Republic of Ireland assistant coach Roy Keane has called on the players to earn their place at Euro 2016 with a pair of strong displays in their play-off tie with Bosnia-Herzegovina.
The Balkan side missed out on sealing a European Championships debut when they were beaten by Portugal for a spot at Euro 2012, while Ireland have progressed from this stage once in three attempts their fourth play-off appearance will set a new record.
Ireland make the trip for the first leg in Zenica on Friday, with Bosnia unbeaten in four competitive home matches.
However, Ireland won the only previous meeting between the two sides with a 1-0 triumph in Dublin in a 2012 friendly.
Ireland finished behind Germany and Poland in their qualifying group, while Bosnia missed out o…
Roberto Mancini expects to see more focus and ruthlessness from Italy when they face Switzerland after being held to a 1-1 draw by Bulgaria in World Cup qualifying on Thursday.
In their first match on home soil since winning Euro 2020, Italy went in front through a fine finish from Federico Chiesa but were pegged back before half-time when a swift counter-attack ended with Atanas Iliev turning home.
Georgi Georgiev did well to deny Chiesa and Ciro Immobile as the Azzurri searched for a winner in the second half, the Bulgaria goalkeeper finishing the game at Stadio Artemio Franchi with seven saves.
Despite failing to secure all three points, Italy made it 35 games unbeaten to equal the European record set by Spain.
Avoiding defeat to Switzerland in Ba…
Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly preparing to rival Chelsea in the pursuit of RB Leipzig s Christopher Nkunku, with this expected to be the forward s last season in the Bundesliga.
Nkunku, 24, burst onto the world stage this past season when he raised his goal tally in all competitions to 35 in 52 games, after previously never having scored more than seven goals in a season.
This season he has shown it was no fluke, with eight goals from Leipzig s first 11 Bundesliga fixtures, while adding another two in the Champions League, including one in Tuesday s home win against Real Madrid.
His form warranted his senior international debut for France in March, and as he is preparing to play a role for the defending champions at the World Cup, his old club have reportedl…
Aymeric Laporte is confident that Spain have the ability to fight for glory at Qatar 2022 despite falling short of expectations at each of the last two World Cups.
The 2010 champions begin their campaign against Costa Rica on Wednesday, with a tough test in Group E also putting them alongside Germany and Japan.
After victory in South Africa, Spain were eliminated at the group stages four years later in Brazil and lost at the round-of-16 stage to host nation Russia in 2018.
Brazil and Argentina have been tipped as the favourites for glory at this instalment, though Spain are considered among the teams going for glory in Qatar and Laporte is confident Luis Enrique s side have everything required to go all the way.
All the teams have their strengths, we hav…
Diego Simeone has extended his contract as Atletico Madrid head coach until 2020.
The Atletico boss signed a two-year extension on Tuesday, extending his reign at a club where he took charge in December 2011.
A year ago, Simeone and Atleti agreed to shorten his contract expiry date from 2020 until 2018 amid speculation linking him with a move away.
But the 47-year-old s deal is now back at its original length, meaning he is tied to the club for the next three seasons.
Diego Pablo renueva por dos temporadas
— Atlético de Madrid (@Atleti)
Simeone, a former Atletico player, has achieved huge success so far, winning LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Europa League among five major trophies.
He also led them to two Champions L…
Ukrainian Association of Football president Andriy Pavelko has urged UEFA to omit Russia from qualifying for the 2024 European Championships.
Following Russia s invasion of Ukraine in February, UEFA and FIFA jointly decided that all Russian teams, both international and clubs, would be suspended from their competitions until further notice.
That ban continues into the 2022-23 season, but Russia will be able to play friendly matches, having arranged a controversial clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina on the eve of the World Cup in Qatar.
Bosnia have faced backlash for agreeing to that game, including from current players Miralem Pjanic and Edin Dzeko, with Pavelko also revealing he is doing everything he can to stop the game from going ahead.
In regard to qu…
David Silva has signed a one-year contract extension with Real Sociedad, the club announced on Friday.
The veteran playmaker arrived in San Sebastian on a free transfer in August 2020 after leaving Manchester City, where he won 11 major titles – including four Premier League crowns.
In April of last year, Silva helped La Real overcome local rivals Athletic Bilbao in the delayed 2019-20 Copa del Rey final and lift their first piece of major silverware since 1987.
His contract was due to expire at the end of the season, but the 36-year-old World Cup winner has signed on for another campaign with the club.
I m very happy. The truth is that I ve been here for two very good years. Let s hope it ends up like last year with us getting into Europe, Sil…
Mounting what was a famous comeback on Friday night, Italy opened their Nations League adventure with a 3-1 victory against France in Paris.
Watching PSG starlet Bradley Barcola open the scoring with just 12 seconds on the clock as the 22-year-old pounced on the Azzurri’s mistake at the back, Les Bleus couldn’t have dreamt of a better start on home soil.
However, failing to find any kind of fluidity and build on their dramatic early advantage, Inter Milan’s Federico Dimarco levelled with a sensational volley from Sandro Tonali s flicked pass.
Despite never collecting a competitive victory in the French capital, Lucian Spalletti’s side came flying out of the traps after returning from the half-time break as Davide Frattesi produced a clinical finish.
…
Juventus beat PSV 3-1 on their return to the Champions League on Tuesday, aided by by two quickfire goals from Kenan Yildiz and Weston McKennie in the first half.
The Bianconeri were playing their first match in Europe s elite club competition since 2022-23, when they suffered a humiliating group-stage exit before failing to qualify for the next edition.
Thiago Motta has enjoyed a decent start to life in Turin, though, and that continued on Tuesday as Juve eased past their Eredivisie opponents.
Yildiz gave Juve the lead after 21 minutes with a stunning curling shot from just inside the box, leaving goalkeeper Joel Drommel helpless as the ball crashed off the inside of the post and in.
McKennie doubled their advantage six minutes later, netting inside the …
Gareth Southgate’s England squad selection will be a huge discussion point as next summer’s Euros come into focus.
An unbeaten 2023 is now in the history books and the PA news agency has analysed how Southgate likely sees his options right now.
Goalkeepers
On the plane: Jordan Pickford (Everton).
In the departure lounge: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace) and Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal).
Hoping for a late ticket: Nick Pope (Newcastle).
Pickford established himself as England’s number one ahead of the 2018 World Cup and is all but certain to go into his fourth major tournament as the main man between the sticks. Ramsdale had looked his closest contender but David Raya’s arrival at Arsenal has impacted his playing time and could well damage…