Scotland suffered their first Euro 2024 qualifying defeat with a 2-0 loss in Spain but qualification hopes remain alive.
The Scots had won their first five Group A qualifiers including a 2-0 win over the Spanish at Hampden Park in March and needed to take something from the return game in Seville or Norway fail to beat Cyprus, to qualify on the night.
In a stifling warm evening, the Scots survived some heavy first-half pressure to go in at the break goalless before Scott McTominay, who scored both goals against Spain in Glasgow, fired in a wonderful free-kick in the 59thminute only to see it ruled out after a VAR check for a Jack Hendry infringement.
FULL TIME: Spain 2-0 Scotland.
A determined performance until the very last minute.
On to the next…
Massimiliano Allegri has reminded Matthijs de Ligt s critics that even Giorgio Chiellini had his struggles as a young player and is convinced the Dutchman has a long future ahead of him at Juventus despite Mino Raiola encouraging speculation.
De Ligt joined Juve on the back of Ajax s unlikely journey to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals, in which he played a vital role as he helped build moves from the back with his passing abilities but also proving a dominant physical presence despite his tender age.
His 0.45 headed shots on target every 90 minutes was the most of all defenders in the competition to play at least 270 minutes that season, while only four of them bettered his 4.2 aerial wins per game.
While De Ligt has not made quite the same use of his p…
Chelsea are interested in signing Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Lisbon, according to . The report has claimed that Chelsea are looking for a long-term replacement for Thiago Silva, adding that the former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners have identified Diomande as a player they would like to sign.
Thiago Silva is one of the best central defenders in the world, but he is 39 now and is out of contract at Chelsea at the end of the season. The former AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain star would ideally like to finish his career in his native Brazil.
Diomande has been on the books of Sporting Lisbon since January 2023 when he joined from Midtjylland. The Ivory Coast international centre-back has been very impressive for Sporting and has established himself as…
While England might have made the trip out to Budapest on Saturday tipped as a leading pick to open their Nations League campaign with a flurry, it was an evening to forget for Gareth Southgate s side.
Looking to keep up their momentum ahead of this year s World Cup finals, the Three Lions were eventually hit with what was a disappointing 1-0 defeat at the Puskás Aréna.
After watching their extended unbeaten run come to an abrupt end on foreign soil, there is no doubt that Hungary will feel that they deserved to leave Budapest with a historic victory here.
With Southgate electing to hand a couple of debutants their chance to impress, we have taken a look at the main talking points as England opened their Nations League campaign with a sluggish display.
So…
The list of candidates to replace Ronald Koeman at Barcelona is already forming.
Koeman was dismissed after Wednesday s 1-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano which left them ninth in LaLiga.
Barcelona are battling financial challenges and have struggled since Lionel Messi s exit in August.
FC Barcelona has relieved Ronald Koeman of his duties as first team coach
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
TOP STORY – XAVI OFFERED BARCELONA JOB
Barcelona have offered their vacant head coaching role to club legend Xavi, reports Goal.
The Catalans have acted fast with Koeman sacked late on Wednesday.
Xavi is currently coaching Qatari outfit Al Sadd but has an exit clause in his contract, although Barca are prepared to pay any fee required.
…
Double winners Juventus will bid to keep the celebrations going on Saturday when they host a Napoli side still harbouring hopes of qualifying for next season s UEFA Champions League.
Having wrapped up the Serie A title at the start of this month, Massimiliano Allegri s men completed a domestic double on Wednesday with a 2-1 victory over Lazio in the Coppa Italia final.
A final home game of the season gives Juve the chance to enjoy the moment with their fans, albeit with little to play for in the remaining two league matches.
With the Champions League final against Barcelona still a fortnight away, Allegri may use this weekend s clash to rotate his squad, a move that paid dividends in the Coppa Italia final.
Allegri introduced Alessandro Matri from …
What the papers say
Newcastle United will look to bolster their midfield with Al Hilal’s former Wolves midfielder Ruben Neves, The Sun reports. The move comes after Newcastle’s Italian midfielder Sandro Tonali was banned for 10 months for betting breaches.
Chelsea are looking to sign teenage midfielder Gavi, who may leave Barcelona due to financial restrictions. The Daily Express says Barcelona could sell the Spaniard for £87million. Gavi has played in two of three Champions League games so far this season and 10 times in La Liga.
Fulham defender Tosin Adarabioyo is reportedly ready to sign a new long-term deal with the club after boss Marco Silva signed a new contract, according to the Standard.
Social media round-up
Newcastle exploring options to reduce …
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland revealed he used chants of “Keano” from Manchester United’s fans as motivation during his side’s 3-0 win at Old Trafford.
The chants were thought to be a reference to the history between Haaland’s father Alf-Inge Haaland and former United captain Roy Keane, who was sent off for an horrific foul on Haaland senior in the Manchester derby in 2001.
Asked about his effusive reaction to scoring the opening goal from the penalty spot, Erling Haaland told BBC Sport: “There were so many people singing ‘Keano’, I don’t know why, but I used it as motivation and gave them a good celebration.”
GET INNNNNNNN!!! Thanks for the support City fans
— Erling Haaland (@ErlingHaaland)
Haaland, who doubled C…
Claudio Pizarro has joined Werder Bremen for the third time in his career after agreeing a deal until the end of the season.
The veteran striker first represented the Bundesliga club between 1999 and 2001 before leaving for domestic rivals Bayern Munich.
Pizarro returned to the Weserstadion on an initial loan deal in August 2008 following an unhappy spell with Chelsea in the Premier League before signing permanently a year later.
The Peru international again left for Bayern ahead of the 2012-13 season, but his contract at the Allianz Arena was not renewed at the end of last term leaving him free to rejoin Bremen.
I am pleased to be here again, he told the club s official website. It is a very challenging task. I hope I can use my experience as much as p…
Josko Gvardiol won plenty of admirers during Croatia s run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals.
The 21-year-old central defender is contracted until 2027, but has a hefty release clause that will become active in 2024.
As a result, clubs are likely to be competing to secure the Croatian s services in the next transfer window.
TOP STORY – CITY AND REAL PRIORITISE GVARDIOL SIGNING
Manchester City and Real Madrid have both made RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol their priority centre-back target for the next transfer window, according to 90min.
The report claims Leipzig wants £75m (€85m) for the Croatian defender, who almost joined Chelsea last off-season.
City and Real are also both in contention to sign Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude…