John Herdman insists that Toronto FC’s defeat to Orlando City must be a turning point in their MLS campaign ahead of facing in-form Columbus Crew this weekend.

Toronto had taken an early lead through Derrick Etienne but were compounded to a fifth straight defeat that leaves them in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, two points behind Nashville SC.

Head coach Herdman acknowledged his side’s poor recent form, and ensured conversations would be had with his players and staff to ensure they return to winning ways sooner, rather than later.

“This has to be a turning point for the club tonight,” Herdman said. “I said that to the players after the game, ‘It has to be the turning point.’

“There s going to be some hard conversations in the ne…

Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected journalist has reported that Spurs are pushing to get a deal done now, and that Solanke himself has given the green light to make the switch to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Romano told : “Understand Tottenham are pushing to get Dominic Solanke deal done, talks underway with Bournemouth. 

“Solanke has given the green light to Spurs as negotiations are ongoing to discuss under value of £65m clause. Tottenham want Solanke, as exclusively revealed last week.”

The former Liverpool striker has been on the books of Bournemouth since 2019 and has developed and grown as a player at the Cherries. …

Billy Gilmour is looking to feel the satisfaction of victory again as Scotland’s Euro 2024 preparations begin with a friendly against Netherlands on Friday night.

Amid growing excitement around the tournament in Germany this summer it has almost gone unnoticed that Steve Clarke’s side are on a five-game win-less run.

The final three qualifiers saw draws against Norway and Georgia and a defeat to classy Spain, along with friendly defeats to another two heavyweights, France and England.

Oor Billy.

— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT)

Scotland have not gone six matches without a win since a run from October 2007 to September 2008.

The Scots will host Northern Ireland at Hampden Park next Tuesday night and have friendlies against Gib…

Gianluigi Buffon revealed Nicolo Barella will undergo further tests ahead of Euro 2024, but believes the injured midfielder could replicate Gennaro Gattuso s exploits during Italy s 2006 World Cup triumph.

The Inter midfielder, who has been named in Luciano Spalletti s final squad for the forthcoming European Championship in Germany, was absent from Tuesday s goalless draw with Turkiye with a minor muscle problem.

Former goalkeeper Buffon, now Italy s head of delegation, played a key role in the side that triumphed at the World Cup 18 years ago, and what was the last major international tournament to be played on German soil.

Meanwhile, after missing the 2-0 victory over Ghana in their tournament opener through injury, Gattuso was a constant in the middle of the …

Verdict: Both teams score

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Following a narrow win in Finland, Lithuania heavyweights Zalgiris are in pole position to progress to the Conference League quarter-finals. The game will be played at LFF Stadium where the hosts enjoyed great success recently. With no more than 5, 000 fans attending the contest, we expect the highlights to be on the pitch rather than in the stands.

Zalgiris Vilnius

Once a former Soviet Union championship competitor, Zaligiris became the most successful Lithuanian football club since the breakout from the Soviet Union block (1990). After missing 1st place in Lithuania s inaugural domestic competition, the Green-Whites won back-to-back titles in the following seasons.

Although the visitors were o…

Mats Hummels says Germany s exit from Euro 2016 is not any easier to take because of their World Cup victory two years ago.

The Bayern Munich defender, 27, was suspended for the world champions 2-0 defeat to France in Marseille, which came after Antoine Griezmann netted in either half.

Hummels rued Germany s defeat as their 20-year wait for a continental crown was extended and added that winning the world s biggest event in 2014 did not ease the pain this time around.

To be honest, no, he told reporters. Just because you won another tournament does not mean you lose you hunger to win another one and that is a good sign.

You still want success and it means we will kick each other to improve further. I was really mad at first. The atmosphere after the fin…

Didier Deschamps suggested he is keen to continue as France coach beyond the expiration of his current deal, which runs out next year.

Deschamps has led France to a European Championship final and World Cup glory during his nine-year tenure as Les Bleus boss.

Indeed, he is only the third person – along with Mario Zagallo and Franz Beckenbauer – to have won the World Cup as both a player and a coach, while he would also make history if he guides France to success at Euro 2020 this year.

France going a step further than they managed on home soil in 2016 would make Deschamps the first person to win both the Euros and the World Cup as a player and coach.

However, this may well be his last shot at it with France, as his current deal runs until the end of…

Inter s chances of finishing above AC Milan for the fifth time in six Serie A seasons will become clearer when the city rivals first meet in matchday nine.

The Nerazzurri should enter that match in strong form after the release of the 2018-19 fixture schedule threw up a kind eight rounds to start the campaign, with Sassuolo, Bologna, Sampdoria and SPAL their away trips prior to the clash with the Rossoneri on October 21.

The Milan clubs reconvene for a second encounter on March 17, by which time Luciano Spalletti s side will hope to again be competing for a Champions League place.

Inter s first test against one of last season s top three comes away to Roma on December 2 in a tough week that sees them head to champions Juventus seven days later.

Should th…

(GSM) Portuguese playmaker Deco is set to retire from international football after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Deco, who has won titles in Portugal with FC Porto and in Spain Barcelona, moved to Chelsea in 2008 from Barcelona.

And the 2003-04 Champions League winner with Porto, feels the time is right for him to leave the international stage.

The midfielder also added that the prospect of winning the Premier League this season would be his professional fulfilment. .

The 32-year-old told Radio Globo: I will end my cycle after the World Cup.

For my age and because it is tiring, I will say goodbye to the national team after the World Cup.

…

The final day of the Premier League season is renowned for throwing up unforgettable moments of drama.

The stage was set for more with Manchester City travelling to Brighton and Hove Albion needing win to stave off the unrelenting charge of Liverpool, who faced Wolves at Anfield.

See how the day unfolded here:
 

1500 A nervy final afternoon is under way.

1503  Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva drives into the box but the Brighton defence manage to smuggle him away from danger.

1514 Riyad Mahrez s shot is deflected into the hands of Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan. City continue to probe at the Amex.

1517 LIVERPOOL LEAD AGAINST WOLVES. Trent Alexander-Arnold s right-wing centre is turned in by Sadio Mane. The pressure cranks up on …