Spain and Holland will contest the first match since they met in the 2010 World Cup final, where La Furia Roja ended up lifting their first World Cup trophy thanks to Andres Iniesta extra time goal, with the match still fresh in everyone s minds.
This time the two sides will square off in the opening fixture of Group B, with both teams hoping for a bright start to the tournament finals. And Paddy Power has just given everyone looking to bet on the big game a huge incentive as they are giving their new customers a chance to back Spain at 7/2 or back Holland at 12/1.
All you have to do is and place your first bet by clicking on either Spain to win at 7/2 or Holland to win at 12/1 options and take the standard price offered on your chosen team.
If the team you hav…
Defender Patrice Evra believes that the atmosphere within France s FIFA World Cup squad is a far cry from that of previous tournaments.
France had to deal with off-field controversy at the World Cup in 2010 and the UEFA European Championship two years later, leading to poor results.
A host of French players refuse to train in South Africa after Nicolas Anelka was sent home, while in 2012 the likes of Samir Nasri, Hatem Ben Arfa, Jeremy Menez and Yann M Vila were the subject of disciplinary hearings.
However, Evra, who was captain during the 2010 scandal, feels the squad is more united in Brazil.
There are no problems with egos. The scary thing about this France squad is that everything is fine. We feel proud to wear the shirt, he said on Wednesday.
I tr…
Neymar claimed to be very happy to continue living that dream as a post on his official Twitter account hinted he had signed a new contract with Barcelona.
The Brazil international put the short message out on Wednesday and while the club have yet to confirm the news, they did retweet the post from their own account.
Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu had revealed earlier on the same day that the two parties were close to completing negotiations on a long-term deal.
Bartomeu also claimed the extension would be five years, keeping the 24-year-old forward at the Catalan giants until 2021.
Neymar who will be playing for his country at the Rio Olympics in August was signed from Brazilian club Santos in 2013.
Alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Su…
Malaga have secured the services of promising defender Diego Llorente from Real Madrid on a one-year loan deal.
The Rosaleda outfit were keen to strengthen their defence ahead of the 2016-17 campaign and have now found their man in Llorente.
The 22-year-old is a product of the Madrid youth academy and made his official debut for the Santiago Bernabeu side in June 2013
He spent last season on loan at Rayo Vallecano in order to gain valuable first-team experience as Madrid see him as an important player for the future.
Llorente has been capped once at senior level, making his Spain debut in the friendly win over Bosnia-Herzegovina ahead of Euro 2016.
Malaga previously snapped up former Barcelona youngster Sandro, with the attacker signing a three-ye…
Verdict: Manchester United to score over 2.5 goals
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Looking to extend their winning run to nine games, a resurgent Manchester United will welcome Burnley to Old Trafford on Tuesday night.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, coming off the back of another eye-catching display in their 3-1 victory away at Arsenal in last week s FA Cup fourth-round tie, few around Old Trafford would have expected Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s start to life in the United dugout. Now winning all eight of the matches that the Norweigan legend has been in charge, it has been their form in the final third that has really got people talking. Sat just three points adrift of climbing back into the Champions League positions, the Reds have now scored 12 i…
Market:Dinamo Minsk win
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Once again turning our attention to this weekend s Belarusian Premier League, an inconsistent Dinamo Minsk will be hoping to make it back-to-back victories when they make the trip to a struggling Smolevichy on Friday afternoon.
Starting with the hosts, although Smolevichy may have managed to snatch a dramatic 90th-minute equalizer away at fellow Premier League returners Belshina last weekend, it does not cover what has been a worrying start to the New Year for Aleksandr Brazevich s men. Failing to win any of their opening five top-flight appearances and in the midst of their worst run since dropping out of the Premier League in 2018, the Black and Reds have also continued to show plenty of cause for concern in the final third. Bagg…
Best Odds: 19/20
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Desperate to shore up their spot in the European chase, Eintracht Frankfurt will welcome Werder Bremen to Deutsche Bank Park on Friday night.
Eintracht Frankfurt
Starting with the hosts, while Eintracht Frankfurt might still be sat in pole position to punch another European ticket in 2024, the Eagles are certainly seeking some welcomed stability. Marking their return from March’s international break with a 0-0 stalemate at home against Union Berlin, Dino Toppmoller’s men have recorded just a pair of victories from any of their previous 10 appearances across all competitions a run that stems back to January 26th. Coming under plenty of scrutiny last month as they came crashing out of the Europa Conference League following a 4-3 ag…
Lionel Messi lifted the Copa America on Saturday in Brazil.
But back in Europe, rumours continue to swirl about his future.
The 34-year-old forward is out of contract though the latest development suggests a resolution is in sight.
TOP STORY NEW BARCELONA DEAL LOOMS FOR MESSI
AS reports that LaLiga have authorized Barcelona to register Lionel Messi despite the club s financial concerns.
Messi became a free agent last week with Barcelona working on a new deal, pending their financial constraints having been impacted heavily by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paris Saint-Germain had been linked with a swoop for Messi but the approval of the authorities to register Messi is a strong indication he will stay.
Leo Messi to stay with B…
Nicolas Anelka has revealed that former Chelsea team-mate Didier Drogba could join him at Chinese Super League outfit Shanghai Shenhua.
Anelka parted ways with the Premier League outfit in the January transfer window after falling out of favour with coach Andre Villas-Boas and is now hoping that his fellow forward will follow him to China.
I am frequently in contact with him (Drogba), Anelka said. I think Drogba will join us, hopefully, but it s not for me to announce it.
Anelka admitted that he was initially reluctant to move to Shanghai but that he was ultimately persuaded to do so by club president Zhu Jun.
And the well-travelled striker is now hoping that it will be a similar story with Drogba.
It s like when you flirt with a girl. She wil…
Hope Solo says female players should be allowed to play for men s teams and believes football will become mainstream in the United States.
The Seattle Sounders women s team goalkeeper, who has won over 100 caps for the United States women s team and claimed an Olympic gold medal in 2008, admits she considered trying out for a men s side in 2003, when the Women s United Soccer Association suspended operations.
I thought about it (playing in a men s league) when our league folded, Solo told Goal.com. I thought about playing for a lower-division men s club team in St. Louis.
And I do believe I would have been able to take care of myself and handle my own if it was a lower division.
Former Serie A side Perugia attempted to sign German international Birgi…