Incoming Bayern Munich head coach Carlo Ancelotti has backed a counter-attacking team to win Euro 2016 and highlighted Leicester City and Atletico Madrid as examples of teams achieving success without playing possession football.

Leicester upset the odds to win the Premier League this season, while Atleti overcame favourites Barcelona and Bayern to reach the Champions League final where they were beaten by city rivals Real Madrid.

Spain head to France as the two-time defending European champions, successes they achieved with their famous possession, tiki-taka style.

But former AC Milan and Real Madrid boss Ancelotti believes Euro 2016 will see a different approach flourish.

When I look back over the league seasons in the biggest football countries in Eur…

Human rights must be a key consideration in selecting the hosts of the 2030 World Cup, according to a new survey.

Fifty-three per cent of the 17,477 people from 15 countries who took part in a YouGov poll commissioned by Amnesty International said human rights considerations were vital in choosing the host of the World Cup and other major sporting events, rising to 60 per cent among UK respondents.

Saudi Arabia has been linked with a joint bid alongside Greece and Egypt to host the 2030 or 2034 World Cup, while the Middle East state has already been selected to host the Club World Cup in December.

Representatives of more than 200 national associations will vote on who should host the 2030 finals at a FIFA Congress next year.

FIFA made human rights criteri…

James Tavernier believes Philippe Clement is facing selection headaches after returning Rangers to the top of the cinch Premiership on Sunday.

Amid a busy fixture schedule, the Belgian boss again reshuffled his pack for the tense trip to St Johnstone, this time with five changes.

The 32-year-old Gers skipper scored two late penalties to add to Mohamed Diomande’s first-half opener in the 3-0 win.

Victory moved the Light Blues above Celtic at the top of the table, after being seven points behind their Old Firm rivals when Clement took over from Michael Beale in October.

Substitutes Dujon Sterling and Tom Lawrence won the spot-kicks to allow Tavernier to score his 18th and 19th goals of the season, 120 in total since arriving in Govan in 2015.

With…

The chasing pack have some task on their hands to dethrone Liverpool as Premier League champions in 2020-21.

While the Reds fell one point shy of reaching the 100 mark – a tally achieved by Manchester City in the 2017-18 campaign – Jurgen Klopp s side were dominant in ending their 30-year wait for top-flight glory.

Pep Guardiola s men were the nearest challengers but still 18 points adrift, while Manchester United in third were a whopping 33 back.

Below we have taken a look at some Opta facts that show the size of the task faced by Liverpool s rivals in bridging the gap.

3 Liverpool have remained unbeaten at Anfield in three consecutive league seasons for the first time in the club’s history. Citadel.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)

Win, win a…

Shocks, scraps and commentator squeals have helped to make up an enthralling Euro 2016 so far.

Established stars have shone brightly, while newcomers to the global scene have grabbed plenty of headlines as the expanded 24-team format has served up a number of surprises.

After many hours of deliberation, Omnisport presents here the best team of the group stage. We ve gone for a 3-4-3 system to shoehorn our favourites in, and some of the best stats Opta has to offer to back up our choices.

Goalkeeper: Michael McGovern (Northern Ireland)
Euro 2016 has seen a number of exemplary goalkeeping displays so far – this has been the tournament s lowest goal-per-game average since 1980, after all – but Northern Ireland s McGovern has been the standout. He saved 15 of t…

The 2022 World Cup should be played in May and June, according to two major bodies representing European clubs and leagues.

The tournament, to be held in Qatar, has caused much controversy, w
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ith temperatures in the World Cup s traditional June/July slot deemed unsafe.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke announced last month that the global governing body was close to narrowing down the options to two January/February and November/December.

However, the European Club Association (ECA) and European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL) have joined forces to make the case for a May/June tournament.

Under the proposals, the World Cup would begin on May 5, with the final to take place on June 4.

The bodies argue that the solution offers ac…

Rob Edwards is keen for Luton Town to ignore the scrutiny surrounding them in the relegation battle as they prepare for another big game against Wolves.

The Hatters sit one point from safety in the relegation zone after back-to-back 5-1 defeats against Manchester City and Brentford.

While Nottingham Forest also lost last weekend, being beaten 2-0 by Everton, Burnley beat Sheffield United to move them two points behind Luton.

Asked how he is handling the pressure of the relegation battle with only four games left, Edwards said: “The stakes are high already, we all know what it means and it s really important to everyone that s in this at the moment, a number of clubs that are still fighting to try and avoid it and be in the league next season, it s so important.…

Pep Guardiola acknowledged that his Manchester City players must improve on their opening day showing as they welcome Ipswich Town to the Etihad on Saturday.

City kickstarted their Premier League title defence with a 2-0 win against Chelsea, but Guardiola was left wanting more from his squad

Despite having more shots and shots on target, the Citizens underperformed their expected goals (xG) total by 1.23, something the Spaniard said surprised him.

I didn t expect it. We are away from our best so three points is the good news. The bad news is we have 65 games ahead of us, Guardiola said.

We have an advantage, it s our ninth season together so we know each other well.

There is a plan, defensive, offensive. But afterwards, it s how we celebrat…

When South Africa switches off the World Cup lights on Sunday, the focus will switch to 2014 hosts Brazil, a country desperately hoping to avoid the pitfalls of 1950.

Back then, their much-vaunted national team slumped to a 2-1 defeat against Uruguay in the final, watched by 200,000 people crammed into Rio s mythical Maracana stadium.

To lose in 2010 could be understood, but to lose in 2014 would be a repeat of 1950 and this is something nobody can imagine, said Ricardo Teixeira, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) who is also head of the 2014 organising committee.

Brazil is still mourning the failure of its 2010 team to win a sixth World Cup with Dunga s side losing to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals in South Africa.

Their…

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has penned a contract extension until 2021.

Germany international Neuer moved to the Allianz Arena from Bundesliga rivals Schalke ahead of the 2011-12 season and has been a mainstay of Bayern s XI since.

Recent reports suggested Neuer may be tempted to join head coach Pep Guardiola at Manchester City next season, but he has laid to rest any doubt over his future by penning fresh terms with the German champions.

He put pen to paper just minutes ago and soon we ll be hearing from the man himself!

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN)

Neuer is the latest Bayern star to commit his future to the club, with Jerome Boateng, Thomas Muller, David Alaba and Javi Martinez having extended their stays over recent months…