Joachim Low has ruled Kevin Grosskreutz out of contention for Germany s Euro 2016 squad and questioned his professionalism this season.
The versatile midfielder moved to Galatasaray from Borussia Dortmund in September but was unable to play for the Turkish champions, who failed to complete his registration before the Super Lig deadline.
The 27-year-old ended his brief, abortive stay in Turkey and returned to the Bundesliga with Stuttgart earlier this month but Low has said Grosskreutz s lack of football will make a call-up for the European Championship impossible.
He also criticised the player for his attitude during the ill-fated Galatasaray switch.
When asked if Grosskreutz could still earn a spot at Euro 2016, Low, speaking at a German Football League …
After Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh led three horses to victories on Day One of the 2016 Cheltenham Festival, the impressive Un De Sceaux will be looking to continue the trend in the Queen Mother Champion Chase.
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Ivory Coast marched into the last 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations and sent holders Algeria crashing out with a 3-1 victory at Japoma Stadium.
Algeria needed a win to stay in the tournament, but the sorry defending champions are heading home after finishing bottom of Group E.
Ivory Coast exploited Les Fennecs frailties to cruise through as group winners and set up a showdown with Egypt, Franck Kessie setting them on their way by volleying in with his left foot to finish off a slick move midway through the first half when Nicolas Pepe squared the ball into his path.
Ibrahim Sangare capitalised on terrible defending to double their lead with a free header six minutes prior to half-time and Pepe was allowed to run forward unchallenged before picking his spot to add …
Australia advanced to the last 16 of the World Cup after securing a hard-fought 1-0 win over Denmark on Wednesday.
Mathew Leckie s winning goal at Al Janoub Stadium meant Tunisia s shock win against France counted for nothing as Graham Arnold s side went through as Group D runners-up.
The Socceroos qualify for the knockout stage of the World Cup for only a second time from six tournament appearances, having only previously done so in 2006, and will now play the winners of Group C.
It is home time for Kasper Hjulmand s men though, who disappointed after reaching the Euro 2020 semi-finals, and are now winless in their last six World Cup games (D4 L2), since beating Peru in their first game of the 2018 tournament.
WE RE INTO THE ROUND OF 16!!!
Lucy Bronze feels her and Keira Walsh’s time with Barcelona has seen them “drive a different kind of standard” in England training.
Right-back Bronze and midfielder Walsh both left Manchester City and joined the Catalan outfit last summer, the former before and the latter after they helped England win the Euros.
They have subsequently been part of a Barca team that swept to a fourth-successive domestic league title and, last month, won the Champions League – something Bronze admits has given her and Walsh “massive confidence” heading into the World Cup that starts next week.
We did it!
VISCA EL BARÇA
— Lucy Bronze MBE (@LucyBronze)
The 31-year-old said: “My role at Barcelona is different to what it’s been in previous …
Everton will consult with fans as part of their considerations over whether to move into their new stadium midway through the 2024-25 season.
Chief stadium development officer Colin Chong, who was recently installed as interim chief executive after a boardroom shake-up, insists the development at Bramley-Moore Dock is ahead of schedule and the club have never committed to a move-in date.
Everton will definitely not start the campaign after next in their new ground, with test events scheduled for the final months of 2024, but a huge decision remains over whether to re-home the team in the middle of a season considering the associated upheaval leaving Goodison Park could cause.
“I can confirm, after overcoming a full winter where we lifted the heaviest materials …
Former Juventus, Athletic Bilbao and Spain striker Fernando Llorente has retired from football at the age of 37.
Llorente – who has been without a club since the end of last season – made the announcement to Movistar Plus, confirming the end of an 18-year senior career.
When asked about continuing to play football, he replied No and suggested he will instead keep fit by playing padel.
Llorente began his career with Athletic, where he played for nine seasons for the first team, scoring 84 goals in 262 LaLiga games.
He then earned a move to Serie A giants Juventus, where he scored 16 in 34 league games in his first season, though was unable to repeat that form before he left on a free transfer back to Spain with Sevilla in 2015.
96 No player sc…
UEFA president Michel Platini on Wednesaday said he believed Ukraine were on track to co-host Euro 2012 with Poland as he began a two-day visit.
We believe in Ukraine we believe in the authorities, former France star Platini said as he arrived in the city of Lviv, one of four host cities in the country.
The city is having a new airport terminal and a new stadium built and local authorities insist that, despite several stadium construction delays, they will be ready in time.
Platini, who last month insisted discussions would be frank and serious, was later to visit the eastern industrial city of Donetsk, which last year saw an impressive new stadium erected, before going on to Kharkiv and the capital, Kiev.
The UEFA head was also due to hold talks with n…
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Looking to make a La Liga statement on Wednesday night, Atletico Madrid will welcome Espanyol to the Spanish capital.
Atletico Madrid
Starting with the hosts, while Atletico Madrid might have failed to mount any kind of title charge last season, Diego Simeone’s men have continued to build off of their summer flurry. Putting in a thumping performance over the weekend as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp against Girona, the Spanish heavyweights will be smelling a golden opportunity on Wednesday night. Signing off their pre-season preparations with a 2-0 victory against Juventus, the mood around the Metropolitano should be at a real high. Pencilled in as a standout contender in midweek, Atletico have continued to gain a reputation f…
Retiring playmaker David Silva should be remembered as one of the best players to grace the Premier League, according to his former Manchester City team-mate Joleon Lescott.
Real Sociedad midfielder Silva announced his retirement at the age of 37 last Thursday, having suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season training.
Prior to joining La Real in 2020, Silva won four Premier League titles and seven domestic cups during a memorable spell at the Etihad Stadium, where he has since been honoured with a statue.
Silva – who also won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championship titles with Spain – led all Premier League players for assists (89) and chances created (768) during the decade between 2010 and 2020.
Having played alongside Silva between 20…