It is all change in Major League Soccer as the new season looms.
FC Cincinnati have arrived to grow the league to 24 teams, while Copa Libertadores finalist Guillermo Barros Schelotto is in at Los Angeles Galaxy.
Columbus Crew are staying put in Ohio, but they have new owners, a new general manager and a new head coach. Even reigning champions Atlanta United look different.
Ahead of the big kick-off, we take a look at five key questions we hope to be able to answer between now and the MLS Cup in November.
Will champions Atlanta hit the ground running with new men?
Atlanta have lost two of the most important men in their young history in Miguel Almiron and coach Gerardo Martino since lifting MLS Cup, but the squad still looks great. Pity…
John Barnes was sacked as Celtic manager on this day in 2000.
The club’s decision to part company with the former Liverpool and England winger came two days after a humiliating Scottish Cup loss to second-tier Inverness.
Barnes had been in charge for just eight months and oversaw only 29 games.
Pressure had been building since a run of five defeats in eight games in the autumn, including a 4-2 reverse at Rangers in Barnes’ first Old Firm derby.
Form did not markedly improve and the cup shock – which prompted the memorable newspaper headline ‘Super Caley Go Ballistic Celtic Are Atrocious’ – proved the final straw.
Despite beginning his reign with 12 wins in his first 13 games, Barnes had struggled to win over fans and the 3-1 defeat by …
The Netherlands will have to bounce back against bitter rivals Germany on Wednesday to keep their Euro 2012 hopes alive.
Grudge matches don t come much bigger than this with their Group B clash holding added significance after the Netherlands shock opening 1-0 loss to Denmark. Dutch fans will tell you they can handle a loss, just not to Germany.
That opening result was not part of coach Bert van Marwijk s plans meaning the Oranje will have to pick up the pieces and defeat either or both of Germany and Portugal, to progress to the next phase.
Both are in the world s top four and qualified for the tournament with exceptional verve and ease but it is the unwavering Germans that have the early advantage in the group after their 1-0 win over Portugal.
Van Mar…
Last year, Stats Perform began their 12-month countdown to the biggest show in football by identifying 11 uncapped players who could potentially break into their respective national squads before Qatar 2022 gets under way.
We have provided intermittent updates since then and, of the original 11, we ve already had three success stories.
Cade Cowell, Christopher Nkunku and Jonathan Clauss have all managed to claim their first caps, but there s still time for the others.
With the European domestic season now over, it s as good a time as any to see how our picks have progressed over the past three months.
Luis Maximiano (Portugal) – 23, goalkeeper, Granada
Unfortunately, Maximiano s positive start to the season ultimately gave way for a rockier s…
Arguably the toughest group at the tournament finals will see two title contenders and as many quality sides with a potential to surprise vying for places in the knockout stages. In spite of some injury problems, Germany arrive in Brazil on the back of three successive top 3 finishes and hoping to clinch their fourth World Cup title and first since 1990.
Led by Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal have high hopes, especially following a very good performance at the Euro 2012. meanwhile, Ghana and USA may be seen as underdogs, but following some impressive displays in warm-up games, both sides will be feeling confident about their chances of surprising either Germany or Portugal and reaching the Last 16 stage.
Winners of Group G
Germany have had their share…
Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta has been named the best player of Euro 2012, UEFA announced on Monday.
The 28-year-old started in each of Spain s six matches at the Euros and playing a leading role in his team s campaign in Poland and Ukraine which culminated with a 4-0 thrashing of Italy in the final.
Iniesta, who was chosen by the 11-man technical team of UEFA, grabbed one assist in the 551 minute he was on the pitch at the Euros.
He is also part of UEFA s 23-man Team of the Tournament, which contains 10 players from Spain and four from Italy.
Golden Boot winner Fernando Torres did not make the cut, most likely because he played only 189 minutes, with Mario Balotelli, Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Silva the five attacke…
Marseille have struck a deal to sign Azzedine Ounahi after clubs from across Europe targeted the midfielder who dazzled in Morocco s World Cup semi-final run.
Ounahi was pivotal as Morocco became the first African team to reach the last four at a World Cup, catching the eye as the Atlas Lions saw off Spain and Portugal before falling to France.
The 22-year-old will leave Angers to join fellow Ligue 1 outfit Marseille for a fee reportedly of around €10million, having previously been linked with the likes of Napoli, Leicester City and Leeds United.
Both clubs announced a deal was in place on Saturday.
Marseille, who sit third in the table, said in a short statement: Olympique Marseille announces an agreement in principle with Angers for the permanent sign…
Having barely escaped relegation the previous season, Leicester City stunned the football world by winning the Premier League title in 2015/16. Robert Huth, who formed a physically formidable centre-back partnership with Wes Morgan, believes it wouldn t have been possible without the presence of N Golo Kante acting as a shield ahead of the back four.
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Week 7 kicks off with the banged-up Denver Broncos visiting the even-more shorthanded Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. The prop markets were slow to fully open, thanks to all the injuries to Cleveland’s offense, but we’ve still found three solid player props with an emphasis on a Denver running back.
We bring you our favorite free prop picks and predictions for Thursday night’s Broncos vs. Browns Week 7 battle.
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The Philadelphia Eagles are on par with tropical cocktails and sunscreen when it comes to hot summer commodities.
Philly caught everyone’s attention with a playoff berth in 2021 and made waves before the draft by trading for wide receiver A.J. Brown, following that with a solid draft class. That pumped up the Eagles’ NFL odds, with futures, the win total, and lookahead lines all seeing positive movement across the market.
Are those optimistic opinions right or is Philly just a summer crush for NFL bettors? We spread our wings and soar with our Philadelphia Eagles 2022 betting preview.