Nolito is dreaming of playing for Spain at Euro 2016 after he scored his first international goals in a 3-1 win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in Switzerland.
The Celta Vigo forward, 29, had not scored in his first six caps, but had a double within the first 18 minutes of his seventh appearance on Sunday.
Emir Spahic got a goal back for Bosnia before being sent off and Chelsea forward Pedro sealed the victory in stoppage-time.
Head coach Vicente del Bosque now has to cut a final two members of his provisional squad for the Euros as Spain look to retain their continental crown in France and Nolito hopes he has done enough in his 60-minute appearance to book a seat on the plane.
It is clear that the whole world knows the level at the Spanish national team is very…
Following Jayden Danns’ brief debut appearance for Liverpool in their home win against Luton, visiting boss Rob Edwards, in conversation with Jurgen Klopp, was seen mouthing: “I played against his dad!”
Striker Danns, 18, is the son of former Crystal Palace, Bolton and Bury midfielder Neil Danns and is not the only offspring of a once-famous footballer to have made a breakthrough this season.
Here, the PA news agency looks at five more young talents with dads you may remember.
Bobby Clark
Liverpool’s academy has more teenagers with famous fathers, including Bobby Clark, son of former Newcastle and Fulham midfielder Lee. Bobby, 19, made his Premier League debut against Bournemouth at Anfield last season, coming on as an 83rd-minute substitute with the Red…
Competition: Euro 2016
Market: Wales and Slovakia to draw
Odds:
Wales and Slovakia lock horns in their opening Euro 2016 Group B clash at the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux tonight, in a game that could be too close to call. It’s a match that has been billed ‘Bale v Hamsik’ due to the two players’ influence on their respective national teams to help them through qualifying.
Wales are deemed the underdogs given their poor form ahead of the 2016 European Championships. Chris Coleman’s side have lost three of their last four games in all competitions, picking up just one win in their previous six. They’ve scored just one goal in their last three too, and an in-form Slovakia will be looking to take advantage.
Slovakia are full of confidence given…
With the Premier League officially making its return this weekend, defending champions Manchester City will steal centre stage on Sunday afternoon.
Watching the Sky Blues travel to Stamford Bridge when they meet Chelsea for what should be a heavyweight showdown from west London, we have a pair of eye-catching battles on the cards.
For those of you looking to stick on a Sunday flutter, we have found a pair of the most intriguing Premier League betting tips.
14:00 Brentford vs Crystal Palace
While Crystal Palace might have only appointed Oliver Glasner back in February, the Eagles embarked on a sensational rise under the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss. Signing off the 2023/24 campaign with a stunning performance at Selhurst Park as they stormed their wa…
The 2022 FIFA World Cup has been the subject of controversy from the moment that Qatar was announced as the host nation.
Concerns over the Arab state s human rights record have led to questions over its suitability to stage the showpiece event, while FIFA are also giving strong consideration to rescheduling the tournament from its traditional June-July time slot, owing to Qatar s searing summer heat.
Here we take a look at the timeline of events that have made the 22nd edition of the world-famous competition arguably the most controversial, and it is still eight years away
March 2009: Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, son of the Emir of Qatar, announces that he will lead Qatar s bid committee for the 2022 World Cup.
September 2010: A FIFA inspectio…
Oliver Glasner has been appointed manager of Crystal Palace.
The former Eintracht Frankfurt head coach succeeds Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park.
Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at the 49-year-old.
Who is Oliver Glasner?
Welcome to Palace, Oliver Glasner
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC)
Glasner was born in 1974 in Austria. He spent his entire playing career, between 1992 and 2011, in his homeland. Aside from a loan spell with Linz-based LASK, the defender was a one-club man, playing 571 times for SV Ried. Glasner twice won the Austrian Cup with Ried and in 1995 helped the club reach the Austrian Bundesliga for the first time. His playing career ended just days short of his 37th birthday after he suffered a subdural haematoma following a…
Erik ten Hag has claimed Manchester United s new part-owner Jim Ratcliffe has told him he wants the Dutchman to stay at Old Trafford.
Reports on Friday suggested Ratcliffe, who now runs the footballing operations at United following INEOS 27.7 per cent purchase of the club, had decided to sack Ten Hag regardless of the result of Saturday s FA Cup final, with the Red Devils taking on Manchester City.
United finished eighth, their worst-ever Premier League finish, this season, with Ten Hag under increasing scrutiny.
However, while hitting out at his critics in an interview with Dutch publication Voetbal International, Ten Hag claimed to have the backing of INEOS.
INEOS told me that they want to change everything and that they want to rebuild with me, he sa…
South American football enthusiasts and Liga MX fans are fully aware of who Angel Mena is. However, the Leon winger has now gained the right to be considered as one of the best players not only in Mexico or the CONCACAF region, but in Latin America as a whole. His current is the best example of just how impressive he’s been playing.
Mena, 31, has either scored or assisted in his last nine Liga MX matches. The stats over that span certainly add context to the story, but also explain just how dominant the Ecuador international has been. Through those nine starts, Mena has 11 goals and eight assists. But he’s also added 25 shots (18 on target) while creating 23 scoring chances. If that’s not a dominant stretch then I don’t know how we could call it.
Reaching his prime…
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said he will resign at the culmination of his next term at the helm, should he be re-elected in June.
The 75-year-old Swiss administrator is being challenged for world football s presidency by Mohamed bin Hamman, but should he be chosen to stay in the job for another four years when the FIFA delegates vote in Zurich later this year, Blatter has confirmed it would be his final stint in charge. You know very well that I will aspire to another four years, those will be the last four years I aspire to, Blatter said.Blatter is in his 13th year in charge at FIFA, and has worked at the football institution since 1975.Blatter s presidency came under scrutiny earlier this year when he made inappropriate jokes about homosexuality after FIFA awarded the 2022 Wo…
So that s it. But before I take a break and at least try to realise what happened over the last 17 years, I don t want to miss the opportunity to say thank you to everyone for accepting me as how and who I am, Kroos wrote on social media.
Thanks to all my fans around the world for your unconditional support. Thanks to all my clubs and coaches for believing in me. Thanks to all my team-mates for making me feel welcome anytime.
Thanks to my friends for always being honest with me no matter how successful I became. Thanks to my agents who became friends. Thanks to my parents for the best possible preparation to realise my dream.
Thanks to my brother for always being my number one fan. Thanks to my kids for being my biggest motivation to bring the best out of me…