Bayer Leverkusen were not interested in maintaining their unbeaten record, according to Granit Xhaka, who acknowledged his frustrations after Wednesday s Europa League final disappointment.

Xabi Alonso s Bundesliga champions had not suffered defeat since the final game of last season against Bochum, but succumbed to their next loss in the decisive moment against Atalanta in Dublin.

Ademola Lookman stole the headlines with a remarkable hat-trick, powering Gian Piero Gasperini s team to their first title in 61 years, when Atalanta won the Coppa Italia.

A 3-0 defeat ensured Leverkusen will have to settle for, at most, a domestic double as they look to bounce back on Saturday in the DFB-Pokal final.

Yet Xhaka insisted Alonso s side never had the undefeated st…

Steve Clarke spoke of his pride after Scotland s first major tournament appearance in 23 years ended in a 3-1 defeat to Croatia.

But the 57-year-old also shared his belief that the disparity in tournament experience between the two sides was a decisive factor in the Scots exiting Euro 2020 at the group stage.

Having picked up just a point from their opening two games, both Scotland and Croatia needed a win at Hampden Park to secure a place in the round of 16.

And it was the visitors who got it, with Nikola Vlasic, Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic goals rendering a Callum McGregor equaliser the first Scottish European Championship goal since Ally McCoist against Switzerland on June 18, 1996 irrelevant.

Technique. Precision. Composure.
 

Goal of …

England have made a bright start to life without Gareth Southgate, putting in impressive displays to win both of their Nations League openers against Republic of Ireland and Finland in September.

With a permanent replacement still yet to be announced for the national team, Lee Carsley will again be in the dugout this week aiming to maintain his 100% record.

With the aim to gain promotion back to League A, Carsley is set to come up against his toughest test yet given that England are not in the driving seat in their current group.

Greece sit above them in the table, with a superior goal difference and are on a three-match winning streak in all competitions.

But having disappointed in their previous Nations League campaign, England will be determined to put…

Just four sides remain at Euro 2024 with the final in Berlin next Sunday now within touching distance.

England came through another nerve-jangling affair, this time against Switzerland, needing penalties to confirm their place in the semi-finals.

They will face the Netherlands in Dortmund next Wednesday, with Ronald Koeman s side coming from a goal down to knock Turkiye out of the competition.

After another rollercoaster day of knockout football, we take a deep dive into the best Opta statistics from Germany.

England 1-1 Switzerland (aet, 5-3 pens): Three Lions rewrite penalty history

Gareth Southgate marked his 100th game in charge of England with a win, in the end.

Trent Alexander-Arnold scored the decisive spot-kick following a 1-1 …

Premier League holders Chelsea may not have had the best of starts to the new season, but they remain the odds-on favourites to qualify from the top of Group G, with FC Porto and Dynamo Kiev looking to spoil their plans. And while newcomers Maccabi Tel Aviv will see this campaign as a learning experience, the Primeira Liga runners up and Ukranian champions should be involved in a very interesting battle for the second qualifying berth, that is unless they manage to surprise the Blues and win the first place.

Outright Tips

Market: Group Betting
Tip: Chelsea to Win Group G
Odds:

Jose Mourinho and his players are under pressure after the disappointing start to the new Premier League campaign, but with the quality and experience at his disposal, the Portuguese manager c…

Early September, and all the European football leagues have kicked off with a few rounds. People with some insight in the game are already looking for trends to maybe predict the outcome of the season. However, if you ask me, a few rounds in the biggest leagues may give a few indicators for the new season, but a lot of things can happen. A good may give a team a head start that will decide the outcome in the end. The champions in the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and La Primera are not decided in September though, but rather in April at the earliest.

However, in the Dutch Eredivisie – mind you a league that is clearly below the “Big 5” in competitiveness and quality, but still the home of a few very successful teams…

This NFC East clash sees the Giants travel to the Linc to face the Eagles who still have faint hopes of reaching the playoffs. The Giants are out of contention but every game against division-rivals matters and the franchise will look to finish the season strong.

Can the Eagles do enough to secure the W? Don’t miss our NFL picks and predictions for the New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles.

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Monday’s prime-time game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts might not get everyone excited, but this game is still loaded with prop gems. Will both teams try to establish the run in a game that should see a fairly neutral game script, or will either coach trust two of the worst passing offenses in football? 

One thing I do know is this game is ripe for sacks, and there is just one pass-catcher I’m trusting for an Over.

Find out my free prop picks in Monday Night Football’s Week 12 game between the Steelers and Colts.

Also, be sure to check out Jason Logan’s full Steelers vs. Colts betting preview along with Robert Criscola’s spotlight player props for Matt Ryan.

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The Indianapolis Colts head to Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday to face the Atlanta Falcons. The Colts have won five of their last six games and are in a three-way tie for first place in the AFC South. Meanwhile, the revolving door at quarterback continues for the 6-8 Falcons, who will go back to Taylor Heinicke this week after benching Desmond Ridder again.

NFL odds for this Week 16 matchup have flipped, with the Colts opening as 2-point road favorites before moving to be 1-point underdogs. Here are my best free NFL picks and predictions for Colts vs. Falcons on Sunday, December 24.

Colts vs Falcons odds

Colts vs Falcons predictions

A big reason why the spread has jumped sides for this game is the fact tha…

The 2024 NFL season starts with a pair of AFC contenders going head-to-head on Thursday Night Football, as the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs host the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium.

Our top NFL player props and NFL picks are focused on the Kansas City passing attack and superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes having a successful night through the air against the new-look Baltimore defense.

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