Reds paired with Sparta Prague in Europa League round of 16

Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk has praised his side for reaching their first World Cup final in 32 years but said their achievement counts for nothing yet.

The Netherlands 3-2 win over Uruguay on Tuesday in their semi-final has put them in Sunday s World Cup final where they will face either Germany or European champions Spain at Johannesburg s Soccer City.

The Dutch are bidding to win their first World Cup title and having lost both the 1974 and 1978 finals, van Marwijk says the current side must win if they want to write themselves into Dutch footballing history.

It is quite something we have achieved after 32 years, but we are not there yet and there is one more match to look forward to, he said.

The former Feyenoord coach has instilled a strong team s…

Hull City s Curtis Davies is confident they can win the club s first major trophy by beating Arsenal in next month s FA Cup final.

Steve Bruce s men ensured a place in the May 17 showpiece against Arsenal who beat Wigan Athletic on penalties in the other semi-final with a 5-3 win over League One outfit Sheffield United on Sunday.

Steven Scougall s 44th minute strike put United 2-1 up at the break after Hull s Yannick Sagbo had cancelled out Jose Baxter s opener.

Hull took control in the second half though, with Matty Fryatt, Tom Huddlestone and Stephen Quinn finding the net to all but ensure victory before Jamie Murphy and David Meyler traded late goals.

And captain Davies feels Hull can replicate the achievements of Birmingham City, who stunned Arsenal 2-1 to wi…

Brazil legend Pele has predicted his nation will at least reach the final of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The draw for the group stages of next year s showpiece was made in Bahia on Friday, with Brazil to face Croatia, Mexico and Cameroon in Group A.

Luiz Felipe Scolari s side open the tournament against Croatia in Sao Paulo on June 12 but if they top their pool, face a tough second-round clash against the second-placed side from Group B.

Given Group B contains both of the 2010 finalists, Spain and Netherlands, it will not be easy for the hosts, but Pele feels the five-time winners have been dealt a good hand.

I think we will be in the final, Pele s
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aid.

I can always remember my father crying after we lost the World Cup to Uruguay in 1950, so I don t…

Craig Gordon has signed a new contract with Celtic that will keep him at the club until June 2020 after a move to Chelsea collapsed in the January transfer window.

The Premier League leaders had identified the 34-year-old as the ideal back-up for Thibaut Courtois in case Asmir Begovic left, but Chelsea had two bids knocked back by Celtic.

Gordon has now made the decision to commit his long-term future to Celtic instead and will stay put for an additional three seasons.

It has taken a little while after the interest in the January window but it is good to finally get it done and concentrate on the rest of the season, Gordon said.

It was quite stop-start, there was a lot of things going on within the club, it was not a continuous thing, it was not like…

Gareth Southgate has warned England to broaden their horizons beyond the Premier League if they are to challenge on the international stage.

Since winning the World Cup in 1966, England have struggled at major tournaments, only progressing beyond the quarter-finals once at Euro 1996.

England were embarrassingly knocked out of Euro 2016 by minnows Iceland in the last 16, when Roy Hodgson was in charge.

Southgate now full-time manager after permanently replacing Sam Allardyce believes England must shed their narrow-mindedness on the Premier League being the centre of the universe if they are to compete with the elite.

I always say being an island saved us in 1945, I m not so sure it s helped us ever since. You guys travel around Europe and around the world…

Roberto Mancini and his Italy side broke new ground in their comfortable 3-0 win at Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday.

The victory in the Euro 2020 qualifier not only ensured they maintained a 100 per cent record in Group J but also saw the Azzurri rack up a 10th consecutive triumph.

No Italy side has ever achieved such a feat and they will look to stretch the streak in their final qualifier against Armenia on Monday.

Below, we take a look back at Italy s record-breaking run.

Belotti gets on the scoresheet

Italy s number 1 striker?

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@UEFAEURO)

Italy 1-0 United States: Nov 20, 2018

The run started with an unconvincing 1-0 victory over USA in Genk a little under a year ago. Italy dominated proceedings but neede…

Mesut Ozil fired back a response to his critics with a goal and an assist as Arsenal overcame a resilient West Ham 3-0 at Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.

Germany international Ozil making his 150th Arsenal appearance has come under fire for lacklustre displays this season and the ire aimed in his direction increased during a run the Gunners took into Wednesday s game that had seen them win just three times in their last 10 matches in all competitions.

Ongoing speculation around the 28-year-old s future in north London has added to the animosity he has been subjected to, but his first goal of 2017 put Arsene Wenger s side on the path to ending a three-match winless run in the top flight.

Ozil then set up Theo Walcott to angle in the second, capping a perf…

Someone has to stop this

A while ago I wrote an article asking if the huge spending of Manchester City was right. I wondered if it was right for the sport and if it was right morally, particularly in the current economic plight. My conclusion was that I would think it was right if I was a Manchester City supporter, but almost nobody else would be able to happily support it.

Astonishing

Now the figures have been announced, they are even more astonishing than I thought they would be. Surely this has to be stopped doesn’t it?

The club have announced losses of £121 million for the twelve months leading up to 31st May this year. This figure is up from £92.5m for the previous year. It is one of the biggest losses ever in the Premier League, but to be fair to…

Best Odds: 10/11

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Looking to make a statement at Stamford Bridge on Monday night, Newcastle will make the trip to Chelsea.

Chelsea

Starting with the hosts, while Chelsea might have appointed Mauricio Pochettino last summer, the Blues find themselves in the midst of another domestic struggle. Last seen eventually having to settle for a 2-2 stalemate away at west London rivals Brentford, the former Tottenham boss appears to have plenty of scrutiny over his long-term future at Stamford Bridge. Although the former Premier League champions might have extended on their FA Cup adventure on February 29th as they secured a 3-2 victory against Championship high-flyers Leeds, Chelsea have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous eight meetings a…

Wayne Rooney is in a race against time to be fit for Manchester United s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Bayern Munich.

Rooney will miss United s trip to Newcastle on Saturday after manager David Moyes revealed the striker was struggling with a toe injury he sustained during last Tuesday s 1-1 draw against Bayern at Old Trafford.

The 28-year-old, who injured his ankle at the Allianz Arena in 2010, is now a doubt for the trip to Munich for the club s do-or-die clash with Bayern on Wednesday.

Wayne is injured. He has a badly bruised toe so he won t be involved against Newcastle. It will be touch and go for Wayne for Wednesday, Moyes told reporters on Friday.

It s a toe injury and they re never easy when you get one. You could see him limping in th…