Bitesize Prediction: Colorado Rapids vs Sporting Kansas City – 05/07/24

Market: Colorado Rapids win

Odds: 4/6 @

Looking to make an immediate return to winning ways in the early hours of Friday, Colorado will welcome Sporting KC to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Starting with the hosts, left frustrated last weekend as they eventually slumped to a routine 3-0 drumming away at Los Angeles, the Rapids will be seeking an immediate response here. Nevertheless, still mustering nine points from their previous four MLS appearances, Chris Armas’ men are still battling it out at the top of the Western Conference table. Appearing to cruise their way to a play-off ticket and making a string of improvements since opening up the 2024 campaign, the former New York Red Bulls boss will be smelling a golden opportunity here. Pencilled in as a standou…

Nagelsmann rues Germany´s missed opportunity but retiring Kroos recognises ´hope again´

Julian Nagelsmann was frustrated to see Germany s chances of winning a home tournament slip away with defeat to Spain, although retiring midfielder Toni Kroos found cause for optimism for the years ahead.

Despite Florian Wirtz s late strike to cancel out Dani Olmo s opener on Friday, an even later goal from Mikel Merino, in the 119th minute, sent Spain through at the hosts expense.

The 2-1 defeat was tough for Germany to take having worked so hard to get back into the match against perhaps the tournament s standout side in Spain.

Indeed, coach Nagelsmann felt his team deserved more, explaining: It s difficult to hold back the tears. They did not deserve to lose today.

We reacted well after the break. Spain had only two chances in the second half, and we …

‘Dark time’ warning for football if sole bidder Saudi Arabia gets 2034 World Cup

A prospective Saudi Arabia World Cup is taking football back to a “dark time”, according to Human Rights Watch.

FIFA confirmed on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia is the sole bidder for the 2034 tournament after a process lasting less than a month and with only interest from Asian and Oceanian federations permitted.

While it still needs to be rubber-stamped, probably at FIFA’s Congress late next year, this appears little more than a formality.

FIFA receives declarations of interest in hosting FIFA World Cup editions in 2030 and 2034

— FIFA Media (@fifamedia)

In a statement to the PA news agency, Minky Worden, director of Global Initiatives at Human Rights Watch, said: “FIFA awarding the World Cup without any competition or transpare…

Buffon rejoins Juventus: The legendary Italian goalkeeper´s most memorable quotes

BUFFON ON… SQUAD NUMBERS

I chose 88 because it reminds me of four balls and in Italy we all know what it means to have balls: strength and determination. And this season I will have to have balls to get back my place in the Italy team.

BUFFON ON… VAR

You told us that VAR would be used in clear-cut incidents where there were mistakes, but now you are even checking the replays for a trodden toe or a finger in an ear. It s no longer football… it s turning into water polo. It takes too long. I didn t celebrate when we were awarded a penalty because six minutes had passed.

Six clean sheets in a row for the first time in our history.

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)

BUFFON ON… HIS GOAL

More than 25 years ago I made my v…

It’s in our hands – Steven MacLean ‘positive’ in survival fight

St Johnstone interim manager Steven MacLean stressed their fate was in their own hands after a home defeat by Motherwell left them in relegation danger.

Saints failed to test Motherwell goalkeeper Liam Kelly during a 2-0 defeat at McDiarmid Park.

Results elsewhere mean they are only five point off the bottom of the cinch Premiership and three ahead of 11th-placed Ross County, with Kilmarnock only two points behind.

Saints now face two away games at Rugby Park and in Dingwall before finishing their season at home to Livingston.

MacLean said: “We aren’t really interested in the other teams. It’s in our hands, we’d rather be in our position than the teams below us.

“We will go to Kilmarnock and be positive. The boys are disappointed but I w…

Modric fends off contract talk ahead ahead of PSG showdown

Luka Modric says now is not the time to discuss his future as Real Madrid prepare for a huge Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.

Modric s contract expires at the end of June but the Croatia captain has expressed his desire to stay at Santiago Bernabeu.

Madrid will be counting on the midfield maestro to pull the strings when they attempt to overcome a 1-0 deficit and reach the Champions League quarter-finals with home advantage on Wednesday.

The playmaker says he is in no rush to agree terms on a new deal.

i don t really want to talk about this now, there are more important things ahead like Wednesday s game, he said. 

It is a huge game for the club on Wednesday night and i m only focusing on that match.

Modric believe…