Stale Solbakken has announced he is likely to step down as Norway head coach when his contract expires after the 2026 World Cup campaign.
The former midfielder took over the national side in 2020 with the hopes of returning Norway to a major tournament. However, he has been unable to qualify for one despite having players like Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard among his ranks.
Norway finished third in their qualification group for Euro 2024, six points below Scotland, having only won three of their eight matches.
With the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico coming up in 2026, Solbakken s sights are set on playing on the world stage for the first time since France 1998, but he says his time with the national team will not extend beyond that if they …
A year later than planned, the pandemic-delayed Women s European Championship takes place in England this month, at a time when the women s game is enjoying a popularity surge.
Barcelona Femeni packed out Camp Nou twice for Champions League games in the season just ended, in what was the most eye-catching sign of years of steady growth.
Many players who a decade ago would have needed part-time work to supplement their playing wages are now enjoying the trappings of being full-time professionals.
It means these players are physically sharper, more tactically astute, and skill levels are soaring skywards, making Euro 2022 an unmissable prospect.
Here, Stats Perform looks at seven players who could emerge as dominant stars of the tournament.
Alexia…
The Georgia Bulldogs will face the TCU Horned Frogs in the CFP National Championship on January 9 after prevailing in a pair of close semi-finals on New Year s Eve.
In the first of the two semi-finals, third-ranked TCU took on the two-seed Michigan Wolverines and produced the second-highest scoring playoff game since the inception of the new format in 2014.
The Horned Frogs looked set to coast through for a chance at their first National Championship since 1938 after their second pick-six of the game gave them a 34-16 lead late in the third period, but there would be plenty of points still to come.
In fact, the 44 combined points in the third quarter was the most ever in one quarter of a playoff game, and two quick touchdowns from Michigan cut the margin to 41-38…
Inter Milan are willing to sell Marcelo Brozovic in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing the midfielder, and that Serie A club Inter will sell him if they are offered €40 million.
Brozovic has been on the books of Inter since 2015 and has been superb for the Nerazzurri over the years. The 30-year-old defensive midfielder is one of the best players in his position and is still at the top of his game.
The Croatia international has made 14 starts and eight substitute appearances in Serie A for Inter so far this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in the process. Brozovic has also made four starts and two substitute appearances in the UEFA Champions League for the Ne…
Four bids have been received to host the 2025 women s European Championship, UEFA confirmed on Thursday.
The tournament was held in England this year, with the hosts beating Germany in the final at Wembley to win their first major trophy.
Plans for the next edition are now well under way, with UEFA set to make a decision in January 2023 after receiving four proposals.
UEFA today confirmed that it has received final bids to host the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 final tournament from four bidders following the deadline of 12 October, the governing body said in a statement.
A final bid dossier was submitted by the football associations of France, Poland, Switzerland, and a joint bid from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
The UEFA Executive Committe…
Mikel Arteta acknowledges Arsenal are in a good position to finish in the Premier League s top four but says the Gunners still have a lot to fight for after beating Leicester City 2-0.
Goals from Thomas Partey and Alexandre Lacazette, the latter coming from the penalty spot after Caglar Soyuncu s handball, handed the Gunners a fifth successive Premier League win for the first time since May 2021.
Having lost the opening home game of the Premier League season to Chelsea in August, Arteta s team have lost just one of their last 13 home league games this term (10 wins and two draws), with only Manchester City beating them at the Emirates Stadium during this run.
The victory also moved Arsenal back into fourth in the Premier League, and they hold three games in hand …
Manchester United being sold by the Glazer family would be positive for the club, according to manager Erik ten Hag.
The Glazers, who have owned United since 2005, announced last month they were open to selling the club as they planned to explore strategic alternatives .
There has been increasing pressure on the Glazers in recent years, with protests commonly seen from fans as frustration grew with the running of the club.
As United seek to compete with the financial might of Manchester City, as well as the new Saudi Arabian owners of Newcastle United, Ten Hag feels fresh investment at Old Trafford would be exciting news for the club.
There will be more investment possible which is good, said Ten Hag.
We [Ten Hag and CEO Richard Arnold] spoke ab…
Best Odds: 4/5
Bookmaker:
Looking to make an early Premier League statement of intent on Saturday afternoon, Arsenal will welcome Wolves to the Emirates.
Arsenal
Starting with the hosts, once again falling short last season in the race to get their hands on a first Premier League crown since 2004, Arsenal are desperate to go one-step further this time around. Although the Gunners might have failed to get their hands on a single piece of silverware last year, Mikel Arteta’s squad have continued to receive a string of praise from across the continent. Winning all of their final six Premier League appearances by an aggregate score of 16-3, the title contenders will be looking to make an early statement on Saturday afternoon. Pencilled in as a landslide contender…
Captain Leah Williamson described England s Euro 2022 final victory over Germany as the proudest moment of my life .
A gripping showpiece at Wembley on Sunday saw England scrape a 2-1 victory after extra time, with substitutes Ella Toone and Chloe Kelly getting the goals for the hosts.
Williamson lifted the trophy as a record crowd of 87,192 saluted the first-time champions, who have been steered to glory by Sarina Wiegman, the manager who led the Netherlands to the win the European Championship five years ago.
I just can t stop crying, said Williamson in a pitchside BBC interview.
We talk and we talk and we talk, and we finally do it. It s about doing it on the pitch, and I tell you what – the kids are all right!
It s the proudest moment…
Dean Smith is hoping James Maddison can replicate Jack Grealish and ensure Leicester City avoid relegation.
Smith, appointed as Leicester s interim manager this week, faces his former Aston Villa charge Grealish when the Foxes take on Manchester City on Saturday.
Leicester sit 19th, with Smith tasked with keeping them in the league. He managed to stave off relegation with Villa in the 2019-20 season, with Maddison s England team-mate Grealish playing a key role.
Maddison was at fault as Leicester lost 1-0 to Bournemouth last week, but with nine goals and six assists to his name in the league this term, is the Foxes key player.
Smith said: James is an excellent footballer. He held his hands up after making a mistake but the first thing I asked him was why …