Russia coach Guus Hiddink paid tribute to his Spanish counterpart Luis Aragones here Wednesday on the eve of their Euro 2008 semi-final.
Hiddink, speaking at the pre-match press conference, described the veteran Spaniard as a big man in international football.
Win, lose or draw Aragones will relinquish his national duties in favour of managing Turkish giants Fernabahce next season, a side previosuly coached by Hiddink.
The Dutchman said: Luis is getting older and going to the club where I started my international career. At 70 it means this man has a lot of energy, I have a lot of respect for him.
I ve also had experience in Spain, and when you know how to survive in Spain then you re a big man, and he s a big man.
…
The German team may have suffered a major blow ahead of Sunday s Euro 2008 final with Spain, as captain Michael Ballack is unlikely to make an appearance.
The Chelsea midfielder suffered an injury to his right calf and missed training on Friday and Saturday. Instead, he received treatment at the hotel.
If Ballack were to miss the match, it would be the second time for the play maker to miss a final at a major tournament.
In 2002, the German missed out on the lost World Cup final due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
…
Market: AC Milan win and over 2.5 goals
Odds: 20/21 @
Looking to pile even more pressure onto Celtic in midweek, AC Milan will welcome the Scottish strugglers to the San Siro on Thursday evening.
Starting with the hosts, while AC Milan would have been disappointed to have had to settle for a point away at Lille last week, the Italian giants have shocked many since opening the 2020/2021 campaign. Last seen over the weekend turning their attention back to Serie A duties, Stefano Pioli s men picked up a routine 2-0 victory against Fiorentina on home soil and suddenly find themselves holding a five-point buffer at the top of Italy s top-flight. With many now believing that they have a real shout at mounting a shock title charge this season, I Rossoneri have remarkab…
Jurgen Klopp hailed a perfect day for Liverpool as they trounced Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield.
Delighted but eager not to gloat, Klopp said the emphatic scoreline was one for the history books but not for the moment .
But the Liverpool manager said his team were outstanding , and he saluted Mohamed Salah for becoming the club s record Premier League goalscorer, his 129th strike in the competition taking him past Robbie Fowler.
Salah scored twice, as did Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez, with Roberto Firmino coming off the bench to hit a late seventh. It had been goalless until the 43rd minute, and United capitulated after going behind.
No words, spectacular football game, outstanding. We played top football against the team in form, Klopp said on Sky Spor…
Harry Kane is back in the Tottenham starting line-up to face West Ham at Wembley in the Premier League.
England striker Kane wrapped up a sensation 2017 by breaking Alan Shearer s Premier League record for the most goals in a calendar year and outscored Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi over the 12-month period for club and country.
But the 24-year-old was recently laid low by illness and could only feature as a second-half substitute in the 2-0 win at Swansea City.
Fernando Llorente scored the opener against his former club, but returns to the bench to accommodate Kane one of three changes made by Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino, with Serge Aurier and Moussa Sissoko in for Kieran Trippier and Erik Lamela, both of whom join Llorente among the substitutes.
:…