Month: November 2024

Not many players can boast successful spells at both Leeds and Manchester United, but Gordon McQueen was one of them.

The former Scotland defender, who has died at the age of 70 following a battle with dementia, broke the British transfer record in 1978 after making a controversial £495,000 move across the Pennines to Manchester, but it came at a cost as he attracted the ire of the West Yorkshire club’s fans.

The move was met with such a backlash from the Leeds faithful that McQueen, a tough and uncompromising centre-back, felt responsible for creating such a bitter rivalry between the two clubs and admitted the move could well have been a catalyst for decades of enmity between the sets of supporters.

But it was one he could not turn down, saying famously at t…

Gerard Pique got titleholders Spain s Euro 2016 off to a victorious start on day four at the expense of Czech Republic, while Italy brought Belgium back to earth after Republic of Ireland previously had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Sweden.

But we learned plenty more than that, such as how football might not be France s most popular sport this summer.

EURO 2016 HAS A RIVAL IN LYON

Most people would assume it does not get any bigger or better than a major tournament of the beautiful game in football-mad France.  

But for a keen bunch of Petanque devotees, a contest beside the Rhone on Monday morning was being taken at least as seriously as the attempts of Didier Deschamps side to lift a third Henri Delaunay Trophy.  

With matching polo shirts …

Nick Cushing maintains sky-high levels of belief in his New York City squad as they look to bounce back from their Leagues Cup disappointment against the Chicago Fire.

NYCFC reached the quarter-finals of the Leagues Cup, only to suffer a heartbreaking penalty shoot-out defeat to the Columbus Crew last week.

They resume their MLS campaign in a strong position, though, sitting fifth in the Eastern Conference standings and holding an eight-point cushion to the play-in spots.

Cushing does not expect City s Leagues Cup exit to affect them in the run-in, saying: I said at the start of the season, when we started slowly, that my confidence in the group is sky-high and always has been.

We fell below our standards last season, but I said then that tough times mak…

Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Portugal to win against Hungary
Odds:

Hungary and Portugal lock horns at the Stade des Lumières in this evening’s Euro 2016 Group F clash, and the winner should progress into the last-16 of the European Championships having topped the group.

Portugal are favourites to see past Hungary, but the underdogs are the team to beat in the group this summer. Iceland and Austria can still qualify in the table so Portugal have to win tonight. A draw won’t be enough.

Hungary are currently top of Group F with four points from two games, and have conceded just one goal for their troubles. Two points clear of the chasing pack going into the final outing, it will be Portugal providing the toughest task, but avoiding defeat should…

Verdict: Away win

Best odds:

Bookmaker: 

After a disappointing start that culminated with a defeat in the Derby della Madonnina against bitter rivals AC Milan, Inter is keen to return to winning ways at Udinese. The game will be played on Saturday afternoon at Stadio Friuli, where the local team won all its games since the start of the season.

Udinese

Udinese struggled last season and reached safety in the end round when former World Cup winner Fabio Canavaro saved the hosts from dropping to Serie B with a decisive away win at Frosinone (0-1). With his job completed, Canavaro departed the club in the Summer, and the owner employed Kosta Runjaic, hoping for a better season this time with no relegation worries.

While the Austrian-born German man…

Manchester United and England defender Chris Smalling has been ruled out of Euro 2012 with a groin injury.

The former Fulham man was expected to make Roy Hodgson s squad after impressing in the right-back and centre-back positions for the Red Devils this season.

However, the 22-year-old will now spend the next few months on the sidelines after Old Trafford boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealed his injury on Friday.

He told reporters: Chris has suffered a bad injury. It is a groin muscle injury and he ll miss the European Championship.

We are assessing what to do at the moment but it is a bad injury.

Smalling has picked up three England caps to date after making his debut against Bulgaria in September 2011.

England manager Roy Hodgson, meanwhi…

Steve McClaren has left his senior first-team role at Manchester United to become the new head coach of Jamaica.

McClaren, who last managed Queens Park Rangers during the 2018-19 season, has signed a two-year deal with the Reggae Boyz.

Heimir Hallgrimsson abruptly resigned as Jamaica s head coach last month following a poor showing at the Copa America in which they failed to win a game.

McClaren has been brought in to get the team to the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Please help us welcome the New Coach of the Jamaica Senior Men’s National Team Mr. Stephen McClaren

— Official J.F.F (@jff_football)

I had no hesitation in accepting a position that is ideally suited to me at this stag…

Having led Borussia Dortmund to two Bundesliga titles and a Champions League final, Jurgen Klopp left the Signal Iduna Park in 2015. Several months later, he joined Liverpool for another memorable chapter of his coaching career, and left Anfield at the end of last season.

On Saturday, Borussia Dortmund held a testimonial match for Lukasz Piszczek and Jakub Błaszczykowski, both of whom played for the club back in Klopp s days at the helm, and Klopp himself returned to the Signal Iduna Park dugout, to remind the Yellow Wall of the good old days.

— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow)

…

The 2022 World Cup is now just 12 months away, with qualifying entering its closing stages following a series of crunch November clashes.

Difficulties still await Italy and Portugal – the past two European champions – in the play-offs, but most of the other big names are well on their way if they have not already confirmed their place in Qatar.

So, how are the expected contenders shaping up? Stats Perform investigates.

Argentina

Having finally ended his long wait for a senior international honour at this year s Copa America, Qatar looks like Lionel Messi s last realistic chance to guide Argentina to World Cup glory. They last triumphed in 1986, in the days of Diego Maradona.

But the brilliant Barcelona form that has been the bedrock of Mes…

Manchester United and Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is currently preparing for his fourth European Championship.

Fresh from his match – winning save from Chelsea’s Nicolas Anelka on Wednesday night in the UEFA Champions League final in Moscow, van der Sar is eagerly awaiting the European Championship competition to be held jointly by Austria and Switzerland.

The thirty seven year old goalkeeper sees this as his last opportunity to lift a trophy for his national team.

He began his career at Ajax Amsterdam in 1993 when he broke through the ranks to become the clubÂ’s number one keeper.

He won his first international cap against Belarus in 1995.

He had since played for Juventus and Fulham before joinin…