Wales midfielder Joe Ledley will be in contention for their Euro 2016 Group B opener against Slovakia, manager Chris Coleman has confirmed.
The news represents a remarkable recovery from Ledley, who fractured a fibula in Crystal Palace s Premier League meeting with St
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oke City on May 7.
It seemed certain that Ledley would miss Wales first appearance at a major tournament for 58 years, but the 29-year-old was included in Coleman s 23-man squad and appears to be on the verge of full fitness.
The midfielder missed the 3-0 friendly defeat to Sweden on Sunday, along with Joe Allen and Hal Robson-Kanu, but Coleman insists all three should be fine to take on Slovakia in Bordeaux on Saturday.
If the situation stays the same, the three will be availab…
Pep Guardiola said he will have to decide on his next managerial venture after Wayne Rooney suggested the Spaniard should be the next man in charge of England.
It was announced on Friday that Lee Carsley had been appointed as the interim coach of the Three Lions ahead of their Nations League fixtures next month.
Carsley, who has been England Under-21 manager since 2021, led his side to victory in the European Championships last year following their triumph over Spain.
Guardiola was one of several names listed to succeed Gareth Southgate, with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Graham Potter and Eddie Howe all linked with the position.
The Spaniard was asked about former England captain Wayne Rooney s comments, proposing he should be the next permanent …
Everton have been hit with an unprecedented 10-point penalty after being found to have “taken chances” with the Premier League’s financial rules.
An independent commission found the club’s desire to improve their on-pitch performance had resulted in them acting “irresponsibly” and exceeding permitted losses under the league’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
The points deduction drops Everton to 19th in the table and leaves major question marks over whether a sale of the club by current owner Farhad Moshiri to an American investment firm, 777 Partners, will proceed.
The club immediately indicated their intention to appeal against the sanction. It is understood the appeal will be heard during the course of the current season.
Eve…
Qatar has won the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, beating rivals Australia, the United States, South Korea and Japan.
The announcement was made by FIFA President Sepp Blatter following a secret ballot by the 22 members of the organisation s executive committee in Zurich on Thursday.
It comes after weeks of last-minute lobbying and intense media speculation.
The Qatari bid was put in doubt by the threat of having a World Cup at an event so close to the equator, hence higher temperatures and increased humidity, but the young nation will be the focus of international football in eight years time.
The Middle East nation had their bid endorsed by none other than former France international Zinedine Zidane, who made headlines at the 2006 World Cup for h…
Chelsea’s 4-2 defeat at home to Wolves brought further scrutiny on manager Mauricio Pochettino and the Blues’ expensively-assembled squad.
It was Pochettino’s 31st game in charge, the same number Graham Potter was given before he was sacked last season, and here the PA news agency looks at the Argentinian’s record with the club.
Slow progress
Potter was sacked after just over six months in charge and a record reading won 12, drew eight, lost 11 in all competitions.
Pochettino is two wins better off, showing at least some progress, but with the same number of losses.
With the £1billion of transfer expenditure since the club were taken over by Todd Boehly’s Clearlake consortium, Chelsea could reasonably have expected to turn the ship around some…
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Bodo/Glimt and Red Star Belgrade will clash in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie on Tuesday, with both teams vying for a spot in the competition s new-look group stage.
Red Star, the reigning Serbian champions, are traveling to the Arctic Circle to take on Bodo/Glimt, who have already battled through two rounds of qualifying. Both teams will be aiming to take a crucial step toward securing their place among Europe s elite clubs.
Bodo/Glimt
Bodo/Glimt have undergone a remarkable transformation under head coach Kjetil Knutsen, emerging from underdog status to become one of Norway s most dominant football clubs. Since their promotion to the Eliteserien in 2017, they have established themselves as a force both d…
Napoli were held to a 1-1 draw at relegation-battling Udinese in Serie A on Monday after a stoppage-time goal by forward Isaac Success cancelled out a Victor Osimhen header.
Osimhen nodded home to give Napoli the lead in the 51st minute after Matteo Politano sent a lofted cross from the right into the middle of the box, and the Nigerian striker headed the ball in off the left post.
The Nigerian thought he doubled their advantage in the 80th minute, but his effort was ruled out for offside, before Success bundled in the leveller in stoppage time, netting from a Thomas Kristensen header.
Napoli moved up to eighth on 51 points from 35 games and are nine points behind both fifth-placed Atalanta and Roma, in sixth.
Full time 1-1
— Official …
Australia coach Graham Arnold is confident he can mix things up with his tactics against the United Arab Emirates in the 2019 Asian Cup quarter-finals after Tom Rogic was ruled out due to suspension.
The Socceroos progressed by the skin of their teeth on Monday, as they defeated Uzbekistan 4-2 on penalties after 120 minutes of goalless football in Al Ain.
Rogic was given a yellow card in just the 20th minute after he was adjudged to have fouled Jaloliddin Masharipov, with TV replays suggesting the Celtic midfielder stumbled on his opponent s foot during the incident.
Arnold was adamant the booking was harsh, though he is confident he has enough options and systems to keep UAE guessing on Friday.
The yellow card was a bit harsh, because Tomi had no intent…
Nottingham Forest have sacked manager Steve Cooper following a run of one win in 13 games.
Cooper leaves the club in 17th place in the Premier League, albeit five points clear of the drop zone, with owner Evangelos Marinakis choosing to act ahead of the busy festive schedule.
Here, the PA news agency examines his Forest record.
Legacy intact
Cooper will go down as one of the most successful Forest managers in recent history, having secured the club’s return to the top flight after a 23-year absence.
The 44-year-old arrived at the City Ground in September 2021 with the club sitting bottom of the Championship, before guiding them to an unlikely fourth-place finish and promotion via the play-offs.
He went on to lead Forest to Premier League safety…
Former Holland defender Adri van Tiggelen has encouraged Oranje boss Bert van Marwijk to include Klaas-Jan Huntelaar in the starting XI for the next two group stage matches.
The inclusion of Huntelaar would inevitably relegate Arsenal talisman Robin van Persie, who did little to nothing against Denmark in Holland s first match of Euro 2012, to the bench.
I guess it is about time that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar starts up front, I am kind of fed up with Robin van Persie, he told NUSport.
It is a fact he did an amazing job at Arsenal this season, but his performances have been heavily disappointing in the Netherlands national team.
Besides, we have two defensive midfielders who are hardly involved in attack. If Denmark benefited from that, Germ…