Eight years ago this month, I stood behind the goal with the Swedish fans at Boavista’s Bessa Stadium to watch the match that finished off Giovanni Trapattoni as Italy coach.

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Manchester United forward Bebe has joined Turkish side Besiktas on a season-long loan, the Barclays Premier League champions have confirmed.

Alex Ferguson would be happy to place his faith in Manchester United’s back-up wide-men for Saturday’s Premier League encounter with Wolves.

HAT-TRICK hero Jermain Defoe hailed his partnership with Wayne Rooney after the pair teamed up profitably in last night’s 4-0 win over Bulgaria in their opening Euro 2012 Group G qualifier at Wembley.

Diego Maradona's Argentina progressed to next summer's World Cup in South Africa as substitute Mario Bolatti hit a later winner to end Uruguay's hopes of snatching the final automatic qualification berth in the South American zone.

PORTUGAL booked themselves a place in the European play-offs for next year’s World Cup after an easy 4-0 Group One victory over Malta.

Portugal booked themselves a place in the European play-offs for next year’s World Cup with an easy 4-0 Group One victory over Malta.

THE final round of group qualifying matches tonight will see some of Europe’s top sides desperately clinging on to their World Cup hopes.

Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo will miss the potential Republic of Ireland playoff rival's final World Cup qualifier against Malta on Wednesday due to a right ankle injury.

Portsmouth players David Nugent and Marc Wilson are understood to have been fined two weeks’ wages after a “serious breach of club discipline” on the club’s pre-season tour of Portugal.

Braga 3 Portsmouth 0

Sporting Braga 3 Portsmouth 0

PORTSMOUTH chief executive Peter Storrie admits drawing Italian giants AC Milan in Europe is a “dream come true” for the club.

Guimaraes 2 Portsmouth 2 (Portsmouth win 4-2 on aggregate aet)

Portsmouth’s Nigeria winger John Utaka is a fitness doubt for tomorrow’s UEFA Cup first round first leg tie at home to Portugal’s Guimaraes.

RAFAEL BENITEZ is backing Liverpool to make it four big wins in 11 days when they tackle Benfica at the Estadio da Luz tonight.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is contemplating a daunting trip to Istanbul after his side’s UEFA Cup group stage opponents were confirmed at the draw in Nyon today.

AC MILAN’S Kakha Kaladze believes he will become a Chelsea player next week.

CHRISTIAN VIERI’S rant at the Italian media on Sunday was misdirected.

IT surely is the ultimate irony — the Italians cry ‘foul’ before ever a ball is kicked!

All the latest from Portugal.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni will be forced to make at least two changes to his starting line-up for tomorrow’s Group C clash with Bulgaria in Guimaraes.

Spain 0 Portugal 1

Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson believes Francesco Totti was lucky to escape with a three-match ban for spitting at Denmark’s Christian Poulsen in the 0-0 draw between the two teams at Guimaraes.

FRANCESCO Totti, the player Italy have built their Euro 2004 team around, will find out on later today whether he gets a hefty suspension for spitting at Denmark’s Christian Poulsen in Monday’s 0-0 draw.

Denmark 0 Italy 0

Denmark 0 Italy 0

Aston Villa fans will get to see their newest recruit Martin Laursen showcase his talents against one of the world’s best strikers today.

Denmark coach Morten Olsen is determined to keep up the suspense over his starting line-up for their Euro 2004 clash against Italy on Monday in Guimaraes.

Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni has no injury concerns ahead of his team’s opening European 2004 game against Denmark in Guimaraes on Monday.

Benfica’s Hungarian international Miklos Feher has been pronounced dead after collapsing during his side’s 1-0 win at Vitoria Guimaraes.