With the penultimate round of EURO 24 qualifying fixtures getting underway this week, countries from across the continent will be looking to move one step closer to punching their ticket to Germany.
In a heavyweight schedule that is highlighted by France’s trip to Holland, we have taken a look at two showdowns that can potentially offer a great return for your Friday flutter.
19:45 Netherlands vs France
While France might have suffered major World Cup final heartbreak at the hands of Argentina out in Qatar over the winter, Les Bleus certainly aren’t showing any signs of a hangover. Only continuing to shine since opening their European Championship qualifying adventure earlier in the year, Friday’s guests are breezing their way to top spot in Group B.
Chelsea are preparing to swoop for Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt, according to AS, and they re apparently willing to pay as much as €120 million (£102m) for his services.
De Ligt arrived to Turin from Ajax back in 2019 for a reported fee of €85m as one of the highest-rated young defenders in the world. However, he has struggled with injuries since, having suffered from a groin issue and a particularly nasty shoulder problem which kept him out for almost two months at the start of last season.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are negotiating a contract extension with Antonio Rudiger, who has become a stalwart of their defence under Thomas Tuchel, but the Germany international is yet to agree terms, and his current deal expires at the end of the season. The same goes for Thia…
Market: Ipswich win
Odds: 8/15 @
Looking to mark their return from the international break with another Championship statement, Ipswich will make the trip to Rotherham on Friday night.
Starting with the hosts, although Rotherham might have eventually clung to their Championship status last season, it appears that the Millers are destined for yet another relegation scrap this time around. While Matt Taylor’s men might have been last seen heading into October’s international break with a 1-1 stalemate away at Southampton, the Yorkshire-based outfit have had little to cheer about since opening up the 2023/24 campaign. Marking their return on Friday night sat in the drop zone and already four points adrift of safety, Rotherham will be more than aware that they f…
Best odds: 11/5
Bookmaker:
Over at the BC Place in Vancouver, the Whitecaps are set to play host to Los Angeles with the two teams competing in the Western Conference of the American Major League Soccer. It will be the 18th match of the season for both sides, but their respective positions in the table are far apart.
Vancouver Whitecaps
The Whitecaps finished sixth in the conference in 2021, but at the moment, they sit in 11th place in a 14-team system, which obviously isn t great. On the other hand, Minnesota United and Houston Dynamo who are directly above are on the same number of points (21), Portland Timbers in eighth place have one more, Seattle Sounders in seventh have two more, and LA Galaxy in sixth have only three more. It s obvious that the Whitecaps…
Manchester City had a relatively quiet off-season in the transfer market.
City landed Jack Grealish from Aston Villa in a big-money move but failed in their efforts to sign Tottenham star Harry Kane following Sergio Aguero s exit.
But the Premier League champions could be more active in the January transfer window.
TOP STORY – CITY PLAN FOR DE JONG SWOOP
Manchester City are plotting a move for Barcelona star midfielder Frenkie de Jong, according to Calciomercato.
De Jong, who also has interest from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, signed a five-year deal with Barcelona effective from July 2019, tying him down to 2024.
The 24-year-old Netherlands international has made 11 appearances in all competitions this season and i…
West Bromwich Albion are set to attempt to sign Manchester United striker James Wilson on loan this summer, .
With the Midlands side certain of a Premier League place for next season, manager Tony Pulis is expected to freshen up his squad for next season, and could move for the youngster who is yet to establish himself at Old Trafford.
The 19 year old scored twice on his debut under then interim manager Ryan Giggs at the end of last season though has started just twice in the league so far this campaign.
In total he has made sixteen appearances in all competitions under Louis van Gaal, scoring in both the league win over Queens Park Rangers and the FA Cup fourth round replay victory over Cambridge United.
West Brom end the season with a trip to Arse…
Ollie Watkins continued his red-hot form as Aston Villa cruised to a statement 4-1 Europa Conference League win at AZ Alkmaar.
The striker netted his 10th goal of the season and fourth in Europe this season on Thursday.
Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans – his first for Villa – put them in control in AZ Stadium after less than 25 minutes.
1 5 games in all competitions1 4 goal involvements
Ollie Watkins is on fire.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial)
Vangelis Pavlidis wasted the hosts’ best chances but Watkins and John McGinn added more goals after the break in Holland before Ibrahim Sadiq grabbed a consolation.
It was the second time in two games Villa had scored four after their 4-1 Premier League win over West Ham on Sunday.
…
Sean Dyche and Dominic Calvert-Lewin dedicated Everton’s 1-0 victory at West Ham to chairman Bill Kenwright.
The Toffees were playing their first match since the death of Kenwright on Monday at the age of 78.
It was a performance the lifelong Everton fan would surely have been proud of with Calvert-Lewin hitting a superb second-half winner.
“Firstly, and you can’t guarantee it, but it’s befitting to win after the week we’ve had following the sad loss of the chairman,” said Toffees boss Dyche.
“The players know the depth of the chairman’s love for the club, they’re well aware of that.”
Calvert-Lewin revealed the shock of the news affected everyone at Goodison Park.
“No-one was prepared for what happened this week and i…
Athletic Bilbao have completed the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Raul Garcia on a four-year contract.
The two clubs agreed a deal in principle on Sunday and the 29-year-old underwent a medical on Monday before putting pen to paper.
Raul Garcia s new contract includes a €40million release clause.
The Spain international made 212 La Liga appearances for Atletico after arriving from Osasuna in 2007-08.
During his time in Madrid, Raul Garcia helped Atletico to the Liga title in 2013-14, while he tasted success in the Copa del Rey (2012-13), Supercopa de Espana (2014), UEFA Europa League (2009-10) and UEFA Super Cup (2010 and 2012).
Raul Garcia will be presented as a Bilbao player later on Monday.
…
Jurgen Klopp vented his frustrations at Liverpool s capitulation against Manchester City, suggesting there was nothing good about their performance.
The Reds struck first at the Etihad Stadium through Mohamed Salah but subsequently fell to a 4-1 defeat against Pep Guardiola s champions in the Premier League.
Despite the absence of leading goalscorer Erling Haaland through injury, the hosts dismantled their visitors in ruthless fashion, with a trio of second-half goals doing the damage.
The nature of Liverpool s concessions after the break left their manager fuming at their display, ruing their inability to shut down their opponents throughout a crucial encounter.
We just had to follow as they did whatever they wanted, he told BT Sport. We were lucky they…