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Tottenham to play at Wembley in Champions League next season
Tottenham's new 61,000-seater stadium is expected to be completed in two years
 
Tottenham have reached a deal to play their Champions League home games at Wembley next season.
The Premier League club also has the option to play all home league and cup matches, as well as any European games, at the national stadium during the 2017-18 campaign.
Spurs are having a new £400m stadium built next to their existing White Hart Lane ground.
The development is due to be completed in time for the 2018-19 season.
"Our season ticket waiting list is over 50,000 so this now also offers us a great opportunity to provide more of our supporters with a chance to see the team play live during our Champions League campaign," said chairman Daniel Levy.
"Importantly, as we know it was our fans' preference, it means that we can play our home matches in London during our season away."
Tottenham's third-place finish in the Premier League qualified them for the group stages of next season's Champions League, which means they will play at least three home matches in the competition.
Their north-London rivals Arsenal hosted Champions League games at Wembley in 1998-99 and 1999-2000.
Football Association chief executive Martin Glenn welcomed Spurs' move, saying: "The increased revenue will help us meet our targets for improving coaching and grassroots facilities and growing participation."
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sorphorndara Yi Saturday, May 28, 2016
Northern Ireland enjoyed the perfect send-off to Euro 2016 by beating Belarus 3-0
Strikers Kyle Lafferty, Conor Washington and Will Grigg scored as Northern Ireland saw off Belarus in their last home match before Euro 2016.
Lafferty, lacking game time at club level, got his 17th international goal with a close-range finish.
QPR's Washington pounced on a mistake by keeper Andrei Harbunov to head home the second just before half-time.
Substitute Grigg rifled a late third to cap the convincing win and extend his side's record unbeaten run to 11 games.

NI punish Belarus mistakes

Conor Washington is congratulated by fellow goalscorer Kyle Lafferty at Windsor Park
Conor Washington is congratulated by fellow goalscorer Kyle Lafferty at Windsor Park
 
Michael O'Neill's men have a final warm-up game away to Slovakia on 4 June before heading to France for a first-ever appearance at the European Championship finals.
O'Neill was keen to keep momentum going by avoiding defeat at Windsor Park.
He will also be relieved that his players appear to have come through this game without any injury problems.
Of course, Northern Ireland will face much tougher opposition in France than what was in front of them here.
Belarus made mistakes which were punished by goals, allowing Northern Ireland to sign off in Belfast on a celebratory note.

NI's final 23

Places in O'Neill's Euro 2016 were not up for grabs in this match as the manager made no secret of who the 23 will be when officially announced on Saturday.
Barring accidents, the 22 on duty tonight will be joined by Shane Ferguson after his involvement in Millwall's League One play-off final against Barnsley on Sunday.
The unlucky ones in the original 28-man panel are Liam Boyce, Billy McKay, Daniel Lafferty, Ben Reeves and Michael Smith and they were given the day off from training on Thursday.
Northern Ireland players complete a lap of honour as the fans give them a rousing send-off after the game at Windsor Park
Northern Ireland players complete a lap of honour as the fans give them a rousing send-off after the game at Windsor Park

O'Neill and players take fans' acclaim

After the match, the Northern Ireland players and manager O'Neill came back on to the pitch to loud cheers from the fans who had been asked to stay on to give their heroes a fitting send-off.
Taking the microphone, O'Neill said: "It is easy to support a team when they're doing well, but the true supporters stick by you when things are not going so good and you have always stood by us.
"This team is determined to make you proud. We will do everything in our power to make it a memorable summer for you."
O'Neill gave a special mention to West Brom's Chris Brunt who is missing the tournament because of injury.
A video was then played on the large screen, showing highlights of Northern Ireland's group winning exploits which clinched qualification for France.
Then came a fireworks display - Belfast's Windsor Park had never witnessed such scenes.

Man of the match - Paddy McNair

Manchester United's Paddy McNair produced a composed performance
Manchester United's Paddy McNair produced a composed performance
The versatile 21-year-old Manchester United defender may not be in Michael O'Neill's first 11, but did his prospects the power of good with an impressive and assured performance.

What they said

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill: "It was a great performance and a great result. We were able to play about with things a bit and it was a perfect night for us.
"I want players to show some flexibility and show the ability to change when necessary and that's what they showed tonight.
"Paddy McNair was outstanding throughout, while Conor has scored two in three games to make a big statement. It was great to see Will (Grigg) get on the scoresheet too.
"Unfortunately I've had to whittle the squad down to 23 and I've informed the five players who will not be going with us. They have all made a big contribution already and hopefully all of them still have a big international future ahead of them."

What's next?

Having been a given a rousing send-off by a delighted Belfast support, Northern Ireland will play their final warm-up match away to Slovakia on Saturday, 4 June.
Then it is on to their Euro 2016 base near Lyon to prepare for the opening Group C fixture which is against Poland in Nice on 12 June.
source: BBC

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Man Utd: Select Jose Mourinho's starting XI for next season


Jose Mourinho could raid his former club Real Madrid, with Varane, Benzema and Rodriguez all linked with moves to Old Trafford
 
Jose Mourinho is expected to be named as the next manager of Manchester United and it looks like he is bringing Zlatan Ibrahimovic with him.
The Sweden striker is likely to be Mourinho's first signing - but who else could be coming through the doors of Old Trafford next season?
We want you to select your starting XI from the current squad and the many players United have been linked with.
United are likely to be busy in the transfer window as Mourinho looks to overhaul Louis van Gaal's squad to create a team of title contenders.
But how will that squad look come the first day of the season?
Will Mourinho splash the cash? Will he give youth a chance? Or will there be a full-scale clearout?

Man Utd XI for 2016-17

Who will be in the team for the start of the season? We've included the current squad plus a selection of players linked with United.
 
The defence was one area Van Gaal never managed to properly address. A centre-half is needed and plenty of names keep popping up.
Real Madrid's young France international Raphael Varane could link up with his old boss, Everton's John Stones was denied a chance to work with Mourinho at Chelsea while Zenit Saint Petersburg's Ezequiel Garay has been linked with a move to United since the days of David Moyes.
Revamping the midfield could cost United millions. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and the possible return of Paul Pogba would come with a hefty price tag.
Then there is Portugal and Sporting Lisbon's Joao Mario, who can play on the wing or in central midfield, Sevilla's Polish defensive midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak and Arsenal target William Carvalho, another defensive midfielder, also from Sporting Lisbon.
United need goals and their attack will surely be addressed by the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss.
Atletico Madrid's France forward Antoine Griezmann, Real Madrid's Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez and Napoli's Argentinean striker Gonzalo Higuain, who broke the Serie A scoring record last season, could all join Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford at Old Trafford.

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sorphorndara Yi Thursday, May 26, 2016
NI boss Michael O'Neill expects 'rousing' Euros send-off in Belarus friendly
NI boss Michael O'Neill expects 'rousing' Euros send-off in Belarus friendly
 
 
Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill has a final chance to look at his Euro 2016 squad options in Friday's friendly against Belarus at Windsor Park.
 
Wigan striker Will Grigg, 24, and Ross County forward Liam Boyce, 25, may be battling for one attacker spot in the squad along with outsider Billy McKay.
Full-backs Michael Smith, Lee Hodson and Daniel Lafferty also look to be in competition for one squad slot.
Friday's starting side will be familiar before O'Neill makes substitutions.

O'Neill to reveal NI Euro 2016 squad on Saturday

O'Neill will cut five names from his current 28-man squad when he announces his Euro 2016 hand in Belfast on Saturday.
The Northern Ireland manager admitted on Friday that he is "fairly fixed" about his selection but said players could still force themselves into his thinking.
"There's always the opportunity for someone. You have to prepare for every eventuality. There is the possibility of somebody getting injured although we don't want that to happen," O'Neill said.
Grigg's club form, as he scored 10 times in Wigan's final nine games, earned him a recall to O'Neill's squad after not featuring since the friendly against Qatar last May.


Northern Ireland striker Will Grigg
 
The Wigan striker's late-season goalscoring run saw him win the League One golden boot award, leading to a chant which has gripped social media as the Latics clinched promotion to the Championship.
Grigg may have edged ahead of Boyce in the Northern Ireland manager's thoughts even though the Ross County forward's campaign included winning the Scottish Premiership player of the month award for December.
Like Grigg, Burnley defender Lafferty made his Northern Ireland debut in the 6-0 hammering by the Netherlands four years ago.
Lafferty, who spent most of this season on loan at Oldham, has gone on to accumulate 13 caps and will hope to earn the nod over MK Dons full-back Hodson and Peterborough's Smith, who made his debut against Slovenia in March.
While O'Neill is certain to use the occasion to look at a number of his fringe players, the Northern Ireland boss will be determined to extend his team's record unbeaten run to 11 games.
Conor Washington's first international goal earned the Irish a 1-0 win over Slovenia in their last game in March, as the QPR striker produced a display which almost certainly secured his spot in France.
Unlike Slovakia, the Northern Irish's opponents in Trnava next week, Belarus are not France-bound having missed out in a qualifying group which featured Spain, Ukraine and the Slovakians.
source: bbc

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Gareth Bale: Wales players hope star man comes through Champions League final
Gareth Bale scored as Real Madrid beat Atletico Madrid in the 2014 Champions League final
 

Champions League final: Real Madrid v Atletico Madrid

Venue: San Siro, Milan Date: 28 May Kick-off: 19:45
 
Coverage: Listen to BBC Radio 5 live commentary plus follow live text on the BBC Sport website and app

 
As Real Madrid's Gareth Bale prepares for another Champions League final, the rest of Wales' European Championship squad will be watching with interest.
 
Bale was Wales' talisman during their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and will be key to their hopes when the tournament begins in France next month.
But he must first emerge unscathed from Saturday's final with Atletico Madrid.
"I'll be watching from behind a cushion probably, the same as all of Wales," James Collins told BBC Wales Sport.
Wales and West Ham defender Collins says Bale is in good spirits ahead of the match at Milan's San Siro - a repeat of the 2014 Champions League final against city rivals Atletico.
"We're going to watch it as a team but there's a few nervous people. I spoke to Gaz and he is in good form and looking forward to the game and meeting up," he said.
Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey hopes Bale can steer Real to another Champions League victory, two years after he scored to help them to a 4-1 extra-time victory.

Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale has been a vital part of Real Madrid's attacking line-up this season


"We'll watch it, we'll all be supporting Bale and hopefully he can come back with the medal and fully fit. We're pleased that he's there and hopefully he can finish the job off," Ramsey said.
Liverpool midfielder Joe Allen added: "Even if one of our team-mates wasn't involved we would be watching but with him playing we'll get together and watch the game.
"We're praying he comes through unscathed but hopefully he can repeat what he did a couple of seasons ago and put in a huge performance in a Champions League final.
"If he's able to help his team go on and get the win then that's going to be a huge boost. The confidence he'll get from that will be huge when he joins up with us."
Premier League winner Andy King has tasted success with Leicester City going into Wales' first major tournament since 1958 and hopes Bale can do likewise.
"Gareth's played a lot of football in his career, it's just going to be another game for him. Obviously it's a massive game and one which we want his team to win," King said.
"We just hope he can get the win and that will bring him here buzzing."

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Roy Hodgson: England coach foresees Premier League winter break
England coach Roy Hodgson has previously called for a winter break


 

England manager Roy Hodgson believes the scrapping of FA Cup quarter-final replays could be the first step to a Premier League winter break.
The Football Association approved the move to ease English football's congested fixture list.
Hodgson suggested the FA and Premier League had been in discussions about the best way to achieve the objective.
"I think it's all designed eventually to maybe providing that elusive winter break," Hodgson said on Thursday.
"There's been no doubt that one of the stumbling blocks has often been 'hold on, you have all of these replays and you're asking us to cut our season down'.
"I think it's only positive that this sort of move has been made."
He added that a break would be aimed at "freshening minds up".
The top divisions in France, Italy, Spain and Germany have winter breaks.

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Euro 2016: Dutch game 'ideal test' for Republic says Martin O'Neill
Republic of Ireland boss Martin O'Neill says Friday's game with the Netherlands will be the last chance for most of his squad to stake their Euro 2016 claims.
That is even though O'Neill will not announce his squad until after Tuesday's friendly against Belarus.
"I will have told quite a number of players that they will be going to France this weekend," O'Neill said.
Midfielders Harry Arter, Eunan O'Kane and Darron Gibson are among those who may be handed starts against the Dutch.
With James McCarthy missing because of his ongoing thigh injury, his Everton club-mate Gibson is a contender for a central midfield role with O'Neill likely to parade a mix of regulars and fringe players.

Aiden McGeady
Aiden McGeady looks set to be in O'Neill's squad despite his club struggles

O'Neill set to name McGeady in squad

Gibson is among several Republic squad players who have played little first-team football this season, with another of his club-mates Aiden McGeady in the same category.
McGeady spent the second half of the season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday but that didn't go to plan either and the former Celtic winger is with the Republic squad this week instead of preparing for the Championship play-off final against Hull City.
O'Neill is still tipped to include McGeady, 30, in his Euro 2016 squad and the Glasgow-born winger may be given some game time on Friday.
"I reiterate, he does have that ability to go past players and create something for you," said O'Neill of McGeady.
The Republic's goalkeeping situation may not be any clearer after Friday's game with Keiren Westwood and David Forde set for play-offs duty over the weekend with Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall.

Given in line for Republic's long-service record

Shay Given sat out training on Thursday so West Ham's Darren Randolph looks set to have another chance to cement his status as the Republic's current number one, with Dundalk's Gary Rogers in contention to provide cover on the bench after training with the squad on Thursday.
Given, 40, will become the Republic's longest serving player, beating John Giles' record of 19 years and 202 days, if he wins his 134th cap in the series of upcoming games.
John O'Shea will start despite being out of favour for Sunday's closing Premier League games but his fellow central defender Ciaran Clark will not be risked because of a minor achilles injury.
The Dutch were surprise non-qualifiers for Euro 2016 but since then they have earned away wins over Wales and England.
Manager Danny Blind won't be able to call upon his injured son Daley while his squad includes uncapped Watford winger Steven Berghuis.
source: bbc

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