Sneijder desperate for Euro success

Netherlands midfielder Wesley Sneijder says his side have set their sights on winning Euro 2012 after losing the 2010 World Cup final.

Bert van Marwijk s men have been grouped with Denmark, Germany and Portugal, but the Inter Milan midfielder is unfazed by the competition that awaits them in Group B.

The changes Bert van Marwijk has made to our style of play since taking over have proven to be quite successful as we reached the final at the World Cup, Sneijder told De Telegraaf.

We are now aiming to reach at least the final at Euro 2012. We want to do even better, though, and win the European title.

The Inter star also took the time to respond to Marco van Basten s criticism in the wake of Netherlands 2-1 friendly loss against Bulgaria on Saturday, wh…

Prediction: RB Leipzig vs Manchester United

Prediction: Draw

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The hectic nature of European football this season means that we are once again gearing up for another week of UEFA Champions League action. We re into the final matchday of the group. stage now and while many groups already seem to have a clear direction in terms of who will qualify, the same cannot be said for Group H. Today, we re going to preview the impending clash between two sides that are separated by two places and goal difference RB Leipzig and Manchester United.

RB Leipzig

RB Leipzig are slowly flying under the radar both domestically and in the UCL, but as they ve been able to prove against Bayern Munich and Istanbul Basaksehir in recent weeks, they re starting to really improve as the season goes on which…

´We were down and out´ – Conte tells Inter to grasp Champions League chance

Conte certainly does not expect Madrid to play with a plan to force the draw in their clash with Gladbach, even though that would see Zidane s men through if Inter beat Shakhtar.

We are talking about the Champions League. We are not talking about a local pub tournament, Conte said, replying to a question floating that idea. It is worrying if we hear these kinds of things such as teams only playing for a draw.

The encounter will be the third time Inter and Shakhtar have faced each other in 2020, with the first of those resulting in a 5-0 win for Conte’s side in the Europa League semi-finals.

The Nerazzurri will inevitably be looking to Romelu Lukaku to provide the big threat to Shakhtar, with the former Manchester United striker having been directly involved i…

Yakin named new Spartak boss

Yakin arrives in Russia with Spartak having finished sixth in the Russian Premier League, missing out on UEFA Europa League qualification.

The former Switzerland international left Basel at the end of last season, having guided the club to the Super League title in each of the last two campaigns.

He missed out on the double on both occasions, though, losing the Swiss Cup final in both 2013 and 2014.

As a player, Yakin won five Swiss Super League titles, as well as three Swiss Cups and a runners-up medal in the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1998 with Stuttgart.

Yakin joined Basel in October 2012, and led the club to the Europa League semi-finals at the end of his first season, before they were beaten by eventual winners Chelsea.

After exiting the UEFA Ch…

Napoli eyeing move for Michu

Napoli are lining up a move for Swansea City striker Michu, .

The Serie A side’s boss Rafael Benitez is keen to bring in another forward to share the workload with Gonzalo Higuain, and he has identified the Spain international as his top transfer target.

The Spain international made just fifteen starts in the Premier League last season after struggling with injury though the previous campaign, his first in English football, was a huge success.

In total, he has made sixty-seven appearances for the South Wales side in all competitions, scoring twenty-eight goals, one of which came in the 5-0 League Cup final victory over Bradford City at Wembley in February 2013.

The 28 year old has two years remaining on his current contract, so would command a fe…

Ronaldo almost joined Arsenal

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo almost joined Arsenal, before the Portugal winger decided to move to Old Trafford.

Fergie said: “Arsene Wenger must have been close, he had him over at Highbury about 25 times!”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he still rues missing out on Cristiano Ronaldo.

Wenger admitted: “If I was to have a player from Manchester United it would be Ronaldo — because we were so close to getting him.

“We were a just few hundred-thousand pounds away. I was very close.”

The Portuguese joined Manchester United for £12.24million in 2003.

Ronaldo became the first winger ever to win the Euro…

Kepa Arrizabalaga about to join Real Madrid on loan from Chelsea

Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is about to join Real Madrid, according to Fabrizio Romano. The Italian journalist has reported on  Twitter that Kepa will leave Premier League club Chelsea and move to La Liga outfit Madrid on a season-long loan deal. Romano has added that it will be a straight loan with no option or obligation to make the deal permanent in the summer of 2024.

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1690641880931770368

Madrid are on the hunt for a new goalkeeper due to the injury to Thibaut Courtois. The former Chelsea star ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is likely to miss the majority of the season. Andriy Lunin is the only senior goalkeeper on the books of Madrid at the moment.

Los Blancos are aiming to win …

I´m on the same side as Wenger – Guardiola defends under-fire Arsenal boss

Pep Guardiola said he understands what Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is feeling as the Manchester City boss leapt to the defence of his Premier League counterpart.

Pressure is mounting on long-serving Arsenal boss Wenger, who oversaw Sunday s 3-0 loss to City in the EFL Cup final, with the club already seventh and 27 points adrift in the Premier League.

Wenger s contract expires at the end of next season but there are reports he could leave following the 2017-18 campaign, with Germany boss Joachim Low and Monaco head coach Leonardo Jardim among the candidates.

As Arsenal prepare to face Premier League champions-elect City again on Thursday, Guardiola offered his support to the 68-year-old Frenchman, who has been in charge since 1996.

I always support my …

Handanovic demands Inter response

Inter must revive their faltering campaign quickly if they are to achieve their goal of returning to the Champions League next season, says Samir Handanovic.

Under Luciano Spalletti, the Nerazzurri made a stunning start to the 2017-18 Serie A campaign, Inter going unbeaten for 16 matches – including a victory over AC Milan and draws with Napoli and Juventus.

In mid-December Inter were considered part of a three-way tussle for the Scudetto with Napoli and Juve, however, they have since tumbled out of contention.

A run of eight games without a win saw them fall away and, although they have two victories in their last three matches, Inter now sit fifth in the table.

With the top four earning a place in the Champions League, Handanovic says now is the time …

Ramsey aims to improve

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey has insisted the best is yet to come from him after a stop-start career at the Emirates Stadium.

The 21-year-old suffered a horrific leg-break against Stoke City in February 2010 which threatened his career, but has since bounced back after a 10-month absence.

Ramsey was named Wales captain last season and represented Team GB at the London Olympics as he looked to make up for lost time.

And the former Cardiff City midfielder is looking to push on again this season and put his injury problems behind him once and for all.

The best is yet to come from me, Ramsey told the Daily Star.

I m delighted with how it has gone apart from my injury.

I missed about 10 months, which stalled my progress, but I still thin…