Republic of Ireland begin their Euro 2016 preparations with a friendly against Netherlands at Aviva Stadium on Friday, and Martin O Neill wants his team to come away with confidence intact .
Ireland will entertain the Dutch in Dublin before hosting Belarus in Cork next week ahead of their Group E opener against Sweden in Paris on June 13.
O Neill s team secured a place in the European Championship by overcoming Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs, but Netherlands missed out after finishing fourth in their qualifying group.
Nevertheless, the Ireland boss expects a tough match and wants to see his team come through it strongly.
I have a fair idea about the Dutch. I think it ll be a really good test for us, said O Neill.
I think we should turn …
Italian football has been tainted by yet another racist tirade with Arrigo Sacchi saying there are too many blacks in the youth divisions.
Former Milan coach Arrigo Sacchi claimed Italian football has no dignity or pride on Monday because there are too many blacks and foreigners in top clubs youth teams.
In yet another example of racism in Italian football, Sacchi hit out at the number of foreign players and non-ethnic Italians playing for Italian clubs at this month s Torneo di Viareggio, which is considered one of the premier youth football tournaments in the world.
While Sacchi, who famously coached Milan to successive European Cup titles and was in charge of Italy when they finished runners-up at the 1994 World Cup, laughed off suggestions he is racist, his c…
Rio Ferdinand has described the WAG culture that surrounded England in the days before Fabio Capello took charge as a circus and admitted that it was central to the squad s recent failures.
In a remarkably frank interview ahead of a World Cup qualifier with Belarus here on Wednesday, the Manchester United defender savaged the celebrity bubble which peaked during the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, where the wives and girlfriends (WAGS) of the England squad generated as many headlines as the players themselves.
Underlining the fundamental changes that have been instituted by Capello, England s stand-in captain also hit out at the Italian s predecessor, Steve McClaren, and his apparent desire to be best mates with Wazza (Wayne Rooney) and Stevie G (Steven Gerrard).
The Daily Star newspaper reports this morning that Manchester United have made Barcelona playmaker Xavi their top transfer target in the January transfer window.
The player, who would cost at least £20 million, is a crucial part of the excellent Barcelona side and it seems very doubtful that Barcelona would be interested in any sort of deal.
Xavi was player of the tournament at Euro 2008 and was selected in the FIFPro world XI for 2007-08. He has sixty seven caps for Spain and is widely heralded as one of the worlds finest midfielders.
He would be a fantastic signing for Manchester United but I just don t see this one happening.
(Source Daily Star)
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Chelsea great Gianfranco Zola is backing his former club to spring a surprise against Barcelona in the Champions League.
Antonio Conte s side travel to Camp Nou with their last-16 tie all square at 1-1 – Lionel Messi levelling after Willian put the Premier League champions in front.
Zola scored in a 3-1 win over Barcelona in the quarter-finals back in 2000 before the Catalan giants matched that score line in the second leg and prevailed on home turf in extra time.
This time around, Zola is hopeful Chelsea will not suffer Camp Nou misery and believes Conte and his players can make life difficult for Ernesto Valverde s LaLiga leaders.
It s not going to be easy. Playing in Barcelona is a tough game. But Chelsea are a strong team, with good players, Zola …
Roma goalkeeper Alisson is fully committed to the club and has not discussed the prospect of a move to Liverpool, his agent has said.
The Brazilian has reportedly attracted the attention of Jurgen Klopp s side and Real Madrid due to his performances in Serie A and the Champions League this season.
Roma sporting director Monchi stated on Sunday that the club are not afraid of losing the 25-year-old, whose contract expires in June 2021, despite the player himself admitting he was flattered by links with some of Europe s top clubs.
His representative will not discount the idea of a transfer but insists Alisson is focused on life at the Stadio Olimpico.
Alisson is certainly one of the best goalkeepers in the world. He loves Roma, 100 per cent, Ze Maria Neis …
Marcos Rojo wants summer exit
Portuguese daily newspaper that Sporting Lisbon full-back Marcos Rojo is trying to engineer a move away from Estadio Jose Alvalade.
The Argentina international is wanted by some of Europe s top sides, but the Lions have so far managed to keep hold of his services.
And with the player also impressing at the 2014 World Cup, he is desperate to leave Sporting for a big European club before the summer transfer window closes.
Southampton and Napoli are believed to be leading the chase at the moment, with the Saints recently having a bid rejected for the 24-year-old.
New boss Ronald Koeman sees Rojo as a perfect replacement for Luke Shaw and he is likely to return with a new bid.
After spending two very successful …
Roma and Fulham have agreed a deal for goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, according to the player s agent.
The Italian club s general manager, Franco Baldini, was in London last week to discuss the move and reportedly agreed a deal, subject to the player discussing personal terms at Craven Cottage.
And Rob Jansen, Stekelenburg s representative, has now confirmed that a deal is indeed in place for the 30-year-old Netherlands international to complete a switch to the Premier League.
The current employer of the goalkeeper, AS Roma, and Fulham have already reached an agreement on the transfer of Stekelenburg to London, a statement from Jansen said.
Now the club and the player can see it out.
It is believed that Fulham will pay in the region of fou…
Ledley King did not train with the England squad on Tuesday during their first practice session ahead of Saturday s friendly against Slovakia and next week s World Cup qualifier with Ukraine.
The 28-year-old Tottenham Hotspur captain does not train with the Premier League side between matches because of a chronic knee condition.
King s longstanding fitness problems have cast a shadow over his international career because it is hard to see how his body could stand up to the rigours of tournament football, where major matches come thick and fast.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was shocked by the decision of Fabio Capello to call-up King, who has not played for England since the Euro 2008 qualifier in Estonia almost two years ago, saying it risked his club availabili…
Czech football was left reeling on Wednesday after the sacking not only of under-performing coach Petr Rada but also six senior players for allegedly cavorting with prostitutes after a World Cup qualifier last week.
Photographs of the players in company with several girls were published in two Czech tabloids after the Czech Republic s 2-1 home loss to Slovakia on April 1.
The scandal added to an upset caused by a lacklustre 0-0 away draw with Slovenia and the loss to the Slovaks, after which Rada fell out of favour with both media and fans.
The association, which fired the entire national team management, has not named a replacement for the 50-year-old Rada, who has won only two out of eight games since replacing Karel Bruckner after Euro 2008.
It said i…