Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia was held up for almost two hours after starting in farcical conditions following a heavy downpour in the hour before kick-off at Hampden.

The game was suspended immediately after Callum McGregor fired Scotland into a sixth-minute lead but it eventually resumed following several pitch inspections.

It was immediately clear the game was in doubt following the 7.45pm start. Simple passes were getting stuck, water was splashing up with every step and a well-struck shot from the visitors almost stopped in the goalmouth, although it was going wide anyway.

McGregor netted after John McGinn’s sixth-minute corner ricocheted back to the midfielder, before the referee went off to have discussions with an official on the side…

The last 16 of the Champions League gets underway on Tuesday with two potentially fascinating encounters.

Milan host Tottenham in the Rossoneri s first Champions League knockout game since the 2013-14 season, while two of the favourites in this year s competition, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, face off in the French capital.

Neither Milan nor Spurs come into their first leg in the best form, with Stefano Pioli s side getting their first win in eight games on Friday against Torino, while their English opponents were thrashed 4-1 by Leicester City.

PSG are also faltering, having lost 3-1 at Monaco at the weekend, leading to fan protests and Presnel Kimpembe having to calm them down through a megaphone.

Bayern will hope to add to the problems of Chr…

Joint Euro 2012 hosts Poland and Ukraine on Sunday brushed aside concerns about their readiness for Europe s top football tournament, as the qualifying draw marked their first real-time test.

It s three years since UEFA awarded the hosting of the 2012 European football championships to Poland and Ukraine, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said.

These three years have been a period of hard work in both countries, Tusk told an audience of top officials from the continent s football governing body and its 53 national associations assembled for the draw.

Euro 2012 infrastructure is being constructed, including stadia, airports, motorways and hotels, the ardent football fan and Sunday league player insisted.

In April 2007, UEFA raised eyebrows by choosing …

Crystal Palace have to be in the present after suffering a 2-0 defeat to West Ham at Selhurst Park, boss Oliver Glasner has said.

The Eagles routed the Hammers 5-2 at the same venue in April as part of six victories in a seven-match unbeaten run to finish the 2023-24 season.

However, goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen consigned Palace to defeat on this occasion, leaving Glasner s men without a point through two games of the infant Premier League season.

A frustrated Glasner said Palace had to forget the strong end they had to last season.

We can t dream of what we were doing three months ago, Glasner told Ed Aarons of the Guardian.

It s now up to us to keep calm and not be too disappointed. We will sleep really badly tonight but tomorrow t…

Millwall have confirmed James Berylson as the club’s new chairman following the death of his father earlier this month.

American businessman John Berylson, who was appointed Millwall chairman in 2007, died in a car crash in the United States on July 4 at the age of 70.

His son, James who has been on the board of directors at The Den since 2010, will now to take over as chairman ahead of the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship season.

A statement on behalf of the Berylson family from s new chairman.

— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC)

In a tribute to his father on Millwall’s website, he said: “It is with sincere and immeasurable pride that I take on the chairmanship of this great football club.

“It is what my dad wanted, and I am so thankful f…

Chelsea are reportedly preparing to sell Raheem Sterling as they seek to comply with the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). The London club faces the necessity to offload several key players in the summer to balance their financial books following a period of significant spending under Todd Boehly s ownership.

Sterling, who has endured a dip in form, is expected to be among the first departures, with multiple sources indicating so. His recent performance in the FA Cup match against Leicester City, where he missed crucial chances, including a penalty, a one-on-one opportunity, and a short-range free-kick, has further fueled speculation about his future at Chelsea. The winger faced criticism from some Chelsea fans during the match, and he was eventually sub…

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San Marino s minnows host Finland in a concluding Euro 2024 qualifying fixture at Serravalle, marking the end of their respective campaigns on Monday.

While San Marino are seemingly heading towards another campaign without significant impact, they managed to achieve a milestone by scoring in back-to-back matches for the first time in 18 years, securing a goal against Kazakhstan on Friday.

San Marino

Despite consecutive losses to Denmark and Kazakhstan, placing them at the bottom with zero points from nine games, San Marino cherish every goal scored as a victory, given their position as the lowest-ranked team in FIFA s world rankings.

Their recent match against Denmark came remarkably close to a historic outcome, nearly …

The Euro 2016 surprises end now for Portugal. At least, that is what Cristiano Ronaldo believes.

The Real Madrid star endured a mixed group stage as his nation finished third behind Hungary and Iceland.

As the nation faced elimination in their final Group F encounter, Ronaldo ultimately made the difference for Portugal with his two goals and assist during a topsy-turvy 3-3 draw with Hungary, enough to see them through as one of the best third-placed teams.

But that is where the surprises will end, according to Ronaldo.

I don t think there are many surprises in European football. Maybe in the group stage you can have a surprise but the big countries always arrive in the final, he told the Times of India.

While their road to the round of 16 was n…

Aston Villa are willing to sell Jhon Duran in the January transfer window, according to GiveMeSport. The report has claimed that Newcastle United are interested in signing Duran in the middle of the season, and that Villa manager Unai Emery is open to the idea of cashing in on the forward.

Duran has been on the books of Villa since 2023. The Colombia international striker has scored four goals in five substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season. The 20-year-old has also scored one goal in one Carabao Cup match for the Villans.

Villa are third in the Premier League table at the moment with 12 points from five matches, a point behind leaders and defending champions Manchester City. As for Newcastle, Eddie Howe’s side currently find themselves sixth i…

Former Bayern Munich star Lothar Matthaus is hopeful of Jupp Heynckes continuing as the club s manager beyond the current campaign before being replaced by Germany coach Joachim Low in 2019.

Heynckes returned to Bayern for his third spell in charge of the club in September, replacing Carlo Ancelotti after previously retiring in 2013.

Bayern s improvement since Heynckes return has been remarkable, with the club 18 points clear of second-placed RB Leipzig heading into Saturday s trip to Wolfsburg.

Heynckes was installed until the end of the season, but reports continue to suggest the club s hierarchy will try to convince him to stay for a further year, after making such an impact.

And Matthaus believes the dream scenario would see Heynckes stay until the en…