Nigeria sprung a shock at the World Cup on Thursday as they fought back from a goal down to beat co-hosts Australia 3-2.
Defending champions the United States and the Netherlands battled out a 1-1 draw in a rematch of the 2019 final, while Portugal registered their first ever win at this level, defeating fellow debutants Vietnam 2-0.
Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the day’s action.
Australia stunned
Having opened their campaign with a 1-0 win over the Republic of Ireland last week, Australia were left in danger of missing out on the last 16 following their second group game as Nigeria pulled off a stunning come-from-behind win in Brisbane.
The Matildas, again without injured captain and record scorer Sam Kerr, took the lead through an Emily v…
With another stacked European schedule on our hands this weekend, we are treated to a string of heavyweight showdowns from across the continent. So, for those of you looking to chuck on a Saturday acca, we have found a trio of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Saturday, September 2nd
BST 14:30 Bayer Leverkusen vs Darmstadt
Eventually finishing last season 12 points adrift of booking what would have been a stunning Champions League ticket, Bayer Leverkusen have certainly come flying out of the traps this time around. Opening up the 2023/24 campaign with a stellar display on home soil as they landed a 3-2 victory against German giants RB Leipzig, Xabi Alonso’s men are riding a recent wave of momentum. Last seen storming their way to a routine 3-0 wi…
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker:
Two sides who have their sights set on clinching a European finish this season, Real Sociedad will welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Anoeta Stadium on Saturday night.
Real Sociedad
Starting with the hosts, marking their return to La Liga duties on New Year s Eve with a routine 2-0 victory at home against Osasuna, Real Sociedad have continued to impress many across Spain this season. Opening up this weekend s fixtures sat third in the table and in pole position to clinch a Champions League return in 2023, Imanol Alguacil s men will be looking to lay down another marker on Saturday night. Winning each of their previous four domestic matchups across all formats since returning from the World Cup break, Sociedad have lost just a pair of thei…
Chelsea are interested in signing Ademola Lookman from Atalanta in the summer transfer window, according to . The report in the Italian news outlet has claimed that Chelsea are among a number of clubs who are keen on securing the services of the former Everton winger.
Calciomercato has claimed that Atalanta are willing to sell Lookman and are looking for €60 million in transfer fees. Former Premier League and UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea are willing to make an offer close to that sum for the 26-year-old winger.
Lookman has been on the books of Atalanta since the summer of 2022 when he joined from RB Leipzig. The Nigeria international winger scored 11 goals and gave seven assists in 22 starts and nine substitute appearances in Serie A and scored five goals and…
With all of this summer’s attention focused on EURO 24, Europe’s elite will be looking to write their own piece of history over in Germany.
As England’s golden generation look to get their hands on a first piece of international silverware since their World Cup success way back in 1966, the likes of France will also have plenty of expectations on their shoulders.
However, while the Three Lions and Les Bleus might find themselves pencilled in as a the pre-tournament favourites this summer, there are plenty of European dark horses that are looking to mount their own respective charges.
With action getting underway on Friday night when Germany welcome Scotland to Munich, we have taken a look at three of the potential EURO 24 dark horses.
Portugal
Whi…
Verdict: Double chance Orlando City
Best odds:
Bookmaker:
Orlando City travels to Foxborough attempting a win against the New England Revolution that will see their playoff chances boosted. The game will be played at packed Gillette Stadium where more than 60, 000 fans hope to witness their favourites 8th seasonal win.
New England Revolution
Starting their season with the handbrake pulled, the New England Revolution had a disastrous opening to their campaign with four defeats in the initial four rounds. Despite facing accessible opponents, the hosts dismal output against DC United, Toronto, Cincinnati and Atlanta United, was an alarming sign the team will embark on another disappointing spell.
While a short recovery run with 4 points won in t…
Paulo Dybala turned down an offer to wear the number 10 shirt at Roma because he believes it still belongs to club icon Francesco Totti.
Roma snapped up Argentina international Dybala on a three-year contract on Wednesday after his deal with Juventus expired.
Totti made 786 appearances and scored 307 goals in a 25-year career with the Giallorossi that came to an end at the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. The club has not had a number 10 since then.
Dybala was grateful to be offered the chance to wear the shirt but felt it should remain Totti s. However, he did not rule out donning it in future.
I spoke to the general manager and he asked if I wanted to take number 10, which of course is so significant here because of everything Francesco Totti…
In what was a summer transfer window for the record books, things finally slammed to a close on Friday night as Premier League clubs eventually spent a staggering £2.36bn on new recruits.
While the likes of and might have completed their own bank-breaking move earlier in the window, Deadline Day proved to be another pulsating 24 hours from across the country.
With a host of top-flight clubs scrambling to get their late acquisitions completed, the likes of Matheus Nunes and Sofyan Amrabat stole most of the headlines throughout the evening.
Likewise, with Tottenham outcast completing a shock loan switch to Manchester United, there were 28 Premier League transfers on Deadline Day.
With a hectic Deadline Day now officially in the record books, we have ta…
Callum McGregor scored late on to seal Celtic s 3-0 victory over rivals Rangers in the Old Firm Derby at Celtic Park on Sunday.
Daizen Maeda and Kyogo Furuhashi had put the Bhoys in control in the first half, with Rangers unable to mount a comeback.
Rangers best chance came inside 10 minutes, with James Tavernier picking out Rabbi Matondo, who thumped his header wide from the edge of the six-yard box.
Kyogo thought he had broken the deadlock just one minute later, but his clinical finish was disallowed as Nicolas Kuhn had just drifted offside before teeing him up.
Maeda s close-range effort did count in the 17th minute, with Alistair Johnson drifting in behind Rangers defence to set him up for a tap-in.
And Kyogo would get on the scoresheet just b…
England midfielder Jordan Henderson hailed Marcus Rashford s fearless approach after he marked his senior debut with a goal in the 2-1 win over Australia.
The Manchester United teenager scored inside the first three minutes at the Stadium of Light to continue a remarkable run of form in 2016, in which he also scored on his Europa League and Premier League debuts.
With concerns over a calf problem for Liverpool s Daniel Sturridge, Rashford s performance has boosted his chance of making Roy Hodgson s final 23-man squad to travel to France for the finals next month.
And Sturridge s club-mate Henderson, who completed 90 minutes for the first time since recovering from a knee injury, is confident Rashford would have no fear of performing on one of the biggest stages …