Rodriguez s stoppage-time equaliser cancelled out Lisandro Martinez s first-half header to take the last-eight tie the distance.

It appeared La Albiceleste s title defence was in doubt when Messi, back in the side after missing the Peru match with a hamstring injury, chipped the first penalty against the crossbar.

But Emiliano Martinez, who played starring roles from the spot during La Albiceleste s 2022 World Cup triumph, made saves to deny Angel Mena and Alan Minda, before Nicolas Otamendi struck the decisive kick …

Real Madrid have filed a complaint with the Spanish legal authorities after “racist and hateful insults” appeared to be directed at their striker Vinicius Junior by Atletico Madrid and Barcelona fans this week.

Footage on social media appeared to show Atletico fans chanting about Vinicius in a discriminatory way prior to their side’s Champions League last 16 match against Inter Milan on Wednesday.

Real have now taken steps to report it to the Spanish authorities and allege there were similar chants from Barca fans before their match against Napoli on Tuesday.

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)

“Real Madrid has filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office against hate crimes and discrimination, for the racist and hateful insu…