Vicente del Bosque believes that the Netherlands will pose a significant threat to Spain in their FIFA World Cup opener in June.

The world champions go in search of back-to-back World Cup titles in Brazil and will open their Group B campaign against the side they beat in the 2010 final.

Spain came through a hard-fought encounter in Johannesburg four years ago to win 1-0 thanks to an Andres Iniesta strike in extra time.

While there will be plenty of personnel changes from that game for the Netherlands, Del Bosque still expects the Dutch to provide a stern test.

We respect the Dutch and the style they use, despite the changes of the past four years, he told NOS.

That s the team that we have the most watched in the preparation.

There are still major pl…

FC Porto are in the running to sign Ghanaian defender Daniel Opare from Standard Liege, according to the player s agent.

The highly rated full-back will be out of contract in June and he has already decided to leave the Belgian giants for greener pastures at the end of the season.

that FC Porto are one of the favourites for his signature and the player s agent has moved to confirm those reports.

“They are, certainly, on the list,“ Opare s official representative confirmed to O Jogo.

Daniel Opare, 23, began his professional career at Ashanti Gold and he also played for Sfax and Real Madrid Castilla before joining Standard in 2010.

He has since established himself as one of the best right-backs in Belgian Jupiler Pro League, making a total of …

Maurizio Sarri handed Olivier Giroud a chance to impress at centre-forward in Chelsea s EFL Cup semi-final showdown against Tottenham.

Sarri completed the loan signing of his former Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain from Juventus on Wednesday, but the deal was not registered in time for the Argentina international to feature as Chelsea look to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit at Stamford Bridge.

It means an opportunity from the start for Giroud – an option Sarri has eschewed in favour of starting Eden Hazard as a false nine over recent weeks.

Hazard is back in his favoured left-sided attacking role, while Bayern Munich target Callum Hudson-Odoi is on the bench alongside perennial loanee Lucas Piazon.

0 Tottenham will be without Harry Kane, Dele Alli Son He…

Guangzhou Evergrande Taobao have praised Paulinho s professionalism after again ruling out an immediate move to Barcelona for the Brazil midfielder.

Barca had a reported €20million offer rejected for the 28-year-old, who has expressed his desire to play for the LaLiga giants and a willingness to take a pay cut.

Guangzhou maintain they will not allow Paulinho to depart at what is the midway point of the Chinese Super League season, despite the player calling upon the club to be flexible .

Evergrande Group chairman Xu Jiayin identified the prospect of playing for Barcelona as a once in a lifetime opportunity for Paulinho but is not ready to sanction a move at this stage.

We need to not only consider the financial account of the corporation, but also th…

Leeds United are interested in signing Manchester United winger Daniel James in the summer transfer window, according to . The West Yorkshire club missed out on the winger when he was at Swansea City, but the promoted Premier League side are planning to make another attempt.

It has been reported that should United consider the 22-year-old surplus to requirements, Leeds will make their move. The Whites will make an offer to sign the Wales international winger on a season-long loan deal and have the option to make the move permanent in the summer of 2021.

James joined United from Championship club Swansea in the summer of 2019 for a reported transfer fee of £15 million. According to , James made 26 starts and seven substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Red…

Southampton have tied 18-year-old forward Michael Obafemi to a new three-and-a-half-year contract after impressing in the first team.

Obafemi was brought in from Leyton Orient in 2016 and has long been considered a future regular, having made his league debut for the club in January 2018.

That made him the second-youngest player to feature for Saints in the Premier League, and he has kicked on this season.

The Republic of Ireland international has made five league appearances in 2018-19, even starting the 2-2 draw with Manchester United on December 1, before scoring his first top-flight goal in a 3-1 win at Huddersfield Town three weeks later.

He is now set to remain at the club until 2022.

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Looking to extend on what has been a real purple patch, Rennes will welcome Montpellier to Roazhon Park on Sunday afternoon.

Starting with the hosts, while Rennes might have been frustrated to have thrown away their three-goal lead away at Fenerbache earlier in the week, Bruno Génésio s side have cruised their way to the knockout stage of this season s Europa League. Only continuing to gain a string of plaudits since opening the 2022/23 campaign, the Brittany-based outfit are in the midst of a 13-match unbeaten run across all formats. With that stellar purple patch stemming all the way back to August 27th, Sunday s hosts also have an attacking talisman enjoying quite the free-scoring run. Once again finding t…

Roma head Jose Mourinho did not want to say much following the Giallorossi s 2-1 defeat to Milan at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday, fearing that if he did he won t be on the touchline next week.

The loss was Mourinho s first at home in Serie A in his career, having been unbeaten for 43 home games during his time at Inter and Roma.

Compliments to Milan,  he said to DAZN immediately after the game. I don t want to say anything else, because otherwise I won t be on the touchline next week.

I am angry at the lack of respect shown to the Roma fans. We did not play well, but we left everything on the pitch. We have that respect, others do not, and that angers me.

That is all.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager then held an equally sho…

Porto forward Hulk has stated he is not paying too much attention to reports linking him with Serie A giants Inter Milan.

Italian sources claimed last week the San Siro outfit were considering a January bid for the striker as a way to solve their goalscoring problems.

The Brazil international has refused to rule out a move away from Porto, but stated he is not worried about his situation.

What I know is there has been news saying Inter are interested in me, just like several other European clubs, Hulk told Radio Bandeirantes.

I am focused on working at Porto. I don t know if something will happen in January, next season or in the next two or three years.

If a deal is to happen, it will surely be something good for me and for Porto. I leave th…

Basel have confirmed on their website that head coach Thorsten Fink has left the club with immediate effect in order to take charge at Hamburg.

The Bundesliga outfit have yet to confirm the 43-year-old s appointment, but the former Bayern Munich midfielder has already stated that HSV will be his new club.

I am no longer Basel coach from now on. My move to HSV is a done deal, Fink told Sport1.

Hamburg have been in the market for a new boss since Michael Oenning s departure on September 19.

Rodolfo Cardoso initially took over as caretaker boss, but was replaced by sporting director Frank Arnesen last week due to the fact he did not have his coaching licence.

The former Chelsea chief did not stop in his search for a permanent replacement, though,…