Bitesize Prediction: Cape Verde vs Botswana – 10/10/24

Former Atletico Madrid and Spain striker Fernando Torres has announced he is to retire after 18 years in professional football.

The 35-year-old had been playing in Japan s J.League with Sagan Tosu, but will be mostly remembered for his spells with Atletico and Liverpool, plus a hugely successful international career with Spain.

Torres helped Spain to their first ever World Cup title in 2010 between back-to-back European Championship wins in a period of dominance for La Roja.

But the striker has called time on his playing career with an announcement on social media.

I have something very important to announce, he wrote on his official Twitter account. After 18 exciting years, the time has come to put an end to my football career.

Next Sunday, …

Welsh international midfielder Aaron Ramsey will not be extending his Arsenal contract.

The Gunners had it coming for a long time and will now face a decision whether to sell him in January or let him leave at the end of the season on a free transfer.

Ramsey joined Gunners in 2008 from Cardiff and went on to become one of the leading stars of Arsene Wenger’s second decade at the club, despite numerous injuries often casting a shadow on the full effect and importance for Arsenal.

Arsenal have thrown in the towel on their attempt to tie Ramsey down to a new deal and are expected to receive plenty of serious offers for their during winter. Whether they will entertain them is a different matter.

Ramsey – as a world-class potential and a player in his ph…

Cristiano Ronaldo has outlined his ambition to score 1,000 career goals before he brings his remarkable career to a close.

The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus star now plays for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League, breaking that competition s single-season scoring record last term.

He has scored a mammoth total of 899 goals for both club and country, the most of any player in a senior career in the history of the sport.

But speaking on his own podcast with former team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Ronaldo set his sights firmly on the next major milestone, while also taking a cheeky swipe at the likes at Pele in the process by stating that all his goals would have been televised, unlike the legends of the past.

He said: Soon I will [score my] 900th a…

Gareth Bale is not sure he can return to the consistent standard he set in his first Tottenham spell despite enjoying a rich vein of goalscoring form.

Bale has supplied six goals and three assists over his past six appearances in all competitions, having only appeared for 70 minutes or less in each of those outings.

Prior to this superb stretch, the on-loan Real Madrid winger had netted just four times while failing to register a single assist across 16 matches.

Bale s most recent goals came in Sunday s 4-1 win over Crystal Palace in which an outstanding all-round display also included four key passes.

But, asked at full-time if Spurs fans could expect him to replicate the output that saw him involved in 37 goals in 44 games in 2012-13, earning his mov…

Bruce Arena has revealed how he convinced David Beckham to remain with the LA Galaxy in 2008.

Arena took charge during Beckham s second season in MLS and was aware the then-England international was considering a move away.

In his upcoming book What s Wrong with US?: A Coach s Blunt Take on the State of American Soccer After a Lifetime on the Touchline , the former Galaxy boss details the conversation that kept the former Real Madrid and Manchester United midfielder in Los Angeles.

Arena also confirms Beckham paid out of his own pocket to extend a loan deal at AC Milan in 2009, which he ultimately felt benefited all parties despite causing the Englishman to miss the start of the MLS campaign.

10 years ago today, David Beckham made his MLS debut.

…

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez paid tribute to Eden Hazard ahead of the Chelsea forward earning his 100th international cap.

Hazard, 28, made his international debut over 10 years ago in November 2008 after breaking onto the scene as a highly rated youngster at Lille.

He has since become an integral part of Belgium s team, helping them qualify for Euro 2016 after a 16-year absence and inspirational as they reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, their best performance in the tournament s history.

Should he feature against Cyprus in Euro 2020 qualifying on Sunday, Hazard will reach a centenary of Belgium caps and Martinez commended him for his dedication.

A hundred games is an impressive number for someone as young as 28, the Spanish coach told re…

Cristiano Ronaldo remains the future of Juventus despite rumours of a possible return to Real Madrid, according to Bianconeri director Fabio Paratici.

Rumours have been building in Spain that Madrid would be prepared to re-sign the Portugal star in the next transfer window, three years on from his €112million move to Turin.

Those reports were largely fuelled by Juve s Champions League exit to Porto in the last 16, with Ronaldo criticised for his performance in the second leg, particularly when he turned his back in the wall for Sergio Oliveira s decisive free-kick.

Head coach Andrea Pirlo defended the 36-year-old ahead of Sunday s league match at Cagliari, insisting: He has 90 goals in a hundred games for Juventus and has always shown his worth. It can happen t…

Jude Bellingham became the youngest player to appear in a European Championship match as the 17-year-old England midfielder came off the bench against Croatia.

The Borussia Dortmund player replaced captain Harry Kane in the 82nd minute and earned a fifth senior cap.

He made history in the Euros with his appearance at the age of 17 years and 349 days, Opta said. Bellingham also became England s youngest player in any major tournament.

Previously, the youngest player from any nation to appear in a European Championship finals tournament was Jetro Willems, who featured for the Netherlands against Denmark at Euro 2012 at the age of 18 years and 71 days.

England were leading Croatia on Sunday by the time Bellingham made his appearance, thanks to Raheem Sterli…

Dorival Junior believes the pressure of being Brazil s main man can sometimes weigh Vinicius Junior down, just as it did Neymar in years gone by.

Brazil beat Ecuador 1-0 to end a three-match losing run in the CONMEBOL 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Friday, though their performance was far from convincing.

Rodrygo s deflected first-half strike handed Brazil a crucial three points, yet they were indebted to goalkeeper Alisson for making a huge one-on-one save to deny Moises Caicedo on the stroke of half-time.

Having endured a torrid time at the Copa America earlier this year, Vinicius was quiet again on Friday, failing to complete any of his four dribbles and losing possession 14 times – more than any other Selecao player.

Brazil s recent performances have …

Gremio president Romildo Bolzan Junior hopes to hold talks with Edinson Cavani over a move to the Brazilian club.

Cavani is a free agent, having left Paris Saint-Germain at the end of his contract in June after seven successful seasons in Paris.

The club s all-time record goal-scorer with 200 in all competitions, Cavani has been linked with a host of European clubs including Inter, Bayern Munich and, more recently, Barcelona.

It has also been suggested the 33-year-old could choose to return to South America, with Gremio among the clubs said to be interested.

Vice-president Paulo Luz denied holding talks with Cavani s representative, but Romildo does not appear ready to abandon the dream of signing the Uruguay star.

He [Cavani s agent] didn t make…