Germany boss Joachim Low was critical of Euro 2016 s 24-team format after his side exited the tournament to France in the semi-finals.
The world champions suffered a 2-0 defeat to the hosts in Marseille on Thursday thanks to Antoine Griezmann s double.
Germany have not won the Euros since 1996 and Low – who is taking time to reflect on his future after the loss was not a fan of the first tournament to include 24 teams after its extension from the previous mark of 16.
I think 24 teams are too many, Low said to sport1. The World Cup is going to be increased to 40 teams and it is getting more and more.
That is a problem in the long term. Sometimes you get the feeling it s not doing football any good. The quality is suffering.
Defender Mats Humme…
Italy are European champions and on a long unbeaten streak but should be even better by the time of the 2022 World Cup, according to former forward Gianfranco Zola.
The Azzurri have been transformed under Roberto Mancini since missing out on qualifying for the previous finals in Russia.
Mancini s men won the Euro 2020 final against England on penalties and are now undefeated in 34 matches, the longest run in the team s history.
However, Zola – who earned 35 caps and scored 10 goals between 1991 and 1997 – sees an even brighter future for Italian football.
Despite including 34-year-old Leonardo Bonucci (the oldest scorer in Euros final history) and 36-year-old captain Giorgio Chiellini (the third-oldest player in final history), Italy named only the 1…
The Championship kicks off on Friday with a clash between Reading and Derby County, one that has taken on a new level of global intrigue after the appointment of Frank Lampard.
The 40-year-old is taking his first steps into management and has certainly embraced a challenge with the Rams, who have flirted with promotion back to the Premier League in recent seasons without quite making the grade.
Lampard s odyssey would be the dominant talking point ahead of 2018-19, were it not for the fact Marcelo Bielsa has taken up residence at Elland Road.
With new bosses in place at Stoke City and Swansea City and uncertainty around Aston Villa s future, we should be in for a terrific campaign
LAMPARD STILL ADJUSTING TO THE DUGOUT
Former West Ham, …
Former Manchester City goalkeeper David James hails Pep Guardiola for doing remarkable things but believes he is still not at Alex Ferguson’s level.
City became the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive titles with their 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday, pipping Arsenal to the crown by two points.
Manchester United had previously won three consecutive Premier League seasons, achieving the feat twice under Ferguson (1998-2001 and 2006-2009).
Guardiola’s side can create more history on Saturday as they aim to clinch unprecedented back-to-back league and FA Cup doubles against the Red Devils.
Asked if this achievement put Guardiola’s name alongside Ferguson’s as the best Premier League manager, James, who spent two years with Ci…
When Vincent Kompany broke through Leicester City s stoic resistance with a long-range rocket launched in hope more than expectation, Liverpool fans began to accept their title hopes were over.
Fast forward 24 hours, however, and the mood had suddenly and spectacularly changed. A miraculous Champions League recovery against Barcelona at Anfield secured a second successive final appearance in Europe s major club competition, meaning an outstanding campaign may yet end with a trophy.
Yet this season does not require silverware to define it as a success. What this squad has achieved should not be undermined simply because of their final position in the table.
Liverpool ran a valiant race in the league, clearing plenty of tricky hurdles along the way but, in th…
Spain s Sergio Busquets said their re-match of the 2010 World Cup final with the Netherlands is a new challenge for the champions.
Since Spain triumphed 1-0 in Soccer City, Johannesburg, the Dutch outfit has seen several changes to their on-field artillery and also the notable switch in coach from Bert van Marwijk to Louis van Gaal.
Van Gaal will lead the Dutch into battle on Friday against the World Cup holders, for their Group B curtain-raiser in Salvador.
No matter the outcome of their fortunes in Brazil, the Netherlands will again have a new coach for their bid to make the finals in 2018 with Van Gaal bound for Manchester United after their Brazil campaign.
Busquets said while the crux of Spain s side had largely remained from four years back, including boss …
As if making it to Week 15 in your NFL survivor pool wasn’t already tough enough, now the pandemic is raging across the league and multiple teams have been hit hard, leaving their health for this week’s slate up in the air.
Perhaps the best advice I can give when it comes to making your Week 15 survivor pool picks is to maintain patience. Wait until closer to kickoff to lock in those selections, as you’ll know who is in and out. On top of that, have a Plan A, Plan B, and Plan C just in case your favorite pool pick suddenly has an outbreak.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the liberty of waiting until the weekend to put out my weekly survivor pool picks, so double-check the injury reports and COVID lists before pulling the trigger on an…
NFL Week 9 is the meat and potatoes for situational handicappers, with the first half of the schedule wearing on teams and the second half stealing focus. If you’re a fan of NFL spot bets, November is your favorite month on the calendar.
I take a look at the Week 9 slate and size up the potential spots to watch with my top letdown, look-ahead, and schedule angles to consider when capping the NFL odds.
…
The Carolina Panthers are set to host the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in a Week 15 odds clash at Bank of America Stadium. The Falcons are in a three-way race for first place in the NFC South with a 6-7 record, while the Panthers currently hold the league’s worst record at 1-12.
Despite a sizable gap between these teams in the standings, the NFL odds for this NFC South duel aren’t too far apart, with the Falcons installed as 3-point road favorites. Here are my best free NFL picks for Falcons vs. Panthers on December 17.
Falcons vs Panthers odds
Falcons vs Panthers predictions
As if this wasn’t going to be an ugly enough contest between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, the weather could make things e…
NFL moneyline betting is the simplest way to wager on pro football, asking bettors to pick which team they believe will win the game.
Betting the NFL moneyline doesn’t require a team to win or lose by a certain number of points, keeping things neat and tidy – especially for those new to betting on football odds. A 30-point blowout or a one-point squeaker all count the same.
We run you through how NFL moneyline betting works, what the moneyline odds mean, and some essential tips and tactics for betting moneylines in the NFL.
How betting the NFL moneyline works
As mentioned above, betting football moneylines is very straightforward: bet on the team you think will win the game.
Moneyline odds appear in hundred…