Sports

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick said he is eager to kick-off the Premier League season under new manager Louis van Gaal.

United will start the 2014-15 season with their second manager in the space of a year after David Moyes was sacked in April following the club s poor form that saw them finish seventh and miss out on European football.

The Old Trafford hierarchy ushered in experienced Dutchman Van Gaal at the end of the season, with the Eredivisie, La Liga, Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League-winning manager signing a three-year deal.

With their disappointing campaign in the past, veteran Carrick is excited to work for Van Gaal, who will arrive at Old Trafford once his FIFA World Cup commitments with the Netherlands have concluded.

I m lo…

Robert Green has extended his contract with QPR by another two years following their promotion to the Premier League.

The former England goalkeeper s deal at Loftus Road expired at the end of June, though he has opted to remain with the London club after their top-flight return.

Green arrived on a free transfer from West Ham in 2012, but saw Brazil keeper Julio Cesar arrive after he made an error-strewn debut in a 5-0 thrashing against Swansea City.

However, Cesar was frozen out of the first-team picture by Harry Redknapp in the Championship last term, with QPR reportedly keen to shed him from their hefty wage bill.

And Green is determined to maintain his place as first choice between the sticks after making 48 outings in their successful campaign last ti…

This week’s predictions come to you from a broken man. Last week I confidently predicted that I would get almost all of the results right after a disappointing week the time before. Last week I got just two results right and I am beginning to realise why I have never made my fortune by winning the football pools!

This week is probably my last chance to redeem myself before I admit defeat and finally accept that I am quite useless when it comes to predicting scores.

If I get less than half right this week, I shall be visiting my Doctor to get some happy pills!

Saturday 1st November 2008

Chelsea v Sunderland

Surely I can’t get this one wrong! Chelsea were stopped in their tracks by Liverpool last week but went on to show …

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrated becoming the most-capped men s player of all time with a double as Portugal thrashed Liechtenstein 4-0 in Roberto Martinez s first game.

Ronaldo scored just once at last year s World Cup, and there had been doubts over whether he would return for Portugal s Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

But having been named as captain in Martinez s starting XI for Thursday s match at Estadio Jose Alvalade, Ronaldo scored twice in the space of 12 minutes – a cool penalty followed by a wicked free-kick – to help cap an emphatic win and mark his record appearance in style.

Ronaldo s goals followed strikes from Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva as Portugal got off to the simplest of starts in Group J.

Take a bow,

— UEFA EURO 20…

Germany boss Joachim Low will be confident that his side can go all the way at Euro 2016

World champions Germany started their Euro 2016 campaign with a solid, if unspectacular, 2-0 victory over Ukraine on Sunday night in Lille.

Joachim Low’s side moved instantly to the top of the group table.

Die Mannschaft would have expected to top the group and with games against Poland and Northern Ireland to come there is very little to suggest that will not be the case.

Very efficient display

The German national team are known for their efficiency, as their country in general and this has to be a performance that fits into that category. They did what they had to do to get the points, but they were not quite at their best.

Germany have a number …

Verdict: Both teams to score – No

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Mexico begin their final stage of World Cup preparation with a friendly against the smallest country to have ever qualified to football’s biggest competition, Iceland. Having impressed and dazzled at the European Championship in 2016, the Vikings continue their rise to prominence and will hope to upset El Tri on Saturday morning CET.

Mexico

Iceland match is the first time Mexico will have a full roster to choose from in 2018. El Tri kicked off the new year with a 1-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in January but their squad included only players based in North America.

With the 2018 FIFA Wold Cup just around the corner, El Tri head coach Juan Carlos Osorio this time added all of his …

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney says asking to leave the club in 2010 remains the biggest regret of his career.

Rooney has admitted he felt frustrated at the direction the club was taking around that time, which coupled with his own injury problems and lack of form only served to cloud his judgement over his future, something he has since seen in a different light.

In September 2010 my ankle puts me on the sidelines. I get frustrated with myself, my game, my injury, and everything around me, Rooney writes in his new autobiography currently being serialised in the Daily Mirror.

I m stuck in a cycle of bad form but I can t get out of it. And that s when I make the biggest mistake of my football career.

In October, I release a statement which pub…

Southampton No. 10 Gaston Ramirez has insisted he is happy at the club amid reported interest from Italian Serie A side Fiorentina, .

Ramirez, 22, joined the Saints on a four-year deal from Bologna F.C. in August 2012 for a club-record transfer fee of £12 million.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder wants to stay at St Mary s to repay the club for their trust in him, and rightfully so.

There is a lot of talk about the transfer market but I think I ll stay at Southampton, Ramirez told tuttomercatoweb.com.

I want to repay the trust of the club. I m happy in England and I have always dreamed of playing in the Premier League.

There has been talk in the past of interest from Fiorentina and they are a club that I like. But Southampton …

Prediction: Poland to win 2-1

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Poland and the Czech Republic will lock horns with each other in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group E this week. The match between Michał Probierz’s side and Jaroslav Šilhavý’s team will be held at Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw and is scheduled to kick off at 7:45 pm UK time on Friday.

Poland

Poland are a major footballing nation who tend to qualify for big international tournaments and are always a threat in qualifying. Things are doing well for them at the moment, and they have a very good chance of booking their place in the UEFA Euro 2024 finals.

Michał Probierz’s side are third in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying Group E table at the moment with 10 points from seven matches. Poland are …

Best odds: 4/6

Bookmaker:

Belgium, having already secured their place in the Euro 2024 finals, may opt to use Sunday s final Group F fixture against Azerbaijan at King Baudouin Stadium as an opportunity to experiment and possibly rotate their squad.

The Red Devils had a successful friendly against Serbia earlier this week and might look to build on that momentum. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan managed to surprise Sweden in Baku but, despite their victory, they are no longer in contention for further advancement in the group.

Belgium

Belgium had a successful return to action after the abandoned game against Sweden in October. Yannick Carrasco s early goal secured a victory against Serbia, extending Belgium s unbeaten streak to nine matches across all competitions…