Market: Both teams to score
Odds:
Knowing that their qualifying ambitions still sit in their own hands, Sweden will welcome Spain to the Freinds Arena in Solna on Tuesday night.
Starting with the hosts, putting in a dominant display and putting four past Malta on foreign soil in a result that many expected, Sweden still sit in pole position to secure a route to next year s European Championships. Holding a one-point buffer over Romania and the mood around Solna at a continued high, the Yellows have also begun to show some real lethal signs in the final third. Already recording 17 strikes in qualifying, only one less than their opponents on Tuesday night, it is also worth noting that Sweden have bagged two or more strikes in six of their last eight matchups acr…
Rob Page says Wales are not entertaining any play-off talk with their full focus on beating Turkey and qualifying automatically for Euro 2024.
Wales must overcome Turkey in their final qualifier on Tuesday and hope Croatia do not beat Armenia in order to secure a top-two spot in Group D.
The Dragons are guaranteed a play-off place in March but it is not a route Wales want to tread, with Page and Ian Mitchell, head of performance psychology, addressing the topic with the players ahead of the sell-out Cardiff City Stadium clash.
Page said: “We’re having no talk of play-offs. If we’re talking play-offs, we may as well call the game off on Tuesday. That’s our mentality and attitude.
“We’re fully focused on the job we’ve got and we don’t want a…
The evolving world of sport means a new decade is likely to see widespread change.
With superstars like Lionel Messi, LeBron James, Roger Federer and Lewis Hamilton unlikely to be plying their trades in 2030, the stage is set for new names to come to the fore.
Omnisport s team of writers have tipped 20 20-year-olds to do just that over the next 10 years.
Men s football: Joao Felix
A €126m move from Benfica to Atletico Madrid made Joao Felix the second most expensive teenager in football history. His career in LaLiga is yet to truly ignite but the forward s lavish gifts are beyond doubt as he faces up to the decade when Cristiano Ronaldo will leave the stage for their native Portugal. Joao Felix is the anointed heir.
Basketball: Luka …
Rio Ferdinand is adamant there is nothing sad about Cristiano Ronaldo s move to Al Nassr, insisting his former Manchester United team-mate is finally happy .
Ronaldo, a five-time Ballon d Or winner, completed his move to Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr on Friday.
The 37-year-old forward, one of the greats of the modern era, reportedly signed a two-and-a-half-year deal after joining on a free transfer following his departure from United in November.
Ferdinand, who played with Ronaldo at Old Trafford between 2003 and 2009, accepts the manner of his exit from the Red Devils left a lot to be desired, but believes his move to Saudi Arabia should be celebrated.
Obviously I speak to Cristiano and there s things you have to keep quiet and you can t talk about bef…
´You can´t train in a zoo and then go to the jungle´ – Arteta says Arsenal can cope with Anfield atm
Mikel Arteta is confident his Arsenal players can cope with the jungle atmosphere Liverpool s supporters will generate at Anfield in Sunday s Premier League contest.
Arsenal have won seven Premier League games in a row to retain a healthy lead at the summit, but they have lost each of their past six top-flight visits to Liverpool.
Gunners boss Arteta was captured playing You ll Never Walk Alone during training ahead of Arsenal s most recent trip to Anfield in November 2021, which resulted in a 4-0 loss.
Speaking ahead of his side s latest visit to the red half of Merseyside this weekend, Arteta explained that rather unorthodox ploy.
You have to prepare the players, you have to tell them what they re going to be facing and you have to recognise that, he s…
Nick Cushing has been impressed with New York City s preparations for their MLS return against the Columbus Crew on Saturday.
NYCFC headed into the international break having achieved their longest winning run in a single domestic campaign since 2019 (five games), leaving them third in the Eastern Conference and six points behind Inter Miami with two games in hand.
Cushing explained the break in play halted his side s momentum, but was pleased to see a renewed focus among the players upon their return to training.
“You can look at the break in two ways,” Cushing said. “It wasn’t the perfect timing because we had momentum and results, but at the same time, you have to take the rest when you get it because the schedule is so brutal.
“It was a g…
Lamine Yamal struck twice in the first half to help Barcelona maintain their perfect start in LaLiga with a commanding 4-1 win at Girona, despite them going down to 10 men.
Yamal gave Barca a two-goal lead with two strikes in seven first-half minutes, dispossessing David Lopez before racing through on goal to curl home his first.
The teenager s second came following good work from Robert Lewandowski, who teed him up to strike through a crowded penalty area and in after 37 minutes.
Dani Olmo extended their lead further with an angled finish after the break, then Pedri tapped home a 64th-minute fourth.
Girona substitute Cristhian Stuani netted a consolation goal in the 80th minute, six minutes before Barca were reduced to 10 men, forward Ferran Torres rece…
Mattia Zaccagni says he and Italy are eager to repay head coach Luciano Spalletti, after the substitute s dramatic late equaliser against Croatia sent the Azzurri through to the Euro 2024 knockout stages.
The reigning champions appeared set to finish third in Group B and face a potentially nervous wait for confirmation of their fate, as they trailed to Luka Modric s goal in Leipzig.
However, in the eighth minute of stoppage time, substitute Zaccagni made himself the hero, curling a stunning first-time shot beyond Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic.
Snatching second place from under the 2018 World Cup finalists nose, Italy kept their title defence alive and will play Switzerland in the last 16 on Saturday.
Spalletti is overseeing the Azzurri s fortunes a…
Barcelona will begin their LaLiga title defence with a trip to Athletic Bilbao on the opening weekend of the 2019-20 season.
Thursday s fixture release also confirmed Zinedine Zidane s Real Madrid will begin a new era with an away match against Celta Vigo, while last season s runners-up Atletico Madrid host city rivals Getafe on the first matchday.
Ernesto Valverde s Barcelona made it back-to-back league crowns by finishing 11 points clear at the top of the table last time out, but fierce rivals Madrid have spent big during the close season to bridge the gap on the reigning champions.
The first El Clasico of 2019-2020 takes place at Camp Nou on October 27 and the reverse fixture at the Santiago Bernabeu is scheduled for March 1, although all fixtures remain subje…
Spain is well positioned to win the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said Tuesday.
We are the champions in Europe and we have the highest expectations to be world champions, he said at an event marking the centenary of the Spanish Football Federation.
I want to thank you in the name of the citizens of Spain for the courage you display in defence of the colours of Spain. Beyond the results obtained, the Roja has always conquered our hearts, he added, using the nickname for Spain s national team.
Gabriel Jorge Sosa, 93, and Alfredo di Stefano, 83, were amongst the oldest former players at the event which was attended by 400 current and ex-Spanish internationals.
Also in attendance were Real Madrid captain Raul a…