Didier Deschamps is preparing his France team for an intense meeting with rivals Belgium in Monday s decisive Nations League clash.
Belgium have not overcome Les Bleus in competitive action in 43 years, last managing to do so in 1981 in a World Cup qualifier.
Domenico Tedesco s side will be desperate to atone for that poor record in Brussels, knowing a defeat could end their top-two hopes.
France are two points clear of third-placed Belgium, who are three behind group leaders Italy, and Deschamps anticipates an enthralling clash with their quarter-final qualification chances on the line.
We will have a motivated Belgian team, like they always are, but even more so on Monday. There s definitely a rivalry, Deschamps told reporters on Sunday.
We fa…
You would have been forgiven for thinking the days of Jose Mourinho leading teams to European finals were over.
From 2002 to 2010, Mourinho-coached sides appeared in two Champions League finals and one UEFA Cup showdown. On each occasion, The Special One triumphed.
He had to wait seven years for his next appearance in a continental showpiece, but he kept up his 100 per cent record – Manchester United beating Ajax to lift the 2016-17 Europa League trophy.
But that was an early peak in Mourinho s United tenure. His stock has since fallen. He was sacked in 2018 and then lasted just 18 months at Tottenham, the only club he has managed so far where he has not won a trophy.
He might have had the opportunity to win the EFL Cup with Spurs, though he was sacke…
Santa s been! Santa s been! Santa s been!
Yes, it s the most wonderful time of the year and we re all awfully excited that the big man has been.
But we re even more excited by the familiarity of a hectic Premier League schedule over the next few days!
We appreciate you may be about to tuck into your dinner or snoozing after over-indulging already, but why not digest some tasty Christmas Premier League facts before cracking on with the next beer?
Wondering where you might enjoy such a gem? Well, we have you covered below, with the help of the happy little elves at Opta.
A CRUZ FOR SANTA IN DECEMBER
We ho ho hope you don t mind a little Christmas gag to headline this section to get us cracking…
It seemed only fitting to start with …
Paris St Germain have confirmed the signing of Ousmane Dembele on a five-year deal.
The forward joins from Barcelona, who said the fee was 50.4million euros (£43.5m).
Since his arrival from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 for a fee reportedly worth up to £135.5m, Dembele made 185 appearances and scored 40 goals for the LaLiga giants.
— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside)
Dembele’s time at Barcelona also saw him win three Spanish league titles, two Spanish Cups and two Spanish Supercups.
The 26-year-old has been capped 37 times for France and featured at last year’s World Cup in Qatar, where Les Bleus finished as runners-up.
Dembele told the club website: “I’m delighted to be joining Paris St Germain and can’t wait to play…
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of David Carmo from Porto for £10m (€11.7m), with the defender going out on loan to Olympiacos for the season.
The Portuguese-born defender, who represents Angola at international level, spent the second half of last season in Athens.
Carmo joins on a five-year deal and is Forest s ninth signing of the summer transfer window.
He began his career at Braga before moving to Porto for €20m in the summer of 2022, but only managed 27 appearances before being loaned to Olympiacos, who are owned by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, in January.
Meanwhile, reports emerged on Sunday that Forest s move to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah had broken down.
Nuno Espirito Santo s team are, however, rumoured to b…
Barcelona have handed Joao Mendes a chance to make it big at Camp Nou, just like his father Ronaldinho ascended to superstar status at the club.
The 18-year-old Mendes signed a contract on Thursday to join Barcelona s youth academy, with the young forward hoping to make the grade.
Mendes has been taken on after a trial period, having previously played at junior levels with a number of Brazilian clubs.
Across all competitions, Ronaldinho scored 98 goals in 207 games for Barcelona during a five-year spell from 2003 to 2008.
He was recruited as close to the finished article, having already shone for Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil, and went on to take his game to even higher levels by helping Barcelona win two LaLiga titles and the Champions League.
W…
Mario Gomez plans to work at his maximum for Germany at Euro 2016, even if he only gets to play one minute.
An injury-plagued first season at Fiorentina cost Gomez a place in the Germany squad for the triumphant World Cup 2014 campaign.
However, an impressive season with Besiktas has seen the striker force his way back into Joachim Low s plans.
Gomez was named in a 27-man provisional squad this week and insists he will do everything he can to help the team follow up World Cup glory with a European Championship title.
I expect the team to do well at the Euros and hopefully win the title, but I have no personal expectations, said Gomez in an interview with Bild.
The coach knows that he can trust me. He will decide when and how he needs me. If he …
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Poland and Austria face off at the Olympiastadion in Berlin on Friday evening, both knowing they cannot afford another defeat in Group D.
Both teams started their Euro 2024 campaigns with losses, as Poland suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Netherlands, while Austria were narrowly beaten 1-0 by France.
Poland
When Poland took the lead against the Netherlands on Sunday with a brilliant header from Adam Buksa, it seemed the absence of Robert Lewandowski might not be a major issue. However, Michal Probierz s team had some good fortune before being pegged back by the half-hour mark, and Wout Weghorst’s winning goal for Oranje was ultimately well-deserved.
Despite the loss, there were positives for Probierz, such as having sev…
Erik ten Hag believes that Marcus Rashford is returning to his best form after taking control of his lifestyle .
Rashford struggled for form last season, netting just seven goals in the Premier League as Manchester United limped to an eighth-place finish – their worst result in the competition s history.
He was also dropped for United s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Newport County in January as a disciplinary measure after going to Belfast without permission.
That followed a stellar campaign in Ten Hag s first season in charge, in which he scored 30 goals in all competitions in 2022-23.
However, Ten Hag believes that Rashford has made necessary changes, and expects more positive results to come from it.
I think he is on the way back, said Ten…
Mohamed Salah registered a 150th Premier League goal for Liverpool after scoring and missing a penalty in his last involvement before the African Cup of Nations as Jurgen Klopp’s side extended their advantage at the top of the table.
The Egypt international did eventually end the night well in credit as he also provided the assist for substitute Cody Gakpo’s crucial third and also had a hand in Curtis Jones goal which restored their lead.
It moved Liverpool three points clear of second-placed Aston Villa and, more importantly, out of the reach of Manchester City, who are now five behind with a match in hand.
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— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
How they cope in Salah’s absence will be crucial to their title aspirations, but the sharpness of Gakp…