Struggling Alpine continues leadership shakeup
Alpine vice-president Bruno Famin on Friday said that differences of opinion about recent performances and future plans had led to the shock departures of team chief Otmar Szafnauer...
2023-07-29 00:25
Arraez has career-high 5 hits, 5 RBIs to lead Marlins to 12-1 rout over Athletics
Luis Arraez had a career-high five hits and five RBIs and the Miami Marlins beat the Oakland Athletics 12-1
2023-06-04 07:54
Ryan Day sounds ready to fight Lou Holtz after Ohio State stuns Notre Dame
Ohio State head coach Ryan Day was fired up after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame and Lou Holtz was in his cross hairs after his negative comments.
2023-09-24 11:57
England’s Euro 2024 squad: Who’s on the plane, who’s in contention and who has work to do?
England players have only four more international games in which to impress Gareth Southgate before the manager names his squad for Euro 2024. Southgate’s team qualified for the tournament, which will be hosted by Germany next summer, with a stylish 3-1 win over reigning champions Italy at Wembley Stadium, the venue for that agonising shootout defeat by the Azzurri in 2021. Now England can look ahead to the Euros, with two final qualifiers against Group C minnows Malta and North Macedonia to come in November, before two friendlies at Wembley in the spring. Competition for places is fierce, made even more so by Uefa’s announcement that squads will return to containing 23 players, after 26 had been allowed for the Covid-affected Euro 2020 and at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Here is a closer look at who is heading to Germany and who might miss out. On the plane Harry Kane England’s captain remains their talisman on the pitch, both with his leadership and with his goals as he continues to add to his record tally. Kane has hit the ground running at Bayern Munich, and the 30-year-old has talked up the virtues of the Bundesliga’s winter break and playing one fewer domestic cup competition. Southgate will hope Kane is fit and fresh when the Euros come around. Jude Bellingham The 20-year-old has quickly elevated himself to be one of England’s essential players. He is consistently producing outstanding performances both for his country and his new club, Real Madrid, racking up goals and assists after driving runs from midfield. Southgate likes Bellingham as a No 10 off Kane, and this could be the start of a fruitful partnership between England’s current captain and his likely successor. Declan Rice Rice has made a good start to life at Arsenal, and his importance at international level has grown immeasurably over the past few years to the point where he is crucial to how England play. John Stones The Manchester City defender has been a stalwart for Southgate over the years, integral to deep runs at the 2018 World Cup and the last Euros. Only Kane and Harry Maguire have won more than Stones’ 56 caps since the manager took charge in 2016, and the lack of centre-back alternatives only strengthens his position in the squad. Kyle Walker Experience, recovery pace and ability to play on the right of a back three all make the Manchester City defender an essential part of Southgate’s plans. Jordan Pickford The Everton goalkeeper has been England’s No 1 for a long time and that position looks safe, particularly given the challenge Aaron Ramsdale now faces to keep his Arsenal place against competition from new arrival David Raya. Bukayo Saka Saka is a popular and trusted member of the current group who is becoming a senior player, with 11 goals in 30 appearances, despite being only 22. His versatility down both the left and right flank, and ability to play as an attacking wing-back, is handy for a manager who likes to chop and change systems. Phil Foden Foden is often still talked about in terms of potential, but he will be 24 when the Euros come around and is becoming increasingly essential to Pep Guardiola’s City team. His velcro control is unique in the England squad and Southgate’s only conundrum is how to fit his best attacking talents into the same team. Marcus Rashford The Manchester United forward is the third highest goalscorer of the Southgate era, with 15, behind only Kane and Raheem Sterling. His pace and direct runs towards goal from the left wing complement Kane’s preference to drop deep and link play, and he can also offer an option as a No 9 should it be needed. Jack Grealish The City winger took time earning Southgate’s trust but, at 28 and with a treble on his CV, is now a regular squad member. The only question is whether the manager sees him as an important part of the first XI or a game-changing finisher off the bench. Kieran Trippier One of Southgate’s favourites, Trippier is a certainty to be part of the squad for his experience, versatility to play full-back on both sides and his set-piece delivery. He may find himself on the bench when England play a back four, but tends to start at wing-back when Walker joins the back three. Nearly there Harry Maguire The Manchester United defender is one of Southgate’s most trusted players and he was given another vote of confidence with a start against Italy in Euro 2024 qualifying. But a lack of playing time for his club will bring scepticism from fans and the media as the tournament nears. Aaron Ramsdale The goalkeeper is battling for a starting place at Arsenal with David Raya, but Mikel Arteta’s messaging suggests that the Spaniard has arrived to share rather than steal the gloves, and so long as Ramsdale continues to play and play well, he will be on the plane. Luke Shaw When fit, Shaw is the preferred left-back in this England team, bringing attacking threat on the overlap as well as long-standing relationships with both Maguire and Rashford at Manchester United. He has been out with a leg injury since mid-August and will need to reestablish himself amid competition from Ben Chilwell and Trippier. Kalvin Phillips Like Maguire at United, Phillips is a firm favourite with the manager but there is a growing issue around his lack of game time for Manchester City. Phillips has admitted he might need to make a decision over his future, but he remains a leading option in a shallow pool of central midfielders and now has plenty of major tournament experience. James Maddison The midfielder struggled with an injury at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which prevented him from making an appearance, but his early-season form for Tottenham has demanded a place in recent squads and Maddison is poised to travel as deputy to Bellingham in the No 10 role. Ben Chilwell The Chelsea left-back didn’t play a single minute at the last Euros and watched on as Shaw (and occasionally Trippier) filled that spot. He has been sidelined with a hamstring injury this season but a fit and firing Chilwell should be on the plane. Jordan Henderson The midfielder was booed by England fans in recent internationals at Wembley following his move to the Saudi Pro League, but that only seemed to strengthen Southgate’s loyalties to the player. The manager values Henderson’s professionalism, experience and leadership in a youthful squad. In contention Raheem Sterling Southgate has talked up Sterling’s chances of figuring in his plans to the media, but the Chelsea winger has not been involved in recent camps and faces a fight against Rashford and Grealish, among others, to figure on the left side of England’s attack. Sam Johnstone The Crystal Palace goalkeeper has overtaken Nick Pope in the running to be England’s third-choice goalkeeper and played well in a recent friendly with Australia. Lewis Dunk Brighton’s captain had to wait five years for his second international cap but has done well with the opportunities presented to him in recent months. Dunk’s aerial dominance and ball-playing ability, honed at Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi, are valuable traits at centre-half, one of England’s most uncertain positions. Reece James The full-back is one of the best in the world when fully fit but his lack of reliability is a concern, particularly with the smaller 23-player squad this time around. What’s more, James is fighting for a place against a competitive field of Walker, Trippier and Alexander-Arnold. Marc Guehi The Palace defender is highly rated by the England coaching team and, at 23, could be a future cornerstone of the back line. Centre-back is a position that’s up for grabs at Euro 2024 and Guehi has a real chance. Conor Gallagher Gallagher has been bright and energetic in his cluster of England caps and is clearly valued by the manager, but other central midfielders are well-established internationals who will be tricky to usurp. Ollie Watkins Watkins is in pole position to play the role of Kane’s deputy at the Euros, with a consistent stream of goals and assists since Unai Emery took over at Aston Villa… Callum Wilson …But Wilson is not far behind and when the Newcastle striker stays fit, the goals usually flow. Work to do Mason Mount Like Sterling, Mount has found himself pushed out of the England team by emerging talent and his own unconvincing form for new club Manchester United – although injuries have interrupted his season. Needs some goals and assists to earn a recall. Fikayo Tomori Southgate criticised the Milan defender last year for making too many mistakes, but Tomori has shown good form in Serie A and earned an autumn recall to the England squad. James Ward-Prowse The West Ham midfielder is in form for his club but out of favour for his country, having just missed out on the past two major tournaments and having been excluded from recent squads. There have been calls for him to usurp Henderson in midfield, but Southgate remains as yet unmoved. Nick Pope The goalkeeper has lost his place as England’s third-choice keeper and needs a strong season for Newcastle to win back his spot. Jarrod Bowen Another West Ham player in form. Bowen has showed bright attacking intent in his five caps to date, but faces stiff competition in the winger roles. Ivan Toney The Brentford striker will return from a betting ban in January with five months to prove himself to Southgate. He will need to hit the ground running. Levi Colwill The Chelsea defender has established himself in Mauricio Pochettino’s team and has the ability to play both centre-back and left-back. Aged 20, this tournament may come just too soon with more established players ahead in the pecking order. Outside bets Curtis Jones Liverpool’s 22-year-old midfielder had earned a regular place in Jurgen Klopp’s team earlier this season before injury struck. If he can impress regularly at Anfield, he will give Southgate something to consider. Ben White The Arsenal defender left the 2022 World Cup for personal reasons and has not returned to the England setup. It is unclear whether White would want to, but continues to perform to a high level for one of the best teams in the Premier League. Eberechi Eze The Palace midfielder has a couple of international caps but will need a stellar season to break into the Euros squad. Morgan Gibbs-White Gibbs-White worked up through the England age groups but is still to be recognised at senior level. Played a big part in England’s success at the Under-21 Euros in the summer. Dominic Calvert-Lewin Once seen as the natural understudy to Harry Kane, Calvert-Lewin has struggled with form and primarily fitness and has fallen down the pecking order behind Watkins and Wilson. Ezri Konsa Konsa is a vital part of an improving Aston Villa team under Unai Emery, but is yet to earn a senior international call-up. Eddie Nketiah England Under-21s’ record goalscorer has only made one senior appearance so far and he would need a special season for Arsenal to break into the Euro 2024 squad. Predicting England’s Euro 2024 squad Goalkeepers: Pickford, Ramsdale, Johnstone. Defenders: Walker, Alexander-Arnold, Trippier, Guehi, Stones, Dunk, Maguire, Shaw, Chilwell. Midfielders: Rice, Phillips, Henderson, Maddison, Bellingham. Forwards: Saka, Foden, Rashford, Grealish, Kane, Watkins. Read More Declan Rice reveals how Rugby World Cup has helped England’s ‘mentality’ Jude Bellingham’s latest masterclass has got the whole world talking England reveal the flaws of Italy’s high-risk Spallettiball Jude Bellingham once again proves he is the key for England’s Euro 2024 hopes England have qualified for Euro 2024 — now it’s about winning it England player ratings as Marcus Rashford shines but Kalvin Phillips struggles
2023-10-20 03:21
Jurgen Klopp explains Alexis Mac Allister's new role at Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has explained that Alexis Mac Allister's all-action display against Nottingham Forest exemplified why he utilises the World Cup winner in a number six role.
2023-10-30 19:50
Bernardo Silva reveals why he turned down lucrative Saudi Pro League offer
Manchester City star Bernardo Silva has admitted that he considered an offer from the Saudi Pro League during the summer but ultimately didn't want to "give up" on playing at the highest level.
2023-11-24 00:22
Ranking NFL Coaches by Most Career Wins
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2023-10-19 01:28
Jackson Arnold sends warning to Dillon Gabriel in Oklahoma debut
Oklahoma freshman quarterback Jackson Arnold entered in relief of Dillon Gabriel in a blowout win over Arkansas State and showed what he could bring to the program in the near future.
2023-09-03 05:19
On this day in 2008: David Beckham heads to Milan to boost England hopes
David Beckham joined AC Milan on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy on this day in 2008. The then 33-year-old England midfielder agreed a two-month move to Italy to stay fit during the MLS close-season in the United States. England manager Fabio Capello, who coached Beckham at Real Madrid, said: “Milan have made a good addition. “At Madrid I left him out of the squad because he had signed a contract with Los Angeles but he continued to come on the field and train and I put him back in the team. “He is a very serious lad, very sensible, a professional. People think he is a playboy off the field, it’s not true at all.” The 108-times capped Beckham felt a move to Milan would boost his chances of England selection. Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said: “His reasons are to stay fit and to make himself available for England, and the only way he can do that is to be training and playing in a good environment. “This, on the part of David, was a purely technical rationale. He wants to continue to play for England and this is one of the ways to do that.” Beckham began his glittering career at Manchester United, where he won six Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the Champions League. He joined Real Madrid in 2003 and spent four years in Spain before moving to LA Galaxy. Beckham had two loan spells at Milan and ended his career at Paris St Germain in 2013. Beckham went on to win 115 caps for England, a total only bettered by Peter Shilton and Wayne Rooney. Read More The sporting weekend in pictures Joel Embiid scores 35 points in big win for Philadelphia 76ers Rugby Australia chairman refuses to quit after Eddie Jones resignation
2023-10-30 14:23
Twins' Baldelli will soon be managing twins at home, too; wife expecting in September
Rocco Baldelli will have his hands full managing even more twins near the end of this season
2023-05-29 02:53
Ex-Raider Ruggs pleads guilty to driving drunk at 156 mph, causing crash that killed Vegas woman
Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs has admitted he drove drunk at up to 156 mph before causing a fiery crash that killed a woman in November 2021
2023-05-11 02:17
Sean McManus will retire in April after 27 years leading CBS Sports; David Berson named successor
CBS Sports Chairman Sean McManus has known for over a year when he planned to retire and who would be his successor
2023-09-27 06:56
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