Morocco can work miracles under Walid Regragui with their exemplary state of mind, says former midfielder and assistant coach Mustapha Hadji.
The Atlas Lions, who had only progressed beyond the group stage once in five previous World Cup appearances, are the first African nation to reach the semi-finals following an incredible run in Qatar.
Having only succeeded Vahid Halilhodzic in August, Regragui has overseen victories over Belgium, Spain and Portugal to set up a last-four clash with reigning champions France.
Hadji appeared for Morocco at two World Cups (1994 and 1998), while he served as his nation s assistant coach from 2014 until earlier this year.
What a feeling to wake-up to this dream qualification to the semi-finals
— Équipe du Maroc…
Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque says he will not rule out veteran striker David Villa forcing his way into the Euro 2016 squad.
The New York City forward, who is his country s leading goalscorer with 59 in 97 appearances, has not played for the national team since the dismal defence of their World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
Villa himself said last month that he remains optimistic of regaining his place and surpassing the 100-cap mark, and Del Bosque has left the door open to a place at the finals in France for one of the few players who remain from the victorious Euro 2008 squad.
Nobody is excluded, he told Radio Marca when asked about Villa s chances.
Only five or six players from 2008 are still going. I like the term quiet revolution .
Del …
England opting to select Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford for Euro 2016 could do the player more harm than good, according to Nicky Butt.
The head of United s academy, who won 39 caps for England, feels selecting the 18-year-old for the tournament in France could be a move that backfires.
Roy Hodgson has not ruled out the prospect of selecting Rashford, who scored four goals in his first two club games, but has not netted in four appearances since then.
Asked if Rashford would be ready to play at Euro 2016, Butt told BBC Sport: I think that s well too soon for Marcus.
It could backfire on everybody and might not be the right thing for him.
I think talk of England is well too soon. He has phenomenal potential for England and Manchester…
Pep Guardiola insisted consistency is the only reason for Manchester City s sizeable lead at the Premier League summit, as he hailed the exceptional nature of his side and their long-time rivals Liverpool.
City host Chelsea on Saturday as first take on second, though Guardiola s side currently hold a 10-point advantage, with Liverpool 11 behind in third place.
Following their 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season, City are looking to secure the Premier League double over Chelsea for the fourth time, previously doing so in 2009-10, 2015-16 and 2017-18.
They have won their last 11 Premier League games, their fifth such run of 11 or more consecutive victories in the competition.
However, despite his team s healthy lead, Guardiola does not believe…
Joe Willock s sensational strike was enough to earn Newcastle United a 1-0 victory over Chelsea, sending Eddie Howe s side back up to third in the Premier League.
Willock curled a wonderful first-time finish into the top-right corner to break the deadlock in the 67th minute of Saturday s encounter at St James Park.
Newcastle had needed Nick Pope to be on top form prior to Willock s moment of magic – the goalkeeper denying England team-mate Conor Gallagher.
Tempers boiled over at the end, though while Chelsea will have to lick their wounds after a third straight league loss, Newcastle claimed another statement victory.
In-form Miguel Almiron skied an early volley over the bar in a first half devoid of clear-cut chances that Newcastle slightly shaded.
…
England defender Alex Greenwood says the Lionesses are keeping their egos firmly in check as they begin their quest for a maiden World Cup title in a week’s time.
Greenwood’s first experience of the global showpiece was in 2015, when the Lionesses achieved a team-best third-place finish in Canada, and alongside Lucy Bronze is one of just two players on manager Sarina Wiegman’s current roster to have featured in three consecutive World Cups.
Perhaps more than any previous edition, the Lionesses enter this tournament firmly among the favourites to go all the way and unseat two-time defending champions the United States after winning the Euro 2022 final to lift their first major trophy.
Asked how she would rate the sense of belief in the England camp, Greenwoo…
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…