Ecuador believe they can hurt the Netherlands as they look to take a huge step towards the knockout rounds by springing another World Cup surprise.
The South American side cruised to victory over hosts Qatar in the tournament opener last Sunday.
A double from Enner Valencia secured a 2-0 win, giving Ecuador the chance to triumph in their opening two matches of a World Cup for the first time since 2006.
Yet their record against European nations suggests that will be a difficult challenge.
Indeed, Ecuador are winless in their last four World Cup games against European sides (D1 L3), scoring just once across those four matches.
The Netherlands, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last eight World Cup matches against South American sides (W5 D3), since a…
Belgium have lost form at a terrible time at the World Cup, with their place in the last 16 at risk against Croatia, but Eden Hazard still believes in their quality.
The Red Devils were out of sorts in beating Canada 1-0 and were duly punished in their second match against Morocco, losing 2-0.
That defeat ended a 13-game unbeaten run in group-stage games at the finals, although they have not lost consecutive such matches since a sequence of three in a row across the 1982 and 1986 tournaments.
Another reverse against Croatia – who impressed in crushing Canada – would see them eliminated, while a draw may not be enough either.
We have to do better, we cannot deliver the performance we want [right now], said captain Hazard, who also skippered Belgium to…
Karim Benzema would have loved to play alongside Kylian Mbappe at Real Madrid, but insists the forwards decision to stay at Paris Saint-Germain will not affect their friendship.
Mbappe was widely expected to move to the Santiago Bernabeu at the end of his contract in Paris, but he conducted a late U-turn last week and chose to sign a new three-year contract with the Ligue 1 champions.
But Madrid showed they have the firepower to cope without the 2018 World Cup winner as they beat Liverpool 1-0 in Saturday s Champions League final, with Vinicius Junior scoring the only goal of the game.
Benzema played a key role during Madrid s 14th European triumph, scoring 15 Champions League goals this season to fall just two strikes short of Cristiano Ronaldo s single-season r…
Erik ten Hag is still convinced Antony can make a success of his time with Manchester United after an underwhelming first two seasons at Old Trafford.
Antony joined United in an £85million (€100m) deal in 2022, reuniting with Ten Hag after playing under him at Ajax.
He has struggled to live up to expectations since arriving in England, only managing five goals and three assists in 54 Premier League appearances.
Ten Hag, however, has refuted suggestions he convinced United to pay over the odds for a player he knew well from his time in the Eredivisie.
The Dutchman also remains convinced the Brazilian will come good as he approaches his third season with the Red Devils.
Boss
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
Speaking to AD Sportw…
Carlos Tevez has confirmed his retirement from football at the age of 38, citing the death of his father as the reason why he turned down offers to continue playing.
Tevez enjoyed a glittering career, particularly in England where he played for both Manchester United and Manchester City.
As well as three separate spells at boyhood club Boca Juniors, he also spent time at Corinthians, West Ham United, Juventus and Shanghai Shenhua.
Tevez played his final game for Boca Juniors in 2021 before saying goodbye, though at the time he left the door open for a move to another team.
Pueblo xeneixe no tengo palabras para agradecer tanto cariño, no sé si lo merezca, pero lo q si se es q mi sangre no en roja, mi sangre siempre va hacer azul y amarilla !!!
Hasta p…
Bournemouth boss Scott Parker said his team s performance was unacceptable after they fell to a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Cherries, back in the top flight after promotion from the Championship last term, were dominated in their own back yard by a freewheeling showing from Mikel Arteta s side.
The hosts were so off the pace of their opponents that they failed to register a single shot or touch in the opposition penalty area during the first half, just the second time a home side has blanked in such a way since 2008-09 in the Premier League.
That first such occasion saw Bournemouth as the lacklustre team involved too, before Parker s time, against Manchester City in 2019.
Former Fulham boss Parker was stinging in hi…
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has backed England to complete a “remarkable” double by winning the World Cup.
Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses face Spain in Sydney on Sunday morning hoping to add the most coveted title of all to their Euro 2022 success, and Magpies head coach Howe is firmly in their corner as they provide fresh inspiration for future generations.
Asked if the success of the England team was good for football in general in this country, he said: “One hundred per cent, I’ve got no doubts about that.
“When you look at the people that I interact with on a daily basis at the training ground or around Newcastle, a lot of those people will be young girls who are Newcastle fans, and that’s great to see.
“A lot of that is down to the success …
Kylian Mbappe has completed his long-awaited move to Real Madrid, signing as a free agent on a five-year deal after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.
The France international announced his decision to part ways with the Ligue 1 champions in early May, waving farewell after Coupe de France glory later in the month.
Madrid have repeatedly chased the signature of the 25-year-old, failing to secure his signing in the 2021-22 season as Mbappe opted to pen a two-year extension in the French capital.
Yet Carlo Ancelotti and Los Blancos have finally got their man, confirming the much-anticipated deal for the former Monaco forward on Monday.
In a club statement, Madrid said: Real Madrid and Kylian Mbappe have reached an agreement whereby he will be a Real Madrid player…
Michael O’Neill has said trying to qualify for Euro 2024 is no longer his primary concern as Northern Ireland’s injury crisis shows no sign of abating.
Craig Cathcart was a late withdrawal ahead of Friday’s 1-0 defeat to Denmark in Copenhagen, taking the number of senior players missing through injury into double figures.
A youthful line-up that included teenagers Conor Bradley, Shea Charles and Isaac Price handled the intimidating atmosphere of the Parken Stadium admirably and thought they had a stoppage-time equaliser to cancel out Jonas Wind’s goal, only for debutant Callum Marshall’s strike to be ruled offside by VAR.
Defeat leaves Northern Ireland with one win from their opening three qualifiers, albeit still only three points off top spot with Den…
Spain coach Vicente del Bosque admits he would be content if his side reach at least the semi-finals of Euro 2016, even if some people would label a trophy-less tournament a failure.
Del Bosque and Co. go into next month s Euros as back-to-back winners, having triumphed in 2008 against Germany and then in 2012 against Italy.
However, the 65-year-old said on Friday his 23-man squad was not perfect , and has now gone on to state a last-four finish would be an acceptable achievement.
Speaking on El partido de las 12 via network COPE, Del Bosque said: If we make the semi-finals I would be happy, I m telling you the truth.
Even though some would consider not winning it a failure.
What I do not want is for us to get nervous and despair to…