Manchester United have confirmed that defender Tyrell Malacia has stepped his fitness programme ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
Malacia did not feature for Erik ten Hag s side last term due to injury as the Red Devils won the FA Cup for 13th time against rivals Manchester City.
The Dutch defender arrived from Feyenoord for £15million in 2022, making 39 appearances in all competitions in a promising debut season at Old Trafford.
However, Malacia struggled with a knee meniscus injury towards the end of the 2022-23 campaign, requiring two surgeries, that latter coming in November last year.
That meant he had to restart his recovery, with the club announcing that the left-back had suffered a setback in his rehabilitation in December.
Arsenal began life after Jonas Eidevall by getting their Women s Champions League campaign back on track with a 4-1 victory over Valerenga.
Eidevall resigned as the Gunners head coach on Tuesday after three years in charge, following a poor start to the 2024-25 season.
Nevertheless, with interim boss Renee Slegers taking over, Arsenal bounced back on Wednesday with a comfortable win at Emirates Stadium.
Just two minutes had elapsed when Emily Fox slotted home the opener, while Alessio Russo was denied by the offside flag soon after.
The hosts made it 2-0 on 29 minutes when Mariona Caldentey powered through the middle of the park before finding Beth Mead, whose deflected shot was parried by the goalkeeper, and subsequently tucked away by Caitlin Foord at t…
Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Italy to qualify
Odds:
Italy had a bittersweet international break after following up an impressive draw against Spain with a big defeat to Germany. The Azzurri have been without a win for some time too, but they are notoriously stronger in tournaments. They have a tough Euro 2016 group, but tend to shine on the grand international stage.
Antonio Conte’s side have Belgium, Sweden and the Republic of Ireland in Group E, all of whom will provide a real threat to Italy’s chances of progression. Belgium are being tipped to win the group, but Italy would settle for any type of qualifying, and should achieve that given their record in completive games.
They often struggle in non-competitive matches, but Italy have typical…
A flurry of first-half goals ensured a full-strength France side made a winning start to their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign as they beat Moldova 4-1 in Chisinau.
Didier Deschamps took no chances against a side ranked 170 in the world, starting the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Antoine Griezmann and Paul Pogba, and France had the three points secured with three goals in the opening 36 minutes.
Griezmann volleyed in the first after a clever one-two with Pogba before Raphael Varane headed home from a corner. Olivier Giroud then turned in Blaise Matuidi s cross for his 34th French goal, moving him level with David Trezeguet in third in the country s all-time top scorers.
Mbappe then added a fourth with a sharp first-time finish late on to complete a comfortable night f…
Best Odds: 6/11
Bookmaker:
Two camps who will be getting their respective Nations League adventures underway on Thursday night, Portugal will welcome Croatia to Lisbon.
Portugal
Starting with the hosts, embarking on what was a sensational EURO 24 qualifying adventure last year as they won all other 10 Group J appearances by an aggregate score of 36-2, the Navigators opened this summer’s European Championships tipped as a real dark horse contender. However, although Roberto Martinez’s men might have got their European campaign underway with a pair of early victories against the Czech Republic and Turkey, the former Belgium boss would have been disappointed by a flat end to their adventure. Eventually crashing out at the quarter-final stage after suffering ma…
Best Odds: 7/10
Bookmaker:
Looking to make it three Serie A victories on the spin, Inter Milan will welcome Fiorentina to the San Siro on Sunday evening.
Inter Milan
Starting with the hosts, gaining a string of plaudits last season as they reached the Champions League final, Inter Milan appear to have carried on from where they left off back in June. Opening the 2023/24 campaign with what was a routine 2-0 victory at home against Monza on August 19th, the Nerazzurri now have their sights firmly set on mounting another title charge this time around. Likewise, last seen putting in another eye-catching display as they landed a 2-0 win away at Cagliari, it appears that the mood in Simone Inzaghi’s camp is at a real high. Yet to ship a single goal from their openi…
England goalkeeper Joe Hart believes Roy Hodgson s men could be the surprise package at Euro 2016.
Hodgson s provisional 26-man squad – which will be trimmed down to 23 on Tuesday – includes nine players with fewer than 10 caps, while first-choice striker Harry Kane has only 11.
The likes of Eric Dier, Dele Alli and Jamie Vardy have forced their way into the reckoning after sensational seasons at club level, Vardy finishing with 24 goals as Leicester City claimed the Premier League title.
And Hart feels a new-look England may benefit from an element of surprise in France.
I wouldn t say people would know too much about us in terms of us as a team, he told The Telegraph.
They know individual players but the team that is potentially going …
Belgium midfielder Kevin De Bruyne labelled Euro 2020 a fake competition and claimed the draw format is a sign of football becoming more of a business than a sport.
Roberto Martinez s side won all 10 qualifiers to finish top of Group I and qualify automatically for next year s finals, which will be staged in 12 different cities across Europe.
The group draw will take place on November 30 but, due to seedings and rules involving host nations, Belgium already know they will be drawn into Group B with Russia and Denmark.
Belgium can start planning for the expansive tournament, but Manchester City star De Bruyne is unhappy with the format.
30/30
— Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev)
It s a shame, he told VTM Nieuws after scoring twice in Tues…
David Wotherspoon has expressed his gratitude to those who helped him achieve “10 magnificent years” at hometown club St Johnstone.
The 33-year-old midfielder joined Saints from Hibernian in 2013, helped the Perth club win the Scottish Cup for the first time in 2014 and was part of the side which remarkably won the Scottish Cup and League Cup double in 2021.
St Johnstone confirmed on Tuesday that the Canada international is one of 14 players who will be leaving this summer as new manager Steven MacLean revamps his squad.
Wotherspoon posted on Twitter: “After 10 magnificent years, playing at the club I grew up supporting, my time has come to an end.
“The memories created throughout my time at St Johnstone have been incredible and will never be forg…
Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli has signalled his intent to remain in charge of the South American side until the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Sampaoli s men were eliminated from the 2014 tournament on penalties by hosts Brazil in the last 16, but impressed in the group stage, beating holders Spain 2-0.
The 54-year-old had initially committed to the role until next year s Copa America, but has now said that he is prepared to stay until the next World Cup.
The Chilean professional football association (ANFP) confirmed the news in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement quotes Sampaoli as saying: After meeting this morning with the President of ANFP and the FFCh (Chilean Football Federation), Mr Sergio Jadue, I wish to inform that I have taken the decision to remain …