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      Forgotten former Premier League star and Euro legend, 49, to take over as Turkey manager in shock decision

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      FORMER Premier League star Vincenzo Montella is set to be appointed as Turkey’s new boss.This comes after manager Stefan Kuntz was sacked following a two-year spell in charge.
      Vincenzo Montella is set to become manager of TurkeyCredit: EPA
      The Italian hero previously played for FulhamCredit: PA:Press Association
      The Turkish FA initially denied he had been fired but two days later confirmed the German had been axed ahead of Euro 2024 next summer.
      Montella, 49, is now set to take over, having been out of work since agreeing to mutually part ways with Adana Demirspor in June.
      He had guided the side to a fourth place finish in the Turkish Super Lig last season.
      Montella previously managed Sampdoria, AC Milan, Sevilla and had two reigns at Fiorentina.
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      As a player, the striker is best remembered by his days at Roma.
      The Italian won Serie A in 2001 and played a total of 258 games for the club, finding the back of the net 102 times.
      He also featured in Euro 2000 as Dino Zoff’s side lost in the final to France 2-1.
      Montella also had a short spell in the Premier League on loan at Fulham in 2007.
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      He swiftly became popular with the club’s fans, scoring six goals in 15 matches for them.
      But he rarely started under then manager Chris Coleman and after Lawrie Sanchez was appointed the loan move was terminated a week prior to it expiring.
      Montella will now be hoping to lead Turkey to Euro 2024 with the country currently sitting second in qualification Group D behind Croatia and narrowly ahead of Armenia and Wales.
      But it will be a tough job for him after Kuntz demanded his players need to work harder and that he “shouldn’t take all the blame.” More

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      Harry Maguire must be axed by England for Euro 2024.. it’s painful to watch Man Utd star after summer transfer blunder

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      LIVERPOOL legend Jamie Carragher has urged Gareth Southgate to drop Harry Maguire from the England squad “for his own protection” ahead of Euro 2024.Maguire, 30, was taunted by Scotland fans during Tuesday’s international friendly at Hampden Park.
      Maguire has been heavily criticised by fansCredit: Getty
      The defender was booed by fans during England’s match against ScotlandCredit: PA
      Carragher believes Maguire should be dropped from the England teamCredit: Alamy
      He also received criticism from England supporters after scoring an own-goal in the 67th minute.
      Southgate stepped in to defend the centre-back after the match, blasting the “ridiculous treatment” of him.
      The England boss said: “I’ve never known a player treated the way he is. He’s been an absolute stalwart for us in the second most successful England team for decades – he’s been an absolutely key part of that.”
      He later added: “From a Scotland fans’ point of view I get it. I have absolutely no complaints with what they did. But it’s a consequence of ridiculous treatment of him for a long period of time.
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      “It’s a joke. Not by the Scottish fans but by our own commentators, pundits or whatever it is. They’ve created something that’s beyond anything I have ever seen.”
      Many fans and pundits questioned Maguire’s place in the squad given his lack of game time at club level.
      He has played just 23 minutes of Premier League football so far this season for Man Utd, with his only appearance coming against Arsenal just before the international break.
      The defender has also come under fire at Old Trafford, with some fans now turning against him.
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      Maguire has also come under fire at Man UtdCredit: PA
      The centre-back has made just one appearance for the Red Devils this seasonCredit: Getty
      And Carragher, who made over 500 Premier League appearances as a player and earned 38 senior England caps, believes the situation has become out of control.
      In his column for The Telegraph, the Liverpool icon wrote: “For his own protection, Harry Maguire should not play for England until his career is back on track. Personally and professionally the current situation is unsustainable.
      “There must be a frank and honest conversation with those closest to him about how to resolve a mess because this drama around him needs fixing.
      “I was watching the England versus Scotland match with my son, James. It was painful to watch. ‘If that was you, I would want you out of the firing line. This has gone too far,’ I told him as Maguire endured a nightmare second half.
      “My first thought after the game was that I really hope Maguire is okay. More than ever we are aware of mental health issues impacting on footballers, or anyone subjected to such unrelenting ridicule.
      “I cannot recall any top level player enduring as much as Maguire over several years and struggling to find a meaningful response to it.
      “I do not see how continually putting him on such a stage without regular, high class club football will help him get back to the level he was. This has to stop, first and foremost, for Maguire’s sake.”
      Carragher also believes Maguire should have left Old Trafford this summer in a bid to reignite his form after falling out of favour with Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag.
      The defender was linked with a move to West Ham, but talks broke down when the two parties failed to agree terms.
      Ex-Liverpool star Carragher claims it will be “unfeasible” for Maguire to be selected for Euro 2024 if he refuses to leave the Red Devils.
      He added: “He missed the opportunity to start landing a few punches when he turned down West Ham in the summer. David Moyes would have had the perfect manager in an ideal team for Maguire’s attributes. I am sure he would have been a success there.
      “Too many transfers stall because a player feels mistreated and refuses to leave without a pay-off. Maguire had to think beyond that, especially when considering his international career.
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      “It is unfeasible for a centre-back to go into the next Euros when they have not been a regular for their club for two years.”
      Maguire joined Man Utd in a record-breaking £80million transfer from Leicester in 2019 and has since made 176 appearances. More

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      Hard-up Wales force players to SHARE ROOMS on international duty as Dragons face financial black hole if they miss Euros

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      WALES are in financial crisis and the cost-cutting means stars have to share hotel rooms.Robert Page’s Dragons clinched a vital 2-0 Euro 2024 win in Latvia on Monday night to keep alive their qualification dreams for Germany.
      The Welsh FA are strapped for cashCredit: PA
      Wales players are having to share rooms in order to keep costs lowCredit: REUTERS
      But SunSport understands Wales are battling major money woes with chief executive Noel Mooney taking a series of cash-saving measures.
      The return to room-sharing in this international window was one of those, with purse strings also tightened on opposition analysis.
      Wales only took 21 players for the must-win Group D trip to Latvia and did not fill the bench — unheard of in recent times.
      Boss Page initially named a 25-man party but Kieffer Moore and Joe Morrell, who played the second half of last Thursday’s 0-0 friendly with South Korea, were suspended for the Riga follow-up.
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      Then Wayne Hennessey and Wes Burns pulled out ahead of Latvia and NONE of the four were replaced.
      The Football Association of Wales made a financial loss of £100,659 for the year ending June 2022.
      And sources at the FAW have indicated Wales now bank on reaching major tournaments rather than the hope of following on from the success of two Euro qualifications in 2016 and 2020 as well as last year’s World Cup.
      The budget for this year is showing a potential seven-figure loss and the pressure on the FAW has even led to an attempt to increase ticket prices.
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      Welsh FA chief Noel Mooney is counting pennies amid a financial crisisCredit: PA
      The FAW’s HQ at Hensol near Cardiff was also due to an expansion but it is understood to be on hold.
      Mooney was slammed by fans after charging adults £25 plus a £3 booking fee for the Korea stalemate at Cardiff City Stadium.
      Wales attracted just 13,668 which was their worst home attendance — Covid matches aside — in four years.
      Angry Dragons fans vented their fury at Mooney on social media for his greedy ticket policy.
      In the summer, the Irishman also tried to increase prices for future qualifiers. But his proposal was rejected at a Wales supporters’ meeting and delayed until 2024.
      Mooney, appointed in August 2021, has made a string of financial promises to Wales’ grassroots game and pledged millions to the Cymru Premier.
      He said last month: “We’re going to invest a few million pounds into this league.”
      The FAW chief issued a public vote of confidence to under-pressure boss Page in July.
      But SunSport understands he privately prefers a bigger name in the hot seat.
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      Even before Latvia, it was believed Mooney was preparing for a switch. But Page signed a new four-year deal a year ago and any change would cost compensation.
      Welsh players and staff are behind the manager.
      Wales kept their Euro 2024 hopes alive with a win over LativaCredit: EPA More

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      Forgotten former Arsenal star on verge of guiding minnows to Euro 2024 with ex-team-mate Pablo Zabaleta

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      SYLVINHO is on the verge of guiding Albania to Euro 2024 alongside ex-team-mate Pablo Zabaleta.The former Arsenal defender has been in charge of Albania since January, with Zabaleta joining him as assistant manager.
      Sylvinho is on the verge of guiding Albania to Euro 2024Credit: Reuters
      The Brazilian spent two years at Arsenal during his playing daysCredit: Getty
      Under Sylvinho, the Eagles have lost just once and are unbeaten in their last four qualifiers.
      Sunday’s win over Poland has seen Albania move top of their group with ten points from their first five matches.
      The result leaves them just three games away from just a second-ever major tournament.
      Albania previously qualified for Euro 2016, but were eliminated in the group stage.
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      Standing in their way is a home match against the Czech Republic next month before clashes with Moldova and the Faroe Islands in November.
      Prior to taking over the side placed 65th in the FIFA World Rankings, Sylvinho had an impressive playing career.
      During his time as a left-back the Brazilian spent two years with Arsenal.
      He scored five goals in 80 appearances for the Gunners after arriving from Corinthians before returning to England with Manchester City.
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      Pablo Zabaleta (second from left) is one of Sylvinho’s assistant managersCredit: instagram / @pablo_zabaleta_5
      It was after joining City in 2009 that Sylvinho played with Zabaleta, playing 15 times before retiring a year later.
      The 49-year-old occupied the dugout at both Lyon and Corinthians before getting a taste of international management, which has seen him give Zabaleta his first coaching role. More

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      £97m Chelsea flop Mykhailo Mudryk benched by Ukraine for huge Euro 2024 qualifying clash

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      UKRAINE benched Chelsea flop Mykhailo Mudryk for Tuesday’s vital Euro 2024 qualifier away to Italy.The £97million winger was taken off in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with England.
      Mykhailo Mudryk was reduced to a sub role for Tuesday’s vital qualifierCredit: Rex
      Mudryk has failed to impress Mauricio Pochettino since the ex-Spurs chief took over as Stamford Bridge manager in the summer.
      Now the ex-Shakhtar Donetsk star has been axed by his national team.
      Ukraine went into the clash at the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza three points ahead of Italy, who have a game in hand.
      England top Group C on 13 points from five matches, with the Ukrainians second on seven from four games.
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      Not surprisingly, huge national hero Oleksandr Zinchenko stays in at left-back after shocking England by firing the opener at the weekend.
      The Arsenal ace, 26, was given a massive reception when he was replaced after 76 minutes, with Mudryk following him off just before stoppage time.
      The 22-year-old cost Chelsea an initial £62m back in January.
      And the cruel joke around the club is that all the add-ons in the transfer fee will take ages to be paid.
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      After spluttering last term, Mudryk has again been a bit-part player this season, now under Pochettino.
      Ukraine legend and ex-Chelsea attacker Andriy Shevchenko has tried to help Mudryk during the 46-year-old’s regular visits to London. More

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      International star, 43, retires after playing centre-back over four decades – and he’s still country’s TOP SCORER

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      ANDORRA are saying goodbye to a legend during their Euro 2024 qualification clash with Switzerland.Ildefons Lima has been playing for his country since 1997 and is finally calling time on his lengthy career – at the age of 43.
      Andorra star Ildefons Lima is calling an end to his careerCredit: AFP
      He is his nation’s all-time top scorer with 11 goalsCredit: Sportsfile
      Lima has played across FOUR decades for his countryCredit: EPA
      Lima made his debut for Andorra when he was just 17 years old in a friendly against Estonia.
      The Tricolours lost 4-1, but Lima left the pitch happy after scoring a debut goal in the 67th minute.
      A rare feat for a centre-back to find himself on the scoresheet, but not for Lima who defies the defensive stereotype.
      Despite his position, the star sits top of the list of Andorra’s all-time goal scorers with 11 goals during his international career.
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      He also boasts the record for number of appearances, with the match-up against Switzerland set to be 137th time representing his homeland.
      Lima took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts ahead of his big night.

      He wrote: “The last day has arrived, 26 years since the first, four different decades…today, The Last Dance.”
      And it’s not just his international career where Lima has shone, with the star a seven-time Andorran champion.
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      He’s also had spells at an array of other European teams with time at UD Las Palmas, Rayo Vallecano and US Triestina.
      Lima will end his time with Andorra as the oldest player to ever play in a European qualifying match.
      Lima has rubbed shoulders with some of the best players in the worldCredit: EPA
      He faced off against England four times during his time representing AndorraCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd More

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      Man Utd fans can’t wait for stars to return after tearing up Euro 2024 qualifying as Bruno bags hat-trick of assists

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      BRUNO FERNANDES has led the charge with a host of Manchester United players in red-hot form during this international break – and fans can’t wait to have them all back.The Red Devils skipper has played the full 90 minutes in both of Portugal’s Euro 2024 qualifiers in recent days.
      Bruno Fernandes has been in red-hot form for PortugalCredit: Getty
      The Man Utd skipper bagged two goals and three assists during the international breakCredit: AP

      Fernandes, 29, netted his country’s winner as they beat Slovakia 1-0 on Friday night.
      He then put in a sublime display on Monday – scoring once and laying on a hat-trick of assists as Portugal dismantled Luxembourg 9-0.
      Diogo Dalot also played the full 90 in both games as Portugal took a huge stride towards qualifying for next summer’s tournament in Germany.
      Man Utd’s Danish duo have also enjoyed a fruitful international break.
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      Christian Eriksen scored and grabbed two assists as Denmark routed San Marino 4-0.
      The midfielder then played the full 90 minutes on Monday night as the Danes beat Finland 1-0 courtesy of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg’s goal.
      Rasmus Hojlund came off the bench in both games as he continues his careful return from injury – and was not able to add to his impressive tally of six goals in qualifying thus far.
      But he did delight fans with a passionate speech to fans using a megaphone.
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      One player that did continue his sensational goalscoring form for his country was Scott McTominay.
      The midfielder put Scotland 1-0 against Cyprus on Friday night, setting Steve Clarke’s men on their way to a comfortable 3-0 triumph.
      McTominay, 26, will hope to be in action again on Tuesday night as Scotland face England at Hampden Park.
      Victor Lindelof enjoyed international success, captaining Sweden to a 5-0 win over Estonia on Saturday.
      Fellow cenrte-back Harry Maguire played the full 90 minutes and Marcus Rashford was introduced as a 65th minute substitute as England drew 1-1 with Ukraine.
      Jonny Evans had an eventful game against Slovenia last Thursday, scoring at both ends in a 4-2 defeat.
      He was then in action again as his country lost 1-0 to Kazakhstan on Sunday.
      United’s new deputy goalkeeper Altay Bayindir was an unused sub as Turkey drew 1-1 with Armenia – and he’ll be hoping to feature as his country take on Japan on Tuesday afternoon in a friendly.
      Scott McTominay has been in amazing form for ScotlandCredit: Getty
      Rasmus Hojlund celebrates Denmark’s latest winCredit: Getty
      Red Devils stars’ performances in Euro 2024 qualifying, particularly those of Fernandes, have seen fans excited for the Premier League to return at the weekend.
      One tweeted: “We’re here to take over.”
      While a second wrote: “Simply the best.”
      A third gushed of Fernandes: “My midfielder.”
      And another added: “There is only one Bruno Fernandes.”
      Hojlund and McTominay are the joint top-scorers in Euro 2024 qualifying, alongside former Red Devil Romelu Lukaku, with six apiece.
      Fernandes has four, with a further five assists – the joint-highest total alongside Denzel Dumfries.
      Some of United’s non-European stars have also been in international action.
      Casemiro captained Brazil to a 5-1 thumping of Bolivia.
      Wonderkid Facundo Pellistri played 71 minutes in Uruguay’s 3-1 triumph over Chile.
      Hannibal Mejbri started as Tunisia beat Botswana 3-0.
      However, Lisandro Martinez was not in action for Argentina due to his recent injury scare.
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      Andre Onana could make his Cameroon comeback on Tuesday night, having accepted a recall to the squad despite retiring from international duty after leaving last year’s World Cup after just one game.
      Cameroon take on Burundi this evening.
      Casemiro skippered Brazil against BoliviaCredit: AP
      Facundo Pellistri was in action for UruguayCredit: AFP More

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      Liverpool star Tsimikas left out of Greece squad because of ‘unbelievable’ embarrassing blunder

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      LIVERPOOL ace Kostas Tsimikas and three Greece team-mates were left out of Gus Poyet’s squad after an unbelievable blunder.Tsimikas, Trabzonspor’s Dimitris Kourbelis, AEK Athens’ Petros Mantalos and Cardiff ace Manolis Siopis were all booked during Thursday’s Euro 2024 qualifier against the Netherlands.
      Liverpool ace Kostas Tsimikas was left out of Greece after a massive gaffeCredit: Reuters
      Tsimikas was booked in Greece’s Euro 2024 qualifier against the NetherlandsCredit: Rex
      Cardiff ace Manolis Siopis was also left out because EPO thought he was suspendedCredit: Rex
      EPO thought Petros Mantalos was suspended after two yellow cardsCredit: Rex
      But Dimitris Kourbelis and co would have been suspended after a third yellow cardCredit: Rex
      That led to an embarrassing blunder from the Greek football association [EPO] as well as the national team’s chiefs who thought those players weren’t allowed to play against Gibraltar on Sunday.
      However, that was only their second booking and UEFA rules dictate that a player or team official can only receive a one-match ban after three consecutive yellow cards.
      It is during the Euro 2024 finals that two yellow cards lead to the respective suspension.
      Article 54.02 reads: “In case of repeated cautions:
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      “A: In the qualifying competition, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after three cautions, as well as after the fifth and any subsequent caution.
      “B: In the final tournament, players and team officials are suspended for the next competition match after two cautions, as well as after the fourth caution.”
      EPO took full responsibility of the error and confirmed they will deal with the matter within the “coming days”.
      The governing body, which is presided by Takis Baltakos, went on to claim there was no “practical consequence” after that error as Greece went on to beat Gibraltar 5-0 at OPAP Arena.
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      EPO’s statement read: “As per recent reports referring to an error in the counting of yellow cards and by extension the punishment of international footballers, EPO announces the following:
      “This is an undeniable mistake, as admitted by Kostas Konstantinidis, technical director and head of all the National Teams, and Takis Fyssas, sporting director of the Men’s National Team, although this mistake had no practical consequence.
      “The Administration will investigate the issue, taking into account the overall contribution of each player to Greek football and their special contribution to the National Team, and will decide on the course of action in the coming days.”
      Liverpool ace Tsimikas, Siopis, Kourbelis and Mantalos are expected to be in action again in the next international break. More