Hope Powell joins England backroom staff for men’s Under-20 World Cup

Hope Powell has joined the England backroom staff for the men’s Under-20 World Cup in Argentina, the Football Association has announced.

Powell, who was head coach of the senior England women’s team between 1998 and 2013 and was more recently in charge at Brighton, will serve as a technical advisor to Ian Foster and his coaching team.

The 56-year-old also coached the Great Britain women’s team at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Hope Powell will be part of our backroom team at the , supporting Ian Foster and his coaching team as a technical advisor

— England (@England)

She led the Lionesses to the 2009 European Championship final and coached the team at two World Cups.

Powell’s appointment is supported by the England Elite Coach…

´It´s hard to say what will happen´ – De Bruyne yet to have talks over Man City future

Kevin De Bruyne confirmed he was likely to stay at Manchester City for the upcoming season but said it s hard to say what will happen after that.

De Bruyne has one year left on his current contract but has been the subject of interest Saudi Pro League clubs in recent months.

The Belgian has enjoyed a glittering nine-year spell at City since joining from Wolfsburg in 2015, winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, five EFL Cups, two FA Cups and the Club World Cup.

De Bruyne is currently away at Euro 2024 with Belgium preparing for their last-16 tie with France on Monday, and said he aims to get his future sorted once the tournament is over.

I ve read a lot of headlines, but I haven t spoken to anyone, De Bruyne told HLN, via The Athletic.

Spain´s Villa ruled out of Euro 2012

Barcelona have confirmed David Villa will not be going to Euro 2012 with Spain after losing his battle for fitness following a broken leg.

The striker s inclusion in the Vicente del Bosque s final 23-man squad has been in doubt since he fractured his tibia during Barca s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final win over Al-Sadd in December.

The former Valencia man had returned to training in the past month and was hoping to feature in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25.

Following further analysis of the 30-year-old s condition, Barca team doctor Ricard Pruna and his medical team have recommended Villa should not be selected for Spain for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

I ve tried, but I can t be 100 percent to play the Euro…

World Cup 2018: A panda, a tapir and a nightmare for Willy in Nizhny

Nizhny Novgorod was a city closed to foreigners until 1990, but it has thrown open its doors to visitors from around the globe in the first week of the World Cup.

Fans from Sweden, South Korea, Argentina, Croatia, England and Panama have descended on the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers in huge numbers, along with travellers from Colombia, Mexico, Japan, China and even India.

The action on the pitch has seen a nightmare outing for Argentina and goalkeeper Willy Caballero, as well as a record-breaking victory for England. VAR has, of course, also made an appearance.

Away from the pitches, we ve seen matches on the beach, giant pandas halting traffic and even a tapir predicting results to come. Below are just some of the highlights.

EU, UEFA set up consumer hotline for Euro 2008 fans

The EU and UEFA have launched an information campaign and helpline to advise fans travelling to Euro 2008 on their consumer rights and to provide support for those who run into problems.

The campaign deals with consumer issues ranging from fake match tickets to transferring tickets in the case of illness, to air travel, roaming charges, EU health insurance and problems shopping abroad, according to an EU statement.

A free phone consumers rights helpline service on 0080067891011 will also run in all EU languages throughout the tournament, based in Austria and Switzerland, from June 1.

However, as Austria s co-hosts Switzerland is not part of the EU, fans based there will have to access any information through a pay number, 003222999696.

EU Consumer Co…

Houston Dynamo v Toronto FC: Herdman hopes break provided ´emotional reset´

John Herdman hopes a short break from action allowed Toronto FC an emotional reset and the chance to build chemistry ahead of Saturday s return to MLS play at the Houston Dynamo.

Toronto reached the first knockout stage of the Leagues Cup but were beaten 4-3 by Inter Miami in a thrilling tie on August 9, giving them over two weeks to prepare for their next game.

With Toronto currently occupying a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, Herdman hopes they can use that match as a learning experience ahead of the run-in.

We ve had a good crack at it. Miami will always be some way around the finals, Herdman said, reflecting on the Reds Leagues Cup run.

It s a good lesson for us because if you want to make the playoffs, these are the teams you have to learn…

Maehle magic the defining feature of Denmark´s remarkable Euro 2020

Maybe it s wishful thinking, but if Denmark could pick a moment to remember from their Euro 2020 campaign, surely this would be near the top of the list.

Toe-poke, trivela, call it what you will – Joakim Maehle s outside-of-the-foot cross for the second goal against the Czech Republic was one of the finest pieces of skill seen at these finals.

With enough pace to elude defenders but not the arriving Kasper Dolberg, curling away from Czech heads and onto the striker s foot, it was impudent expertise of the highest order.

It was also entirely in keeping with Maehle s standard of performances at this tournament. This was no fluke or Hail Mary; this was calculated brilliance by a player at the top of his game.

Maehle s form has been a bit of a subplot to…

Can Portugal go all the way at Euro 2012?

Portugal overcame a poor a Czech Republic side 1-0 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 last night.

The victory was achieved courtesy of a Cristiano Ronaldo header with just 11 minutes left on the clock.

In truth Portugal was the only team out of the two that ever looked like winning the game.

Deserved

Portugal deserved to go through to the semi-finals. They completely dominated the game and the Czech’s looked like they hoped to catch the Portuguese out on a set-piece or a counter-attack.

However, Portugal kept plugging away and finally got their reward through Cristiano Ronaldo’s header. The Real-Madrid star had already hit the woodwork twice with earlier efforts. That took his tally of goals to three for the tournament.

Impressed

Hopes high as qualifying for 2011 Asian Cup begins

Qualifying for the 2011 Asian Cup kicks off on Wednesday with China under the microscope after a miserable 2008, in contrast to heavyweights Australia and Japan who are expected to coast.

China, with Yin Tiesheng as interim coach after Serbian Vladimir Petrovic quit when the team crashed out of 2010 World Cup contention last June, face a tricky first game away to Syria.

Yin has been put in charge only for their opening two Asian Cup qualifiers but knows the side need a win to boost their confidence.

He has vowed to restore discipline.

I will be in charge of the team for a short period, and I hope I can instil a fighting spirit into the team, Yin said.

Maybe this will be the most noticeable change I can bring to the team.

Lebanon and Vi…

Usain Bolt not plotting return despite Tokyo 2020 comeback temptation

Eight-time Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt is not contemplating a return to athletics despite feeling the temptation for a comeback.

Bolt ended his career on the track in 2017, calling it quits at the age of 31 after a spate of hamstring injuries, one of which curtailed his efforts in what was supposed to be the Jamaican s final race at the 2017 World Athletics Championships.

Although it was not the glorious conclusion he may have hoped for, Bolt still left sprinting as the world record holder in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m relay and his exploits on the track saw him collect a remarkable eight Olympic golds.

Back in August 2018, Bolt begin training with Australian football club the Central Coast Mariners and he scored twice in a friendly before being o…