2014 World Cup play-off preview: Portugal v. Sweden

Portugal squad

Goalkeepers: Rui Patrício (Sporting), Beto (Sevilla), Eduardo (Braga)

Defenders: André Almeida (Benfica), Antunes (Malaga), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahçe), João Pereira (Valencia), Fábio Coentrão (Real Madrid), Pepe (Real Madrid), Neto (Zenit) Ricardo Costa (Valencia)

Midfielders: William Carvalho (Sporting), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev), João Moutinho (Monaco), Josué (FC Porto), Raúl Meireles (Fenerbahçe), Ruben Micael (Braga)

Forwards: Bruma (Galatasaray), Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas), Hélder Postiga (Valencia), Éder (Braga), Varela (FC Porto), Nani (Manchester United)

Sweden Squad

Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (Kasımpaşa), Kristoffer Nordfeldt (Heerenveen), Johan Wiland (Copenhagen)

Def…

Australia, Brazil among eight remaining bidders for 2023 Women´s World Cup

Eight countries remain interested in hosting the 2023 Women s World Cup as they prepare to submit a bid book to FIFA later this year.

FIFA confirmed the eight-strong shortlist for the tournament, which will be the first finals to feature 32 teams.

Japan are the only former champions to register a continued interest, while Brazil who hosted the 2014 men s World Cup are also on the list alongside Australia.

There is further South American representation from Argentina and Colombia. New Zealand and 2010 men s hosts South Africa are set to make a bid, too.

South Korea is the final country in contention, although the Korea Football As
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sociation has expressed its interest in a joint bid with North Korea.

There had been a record 10 interested …

Luis Enrique gives Barca a ´nine´ for 2015

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique gave his team just short of a perfect mark for the year as they completed 2015 with a 4-0 win over Real Betis at Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi marked his 500th appearance for the club with a goal and Luis Suarez scored a brace after Heiko Westermann s first-half own goal on Wednesday.

The win saw Barca stay top of La Liga to finish a year which saw them win five trophies.

But Luis Enrique was unwilling to describe it as perfect as he urged his team to improve on their efforts.

It s a very good year and I put nine because everything can be improved, he said.

I, as a player, based my philosophy on giving everything and never had anything to reproach myself, always finished every season well and as a coach I feel the same.<…

Britain´s 2008 Olympic chief joins Ipswich

Simon Clegg, the man who guided Britain to a record-breaking medal haul at last year s Beijing Olympics, was on Tuesday named as the new chief executive of Championship side Ipswich.

Clegg, 49, was chief executive of the British Olympic Association for 12 years and chef de mission of Team GB which came in fourth in the 2008 Games table with 47 medals including 19 golds.

A former army officer Clegg, who left his Olympic post in December, takes over at Ipswich from Derek Bowden, who is standing down at the end of the season.

I have joined Ipswich Town because I am absolutely convinced that working together with the fans, sponsors, community and staff we can once again put the club back in its rightful place in the Premiership, he said.

Club owner Marcus E…

Washington vs Cowboys Sunday Night Football Picks and Predictions: Back Dallas to Clinch NFC East Title

The holidays are hectic enough for most folks and with COVID pushing around the NFL betting schedule, the Washington Football Team finds itself on the road for the second time this week when it visits the Dallas Cowboys for Sunday Night Football.

Washington was forced to play at Philadelphia on Tuesday due to an outbreak bumping their original Sunday slot, and the quick turnaround doesn’t help a roster plagued with injuries on both sides of the ball – a big reason why Dallas is a 10-point home favorite.

Here are our free NFL picks and predictions for Washington at Dallas on December 26.

Colts vs Cowboys SNF Prop Bets: Elliott Can't Be Stopped

The reeling Indianapolis Colts roll into Jerry’s World Sunday night as the Dallas Cowboys sit as double-digit favorites for the second straight week.

With Matt Ryan’s inability to get the ball downfield and now facing one of the best pass rushes in football, there aren’t many Overs I’m looking at on the visiting side. Dallas, however, is a different story. 

Here are my NFL player prop picks for Sunday Night Football’s battle between the Colts and Cowboys. Be sure to also check out our SNF full-game betting preview before kickoff!

NFL Best Bets and Player Props for Week 16: Breece Hall Takes Advantage of an Awful Commanders Defense

What a difference a day makes.

Last Saturday, I went 3-0 to start my Week 15 prop picks… then it all came crashing down on Sunday as I went 0-3, losing some NFL player props in games where the respective player’s teams scored a combined 73 points.

Welcome to betting on NFL odds, where sometimes it just doesn’t make sense; but I’ll try to make sense of the Week 16 odds to get to good juju flowing once again.

We’ve again got games on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, but I’m in a weekend kinda mood this week — so my NFL picks tackle a new No. 2 WR and a white-hot running back in action on Saturday, followed by an MVP candidate slinging it all over the field, a struggling RB with a very good matchup, and more!.

Let’s get ready to roll …

Best NFL Win Total Bets for 2024: San Francisco Doesn't Falter

The 2024 NFL season is almost here, and I’ve got a handful of futures bets to lock in before the action starts. Coaching and quarterback play go hand-in-hand with winning, and there are a number of teams showing value in the win total markets.

Here are my top NFL picks for the season, led by three NFC West predictions.

FA Cup roundup: Gateshead earn Charlton tie with win at Altrincham

A late Macaulay Langstaff goal saw National League North side Gateshead progress to the second round of the FA Cup after a dramatic 3-2 win at Altrincham.

Langstaff opened the scoring and Josh Hancock equalised before Dan Ward put the Heed in front again. Dan Mooney levelled the scores but Langstaff’s stoppage-time goal earned Gateshead a home tie against Charlton in the next round.

Mark Cullen’s first-half goal was the difference for League Two side Hartlepool as they beat League One promotion candidates Wycombe.

Bristol Rovers came from behind to knock Oxford United out, scoring three goals in the second half of extra time to win 4-3. Rovers’ Sam Finley opened the scoring before Mat…

Everton, a club that’s become a byword for angst

STICKY TIMES REDUX

Judging by a video released from Abu Dhabi, it turns out that what follows completing football is to walk Big Cup trophy into a large room, where a politely clapping sheikh will greet you. Handshakes all round to club suits and your Catalan genius coach before the younger members of the royal family help cut up, using a glittering ornamental sword, an outsized version of those club-crest cakes you might buy in the Arndale Centre. Flying in a blue dream, to conjure veteran plank-spanking king Joe Satriani. But while Manchester City fans look forward to doing it all again, starting with a Friday night reunion with Vincent Kompany at Burnley, consider those of a less fortunate hue of blue.