Fabianski seeks Arsenal exit

The strains of Que Viva Espana rang out across central Madrid Thursday as around 10,000 Spanish fans celebrated their team s 3-0 defeat of Russia in Euro 2008, which they watched on giant outdoor screens.

The yellow and red colours of the national flag filled the vast Plaza Colon, where a television channel had set up the screens for supporters to follow the team, who now face Germany in Sunday s final.

This time yes, this time champions on Sunday, said Juan, wrapped in a Spanish flag and with a bottle of beer in his hand, who had come to the square with three friends.

Chants of Espana, Espana and on day 26, Russia said goodbye rang out as the match neared its end, and then Que Viva Espana as the referee blew the final whistle.

The ecstatic fans, man…

Spain coach Luis Aragones has hinted that Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas will start during his side s Euro 2008 final against Germany on Sunday night in Vienna.

In comments broadcast on private television Cuatro, he said his starting line-up for the match would be the same as the squad that beat Russia 3-0 in the semi-finals on Thursday when Fabregas replaced an injured David Villa.

Asked if Spain were the favourites against Germany, Aragones said: I think so, Spain is better than Germany.

It will be Fabregas first start of the tournament. Aragones has up until now used 21-year-old as a second-half subsititute.

Fabregas scored the winning penalty in Spain s quarter-final 4-2 shootout victory over world champions Italy and he set up two of Spain s …

Atletico Madrid have not revealed the full extent of the thigh injury Jose Gimenez suffered against Bayern Munich amid reports the defender may not play again in 2020. 

The centre-back was substituted in the 68th minute of the Champions League fixture on Tuesday, during which an understrength Bayern scored a late penalty to grab a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano. 

Gimenez has since undergone a scan and while the LaLiga club confirmed a thigh issue, a potential return date has not been announced. 

However, Spanish media have suggested the Uruguay international is unlikely to feature for Diego Simeone s side again during a busy December. 

Atleti have Real Valladolid next at home in the league, followed by a huge derby fixture against …

Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng believes he is close to regaining full fitness following a year of injury problems.

The Germany international endured a stop-start 2017, but has returned to training in the new year at a camp in Doha in buoyant mood.

Jupp Heynckes side resume their Bundesliga campaign with next Friday s trip to Bayer Leverkusen and the coach had some words of encouragement for Boateng.

He told me he has no complaints about me at the moment, the 29-year-old said in quotes reported by the club s official website.

At the moment I feel really good. I d say that I ended 2017 at 80 per cent. If I can get through this week, I ll be back at 100 per cent.

: We have optimal conditions here in Doha, and we re making the most of th…

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Real Madrid can still enjoy an incredible year if they manage to retain their Champions League title.

Ronaldo was left out by Zinedine Zidane as Madrid crashed out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday, losing to Leganes on away goals after a 2-1 home defeat.

With Madrid a massive 19 points behind LaLiga leaders Barcelona, their chances of adding to the Supercopa de Espana they won at the start of the campaign look remote.

Madrid face Paris Saint-Germain in the last 16 of the Champions League, with Zidane s men seeking to win the tournament for the third year in a row.

And Ronaldo believes the season can still be judged a success, despite domestic failures, if Madrid are dominant in Europe once again.

…

England striker Wayne Rooney insists he is happy to play anywhere after he was forced to operate on the left against Ecuador on Wednesday.

Rooney netted a first-half equaliser as England drew 2-2 with Ecuador in an international friendly in Florida ending his four-game run without a goal for his country but much of the build-up surrounded Roy Hodgson s team selection.

Hodgson decided to play Rooney on the left, with new Liverpool signing Rickie Lambert picked to lead the line after the Manchester United star was criticised for his performance against Peru at Wembley last week.

But Rooney, who publicly voiced his displeasure about playing out of position during Sir Alex Ferguson s final season in charge at Old Trafford in 2012-13, says he is willing to play anywhere for…

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hasn t ruled out managing abroad after being presented with the coach of the season award for 2011/12.

Juventus coach Antonio Conte hasn t ruled out managing abroad after being presented with the coach of the season award for 2011/12.

The Italian was given the honour after leading Juventus to the Scudetto last season, only five years after the club was competing in Italy s second division after the match-fixing scandal.

It won t be easy to win the league again. We ll try to do it, bearing in mind that the Champions League is a dream and the dreams sometimes may come true or may vanish, Conte said.

British media have speculated that Conte could be the man to take over at Chelsea later this year and when asked about the reports, the tactician offer…

Arsenal have identified Bordeaux coach Paulo Sousa as a potential successor to Unai Emery, a source close to the Portuguese tactician has claimed.

Following an underwhelming start to the season, Emery was dismissed by Arsenal in late November, with Freddie Ljungberg taking over in an interim capacity.

Although Ljungberg guided Arsenal to a 3-1 win at West Ham on Monday, the Swede is not thought to be in contention for the job on a full-time basis.

Patrick Vieira, Marcelino Garcia Toral, Carlo Ancelotti and Mikel Arteta have all been linked with the vacancy at the Premier League club.

But Sousa, who has taken Bordeaux to fifth in the Ligue 1 table this season, is also attracting interest, according to his entourage.

They told L Equipe: They like …

Best odds: 1

Bookmaker:

Fulham are set to welcome Liverpool to the Craven Cottage on Sunday in the 12th round of the 2020/21 Premier League season. The game is equally important for both sides the three points out there to be won are of great worth, but obviously for reasons quite different between the two sides.

Fulham

Having squeezed through the Championship play-offs to gain Premier League promotion this summer, by beating Brentford in the final, Scott Parker s team did not get off to a great start this term. It took them over a month and five matches to earn their first point, courtesy of a 1-1 draw against Sheffield United, but unlike the Blades, they went on to win six more since then through a hard-fought triumph over West Bromwich Albion and a shocking …

Verdict: Both teams to score

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Bookmaker:

Stade de Geneve will host a high-profile Euro 2016 warm-up game between Switzerland and Belgium, the two sides that are expected to reach the final stages of the major competition in France. And seeing as how they both failed to impress in March friendlies, chances are they will be very motivated to return to winning ways on Saturday.

Switzerland

Switzerland have been on a major uptrend over the last few years and many believe this to be the Golden Generation of the national team. The Rossocrociati showed a great deal of promise at the 2014 World Cup finals, narrowly losing to Argentina in the quarter-final and they have big ambitions ahead of the Euro 2016 tournament. Vladimir Petkovic’s men did no…