The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has confirmed it will bid to host Euro 2024.

Turkey pitched unsuccessfully for Euro 2008, 2012 and 2016, while in 2014 it withdrew a bid to host final stage matches at Euro 2020 under the model that will see the next edition of the tournament hosted in major cities across Europe.

Nevertheless, the TFF will enter the breach once more, buoyed by a sustained effort in stadium development in the country over recent years.

On this occasion we believe both as a management board and a country that we deserve to get it, said TFF president Yildirim Demiroren at a news conference on Wednesday.

Turkey is the only example of a country in Europe or even the world which has made as many as 32 stadium investments in the last few y…

The business end of the Champions League usually throws up familiar rivalries, with Europe s big guns so often getting to the latter stages of the competition.

Wednesday sees a repeat of last season s semi-final as Chelsea and Real Madrid contest a tie brimming with European pedigree, but last year s Europa League winners Villarreal are playing the increasingly customary role of Champions League disruptor.

From Atalanta to Ajax to Lyon, there seems to be one club that manages to punch above their weight in relation to Europe s elite in recent seasons, and Unai Emery s side will have their work cut against Bayern Munich.

We take a look at both games using Opta facts, which suggest two enticing matchups as well as contrasts of style.

Chelsea v Real Madrid…

Yann Sommer has announced his retirement from international football after a 12-year career representing Switzerland.

The Inter goalkeeper made his international debut in 2012 and has since racked up 94 caps and kept 33 clean sheets.

Sommer was ever-present during Switzerland’s impressive run to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals in Germany, where they lost to eventual finalists England on penalties.

Euro 2024 marked his fifth major tournament with the Swiss national team having also received call-ups for Euro 2016 and 2020 and the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

1 – Yann Sommer in the Swiss national team:

94 games
8512 minutes
92 goals conceded
33 clean sheets
0 yellow cards (1 on bench)
0 red cards

Legend.

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz…

While most of Europe’s respective domestic leagues might have watched their summer transfer windows slam shut last week, all of Turkey’s elite still have plenty of time left on the clock.

Watching Napoli hitman complete what was a sensational loan switch to Galatasaray following failed Deadline Day moves to either Chelsea or Saudi Arabia, the Turkish summer window will not officially close until September 13th.

Although ex-Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha might have cut his spell in Istanbul short, there are plenty of current aces that are linked with a late move over to Turkey.

Kieran Trippier Newcastle

While might have played a crucial role in Newcastle’s revolution since arriving at St. James’ Park back in January 2022, the former Tottenham defen…

Best Odds: 21/10

Bookmaker:

With a lucrative Europa Conference League ticket up for grabs on Sunday afternoon, Twente will welcome Sparta Rotterdam to the De Grolsch Veste.

Twente

Starting with the hosts, managing to snatch a stunning last-gasp equaliser away in Rotterdam earlier in the week, Twente should be confident of finishing off their Conference League charge here. Making a real semi-final statement earlier in the month as they clinched a stunning 6-1 aggregate romp against Heerenveen, Ron Jans’ side have impressed many across Holland over the past couple of months. Signing off the 2022/23 Eredivisie campaign with a famous 3-1 victory against Ajax on May 28th, Twente have now lost just one of their previous 14 appearances across all competitions. Certa…

Defender Leonardo Bonucci has announced he will retire from playing professional football when his current contract with Juventus expires at the end of next season.

The 36-year-old has had a truly illustrious career. He rose through the youth ranks at Inter Milan and spent time on loan with Treviso and AC Pisa, and after a season-long spell with Bari, he signed for Juventus in 2010 for just over €15 million. He left the club in 2017 to play for AC Milan but returned the following year.

Including both spells, Bonucci has worn the black-and-white of Juventus on exactly 500 occasions so far, helping them win eight Scudettos, four Italian Cups and five Italian Super Cups. He has also earned 120 caps for his country, winning Euro 2020 with the Azzurri.

When I stop…

The last three European winners of major tournaments will play in the same pool at Euro 2020, after France, Portugal and Germany were all drawn together

Germany and France victors at the respective 2014 and 2018 World Cups will take on reigning European champions Portugal and a play-off winner in Group G.

Croatia, runners-up at last year s World Cup, will renew acquaintances with England, the side they beat in the semi-finals.

Here is the draw in full for next year s event, with four places in the finals still to be determined by the four path-winners in March s play-offs.

That moment when Portugal, France Germany are drawn in the same group

— UEFA EURO 2020 (@EURO2020)

Group A: Turkey, Italy, Wales, Switzerland

Gr…

Vincent Kompany has welcomed referee Rebecca Welch’s “milestone” appointment and insists his Burnley players will not modify their behaviour when she takes charge of their game with Fulham.

Welch will break new ground once again at Craven Cottage on Saturday, the 40-year-old from Tyne and Wear having in November become the first female to act as fourth official in a Premier League match.

“It’s certainly a benchmark and milestone,” Burnley boss Kompany said of Welch’s top-flight bow in the middle.

“I think she’ll take great pride in having done it herself. There’s a lot of women – in general, but in the game as well specifically – who will see this as a way to achieve at the highest level.

“I am always pro any kind of extension an…

Record goalscorer Alan Shearer led the tributes to Newcastle’s latest European generation after witnessing their Champions League demolition of Paris St Germain.

The former Magpies skipper, who scored 206 goals during a glittering 10-year stay with his hometown club, was in the crowd at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening as they took the French champions apart to go top of Group F.

Shearer, the last man to score for the Magpies in the competition in 2003 before Miguel Almiron set them on their way against PSG, said on X, formerly known as Twitter: “As days and nights go that’s a f——— Belta. Hangover coming!!! What a performance man.”

What a night

Only way to celebrate is to have a drink or a dance Big Dan has got the moves