Paul Scholes: ‘Kobbie Mainoo amazes me. It’s almost like poetry in motion’

“I’m not sure you can train it – I think it’s just in you,” Paul Scholes says of the fundamental qualities that made him the most decorated English footballer: calmness and composure. Those asking after England’s Euro 2024 final defeat last month where the country’s Rodri, Modric or Kroos was, could just as easily have wondered: “Where is our Scholes?”

Well, the midfield past master is here, at a special free school in Stretford, Greater Manchester – like the one his son, Aiden, attended – learning how the funds from a charity match will help. He’s wiping a mild sweat off his brow after playing football with a class of kids. And here he is, eulogising Kobbie Mainoo, Manchester United’s young midfielder who many beli…

Bayern Munich apply to host 2021 Champions League final

Bayern Munich have launched a bid to host the Champions League final in 2021, the Bundesliga giants have announced.

Bayern last held the final in 2012 and reached the showpiece only to be beaten by Premier League side Chelsea, who won following a penalty shoot-out.

I can confirm that Bayern, together with the city of Munich, will officially apply to host the 2021 Champions League final at the Allianz Arena, said Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Despite the disappointment of the defeat to Chelsea in 2012, we still look back fondly on the Finale dahoam  [final at home]. We would be very grateful if UEFA gave us the opportunity to again welcome the football world to Munich.

associations have expressed interest in hosting a UEFA club final …

Euro 2012 Group C: Italy 2 Republic of Ireland 0

Italy have qualified for the quarter-finals of Euro 2012 as Group C runners-up thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over Republic of Ireland on Monday.

Cesare Prandelli s men were on top for the majority of the first half, and a header from Antonio Cassano 10 minutes before half-time gave the Azzurri a lead to hold on to for a long period of time.

Mario Balotelli then stepped up to seal the victory moments before the final whistle with a typically dramatic finish from just outside the six-yard box.

Will Bayern´s Bundesliga dominance finally come to an end in 2022-23?

Death, taxes and Bayern Munich winning the Bundesliga title.

It is slightly paraphrasing the old idiom to say these are the only three things certain in life.

Such is the optimism of football fandom, though, the question always arises ahead of the new campaign whether this year will be the one where someone steps up and takes Bayern s throne.

The 2021-22 season saw the Bavarian giants claim their 10th Bundesliga title in a row, with Julian Nagelsmann leading Bayern to the championship by eight points in his first season at the Allianz Arena.

Since Jurgen Klopp s exciting Borussia Dortmund side of 2011-12, no team has been able to halt the relentless Bayern dominance of German football.

In fact, in the last decade, only the 2018-19 campaign saw an…

Opening Ceremony gets Qatar 2022 under way

South Korean pop sensation Jungkook highlighted a glittering opening ceremony as the Qatar 2022 World Cup finally got under way on Sunday.

Twelve years after FIFA took the controversial decision to award the tiny Gulf nation its showpiece event, what many seemed unthinkable finally came to fruition in front of the watching FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

The ceremony, that preceded the opening game between the hosts and Ecuador, was the customary mix of local and global artists showcasing the best of Qatar, all narrated by the comforting voice of American actor Morgan Freeman.

It opened with a montage of Qatar by land and sea before Freeman and local celebrity Ghanim …

Low wanted to take 18-year-old Gnabry to 2014 World Cup

Serge Gnabry is regarded as an automatic starter by Germany coach Joachim Low and he might have attained that status earlier had a serious knee injury not prevented him from featuring at the 2014 World Cup.

Gnabry was considered a prodigious prospect at Arsenal after signing from Stuttgart as a youngster in 2011, breaking into the Gunners first-team squad the following year at just 17.

He then featured 14 times across all competitions before suffering a bad injury against future employers Bayern Munich in the Champions League in March 2014, ruling him out of first-team action until the 2015-16 season.

An unsuccessful loan spell at West Brom followed in that campaign, but Gnabry got his career back on track after moving to Werder Bremen, earning a switch to Bayern…

On this day in 2007: England fail to qualify for Euro 2008 after Croatia defeat

England were beaten 3-2 by Croatia at Wembley on this day in 2007 to end their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2008 and seal the fate of manager Steve McClaren.

Their failure to qualify for the Euros meant the writing was on the wall for McClaren, who was dismissed as boss a day later after 18 months in charge.

McClaren had watched the dismal defeat unfold in the pouring rain at Wembley from under an umbrella and was dubbed the “wally with a brolly”.

England only needed a draw to book their place at the finals in Austria and Switzerland but found themselves two goals down at the break, Scott Carson letting Niko Kranjcar’s 25-yard effort slip through his grasp for the first before former Arsenal striker Eduardo made it two.

David Beckham came off the be…

Jets vs Texans Week 12 Picks and Predictions: Lightning Won't Strike Twice for Texans

A couple of 2-8 teams meet on Sunday as the New York Jets travel to Houston to face the Texans. The Jets are on a three-game winless streak while the Texans just overcame the Titans in the biggest shock of the NFL season so far. What’s going to happen when these two go head-to-head at NRG Stadium on Sunday? Read our NFL picks and predictions for the New York Jets vs. Houston Texans to find out.

NFL Best Bets and Player Props for Week 4: Williams Set For Success

We’re already into Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season and the prop bets aren’t slowing down. Today, I’m looking at a pair of receiver props and fading one while backing the other.

Lions vs Saints Odds, Picks, and Predictions Week 13: Lions Give Saints Another L

The New Orleans Saints welcome the Detroit Lions to the Big Easy on Sunday for a NFL Week 13 odds showdow. The Saints return home after losing back-to-back contests on the road while the 8-3 Lions will try to rebound from an upset loss on Thanksgiving.

NFL odds have the Lions installed as 4.5-point road favorites with the O/U at 46.5. Here are my best free NFL picks and predictions for Lions vs. Saints on December 3.

Lions vs Saints odds

Lions vs Saints predictions

The Detroit Lions are 8-3 but they’ve looked vulnerable the last two weeks after needing a fourth-quarter comeback to edge the Bears before getting upset by the Packers last week. It’s become apparent that Detroit’s defense was overrated at the start…