Germany have promised that their attack will pack a bigger punch when they face Northern Ireland on Tuesday after struggling up front in their first two Euro 2016 matches.
One question stands out after Portugal's 0-0 draw with Austria on Saturday -- does Cristiano Ronaldo have to take every single free kick and penalty?
Germany and Poland edged closer to the Euro 2016 knockout stage after playing out the first 0-0 draw of this year's tournament at the Stade de France on Thursday. The result means both teams have four points in Group C ahead of Northern Ireland, who have three after their 2-0 win against a Ukraine side who are still without a point and cannot now qualify for the last 16 at the finals.
'Our plan is to put the best foot forward for the upcoming tournament and play good matches'
10-man Churchill Brothers fought valiantly but had to be content with a 1-1 draw against Mahindra United in the last of the quarter-final group league matches at the Ambedkar Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. Reisangmi Vashum beat Mahindra goalkeeper Mahindra United Amit Nandi as early as the eighth minute to give Churchill the lead. Churchill Brothers held on to the lead till the 75th minute, when Edeh Chidi scored the equaliser.
Afghanistan scripted a new story in annuls of cricketing history after qualifying for the World T20 tournament proper on Saturday.
The Netherlands set up a likely showdown with Argentina in the women's Olympic hockey semi-final by brushing aside Spain 2-0 in their final group match on Monday. Champions Germany qualified as the top team from the opposite pool with four wins when they beat Japan 1-0 in their fifth and final match.
The Indian women's team qualified for the quarter-finals in the Uber Cup badminton tournament despite a 2-3 defeat to 2014 runners-up Japan in their third and final Group D match, in Kunshan, China, on Wednesday. The men's team, however, continued its dismal run in the Thomas Cup and crashed out after being blanked 0-5 by Indonesia in their third Group B match at the Kunshan Sports Center Stadium.
Croatia showed they are well-equipped to make a serious bid for the Euro 2008 title when their reserves swept aside Poland 1-0 in their final Group B game on Monday.
Former Sevilla coach Joaquin Caparros and current Granada manager Paco Jemez both said earlier on Thursday that they were interested in the position if Del Bosque was to leave.
One of Europe's most expensive teenagers Renato Sanches has yet to nail down a starting spot with Portugal but the brawny midfielder is making his presence felt on the continent's biggest stage.
Keisuke Honda announced his retirement from international football following Japan's elimination from the World Cup at the hands of Belgium on Monday night.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
Paraguay continued to shine and recorded their third win on the trot when they thrashed a struggling Turkey 3-1 in a Group B match of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Navi Mumbai.
Germany will decide on the eve of their Euro 2016 round of 16 match against Slovakia on Sunday whether defender Jerome Boateng can help them to another clean sheet en route to what they hope is their fourth continental crown.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, whose rare talent burst into the limelight with a splendid goal against Italy at Euro 2004, was a shadow of his brilliant best when Sweden lost 1-0 to the same opponents on Friday. Sweden's 34-year-old captain again looked his age after a subdued display in an opening 1-1 draw with Ireland and an early Euro 2016 exit looms for a side with one point from two games before facing Belgium in their final Group E match next week. The tall and powerful striker, who left the pitch without saluting the crowd and did not stop to talk to anyone, has failed to produce a shot on target so far in the tournament.
A summary of Wednesday's matches in the UEFA Champions League.
Ivan Rakitic outshone Barcelona team mate Arda Turan as Croatia ran out 1-0 winners against Turkey at Euro 2016 on Sunday, a victory that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.
Kohli promoting Pandya ahead of Dhoni is an indication that the skipper is looking to use his former captain more as an accumulator -- in Javed Miandad mould who would rotate strike, frustrate bowlers and launch a furious counter-attack after getting his eye in.
Nine-times champions Real Madrid topped Group C with a 3-1 win over Lazio while Liverpool, the winners of five titles, advanced from Group A with a 4-0 rout of Olympique Marseille.
Mohun Bagan rode on a Jose Barreto hat-trick to blank Kolkata rivals Mohammedan Sporting 3-0 in the 113th IFA Shield tournament quarter-final group league matches in Kolkata on Saturday. In the day's other matches, Mahindra United beat East Bengal 2-0 while Churchill Brothers and Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting drew goalless.
India were relegated to the Fed Cup Asia/Oceania Zone group II after top seeds Australia blanked them 3-0 in their third and final group I match in Bangkok on Friday.
Marin Cilic's debut appearance at the ATP World Tour Finals is fast turning into a nightmare after his second consecutive drubbing at the O2 Arena on Wednesday.
From the debate-arousing introduction of VAR to maximum number of Penalties to the superb Ronaldo, here are the A to Z of the ongoing 2018 World Cup
Real Madrid and Liverpool will be among teams fighting for the last places in the knockout stage of the Champions League this week when the final group matches decide who goes through. Seven clubs will join nine who have already secured passage to the 16-team knockout stage of the competition while eight third-placed teams will carry on in the UEFA Cup after the winter break.
Ranti Martins and Chidi Edeh struck a brace each to outplay Sur Club of Oman 5-2 in their final Group A match and take their side to their maiden AFC Cup quarter-finals in Margao on Wednesday.
Jeev Milkha Singh produced a bogey-free round of 66 to take an outright lead into the final round of the Bank BRI-JCB Indonesia Open on Saturday.
Hobart Hurricanes produced a professional performance as they beat Barbados Tridents in convincing manner to enter the semi-finals of the Oppo Champions League T20, in Mohali.
Novak Djokovic rediscovered his warrior spirit to tame Canada's Milos Raonic 7-6(6), 7-6(5) in a rivetting duel and guarantee progress from his group at the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Tuesday.
India rallied to an impressive 18-25, 25-17, 25-21, 25-19 win and will be up against Brazil in the third and final group encounter.
Pakistan will meet Group A toppers England in the first semi-final on Wednesday at the same venue.
In the earlier match on the night, Ghana beat debutants Niger 2-0, face Mali in quarters
India's new hockey coach says given more time and exposure, he is confident of building a strong team.
Holders Spain were knocked out of Euro 2016 in a 2-0 defeat by Italy on Monday after goals by Giorgio Chiellini and Graziano Pelle set up a quarter-final with world champions Germany. Chiellini opened the scoring after 33 minutes while Pelle wrapped up the victory in stoppage time to end Spain's reign as European champions which covered the 2008 and 2012 tournaments.
Ganganjeet Bhullar ended a long trophy drought with a one-stroke victory at the Shinhan Donghae Open in South Korea on Sunday for his sixth title on the Asian Tour.
Karnataka inflicted an innings and 20 runs defeat on Mumbai with more than a day to spare in the Ranji Trophy quarter-final in Nagpur on Sunday to move into the semi-finals in convincing fashion.
Defending champions Goa failed to make it to the semi-finals of the National Football championship, pipped by Punjab on goal difference.
Goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa made two outstanding saves to deny Neymar as battling Mexico held Brazil to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Group A match on Tuesday, ending the hosts' 10-game winning streak in the process.
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