“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.

Saints vs Buccaneers Sunday Night Football Picks and Predictions: Saints Walk the Plank

A classic NFC South showdown takes center stage for Sunday Night Football in Week 15, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers play host to the reeling New Orleans Saints at the pirate ship.

The Bucs are favored by 11.5 as they aim to win for the fifth straight game. The Saints, on the other hand, have mostly struggled of late outside of Week 14’s beatdown against the Jets. The Buccaneers are not the Jets. 

Here are our free NFL picks and predictions for Saints at Bucs on December 19.

NFL Best Bets and Player Props for Week 10: White Getting More Touches in Tampa

We’re already in Week 10 and despite a bump in the road last week, it’s been a profitable season to date on the player prop front.

The Week 10 markets have been slow to open but that hasn’t stopped me from finding some gems, and today’s NFL player prop picks are exactly that. I’m hitting the Over on a pair of rookie running backs who have very different roles on their respective teams. 

I break it all down below. 

Jalen Hurts Odds and MNF Props: Playing Through the Hurt

The Philadelphia Eagles and quarterback Jalen Hurts have both hit a rut. Hurts and the Eagles were held without an offensive touchdown last week in Dallas in their second straight double-digit defeat against a top NFC opponent. 

The Birds have lost back-to-back games for the first time since 2021 and Hurts hasn’t helped despite NFL odds often being favorable.

However, they’ll have a chance to get back on track in Week 15 against a Seattle Seahawks team that has lost four straight and is a slight home underdog in the latest MNF odds. 

Before making your NFL picks, read on for our Jalen Hurts odds spotlight for Monday Night Football as part of our Eagles vs. Seahawks predictions.

And if more NFL player props are your flavor, w…

Browns vs Seahawks Prediction, Picks & Odds for This Week’s NFL Preseason Game

The Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks will both have the bulk of their starters on the field to open their final NFL preseason game tonight.

Deshaun Watson’s status is still in the air for the Browns, but we could get our first glimpse of him throwing to their trio of stud receivers. Meanwhile, Geno Smith will get a few series under center for the Seahawks as they continue to break in their new offensive scheme.

Find out why key injuries for Cleveland will play an important role in the outcome of this one in our Browns vs. Seahawks predictions and NFL picks for Saturday, August 24. 

Browns vs Seahawks prediction

My best betSeahawks moneyline (+102 at DraftKings)

My analysis

We probably won’t know…

Piszczek targets 2014 return

Borussia Dortmund defender Lukasz Piszczek hopes to be fit and available for selection by 2014.

The Poland international is currently undergoing hip and groin treatment and has not featured for the club this season.

While the 28-year-old is eager to return to the side, he insists he will not rush his comeback and risk a further lay-off.

My goal is to come back for the second half of the season, Piszczek told Bild, before stating his intention to complete his return in good time.

Even though I have now and then a little pain, it is definitely much better than before the operation. I am satisfied.

I will do nothing unnecessary to put myself under pressure after such a major operation.

There were fears that manager Jurgen Klopp may be without fellow d…

Southgate calls for fearless England after battling heavy Euro 2024 expectations

Gareth Southgate acknowledged heightened England expectations contributed to a drab start at Euro 2024, as he called for a fearless Three Lions in Wednesday s semi-final against the Netherlands.

England were unconvincing en route to topping Group C, scraping past Serbia before back-to-back draws with Denmark and Slovenia.

Southgate s side again needed some fortune in the last 16, levelling through Jude Bellingham s remarkable 95th-minute overhead kick before Harry Kane sealed victory in extra time.

Though a penalty shoot-out victory was required to see off Switzerland in the last eight, where England trailed late one before Bukayo Saka s sumptuous equaliser, Southgate believes that showing was an improvement.

One of our strengths over the years has been …

Lyon talisman Lacazette to miss rest of 2015

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette will miss Sunday s visit to Paris Saint-Germain after being ruled out for the rest of 2015.

The France international sustained a hamstring injury while scoring Lyon s second goal in their 2-0 Champions League win at Valencia on Wednesday.

Lacazette scored 31 goals in all competitions for Lyon last season and is their top scorer again this campaign, finding the net eight times.

But coach Hubert Fournier confirmed on Friday Lyon will be without their talisman for this weekend s trip to the capital to take on defending champions and league leaders PSG.

He will also be unavailable for next Wednesday s Coupe de la Ligue match with Tours, which will serve as their last game at the Gerland before Lyon move to the newly-built�…

SoccerNews team of the year 2008

As we approach the end of the year it is worth putting together a team of 2008. It is a very subjective choice and I would be surprised if any of us totally agreed on the best eleven players to put in the SoccerNews representative side, but I’ll have a go at making the selection and you can all shoot me down in flames and tell me why I have got it so horribly wrong!

In goal

In goal, there are a few decent candidates. Chelsea’s Petr Cech was really good but won nothing and made a mistake that cost his country dearly at Euro 2008. Without him, we need to look at keepers that won things.

Pepe Reine won the Golden Gloves award, but remained as second choice behind Casillas for Spain. Van Der Sar wan the Premier League and the Champi…

Colts vs Cardinals Week 16 Picks and Predictions: Trampled Under Taylor's Foot

The Indianapolis Colts are off to the desert to take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16 of the NFL season on Saturday. The Colts have been playing some inspired football of late while the Cardinals have lost consecutive games they probably shouldn’t have against the Rams and especially the lowly Lions. 

This is the second of two games taking place on Christmas Day and it should be a very competitive matchup if both teams bring their A games. NFL betting lines opening with Arizona as a 1.5-point home favorite before moving to -3 on Saturday afternoon.

Is Santa going to reward the Cards for being good this year or will Indianapolis dump coal in their stocking? We let you know what we think with our best free Colts vs. Cardinals betting picks and prediction…