Joe Cole feels like “the time is now” as England head into this summer’s European Championship.
Gareth Southgate is preparing to take charge of his fourth and potentially last major tournament, having reached the World Cup semi-finals and quarter-finals as well as a continental final.
England’s agonising penalty shoot-out defeat to Italy in the Euro 2020 showpiece remains raw but has only increased the squad’s desire to go one better in Germany.
Cole believes those shared experiences are indicating this can be “a real positive summer”, with the former international excited by what Southgate’s side can achieve.
“Listen, they were penalty kicks away from winning a tournament,” the former England international told the PA news agency. “…
Ashley Young seems unstoppable at the moment. His terrific club form with Manchester United has followed him to the England national team, which bodes well for Fabio Capello and his quest to reach the 2012 European Championships. In four games for United, Young has netted two goals and a stunning total of five assists. Yes, five. But his form has been just as impressive for the Three Lions with two goals and four assists in six caps (three starts).
Young s confidence is at an all-time high and rightfully so. So much so that Young told Sky Sports News the following:
I m always confident going on the pitch and I m even more confident now. I m enjoying how things are going at the minute. Things have gone really well for myself and hopefully it can …
Riccardo Orsolini, Samuele Ricci and Ivan Provedel have been cut from Luciano Spalletti s Italy squad for Euro 2024.
Spalletti named a 30-man provisional group last month as Italy bid to become just the second team to win back-to-back editions of the Euros, after Spain in 2008 and 2012.
There was no place for experienced campaigners Ciro Immobile, Manuel Locatelli and Marco Verratti in that group, and the Azzurri have since lost defenders Francesco Acerbi and Giorgio Scalvini to injury.
Federico Gatti was drafted in to replace the latter after he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee in Atalanta s Serie A defeat to Fiorentina on Sunday.
That left Spalletti needing to cut three more players ahead of Friday s deadline, and Orsolini,…
With Croatia, Ireland, and the Czech Republic all recorded comfortable wins in the first legs of their Euro 2012 qualifying playoff ties, those who were hoping to see a great deal of drama in the second legs may have been disappointed.
Sure, those three still had to navigate another 90 minutes before they could officially start preparing for next June, but it doesn’t take an expansive knowledge of to know that the chances of Turkey and Estonia overturning large deficits in hostile environments were almost none, while it was highly unlikely that goal-shy Montenegro would be able to overturn a two-goal deficit on home soil against the Czechs.
The only tie that went into Tuesday’s second legs still well and truly up for grabs was Portugal’s tie with Bosnia, and wh…
Trent Alexander-Arnold survived the cull of England s extended Euro 2020 squad as Gareth Southgate named his final 26-man list on Tuesday.
The Liverpool defender, arguably the standout full-back in world football in the 2019-20 season, was expected by many to pay the price for a dip in form over the previous nine months.
England have riches at the position, and Southgate has also selected further specialist right-backs in Atletico Madrid s Kieran Trippier, Manchester City s Kyle Walker and Chelsea s Reece James.
The players to miss out as Southgate trimmed the 33-man group he named last week were Jesse Lingard, Ben Godfrey, Aaron Ramsdale, Ollie Watkins, James Ward-Prowse and Ben White, with Mason Greenwood withdrawing from contention due to what his club, M…
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Still reeling from their heartbreaking US Open Cup exit, a disheartened Dallas team will host Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS on Saturday.
The Galaxy have lost each of their last seven visits to Toyota Stadium since a narrow 2-1 victory in August 2015 and will look to end this poor run over the weekend.
FC Dallas
Dallas quest for a third US Open Cup title ended on Thursday morning with a 2-1 extra-time defeat to Sporting Kansas City in their quarterfinal match at Children s Mercy Park.
After a 3-2 league loss to Sporting Kansas City just three days earlier, the Burn were eager for revenge. However, after normal time ended in a draw, Colombian defender Daniel Valencia secured the win for the visitors with a decisive head…
Naomi Layzell enjoyed a dream Women s Champions League debut as her goal and assist helped Manchester City stun holders Barcelona 2-0 on Wednesday.
Layzell was playing her football in the Women s Super League last season with relegated Bristol City, but was the star of the show at the Joie Stadium.
City were making their first appearance in the competition since falling to a 4-2 quarter-final loss to the Catalan side in March 2021, and exacted their revenge with a plucky display.
The hosts, however, almost found themselves a goal behind with just three minutes on the clock when Caroline Hansen took aim and saw her effort cannon off the post, shortly before Lauren Hemp struck the woodwork with a strike of her own.
City grew into the contest and almost g…
Canada must produce the performance of their lives to have any chance of upsetting holders Argentina to reach the Copa America final, acknowledges Jesse Marsch.
Marsch s team will face the World Cup winners for a final berth at the MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, having overcome Venezuela in a penalty shoot-out in the last eight.
They are just the fourth CONCACAF team to reach the Copa semi-finals and the third to do so on their debut, after Mexico (1993 runners-up), Honduras (third in 2001) and the United States (third in 1995).
They face the sternest of tests next up, however, having already lost to Lionel Messi and the rest of Argentina s stars in their opening group-stage game.
Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez were on target in that match as Lionel Sca…
Turkey midfielder Nuri Sahin is certain his country can qualify for the 2014 World Cup as they prepare to begin their campaign on Friday.
Having finished third in Japan and South Korea in 2002, Turkey have failed to participate at the last two major international tournaments.
Speaking ahead of Turkey s first qualifier against the Netherlands, Sahin said his team had been given a sense of direction by new coach Abdullah Avci, and are more than equipped to book their place in the showpiece event.
We are on the right path, I m certain we ll be there in 2014, the midfielder told reporters.
Competition is necessary in every team, we would all like to have starting positions. However, it s up to the coach.
As well as the Dutch, Turkey have also been…
Daley Blind is embracing playing a more supportive role for the Netherlands, despite his lack of playing time at Euro 2024.
The 34-year-old is appearing at his fourth major tournament with the Oranje, who he represented at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups, as well as Euro 2020.
However, his playing involvement has been far more limited this time around, with the defender only appearing for the final minute of the 3-0 victory over Romania in the round of 16.
Blind was made aware this would be the case ahead of the tournament following a discussion with head coach Ronald Koeman, who encouraged him to use his vast experience to benefit the younger players in the squad.
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