San Jose Earthquakes v Real Salt Lake: Russell targets strong finish at home

Ian Russell says San Jose Earthquakes are determined to get a positive result in their final home game as they welcome Real Salt Lake to PayPal Park in MLS.

San Jose are looking to finish a disappointing season strongly and snapped a five-game winless streak with their 3-2 win over FC Dallas in midweek.

No matter the results in their final two matches, they will finish bottom of the Western Conference, but Russell is determined to give the fans something to celebrate before the end of the season.

We want to finish the season strong; we know it s not been a great year, Russell said.

We re not hiding from that, and we want to give the fans something to be happy about in this last home game.

I can tell you that they will work hard and try to get t…

Euro 2008: Low needs to make changes

Germany have reliquinshed Euro 2008 favouritism after their 2-1 defeat to Group B winners Croatia and Joachim Low will have to make major changes if they re to have serious ambitions on lifting the trophy.

The pre-tournament favourites, who are now of 7 to win it, can still reach the quarter-finals with a draw against co-hosts Austria on Monday, but Low needs to switch his personnel or formation or even both once the knock-out phase arrives.

The Germans were beaten by a harder working and more creative Croatia outfit on Thursday and Low must address his team s failings ahead of a likely meeting with Portugal in the quarter-finals.

Low will have to alter a midfield who too often allowed Croatia players to run beyond them leaving Torsten F…

Must Watch Video: Eric Cantona gives his 2016/17 season review

Formerly a Chief Editor at the largest sports site in Serbia Sportske.net, Milos Markovic is an avid football writer who contributes to a variety of online football magazines – most prominently Soccernews.com and Futbolgrad.com. His feature articles, editorials, interviews and match analyses have provided informed opinion and views, helping the football aficionados keep up to date on relevant events in world football.

Overview: All UEFA Champions League 2009-10 participants

Following Wednesday s UEFA Champions League play-off games, all 32 participants in this year s competition are known. Here is an overview.

England: Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal

Spain: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid

Italy: Internazionale, Milan, Juventus, Fiorentina

France: Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon

Germany: Wolfsburg, Bayern Munich, Stuttgart

Russia: Rubin Kazan, CSKA Moscow

Romania: Unirea Urziceni

Portugal: FC Porto

Netherlands: AZ Alkmaar

Scotland: Rangers

Turkey: Besiktas

Ukraine: Dynamo Kyiv

Belgium: Standard Liege

Greece: Olympiakos

Israel: Maccabi Haifa

Switzerland: Zürich

Cyprus: APOEL

Hungary:…

NFL Player Prop Bets for Week 16: Sony Makes a Great Holiday Gift

What’s better than opening up presents from Santa on Christmas? Winning money on NFL player props, of course. We’re bringing you our extensive Christmas Day prop card, which we hope turns your Christmas into anything but a silent night. 

The Covers Elves have been working overtime so without further ado, our Week 16 free player props and predictions:

NFL Week 12 Bet Now, Bet Later: Over Bettors Rejoice in Miami's Return

It’s Thanksgiving feast week. When it comes to gorging your holiday meal, do you attack the table quickly before all the good stuff is gone or do you pace yourself and save room for dessert at the end?

NFL bettors can have the same approach, sinking their teeth into the opening Week 12 odds right away or letting things settle a bit before going in for seconds later. Depending on which side or total you like, both tactics can pay off.

I size up the NFL Thanksgiving Week schedule and highlight some of the lines you may want to bet right now and others you should let simmer.

Giants vs Saints Odds, Picks, and Predictions Week 15: Good Times Keep Rolling For DeVito

The New York Giants enter Week 15 riding the coattails of last week’s epic win on Monday night. They take their 5-8 SU record and slim playoff hopes indoors to face Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints, who sit as 5.5-point home favorites despite dropping three of their last four. 

Even with all the hoopla coming from last week, Tommy DeVito is a decent dog on Sunday and has perfect passing conditions, which could lead to an increase in passing volume and efficiency. Is backing the New York quarterback on a short week the move for Week 15?

I break down the NFL odds and offer my free NFL picks for Giants vs. Saints on Sunday, December 17. 

Giants vs Saints odds

Giants vs Saints predi…

Miami Dolphins Predictions, Picks, Odds & Season Preview for 2024-25: Expect Improvement Around Tua

The AFC East is among the tightest divisions in football, and right in the middle of that logjam are the Miami Dolphins. 

Miami is behind the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets in terms of NFL offseason betting markets. The win totals, division futures, and look-ahead lines forecast a third-place finish for the Fins in 2024. 

We know what we’re getting from Mike McDaniel’s offense and that’s an elite scoring attack that can gash you for big gains through the air and on the ground. The defense, however, is the biggest hang-up with the health of key pieces up in the air and a new coordinator making a seismic shift in scheme for the third straight season.

It will be a fight to the finish in the AFC East, and unfortunately for Miami…

‘Safe’ standing barriers are anything but, says former Wembley Stadium manager

The introduction of safe standing areas could create new safety problems in football grounds, according to Noel Jeffs, an expert in stadium operations and a former general manager of Wembley Stadium.

This month the Sports Ground Safety Authority (SGSA) confirmed that six clubs will trial safe standing areas in the Premier League and Championship from the new year. The decision follows lengthy campaigning by fan groups and years observing behaviour at a select number of grounds across the UK and Europe.

However, Jeffs has called the new rules into question, in particular over a decision to set safety standards lower than those required by regular building standards. Under building regulations, crush barriers must be …

Transformation of Newcastle a huge testament to Eddie Howe’s coaching

The roar at kick-off, the roar that had been there in most of the previous 18 home games of this season, was maybe given a few extra decibels here. Added to renewed hope, present all season, was a touch of yes, this really is happening.

Then came the moment, with fireworks being wedged into the tops of milk bottles, at the beginning of stoppage time, when Nick Pope was finally forced into some sort of movement to deny Timothy Castagne, to make sure it did happen. It came after one of the Newcastle keeper’s slowest days of the season, after what had often resembled a half-pitch, beat-the-packed-defence training exercise against a Leicester team largely too meek to threaten Geordie dreams.

Newcastle back in Champions League as Leicester c…