Juventus have confirmed their withdrawal from the European Super League project and requested to rejoin the European Club Association (ECA).

Juve were one of 12 European clubs that signed up to form a breakaway Super League in April 2021, a plan that sparked widespread protests from fans.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Milan and Inter were also part of the original breakaway group.

As a result of the announcement, those teams were also excluded from the ECA.

However, following the backlash from supporters and threats of sanctions by UEFA, nine of the clubs backed out swiftly, with the project collapsing within 72 hours.

They were then readmitted to the ECA, and …

Northern Ireland resume their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign on Friday night when they face Denmark in Copenhagen.

Here the PA news agency looks at the key talking points ahead of the Group H fixture.

The hardest task?

On paper, Friday’s match is the toughest on Northern Ireland’s fixture list, away to the top seed in the group. Denmark’s squad boasts elite-level talent and rich experience in every department. The likes of Christian Eriksen, Simon Kjaer, and Andreas Christensen have been operating at the top level for years, while in 20-year-old striker Rasmus Hojlund they have one of the hottest properties in European football. But Denmark are coming off a shock defeat away to Kazakhstan in March, showing they are far from infallible.

Bouncebackabil…

Republic of Ireland defender Marc Wilson has been ruled out of Euro 2016 having suffered a setback in his recovery from a serious knee injury.

The 28-year-old has not played for club side Stoke City since January having damaged knee ligaments, but was hoping to make the tournament in France and had been named in manager Martin O Neill s 35-man provisional squad.

However, O Neill revealed that Wilson has had an additional problem and subsequently will not be fit in time to play at the Euros.

Marc Wilson has had a setback, he said. The best thing for him is to take four of five weeks off. He will be out.

Ireland goalkeeper and club team-mate Shay Given added: I have worked with Marc Wilson in the gym this season. 

It s a big shame for him. The s…

Ten-man Juventus twice came from behind to stun RB Leipzig 3-2 on Wednesday as Francisco Conceicao s 82nd-minute strike continued the Serie A giants winning start to their Champions League campaign.

Juve were reduced to 10 just before the hour mark when goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio was sent off for a handball outside the box, having already lost captain Bremer and Nicolas Gonzalez to injury.

Benjamin Sesko, whose opener was cancelled out by Dusan Vlahovic prior to the red card, quickly restored Leipzig s lead from the penalty spot with his third European goal of the season.

But Vlahovic came to Juve s rescue again three minutes later, curling a left-footed effort into the top corner to level the game at 2-2.

And the unlikely turnaround was complete as C…

Lionel Scaloni hopes Angel Di Maria can retire from international duty in the best possible way , but did not reveal whether he will start Argentina s Copa America final showdown with Colombia.

The veteran winger and winner of 144 caps is set to call time on his illustrious career with La Albiceleste at the conclusion of this tournament, where they are looking to successfully defend their crown.

Di Maria has played a crucial role in Argentina s success in recent years, scoring the winner against Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final, while netting in the following year s Finalissima victory over Italy and World Cup final success against France.

The 36-year-old has continued to demonstrate his importance for Scaloni s side in the United States, playing in four of …

Arsenal will host Liverpool in a blockbuster third-round FA Cup tie next month.

The Premier League giants are meeting for the first time in the competition since Arsenal won a fifth-round tie 2-1 in 2014.

The Gunners have come out on top in their last three FA Cup clashes, with Liverpool’s last victory back in the final of 2001.

We will travel to face Arsenal in the third round of the

— Liverpool FC (@LFC)

The other standout tie of the draw saw Championship side Sunderland paired with neighbours Newcastle, who will travel to the Stadium of Light over the weekend of January 6 and 7.

It will be a first meeting between the North East giants since they were both in the Premier League in 2015/16, while they have not played each other in …

Several star players will be available as free agents ahead of the 2020-21 season. Even though there’s no certainty on when the leagues will resume around the world, we do know one thing. These five players listed below will be available for free when the upcoming transfer market opens in the next few months.

Mario Götze – Dortmund

Götze will always be remembered as the player who scored the winning goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, the Germany international and current Borussia Dortmund star is far more than that. A gifted playmaker capable of playing all over the attacking third, he seems set to leave Dortmund for the second time in his career. Could a reunion with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool be on the cards? That shouldn’t be ruled out, as Liverpool do not…

Fabio Capello believes “super player” Jude Bellingham can help drive England to Euro 2024 glory this summer.

Former England manager Capello was at the Bernabeu on Sunday to see Bellingham score a stoppage-time winner as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-2.

The 20-year-old midfielder has made an incredible impact at Real since joining from Borussia Dortmund last summer, with that superb El Clasico strike his 21st goal of the season.

“Only the super players can play like him at this age – (Lionel) Messi and some others,” Capello said at the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid.

“It was an incredible performance that I saw in a really important game like El Clasico because he was very good on every part of the pitch.

“He ran back and covere…

The past 12 months saw another Juventus title in Serie A, but 2020 comes to a close with Milan back in the trophy hunt at the top of the table.

Although the Rossoneri have not won the Scudetto since 2011, they lead the way through 14 matches heading into the new year.

Rivals Inter are a point further back, while Juve are back in sixth after losing their unbeaten record last time out against Fiorentina.

To mark the end of an intriguing year, Opta calculated a Top XI for Serie A in 2020, including a host of big names but notably missing one superstar.

11 – Here the best XI in the calendar year 2020 based on Opta Data. Team.

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo)

GOALKEEPER: MARCO SILVESTRI

Hellas Verona have conceded just 14 goals so far th…

Owen Coyle has enough good memories of play-offs to keep him positive as Queen’s Park this week try another route to the cinch Premiership.

The Spiders lost 5-3 to Dundee in the Championship title decider on Friday night to leave them facing a play-off quarter-final tie against Partick Thistle, with the first game at Firhill on Tuesday and the return match at Ochilview on Friday.

As a striker, Coyle scored in the 1995 play-off final at Wembley to help Bolton beat Reading 4-3 after extra-time to reach the top flight before he returned to Scotland the following season, netting the winner for Dundee United in extra-time in the second leg of the play-off against Partick to take the Tannadice side to the Premiership.

As Burnley manager, Coyle won promotion to the Pr…