Mario Gomez got on the scoresheet again as Germany romped to a 3-1 win at Azerbaijan in their Euro 2012 Group A qualifier on Tuesday.
Gomez scored for the fourth successive international as Germany made it seven wins from seven qualifiers, all but sealing their place in next year s finals.
Mesut Oezil scored and handed Gomez his goal on a platter before Azerbaijan got back into the contest with a late strike from Murad Huseynov.
But their momentum was quickly snuffed out by Andre Schurrle, whose injury-time sealer surely leaves Azerbaijan coach Berti Vogts in the firing line.
Vogts, who has led the national side to just two victories in three years, was pelted with a toilet roll and a coffee pot by irate journalists in a pre-match press conference and is…
Phil Neville believes Portland Timbers hard work is starting to show ahead of their game against Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
The Timbers have won three of their last four games, including both at home in that run, and sit ninth in the Western Conference.
Against Austin FC on Wednesday, they kept their first clean sheet of the season with a 2-0 victory.
Neville is hopeful Portland can continue to build on their recent momentum as they look to close the gap to the teams above them.
There s a good cohesion to the team and a good structure. The players are now doing their jobs and doing it to the ability that you expect, Neville said.
The last two or three games we ve seen a continuation of the work we ve been doing. We knew we had a lot of work to …
UEFA have hit England striker Wayne Rooney with a three-game suspension after his sending-off in Montenegro.
This decision wasn’t completely unexpected and England still have a right to appeal.
However Rooney has previous and UEFA are unlikely to change their decision.
Group
A three game ban means that Rooney will miss all three group games. However he could play in the knockout stages if England managed to get through their group. The way England have played at recent tournaments that is no certainty.
Decision
England boss Fabio Capello will now need to make a decision on whether to take Rooney to the European Championships or not. The tournament could be over for England before he has even kicked a ball.
However if Rooney we…
Didier Deschamps acknowledges France s World Cup group could have been worse, but has earmarked Argentina as a potential threat should they make the knockout stages.
Les Bleus, winners in 1998 and among many people s favourites to triumph in Russia, will face Australia, Peru and Denmark in Group C.
If France, who played Denmark in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, make it to the last 16 they could face Argentina – who scraped their way into the tournament with a Lionel Messi-inspired victory over Ecuador in their final qualifier – depending on how they fare in Group D.
But head coach Deschamps is not overly concerning himself with factors beyond his control.
It could have been far worse of course. We made a habit of playing Denmark and we played Australi…
Germany enjoyed a wonderful start to their home Euro 2024 campaign on Friday as they thrashed 10-man Scotland 5-1 in Munich.
A huge contingent of Scotland fans packed into the Allianz Arena in hope of witnessing their country s first major tournament victory since Euro 1996, but they were stunned into silence as Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala put Germany two goals up inside 19 minutes.
Ryan Porteous was then sent off for a dismal lunge on Ilkay Gundogan shortly before half-time, allowing Kai Havertz to kill the game as a contest from the penalty spot.
Niclas Fullkrug came off the bench to score a tremendous fourth for Julian Nagelsmann s hosts, though Antonio Rudiger s own goal gave Scotland s supporters some small comfort late on.
However, Emre Can –…
The official emblem for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar has been revealed by organisers.
The logo, inspired by local and regional Arab culture and landscapes, is described as embodying the vision of an event that connects and engages the entire world .
The swooping curves of the emblem represent the undulations of desert dunes and the unbroken loop depicts both the number eight – a reminder of the eight astonishing stadiums that will host matches – and the infinity symbol, reflecting the interconnected nature of the event, a statement released by FIFA said.
Qatar s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy added: The infinity sign symbolises the legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which will continue to inspire and accelerate development in Qatar, the regio…
USA crashed out of the Copa America following a 1-0 defeat by Uruguay, who advanced to the quarter-finals as Group C winners.
The defeat at Arrowsmith Stadium – coupled with Panama s 3-1 victory over bottom side Bolivia – culminated in the Stars and Stripes falling at the first hurdle in their own tournament.
Though both sides were generally lacking a creative spark in the final third, Mathias Olivera s 66th-minute strike was enough to seal the hosts fate.
Meanwhile, Uruguay ensured a 100% record as they marched into the last eight, where a showdown with the Group D runners-up awaits them in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Each side lost a player to injury during a disjointed first half in Kansas City.
Uruguay s Maximiliano Araujo was stretchered off …
Sergio Busquets believes Spain are growing stronger by the game at Euro 2020 after La Roja defeated Croatia 5-3 in a European Championship classic to reach the quarter-finals.
Luis Enrique s side won their first knockout game at a major tournament since winning Euro 2012 nine years ago, triumphing in a thrilling contest at Parken Stadium on Monday.
Pablo Sarabia, Cesar Azpilicueta and Ferran Torres were all on target to give Spain a commanding 3-1 lead after Pedri s bizarre own goal from 49 yards had put Croatia ahead.
But substitute Mislav Orsic scored one and set up another for Mario Pasalic in the space of seven minutes late on in Copenhagen to set up extra time.
It is the just the second time Spain have conceded three goals in their Euros history, but…
Poland captain Robert Lewandowski has backed the decision of the Polish football association to refuse to play their Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier against Russia next month following developments in Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, following weeks of rising political tensions in the region. The conflict escalated further on Friday, with the fighting reaching the capital city of Kyiv.
Russia had been set to host Poland in March, but on Friday, UEFA confirmed any international matches due to be held in Russia or Ukraine would have to be moved to a neutral venue, as well as confirming St Petersburg had been stripped of holding this season s Champions League final, which will now be played in Paris.
The winner of the tie between Poland and Russia woul…
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