List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

West Ham United stars will be hoping to write their names into club history on Wednesday, when they face Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final. The likes of Declan Rice and Michail Antonio are aiming for the first major trophies of their careers, while as a club the Hammers are hoping to end over four decades of waiting to see silverware lifted with their ribbon colours attached. Fiorentina finished in the top half of Serie A this season so will present a huge test - West Ham came 14th in England - but La Viola have themselves gone more than 20 years without a big trophy too. In Prague, one of those clubs will end their long waits and their fans will have a celebration for the ages; the other will be left to wonder what might have been, and have to get ready to do it all again next year. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the final. When is the match? The final kicks off at 8pm (UK) on Wednesday 7 June. Where can I watch it? The match will be shown live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate. It can also be streamed on the BT Sport website, BT Sport app and BT Sport YouTube channel. What is the team news? Gianluca Scamacca misses the final after having knee surgery but otherwise, the Hammers should have a full squad to choose from. For Fiorentina, it’s goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu who will miss out, while Nicolas Gonzalez needs a late check to see if he can start. What are the predicted lineups WHU - Areola, Kehrer, Aguerd, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma, Antonio FIO - Terracciano, Dodo, Martinez, Milenkovic, Biraghi, Amrabat, Mandragora, Ikone, Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Cabral Odds West Ham 37/20 Draw 11/5 Fiorentina 37/20 Prediction The Hammers to bring home a long-awaited trophy. West Ham 2-1 Fiorentina Read More Carlton Cole on West Ham’s final, coaching and surprise sporting ‘love’ David Moyes ready for ‘biggest moment’ of career in first European final West Ham vs Fiorentina predicted line-ups and team news ahead of final Route to the final: How did West Ham reach the Europa Conference League showpiece? Football says goodbye to Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Monday’s sporting social Golf and water parks can help West Ham to European glory, says Thilo Kehrer

West Ham United haven’t won a major trophy since the 1980 FA Cup final, but the present day group of Hammers can rewrite history if they triumph against Fiorentina in the Uefa Europa Conference League final. La Viola finished eighth in the Serie A table this season and themselves have gone more than two decades without major silverware - the 2001 Coppa Italia was their most recent triumph. After a dismal first half of the domestic season, David Moyes’ team improved after the new year and eventually finished 14th in the Premier League, but it’s in Europe their attention has been focused over the past couple of months. They’ll look to the likes of Declan Rice and Lucas Paqueta to produce big performances, as they seek to triumph in Prague. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the final. When is the match? The final kicks off at 8pm (UK) on Wednesday 7 June. Where can I watch it? The match will be shown live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport Ultimate. It can also be streamed on the BT Sport website, BT Sport app and BT Sport YouTube channel. What is the team news? Gianluca Scamacca misses the final after having knee surgery but otherwise, the Hammers should have a full squad to choose from. For Fiorentina, it’s goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu who will miss out, while Nicolas Gonzalez needs a late check to see if he can start. What are the predicted lineups WHU - Areola, Kehrer, Aguerd, Zouma, Cresswell, Rice, Soucek, Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma, Antonio FIO - Terracciano, Dodo, Martinez, Milenkovic, Biraghi, Amrabat, Mandragora, Ikone, Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Cabral Odds West Ham 37/20 Draw 11/5 Fiorentina 37/20 Prediction The Hammers to bring home a long-awaited trophy. West Ham 2-1 Fiorentina Read More Carlton Cole on West Ham’s final, coaching and surprise sporting ‘love’ How to watch West Ham vs Fiorentina online and on TV tonight David Moyes ready for ‘biggest moment’ of career in first European final Route to the final: How did West Ham reach the Europa Conference League showpiece? Football says goodbye to Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Monday’s sporting social Golf and water parks can help West Ham to European glory, says Thilo Kehrer

What the papers say Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, 30, has emerged as a target for Tottenham, according to The Daily Telegraph. The London club are hoping the signing could help persuade his England colleague Harry Kane to stay at the club as big-name clubs line up for his signature. Maguire is one of eight players United are looking to move on this summer, reports the Daily Mirror. Striker Anthony Martial, 27, Scott McTominay, 26, fellow midfielder Fred, 30, and goalkeeper Dean Henderson, 26, are also on the list, along with defenders Eric Bailly, 29, Alex Telles, 30, and Brandon Williams, 22. Brighton want more than £70 million for Manchester United target Moises Caicedo, says The Daily Telegraph. Chelsea and Arsenal are also chasing the 21-year-old Ecuador midfielder. Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante, 32, is wanted by two clubs in Saudi Arabia, according to The Guardian. Al-Ittihad and Al-Nassr are keen on the France star with annual salary offers which could reach £86.2 million. Social media round-up Players to watch Levi Colwill: The Daily Mail reports Brighton are considering an increased bid of around £40 million for the Chelsea defender, who spent last season on loan at The Seagulls. Gabri Veiga: Chelsea have joined Liverpool and Barcelona in tracking the Celta Vigo midfielder, 21, who has a £34.4 million release clause, says The Guardian. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Chelsea and Jose Mourinho reached a settlement with former team doctor Eva Carneiro over her claims that she was constructively dismissed by the club, and victimised by its former manager, on this day in 2016. Carneiro had brought the claim at an employment tribunal, accusing Mourinho of victimisation and discrimination. She was due to begin giving evidence but after last-minute talks between the parties, a settlement was agreed. Mourinho made a surprise appearance at the hearing at the London South Employment Tribunal centre in Croydon. Addressing the tribunal, Daniel Stilitz QC, for Chelsea and Mourinho, said: “We are pleased to be able to tell the tribunal that the parties agreed a settlement on confidential terms.” The case was expected to last seven to 10 days and could have led to potentially embarrassing witness statements and documents – including texts and emails – being made public. It was revealed that Carneiro had refused £1.2 million to settle her claims with Mourinho and Chelsea. Details of the final deal between the parties were not released. Carneiro had alleged she was sexually discriminated against after she went on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard during the opening day of the Premier League season on August 8, 2015. She claimed that, as she ran on to the pitch during the game with Swansea, Mourinho shouted “filha da puta” at her. In a statement to the tribunal, Mourinho conceded that he used the term “filho da puta”, meaning “son of a whore”, but insisted he had been using it throughout the match. Carneiro was removed from first-team duties at Chelsea shortly after the Swansea game and then parted company with the club the following month. Chelsea said in a statement: “The club regrets the circumstances which led to Dr Carneiro leaving the club and apologises unreservedly to her and her family for the distress caused. “We wish to place on record that in running onto the pitch Dr Carneiro was following both the rules of the game and fulfilling her responsibility to the players as a doctor, putting their safety first. “Dr Carneiro has always put the interests of the club’s players first. Dr Carneiro is a highly competent and professional sports doctor. She was a valued member of the club’s medical team and we wish her every success in her future career.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Rory McIlroy due to face media over PGA’s agreement with LIV Golf David Moyes will not compare himself to Ron Greenwood and John Lyall PGA Tour ‘should be ashamed’ over LIV deal, says 9/11 families group

David Moyes may stand just one match from writing his name into West Ham folklore, but he will not compare himself to the club’s two managerial greats. If the Hammers overcome Fiorentina in the final of the Europa Conference League on Wednesday night, Moyes will become only the third manager, after Ron Greenwood and John Lyall, to guide the east London club to a major trophy. Greenwood, who went on to manage England, was in charge when West Ham won their only previous European trophy, the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1964, while their last piece of silverware, the FA Cup, came under Lyall in 1980. Yet Moyes insisted: “I don’t think of myself as any different to anyone else in this room. “I’m really fortunate and privileged and thankful to be given an opportunity to be a football manager and to have the opportunity to go this far in my career and be on a stage like this. “I think it’s really special. I don’t ever really think of myself as being a legend or any words like that. “I’d just like to be known as a football manager and one who’s serious about his job and tries to do the best he possibly can, week-in week-out, try to prepare my teams to be competitive. “I’d like to be known as much for that as much as I would the word ‘legend’, really.” The final will hold special memories for West Ham’s Czech duo Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek, who both played for Slavia Prague at the Eden Arena. Midfielder Soucek said: “When I realised one year ago that the final was in Prague and we were in this competition, I was like, ‘come on guys, we have to go there’. “And now we are here in the Eden Arena in Prague, I can connect with the two teams I love.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

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Manchester City right-back Kyle Walker has played down fears he could miss the Champions League final with a back injury. The England international did not feature in an open training session on Tuesday as City continued preparations for Saturday’s clash with Inter Milan in Istanbul. The 33-year-old looked in discomfort as he was substituted in the final minute of City’s FA Cup final triumph over Manchester United at Wembley. But Walker was one of a number of players made available for media interviews later on Tuesday and he insisted the problem was not serious. “I’m fine, I’m just getting old,” he told Sky Sports News. “I’m completely fine, it’s just an extra day of recovery. “I’ve played a lot of minutes over the last number of weeks so the manager said, ‘Just stay inside and come Saturday you will be raring to go’. “I’m fine, the minutes that I’ve played when everyone else was injured, I was there digging my heels in and getting through it. I won’t be missing the Champions League final for anything.” Manager Pep Guardiola also said Walker’s absence from training was only precautionary. “He has had a disturbance in his back,” said Guardiola at a press conference. “Yesterday he was not good, today he was a little bit better but we didn’t want to take any risks. We will see what happens in the next days.” City are bidding to win the Champions League for the first time and complete a glorious treble after their Premier League and FA Cup successes this season. They are also looking to erase the memory of their painful loss to Chelsea in the 2021 final. As three-time winners, Inter boast the greater European pedigree but City will go into the match as firm favourites against the side that finished third in Serie A this term. Guardiola, however, insists what has happened in the past – and even current form – counts for little now. He said: “It’s really good to travel in a few days to Istanbul. We go together and it is a dream to be here. “Two years ago we were there but in different situations with Covid. For history, they are better than us but it is about what you have to do to be better than the opponent in 95 minutes Pep Guardiola “We’re going to try to do our best and we know the final is how you behave in that specific 95 minutes, not history. “For history, they are better than us but it is about what you have to do to be better than the opponent in 95 minutes. “It doesn’t count what you have done in the group stages or the Premier League or the FA Cup. We have to be better than them.” Guardiola is comfortable with the tag of favourites. “We are used to it,” he said. “Why should it be more dangerous? Accept the role and go out there knowing the quality of the opponents. We accept what people say, no problem.” City’s form in the latter part of the season, when they reeled in Arsenal to win the Premier League and powered past Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to reach this weekend’s showpiece, has been outstanding. Guardiola acknowledges confidence is high in the City squad but insists there will be no complacency. He said: “It is a final against a top team and we have to do it. We are confident, I’m so optimistic, but at the same time I cannot deny the quality of the opponent. “I have never done that and especially not in the final of the Champions League.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Merger of golf’s warring factions sends shockwaves through sport London Irish suspended as takeover deal collapses London Irish’s highs and lows as the club face suspension

Karim Benzema has completed his move to Al-Ittihad, the Saudi Arabian club have confirmed. The striker is leaving Real Madrid in the summer and has signed a three-year deal with the Saudi champions. Benzema was allowed to leave the Bernabeu after 14 years after voiding the 12-month extension he had. Earlier on Tuesday, the 35-year-old vowed he will never forget Real. The France international scored 354 goals in 648 games and won a club-record 25 trophies during his time with the LaLiga side. “I’ll never forget Real Madrid because it’s impossible,” he told a farewell press conference. “It’s difficult to talk. There are so many emotions. I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my team-mates. It’s been a good journey in my life. It's difficult to talk. There are so many emotions. I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my team-mates. It's been a good journey in my life Karim Benzema “I was lucky enough to fulfil my childhood dream thanks to the president, who a long time ago, when I was just 21 years old, went to my house, with my parents. “When I saw you I said, he’s the man who brought Zizou and Ronaldo and now he wants me in his team. Thank you very much for that. “I’ll never forget Real Madrid because it is impossible. It’s the best club in the world and in history, that’s as good as it gets. It’s time for me to leave today and to have another story, but the most important thing for me is what I’ve won here. “It’s a little bit of a sad day, because I’m leaving this club and that pains me. My dream was in my head, I signed for Madrid and I wanted to finish at Madrid, but life sometimes gives you another opportunity and I’ve taken it with all my family.” Benzema joined from Lyon in 2009 and won four LaLiga titles and five Champions League crowns. He also won the 2022 Ballon d’Or. Real president Florentino Perez said: “Today is a very difficult day for me. It’s a day that brings back memories and the emotions of the last 14 years and it’s also a day of sentiment and emotions for all madridistas. “A period of enormous anticipation began 14 years ago for all madridistas, one of the most impressive in our 121 years of history.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Merger of golf’s warring factions sends shockwaves through sport London Irish suspended as takeover deal collapses London Irish’s highs and lows as the club face suspension

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David Moyes admitted it was “surreal” to walk out at the Eden Arena in Prague preparing for his first European final, the “biggest moment” of his career. Moyes’ West Ham face Italian side Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final in the Czech capital on Wednesday night. The 60-year-old, who began his managerial career with Preston in 1998, is yet to lift a major piece of silverware, the Community Shield with Manchester United in 2013 notwithstanding. Moyes is looking to become the first British manager since Sir Alex Ferguson, the man he replaced at the then champions, to lift a trophy, and join the former United boss in the pantheon of great Scottish managers in the English game. Moyes, who has attended plenty of European finals in his role on UEFA’s technical committee, and his players got a first look at the final venue on Tuesday evening. “It is slightly surreal,” he said. “Today, to turn up and have your own dressing room is a big thrill for me. I really hope I can take it to the next level and win the game. “I’ve had a really good career since I started coaching at 35. Over a thousand matches, been in some finals, had some promotions. But this is the biggest moment. To be a coach for as long as I’ve been, you’re obviously doing something right.” Moyes also categorically denied suggestions that he could step down after the final, regardless of the result. “It’s great to be sitting here in a European final, for any manager it’s a thrill, one of the pinnacles you can get in football as a coach,” he added. “Hopefully it’s the start. I’ve always said the best years are still to come and I’m certainly enjoying the moment and being here.” Moyes’ father, David Snr, has attended all their European away matches and will once again be in the crowd at the 20,000 capacity stadium – hopefully. “I think he’ll be in the pub,” smiled Moyes. “But to be in this position is very good and good for my family, and I hope they can enjoy it. Hopefully I can give him something he can remember.” Declan Rice will captain the Hammers in what will almost certainly be his final game for the club with Arsenal and Manchester United among those vying for his signature. Rice, predictably, was not put up in front of the media, high in the home of Slavia Prague, after the on-pitch walkabout. Instead, it was left to winger Jarrod Bowen to swat aside questions over the England midfielder’s future. “As his team-mates we are excited to go out for a final tomorrow with him as our captain,” said Bowen. “When I joined three years ago, never in my wildest dreams would I have thought we would be in the final. “We are team-mates and friends and to win it for everyone would be so special. That’s what our focus is on.” Moyes has a fully-fit squad, bar injured striker Gianluca Scamacca, as West Ham bid to end a trophy drought stretching back to 1980’s FA Cup win over Arsenal. Cup goalkeeper Alphonse Areola will start but regular number one Lukasz Fabianski, something of a penalty-saving expert over the years, could still have a major role to play if the final goes to a shoot-out. “We’ve got those thoughts,” said Moyes. “It’s about planning, I’ve got my thoughts – but won’t reveal them if you don’t mind.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Novak Djokovic fights back to book place in French Open semi-finals Report into discrimination within cricket to be published soon – Lucy Frazer I was raging in Brisbane but now I’m comfortable with rotation – Stuart Broad

Rangers have confirmed goalkeeper Jack Butland has agreed a four-year contract to join the club from Crystal Palace. Butland, who has most recently been on loan at Manchester United, will officially move to Ibrox on July 1, subject to international clearance. The 30-year-old has signed after first-choice goalkeeper Allan McGregor retired at the end of the season. Jon McLaughlin and Robby McCrorie remain under contract. “I’m over the moon,” Butland told Rangers’ official website. “The club speaks for itself. No matter where you are in football, you know about Rangers Football Club. This is a huge opportunity for me, and I’m delighted to be here. “I feel great and motivated at the age that I am, and I feel excited at what the future holds. Doing that at a club that is equally as passionate about winning and being at the top was huge for me. “It’s an important summer for the club and we need to get off to a good start. Getting the work done early is hugely important, so that we’re settled and raring to go when we come back in.” Butland joins Kieran Dowell and Dujon Sterling as new signings for Rangers and manager Michael Beale is happy to bring in a player of the goalkeeper’s experience. Beale: “I am delighted that we have recruited Jack. It was clear from our first meeting that we have a strong alignment on football and his development moving forward. “At 30, he is coming into the prime years of his career having already amassed huge experience with 300 appearances in senior football, including almost 90 in the Premier League. “In addition, he has played for England at every level, including nine caps for the senior team and five for the Great Britain Olympic team. “I feel that we have recruited an excellent goalkeeper and, importantly, a top person. We are delighted to have Jack and his young family arriving in Glasgow and look forward to seeing him excel in his time at Rangers.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live