Roberto Martinez believes Belgium deserve to win Euro 2020 but acknowledges that will count for little if they do not perform at the finals.
Belgium completed their qualification campaign on Tuesday, thrashing Cyprus 6-1 to end with 10 wins from 10 in Group I, scoring 40 goals in the process.
Martinez has already seen enough to suggest Belgium are worthy of a maiden major international title, yet he knows there is plenty of work to do.
Whether we can win the European Championship, that is something that we have in our hands, head coach Martinez said. We need to get even better and then we see if we can play another great tournament.
We have set the standard at the World Cup [finishing third] and we are continuing to develop into a team with a great deal…
Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag will lead the teams out at Wembley this weekend in the first-ever all-Manchester FA Cup final.
Ahead of Saturday’s showdown in the capital, the PA news agency has taken a closer look at the City and United managers.
Past meetings
This season’s Premier League encounters are the only times these managers have faced off, with City winning the first encounter 6-3 in October before United came back to win 2-1 at Old Trafford in January.
But while they do not have a huge history of playing against one another, these managers know each other well.
Ten Hag left Go Ahead Eagles in his homeland in 2013 to become head coach of Bayern Munich II – the reserve team of the perennial Bundesliga champions, who were then managed by Gua…
Fabio Capello plans to remain as coach of the Russia national team until their home World Cup in 2018.
The Italian took charge of the country in 2012, replacing Dick Advocaat, and led Russia to their first World Cup in 12 years by qualifying for the recent finals in Brazil.
Russia did little to impress in the tournament, however, failing to win any of their Group H fixtures against South Korea, Belgium and Algeria as they crashed out at the first hurdle.
But on Wednesday, Capello moved to dismiss reports he has fallen out with members of his squad, and reiterated that he would still be in charge when Russia host the finals in four years time.
I will remain coach until 2018, he told La Repubblica.
I never said that the goal was to reach the quart…
Frenkie de Jong and Memphis Depay have been included in the Netherlands final Euro 2024 squad despite fitness concerns, with Borussia Dortmund s Ian Maatsen among those cut.
Earlier this month, coach Ronald Koeman named a 30-man preliminary squad for the Oranje s Euro 2024 campaign, which begins against Poland on June 16.
De Jong was included despite not playing for Barcelona since April 21 due to an ankle issue, while Atletico Madrid s Depay only recently returned to action following a six-week spell on the sidelines.
Both players have avoided being cut from Koeman s initial selection, with Atalanta s Marten De Roon already confirmed as missing out due to a muscle injury.
…
Liverpool have reached an agreement to sign Naby Keita from RB Leipzig in a club-record deal that will see him join the club next year.
The 22-year-old had been one of manager Jurgen Klopp s primary transfer targets, but the Bundesliga club had been unwilling to consider a sale ahead of their first season in the Champions League.
However, the Reds have finally struck a deal that will reportedly see them pay the £48million release clause in Keita s contract, allowing him to move to Anfield on July 1, 2018.
The transfer makes the Guinea midfielder Liverpool s most expensive signing, eclipsing the £36.9m upfront fee they paid Roma for Mohamed Salah in June.
Keita will spend the rest of the season with Leipzig and told Liverpool s official website: I am del…
Georges Mikautadze stole the show with a goal and an assist to send Georgia into the Euro 2024 knockout stages with a 2-0 upset against Portugal, tarnishing a landmark appearance for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Portugal captain Ronaldo became the first European player to make 50 appearances across the World Cup and Euros on Wednesday, but this Group F meeting belonged to Georgia.
Mikautadze teed up Khvicha Kvaratskhelia s second-minute opener in Gelsenkirchen before himself coolly converting a penalty after the break, sealing Georgia s first ever win at a major tournament.
Willy Sagnol s side will be rewarded with a last-16 meeting with Spain on Sunday, while Portugal must improve for Monday s clash with Slovenia in Frankfurt.
Three goals at this EURO for Mikautad…
Manchester United beat Liverpool 4-3 after extra time in a gripping FA Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
Here, the PA news agency looks back at some other memorable United cup wins.
Liverpool 1 Man Utd 2, final, 1977
Top cup ties v Liverpool, no.1: Glory in the 1977 FA Cup final. win 2-1 to dash the Merseysiders Treble hopes.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
United prevented Liverpool, already First Division champions and playing the European Cup final four days later, from winning the treble. All the goals came in a five-minute burst early in the second half. Stuart Pearson’s opener was quickly cancelled out by Jimmy Case but Lou Macari’s shot rebounded in off Jimmy Greenhoff to settle it.
Chelsea 0 Man Utd 4, final, 1994
On This Day in the 19…
Mikel Arteta and David Moyes have a long history, and the Arsenal boss is hoping the outgoing West Ham manager does him a favour on Sunday.
Arteta was managed by Moyes for over six years during his time at Everton between 2005 and 2011.
And the stars have aligned that Arteta s Arsenal must now defeat the Toffees at Emirates Stadium on the final day of the season to stand a chance of winning the Premier League title.
But while Arsenal must do their job, they also require a favour from Moyes West Ham, who take on leaders Manchester City. If Pep Guardiola s team win, then the title will be theirs.
The Hammers trip to the Etihad Stadium also marks Moyes final game as West Ham s boss, and Arteta wants one more favour from his former mentor.
He s been …
Craig Goodwin scored a stunner and set up Australia s equaliser as they beat China 3-1 in Tony Popovic s first game in charge.
Popovic replaced Graham Arnold in September and, despite seeing his team fall behind in Thursday s World Cup qualifier, was ultimately able to celebrate a convincing win.
Goodwin was playing in front of a hometown crowd in Adelaide and smashed in a long-range, left-footed strike to put Australia in front in the 53rd minute.
The 32-year-old had earlier crossed in for Lewis Miller to head home on the stroke of half-time.
Miller s goal cancelled out Xie Wenneng s 20th-minute opener for China.
Substitute Nishan Velupillay completed the scoring late on, marking his debut in style just nine minutes after coming on.
A Goo…
Romania head coach Edward Iordanescu was left furious after suggestions his side could manipulate a draw with Slovakia to ensure Euro 2024 progression.
With all four sides level on points heading into the final matchday, a point apiece in Romania s game would have ensured both teams went through to the last 16 regardless of Belgium s result against Ukraine.
Iordanescu s men ultimately prevailed as unlikely Group E winners after their 1-1 draw with Slovakia, coupled with Belgium s goalless stalemate on Wednesday.
Yet Iordanescu noted claims his team would play for – or attempt to manipulate – a share of the spoils, blasting those suggestions after the match.
I believe it was clear that both teams gave everything for 80 minutes, Iordanescu told reporte…