Luiz Felipe Scolari is confident Portugal will get the better of the Czech Republic in Thursday s Euro 2012 quarter-final.
Paulo Bento s side overcame an opening defeat to Germany in Group B to beat Denmark 3-2 and the Netherlands 2-1 to secure second spot in their section and set up a meeting with the Czechs.
The winner of that match will go on to meet either Spain or France in the semi-finals and Scolari believes Portugal have a chance to fight for a place in the final.
“Portugal will get through another round, Scolari told Portuguese sports paper A Bola.
I m totally convinced they ll overcome the Czech Republic and go through to the semi-finals. Besides, I felt they would beat Netherlands and that s what happened.
The veteran Brazilian c…
Defending champions the United States crashed out of the World Cup as Sweden booked their place in the quarter-finals after a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Melbourne.
Earlier, the Netherlands saw off South Africa 2-0 in Sydney to move into the last eight, where they will meet Spain.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at all of Sunday’s World Cup action.
USA pay the penalty
That winning feeling.
— FIFA Women s World Cup (@FIFAWWC)
The United States saw their grip on the World Cup trophy end as Sweden pulled off a dramatic victory on penalties after the last-16 match had ended goalless following extra-time.The USA – who won the last two tournaments – could not craft a winner against inspired Sweden keeper Zecira Musovic, even after the…
Poland coach Franciszek Smuda has a selection dilemma ahead of their Euro 2012 clash with the Czech Republic, as he juggles his goalkeepers.
Przemyslaw Tyton became an instant hero when he came off the bench and saved the penalty that had been conceded by Wojciech Szczesny in the opening fixture against Greece.
But the Arsenal keeper, who started the tournament as first choice, is back from his ban for the game against Michal Bilek s side, leaving Smuda will a difficult decision to make.
Poland midfielder Rafal Murawski empathised with his coach about the decision to select either his number one custodian Szczesny, or number two Tyton who filled in admirably.
I am happy that I must not make the decision (about) who must be the number one against Czech …
Steven Pienaar has agreed to terms on a four-year deal with Everton after a £4.5 million transfer fee was accepted by Tottenham Hotspur, .
Pienaar, who played for Everton from 2008-11, joined Tottenham on a four-year contract in January 2011 for a transfer fee of £3 million.
The South African midfielder returned to Goodison Park last season after joining the Toffees on a six-month loan on transfer deadline day in January. He made 14 league starts for David Moyes side in 2012, tallying four goals and seven assists.
I am happy to be here. It took a few weeks to sort out but I am delighted to be back and excited to play for Everton, Pienaar told Everton s official website.
There was no doubt in my mind that I would be back here. At the end …
Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has praised Fernando Torres purple patch of form this season.
Simeone has incorporated new signings Luciano Vietto and Jackson Martinez alongside Torres and Antoine Griezmann into his side this term, but the combination of Griezmann and Torres has proved to be Atleti s best striker combination thus far.
Speaking ahead of Tuesday s clash with Getafe, Simeone said: [Torres is] in really good shape. He came in really well prepared from the preseason where he worked really well.
He needs to have a lot demanded of him and we re demanding a lot of him, in line with his quality. Last year he did well. He s competing really well and giving us options up front which is what we need.
Meanwhile, Simeone an…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic refused to distance himself from speculation linking him with a Milan comeback.
Ibrahimovic shrugged off rumours that he is set to leave French champions Paris Saint-Germain for Milan prior to Sweden s Euro 2016 qualifier against Montenegro.
The 33-year-old was quizzed about his future again following Sunday s 3-1 win inspired by his brace and the former Milan striker left the door open for a return to the Italian giants.
I have one year left on my contract with PSG and no other plans, but then things can change from one day to the next, Ibrahimovic was quoted as saying by Football Italia.
I think that the older I get, and now I m a father, I think differently about choosing a club.
It s not just the football aspect that need…
Manchester United have pledged to tackle lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues after becoming the first British football club to announce a partnership with charity Stonewall.
The partnership will see United and Stonewall work together in an attempt to rid sport and society of inequality and exclusion, as both entities hope to improve football s relationship with the LGBT community.
Stonewall have been involved in football before, with their Rainbow Laces campaign enjoying significant support among Premier League clubs and players since its inception in 2013.
And now United have become the first club to officially link up with Stonewall, joining their TeamPride coalition, a group of global businesses aiming to stamp out homophobia and discriminati…
Tottenham continued their fine Premier League home run without injured star Harry Kane as they saw off Southampton 2-1 in a tight contest at White Hart Lane.
Kane had hobbled out of Spurs FA Cup win over Millwall a week earlier, but, in his absence, Mauricio Pochettino s side edged to a 10th straight league victory on home turf with goals from Christian Eriksen and Dele Alli.
While Southampton were the last visiting team to win a top-flight game at the Lane – in the closing weeks of last season – they lost their own in-form forward, Manolo Gabbiadini, to injury after half an hour of this clash, having earlier fallen behind to Eriksen s fine strike.
Alli then tucked away a penalty to secure a comfortable half-time lead for Tottenham, but James Ward-Prowse cel…
Verdict: Both teams to score yes
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Chile and Sweden will meet for the second time in the past 12 years, and there will be a massive atmosphere for this friendly game in Stockholm. On one hand, Sweden will try to determine which players are good enough for the World Cup. Meanwhile, Chile will try to begin a rebuilding process after they were shockingly eliminated from the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers.
Sweden
Sweden produced one of the biggest shocks in World Cup Qualifiers history when they defeated Italy to clinch a spot in Russia. The Scandinavian side finished second in Group A (behind France but in front of the Netherlands) and pulled quite an upset against Italy, so there is no question they arrive into this game with their mo…
Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City are among the clubs looking to secure a deal for Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw, according to the Daily Star.
The England international’s Old Trafford future appears to be over after a latest fall-out with manager Jose Mourinho with a summer move away potentially on the cards.
Southampton, who sold the twenty-two year old to the Red Devils in the summer of 2014 are also in the running to secure his services.
Since leaving the south coast club he has racked up sixty-two appearances in all competitions though he hasn’t featured in more than half of a campaigns league games yet and has played just seven times this term.
Prior to his move he played sixty times for the Saints and was named in the 2014 PFA Te…