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 …

Gary Neville has thanked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer for restoring some soul at Manchester United after the Norwegian s near three-year reign at the club was brought to an end.

United confirmed Solskjaer s departure in a club statement on Sunday, a day on from a 4-1 loss at Watford that the club legend described as embarrassing .

That defeat to Watford – United s fifth in their last seven Premier League games – proved to be the final straw, with Michael Carrick taking temporary charge of the Red Devils.

Solskjaer, who was appointed on an initial caretaker basis in December 2018, leaves Old Trafford with a win percentage of 54.2 per cent across his 168 games in charge.

That is the second highest of United s four permanent managers since Alex Ferguson retired …

The sending-off of Beckham for kicking out at Argentina’s Diego Simeone during England’s last-16 penalty shoot-out defeat in France three years earlier had resulted in a huge public backlash for the then-Manchester United winger.

Beckham would go on to help United win the treble in 1999 before he became permanent captain of his country upon the arrival of Eriksson as England manager.

Ahead of England’s final World Cup qualification match against Greece, the Three Lions were still vying with Germany for top spot in Group Nine.

Greece took a shock lead at Old Trafford through Angelos Charisteas and while England substitute Teddy Sheringham levelled in the 68th-minute, the hosts’ joy was short-lived.

In to the final seconds of stoppage time. Need a g…

Prediction: Senegal to win 2-1

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Senegal and Cameroon will lock horns with each other in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations this week. The Group C match between Aliou Cisse’s side and Rigobert Song’s team will be held at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at Yamoussoukro in the Ivory Coast.

Senegal

Senegal have one of the best and strongest teams at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and are among the favourites for the competition. Lions de la Téranga won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 and will fancy their chances of going all the way this year as well.

Aliou Cisse’s side have some of the best players in the tournament. The likes of Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly, Moussa Niakhate, Abdou Diallo…