With World Cup-winning coaches in both dugouts, some of the world s finest players on show and South Africa 2010 in sight, Argentina s match with Brazil on Saturday is as big as they get.
Encounters between the South American giants are always passionate affairs but the weekend s World Cup qualifier in the Argentine city of Rosario has been given further spice by Argentina s desperate need for points.
Brazil top the regional qualifying standings ahead of Chile and Paraguay and could conceivably book their place in next summer s tournament if results go their way this weekend, but Argentina are struggling.
The appointment of the legendary Diego Maradona as coach has failed to inspire an upturn in Argentine fortunes after a below-par start to the campaign and they…
Southampton are ready to offer a new contract to midfielder Victor Wanyama, .
The Kenya international moved to St Mary’s Stadium from Scottish Premiership champions Celtic two years ago, and has since racked up sixty-two appearances in all competitions for the south coast club, scoring three goals.
Prior to his move to the Saints, the twenty-four year old secured back to back league titles north of the border and was named the Scottish top flight’s Young Player of the Year in 2013.
Manager Ronald Koeman is keen to retain Wanyama’s services after seeing a number of his sides big names move on in the past twelve months or so.
Nathaniel Clyne and Morgan Schneiderlin have moved on to pastures new in the close season, a year after Dejan Lovren, Rick…
Bournemouth look set to be disappointed in their pursuit of Everton forward Dominic Calvert-Lewin, according to the Mirror.
The England U21 international was been monitored by Cherries boss Eddie Howe last season, not least after seeing his opportunities limited following the arrival of Cenk Tosun from Besiktas.
However, despite starting just two league games this calendar year he is keen to remain at Goodison Park to fight for his place.
Calvert-Lewin made his Toffees debut in December 2016 having signed from Sheffield United the previous summer and has since racked up fifty-five appearances in all competitions, scoring nine goals.
Internationally, before breaking into the U21s squad he played fourteen times for the U20s, scoring six goals – one o…
France coach Raymond Domenech insisted Tuesday he would never consider quitting his post despite his unpopularity with the French public which has deepened since last week s World Cup play-off furore.
Domenech has proved something of a survivor, keeping his job despite France s first round knockout from Euro 2008.
But after struggling in World Cup qualifying then securing their ticket only as a result of Thierry Henry s blatant handball in the playoff with the Republic of Ireland his popularity appears to have hit an all time low.
Yet the 57-year-old came out fighting in an interview with l express.fr, telling the website: I have never resigned, and I will never resign. The harder the pressure, the more I become motivated.
I thrive on adversity. When ev…
It is easy to criticise Michel Platini and UEFA. They have made some very strange statements and decisions over the past few years and they have shown a real unwillingness to tackle the cancer of racist abuse across the football grounds of Europe.
Tackle
Now, they have announced new measures to tackle the problem. They do not go nearly far enough but at least it is an attempt to do something and they should be congratulated for that.
Our policy on racism is one of zero tolerance, said Platini. That simply isn’t true and the one game played behind closed doors by Juventus after their fans racially abused Inter’s Mario Balotelli and the paltry fine handed out to Spain after several of England’s black players were…
are in advanced talks over the possible signing of s Alisson Becker, according to a number of sources.
Jürgen Klopp had given his best to express support for Loris Karius after his blunders in the Champions League final practically gave the most prestigious trophy in club football to , but after the latest mistake in Liverpool s friendly against Tranmere Rovers last week, it seems he s finally come to terms with the fact that he needs a new goalkeeper.
The Reds have therefore submitted an official bid for Alisson, offering €60million upfront plus €10million in easily achievable bonuses.
Even though the transfer under those conditions would almost double the current world-record fee for a goalkeeper Manchester City s Ederson Moraes, the bid still falls sho…
FA Cup holders Chelsea shrugged off the absence of captain John Terry to cruise into the quarter-finals with a 4-1 win over Championship side Cardiff in the fifth round on Saturday.
With Terry granted time off to fly to Dubai to be with his wife as he deals with allegations of an affair, Ashley Cole sidelined after ankle surgery and Petr Cech and Nicolas Anelka rested, Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti sent out a slightly unfamiliar line-up at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian s team was still strong enough to kill off Cardiff. In the second minute, Didier Drogba ran onto Jon Obi Mikel s long pass and fired past Cardiff goalkeeper David Marshall for his 23rd goal of the season.
Cardiff forward Michael Chopra stunned the hosts when he punished poor marking to head the equa…
Gareth Southgate s four-match spell as England interim manager came to a dramatic conclusion as Spain scored twice in the dying minutes to snatch a 2-2 draw at Wembley.
It looked as though Southgate s hopes of landing the job on a full-time basis would be given a major boost as the hosts led 2-0 with a minute of normal time remaining in Tuesday s friendly.
But Spain debutant Iago Aspas bent in a superb goal off the inside of the left-hand post and, in the sixth minute of stoppage time, Isco squeezed a shot through the legs of substitute goalkeeper Tom Heaton at his near post.
It was a disappointing end to what amounted to a four-game audition for Southgate, which also featured comfortable World Cup qualifying wins over Malta and Scotland either side of a frustrat…
Julian Nagelsmann enjoyed a glorious return to former club RB Leipzig on Saturday as Bayern Munich ran out comfortable 4-1 victors in the Bundesliga.
Nagelsmann became a source of anger among Leipzig fans after he departed for Bayern and then also took Marcel Sabitzer with him, and any such ill-feeling will not have eased after this victory.
Robert Lewandowski put Bayern in front early on with a well-taken penalty and then a quick-fire double courtesy of Jamal Musiala and Leroy Sane early in the second half put the game beyond the hosts.
Jesse Marsch s men quickly pulled one back in spectacular fashion through Konrad Laimer, but it was not enough to inspire a comeback as Leipzig s miserable record against Bayern continued, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting adding a stoppa…
Manchester City halved their losses for a second consecutive year, financial results released on Wednesday have revealed.
The 2011-12 Premier League champions posted a loss of almost £100million in their title winning season, but that figure fell to £51.6m for 2012-13.
Turnover at the Etihad Stadium was up to £271m, taking it over the £250m mark for the first time in the club s history.
City also confirmed that they are for the first time, operating with zero financial debt having paid off all remaining borrowings .
Those figures make City the sixth-richest club in world football, according to a study by financial service provider Deloitte.
Chief executive Ferran Soriano said: Financially, the club continues to improve.
Growing revenues and contro…