England attacker Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has praised the management of manager Roy Hodgson at Euro 2012.

The manager took the England reigns just before the tournament, and expectations were low for the campaign in Poland and Ukraine after a dismal showing at the 2010 World Cup.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was a surprise inclusion in Hodgson s 23-man group, and despite starting in the draw with France, the Arsenal man has found himself on the bench for the rest of England s matches.

In my time working with him I have been really impressed, the 18-year-old said to reporters. I have really enjoyed working with him, and that goes for the rest of the players as well.

He keeps a relaxed feel about it and he doesn t put too much pressure on us players. He lets you g…

Ashley Cole hopes Arsenal appoint interim head coach Freddie Ljungberg as their permanent new boss because  he knows the club inside out .

Ljungberg was put in temporary charge following Unai Emery s sacking two weeks ago, celebrating his first win on Monday with a 3-1 triumph at West Ham.

The 42-year-old is reportedly in contention to stay on at the Emirates Stadium helm until the end of the campaign while the club continue their search for Emery s successor.

However, Cole has called on Arsenal chiefs to consider sticking with Ljungberg whom he played alongside for seven years for the long term, rather than looking elsewhere.

Great start to my coaching career buzzing for the boys they we’re brilliant throughout, and also thanks to the other coaches wh…

Jurgen Klopp believes Champions League winners Liverpool are yet to fulfil even half of their potential as the German embarks on the next phase of his long-term plan.

Reds boss Klopp, 52, agreed a two-year contract extension on Friday, tying him to the club until 2024.

The German has had a galvanising effect since taking charge just over four years ago and looks destined to deliver the Premier League leaders their first top-flight title in 30 years.

Liverpool are eight points clear at the summit, have the European Cup in their possession and will only keep on improving, according to their charismatic manager.

We don t feel we are close [to] the end, Klopp told his club s website after inking the new deal.

We feel rather we are, maximum, not even…

Juventus defender Patrice Evra has signed a new one-year contract with the club, with the option for a further year.

The experienced France international, who joined from Manchester United in 2014, will be contracted to the Serie A champions until at least the end of the 2016-17 campaign.

Patrice Evra has today renewed his Juventus contract for an additional year with an option for a second keeping him at the Turin club until at least June 30, 2017, a statement released by the club confirmed.

Evra has claimed back-to-back domestic doubles in Italy since bringing an eight-year spell at Old Trafford to an end in 2014.

The 35-year-old, who confirmed last month that a two-year contract extension had been provisionally agreed, is determined to lift further si…

Former Tottenham Hotspur F.C. forward Terry Gibson believes Gareth Bale must replicate the ability he showed at White Hart Lane or risk being sold by Real Madrid.

The Wales international, who joined Madrid from Spurs in a deal believed to worth around €100 million in the summer of 2013, has suffered the ill-fated sophomore slump in 2014/15.

After tallying 22 goals and 16 assists in 44 appearances in all competitions last term, Bale has managed to bag just 16 goals and seven assists through 40 games this season.

Bale s not helping himself in terms of getting in positions, Gibson said.

It can happen in some games where the wide player doesn t get the service, but it won t happen at Real Madrid.

With [Toni] Kroos, [Luka] Modric and I…

Chelsea have been struggling in the Premier League this season, but Ukrainian winger Mykhaylo Mudryk has been showing plenty of promise since his big-money arrival from Shakhtar Donetsk in January.

Naturally, his relationship with international teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko is excellent, despite the London rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal.

What colour is London?

Mudryk: Blue

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL)

…

Real Madrid striker Arjen Robben claimed Lionel Messi of arch-rivals Barcelona was the best player in the world two days after Cristiano Ronaldo won the 2008 FIFA Player of the Year award.

For me, Messi is the best player in the world. What more can I say? I think he is in incredible form, he s on another planet, he s the best, he s different, said Robben, who joined Real from Chelsea on a five-year contract in August 2007.

Messi, 20, came in second place behind Manchester United s 23-year-old Portuguese winger in the awards ceremony in Switzerland on Monday.

Spain s sports media has been engaged in a fierce debate in recent days over who is the best player in the Spanish league Messi or Robben.

The 23-year-old Dutch player was the top scorer in the Pri…

Dele Alli expects his critics will still have something to say despite his match-winning performance in Tottenham s Premier League clash with Chelsea.

The England international scored twice in the second half to help Spurs to a 3-1 win, their first at Stamford Bridge in the top flight in 28 years.

Alli had only scored six times in the league prior to Sunday s match and has been criticised for a perceived dip in form compared to 2016-17, when he scored 18 times and provided seven assists in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old, though, does not feel he had a point to prove against the champions and thinks there will always be scrutiny of his displays.

I m sure people will still be disappointed with the way I ve played. They ll have something to say, he to…

Belgium have been crowned FIFA s Team of the Year for finishing top of the world rankings for the second December in a row.

Roberto Martinez s side will end 2019 at the top of the standings after winning all 10 of their international A matches this year to secure qualification for Euro 2020.

World champions France conclude the year in second place, with Brazil third, England fourth and Uruguay fifth.

World Cup runners-up Croatia and Nations League Finals winners Portugal join Spain, Argentina and Colombia in the top 10.

NEW

team of the year 
2019 s biggest climbers 

More 

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom)

The Mover of the Year accolade goes to Qatar, who gained 138 rankings points over the course of 2019.

The World C…

Portuguese champions FC Porto ended their successful 2008-09 campaign with a 1-1 draw versus Sporting Braga, while Sporting Lisbon beat Nacional Funchal 3-1.

Ernesto Farias scored Porto s last goal of the season in the 42nd minute, but Edimar equalised in the 56th to set the score to 1-1.

Two early goals from Derlei gave Sporting a comfortable lead over Nacional, who then got one back through Nene in the 12th minute. A penalty from Leandro Romagnolli near full time, eventually earned the home side a 3-1 victory.

As champions, Porto advance to the group phase of the Champions League while Sporting feature in the third preliminary round. Benfica, Nacional Funchal and Sporting Braga qualify for the UEFA Europa League.

OS Belenenses and CD Trofense are releg…