Switzerland v Germany: Nagelsmann sets sight on top spot in Group A

Julian Nagelsmann wants his Germany team to stay perfect as they aim to top Group A at Euro 2024.

The hosts secured qualification for the last 16 by dispatching Hungary 2-0 last time out, following on from their 5-1 demolition of Scotland.

Their final group match sees them take on Switzerland, who are two points behind in second place, meaning a defeat for Germany on Sunday would see the Swiss top the group.

That is a scenario that Nagelsmann is desperate to avoid, as he confirmed there will be few changes to his line-up, despite Germany s progress having been assured.

Top spot is important. We want to win all our matches, Nagelsmann said.

I do think it is important to have as many players from the starting 11 on the pitch so that we stay in the…

Cardiff dismiss Bulut after woeful Championship start

Cardiff City have dismissed manager Erol Bulut after a dismal start to their Championship campaign.

The Bluebirds have managed just one point from their opening six games in England s second tier, scoring just the solitary goal.

Sitting at the bottom of the table and already four points adrift of safety, Cardiff have acted swiftly to part ways with Turkish boss Bulut.

Cardiff City can confirm first-team manager Erol Bulut has been relieved of his duties and will leave the club with immediate effect, a short club statement said on Sunday.

The board of directors wish to thank Erol for all of his hard work and wish him well for the future.

Cardiff City Football Club can confirm First Team Manager Erol Bulut has been relieved of his duties and will…

Liverpool to open Salah contract talks

Liverpool are set to open talks with Ramy Abbas, the representative of Mohamed Salah, over a new contract for the Egyptian winger in the coming months, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Salah has, of course, been of huge importance for everything Liverpool have done since his arrival in 2017, breaking numerous Premier League records along the way. Yet, the Merseysiders have inexplicably allowed his contract to enter its final year, and speaking to the press after Liverpool s triumph over Manchester United on Sunday, the 32-year-old said this might well be his last season at the club, as  no-one had approached him about signing a new deal.

On the other hand, Sky Sports journalist Melissa Reddy said it was her understanding that Salah would still prefer to continue playing f…

Gabbia, Pisilli and Maldini named in Italy´s Nations League squad

Luciano Spalletti handed four players their senior call-up to the Italy national team ahead of their Nations League fixtures next week.

Italy take on Belgium and Israel in the next round of games, hoping to build on their impressive start in Group A2 after winning their opening two matches, which included a 3-1 win over France.

Milan defender Matteo Gabbia has been included after an impressive run of performances at centre-back under new head coach Paulo Fonseca.

Gabbia is also the first player from the Rossoneri to be named in the Italy squad in almost 600 days, with Sandro Tonali, who joined Newcastle in 2023, the last Milan representative to feature for the Azzurri.

There was also a place in the squad for Monza s Daniel Maldini, who could follow in t…

Postecoglou remains focused on Tottenham amid England links

Ange Postecoglou has insisted that his full focus remains on bringing success to Tottenham after being linked with the England job.

It was announced on Tuesday that Gareth Southgate had resigned from his position as the England head coach after an eight-year tenure.

Southgate managed 102 games in that time, taking charge of his century fixture in the Three Lions penalty shootout win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024.

The 53-year-old, however, became the first manager in European Championship history to end up on the losing side in two finals following their defeat to Spain in Berlin on Sunday.

Under Southgate s tenure, England reached more major tournament finals in four attempts (two) than they did in their first 23 appearances at th…

Football fever slowly gripping Austria one week before Euro 2008

It took time, but with less than a week to go before the start of Euro 2008 and with sunny weather bringing people out in droves, Vienna is starting to show some football fever.

Preparations for the 100,000-square-metre fan mile enclosing City Hall Square, Heroes Square and the Ring road in between, which is to be closed for a whole month starting on Monday, are in full swing.

Stages and giant screens are being set up and the still-shuttered food huts are already in place, ready to be opened for business.

Euro 2008 banners, which already greet visitors at the luggage claim area at Vienna s international airport, line all the main arteries of the city, while every other shop window seems to have a football theme, whether the products on sale are ladies shoes, …

BREAKING NEWS: Modric wins Ballon d´Or to cap brilliant 2018

Luka Modric has been crowned the winner of the Ballon d Or, capping a wonderful 2018 for the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder.

The Ballon d Or has been dominated by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi for the past decade, the rivals winning the award five times apiece.

But Modric s impact in Croatia s run to the World Cup final, coupled with Madrid winning the Champions League for the third year in a row, saw him triumph.

Modric also crowned FIFA s Best Men s Player this year  pipped World Cup winners including Raphael Varane, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann to the award.

Griezmann made it into the top three but he was beaten to second place by Ronaldo, who moved to Serie A champions Juventus from Madrid in July.

Messi finished fifth in the…

They cannot replace what they took away from me – Sakho blames drugs ban for missing Euro 2016

Mamadou Sakho says his drugs ban was the reason he was not selected for France s Euro 2016 squad.

The defender tested positive for the fat burner higenamine in April last year and was handed a 30-day suspension, although it has since transpired that the substance was not on WADA s banned list.

Sakho, who is on loan at Crystal Palace from Liverpool, missed the Europa League final due to his ban and believes he would have been picked for Euro 2016 were it not for the suspension.

I worked so hard to prepare myself for the European Championship, to help my country, to wear the France shirt in a tournament on home soil, Sakho told the Guardian. Now I ll never do that. 

Whatever they say or do, they cannot replace what they took away from me. My lawyer …

Cazorla sees Euro 2008 final as 50-50

Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla said on Friday he sees Sunday s Euro 2008 final against Germany as too close to call, telling reporters there s no favourite.

The 23-year-old Villarreal star was a surprise inclusion in the squad of coach Luis Aragones. But he has seized his chances, coming off the bench in four games to take his cap tally to six and getting two-and-three-quarter hours of action.

Cazorla says that the 3-0 destruction of Russia in the semis gave the team a great feeling but that the squad say they know they have achieved nothing yet.

We celebrated but remained calm. Because we have a match to play Sunday, he noted candidly, both feet planted firmly on the ground.

Now we re going to stay and rest up in the hotel. We have to retain our en…

On This Day in 2019: Harry Maguire joins Manchester United

Manchester United completed the signing of Harry Maguire from Leicester for £80million on this day in 2019.

The England international, then 26, signed a six-year contract at Old Trafford with the option of a further year in a deal that involved a world-record fee for a defender.

Maguire was strongly linked with both Manchester clubs but Leicester held out for their valuation and the fee surpassed the £75million Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018.

Maguire told United’s official website: “I am delighted to have signed for this great club. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Leicester and would like to thank everyone at the club, and the fans, for their fantastic support over the past two seasons.

“However, when Mancheste…