David Silva has called on his Spain team-mates to remain focused as the newly-tagged favourites look to secure a third straight European Championship.
Spain headed into the tournament as double defending champions but a less-than-impressive performance at the 2014 World Cup meant Vicente del Bosque s side were not the clear favourites.
But after solid showings in their opening two group games 1-0 and 3-0 wins over the Czech Republic and Turkey respectively Spain have staked their claim at Euro 2016.
Silva believes the side can cope with being favourites, but insists they must stay focused if they are to secure Euro glory once again.
At this stage it is normal that they make you favourites. We have won the last two European Championships and als…
AC Milan-linked David Beckham could match Bobby Moores England appearance record next week should manager Fabio Capello follow up on a hint to field him now he is playing regularly.
Capello is putting the final touches of the jigsaw to his squad to face Spain in a friendly in Sevilla on February 11 and Beckham s good form for the San Siro outfit has put him into the frame for possible selection.
Should Beckham play, he would equal 1966 World Cup-winning captain Moore s outfield player record of 108 caps, before possibly breaking it against Slovakia at Wembley on March 28.
Although he has only played three matches for the Serie A giants since arriving on a short-term loan, the former England skipper has been a revelation.
Each start has brought more prais…
Serie A giants SS Lazio are preparing a new and improved contract for star midfielder Hernandes, according to Il Messaggero.
The 27-year-old developed into a key player for the Biancocelesti soon after arriving to Olimpico from Sao Paulo and has seen his name linked with a number of Europe’s top sides.
Hernanes further established himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in Serie A with some impressive showings at the start of the season.
Lazio officials are now keen to ward off interest from clubs like Tottenham, Milan and Barcelona by offering the player a new contract at Olimpico.
La Messaggero claims the Biancocelesti are prepared to increase the Brazilian’s salary from €1.8m to €2.5m as well as insert a €50 million release clause i…
Arsenal have competed the signing of Belgium Under-21 midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht.
The Premier League club announced Lokonga has signed a long-term contract and, although a fee was not disclosed by either club, the transfer is reported to be worth an initial £15million (€17.4m).
Lokonga, 21, is a product of the same Anderlecht youth system that oversaw the development of Romelu Lukaku, Youri Tielemens and Leander Dendoncker among others, and made 78 senior appearances for the Belgian Pro League outfit.
It s a big move because I ve been playing for Anderlecht for 10 years, he told Arsenal s official website.
It s a big step but I feel confident because in the football world you have to feel confident about yourself.
I m lo…
Lionel Messi will miss Barcelona s clash with Eibar on Tuesday after being granted an extended Christmas break.
The club captain and his family went to Rosario for the festive period and he is not expected to be back in Catalonia until the new year, ahead of the LaLiga match against Huesca on January 3.
Barca returned to training on Sunday after being given four days off following a 3-0 victory at Real Valladolid.
The club confirmed Messi is expected to be back at the Camp Tito Vilanova facilities after the league meeting with Jose Luis Mendilibar s men at Camp Nou.
Back to training!
Tito Vilanova pitch
Leo Messi is expected to rejoin training after
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
According to Sport, head coach Ronald Koeman gra…
Zinedine Zidane has reaffirmed his desire to remain in charge at Real Madrid, regardless of whether they are successful in this season s Champions League.
Appointed in January 2016 following the departure of Rafael Benitez, the Frenchman has won back-to-back titles in Europe and also led the club to LaLiga glory last season.
He once again has Madrid on course for Champions League glory this term they hold a 2-1 aggregate lead over Bayern Munich heading into the second leg of their semi-final at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Los Blancos have struggled domestically this term, a lack of consistency ruining their title defence and leading to questions over the coach s future.
Zidane, though, is determined to stick around in the Spanish capital.
I…
Thiago Silva wants Neymar to stay at Paris Saint-Germain, but he is eager for his Brazil team-mate to be happy.
Neymar, 27, has been linked with a return to Barcelona, two years after leaving the LaLiga champions for PSG in a world-record €222million move.
The forward, who is missing the Copa America due to an ankle injury, is set to leave PSG, while Dani Alves has confirmed he is also departing.
Silva, whose team face Argentina in the Copa America semi-finals on Tuesday, said he hoped Neymar would stay at the Parc des Princes.
The moment is not conducive to that. We re in another competition, the PSG captain told a news conference.
Of course the will is huge for Ney to remain, but for him to be happy.
Dani made a statement, he s out,…
Memphis Depay has admitted he should have been better in his first season at Manchester United, but now feels Jose Mourinho believes in him as he looks to live up to the high expectations at Old Trafford at last.
Having been hotly tipped to light up the Premier League after leaving PSV in 2015, the Netherlands international struggled to make an impact under former manager Louis van Gaal.
Now, though, despite enjoying limited game time again since Mourinho took charge, Depay believes he is ready to prove his worth at United.
Things are going well on the training pitch, he told Metro. I am fresh and fit. Mourinho is a great coach. He has told me he believes in me, both in person, but also publicly.
I would rather not talk about last season. That is someth…
Serie A outfit Roma have completed the signing of Federico Fazio from Tottenham on an initial loan deal.
Fazio, 29, joins Roma on a season-long loan or a fixed fee of €1.2 million, the club announced on Wednesday.
However, the agreement includes the option to buy the Argentine defender, depending on the completion of certain sporting targets, for a fee of €3.2m.
I am very happy to join a great team like Roma, Fazio said.
I really want to start training and get to know my new team-mates and coach.
Federico has picked shirt No.20
Remember any players who have worn it before
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN)
Fazio, a three-time Argentina international, spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla…
Lazio captain Stefano Mauri has been banned for six months after being implicated in the Scommessopoli match-fixing scandal.
Mauri, who has previously protested his innocence, was one of eight players said to have been complicit in the fixing of Lazio s matches with Genoa and Lecce in May 2011.
The Italy international has been punished for failing to report match-fixing.
Mauri was found guilty for his role in the Lecce match, but the Italian Football Federation rejected prosecutor Stefano Palazzi s request for the 33-year-old to be suspended for four years and six months.
Palazzi had also asked for Lazio to be docked six points for the new season, however, the Rome club have instead been handed a €40,000 fine.
Lecce were slapped with a €20,000 fine, whi…