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• 'Cristiano lives for goals' – Pepe backs Ronaldo to rediscover magic at Euro 2024

  Cristiano Ronaldo "lives for goals" and will soon find a return to form after a prolonged struggle for Portugal, says veteran team-mate Pepe.

  The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is yet to find the net at Euro 2024, failing to score in Portugal's first three Group F games as Roberto Martinez's side topped their pool.

  Stretching further back, Ronaldo has not scored in any of his last seven appearances for Portugal at major tournaments, his longest such drought across the European Championship and World Cup.

  The 39-year-old has had 19 shots across the two competitions since last scoring against Ghana at the 2022 World Cup. 

  However, Pepe – speaking ahead of the last-16 meeting with Slovenia on Monday – believes his team-mate will soon find his scoring touch.

  "Cristiano lives for goals, that's a fact," Pepe said in Friday's press conference. "But have you seen his availability on the pitch to help the national team? It's incredible.

  "He's the player with the most minutes in our team, at 39 years old.

  "He's doing very well. He'll do very well in the final stages of the European Championship. I'm certain he will give us a lot of joy."

   

  Pepe joined Ronaldo in lifting the Euro 2016 trophy, and became the oldest player in the competition's history by featuring in this year's edition, aged 41.

  "I'm just happy to be part of this group, it's a privilege," Pepe said. "The secret [is] the passion I have for football. I've said several times that it's a privilege to be able to get up and do what I love most with a lot of concentration and competitiveness, which is what I have.

  "The love I put into every action, so much in training as in the game. That's it."

  As for any consideration of retirement, Pepe has no thoughts of hanging up his boots just yet.

  "I haven't thought about it yet," the former Real Madrid defender added. "My focus is on the next training session, on the next game, which is important to me and to Portugal.

  "I don't think about it much, honestly. The future belongs to God, I have many things to worry about today, such as how I will defend my team-mates in the training sessions ahead, how to recover for tomorrow's training. Those are my concerns."

• Havertz makes Kane comparison as he admits 'I don't understand discussion' around Germany role

  Kai Havertz compared himself to Harry Kane as the Germany forward admits "I don't understand the discussion" around his central role for the Euro 2024 hosts.

  Havertz led the line in each of Germany's three Group A games at the tournament, scoring a penalty and providing an assist in their opening 5-1 rout of Scotland on matchday one.

  Although, the Arsenal forward failed to add to that tally in the next two games, with Niclas Fullkrug netting twice from the bench including a late equaliser against Switzerland.

  Havertz has often drawn criticism suggesting he does not score enough goals while operating as a number nine, but he insists there is more to the role than just finding the net - noting England and Bayern Munich forward Kane as an example.

  "Football has developed incredibly, especially in recent years," he told Sport1. "Who in European football is really such a classic centre-forward? Erling Haaland, perhaps.

  "Not even Harry Kane is one for me. He has a great finish, but he doesn't just stand in front of the box and wait for the ball. That's why I don't understand the discussion.

  "I've been very successful in this position for the last six months. I feel comfortable up front and see myself in this position in the long term."

  It remains to be seen whether Havertz will retain his starting role when Germany face Denmark in the round of 16 on Saturday. Fullkrug has certainly staked his claim to Julian Nagelsmann.

  With four goals from six appearances in major tournaments - all from the bench - only Poland's Ernst Wilimowski (one every 30 minutes) boasts a better minutes-per-goal ratio than the 31-year-old (one every 35 minutes) among all European players to play at least 100 minutes at the World Cup and European Championship combined.

  "Nobody can assume that [they will be starting]," Havertz added. "I'm a player who needs confidence. It's important to work hard in training and give everything in the games. I can say that about myself. Everyone wants to be on the pitch. In the end, the coach decides.

  "Denmark have a very good team with many good individual players. But they also work as a team. It's going to be a tough game, but I'm convinced of our quality. I think we can do it [win]."

• Sporting Kansas City v Austin FC: Inward focus for Vermes as hosts bid to end dismal run

  Peter Vermes says Sporting Kansas City must focus on their own attributes, rather than those of upcoming opponents Austin FC, if they are to end their miserable run of form.

  Sporting KC sit 13th in the Western Conference standings after losing 10 of their last 11 games including each of their last three, conceding four goals in each.

  Following a 4-2 defeat to the LA Galaxy, a 4-3 reverse against Real Salt Lake and a 4-0 demolition at the hands of the Columbus Crew, Vermes says his team have had a good week in training and are raring to set the record straight. 

  "We're going to find out on Saturday. I think we've had a pretty decent week of training," Vermes said when asked how his team would measure up.

  "It's been good for us to train in this kind of heat since it's what we've got to play in for these next couple of months. 

  "It's all going to be about the performance this weekend, for sure. The key is to just make sure we're good at the key aspects of our game.

  "It's more about what we're doing and making sure that we're doing it right."

  Austin were also on a poor run until they beat Minnesota United 1-0 last week, a result that lifted them to eighth in the West.

  Boss Josh Wolff is pleased with the way his team have hung on despite losing players to international duty and injuries, saying: "We looked at the season, and we knew difficult stretches were coming. We just don't have the numbers.

  "You can see in these games, we had to grind. We have guys playing in different positions. They continue to hang in there and compete.

  "It's not like every game is perfect but the guys have done a great job of keeping us in a good position."

  PLAYERS TO WATCH

  Sporting Kansas City – John Pulskamp

  Sporting KC are the fifth team in MLS history to concede four or more goals in three consecutive matches.

  No team has allowed four or more goals in four straight games in league history. Goalkeeper Pulskamp will be desperate to avoid making unwanted history here. 

  Austin FC – Sebastian Driussi 

  Driussi has scored five goals in six regular-season meetings with Sporting KC, scoring one goal in five of those six games, including in both of his previous matches in Kansas City.

  MATCH PREDICTION: SPORTING KANSAS CITY WIN

  Sporting KC have lost 10 times in a span of 11 regular-season matches for the first time in the post-shootout era (since 2000). 

  They had suffered only nine defeats in their previous 33 regular-season matches before this run. Perhaps Saturday, though, is an opportunity to bounce back.

  Austin were winless in five matches themselves before beating Minnesota last week (two draws, three losses) and have only won two of their last 17 road games (six draws, nine defeats).

  OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

  Sporting Kansas City – 45.8%

  Austin FC – 27.5%

  Draw – 26.8%