David Moyes acknowledged that West Ham being one step away from the Europa League final may have stunned most, including himself, last season.

West Ham qualified for UEFA s secondary club football competition by finishing sixth in the 2020-21 Premier League and have adapted well to European football.

The Hammers also emerged as early contenders to qualify for the Champions League this season, but now sit seventh – eight points behind fourth-placed Arsenal having played a game more – with their focus seemingly on Europe.

West Ham defeated Europa League specialists Sevilla and Lyon to reach the final four, where they will meet Eintracht Frankfurt, who defeated Barcelona at the quarter-final stage.

Indeed, it will be West Ham s first semi-final in a m…

Wrexham’s McClean has represented his country with distinction since making his senior debut as a substitute in a 1-1 draw with the Czech Republic in February 2012. A veteran of Ireland’s Euro 2012 and 2016 finals campaigns, the 34-year-old has played as a winger, a frontman and a wing-back under Giovanni Trapattoni, Martin O’Neill, Mick McCarthy and Kenny, and famously scored winning goals in Austria and Wales in World Cup qualifiers as the Republic made it to the play-offs for the 2018 finals. McClean was a late addition to the squad for Saturday evening’s 1-0 Euro 2024 defeat in the Netherlands but did not feature in Amsterdam and is sure to be given a rousing send-off in Dublin.

They think it’s all over

The Football Association of Ireland will consider a review of…

Isco s time at Real Madrid may be winding down, but the playmaker at least was able to see the funny side as he wished team-mate Marcelo a happy birthday.

Marcelo turned 34 on Thursday. The left-back joined Madrid in 2006 and has gone on to enjoy five LaLiga titles, two Copa del Rey triumphs and four Champions League crowns.

Isco, meanwhile, swiftly established himself as a key cog in Carlo Ancelotti s system upon joining Madrid from Malaga in 2013. 

However, the 30-year-old has struggled with injuries and was used sparingly by Zinedine Zidane in 2020-21.

Isco s struggles have persisted in Ancelotti s second spell in charge and he has been restricted to just 386 minutes of action this season, across 16 appearances in all competitions.

Just thr…

Bayer Leverkusen wrapped up their first ever Bundesliga title on Sunday night as Xabi Alonso’s managerial reputation continues to grow.

Leverkusen are unbeaten in all competitions this season and here, the PA news agency looks at their record.

Invincibles

Alonso’s side lead Bayern Munich by 16 points with five games remaining after 25 wins and four draws in the Bundesliga this season.

Wins or draws against all of Borussia Dortmund, Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt, Bochum and Augsburg would see them complete the first ever undefeated Bundesliga season – Bayern lost just one game in both the 1986-87 and 2012-13 seasons, a record in the competition.

Leverkusen are also in the DFB-Pokal final, against second-tier Kaiserslautern, and hold a 2-0 lead from…

Champions Inter were knocked off the Serie A summit on Sunday as they were forced to come from behind to play out a 1-1 draw with Monza.

Hosts Monza took the lead in the 81st minute through substitute forward Dany Mota, but the Nerazzurri would avoid a surprise defeat to their neighbours as Denzel Dumfries levelled seven minutes later.

Lautaro Martinez should have put the Scudetto holders in front inside the opening 10 minutes, when he received a perfect cross from Federico Dimarco.

His header from the centre of the box, however, sailed slightly over the crossbar before Dimarco and Davide Frattesi spurned chances of their own.

But Monza defended resolutely and they went on to take a shock lead nine minutes from time, Mota nodding home a neat lofted cross …

Al Ittihad are interested in signing Moussa Diaby from Aston Villa in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected journalist has reported that Diaby himself is open to a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Romano wrote on : “Al Ittihad plan to advance for Moussa Diaby after Houssem Aouar as first signing under Blanc.

“Negotiations started with Aston Villa, initial proposal in excess of €50m with add-ons. Talks underway and player open to the move.

Diaby has been on the books of Villa since the summer of 2023 when he joined from German club Bayer Leverkusen. The 25-year-old, who can operate as a winger or as an attacking midfielder, made 25 starts and 13 substitute appearances for the Villans last season. The France…

Arsenal have confirmed the arrival of young goalkeeper Tommy Setford from Ajax for just under £1 million.

Setford, who is an England youth international, arrives at the Emirates on a four-year deal, with the Gunners holding the option of a further 12 months.

The 18-year-old had entered the final year of his contract with Ajax, with the Dutch club opting to sell rather than risk losing him on a free next year.

Setford has been signed for the academy but will regularly train with the first team and will fly out to join Mikel Arteta s squad for their pre-season tour of the United States.

The young goalkeeper has opted for a move to the Premier League due to the pathway to first-team opportunities at Arsenal.

Setford is the second teenage goalkee…

Jurgen Klopp insists Liverpool will be Premier League contenders next season after ending an underwhelming campaign with a thrilling 4-4 draw at relegated Southampton.

The fifth-placed Reds arrived at St Mary’s knowing they had already missed out on a top-four finish for the first time since 2015-16.

Early goals from Diogo Jota and Roberto Firmino appeared to have put the in-form visitors on course for a straightforward success on the south coast.

Thank you for your amazing support home and away during 2022/23

— Liverpool FC (@LFC)

But they were forced to come from 4-2 behind to stretch their unbeaten run to 11 games following Kamaldeen Sulemana’s brace and strikes from James Ward-Prowse and Adam Armstrong.

Liverpool boss Klopp, wh…

Newcastle United have won the race to the signing of Bournemouth central defender Lloyd Kelly, according to a report in . Kelly is out of contract at Bournemouth at the end of the season, and it has been claimed that Premier League rivals Newcastle have convinced the defender to switch to St. James’ Park on a free transfer in the summer of 2024.

TEAMtalk has noted that Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have also been interested in Kelly. However, it is Newcastle who have managed to get a deal done with the 25-year-old, who can operate as a centre-back or as a left-back. Kelly has been on the books of Bournemouth since 2019 and is one of the better players in his position in the Premier League.

Kelly has made 52 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. He …

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Following their successful qualification for the knockout phase of Euro 2024, Denmark and Switzerland will now shift their focus to the UEFA Nations League as they begin their League A Group 4 campaign on Thursday against each other.

Both teams will be eager to build on their momentum and make a strong start to the tournament in Copenhagen.

Denmark

After a frustrating summer at Euro 2024, Denmark will look to secure their first win in five matches when they return to Parken Stadion on Thursday evening. The Danes endured a tough group stage, managing only two goals and no victories in Group C, although Morten Hjulmand’s stunning strike against England stood out as one of the tournament s best moments.

Despite their st…