The heavyweights hoping for Euro 2012 glory continue their preparations in international friendly action over the weekend.
The Netherlands, beaten finalists at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, host Northern Ireland at the Amsterdam Arena, fresh from beating Slovakia 2-0 on Wednesday.
Portugal, who will meet the Netherlands in Group B of the UEFA showcase event in Poland and Ukraine, go up against Turkey on Saturday.
Despite boasting the goal-scoring prowess of Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have been held to 0-0 draws in their last two friendlies, against Macedonia and Poland.
Denmark, hard pressed to escape from Group B, which also features Euro 2008 finalists Germany, host Australia in Copenhagen.
Sought-after Ajax playmaker Christian Er…
Neymar s absence for Brazil does not render the South American powerhouse rudderless, according to Paraguay centre-back Paulo da Silva.
The Paraguayans will go up against Neymar-less Brazil in Concepcion on Saturday, with Dunga losing his captain to a four-game suspension when a post-match stoush following their loss to Colombia saw the Barcelona star lose his cool.
But Da Silva, 35, said Brazil who have since beaten Venezuela 2-1 remain a dangerous outfit regardless.
Neymar is a hugely important player for Brazil, Da Silva told a news conference in La Serena on Monday.
He showed at Barcelona last season what a great player he is, winning the treble.
But Brazil remain extremely dangerous even without Neymar. They have had phases where they ha…
Simone Inzaghi has challenged Inter to strive for more following their 2-0 win over Spezia.
Goals from Roberto Gagliardini and Lautaro Martinez gave the Nerazzurri a third successive Serie A win for the first time under Inzaghi.
It was a dominant performance at San Siro by the hosts, who registered 31 shots on goal – the most by any side during a single match in the Italian top flight this season.
Victory ensured that Inter remained in third place and maintained pressure on Napoli and Milan.
Though full of confidence and 10 matches unbeaten heading into Saturday s showdown with Roma, Inzaghi has urged his players not to rest of their laurels.
It was an important game, he said. The guys were amazing, they entered immediately with the right atti…
Market: Altona Magic win
Odds: 3/4 @
Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways this weekend, Altona Magic will welcome Bentleigh to Paisley Park for an NPL Victoria showdown on Saturday morning.
Starting with the hosts, putting in a nightmare display last time out as they slumped to a shock 4-1 drumming against South Melbourne, Altona will be seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, impressing many across the NPL Victoria this season and sat firmly in pole position to claim a play-off spot in 2023, John Markovski’s men will be desperate to make another top-six statement this weekend. Mustering 15 points from just their last six appearances a run that stems back to June 16th the Magic have also gained a reputation for their clinical displays …
Tottenham winger David Bentley believes he is still good enough to play for England, if he can impress during his loan spell with Rostov.
The 28-year-old winger has moved to the Russian Premier League after falling down the pecking order at White Hart Lane following his 19 million-euro move from Blackburn Rovers in 2008.
The wide-man has made just 48 appearances for Spurs scoring three times and has also endured unsuccessful loan spells with Birmingham City and West Ham.
Bentley was sidelined for six months during his time at Upton Park after undergoing knee surgery and was hopeful of re-establishing himself at Tottenham following the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas.
The ex-Arsenal trainee, who last played for his country way back in 2008, believes he is …
Manchester City appear to be on the verge of completing a deal for Raheem Sterling after they reportedly agreed a £49million fee for the winger with Liverpool.
The England international is expected to complete his move to the Etihad Stadium next week, subject to a medical and agreeing personal terms.
Having initially been included in Liverpool s squad for the club s pre-season tour of Asia and Australia, Sterling was later withdrawn from Brendan Rodgers party, as the two clubs continued to negotiate over the weekend.
City have already had two bids turned down, but it is now claimed that their third offer of just short of £50million has been accepted.
As yet, neither club has confirmed the deal, with City maintaining their stance of refusing to comment…
FIFA s Executive Committee has announced it has discussed the possible expansion of the World Cup to 40 teams and also agreed to limit FIFA presidents to three terms of four years.
The ExCo agreed a number of proposals put forward by the governing body s reform committee during another tumultuous day for the organisation.
The reform announcement came just hours after two senior FIFA officials, Alfredo Hawit, president of CONCACAF, and Juan Angel Napout, president of CONMEBOL, were taken into custody by Swiss police following raids at the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich.
Both Hawit and Napout are suspected of accepting millions of dollars in bribes and have opposed immediate extradition to the United States.
A statement released by FIFA confirmed reports of …
After Serie A s midweek games, the title race is suddenly back on again. For Napoli, it was never off.
Maurizio Sarri has regularly insisted he is not worried about Juventus, but he will have to turn his attention to the leaders sooner rather than later. Napoli meet Juventus on Sunday in Turin in a potential Scudetto decider.
At one stage on Wednesday, Napoli were nine points behind Juve. But Sarri s men fought back to beat Udinese and Crotone claimed a draw against the champions thanks to a stunning Cristiano Ronaldo-style bicycle kick from Simy leaving the gap at four points.
We showed our personality again and managed to turn the match around, captain Marek Hamsik wrote on his website. What looked like becoming a procession is a scrap once more.
…
Newcastle United are interested in signing Joe Rodon from Tottenham Hotspur in the January transfer window, according to . Newcastle want to sign the former Swansea City central defender on loan from Premier League rivals Tottenham next month.
Rodon is struggling for playing time at Tottenham, who could be open to sending out the 24-year-old Wales international out on loan. The Wales international has made 13 appearances in the Premier League for Spurs so far in his career.
Newcastle are in danger of getting relegated to the Championship at the end of the season. The Magpies are struggling defensively at the moment and need to make defensive reinforcements. Eddie Howe’s side are second from bottom in the Premier League table at the moment with 10 points from 18 matche…
Tottenham keen on Real starlet
Spanish newspaper Marca is reporting that Tottenham are weighing up a move for Real Madrid hotshot Jese Rodriguez.
It is no secret Spurs are in the market for a new centre forward, but they have so far failed in their efforts to sign Leandro Damiao and Alvaro Negredo.
According to Marca, Andre Villas-Boas is ready to turn his attention to a more realistic target that is Real Madrid youngster Jese Rodriguez.
The 20-year-old has been showing a great deal of potential at Real Madrid Castilla, but he is disappointed that he was never given a chance to prove his worth in the first team set-up.
With the player s contract at Santiago Bernabeu set to expire in a year s time, there is every chance the striker will be leaving…