Luis Enrique pledged there will be no complacency from his Spain side as La Roja prepare to take on Switzerland in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020.
While Spain needed extra-time to see off a resurgent Croatia 5-3 in the last 16, Switzerland stunned world champions France 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 3-3 draw in Bucharest.
Both of those ties took place on Monday, albeit Switzerland s game edged into Tuesday local time, and the teams now face a quick turnaround for Friday s contest in Saint Petersburg.
This is the first meeting between Switzerland and Spain at the European Championship.
Their three previous meetings in a major tournament came in the 1966, 1994 and 2010 World Cups, with La Roja winning the first two and Switzerland triumphing last tim…
While all of Europe’s elite might mark their return from November’s international break this weekend, clubs from across the continent will all have one eye on January’s transfer window.
Expecting what could be a record-breaking January spend from the likes of La Liga and the Premier League, rumours and speculation have really started to heat up.
With the January transfer window fast approaching on the horizon, we have taken a look at some of the biggest transfer stories from the past week.
Arsenal set to make Raya’s move a permanent basis
While David Raya might have come under some scrutiny during the early tenure of his time with Arsenal, Mikel Arteta has been filled with praise for the Spanish shot-stopper and has made it abundantly clear that their s…
Jose Mourinho will join Roma as head coach ahead of the 2021-22 season on a three-year deal, the Serie A club have announced.
The news came on the same day the club announced Paulo Fonseca would leave his position as coach at the end of the 2020-21 season.
Mourinho was dismissed by Premier League side Tottenham on April 19 after a disappointing 17 months in charge.
He said last week he would wait for a club with the right culture to resume his managerial career.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Chelsea boss previously coached in Serie A with Inter between 2008 and 2010.
He guided the Nerazzurri to two Scudettos and a Champions League triumph during his time at San Siro.
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Best odds: 1/1
Bookmaker:
England s quest to banish the demons of Euro 2020 begins at the Veltins-Arena on Sunday night, as the Three Lions commence their bid for Euro 2024 supremacy against Group C foes Serbia.
Neither nation has lifted the Henri Delaunay Trophy aloft since the inception of the continental championships, and both Denmark, the 1992 winners, and Slovenia will provide stiff competition for the coveted knockout places.
Serbia
Two-time runners-up in the European Championships during their Yugoslavian era in 1960 and 1968, Serbia are making their debut in this year s tournament, having never before qualified for the quadrennial continental event as an independent nation.
Under the guidance of head coach Dragan Stojkovic, widely regar…
Chelsea are interested in signing Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, according to . The report has claimed that Davies is out of contract at Bundesliga champions Bayern in the summer of 2025, and that former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea are among the clubs who are keen on securing his services.
Davies is one of the best left-backs in the world and is also able to play as a winger. The 23-year-old Canada international has been on the books of Bayern since 2018 and has developed into a superb player at the Allianz Arena.
During his time a Bayern so far, Davies has won the Bundesliga title five times, the DFB-Pokal twice and the UEFA Champions League on one occasion. The Canada international left-back has made 10 starts and one substitute …
Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo will look to inflict more Champions League pain on Porto and Borussia Dortmund travel to Sevilla for the first leg in the round of 16 on Wednesday.
Juve advanced from Group G at a canter, winning five of their six games to finish level on points with Barcelona.
The Serie A champions will be expected to knock Porto out, but Andrea Pirlo will be braced for a stern test in the first leg at Estadio do Dragao.
Sevilla do battle with Dortmund at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan a couple of days after it was announced that Borussia Monchengladbach head coach Marco Rose will take over at the Bundesliga club at the end of the season.
We take a look at the best stats on the two ties courtesy of Opta.
Turning attentions ba…
Cristiano Ronaldo will be playing back at Old Trafford in 2021-22 after Manchester United confirmed his signing from Juventus.
The Portugal great has returned in a deal worth up to €23million (£19.7m), which was sensationally agreed with Juve on Friday.
For a short while, it looked as though Ronaldo – who had asked to leave the Bianconeri – was heading to Manchester City after they missed out on the signing of Harry Kane.
Instead, he is heading back to the red side of Manchester.
With the deal now finalised, Stats Perform takes a look at other greats who went back to their former homes, starting with the Portugal captain
Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United
Ronaldo spent six years at Old Trafford during his previous spell,…
Competition: Euro 2016 Qualifier
Market: Poland to win against Scotland
Odds:
Scotland host Poland in Group D of the Euro 2016 qualifiers this week, and the Blues aren’t in the best shape to get a result. Gordon Strachan’s men previously looked on course to at least make the playoffs, but have suffered a badly-timed slump in form that could see them coming unstuck to a Poland side enjoying momentum ahead of Thursday’s meeting.
Fourth in the table after eight games, and four points adrift of third-place, Scotland can’t afford anything less than a win this week to stand a chance of making it through. The Blues have gone three games without a win in the group, drawing against the Republic of Ireland, while losing to Georgia and Germany. Such a poor run …
Competition: Euro 2016 Qualifier
Market: Northern Ireland to win against Hungary
Odds:
Northern Ireland host Hungary tonight in the Euro 2016 qualifier, with the in-form Group F side in pole position to pick up all three points to boost their chances of making next year’s finals. Michael O’Neill’s men are enjoying a fantastic qualifying campaign that sees them top of the pack after seven games.
With the chance to open up a seven point lead over opponents Hungary in the table, victory for Northern Ireland would see the hosts confirm their place in the 2016 European Championships. Runners-up Romania are still in contention of top spot in Group F, so the hosts need to win to ensure of their place at the summit.
They’re in fine form too, boasti…
Portugal head coach Fernando Santos believes his side have the quality to win Euro 2016.
The former Greece boss replaced Paulo Bento at the helm after Portugal lost their opening European Championship qualifier against Albania.
However, six consecutive competitive wins under Santos have turned things around and the country s place at next year s tournament in France was confirmed with a 1-0 victory over Denmark on Thursday.
While the 61-year-old does not consider his team to be among the favourites to lift the trophy, he feels they can certainly challenge for the title.
Some people say I m crazy because I say that we are not favourites as well as saying that we have the quality to win, Santos said.
There are many candidates. Portugal has the…