Erling Haaland’s record-breaking season leads Manchester City to title

Erling Haaland led Manchester City to the Premier League title with a record 36 goals.

The Norwegian beat the record of 34, set in the league’s early 42-game seasons by Andy Cole and Alan Shearer, and smashed Mohamed Salah’s 38-game record of 32.

With up to three league games remaining for Haaland, the PA news agency looks at his record in his debut season in England.

Hot-shot Haaland

From the moment Haaland announced himself with a brace against West Ham on his Premier League debut, he has proved a relentless threat to opposing defences.

He scored a record nine in his first five games, with hat-tricks against Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest, and equalled Micky Quinn’s six-game record to reach double figures.

Further trebles against Ma…

Prediciton: Argentina vs Ecuador

Verdict: Argentina (-1.5) AH

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Following a perfect start to their Copa America bid, World Champion Argentina will face Ecuador in the quarter-finals. The match will be played at NRG Stadium in Houston, representing a great opportunity for La Albiceleste to move closer to their 16th title.

Argentina

Argentina started Copa America on the front foot by defeating Canada in their opening round following a second-half top performance. Although Messi Co needed time to adjust their target after missing many chances in the first half, Argentina s half-time team talk yielded results in the second part.

Although Julian Alvarez opened the score for Argentina following a brilliant pass from Liverpool ace Alexic Mac Allister, the Messi-…

Watzke: Use Dortmund stars at Euro 2012

Borussia Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke believes his club s stars should be used regularly at Euro 2012.

Dortmund broke the points record in the Bundesliga in the 2011-12 season en route to their second successive title, while they also won the DFB-Pokal final thanks to a 5-2 success against Bayern Munich.

Mats Hummels, Sven Bender, Marcel Schmelzer, Mario Goetze and Ilkay Guendogan have all been picked by manager Joachim Loew in Germany s provisional squad for Euro 2012 and Watzke wants his players to be recognised with regular selection during the tournament.

I think it is completely impossible that no Dortmund player should stand in the starting line-up at the European Championship. For me, this is not an issue, Watzke told Bild.

If yo…

World Cup 2018: Cossack kids, Swan Lake and the Selecao in Rostov-on-Don

The first week of World Cup hosting duties has been a triumph for the city of Rostov-on-Don.

Brazil kicked things off with a bang off the field at least by taking over the streets in a sea of colour and noise before their 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

The quality of Uruguay s routine victory over Saudi Arabia was impacted by oppressive heat and humidity, before Mexico displayed their considerable quality in seeing off South Korea.

Away from the football, the city s blend of Cossack heritage and Soviet architecture, together with a welcome dose of classic Russian cultural, have offered visitors a warm and engaging welcome on the banks of the Don River. 

Here, we review some of the highlights so far…

Raul fails to make Spain squad for Euro 2008 – (SN)

On-form Real Madrid striker Raul has not been handed a recall to Spanish colours after he was omitted from the 23-man squad Spain coach Luis Aragones named on Saturday for Euro 2008 in June.

Raul, Spain s top scorer with 44 international goals and currently third in La Liga goal-scoring charts this season, has not been named in the Spanish side since September 2006 and his probable omission from the Euro squad had been widely predicted.

Also accurately reported was his replacement by uncapped Real Zaragoza striker Sergio Garcia, especially after the withdrawal of Barcelona teenager Bojan Krkic.

I talked to (Bojan) and he told me that he did not feel at his best physically and mentally, said Aragones.

Garcia makes the squad on the back of some strong …

Courtois refuses to return to Belgium duty under Tedesco

Thibaut Courtois says he will not play for Belgium again, while Domenico Tedesco is still in charge of the national team.

Courtois made his international debut in October 2011, becoming the youngest goalkeeper to represent Belgium in a 0-0 friendly draw with France.

He has since made 102 appearances for his country and was an ever-present at five major tournaments between 2014 and 2022, earning his 100th cap in a 0-0 draw with Croatia as Belgium were knocked out at the group stage in Qatar.

However, the goalkeeper had a public falling-out with Tedesco in 2023 after leaving the Belgium camp ahead of a Euro 2024 qualifier amid a dispute over not being selected to succeed Eden Hazard as captain.

While Tedesco claimed the 32-year-old s exit was due to not fee…

Euro 2020 data dive: England claim knockouts record with big win, Denmark end long wait for semi

Denmark and England have joined Italy and Spain in the semi-finals of Euro 2020, with the Czech Republic and Ukraine sent packing following their respective defeats.

England seemed to back up pre-tournament suggestions of them being among the favourites when they dumped Germany out in the last 16, and they picked up where they left off to make light work of Ukraine.

It was a slightly trickier occasion for Denmark in Baku earlier in the day, though ultimately the efforts of Patrik Schick weren t enough for the Czechs as they failed to emulate the 2004 vintage that reached the last four.

Following the conclusion of the quarter-finals, Stats Perform looks at the key data takeaways from Saturday s action.

 

Ukraine 0-4 England: Record-breaking Three …

Capello dismisses England´s Euro 2012 chances

Fabio Capello believes England will fail to reach the Euro 2012 final even if they beat Italy in Sunday s quarter-final.

Roy Hodgson s side face Italy in Kiev after winning Group D and are in a buoyant mood, with the former West Brom boss still unbeaten with the national team.

But Capello, the man Hodgson replaced, is predicting a Germany-Spain final while also admitting he has mixed emotions ahead of the clash between his native country and former team.

I have contrasting sentiments about Sunday s game, the 66-year-old told the Mirror.

I worked with England for four years and I can t easily forget that. However, Spain and Germany will be the two finalists at Euro 2012.

Germany face Greece on Friday, with Spain playing France on Saturday, and…

Wembley to host 2011 Champions League final

Wembley stadium was on Thursday chosen by UEFA to host the 2011 Champions League final with the same season s UEFA Cup final going to Dublin s new Lansdowne Road ground.

London and Dublin were named as venues for the two European showcase matches by UEFA s Executive Committee meeting in Nyon.

European football s governing body also named Munich s Allianz Arena as the venue for the 2012 Champions League final with Bucharest s National stadium hosting the 2012 UEFA Cup final.

For the Republic of Ireland this will be the first time the country has staged a major European final with the venue, the new Lansdowne Road, still under construction.

This year s Champions League final is in Rome and the UEFA Cup final in Istanbul.

England were ´overwhelmed by fear´ in Euro 2020 final, says Capello

Fabio Capello claimed former side England have a monkey on their back and then fail when it comes to finals.

Gareth Southgate s men reached their first major final in 55 years at Euro 2020, but lost on penalties as Italy claimed their first European Championship since 1968.

England have enjoyed relative success in September s World Cup qualifiers, crushing Hungary and Andorra 4-0 before conceding a late equaliser to draw 1-1 with Poland.

In the latter game, Southgate opted to not make any substitutions – the first time the Three Lions have done so since the Euro 1996 semi-final against Germany.

And Capello believes there is a reason for the England manager s lack of substitutes in Warsaw after heartbreak in the Euro 2020 final two months ago.