Coronavirus: FA committed to completing 2019-20 FA Cup

Gareth Southgate has signed a new contract with England until after Euro 2024, at which point he will have been in charge for almost eight years.

While it remains to be seen what state the Three Lions are in at that point, it is fair to say their current trajectory suggests a positive outcome.

Shortly after finding himself moved into the top job back in 2016, Southgate surmised he had inherited a mess – yet, in the following five years England have come within touching distance of ending that long wait for silverware.

The drought has not been ended, and so Southgate s job is far from finished, but he has got at least another two opportunities.

And on the evidence of the progress he has made, there is much reason for hope.

Here to stay 

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Copious injuries, late positive COVID-19 tests and a suspension; a highly anticipated clash between Serie A leaders Milan and defending champions Juventus at San Siro on Wednesday threatened to seriously underwhelm.

There was no Alvaro Morata for the Juve, while full-backs Alex Sandro and Juan Cuadrado were forced to sit out after returning positive coronavirus results.

Milan were without star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and their midfield was decimated by the absences of Sandro Tonali (suspension), Ismael Bennacer (injury) and Rade Krunic (coronavirus). The dire situation forced Stefano Pioli to start right-back Davide Calabria alongside Franck Kessie in the central pivot.

Yet despite the difficulties faced by both teams, a thriller was served up in Milan, and Fe…

“Signing players is not an easy thing to do. Going out and throwing a lot of money around is an easy thing to do, and we have got lots of examples of it. 

“But I think we know, as a football club, that we need to make more inroads into improving our squad and rejuvenating our squad, and bringing in some fresh faces. 

“An awful lot of the faces I see every day are the same faces I have seen every day since I came to the club and inherited them, so everyone is on the same page as far as that is concerned.  

Those are the words of Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson who has implied that he wanted to bring in a few more names during the January transfer window. 

Whether or not he’ll be able to make a few more changes in the summer window remains t…

While it might be this summer s U21s European Championships that have stolen most of the midweek headlines, we are treated to a host of Thursday fixtures from across the footballing globe.

On that note, for those of you looking to stick on a Thursday flutter, we have found a pair of helpful tips which can offer a great return for your midweek flutter.

12:35 Tianjin Jinmen Tiger vs Qingdao Hainiu

Marking their return from the international break with a thumping display as they punched their FA Cup Round of 16 ticket, Shandong have continued to shine on either side of June’s fortnight break. Eventually breezing their way to a stellar 6-1 romp away at Dongguan Guanlian last week, Thursday’s hosts are riding what has been a remarkable wave of momentum

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Walid Regragui is targeting a history-making victory over Spain as he insisted his Morocco team have put any negativity behind them.

Morocco have been one of the surprise packages of the World Cup in Qatar, with the Atlas Lions shocking Belgium on their way to winning Group F, which also included 2018 runners-up Croatia.

Regragui has done an impressive job since taking over in August, with an own goal against Canada in the group stage the only time his side have conceded during his tenure.

Morocco last reached the knockout stage of a World Cup in 1986, when they lost to West Germany.

They will have to beat a European heavyweight in the form of Spain to make the last eight for the first time in their history.

The countries met in the group stage of…

Liverpool selected their youngest-ever side for the EFL Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa on Tuesday.

The average age of the starting line-up at Villa Park was 19 years and 182 days, with Pedro Chirivella the oldest member of the team at 22.

Liverpool are playing two matches within the space of 24 hours, with manager Jurgen Klopp and the club s senior players in Qatar for the Club World Cup.

6 Liverpool have won each of their last six visits to Aston Villa in all competitions, all coming in the Premier League between December 2011 and November this season. Fearless.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)

Klopp s side play a semi-final against Mexican side Monterrey on Wednesday, with the team for the fixture against Villa coming under the eye of Liverpo…

Didier Deschamps insisted he and his future are not the most important thing as he vowed to make France even happier after Sunday s World Cup final against Argentina.

The reigning world champions produced another ruthless performance to down Morocco 2-0 after goals from Theo Hernandez and Randal Kolo Muani in Wednesday s semi-final clash at Al Bayt Stadium.

Argentina await as France bid to become just the third side to retain their global crown, with the Lusail Stadium showpiece signalling a likely end for Albiceleste captain Lionel Messi and potentially also for Bleus coach Deschamps.

Zinedine Zidane has long been suggested as the successor to Deschamps, whose contract expires after the tournament, but the focus remains for now on success in Qatar.

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With Arsenal making the trip across London on Monday night when they meet Crystal Palace, we certainly have a stacked schedule on our hands.

With the likes of AC Milan also opening the new Serie A campaign, we have found a pair of intriguing tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.

19:45 Bologna vs AC Milan

While AC Milan might have gained a string of plaudits last season as they reached the Champions League semi-finals, Monday’s guests failed to find much domestic stability on either side of the World Cup’s winter break. However, eventually clinching what was a crucial top-four ticket, the Rossoneri will be hoping to open the 2023/24 campaign with an early statement here.

Signing off their pre-season preparations earlier in the month as they la…

Sergio Aguero needed Lionel Messi to tell him why he was being continually overlooked for Ballon d Or honours.

Despite scoring a record 260 goals for Manchester City, Argentine striker Aguero has never come close to winning the trophy that Messi has carried off six times.

Being repeatedly overlooked began to trouble Aguero, but when Messi spelled out what he was lacking, it all made sense.

Now at Barcelona, Aguero looks back on his City career and appreciates why his feats fell short of making him a major contender for a prize Messi has won more than anyone else.

Many times I thought about what was missing, Aguero told Spanish newspaper El Pais. And one day I asked Leo. He told me that to have a chance to win the Ballon d Or I had to win the Champions…

Harry Kane would be a perfect fit for Bayern Munich and is approaching his last chance to join a true European giant, according to Dietmar Hamann.

Tottenham s latest European exit has turned the focus towards head coach Antonio Conte and striker Kane, both of whom face uncertain futures.

Unlike Conte, Kane has a contract with Spurs that runs beyond the end of this season, and that could complicate his prospects of a move away from London.

Manchester United are reported to have Kane on their shopping list, while Bayern are known to be long-time admirers of the England captain.

Hamann, who played in the Premier League for Newcastle United, Liverpool and Manchester City, sees why Bayern, another of his former clubs, would be keen if there was a chance of tak…