Firstly, the numbers.
This was the first time England had scored more than four goals in a World Cup match, the last being the victorious final of 1966. This was also only the fifth time in history that a single team hit five in the first half of a match at football s grandest tournament. Harry Kane then became the first England captain to score a hat-trick since Alan Shearer against Luxembourg in 1999, and only the third Three Lions player to do so at a World Cup.
The 6-1 win over Panama was, in no uncertain terms, a total hammering. Given the tense few days that preceded it, it should earn Gareth Southgate praise by the bucket load.
This has arguably been the most trying week in the job for England s inexperienced boss. The hard work spent cultivating a positiv…
Manchester United started the season on torrid form. Jose Mourinho s men have started the 2017-18 Premier League season on a strong note, registering three straight wins and looking dominant in the process. Even the more optimistic fans did not believe the team would be THIS good early in the year.
They will get defeated eventually, and at some point they will struggle. But there is no question this team looks like a different squad compared to last year s one. And here are three reasons why United will shut their critics and win the Premier League title this season.
In-Form Attacking Unit
It is still early in the season, but United s attacking line has shown promise thanks to 10 goals in just three matches. The Red Devils kicked off the campaign with consecutive 4-0 w…
Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona representatives were in Munich this week to watch the Champions League match between Bayern Munich and Ajax Amsterdam.
Scouts and members of the technical staff of the Catalan club are said to have visited Allianz Arena in order to get a closer look on possible new additions – with names of the two Bayern Munich players specifically highlighted.
The La Liga champions are said to be holding a growing interest in David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich who have been performing at the highest possible level for Bayern Munich for quite some time now.
Versatile defenders are highly-rated and regarded as two of the biggest talents in world football and Barcelona are said to have made them the club’s top transfer priority for the …
Tom Lawrence s superb first international goal gave Wales a crucial 1-0 away win over Georgia as their bid to qualify for the World Cup was boosted despite the absence of injured talisman Gareth Bale.
After his side edged a goalless first half that lacked clear goalscoring opportunities, Lawrence struck with an impressive individual effort early in the second.
Wales looked the more likely to add a second goal before eventually settling for a one-goal victory, with Georgia offering little as an attacking force despite holding the possession advantage.
Chris Coleman s men will now be interested observers as Group D leaders Serbia, who are one point ahead, travel to Austria later on Friday.
Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland – now four points behind Wales in…
Belgium and England meet for the second time in this World Cup on Saturday, as they face off for the bronze medal at Russia 2018.
Their game in the group stage was something of a dead rubber given they had already qualified for the knockouts, and each side took the opportunity to rest some key players. It made for a less-than-enthralling spectacle.
The fear, of course, is that this match in St Petersburg could be even worse. The World Cup s third-place play-off is that most peculiar of games that nobody wants to be involved in, yet feels somewhat obliged to win.
The peculiar nature of it has made for some interesting spectacles down the years. Some have been, well, not entirely era-defining events, but others might just reinforce your faith in the match taking pl…
Sporting CP have confirmed that Joel Campbell has joined on a season-long loan from Arsenal.
Campbell will join up with Jorge Jesus side ahead of their match against Porto next weekend.
Despite making 30 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal last campaign, the Costa Rica international has been sent on loan for a fifth time following spells with Lorient, Real Betis, Olympiacos and Villarreal.
The 24-year-old has made only 11 starts in the English top flight since signing for Arsene Wenger s men back in 2011.
. challenge accepted! Welcome to Sporting CP!
— Sporting CP (@Sporting_CP)
I came to be champion! And to make the best of impressions and repay the trust that was placed in me, Campbell told Sporting s official websi…
Best Odds: 20/21
Bookmaker:
Two nations who will open up this summer s delayed European Championships in Rome, Italy and Turkey will face off at the Stadio Olimpico on Friday night.
Turkey
Starting with Turkey, although they might have managed to sign off their preparations last week with a much-welcomed 2-0 victory against Moldova in home soil, Şenol Güneş side failed to lay down much of a marker. Shocking many across Europe as they could only muster a lacklustre 0-0 stalemate against Guinea in a friendly contest, The Crescent-Stars have gained a recent reputation for their inconsistencies. Enjoying what was nothing short of a stunning opening to March s World Cup qualifiers earlier in the year and landing back-to-back thumping victories against Holland and…
Celtic have rejected a significant offer for Moussa Dembele, Brendan Rodgers claims. He hasn t revealed which club had made the offer but believe it was Lyon.
Dembele was left out of Celtic s squad for the Europa League clash against FK Suduva on Thursday, in which the Scottish champions secured participation in UEFA s second-tier club competition.
Rodgers says the offer had been on the table for several days but the club eventually decided to decline as they wish to keep their main striker. He added that the inability to find a suitable replacement, a player of satisfactory caliber, has made Dembele s departure highly unlikely before the window closes tonight (Friday).
The Northern Irishman will certainly have learnt his lesson from the time he managed Liverpo…
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 5/6 @
In a matchup that on paper could be another lively meeting, Switzerland and Spain will face off in Saint Petersburg on Friday evening with a spot in the semi-finals up for grabs.
Starting with Switzerland, while The Reds might have opened this summer s delayed European Championships with a stutter, there is no doubt that La Nati will be on cloud nine after their famous victory last week. Mounting what was nothing short of a stunning comeback against defending world champions France in a 3-3 draw, Vladimir Petković s men booked their spot in the quarter-finals thanks to Kylian Mbappe s penalty miss. With the mood in their camp now set to be at a red-hot high and also signing off their Group A campaign with a crucial 3-1 ro…
Pep Guardiola applauded Manchester City s victory over Newcastle United, describing the 2-0 triumph as their performance of the season .
City eased past Newcastle thanks to goals from Ilkay Gundogan and Ferran Torres to move within five points of Premier League leaders Liverpool on Saturday.
Guardiola s City have kept 13 clean sheets in all competitions this season – more than any other team in the top five European leagues in 2020-21.
Speaking afterwards, a happy Guardiola told reporters: It was the best performance of the season. Our football has to be played in one rhythm so we cannot play in a rhythm that has ups and downs so quickly.
You have to make a tempo that makes a lot, a thousand-million, passes in the right moment to attack. To do this eve…