Russia will be free to compete at Euro 2020 regardless of whether a four-year ban on competing at sporting events is imposed on the country. 

A World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) panel recommended last week the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) be declared non-compliant again over inconsistencies in anti-doping data discovered during an investigation.

WADA s independent Compliance Review Committee (CRC) recommended strong sanctions be imposed on Russia, including a four-year ban from competing in and hosting major sporting events.

However, even if a ban is upheld – and backed up by the Court of Arbitration for Sport if Russia opt to go down that route – the nation s place at the tournament will not be affected as the International Standard for Code Compliance…

Lionel Messi deserves to lift the World Cup and will lead Argentina to glory in Sunday s final, according to Brazil s 2002 champion Rivaldo.

Messi produced another remarkable performance as Argentina beat Croatia 3-0 in Tuesday s semi-final, opening the scoring from the penalty spot before laying on a goal for Julian Alvarez after a fine solo run.

On the day he equalled Lothar Matthaus all-time record of 25 World Cup appearances, Messi became the first player to score and assist in four games at the competition.

Messi s 11th World Cup goal also made him the Albiceleste s record goalscorer at the tournament, and with Brazil having fallen at the quarter-final stage, Rivaldo hopes Messi captures the trophy.

We no longer have Brazil or Neymar in this cup fin…

In calling time on his professional career in an emotional Instagram post, Rogic reflected on his achievements and also opened up on the fertility struggles he and his wife have faced over the last seven years and said he would be “forever grateful” for the support and help they received from Celtic.

“After careful consideration I have made the decision to retire from professional football,” said Rogic, who returned to Australia after being released by West Brom this summer.

“I have always been rather private with things in my personal life but I feel given the significance, I think it is important for people to understand why and how I have made my decision.

“Throughout the past seven years my wife and I have been on an immensely challenging journey …

It s fair to say Serie A sides have enjoyed themselves on the continental stage this season, with six Italian clubs reaching major European quarter-finals for the first time this century.

Three of those teams have been making waves in the Champions League, for which Luciano Spalletti s Napoli have been touted as genuine contenders after outscoring every other team in the competition.

Meanwhile, rivals Milan and Inter went about their last-16 assignments in quietly impressive fashion, seeing off Tottenham and Porto respectively, both winning 1-0 on aggregate.

With three of Italy s finest reaching the last eight, a first all-Italian Champions League meeting since 2005 was always highly probable, and so it proved with Milan and Napoli paired together.

With t…

Philadelphia Union head coach Jim Curtin is looking to find solutions to the small-margin failures when they travel to Chicago Fire in MLS.

The Union have not won any of their last seven matches in the league and are hoping to snap a four-game losing streak.

Their recent poor run has seen them drop to 12th in the Eastern Conference, and they are four points off a playoff place, but Curtin admits they have not been doing the little things right in recent weeks.

The small margins are real and when things aren t going well you get exposed, he said. It s a very fine line.

The way things are going right now, it s never enough. We haven t been able to defend well as a team. Strange goals have gone in, and we ve let ourselves down.

It hurts. We have t…

Best Odds: 2/5

Bookmaker:

Getting their Europa League adventure underway on Thursday evening, Rangers will travel to the Eleda Stadion when they meet Malmo.

Malmo

Starting with the hosts, reclaiming their Allsvenskan crown last season and enjoying another domestic romp, Malmo are once again sat in the driving seat this time around. Last seen over the weekend putting in a thumping performance as they stormed their way to a stellar 4-0 romp against Hacken, the Swedish heavyweights will be desperate to use that result as a platform to build on. Suffering Champions League heartbreak last month as they suffered a 4-0 aggregate defeat at the hands of Sparta Prague, Henrik Rydstrom’s men do have the feel of a squad seeking some recent stability. Winning just a pair …

Market: York City win

Odds: 2/3 @

Looking to make it three National League victories on the bounce, York City will welcome Braintree to Yorkshire on Tuesday night.

Starting with the hosts, while York might have only just about dragged themselves over the finishing line last season as they managed to keep hold of their National League status, Adam Hinshelwood’s men have made plenty of improvements since returning from the summer break. Enjoying what has quickly become a real purple patch since opening up the new campaign, the Yorkshire-based outfit will be smelling the chance to make another statement here. Last seen over the weekend putting in another eye-catching display as they secured a 2-0 victory away at Wealdstone, York should find the mood in their camp…

Jordan Pickford said he fancied Anthony Gordon would switch up his penalty routine after scoring his last two spot-kicks for Newcastle United.

Gordon was a livewire for Newcastle against Everton on Saturday, though the England international ultimately fluffed his lines in the biggest moment of the 0-0 draw at Goodison Park.

With 10 minutes remaining in the first half, Gordon failed to beat his former club-mate Pickford from 12 yards after James Tarkowski had fouled Sandro Tonali.

The Goodison faithful were in a buoyant mood after seeing Gordon, who left Everton for Newcastle in 2023, squander his big chance, though the Toffees could not craft an opening at the other end, albeit Dominic Calvert-Lewin was perhaps unfortunate not to be awarded a penalty of his own.<…

Reigning European and world champions Spain can become the first team to win three major international tournaments in a row at Euro 2012.

Should they lift the trophy in Kiev on July 1, Spain will also become the first side to successfully defend the European Championship.

Spain head to Poland and Ukraine having won all eight of their qualification matches for the 16-team tournament.

Vincent del Bosque s men face Italy, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland in Group C.

Spain s biggest threats lie in Group B, where all four teams are currently ranked inside the top 10 in the world.

The aptly dubbed group of death features Euro 2008 runners-up Germany (ranked second in the world), 2010 World Cup runners-up the Netherlands (fourth), Euro 2004 runners-u…

Referees will be appropriately rewarded at the upcoming European Championships in Switzerland and Austria.

For each match, the referee in charge will receive 10,000 Euros. Whether it concerns a group match or the final, does not influence this amount.

The two linesmen will earn 5,500 Euros per match, while the fourth official receives 4,000 Euros. Even the reserve official (fifth man) will be collecting 3,000 Euros.

On top of the match fee, all officials will also receive 200 Euros a day.

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