Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has insisted he would be happy just to make it past the first round at the FIFA World Cup in 2014.
Van Gaal saw his side secure their spot at Brazil 2014 with a 2-0 win away to Andorra on Tuesday, topping Group D of UEFA s qualifying section.
The Dutch struggled in the game, only breaking the deadlock in the second half, but Robin van Persie s double ultimately proved to be enough after Romania were defeated by Turkey in Bucharest.
Netherlands have only failed to win one game in their campaign, Friday s 2-2 draw against Estonia.
But Van Gaal has set low expectations for his side, insisting that he is not looking for them to replicate 2010 s run to the final in South Africa.
There is now a World Cup and you have to perform we…
International sport s top court CAS on Thursday upheld an eight-year Europe-wide ban imposed by European football governing body UEFA on Macedonian club FC Pobeda for match-fixing.
However, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said in a statement a life ban imposed on the former player involved, Nikolce Zdraveski, had been overturned on appeal.
The decision of the UEFA Appeals Body of 27 May 2009 is partially upheld: FK Pobeda is excluded from any UEFA competition for eight years starting from the 2009/2010 season, the CAS said.
UEFA s life ban on club president Aleksandar Zabrcanec was also confirmed.
The investigation centred on a Champions League qualifying tie between Pobeda and Armenian side Pyunik which took place over two legs on July 13 and 21, 20…
Cologne striker Anthony Modeste is better than Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to the club s sporting director Jorg Schmadtke.
Modeste hit a hat-trick in Saturday s 4-2 win over Hertha Berlin to move second in the Bundesliga goalscoring charts with 22, above Bayern Munich star Lewandowski and one behind Borussia Dortmund s Aubameyang.
The 28-year-old, who has scored five times in his last two appearances, has helped to fire his side into surprise contention for the European places just three years after they were promoted back to the top flight.
Given their inability to dominate matches in the same way as champions Bayern or Dortmund, Schmadtke believes Modeste has proven to be the league s most decisive finisher.
22 is now …
Aleksandr Bukharov rescued a draw for 2018 World Cup hosts Russia as they held a Christian Benteke-inspired Belgium 3-3 on Tuesday.
Bukharov looked to have missed his chance as he wasted two glorious opportunities in the closing stages, but the Rostov striker scored in stoppage time to deny Roberto Martinez s men a fifth win in seven games.
Viktor Vasin s early strike had given Stanislav Cherchesov s side a lift in the first match at a refitted Fisht Stadium in Sochi and Bukharov s late, late show ensured they avoided a fourth defeat in five matches.
A poor challenge from Roman Neustadter gave Kevin Mirallas Belgium s equaliser from the penalty spot, before lax marking allowed Benteke to take his international tally to 12 goals before the break.
Aleksey…
Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur have opened talks over a possible transfer on Tanguy Ndombele from north London to Italy, according to . The talks include discussions over a reduced fee for the move, just over a year after Spurs made the midfielder their record signing for £55 million.
Ndombele has been publicly criticized by Spurs head coach Jose Mourinho during the 2019/20 season, and it immediately sparked speculative reports about a potential departure from the club. During the campaign, he only made 12 Premier League starts despite the heavy price tag. Mourinho did, however, say the player could yet turn his situation at the club around, but it seems he isn t very likely to get the chance.
Spurs have apparently informed Inter as prospective buyers that they woul…
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With all but mission accomplished after their first-leg romp back in March, Manchester United will simply be looking to officially finish the job when they host LASK on Wednesday night.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have been left heartbroken by their FA Cup defeat at Wembley last month, the former Premier League champions couldn t have wished for a better response. Ending this year s extended campaign with what turned out to be a routine 2-0 win away at the King Power, the Reds managed to secure a top-four finish at the final hour. Likely to still be boosted their victory against Leicester last time out, Head Coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has seen his side really start to shine throughout the se…
Australian star Harry Kewell has signed a new contract with Turkish giants Galatasaray that will keep him at the club till the end of the 2010/11 season.
Kewell was expected to follow Kader Keita and Leo Franco out of the club after his contract expired, but Gala have opted to retain his services. Kewell has been extremely popular with Galatasaray s supporters since joining them in 2008 from English giants Liverpool. He missed much of the 09/10 season with injury and rejected an offer from A-League outfit Gold Coast United earlier this month.
Kewell played at the 2010 World Cup, but only for 24 minutes. After missing the opening game against Australia, he was controversially red carded by Italian referee Roberto Rossetti against Ghana and thus missed the final fixture a…
Premier League club Liverpool could be bought by a Chinese business tycoon within days, according to reports here on Monday.
Kenny Huang, head of Hong-Kong based investment company QSL Sports Ltd, is reported to be in talks with the Royal Bank of Scotland with the aim of taking full control of the club which has been up for sale since April.
A deal has to be done before the transfer window closes (on 31 August), a source close to Huang told BBC Sport.
Huang has made a firm proposal. The club s board has to sanction the sale and it could be sewn up in days.
Huang is offering to clear Liverpool s debt to RBS and hand new manager Roy Hodgson funds to do business in the transfer window. The tycoon also plans to build the club a new stadium.
Huang …
Tunisian champions ES Tunis will attempt to make a statement of intent in their CAF Champions League Group B opener against ES Setif.
The 1994 and 2011 winners will fancy their chances of regaining their title after Al Ahly missed out on a third consecutive Champions League crown when they were beaten by 4-2 on aggregate by Al Ahli Benghazi in March.
The Egyptian club s exit has opened the door for a new winner of Africa s premier club competition, with ES Tunis expected to mount a strong challenge ahead of their first group game on Saturday.
Ruud Krol s side start with a home clash against Algeria outfit ES Setif, who saw off Cameroon side Cotonsport to progress to the group stage of the tournament.
Haythem Jouini has scored six games in only four Champions Leag…
Hull City striker Shane Long says that his move to the KC Stadium was partly motivated by the club s strong Irish contingent.
The 26-year-old put pen-to-paper on a three-and-a-half-year deal from West Brom on Friday, having originally seen the move collapse in September.
With fellow Republic of Ireland internationals Robbie Brady, Paul McShane, David Meyler and Stephen Quinn already plying their trade at Hull, Long said the decision was made easier.
I got in touch with the boys and asked them about the club, the manager, training and other things, Long told the club s official website.
They only had good things to say about everything and they re all enjoying their time with the club.
It s an exciting time here with it being the first season back in the Pre…