Month: March 2023

Marcus Bettinelli committed his future to Chelsea after signing a new deal with the Premier League side.

The goalkeeper put pen to paper on an extension to his existing contract, keeping him with the Blues until 2026.

Bettinelli has mainly served as a back-up option to Kepa Arrizabalaga and Edouard Mendy since joining Chelsea from West London rivals Fulham in 2021.

The 30-year-old’s sole competitive appearance for the Blues came during their commanding 5-1 victory over Chesterfield in last season’s FA Cup.

Nevertheless, he is thrilled to extend his stay with Graham Potter’s side.

“It is a privilege to be at a club like Chelsea, one of the biggest clubs in the world,” he told the club’s official website. “A couple of years ago when I signed, I was delighted to be here, delighted to sign.

“To be here now and see the club going through this transition and seeing what we are developing, it is amazing to be a part of, and I am buzzing to be here for an extra couple of years.”

Chelsea return to Premier League action after the international break when they host Aston Villa at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Blues are 10th in the table with 11 games remaining, and 11 points shy of fourth-placed Tottenham.

Antonio Conte thanked Tottenham fans for their “unforgettable” support as he broke his silence following his exit from the club.

Conte left Spurs by mutual consent on Sunday, a week on from a remarkable outburst after a 3-3 draw with bottom side Southampton in which his side squandered a two-goal lead late on.

The Italian labelled his players “selfish” and questioned the club’s lack of silverware during Daniel Levy’s time as chairman.

That tirade ultimately cost him his job, with assistant Cristian Stellini taking charge until the end of the season as Spurs bid to finish in the Premier League top four for a second straight campaign.

Conte posted on Instagram on Monday, thanking Spurs and their fans while wishing them luck for the future.

“Football is passion,” Conte said. “I would like to deeply thank everyone at Spurs who appreciated and shared my passion and my intense way of living football as a coach.

“A special thought to the fans who always showed me support and appreciation, it’s been unforgettable to hear them singing my name.

“Our journey together has ended, I wish you all the best for the future.”

Spurs’ first game in the post-Conte era will be a trip to Goodison Park to face Everton on April 3, as they look to cling onto the fourth spot that they currently occupy to achieve Champions League qualification for next season.

Domenico Tedesco does not believe he has anything to prove on his return to Germany with new side Belgium after previously being sacked by RB Leipzig and Schalke.

Leipzig parted company with Tedesco in September 2022, nine months after he took up the position, despite winning the DFB-Pokal in the 2021-22 campaign.

The 37-year-old was also ousted by Schalke in March 2019, a year on from guiding the club to a second-place finish in the Bundesliga.

But ahead of Belgium’s friendly with Germany in Cologne on Tuesday, Tedesco insists he is content with what he achieved across his two spells in the country where he grew up.

“I love my job and I am happy with what I have already achieved,” he said at Monday’s pre-match press conference. 

“I always want to win, but I feel I have nothing to prove to the Germans. The coach is not that important, either – the players make the difference.”

Germany and Belgium endured disappointing World Cup campaigns, each exiting at the group stage in Qatar despite pre-tournament hopes being high.

Four-time world champions Germany have slipped to 14th in the FIFA rankings – 10 places below Belgium – but that is not a true reflection of their quality in the view of Tedesco. 

“How is it possible that they’re 14th?” he asked reporters. “At the World Cup in Qatar they had so many chances, they just didn’t score enough. 

“No one had more expected goals than Germany. Even if Germany were last in the FIFA rankings, that wouldn’t change anything. We want to win, even if it’s a friendly game.

“Germany have a few new young players, but they are players from top teams. They remain a strong country.”

Germany beat Peru 2-0 on Saturday, while Belgium kicked off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 3-0 win in Sweden on Friday thanks to Romelu Lukaku’s hat-trick.

The 29-year-old has 71 goals in 105 senior international appearances, but he has struggled this term for club side Inter, where he is on loan from Chelsea for the campaign.

However, Tedesco says there is more to Lukaku’s game than goals alone.

“Don’t judge him solely on that,” the Italian said. “He is looking in good shape and was proud after scoring his hat-trick – rightly so.

“I want him to be happy. He has the qualities to play for any side, including Inter. He is a good guy and he deserves to be happy when he plays.”

Kai Havertz and Nico Schlotterbeck have been ruled out for Germany, while first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has not made the trip for Belgium.

That means a rare chance to shine for Koen Casteels, who is perhaps better known to the home fans having spent made than a decade in the Bundesliga.

“I don’t have to show myself in Germany anymore – they know me here,” the Wolfsburg goalkeeper said. “Germany is my second home. It’s nice to play here.

“I feel a lot of recognition in Germany, maybe more than in Belgium. I am spoken of more positively here; in Belgium less so. I have resigned myself to that. 

“I owe a lot to Germany and also have German punctuality picked up, but after my career I’m just going to live in Belgium again.”

– Latvia have failed to win any of their last five matches in 90 minutes
– Wales have qualified for each of the last two European Championships
– Recommended bet: Wales to win & under 3.5 goals

Wales started their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Croatia in Split last time out and will be hoping to build on that with a win over Latvia at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday.

Team news

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and defender Ben Davies previously had to withdraw from the Wales squad, while key striker Brennan Johnson is unavailable due to a groin injury.

Latvia have no new injuries to deal with but forward Raimonds Krollis could be in line to start after featuring from off the bench last time out.

The stats

Latvia have failed to win any of their previous five games in 90 minutes with that streak having featured games against Moldova, Andorra, Estonia and Iceland.

Wales lost only one of their eight matches during qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while each of their last six matches have featured under 3.5 goals.

Latvia have scored more than one goal only once in their last five matches.

Prediction

Wales failed to make much of an impression at the World Cup, crashing out in the group stage after collecting only one point from three matches, but they made a promising start to qualifying for Euro 2024.

The Dragons began qualifying in Group D with a 1-1 draw away to Croatia, having lost the shot count 19-4 in the game but salvaging a point thanks to a last-gasp strike from Nathan Broadhead.

The importance of that point to Wales cannot be overstated, given the fact they must also face a strong Turkey team in their section and only the top two qualify for the finals.

But it will also mean nothing if they can not win Tuesday’s game against Latvia – a side they are expected to overcome comfortably.

Latvia sustained a 3-2 friendly defeat to Ireland last time out but they were thoroughly outplayed in that game and are down in 133rd spot in FIFA’s national team rankings, below the likes of Malawi and Faroe Islands.

That game against Ireland was Latvia’s first international of 2023 and they head into Tuesday’s encounter having failed to win any of their last five matches in 90 minutes.

Although as part of that run they managed to win the Baltic Cup, that competition featured only two matches and Latvia won both of them on penalties.

Their recent opponents have included Andorra, Moldova and Estonia and, given they failed to beat any of those sides in normal time, they are worth opposing against the Welsh.

Wales are a much stronger outfit but are going through a transition as they adjust to life without Gareth Bale and key forward Johnson is not available, so do not expect them to rack up the goals in Cardiff.

Back Wales to win and under 3.5 goals at 10/13 with LiveScore Bet.

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Aaron Ramsey is hoping that his old Arsenal team-mate Mikel Arteta can deliver the Premier League title to North London this season.

The Welshman, 32, played alongside the Gunners boss for five years and won the FA Cup before the Spaniard announced his retirement. 

They forged a special bond over the years, with Arteta studying for his coaching badges in Wales — something the two men often spoke about during their time together at the Emirates Stadium.

On the former Manchester City assistant, Ramsey said: “It would be absolutely great [if Arsenal win the league].

“It is still a massive part of me. I spent 10, 11 years there and for them to go on and win the league, I’m as much a fan as anybody.

“I still know so many players and members of staff there. The fans deserve it.”

Wales’ new captain believes Arteta, 41, was always destined to step into management after his playing days and it is already paying off.

He said: “You could see his leadership qualities and the way that he handled himself was second to none.

“What he is doing now, definitely, you could see he was always going to be a manager one day, the way he thought and saw the game and how intense he was as well.

“It is absolutely unbelievable what he has done there, what they are doing at the moment.

“We used to talk about it [the FA Wales] and he would tell me how impressed he was with the Welsh set-up, their methods and the way that they go about things.”

Wales host Latvia in their second game of Euro 2024 qualifying on Tuesday boosted by a superb opening draw in Croatia. 

The Dragons held the World Cup semi-finalists 1-1 in Split on Saturday with substitute Nathan Broadhead scoring a last-minute leveller on his international debut.

Here, we look at the main talking points surrounding a Group D clash that Wales are expected to win at the Cardiff City Stadium. 

Must-win game

After the bonus of picking up a great point in Croatia, Wales have already entered must-win territory in their bid for a top-two spot in Group D. 

Latvia are the weakest side in the section, at least according to the FIFA world rankings, and the Dragons cannot afford to slip up against opponents that their group rivals will be expected to take points off. 

Boss Rob Page admitted as much by taking off skipper Aaron Ramsey, Daniel James and Harry Wilson just after the hour mark in Croatia when 1-0 down, knowing that he needs the trio’s creativity to break down Latvia. 

Broadhead role

Has Nathan Broadhead pushed himself into Page’s thinking for a starting spot against Latvia? 

The 24-year-old has been among the goals for Ipswich recently and his natural scoring instincts, as shown in Split, could be needed against Latvian visitors expected to defend deep and ensure that space in the penalty area is at a premium. 

Page, however, is expected to name the same line-up and use Broadhead from the bench again. 

Dan in the dumps

James’ lack of action at loan club Fulham is proving a real headache for Page. 

The winger’s speed is a huge asset for Wales and he has been a constant feature in the Dragons attack since making his debut in April 2019. 

But the former Manchester United forward looked off the pace in Split and his confidence levels were summed up when he snatched at a second-half scoring opportunity with the goal at his mercy. 

Estonia reminder

Wales do not have to cast their minds back far to know that Latvia could cause embarrassment. 

Neighbours Estonia dented the Dragons’ push for 2022 World Cup qualification by holding out for a goalless draw in Cardiff. 

The game should serve as a reminder that nothing should be taken for granted and an early goal would be a timely tonic to settle home nerves. 

Blast from the past

This will be the first competitive match between Wales and Latvia. 

Their only previous meeting was in 2004 when late goals from John Hartson and Craig Bellamy gave the Welsh a 2-0 friendly victory in Riga. 

Latvia kick off their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign ranked 133rd in world football, a whopping 105 places below Wales.

– Scotland and Spain both opened Group A with 3-0 wins
– La Roja are adapting to life under new boss Luis de la Fuente
– Recommended bet: Scotland or draw double chance

Scotland’s path to Euro 2024 looks far from straightforward but they got off to a winning start, defeating Cyprus 3-0 at Hampden Park, and will be striving to add another point or three when hosting Group A top seeds Spain.

Steve Clarke’s side are bidding for a top two finish in a tricky section which also features Norway and Georgia and they know that the Spain game on Tuesday will be just the first of a series of more demanding encounters.

Spain are also off to a flyer – winning 3-0 at home to Norway in their first game under Luis de la Fuente – although they had a disappointing World Cup, losing out to Morocco in the round of 16.

Team news

Che Adams suffered a calf injury during Scotland’s victory over Cyprus and had to withdraw from the squad.

Lawrence Shankland has been called up as a replacement but the starting centre-forward should be Lyndon Dykes, who came off the bench at the weekend.

Right-back Anthony Ralston has had to withdraw from the squad and Scott McTominay is pushing to replace Ryan Jack in midfield after his two-goal contribution as a substitute on Saturday.

Spain have not reported any further injuries since the weekend.

Previously, Pedri, Bryan Gil and Gerard Moreno had withdrawn from the squad.

The stats

Scotland are unbeaten in their last five competitive matches and are bidding to qualify for the European Championship finals for only the fourth time in their history.

They have won their last four home matches, registering clean sheets in three of them.

Spain are unbeaten in 19 European Championship qualifiers since sustaining a 2-1 loss away to Slovakia in October 2014.

However, the Iberians won just one of their four matches at the Qatar World Cup and they have failed to get past the round of 16 at four of their last five major tournaments.

Prediction 

Scotland went into the Cyprus game knowing that three points were a must but they get to play the role of the underdog against Spain and they can rise to the occasion by taking at least a share of the spoils.

The best time to face Spain could be right now. The Iberians are getting used to a new manager, De la Fuente, who favours a different approach to the possession-obsessed style of his predecessor, Luis Enrique.

And they must take on the Scots without key midfielder Pedri, who has been sidelined since February with a thigh injury.

La Roja got their new era off to a winning start but their three-goal margin of success over Norway was hugely flattering.

The Norwegians created some decent chances but were unable to convert any of them and sorely missed star centre-forward Erling Haaland, who was sidelined with a groin injury.

Spain were matched by Norway for long periods and they face another stern test from the Scots, who hoovered up 13 points from five home games during their unsuccessful bid to reach last year’s World Cup.

The Scots have shown they can be tough to beat on home soil and they look decent value to add to their points tally.

Back Scotland or draw double chance at 5/4 with LiveScore Bet.

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Fancy winning up to £100,000? Simply predict six correct scores from the weekend action for your chance to win – with consolation prizes also on offer if you go close.

Play LiveScore 6 for free this weekend (18+, UK only) – click here for details on how to get involved.

Fulham head coach Marco Silva has been charged by the FA with misconduct for comments made after the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United.

Silva saw red during a frantic second-half period at Old Trafford, which also saw Fulham reduced to nine men following the dismissals of Willian and Aleksandr Mitrovic.

The Portuguese boss was previously charged last week for his actions during the match, alleged to have used insulting words or gestures to both the referee and fourth official, as well as throwing a water bottle in the direction of the assistant referee.

United and Fulham were also both charged for failure to control their players during the game and the aftermath of the result continues to attract attention, with another charge issued to Silva.

A statement from the FA read: “Fulham’s Marco Silva has been charged with misconduct for comments that he made in a press conference after the FA Cup tie against Manchester United on Sunday 19 March.

“It’s alleged that his comments constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias and/or question the integrity of the match official, and/or bring the game into disrepute.

“The manager has until Wednesday 29 March to provide his response.”

Manchester City boss Gareth Taylor insists Manchester City are not Women’s Super League title favourites despite yesterday’s win over Chelsea.

Filippa Angeldahl’s 21st-minute strike gave the home side the lead at the Academy Stadium and Lauren Hemp scored nine minutes later to secure all three points.

The win saw City leapfrog Emma Hayes’ side and put them level on points with Manchester United at the top of the table.

It was a commanding performance from the Citizens but Taylor is under no illusions that Chelsea are still the favourites to win the league.

He said: “It’s still Chelsea’s [to lose] with their game in hand.

“I always look at Chelsea as the benchmark. It’s a big step [to beat them], particularly where we are in the season and how tight it is at the top. It brings big confidence.

“We’ve not done anything yet — six games left, lots of challenges left — but we go into it with high levels of confidence.

“To get to a position where we are after losing those two games at the start of the season, it’s remarkable.

“The players need to take credit for that. We’re a newish team. To be in this position now is top.”

Hayes points to hectic schedule

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes refused to criticise her players after the defeat to City, suggesting that the congested fixture schedule is the reason for their “sluggish” performance.

The Londoners were competing in their third away game in seven days and there was a clear lack of energy from those who featured on Sunday.

Hayes, 46, said: “I thought we were so sluggish in the first half. This was our third away game in the week and it looked like it.

“I thought that was the difference between the two teams, but well done to City. 

“We didn’t have the legs. Your minds can want to do a million things, but if your legs can’t, that’s a real challenge.

“I don’t think people realise how tough it is for our third away game in seven days, particularly after travelling to Lyon. It is really, really tough.”

Madness on Merseyside

Liverpool were held by Everton in a controversial Merseyside derby that saw the Reds have a goal ruled out to the frustration of manager Matt Beard.

Gabby George put the Toffees ahead at Goodison Park in her 100th appearance for the club before Katie Stengel levelled proceedings in the 40th minute.

Leighanne Robe looked to have completed the comeback in the second half but it was chalked off with the referee suggesting that there was a foul on goalkeeper Courtney Brosnan.

On the incident, Beard said: “It 100% should have stood. I can’t believe it to be perfectly honest with you, it’s crazy.

“We had enough chances to get the win and it’s another decision that’s cost us three points.”

Liverpool midfielder Missy Bo Kearns shared the sentiment, adding: “It’s obviously frustrating. We think we should have got three points but that’s football, at least we’re creating chances.”

Derby delight

Arsenal emerged victorious in the North London derby on Saturday and increased Tottenham’s relegation woes under interim boss Vicky Jepson.

An early goal from Stina Blackstenius opened the floodgates at the Breyer Group Stadium and Bethany England’s first-half penalty proved to be just a consolation for Spurs as they were thrashed 5-1.

The win kept the Gunners within touching distance of the top three and head coach Jonas Eidevall could not hide his delight after the match.

He said: “We know it was gonna be a challenging game today. It was windy out there, it’s a physical Spurs team, and we’re playing them in the middle of two Champions League games.

“So considering that, I’m really, really pleased with the performance here today.

“We were brave on the ball here on a pitch that sometimes could let you down. It’s still really important to keep our identity and keep playing our way and keep playing to our strengths.”

WSL Matchday 16 results

Everton 1-1 Liverpool

Tottenham 1-5 Arsenal

Manchester United 4-0 West Ham

Manchester City 2-0 Chelsea

Aston Villa 5-0 Leicester

Reading 2-2 Brighton

Hansi Flick says the injury that ruled Nico Schlotterbeck out of Germany duty is “nothing serious” and the defender should return for Borussia Dortmund’s clash with Bayern Munich.

Schlotterbeck started Germany’s 2-0 win over Peru last week, but he has been ruled out of Tuesday’s friendly with Belgium in Cologne due to a thigh injury.

However, the 23-year-old – who has both played in (36) and started (33) the most games of any BVB player this season – is expected to be available for Saturday’s trip to Bayern.

“We didn’t want to take any risks with him,” Flick said at Monday’s pre-match press conference. “It’s nothing serious and in two or three days he’ll be back on the pitch.”

Bundesliga leaders Dortmund head into Der Klassiker a point better off than Bayern, who sacked Julian Nagelsmann and replaced him with Thomas Tuchel last week.

Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz was another withdrawal from the Germany squad due to illness ahead of the prestige friendly with Belgium at RheinEnergieStadion.

Flick announced Thilo Kehrer and Serge Gnabry will come into the starting line-up in place of Schlotterbeck and Havertz respectively, with “one or two” other changes possible.

Belgium kicked off a new era under Domenico Tedesco with a 3-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win over Sweden thanks to Romelu Lukaku’s hat-trick in Stockholm.

The Red Devils are in somewhat of a transition period, with a number of their ‘Golden Generation’ making way after their recent World Cup group-stage exit.

Germany head coach Flick expects the nation ranked fourth in the world to pose more of a challenge than Peru.

“We started the new year with a win, but in Belgium we have an opponent of a different calibre,” he said.

“They have a new coach and a new spirit. You can see immediately they have outstanding footballers in their ranks.

“They are able to defend compactly, but they are also convincing in an attacking sense when they have possession of the ball. They scored brilliant goals against Sweden.

“Even under pressure they always find good solutions. In terms of football, they are one of the best teams and will be a good opponent for us to measure ourselves against.”