Gareth Southgate admits England have fallen short of expectations thus far at Euro 2024, bemoaning their failure to find a replacement for Kalvin Phillips in midfield.

Having opened their Group C campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 win over Serbia last week, England failed to clinch top spot with a game to spare as they were pegged back in a 1-1 draw with Denmark on Thursday.

Harry Kane put the Three Lions ahead after 18 minutes, but they soon fell into old habits and sat deeper against a lively Denmark side, who levelled through Morten Hjulmand s ferocious 25-yard strike.

While England remain on course to top Group C, sitting two points clear of Denmark and Slovenia, who they face on matchday three, their performance put Southgate under more scrutiny.

Engl…

Paris Saint-Germain are closing in on the signing of Milan Skriniar from Inter Milan before the transfer window closes in a few days, according to Fabrizio Romano. The contract binding the Slovakia international to the Nerazzurri is otherwise set to expire at the end of the season, and the Serie A club are obviously keen to get at least some kind of fee for the services of the 27-year-old defender.

The agreement between the two clubs is apparently close enough for Inter to have started searching for a suitable replacement. One of the names on the list is Victor Lindelof, but Manchester United aren t too keen on letting the Swede leave as that would force them to conduct a fast search for a replacement in turn.

Having risen through the youth ranks at MSK Zilina in his ho…

The United States got off to an awful start in Tokyo as they lost 3-0 to Sweden to end a 44-match unbeaten streak, while Brazil s Marta enjoyed differing emotions as she netted twice against China in a 5-0 win to make Olympic Games history.

The USA came into the Games as firm favourites for the gold medal, but Sweden offered a rude awakening for the reigning world champions. They had previously not been defeated since back in 2019 before that run was ended by their emphatic setback in the Group G opener.

Goals either side of half-time from Stina Blackstenius and another from Lina Hurtig did the damage, and while the USA were denied twice by the woodwork, Sweden were deserved winners to repeat their quarter-final shoot-out victory over the same opposition at Rio 20…

Girona head coach Michel has urged his team to rediscover their attacking spark by adopting a bolder approach in the final third against Athletic Bilbao this Sunday.

Girona return to LaLiga action at the Estadi Montilivi following their 3-2 Champions League defeat to Feyenoord in midweek, leaving them winless in the competition.

The Blanquivermells have also struggled in the league, failing to win any of their last four matches (D2 L2), while only scoring two goals during that run.

Michel s side currently sit 13th in the standings with nine points from their first eight games, while Bilbao are up in sixth on 14 points.

Girona have lost only one of their last four against this weekend s opponents in LaLiga (W2 D1), with Michel desperate to see his side …

Pele was hailed as an inspiration by England captain Harry Kane as the football world reacted to worrying reports about the health of the Brazil World Cup legend.

Seven years ago, Pele praised the burgeoning Kane, who had just been called into the England squad for the first time after impressing for Tottenham in the Premier League.

He described the then 21-year-old Kane as an excellent talent and urged him to look after his physical wellbeing and never believe he was the best in the business.

That praise was remembered with fondness by Kane on Saturday, as he spoke at an England press conference ahead of the Qatar 2022 last-16 game against Senegal.

Reports in Brazil have claimed the 82-year-old Pele has been moved to palliative care after a cancer battle…

Former Tottenham and England winger Aaron Lennon has announced his retirement from football.

Lennon made 28 Premier League appearances for Burnley last season, scoring twice, but was released by the club following their relegation to the Championship.

The 35-year-old initially said he would continue playing after becoming a free agent, but has now called time on a career in which he played 416 Premier League games and won 21 England caps.

Having come through Leeds United s youth system, Lennon enjoyed a successful 10-year spell at Tottenham between 2005 and 2015, featuring in 266 league games for the club and playing a key role in their 2007-08 EFL Cup win – which remains Spurs most recent major trophy.

In a statement posted to Twitter, Lennon said: I…

Pep Guardiola believes Lionel Messi is undoubtedly the greatest player of all time, describing arguments in favour of Pele or Diego Maradona as sentimental .

Messi has long been considered among the best ever, but both he and Cristiano Ronaldo trailed Pele and Maradona in the eyes of some while neither had won the World Cup.

That changed on Sunday, when Messi led Argentina to glory at Qatar 2022, matching Maradona s achievement from 1986.

However, in the eyes of Manchester City manager Guardiola, who coached Messi at Barcelona, there was never any doubt.

Everyone has their opinion, but nobody can doubt he s there with the greatest of all time, Guardiola said. For me, I ve said many times: he s the best.

It s difficult to understand how a player …

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In what is a real heavyweight battle on Friday night, Holland and Argentina will meet at the Lusail Iconic Stadium with a World Cup semi-final spot up for grabs.

Holland

Starting with Holland, while the European giants might have failed to book their ticket out in Russia four years ago, Louis van Gaal s side have continued to shine on their return to the world stage. Enjoying what has been an extended purple patch since welcoming back the former Manchester United boss for a third stint in charge, the Oranges should find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Taking seven points from their three Group A appearances and breezing their way to the knockout stage without breaking much of a sweat, Holland could be smelling the chance to s…

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…