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It s time for the return of international football as a parade of countries attempt to book their ticket to this year s 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. A string of nations have already battled their way through to November s spectacle but with eight months to go, there are still an awful lot of unanswered questions. This week, we ll get closer to answering some of them in the African qualifiers as Mali lock horns with Tunisia in the first leg of their tie.
Mali have never qualified for the World Cup in the history of their national team s existence but this time, it feels as if there s a quiet confidence descending on their squad. They ve only reached the Round of 16 in the last two editions of the Africa Cup of …
Borja Mayoral, Real Madrid’s striker on loan to Levante UD, has expressed ambition to become Real’s first-choice player in the near future.
The 22-year-old joined Real Madrid’s youth setup in 2007 and made his senior debut for the reserves in 2015, when he came in as the 74-minute substitute for Alvaro Jimenez. Due to Karim Benzema’s injury, Zidane gave Mayoral his first start for the club against Levante in 2016.
In July 2016 Mayoral was loaned to Bundesliga’s VfL Wolfsburg, after which followed the loan to Levante in 2018. In July of this year his loan to the club was extended to the 2018/2019 season.
Mayoral, who does not have a fear clause in his current contract, will be playing against his parent club this weekend, something he wasn’t allowed t…
Arsene Wenger has announced he will be leaving Arsenal at the end of the season, bringing an end to a successful 22-year spell in charge in north London.
The 68-year-old will be hoping to end his spell at the Emirates Stadium on a high as his side prepares for a Europa League semi-final with Atletico Madrid, in what will be his last European home match with the Gunners.
In recent years, Wenger has come under a lot of pressure for his side s struggles to compete and his transfer policy has often been questioned, having fallen behind the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and even Tottenham in the standings.
On a number of occasions, it s safe to say that Wenger has made some massive mistakes in the market. Here, we look at five of his worst recruits.
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Pep Guardiola cannot envisage ever coaching another club in England after his time at Manchester City comes to an end.
Since being appointed ahead of the 2016-17 season, Guardiola has led City to three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and four EFL Cups, while they were runners-up to Chelsea in last season s Champions League final.
Guardiola has a contract to remain at the Etihad Stadium until 2023 and may yet prolong his stay with the blue half of Manchester.
The 50-year-old has an interest in taking on an international management role in the future but says regardless he will only ever work for City in England, even suggesting he could one day take on a different position at the club.
I ve said many times when we ve finished our part here, for the pleas…
Cristiano Ronaldo wants to remain at Real Madrid for the rest of the career and hopes to continue playing for the club beyond his 40th birthday.
Ronaldo signed for Madrid in a record-breaking transfer from Manchester United in 2009 and this season overtook Raul as the leading scorer in the club s history, cementing his place as one of their all-time greats.
The 31-year-old has regularly been linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in recent years, but he is not planning on leaving the Santiago Bernabeu.
I am going to retire at Real Madrid when I m older than 40, Ronaldo told AS.
I am very happy here and will work hard to achieve that.
Ronaldo scored the winning penalty as Madrid overcame neighbours Atletico Madrid in the Champions League fina…
Claude Puel says it is essential Southampton resist any bids for captain Jose Fonte with just three weeks of the transfer window remaining.
Fonte has climbed through the divisions with the South Coast club since joining in 2009 from Crystal Palace, and captained the club as they achieved their highest Premier League finish last season.
The 32-year-old started Portugal s 1-0 win against France in the final of Euro 2016 and has consequently been tipped to follow Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle and Victor Wanyama out of the exit door but Puel reiterated his desire to keep the former Sporting CP youth teamer at St Mary s.
For me, and of course for Southampton, it is very important to keep Jose, the former Lyon manager told a news conference ahead of Southampton s 2016-17…
Uli Hoeness has threatened to block Bayern Munich players from representing Germany if Manuel Neuer loses his national team place to Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Bayern president Hoeness weighed into Die Mannschaft s goalkeeper debate last week when he hit out at the German Football Association for their perceived failure to show adequate support to Neuer, captain of club and country.
Neuer s chief positional rival in the Germany setup, Barcelona star Ter Stegen, had prompted a public exchange of views when he expressed frustration with a lack of international opportunities.
Hoeness criticised the 27-year-old for his comments and, accusing the media of a coordinating a campaign against Neuer, insisted Bayern would not let their players be damaged without reason .
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Inter coach Luciano Spalletti is hopeful that a return to the Disneyland of football can provide a distraction from their poor start to the Serie A season.
The Nerazzurri play their first Champions League game since the 2011-12 season on Tuesday when Tottenham visit the San Siro.
The clash with Mauricio Pochettino s side offers Spalletti and his players a welcome respite from their torrid league form, which has seen them win just one of their opening four games.
Spalletti has come under increasing pressure following a 1-0 home defeat to Parma on Saturday, but he is confident that his team can leave their domestic woes behind and enjoy themselves in the amusement park of European football s premier competition.
These games are worth so much in term…
Rachel Daly admits it was difficult for her to have been benched in favour of Alessia Russo for England’s World Cup opener against Haiti on Saturday.
Georgia Stanway’s retaken penalty secured the Lionesses a nervy 1-0 victory at Brisbane Stadium to begin their quest for a maiden World Cup, but they have not scored in open play since Ella Toone netted against Brazil in April’s Finalissima at Wembley.
The Russo-or-Daly dilemma was a much-debated topic ahead of the 2023 finals, with Tottenham’s Beth England also amongst boss Sarina Wiegman’s attacking options.
Asked how she felt about her manager’s decision, Daly said: “I think anyone would be (frustrated). No one is happy to sit on the bench. If you are, then you are not in the right place, not in the…
Wayne Rooney celebrated with unbridled joy when he scored the winning goal against Stoke City on his return to Premier League action for Everton at Goodison Park.
On Monday, the 31-year-old made it two in two this season and there was no little mischief in his ear-cupping reaction as he lapped up netting against Manchester City. It was his 200th goal in the top flight, the latest landmark in the incredible career of Manchester United and England s leading goalscorer.
The joy and mischief were all the more noticeable as they were qualities that fizzed from Rooney the teenage sensation, but elements that seem to have been missing entirely during the trials of recent seasons.
For the second half of Roy Hodgson s ill-fated tenure as England manager, debate raged ove…