Alvaro Gonzalez has stressed it would be a failure if Uruguay do not qualify for the Copa America Centenario knockout stages as they prepare for their second Group C encounter against Venezuela.
Uruguay were beaten 3-1 by Mexico on matchday one and cannot afford a repeat performance if they are to finish in the top two.
Gonzalez is well aware of the importance of Thursday s encounter and has urged his team-mates to show what they are made of.
The match against Venezuela will be like a final, the midfielder said at a news conference.
We have to show that we are an experienced team and know how to play with our backs against the wall. Venezuela will be looking to seal qualification against us.
It would be a failure if we fail to qualify for the n…
England manager Roy Hodgson has spoken to John Terry as his search for a left-sided centre-back continues ahead of Euro 2016.
Hodgson s team conceded four goals in two friendlies in the past week, claiming a 3-2 win away to Germany before losing 2-1 to Netherlands.
Gary Cahill and Chris Smalling started in the heart of the defence in Berlin before the latter was partnered by John Stones at Wembley.
But centre-back remains an area of concern for Hodgson ahead of Euro 2016, where England will face Russia, Wales and Slovakia in Group B.
There are, in my opinion, no left-sided centre-backs who are English playing in the league who are at least at the level of the ones we are choosing and that s a fact of life and there s not much we can do about it, he said.…
Cristiano Ronaldo can defy a lean Champions League campaign and be a great advantage for Juventus in their last-16 decider against Atletico Madrid, according to Massimiliano Allegri.
Juve signed Ronaldo from Real Madrid with a view to him spearheading their charge towards European glory but the 34-year-old is yet to scale his usual heights.
An expert volley against former club Manchester United in the group stage is the star forward s only Champions League goal this term and his hopes of lifting the trophy for the fourth straight season will be extinguished if the Serie A champions fail to overturn a 2-0 deficit on Tuesday.
Atletico are favoured by many to protect that commanding first-leg advantage in Turin but Ronaldo, the competition s all-time leading goalsco…
March may be an unusual time to start a new international cycle, but the upcoming fixtures offer a chance to see some of the game s best young talents.
Euro 2020 qualifiers are set to get under way while South American teams including Brazil are continuing their preparations for this year s Copa America.
New campaigns are a natural opportunity to bring in fresh blood and that is just what international managers around the world have done in their latest squads.
But who are some of the players who could make their international debuts this week? Omnisport has picked out six of the most exciting rising stars to watch.
Declan Rice
Republic of Ireland fans were gutted when Rice opted to represent England, but their loss is the Three Lions gain. Rice repr…
Massimiliano Allegri has urged Juventus to find mental continuity as he labelled all of the Bianconeri s upcoming Serie A matches as must-win .
Juventus are languishing in ninth place, with just four wins from 11 games, and were beaten 2-1 by Sassuolo and then Hellas Verona in their previous two Serie A outings.
Allegri s men face seventh-placed Fiorentina next as they seek to chip away at the 16-point gap between themselves and unbeaten leaders Napoli and the Juventus head coach says his side must get into the habit of picking up three points.
The league matches for us now are all must-win, until we find the mental continuity, Allegri said. We have to be realistic and practical. Our matches in the league have always been open, and this is not good.
Vinicius Junior has been in dazzling form for Real Madrid.
Previously linked with Paris Saint-Germain as part of a possible deal to bring Kylian Mbappe to the Spanish capital, Vinicius has established himself under Carlo Ancelotti.
Now, a bumper contract is on the cards.
TOP STORY – VINICIUS SET FOR NEW DEAL
Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior is set to hold contract talks with the LaLiga giants, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Vinicius is contracted to Madrid until 2025 but Los Blancos are determined to offer the Brazil international fresh terms.
The 21-year-old has been in red-hot form at the Santiago Bernabeu this season.
Vinicius Junior will discuss his contract extension with Real Madrid in the next weeks/months, as …
Chelsea manager Andre Villas-Boas has denied reports that Guus Hiddink could be in line for a return to Stamford Bridge.
Hiddink quit his post as manager of the Turkish national side last week, and following a successful six-month spell with the Blues in the 2008-2009 campaign, speculation has been rife over whether the Dutchman could return to the club.
However, Villas-Boas has made it clear that while the former Russia boss made an impact during his time at the club, the position of manager is filled.
Guus had a very important period at the club and made the necessary changes first to take this club to another semi-final, plus an FA Cup and a good period of only one defeat in 15 games, he said.
But it was six months at the club. It does not mean that…
Market: Mikkeli win
Odds: 3/5 @
Looking to find a route to the top of the Ykkonen table on Friday afternoon, Mikkeli will welcome a struggling JaPS to the Mikkelin Urheilupuisto.
Starting with the hosts, putting in another rampant display last weekend as they secured an eye-catching 2-1 win at home against HIFK, Mikkeli have only continued to gain a string of plaudits since opening up the 2023 campaign. Knowing that even a single point on Friday afternoon would be enough to see them temporarily leapfrog Gnistan to top spot, the mood in Juha Pasoja’s camp should be at a red-hot high. Now winning each of their last three domestic showdowns on the bounce, the Blues are also in the midst of a nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions a run that stems all the…
New Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock is excited by the challenge of keeping the club in the Premier League.
Warnock has not managed since leaving Leeds United in April last year despite being linked with numerous clubs.
The 65-year-old spent over two years at Palace before leaving for QPR in March 2010 and he was re-appointed by the Selhurst Park outfit on Wednesday, as Tony Pulis replacement.
And Warnock spoke of his affection for Palace when revealing the offer was simply too good to refuse.
It s a great place here. I ve always enjoyed myself at Palace and I m looking forward to the challenge, Warnock told Sky Sports News.
It s nice to come back. I just think it s a great club.
[They are] probably the only club I would come back to…
Alan Pardew admitted Newcastle United fans calling for his sacking after three Premier League games this season has come as a surprise.
Pardew has divided opinion among Newcastle supporters since taking the reins in 2010 and he found himself under fire during the second half of the 2013-14 campaign, having lost 13 of 19 matches.
However, the 53-year-old is facing fresh scrutiny at St James Park after the club s winless start to the season one defeat and two draws with one anonymous fan group creating a website calling for his sacking.
Pardew has also been criticised for his decision to loan fan favourite Hatem Ben Arfa to Hull City.
While taken aback by the pressure mounting from the stands, Pardew is determined to win over the fans.
Everybody in…