Republic of Ireland begin their Euro 2016 preparations with a friendly against Netherlands at Aviva Stadium on Friday, and Martin O Neill wants his team to come away with confidence intact .
Ireland will entertain the Dutch in Dublin before hosting Belarus in Cork next week ahead of their Group E opener against Sweden in Paris on June 13.
O Neill s team secured a place in the European Championship by overcoming Bosnia and Herzegovina in the play-offs, but Netherlands missed out after finishing fourth in their qualifying group.
Nevertheless, the Ireland boss expects a tough match and wants to see his team come through it strongly.
I have a fair idea about the Dutch. I think it ll be a really good test for us, said O Neill.
I think we should tur…
Zenit St Petersburg defender Bruno Alves is interested in joining Juventus, the player s father and agent said on Tuesday.
The Portugal international was persistently associated with Juve last year, but a move failed to materialise as the Serie A champions were unable to reach an agreement with the Russian outfit.
It is believed, however, that Juventus interest in Alves has resurfaced, and the 30-year-old is believed to be relishing the prospect of a transfer to Turin.
My son could have joined Juventus a year ago, Washington Alves, the player s father, told Tuttosport. This opportunity is still available and is to his liking.
If Zenit and Juve reach an agreement, Bruno would like to move to Turin. This season, he was not always a starter for Zenit.
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Sassuolo winger Domenico Berardi has apologised for his actions following the club s Coppa Italia exit on Monday, after the Italy star was involved in a heated spat with a Modena fan.
The Serie A side were eliminated by their Serie B hosts at Stadio Alberto Braglia, with their loss followed by the 28-year-old apparently chasing an opposing supporter outside the ground.
The footage went viral, but Berardi has now taken to social media to offer an explanation, suggesting his family had been targeted off the pitch to spark his ire.
I want to apologise for what happened outside the stadium after the game against Modena, he wrote on Instagram.
We are professionals and, above all, we must be examples for youths and kids. Today I didn’t behave as such.
Rangers 3-0 Union Saint-Gilloise (3-2 agg): Gers produce memorable comeback to reach Champions Leagu
Rangers wiped out a 2-0 aggregate deficit to reach the Champions League play-offs thanks to a 3-0 win over Union Saint-Gilloise at Ibrox on Tuesday.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst s side were guilty of an underwhelming first-leg performance in Belgium last week, with the Dutchman acknowledging his team were fortunate to only lose 2-0.
But just as it proved crucial en route to the Europa League final last season, the Ibrox factor put them back on course.
Fan expectations will have remained low for much of the first half until a hopeful Borna Barisic cross struck an arm, and James Tavernier converted the resulting penalty with aplomb on the stroke of half-time.
Rangers tails were up and they appeared rejuvenated in the second period, with Antonio Colak nodding in…
Frank Lampard is not buying into suggestions Chelsea have the strongest squad in the Premier League after they fell to Everton.
Gylfi Sigurdsson s 22nd-minute penalty saw Everton to a 1-0 win on Saturday, ending Chelsea s 14-game unbeaten streak.
While they sit third in the table, the loss was a blow to Chelsea s title chances, left two points adrift of Tottenham and Liverpool, who play on Sunday.
Last week, Lampard s men were labelled Premier League favourites by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp after their off-season spending, but the former England international dismissed suggestions he had the strongest squad at his disposal.
I keep reading how we have the strongest squad in the league but I don t understand it, he told a news conference.
Ther…
Philadelphia Union have secured the loan signing of Benfica defender Steven Vitoria, the MLS side announced on their official website.
The 28-year-old will stay in the United States for the duration of the MLS season, while Philadelphia also have the option to purchase his contract.
The transfer will be completed upon the receipt of the player s P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate.
Steven Vitoria joins the club as a replacement for Uruguayan defender Carlos Valdes, who was recently loaned to Nacional.
The experienced centre-back will be looking to kick-start his career in the United States following a largely disappointing spell with Benfica.
Vitoria joined the Eagles on a free transfer from Estoril in the summer of 2013, but has sinc…
Market: Both teams to score
Odds: 10/11 @
Two sides who still have their sights set on clinching a European finish this season, Sligo Rovers will welcome Bohemians to the Showgrounds on Saturday night.
Starting with the hosts, while Sligo might have found themselves heading into the international break sat at the top of the Premier Division table, The Rovers have shown some real issues since opening June. Putting in a sluggish display away at Derry City earlier in the week and eventually lucky to have left with a 1-1 draw, Liam Buckley s men have now managed to muster just a single point from any of their last three top-flight contests. Failing to bounce back from those back-to-back 2-0 and 2-1 losses against Drogheda and St Patrick s Athletic earlier in the mon…
Jeffrey Schlupp s late strike salvaged a deserved 1-1 derby draw for Crystal Palace and prevented Tottenham from going three points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Vicente Guaita s howler gifted Harry Kane a 15th goal of the season midway through the first half to silence the 2,000 fans who were allowed to return to Selhurst Park on Sunday.
Schlupp spared his goalkeeper s blushes nine minutes from time, though, prodding in from close range when Hugo Lloris failed to deal with Eberechi Eze s inviting free-kick.
Eze struck the post in the first half and Guaita, who made a string of fine saves, was almost embarrassed again when a Ben Davies cross looped over him and hit the crossbar.
Neither side could force a winner and although Tottenham are …
Neymar suffered what appeared to be a serious ankle injury as Paris Saint-Germain slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Lyon in Ligue 1.
PSG, who started with Kylian Mbappe on the bench, are firmly in a title tussle this term, and Thomas Tuchel s side suffered their fourth league defeat of the campaign – and a first home loss to Lyon in Ligue 1 since 2007 – at a wet Parc des Princes.
Tino Kadewere got the only goal, putting Lyon ahead after Karl Toko Ekambi pounced on Presnel Kimpembe s error.
A lacklustre display was compounded in the final minute of stoppage time, Neymar going off in clear pain on a stretcher after injuring his left ankle due to a challenge from Thiago Mendes, who was sent off after a VAR review.
3 – Lyon have 3 different players at 5+…
Real Madrid star Gareth Bale insists his side are ready to adapt to whatever Atletico challenge them with in the Champions League final.
The La Liga sides meet in the decider for the second time in three years when they clash at San Siro on Saturday.
Bale was on the scoresheet in extra time when the teams met in 2014, with Madrid claiming a 4-1 victory.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone said Madrid may play on the counter-attack, but the Wales international said that all depended on their rivals.
That depends how they set up, Bale told The Guardian.
Games against Atletico are always very physical. They re very defensive and make it very difficult to break them down.
It is about taking our opportunities because they re not going to give us a …