Samir Nasri believes France fans will see their side return to the top echelon of the game and hopes they can make a statement at Euro 2012.
Laurent Blanc s side face England, Ukraine and Sweden in Group D, kicking off against Roy Hodgson s men next Monday in Donetsk, and the French will begin the continental competition in confident mood having thrashed Estonia 4-0 in their last warm-up match on Tuesday.
Nasri, who played the first 73 minutes of that friendly, believes France have come a long way since their first-round failure under Raymond Domenech at the World Cup in South Africa two years ago.
France have grown and we improved in the qualification for the Euros, he told Goal.com.
It wasn t easy because we didn t start well, but we showed a glimps…
Gregory van der Wiel does not know who the opponents will be, but is confident that Netherlands are going the win the Euro 2012 final 2-1.
The full-back admitted that the tournament is full of difficult adversaries, and did not rule out the possibility of a World Cup final rematch against Spain.
But he is confident that Oranje will be winners this time around.
It s possible (that Netherlands could face Spain in the final), but you have a lot of other strong countries, Van der Wiel told Goal.com.
Not only Spain or Holland, also Germany, England, Portugal, France all strong countries so we have to be aware of every team, not only Spain.
I think Holland will reach the final, but I don t know against who. We re going to win 2-1, though.
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Reigning Premier League champions lock horns with an in-form Bournemouth side in a midweek clash at Stamford Bridge. The Blues are coming off from a comprehensive win over Brighton last time out but their most recent form offers plenty to worry about as Conte’s men struggle to replicate last season’s form.
Chelsea
Antonio Conte is having plenty of problems in his second year in charge of Chelsea. The Italian tactician proved to be an instant hit in the Premier League with his unique approach and style but the army-like routine seems to have lost its full effect this year.
Pressured by multiple-front battles and especially the Champions League challenge, the Blues have struggled to r…
Neymar played a game of cat and mouse with Barcelona before joining Paris Saint-Germain to become the world s most expensive footballer, according to the Spanish club s vice-president Jordi Mestre.
PSG paid up the €222million release clause in the Brazilian s contract in August to break up the Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar partnership known as MSN .
Neymar has subsequently scored 18 league goals to help PSG build an 11-point lead at the top of Ligue 1, although Barcelona, shorn of the Brazilian, are in a similarly dominant position in LaLiga.
Barca and Neymar face a court date over a disputed bonus payment and Mestre suggested the player was not open and honest with Barcelona about his intentions to leave the club, having travelled with his colleagues…
Jermain Defoe has been tipped for an England recall and Gus Poyet wants him to prove why when Sunderland host QPR on Tuesday.
Gus Poyet has challenged Jermain Defoe to boost his chances of an England recall by continuing his fine form in Sunderland s Premier League encounter with QPR.
Defoe moved to the Stadium of Light in the January transfer window and got off the mark for his new club in a 2-0 victory over Burnley last weekend.
The former Tottenham striker once again showed why head coach Poyet was so desperate to land him from MLS club Toronto when he opened the scoring with a clinical 18-yard finish in Saturday s 1-1 draw at Swansea City.
And Poyet believes that Defoe still has the quality to add to his 55 England caps, the last of which came against…
Turkish giants Galatasaray have confirmed the appointment as Cesare Prandelli as their new coach on a two-year deal.
The Istanbul club last week revealed that they were in talks with the former Italy coach, who resigned after his country s disappointing FIFA World Cup campaign.
Galatasaray issued a statement on their website on Monday confirming that the 56-year-old will replace compatriot Roberto Mancini, who left the club by mutual consent last month.
Prandelli is due to arrive in Istanbul on Monday evening (local time) and sign his contract on Tuesday before holding a press conference.
The experienced Prandelli spent four years in charge of his country after taking over from Marcello Lippi and guided the Azzurri to the final of the 2012 European Champi…
Rob Page says he wishes Wales were not playing a friendly against South Korea on Thursday.
Wales are not in Euro 2024 action until Monday when they travel to Latvia for a crucial Group D qualifying clash.
But UEFA regulations stipulate that nations in odd-numbered qualifying groups must fulfil blank dates in the calendar when group rivals are playing.
Wales filled this date by arranging a Cardiff friendly with Jurgen Klinsmann’s South Korea, but the game has failed to capture the imagination of the Welsh public with only 11,500 tickets sold little more than 24 hours before kick-off.
incoming!
— Wales
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Argentina-born Italy striker Mateo Retegui reminds Roberto Mancini of the Albiceleste s Serie A great Gabriel Batistuta.
Retegui has been handed a first Italy call-up for this month s Euro 2024 qualifiers, starting at home to England on Thursday.
The Tigre striker, who was born and raised in Argentina, where he has also spent his entire club career, qualifies for the Azzurri through his grandfather.
Strikers travelling between Argentina and Italy is not a new phenomenon, but Retegui is heading for the Italy camp, rather than a Serie A club.
Coming like this from Argentina to Italy, not in a club team, is not so simple, coach Mancini said on the eve of the England game.
It takes some time, but the guy is polite and smart. He is a good striker, yo…
Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre said the Spanish champions are very disappointed and angry with UEFA s decision to overlook Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez for the Best Player in Europe Award, branding the pair s snub as scandalous .
Messi and Suarez were not among the three finalists for the award, with Real Madrid duo Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, and Atletico Madrid s Antoine Griezmann selected.
Five-time Ballon d Or winner Messi placed fifth, behind team-mate Suarez, leading Mestre to hit out at UEFA.
It doesn t seem the right decision to me at all, Mestre told TV3.
I don t know what criteria UEFA applied, with all respect to the chosen winners, but I disagree [with the choices].
That our players aren t there, such as Suarez or Mess…
James Rodriguez gets more support when playing for Colombia than he does at Real Madrid, according to Carlos Bacca.
After a strong debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2014-15, James found game time limited under Rafael Benitez at the start of last term.
The midfielder was given more opportunities following Zinedine Zidane s appointment in January, but his professionalism and physical condition came in for criticism in the Spanish media.
Despite suffering a shoulder injury, James has scored twice in three Copa America Centenario appearances, and Bacca believes the confidence his Colombia team-mates have in him has been key to his change in form.
James is our captain and always wants to play, even with pain, the striker told Marca.
He works f…