Spain held their nerve to win the UEFA Nations League final by beating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in Rotterdam.

Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal converted the winning spot-kick after Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon had saved efforts from Croatia’s Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic.

Spain’s triumph saw them seal a fifth major trophy and become the second nation after France to have won the World Cup, European Championship and the Nations League.

Nations League winners for the first time!

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024)

Manchester City pair Rodri and Aymeric Laporte, who scored and missed for Spain respectively in the shoot-out, have won a fourth major trophy of the season.

Croatia, who beat the Netherlands 4-2 af…

Arsenal missed the chance to regain their four-point lead at the Premier League summit after Stuart Armstrong s second-half equaliser held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw at Southampton.

The Gunners had enjoyed their best start to a top-flight campaign and dominated the first half on Sunday at St. Mary s Stadium, with Granit Xhaka opening the scoring.

Arsenal continued to look good value for their lead, with Gabriel Jesus spurning a couple of chances, but Southampton fought back as Armstrong levelled in the 65th minute.

Martin Odegaard saw a late strike ruled out as Arsenal moved two points clear of second-placed Manchester City, while Southampton extended their unbeaten run to three games and are 15th.

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC)

Gavi…

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been warned about his future behaviour after making comments about referee Howard Webb.

The Scot made comments about Webb ahead of his team s crucial 2-1 English Premier League win over Chelsea on May 8.

The Football Association (FA) said on Tuesday that Ferguson had broken the rule that forbids manager s from talking about referees prior to a match.

It was a minor breach but a breach nevertheless, an FA statement said.

The chairman of the commission said Ferguson s minor breach should act as a warning to all managers.

This rule was brought in at the start of the 2009/10 season and this was reiterated formally to all clubs again on 21 October 2010, the chairman said.

This is a clear breach o…

Crucial he stays fit

I have to say that I am very worried by the England goalkeeping situation at the moment and in the future.

Good

Manchester City keeper Joe Hart is good. He might not be great but he is good. I have no problem with him being England s number one and as a young man he could hold that position for many years to come.

No, it isn t the first choice that is a problem. The problem comes if Joe Hart is injured or suffers a loss of form. The next goalkeepers in line are simply not good enough. They are not international class and it is questionable whether they are even Premiership class.

Selection

The original selection for England s Euro qualifier against Switzerland on 4th June saw West Brom s Scott Carson and Fulham s David …

Gonzalo Jara believes Chile go into the FIFA World Cup a more mature group than in South Africa four years ago.

Jara was part of Marcelo Bielsa s side that made it through to the last 16 of the competition four years ago before bowing out with defeat to Brazil.

With a higher average age of 28 this time around, Jara feels Jorge Sampaoli s squad are a more experienced set and backed his team-mates to cope with the challenge in Brazil.

Even with Arturo Vidal a doubt for their Group B opener against Australia on June 13, the Nottingham Forest man feels their experience from four years ago will stand them in good stead.

Chile are a bit more mature than in 2010 and that suits us fine, he said.

But you have to keep a cool head because each World Cup is complete…

Park Chu-young hopes to play a vital role when South Korea open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Russia on Tuesday.

The match in Cuiaba will bring an end to the opening round of group games in Brazil.

Park, who is expected to be utilised as a lone striker, believes Korea can start with a victory, but acknowledges he will require sufficient support from his team s midfielders.

Hong Myung-bo s side were beaten 4-0 by Ghana in their final pre-tournament friendly, illustrating the need for improvement.

Everyone needs to work together to create chances, Park told The Korea Herald. But we were not able to do that (against Ghana).

I don t want to just take a lot of shots by myself. I would like to help the whole team be more productive.

South Korea are…

Inter president Erick Thohir has confirmed the club are in talks to sign Domenico Berardi and Antonio Candreva, while new owners Suning Holdings Group are interested in Palmeiras youngster Gabriel Jesus.

In June, the Chinese retailer purchased a 68.55 per cent stake of Inter from Thohir, who became majority shareholder in 2013 and will stay on as president.

At a shareholders meeting to introduce the new board, the president outlined the Nerazzurri s transfer hopes ahead of the 2016-17 season.

Sassuolo forward Berardi and Lazio winger Candreva are already being discussed, while Gabriel Jesus a reported target for Barcelona and Real Madrid could also be targeted.

We want to build a good team, starting from what is already here, said Thohir.

We a…

England boss Roy Hodgson is confident he and his squad have learned lessons from their disappointing performances in recent tournaments.

Having see his side eliminated in the quarter-finals on penalties by Italy at Euro 2012, Hodgson was unable to guide England out of the group stages at the World Cup two years ago, despite an unbeaten qualifying campaign.

But after sealing a place at Euro 2016 with 10 wins from 10, the 68-year-old says he will not repeat his own mistakes and has backed the young players to thrive without the pressure of past failures hanging over their heads.

I would like to think we have learned a lot from the two previous tournaments we have been at, he told the Football Association s official website at a media briefing.  I would like to…

Hannover have dismissed head coach Andre Breitenreiter with the club second-bottom of the Bundesliga following an eight-match winless run.

A 5-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday proved to be the final straw for the club s directors, who brought the 45-year-old s tenure to an end 22 months after his appointment in March 2017.

Breitenreiter s arrival at the club preceded an unbeaten run of nine matches as he led the club back into the Bundesliga, where Hannover finished 13th in his first full season in charge.

But Hannover s 2-1 win over Wolfsburg on November 9 – only their second of the 2018-19 campaign – proved to be their last under Breitenreiter, with assistant Volkan Bulut also leaving his position.

Club manager Horst Heldt told the club s o…

Saul Niguez sublime solo goal a world s difference / Image via dailystar.co.uk

Saul Niguez is not that far from leaving his club, according to various media, as the Atletico Madrid star has been on Pep Guardiola s shortlist. Manchester City manager is very interested in signing the midfielder, but Los Colchoneros are firm on their stance you can have him if you meet his release clause.

And that might be the problem Saul Niguez s release clause is  €150m, according to Spanish AS. The club is insisting that any team interested in the Spaniard will have to meet the clause, which is a completely logical thing for Atleti, not only given his importance for the team, but also given his contract runs out in 2026!

Reportedly, Man City are willing to pay as much as €…