Austria s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2012 took a jolt following a 2-0 home defeat against Belgium on Friday.
Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel did the damage for the visitors with goals in either half, ensuring Austria fell to the first defeat of the qualifying campaign.Austria remain second in qualifying Group A but five points behind leaders Germany, while Belgium rise to third, equal on points with Austria.Expectations of a match approaching something like their 4-4 draw in Brussels last October were quickly sunk as Austria managed just the one real chance in 90 minutes.Belgium goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was at hand to smother that opportunity, collecting the ball at his feet after Austria captain Marc Janko was sent through.Witsel put the visitors ahead in just the six…
Michel knows it will not be easy for Girona to secure a second-place finish in LaLiga after they slipped to a 1-0 home loss to Villarreal on Tuesday.
But the players will give their all to try and finish an impressive season on a high, the coach vowed.
After losing at home to Villarreal, Girona are third on 75 points, one behind Barcelona, who have a game in hand.
I see it as very difficult, Michel told reporters. Barca are already in second place with two wins and can win all three games. It s a very complicated situation for second place.
I see everyone in the team really fired up. These players just have to be applauded for the season they are having.
After winning against Barcelona we had two games we could have won and we only got one poin…
St. Louis City interim head coach John Hackworth is confident his side can make a late push for the playoffs after going unbeaten since their return from the Leagues Cup.
St. Louis are building momentum at the right time, but remain six points adrift of this weekend’s opponents, Minnesota United, who sit on the right side of the playoff line.
Hackworth’s side were forced to share the spoils in their last MLS encounter against New England Revolution, but the 54-year-old preached positivity for the business end of the campaign.
“I personally believe that we re not out of time yet, you know, we still have control,” Hackworth said.
“We have to fix this little moment where we take our foot off the gas, where we don t play with the same initiative tha…
Barcelona have announced Pere Romeu as their new head coach following Jonatan Giraldez s departure.
Romeu, who was an assistant coach at the club in the last three seasons, has signed a two-year contract until 2026.
The 30-year-old takes over following a successful season for Barcelona in which they won the quadruple, lifting the Champions League, Liga F, Copa de la Reina and the Supercopa de Espana Femenia.
Giraldez had confirmed in December 2023 that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign, and it was announced in January he would be joining NWSL club Washington Spirit.
I have been with the team for three seasons, and I know their day-to-day life. I m 100 per cent ready, Romeu said in his first interview as head coach.
Romeu coa…
Barcelona midfielder Pedri believes a strong bond between Spain s players will be their greatest asset as they aim to secure a fourth European crown.
The La Masia graduate will feature in his third international competition for his nation, having become the youngest Spanish player to feature at the European Championships in 2021 at 18 years, six months and 18 days, breaking Miguel Tendillo s previous record.
Pedri was named the young player of the tournament three years ago, and new head coach Luis de la Fuente has opted to favour youth rather than experience at Euro 2024.
De la Fuente named his 26-man squad, with 11 of the players registered having only 10 or fewer caps, and only Alvaro Morata and Jesus Navas have managed over 50 appearances for their country…
Premier League action resumes on Tuesday, May 1 with Liverpool taking on Fulham and Stoke City hosting Everton at the Britannia Stadium.
As usual, this segment will feature betting odds, match previews and match predictions for Tuesday s fixtures.
Without further ado, let s kick-off with the betting odds for tomorrow s matches.
English Premier League Betting Odds: 1 May 2012
Liverpool () v Fulham (); Draw ()
Stoke City () v Everton (); Draw ()
Bet of the Day: 1 May 2012
Tuesday s bet of the day is under 2.5 total goals when Liverpool host Fulham at Anfield, .
Preview: Liverpool v Fulham
Kenny Dalglish and Liverpool play host to Martin Jol s Fulham on Tuesday, with the Reds surely eyeing three points ahead …
Mark Randall believes lining up for Larne on the club’s Champions League debut will top his experiences with Arsenal.
The Irish Premiership champions are set to make history on Wednesday when they begin their two-legged first qualifying round tie against HJK Helsinki in Finland.
Former Gunners midfielder Randall made 13 appearances under Arsene Wenger between 2006 and 2009, including two European outings and a brief cameo in a north London derby against Tottenham.
The 33-year-old trained and played alongside the likes of Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Thierry Henry back then but is now preparing for what he anticipates will be the highlight of his career.
“This will be at the top, I think, because of the achievement for the club and the fans,” …
Antonio Conte redirected focus from the transfer market to Napoli s first home game of the season as they aim to get their campaign back on track.
Conte, who took charge of Gli Azzurri in June, watched on as his side lost 3-0 to Hellas Verona last week, prompting questions about the club s ambitions in the market.
The club have made four signings so far, with their most recent addition coming earlier this week as David Neres joined from Benfica in a £23.8million deal.
Napoli are also in talks to sign Chelsea s Romelu Lukaku, with striker Victor Osimhen reportedly going the other way.
However, Conte was in no mood to talk about potential incomings ahead of facing Bologna this weekend, saying: Let s redirect the press conference immediately.
Las…
Scotland have their first point of their 2024-25 Nations League campaign, having held Portugal to a 0-0 draw at Hampden Park.
The match itself was not a great spectacle with limited chances either way, as Cristiano Ronaldo s 200th start for Portugal ultimately ended in disappointment.
It was a performance of grit over style for Steve Clarke s side, though, who managed just three shots during the match.
Portugal came closest to finding the net, with Craig Gordon getting down expertly to stop Bruno Fernandes slotting home from a Rafael Leao cutback in the 87th minute.
The draw leaves Scotland bottom of Nations League Group A1, although their first point means the gap to third-placed Poland stays at three points ahead of the two meeting in the Nove…
Steph Houghton hopes she leaves the game “in a better place than when I started” and few could disagree that she has achieved just that.
The significant contribution she made will be recognised far beyond her 2016 MBE for achievements in women’s football.
After she announced that this season will be her last as a player, current Manchester City coach Gareth Taylor described her as “without question, an icon of the game”, while England wrote: “From leading the Lionesses to growing the women’s game – your impact will never be forgotten. A true icon.”
I ve given absolutely everything I can, but I am looking forward to a new challenge
Watch s full goodbye interview
— Manchester City (@ManCity)
Houghton’s haul of eigh…