Captain Darijo Srna was understandably overjoyed after Croatia secured automatic qualification for Euro 2016 on Tuesday, labelling his team-mates as national heroes.

A 1-0 win for Croatia against Malta combined with Italy s 2-1 victory over Norway saw the Balkan nation through to next year s tournament in France as runners-up to the Italians in Group H.

Croatia were two points adrift of Norway in the race for second place prior to kick-off but results went the way of Srna and Co.

Speaking afterwards via UEFA.com, Srna beamed: Today Croatian players are heroes who are doing everything they can for their country. Tonight, it s time to celebrate.

We are proud that we will listen to the Croatian anthem in France at EURO 2016.

We have a number excell…

Max Kruse has played his last match for Wolfsburg after coach Niko Kovac raised doubts about the commitment of the former Germany striker.

Kovac and sporting director Marcel Schafer said on Saturday there was no way back for 34-year-old Kruse with the Bundesliga outfit.

Wolfsburg won 1-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday, getting the better of last season s Europa League winners thanks to Maxence Lacroix s header on the hour mark.

It was a first victory of the Bundesliga campaign at the sixth attempt. Former Werder Bremen and Borussia Monchengladbach forward Kruse was left out, a week after playing the full game in the 4-2 home defeat to Koln.

We demand 100 per cent identification, concentration and focus on Wolfsburg from all players. We didn t have t…

The Premier League returns this weekend after the international break, with a number of derby matches the highlight of an exciting round of fixtures.

The first of these comes on Saturday as early leaders Arsenal host arch rivals Tottenham, looking to exact revenge for the 3-0 thrashing they received in May that played a part in missing out on Champions League qualification.

Other intriguing clashes on Saturday include in-form Brighton and Hove Albion going to Anfield to face Liverpool in Roberto De Zerbi s first match as Graham Potter s replacement, while early-season surprises Fulham play Newcastle United at Craven Cottage.

On Sunday, Manchester United travel to Manchester City as two bitter rivals do battle, with both on unbeaten streaks and stars such as Bruno…

Liverpool new boy Darwin Nunez must manage his temper after his sending off against Crystal Palace, according to fellow Uruguayan and former Red Luis Suarez.

Nunez was dismissed on his home debut for Jurgen Klopp s side after retaliating to a shove by headbutting Palace defender Joachim Andersen during Monday s 1-1 draw in the Premier League.

It was Liverpool s first red card for violent conduct under the German, and drew comparison with Suarez, whose fiery presence was frustrating as it was fantastic during his own time at Anfield between 2011 and 2014.

The forward, who has returned to Uruguay with Nacional after a two-year spell with Atletico Madrid, spoke to Nunez after his dismissal to offer some advice on how to cope in future and learn from mistakes, wit…

The Premier League will reach a new milestone on Sunday when Manchester City face Liverpool in a titanic title tussle.

This will be the 50th match between the top two teams in the division in the competition s history, with City boasting a one-point advantage over Liverpool heading into this encounter.

Victory would move Jurgen Klopp s men top for the first time since October, having trailed by as many as 14 points back in January.

Of the 49 previous top-two meetings, the leaders have come out on top in 20, 11 have been drawn and 18 won by the second-placed team – including one of only two previous examples when City and Liverpool have been the sides at the summit. City thrashed newly crowned champions Liverpool 4-0 in July 2020.

HIGHLIGHTS

All …

Bradley Barcola is confident he can make a difference for Paris Saint-Germain this season in the absence of Kylian Mbappe after his brace against Montpellier.

Barcola, who has three goals in two appearances already this season, starred for Luis Enrique s side during their 6-0 win in first home game of the new campaign.

The 21-year-old opened the scoring at the Parc des Princes with a brilliantly taken finish from the left-hand side before completing his maiden brace of his career with a simple finish in the second half.

Barcola registered the most shots (four) and touches in the opposition box (seven), while also contributing 1.17 expected goals (xG) to PSG s 3.9 total.

He has now been involved in eight goals (five goals and three assists) in his last…

Cristiano Ronaldo is back in contention for Manchester United s Premier League meeting with Arsenal, but team-mate Paul Pogba may have played his last game for the club.

United interim boss Ralf Rangnick confirmed on Friday that the injury sustained by Pogba against Liverpool will keep the midfielder out for a month.

With Pogba out of contract at the end of the season, and United s final game of 2021-22 coming on May 22, Rangnick does not expect the France international to feature again.

It is very unlikely that he will play until the end of the season again, Rangnick said.

The doctor told me that it will take four weeks minimum for him to recover and since last game is at end of May, I don t think it s very likely he will play again.

Pogba is…

Massimiliano Allegri said Juventus never had a first half like their poor showing against Monza on Sunday.

The Bianconeri went in 2-0 down to the visitors at the break and were unable to turn it around in the second-half as Raffaele Palladino s men completed a league double over them.

Goals from Patrick Ciurria and Dany Mota were enough for Monza to secure a 2-0 win at Allianz Stadium, following their 1-0 win against Juve earlier in the season in Palladino s first game in charge.

Monza became only the second team ever to win both their first two games against Juventus in Serie A, after Inter in 1930.

Speaking to the media after the defeat, Allegri said: I m angry, we can t concede goals like that. We ve never had a first half like today.

We have …

With a stacked Monday from this summer’s European Championships, France and Belgium will steal plenty of the headlines when they meet in Düsseldorf.

Watching reigning European champions Italy come crashing out over the weekend, Portugal will be looking to punch their own quarter-final ticket on Monday night.

With two EURO 24 Round of 16 showdowns on the cards, we have taken a look at two of the most intriguing betting markets available.

17:00 France vs Belgium

While France might have opened up this summer’s European Championships pencilled in as a standout title contender, Les Bleus have struggled to make much of a statement over the past fortnight. Signing off their Group D campaign with a downbeat 1-1 stalemate against Poland last week, Didier D…

Spain concluded their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 3-1 win against Georgia.

They had already qualified for next year’s tournament in Germany prior to the game, but a frenetic opening 10 minutes saw their early lead through Robin Le Normand cancelled out by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

The hosts were then forced into an early substitution when Gavi was forced off the field with an injury, but were able to wrap up victory when Ferran Torres headed them in front 10 minutes into the second half before Luka Lochoshvili scored an own goal.

The referee’s blown the full time whistle!

Spain have won the match and the group!

Great performance from , we stayed true to our style and it paid off! here we go

| 3-1 | 90’

— Spanish …