Atletico Madrid want to sign Marcus Thuram

Gareth Southgate feels privileged to be anywhere near a century of matches at the England helm as he prepares for a repeat of the fixture where it all began for him seven years ago.

Having rebuffed the Football Association’s initial approach after Euro 2016, the then Under-21s boss was parachuted into the hotseat after Sam Allardyce’s swift, ignominious exit.

Southgate’s first game in temporary charge was a World Cup qualifier against Malta, with Daniel Sturridge and Dele Alli securing a 2-0 win in October 2016.

Keeping standards high

The boss speaks ahead of tomorrow s qualifier against Malta…

— England (@England)

Friday sees the Mediterranean minnows return to Wembley for the first time since then – a night when the Engl…

When Thomas Tuchel arrived at Chelsea in January 2021, there were some raised eyebrows and curiosity as to whether the German could succeed where his predecessor, club legend Frank Lampard, had arguably failed.

It did not take long for Tuchel to do as another German coach had done on arrival in England and turn doubters into believers, leading the Blues to a top four finish (just), an FA Cup final and a Champions League triumph.

However, with the 48-year-old set to celebrate a year in charge at Stamford Bridge next week, he is experiencing perhaps his first rocky period in England, having won just one of his last seven Premier League games and sitting 12 points behind leaders Manchester City having played a game more.

Before Tuchel blows out the candles on his an…

Liam Manning promised that his Bristol City side will get even better after their 4-1 victory at Watford.

The Robins thoroughly deserved their triumph, their third straight win under former Oxford boss Manning, who arrived at Ashton Gate last month.

It was also their first on the road under Manning, and City’s first back-to-back triple since November 2020.

Manning said: “We’re going in the right direction but I told the players afterwards that we can play better than that.

“That’s what excites me about the group. The challenge is to strive every day to improve, but there were so many positives today.

“Three or four weeks ago, I was giving interviews saying how it would come together for us, and it would happen.

“I’m delight…

Team identity is a huge part of football and arguably valued more than ever before by the average fan – but that importance reaches an altogether different level for the Netherlands.

Total Football remains synonymous with the Oranje despite the concept – which essentially relates to every player being able to fulfil any out-field role in the team – having its roots in the 1970s. Or at least that s when the Netherlands adopted the philosophy.

Ever since, the Dutch have been associated with on-pitch intelligence, fluidity and technical ability, which has often manifested in proactive and attack-minded football.

Boring has rarely been an accusation one could level at the Dutch, but it was a term that came up with increasing regularity towards the end of Louis…

Spain remain among the favourites to win the Women s Euros despite losing Ballon d Or winner Alexia Putellas to injury, according to former European champion Hege Riise, who also expects England to impress.

Putellas, who has scored 27 goals in 100 caps for Spain, was ruled out of the tournament after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury in training, leaving La Roja without one of their star players.

The 28-year-old top-scored in the Champions League with Barcelona last term, scoring 11 goals in continental competition as well as 18 on the domestic front as the Catalan giants won all 30 of their league games.

Her injury is just the latest blow to befall Spain ahead of their opening match against Finland on Friday, with record goalscorer Jennifer Hermoso …

Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has ruled out a move for Sergio Aguero due to the soon-to-be free agent s long association with fierce rivals Manchester City.

City confirmed on Monday that Aguero is to bring an end to his decade-long spell at the Etihad Stadium when his contract expires at the end of the campaign.

He will bow out as City s all-time leading scorer, with a current tally of 257 goals in 385 games, the most recent of those appearances coming against Leicester City on Saturday.

The 32-year-old has won four Premier League titles, one FA Cup and five EFL Cups, a tally he can add to before leaving as City remain on course for a quadruple this term, including a first Champions League triumph.

But despite the Premier League s fourth-hig…

Sean Dyche hopes Everton s impending takeover will help bring stability and clear up the noise surrounding Goodison Park.

The Friedkin Group, who also own Serie A side Roma, reached an agreement to buy Farhad Moshiri s majority stake in the Toffees earlier this week.

The takeover is subject to approval from the Premier League and if the group passes the Owners and Directors Test, though it could reportedly be completed in the next eight to 12 weeks.

And Dyche believes the move will provide a timely lift for Everton, who have collected just one point from their opening five Premier League matches this season.

It looks like a stronger situation than the past, he told reporters ahead of Saturday s showdown with Crystal Palace.

There is a long way t…

Cristiano Ronaldo s Euro 2024 hopes were dashed as Portugal lost 5-3 to France in a penalty shootout following Friday s 0-0 draw in Hamburg.

With the substituted Kylian Mbappe watching on from the sidelines, Les Bleus set up a semi-final with Spain as they converted all five of their spot-kicks.

The decisive miss came from Portugal s Joao Felix, who struck the woodwork with his attempt.

And there was to be no heroics from Diogo Costa on this occasion, as Theo Hernandez coolly dispatched the winning penalty.

The pre-game expectation of a tight, cagey contest proved correct, as for just the second time on record at the Euros (since 1980), neither team managed a shot from inside the box in the first half – the other match was also France v Portugal, back i…

Manchester United are interested in signing Benjamin Pavard from Bayern Munich in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Italian journalist has claimed on Twitter that Premier League club United have made contact with Bundesliga champions Bayern about a potential deal for Pavard.

Bayern have told United that they do not want to sell Pavard. However, the 27-year-old France international wants to leave Bayern and will not sign a new contract with the German and European powerhouse. The Red Devils remain keen on the defender.

Bayern rejected United first approach for Benjamin Pavard, as reported on Saturday. 🚨🔴

…but Man United remain there as Benji Pavard wants the move. He won’t sign new deal at Bayern and insists to leave.

…

Manchester City great Vincent Kompany has left his post as Anderlecht head coach amid reports linking him with the vacant manager s position at Burnley.

Kompany returned to Anderlecht – whose academy he was a graduate of – in 2019 in a player-manager capacity as the club looked to rebuild, though he soon switched focus to playing duties.

A year later, in August 2020, he was appointed as the club s head coach after bringing his playing days to a close.

Anderlecht could only finish as high as fourth in the 2020-21 Belgian Pro League season, before ending the 2021-22 campaign third.

Although Kompany signed a four-year deal in 2020, he leaves the club having failed to win Anderlecht a first league title since 2016-17, with Club Brugge winning four out of …