New Czech coach Petr Rada won t simply accept Jan Koller s decision to retire from the national team, and plans to change the player s mind.
After Euro 2008, where the Czech didn t make it through the group phase, Koller announced that he would no longer be available for the national team.
Rada meanwhile, concluded that what he needs for the coming two years is a striker like Koller, and Karel Bruckner s replacement hopes that the tall forward finds his way back to the national team.
Koller, who currently plays at Russian side Krylya Sovetov, scored no less than 55 goals in 90 games for the Czech Republic.
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Granada moved to the top of LaLiga after a 1-0 win over Real Betis on Sunday, less than five months on from their promotion back to the top flight.
Diego Martinez s side took advantage of the postponed Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, with Alvaro Vadillo s second-half goal sealing all three points at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes.
The Andalusian side have enjoyed a remarkable return to LaLiga after two seasons in the second tier, winning six of their opening 10 games, including a memorable 2-0 victory over Barca on September 21.
With Barca not playing this weekend after their clash with Madrid was postponed, Granada were able to move a point clear at the top of the table.
Their haul of 20 points from 10 games this season is as many as they managed …
Peter Crouch has admitted that he may need to leave Stoke City, .
The veteran striker scored in Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup third round victory over League One side Doncaster Rovers, but has not started a Premier League game this season, with all three of his outings coming as a substitute.
He moved to the Britannia Stadium in the summer of 2011 and has racked up one hundred and sixty-two appearances for the club, far more than any of the previous sides for which he has played.
He has hit forty-four goals for the Potters, and also has an impressive scoring record for his country netting twenty-two times in forty-two games though he hasn’t featured for them since October 2010.
Having booked their place in the fourth round, 2011 FA Cup finalists Stoke c…
Arsenal suffered a turbulent night in the Champions League as Bukayo Saka hobbled off during defeat in Lens.
Bad weather grounded Mikel Arteta and his players at Luton Airport for five hours on Monday as their journey to France was delayed.
Now their hopes of avoiding a bumpy ride in qualifying for the knockout stages have also suffered a setback after Lens came from behind to record a 2-1 victory at a rocking Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Gabriel Jesus thought he had given the Gunners lift-off when he broke the deadlock with his 22nd Champions League goal.
However, hopes of an easy night veered off course as an error from goalkeeper David Raya led to Adrien Thomasson levelling before Saka limped off hurt for the third time in nine days.
Elye Wahi then …
Cristiano Ronaldo has insisted his time at Manchester United played a huge role in his development.
The Portugal international joined United from Sporting CP in 2003 and matured into one of the best players in the world at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo, who eventually left United for Real Madrid in 2009, has now revealed that the guidance of players such as Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs helped him become the player he is now.
Manchester was a huge education for me, Ronaldo told The Times. There were guys who always arrived for training one hour early. Scholes and Neville were incredible examples. Neville was the most professional player I saw. This is why these guys played in the top level for 10 years.
People like Giggsy, too. I learnt from them.…
It has been quite a few weeks for Jarrod Bowen – the family man and England international who welcomed twin daughters into the world last month before delivering Europa League Conference success for West Ham.
Described by his first boss as a “manager’s dream”, Bowen’s last-minute winner in a closely-fought final against Fiorentina on Wednesday night provided an unforgettable end to West Ham’s 43-year wait for a major trophy.
The 26-year-old, whose partner is reality TV star Dani Dyer, has a down-to-earth demeanour which has seen him become a firm favourite among team-mates and the club’s supporters since he relocated to London in 2020.
“The best moment of my career” was how Bowen summed up the 90th minute at Prague’s Fortuna Arena when he latc…
Jack Wilshere is determined to prove Arsenal were wrong to release him when he revisits his old club with West Ham on Saturday.
The 26-year-old spent 11 years at the North London club before joining West Ham on a free transfer in July, and he is set to make his first appearance against them at the Emirates Stadium this weekend.
Wilshere played on loan at Bolton Wanderers in 2009-10 and at Bournemouth in 2016-17 but has yet to experience lining up for Arsenal s opposition.
He told West Ham s matchday programme: It s down to me to prove a point to Arsenal that they were wrong to get rid of me.
Happy to make my home debut but not happy with the result. Tough game for us this weekend but we have a week of hard work and preperation in front of us
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Gabriel Agbonlahor responded to Jurgen Klopp s criticism of his mentality on Friday with a Twitter post remembering his winner against Liverpool at Anfield.
Agbonlahor s analysis of Manchester United s 4-0 defeat to Brentford last week so frustrated Klopp he almost rang in to talkSPORT to talk to the former Aston Villa striker, the Liverpool manager revealed.
Agbonlahor s scathing review of United s poor performance was unbelievable coming from an ex-player, Klopp suggested.
Speaking at a news conference ahead of Liverpool facing rivals United, the Reds boss said: [Agbonlahor] lost against us 6-0 my first year [Villa v Liverpool, Feb 2016].
I couldn t remember him as a mentality monster on the pitch, but what he said about United on that show, I was clo…
Sunday Night Football for Week 7 features a non-conference clash between a couple of two-win teams with the Indianapolis Colts visiting the San Francisco 49ers.
San Francisco is still dealing with injury issues coming off a bye but was on the board as a 4.5-point NFL betting favorite for this primetime game. Indianapolis kind of enjoyed a bye of its own, thrashing lowly Houston 31-3 last Sunday for its third straight ATS win and fourth payday in the past five games.
Check out our NFL free picks and predictions for Colts vs. 49ers on Sunday, October 24.
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Conference realignment is definitely confusing these days, but we're pretty sure Florida State is still in the ACC. In fact, yes, Florida State is still in the ACC; the Seminoles beat Georgia Tech 21-15 last year to win the ACC for the first time in seven years. According to this ring FSU won the SEC for the first time in ever. Menelik Watson, a second-round pick of the Oakland Raiders and former Seminole just tweeted a picture of the championship ring meant to commemorate Florida State's status as 2012 ACC Champions but unfortunately, it commemorates Florida State's status as 2012 SEC Champions, a claim Alabama may dispute. Update: Thanks to reader Jeff, we have evidence that suggests at least one player had the correct conference designation on his ring. Another lo…