Frank Lampard is back at Chelsea.

The club s record goalscorer and former boss has taken on an interim position in the dugout until the end of the season, when Chelsea will bring in their long-term choice.

Of course, should Lampard do well enough, he could put his own name into consideration, but either way he still has plenty to do over the next two months.

Graham Potter was hired to give the team an identity, but Lampard will have no such responsibility given his short-term deal and the fact that someone like Julian Nagelsmann or Luis Enrique would bring their own ideas should they ultimately be hired ahead of next season.

Lampard was sacked by Chelsea in January 2021, before suffering the same demise at Everton two years later, but his continued legend…

Rob Page has called on his Wales team to give their supporters the chance to enjoy the Euro 2024 experience.

Wales are still two wins away from qualification but now know that if they can make it to the tournament they face mouthwatering matches against the Netherlands, Austria and France in Group D.

Page and his team will have home backing from the ‘Red Wall’ for their play-off semi against Finland on March 21 and the final against either Poland or Estonia on March 26 should they progress.

He wants his players to be buoyed on by the thought of setting up a Welsh party in Germany after challenging assignments for the fans at the last two major tournaments.

“Off the back of 2016 we’ve had Euro 2020, but because of Covid we were limited with travel,…

The top two sides in Group D of Euro 2012 qualifying meet when France travel to Minsk to battle Belarus on Friday.

France have won four of their five fixtures in the group so far and hold a four-point lead over their opponents, who have been the only side to defeat them in qualifying so far.

That result came back in September, as midfielder Sergey Kislyak made himself a national hero and stunned more than 76,000 fans in the Stade de France with his late goal.

Belarus won that match 1-0 and revenge will surely be on the mind of Laurent Blanc s squad as they look to book their fifth successive victory in qualifying.

We didn t play well (against Belarus), Blanc said.

We were too sluggish and lacked bite against a team that defended well and scored…

Day six saw Euro 2016 enter its second matchday, in which host nation France snatched victory from the jaws of a stalemate and England and Russia fans clashed with French police. Deja vu, anyone?

Joachim Low on that scratch, the bravest beer-sellers in France and the latest fashion trend to hit the south coast all brought smiles to our faces. Hopefully they do to yours, too.

A FRESH MESH OF QELESHE

If you took a walk through the streets of Marseille on Wednesday you would have been greeted by the sight of hundreds of men in unique headwear.

The Albanians were in town ahead of their game against France at the Stade Velodrome and their choice of hat caused quite a stir.

The Qeleshe: the must-have fashion item on the streets of Marseille …

Scotland must topple world champions Spain if they are to guarantee a place in the Euro 2012 qualifying playoffs.

Craig Levein s Scotland, who defeated Lichtenstein 1-0 away from home on Saturday, are second in Euro qualifying Group I with 11 points.

They are 10 points back from group winners Spain, who have already secured a place at next year s finals in Poland and the Ukraine.

The Czech Republic are third, one point behind Scotland following a 2-0 loss at home to Spain on Friday.

Michal Bilek s side must win their final match on Tuesday if it is to finish second, but will be reasonably confident of doing so given their last outing is an away tie against fourth-placed Lithuania.

While hardly a guaranteed three points, it is an easier prospect t…

Germany will begin their World Cup defence against Mexico after Friday s draw in Moscow threw together Spain and Portugal in the pick of the group-stage matches at Russia 2018.

Joachim Low s men triumphed on Russian soil in the Confederations Cup earlier this year and start at Moscow s Luzhniki Stadium on June 17 versus a side they ran out 4-1 winners over in the semi-finals of that tournament.

Mexico s tough assignment comes three days on from the hosts kicking off proceedings in a seemingly favourable opener against Saudi Arabia.

Sweden, who ensured Italy would miss the finals for the first time since 1958, and South Korea join Germany and Mexico in Group F.

Spain and Portugal will play out an Iberian derby in Sochi, a fittingly temperate setting on th…

Kylian Mbappe hopes to avoid any hangover from World Cup disappointment as the France forward searches for his elusive final international crown at Euro 2024.

The Real Madrid-bound forward scored a hat-trick in the final of FIFA s global tournament in 2022, though that was not enough to stop Argentina from winning on penalties in Saudi Arabia.

Another major tournament is on the horizon as the European Championship awaits in Germany, where Didier Deschamps side rank as the favourites alongside Gareth Southgate s England.

Euros success is the only glory missing from Mbappe s glittering resume, having won the World Cup in 2018 and the Nations League as well, though the 25-year-old hopes to end that this time around.

The former Paris Saint-Germain told CNN Sp…

Euro 2020 has been a long time coming. Delayed by a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Championship is less than a week away from kick-off.

While the disappointment of seeing such a major tournament postponed and pushed back in 2020 was significant for many football fans, the delay has arguably helped the prospect of having more young players involved.

Every international event has its star man, but they also have their breakthrough talents and youngsters on the scene for the first time.

Euro 2016 had the likes of Kingsley Coman, Joshua Kimmich, Young Player of the Tournament Renato Sanches and Marcus Rashford – the youngest individual to feature – enjoying their first experiences of such events.

Who will be their equivalents at Eu…

Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge believes the Bundesliga champions would not have been able to afford Renato Sanches had they waited until after Euro 2016.

The Bavarians announced the capture of the Portugal international in May, paying Benfica an initial fee of €35million for the young midfielder.

Sanches then impressed at Euro 2016 as he played a key role in Portugal s successful finals, winning young player of the tournament, and Rummenigge thinks his price would have gone through the roof had a deal not been in place beforehand.

Was I surprised by Renato Sanches performances at Euro 2016? Yes and no, Rummenigge told Soester Anzeiger.

It s extraordinary when someone plays at the Euros like he did at the tender age of 18. I was nowhere…

Arsenal open their 2019-20 Premier League campaign at Newcastle United and have to play fellow top-four hopefuls Liverpool and Tottenham inside the first month of the season.

Unai Emery s men, who will not be playing Champions League football next term having finished fifth and lost in the final of the Europa League to Chelsea, face a tricky opening-weekend trip to St. James Park before returning home to take on Burnley.

A visit to Anfield on August 24 is then followed by the first north London derby of the season.

New Year s Day sees Arsenal host Manchester United while the return game against Tottenham will take place on April 25.

Arsenal s 2019-20 Premier League fixtures in full (all times local):

August 11, Newcastle United v Arsenal (14…