Beckham to sway FIFA for 2018 vote

England star David Beckham is hoping to play a crucial role in helping his country win the hosting rights to the 2018 World Cup.

The LA Galaxy midfielder will head to Zurich to give the England bid one final boost ahead of FIFA s announcement on Thursday of the host countries for the 2018 and 2022 events.

Beckham is part of a strong bidding representative for England, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and Prince William.

We are going to FIFA and a lot of delegates because we need to tell those people about why we feel it is the right thing for us to get the World Cup, Beckham said.

I feel that at the end of the day it is down to what the bid team have done. England have a history and tradition (in football) and it is about the benefits tha…

Shaw a ´long shot´ for Euro 2024, says Southgate

Despite including him in his preliminary squad, Gareth Southgate says it is a long shot that Luke Shaw will be fit for Euro 2024.

Shaw has been sidelined since February with a muscle injury but is the only recognised left-back in Southgate’s 33-man squad as Ben Chilwell also misses out due to injury.

Joe Gomez is an option for the position after filling in for Liverpool at times this season, while Kieran Trippier has also played at left-back for England in the past.

However, Shaw has been the first-choice left-back for the last two major tournaments, and Southgate admits that he will give him every chance to be fit.

[Luke Shaw s] up against it, said Southgate. He s missed a lot of football.

The fact that he has been our first choice in that po…

New Trends in Soccer Business: Digital Age Sponsorships and Revenue Models

Soccer is the world s most popular sport, and little wonder why it s a multi-billion dollar industry.

Currently, this industry is benefiting from advancements in technology.  Beyond ticket and merchandise sales, every part of the industry from clubs to leagues is turning toward the adoption of digital technologies to create new sponsorship strategies, and sources of revenue and also engage their fans.

Speaking of fans, soccer has so many loyal fans.

A large percentage of people who engage in either through regular or are placing bets on soccer. Keep reading to learn more about the new trends in soccer.

Digital Sponsoring Trends In Soccer

1. Tech-Influenced Sponsorship Strategies

Historically, sponsorships in the soccer indust…

Don’t judge me on winning titles, says Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino

Mauricio Pochettino has urged Chelsea supporters not to judge him on whether or not his team lifts the Carabao Cup at Wembley on Sunday.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool stand in the way of a first trophy since co-owner Todd Boehly bought the club in May 2022 and began a radical overhaul.

The Argentinian is also aiming to win silverware for the first time in England, having been runner-up in this competition to his current club in 2015 while in charge of Tottenham.

And he pointed to the example of his opposite number on Sunday as a coach who enjoyed a strong reputation even before his first trophy win.

The final 48 hours of prep starts now… |

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

Klopp defeated Pochettino’s Spurs in the 2019 Champions League final…

Newcastle United showing interest in Joe Gomez

Newcastle United are interested in signing Joe Gomez from Premier League rivals Liverpool in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Gomez is exploring his options after being left out of Liverpool’s matchday squad against Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Times has claimed that Liverpool are actively looking to push Gomez out of the door, but the club and the player have held grown-up talks over his future. Virgil van Dijk, Jarell Quansah and Ibrahima Konate are the three main centre-backs in new manager Arne Slot’s team, which has led to Gomez considering a move to a club where he would get regular playing time.

Gomez is a very versatile player who can play at centre-back, right-back and left-back, and even in a def…

Italy 4-1 Israel: Di Lorenzo double keeps Azzurri in control of qualification

Italy moved within touching distance of the Nations League quarter-finals after Giovanni Di Lorenzo s double powered them to a 4-1 triumph over Israel on Monday.

Luciano Spalletti s side will need just a point from either of their last two matches in November to secure progression after a convincing victory in Udine that pushed Israel further towards relegation.

Israel goalkeeper Omri Glazer provided stern resistance in the first half before Mateo Retegui s penalty, awarded for a foul by Dor Peretz on Sandro Tonali, broke the deadlock four minutes before the interval.

Captain Di Lorenzo doubled his side s advantage before the hour, powering a header in from close range after Giacomo Raspadori s inviting free-kick, though Israel halved the deficit with 24 minutes …

England and Spain to close out 2016 with friendly

England will face Spain in a friendly at Wembley on Tuesday, November 15.

Both nations will begin new eras this season, with Sam Allardyce having replaced Roy Hodgson as England manager following their last-16 exit at Euro 2016, while Julen Lopetegui was installed as Vicente del Bosque s successor after Spain bowed out at the same stage in their bid to win a third consecutive European title.

Spain won the previous meeting between the sides, 2-0 in Alicante last November thanks to goals from Mario Gaspar and Santi Cazorla.

New fixture confirmed:

v
Tuesday 15 November
8pm

On sale 13 September
From £20/£10

— England (@England)

Frank Lampard scored the only goal when England triumphed in the previous Wembley meeting five years…

Prediction: Braga vs Maccabi Petah Tikva

Best odds: 4/5

Bookmaker:

Braga will host Maccabi Petah Tikva at Estadio Municipal de Braga on Thursday evening for the first leg of their Europa League second round qualifying tie.

The victor of this two-legged encounter will face off against either Molde FK or Silkeborg IF in the third qualifying round.

Braga

Including qualifiers, Braga are gearing up for their eighth consecutive season in the Europa League, aiming to improve upon last year s early exit in the third qualifying round against Qarabaq FK.

Braga s primary goal in recent years has been to break into the top two of the Portuguese top flight, a feat last achieved in the 2009-10 season. However, they ended the 2023-24 campaign in fourth place for the third time in four seasons.

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Real Madrid v Paris Saint-Germain: Ronaldo versus Neymar in 2017-18

Depending upon which narrative you chose to embrace, Neymar will either look to start a Paris Saint-Germain dynasty in which he is the jewel when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League or turn in an audition to be the Santiago Bernabeu s latest galactico.

The Brazil forward was apparently motivated in part by his desire to win the Ballon d Or when he swapped Barcelona for Paris last August and dumping the reigning European champions out at the last-16 stage would certainly do much to further his ambitions.

Madrid s reported courting of Neymar has much to do with Cristiano Ronaldo s perceived decline over recent months but the Portuguese icon appears to be coming good at just the right time.

Quietly – by his standards – Ronaldo has scored seven goals in…

“Hamit Altintop out until 2009”

Bayern Munich midfielder Hamit Altintop is unlikely to make another appearance before 2009. This was announced by manager Jürgen Klinsmann on Friday.

Altintop fractured his metatarsus six months ago but recovered in time to represent the Turkish national team at Euro 2008.

But the injury returned in August, and the player has been able to spend only 64 minutes on the pitch this season.

Klinsmann revealed that Altintop needs surgery to correct the injury. It will be the second operation within a month time for the 25-year-old.