Rob Page insists Wales can still automatically qualify for Euro 2024 next summer, despite suffering a second successive group defeat in Turkey.
Wales suffered a 2-0 loss in Samsun on the back of Friday’s horror show against Armenia, when opponents ranked 97th in the world claimed a 4-2 victory in Cardiff.
Having reached the halfway point of their eight-game campaign, Wales are five points behind leaders Turkey and two adrift of Armenia who have a game in hand.
2-0
Carlos Carvalhal has left Championship club Sheffield Wednesday by mutual consent.
Carvalhal presided over two play-off campaigns in his time with Wednesday, leading them to the final in 2016, when they were beaten by Hull City. A semi-final defeat to Huddersfield Town followed last season.
However, the Owls have won just six of their 23 league games this term, with a 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on Saturday marking the end of his tenure.
Boro parted company with manager Garry Monk on Saturday despite the win. Lee Bullen will take charge of Wednesday for their Boxing Day clash with Nottingham Forest.
I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Carlos for the time, effort and commitment he has given Sheffield Wednesday over the last two and a half years, Ch…
Eurosport is reporting that Ligue 1 high flyers Saint Etienne are keeping close tabs on Estoril attacking midfielder Evandro Goebel.
Les Verts have watched the Brazilian footballer on several occasions this season and they are widely expected to step up their interest in the summer transfer window.
The French giants could face competition for Evandro s signature as Sporting Lisbon, Valencia and FC Koln are reportedly keen.
The 27-year-old joined Estoril from Serbian side Red Star Belgrade in the summer of 2012 and he immediately nailed down a regular starting berth.
Evandro has played a key role in helping his side clinch back to back European qualifications, scoring 12 goals in 51 league matches.
His impressive displays in Primeira Liga and Euro…
Wolfsburg have secured the services of Ivan Perisic from Borussia Dortmund for a fee believed to be in the region of 7.5 million euros.
The 23-year-old has signed a contract until June 2017 with his new club and could well be the perfect addition with Wolfsburg keen to add depth to their attack.
We are very pleased that we have signed Ivan Perisic. After the capture of (head coach) Dieter Hecking, this is yet another important move for VfL, sporting director Klaus Allofs told the official Wolfsburg website.
We will have even more attacking options with Ivan. He fits in perfectly here and in the coach s philosophy.
Perisic had joined Dortmund from Club Brugge in the summer of 2011, but failed to secure regular first-team action at BVB.
He is n…
Mohamed Salah made his 100th appearance in the Premier League against Bournemouth and marked the occasion with his 63rd goal.
The Liverpool forward netted his team s third in the 54th minute as the leaders recorded a 3-0 away victory on Saturday.
Salah, 27, has the fourth most goals of anyone in their first 100 Premier League games.
The competition s record goalscorer Alan Shearer is unsurprisingly at the top of the list with 79 strikes in his first century of matches.
63 Mohamed Salah has scored his 63rd goal in his 100th Premier League appearance; only Alan Shearer (79), Ruud van Nistelrooy (68) and Sergio Aguero (64) scored more in their first 100 games in the competition than the Egyptian. King.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
Manchester Uni…
Liverpool and Chelsea go head-to-head in the League Cup semi-final, with Brendan Rodgers hoping his team s upturn in form continues.
Brendan Rodgers has called on Liverpool to continue their recent resurgence in Tuesday s League Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.
Rodgers found himself under increased scrutiny at Anfield following an indifferent start to the season.
However, Liverpool have now lost just one of their last 14 games in all competitions and are unbeaten in eight following their defeat at Manchester United in mid-December.
Immediately after that loss at Old Trafford, Rodgers team beat Bournemouth 3-1 in the League Cup quarter-finals setting up a last-four tie with Jose Mourinho s Premier League leaders.
The Liverpool boss …
Romelu Lukaku feels he deserves a bit more respect for his Premier League goal record but admits he needs trophies to silence his critics properly.
The Belgium international produced a fine display against old club Chelsea on Sunday, cancelling out Willian s opener before setting up Jesse Lingard for the winner in Manchester United s 2-1 victory.
Lukaku has been criticised for his performances against top sides in the past, and his strike at Old Trafford was his first against a team in the league s top eight since his reported £75million move to United from Everton.
However, the 24-year-old, who has scored 22 goals in all competitions in 2017-18, feels his consistency in the top flight is often overlooked.
I ve been in the game for so long, said the str…
Roberto Mancini believes Scott Sinclair should look to leave Manchester City, after a frustrating season at the Etihad Stadium.
Sinclair signed for City in a reported eight million pound move on transfer deadline day in August but has since gone on to start just two games for the club.
The winger netted eight goals in 38 games for newly promoted Swansea in the 2011-12 season and Mancini believes Sinclair is good enough to play for City, but should look to leave for the good of his career.
The Italian said: Scott is young and he has good quality, but it was difficult for him this year.
I think that it would be better if he could find another solution, because if he stays here maybe I can change how I feel but I can understand his frustration at the moment because he hasn t play…
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 10/11 @
In a battle between two sides who find themselves leading the chase at the top of the table, Athletico Paranaense will host RB Bragantino on Saturday night.
Starting with the hosts, putting in what was a sluggish display earlier in the week and eventually hit with a 2-1 defeat away at Santos, there is no doubt that Athletico Paranaense will be glad to make a return to home soil on Saturday night. Missing out on the chance to make up some ground at the top of the table and still chasing a three-point buffer, Furacão have continued to catch the eye with their performances at the Arena da Baixada this season. Last seen on home soil grabbing a deserved 2-1 victory against Fortaleza on July 3rd, Head Coach António Oliveira …
In-demand Barcelona defender Samuel Umtiti insists he loves playing for the club, despite reports he could leave at the end of the season.
The centre-back claims he is a target for a number of teams in Europe, with Manchester United said to be among those with the strongest interest in his signature.
Umtiti has three years to run on his contract, but there are suggestions the likes of United could take advantage of his relatively low release clause of €60million.
The France international celebrated Barca s second goal of Wednesday s 4-1 win over Roma by pointing to the badge on his shirt, though – a gesture he says was to underline his commitment to the club.
The celebration was to say that I love this club, he said.
I just focus on playin…
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will spend a third successive season on loan at Atletico Madrid.
The two clubs have reached an agreement that allows the 21-year-old to continue to gain valuable first-team experience away from Stamford Bridge.
Courtois has made no secret of his desire to play week in, week out next season to boost his chances of taking part in the 2014 FIFA World Cup should Belgium qualify.
However, with Petr Cech firmly established as Chelsea’s number one, Courtois will look to develop in La Liga with Atletico.
Courtois was immediately loaned out by Chelsea to Atletico after joining from Genk in 2011 and has yet to make an appearance for the Premier League club.
It is a very different story at Atletico, though, as the youngster has pl…