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WC 2018 QUALIFIERS : 10 men Italy defeat Israel

Graziano Pelle, Antonio Candreva and Ciro Immobile were on target for 10-man Italy in a 3-1 win in Israel on Monday. Giampiero Ventura's first competitive match as Italy coach ended in a 3-1 victory in Israel as they got their World Cup qualifying campaign off to a winning start despite Giorgio Chiellini's second-half red card. Italy were seemingly coasting at 2-0 in Haifa, with Graziano Pelle converting Luca Antonelli's excellent low cross inside the six-yard box and Antonio Candreva doubling the lead from the penalty spot after Giacomo … [Read more...]

Diego Costa and Silva score as Spain trash Liechtenstein

Newly-appointed Spain coach Julien Liechtensteinegui enjoyed a perfect competitive debut as Diego Costa, David Silva and Alvaro Morata all hit doubles in an 8-0 drubbing of Liechtenstein in Leon on Monday. Costa scored his first Spain goal since 2014 after just 10 minutes, but despite complete domination of the game the hosts had to settle for just a one-goal lead at half-time. The floodgates opened with three goals in five minutes after the break as Sergi Roberto and Vitolo tapped home their first international goals either side of David … [Read more...]

Kanu delighted to make a difference in Arsenal Legends match

Arsenal legend Nwaknkwo Kanu earned the adoration of the Emirates once more with his performance in Saturday’s Legends game but the former Nigerian international was more concerned with the good he was doing off the field. Kanu scored the hat-trick he had promised pre-match as an Arsenal Legends side ran out 4-2 winners over a star-studded Milan Glorie XI in front of  Emirates crowd. The match was the cornerstone of the Arsenal Foundation’s bid to raise over £1million, with which they intend to build football pitches in Jordan, Somalia and … [Read more...]

Bremen ‘creative’ with Serge Gnabry deal amid Bayern talk – Lemke

Werder Bremen acquired Serge Gnabry from Arsenal in a “clever and creative” manner, according to a member of the club’s supervisory board. Gnabry’s exit from Arsenal on deadline day came as a surprise after Arsene Wenger had set he hoped to agree a new deal with the 21-year-old, whose contract at the Emirates was set to expire at the end of the season. Ultimately Arsenal accepted a bid of between £4-5 million from Bremen but speculation in Germany has claimed that German champions Bayern Munich had a part to play in the deal and may have … [Read more...]

Romelu Lukaku reveals why he rejected Juve for Everton

Romelu Lukaku has claimed  he could have joined Juventus in the summer transfer window but opted to stay at Everton. Chelsea are understood to have tried to re-sign Lukaku, who Everton reportedly valued at £75million. The Belgium international admits he is unhappy without European football and suggests he could still leave Goodison Park next summer. “It stings a little [not being in Europe], but I’m someone who believes that everything happens for a reason,” Lukaku said in an interview with Het Nieuwsblad . “Otherwise I would have gone … [Read more...]

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane opens up on Mourinho talks

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane has told Canal+ it was "difficult to turn down Jose Mourinho" and a move to Manchester United this summer, but says Zinedine Zidane's vote of confidence convinced him to stay in Spain. Varane, 23, has developed into a world-class centre-back since moving to Madrid from Lens in 2011 bearing the tag of being one of the game's most promising youngsters. That transformation was aided in great part by Mourinho during his three-year tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the United coach hoped to reunite with … [Read more...]

Jurgen Klopp calls Sadio Mane to check fitness amid injury concerns

Liverpool have been boosted by the news that Sadio Mane did not suffer a serious injury while on international duty. The winger was substituted midway through the second half of Saturday’s 2-0 win over Namibia, prompting speculation about his fitness. Jurgen Klopp is understood to have called the 24-year-old the following day to check on his status and was given a positive response and Mane was back in for training  at Melwood on Monday. That was a welcome news ahead of the visit of Premier League champions Leicester this weekend for … [Read more...]

Toure treatment will cost Manchester City African fans – agent

Yaya Toure's agent says Pep Guardiola will cost Manchester City millions of supporters in Africa due to his treatment of the midfielder. Guardiola has sidelined the 33-year-old since taking over as City manager this summer. Toure has yet to feature in the Premier League this season and has been left out of the Champions League group stage squad. The Ivorian's representative, Dimitri Seluk, is unhappy with the way his client is being treated and claims it will have serious ramifications for the club. "They will lose a lot of millions of … [Read more...]

Norway 0 Germany 3: Muller’s brace sinks Norway

Thomas Muller made sure Germany made a successful start to the defence of their World Cup title with a 3-0 win over Norway in Oslo. Thomas Muller was on target twice while Joshua Kimmich's first goal for his country crowned an emphatic start to qualifying for Germany, who immediately took their place at the top of Group C. Manuel Neuer led Germany out for the first time since being named their new captain following Bastian Schweinsteiger's retirement from international football. (read) The Bayern Munich goalkeeper's touch of the ball … [Read more...]

Slovakia 0-1 England: Lallana scores late to give Allardyce first England win

Adam Lallana grabbed an injury time winner to hand Sam Allardyce a 1-0 win over Slovakia in his first game in charge of England. Allardyce had looked as though he would have to settle for a deeply uninspiring stalemate in Trnava – the hosts having held firm in the World Cup Group F qualifier despite Martin Skrtel’s sending-off after a nasty stamp on Harry Kane. However Lallana picked a perfect moment to break his international duck and seal a 1-0 success. The Liverpool forward had already clattered the post when the ball broke for him … [Read more...]

Zlatan hails Mourinho as ‘masterbrain’ behind his United move

Jose Mourinho was key to persuading Zlatan Ibrahimovic to move to England, as the Swedish icon felt no need to play in the Premier League. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has credited Jose Mourinho as the decisive factor in persuading him to bring his stellar career to the Premier League, claiming he previously rejected moves to England's top flight on two occasions. Ibrahimovic headed the winner in Manchester United's Community Shield victory over Leicester City and has scored three times in as many Premier League matches to prove an instant hit with … [Read more...]

Guardiola humiliated Yaya Toure- Agent

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has humiliated Yaya Toure by dropping him from his Champions League squad, according to the player's agent Dimitri Seluk. Toure, 33, will not be eligible to play in Manchester City's Champions League group games because Guardiola was forced to drop an overseas players from his squad as UEFA rules permit only 17 players who are not "locally-trained" or "association-trained." "If he wins the Champions League for City this season then I will travel to England and I will say on television that Pep Guardiola … [Read more...]

Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil wants Jack Wilshere’s No 10 shirt

Mesut Ozil has spoken of his desire to wear the Arsenal No. 10 shirt in the absence of Jack Wilshere, amid talks with the Gunners over a new contract. The 27-year-old has taken over wearing No. 10 for Germany after Lukas Podolski's retirement and has admitted that he would like the same shirt back at the Emirates Stadium. With Wilshere joining Bournemouth on loan for the season, Ozil says that he now has the opportunity to lock down the number he desires. "It has become free and I will definitely have it," Ozil told German newspaper … [Read more...]

Jamie Vardy: Why it was an easy decision to snub Arsenal

Jamie Vardy has revealed the pain felt by England’s stars at their Euro 2016 humiliation and how he made the tough decision to turn down a move to Arsenal before bumping into Gunners boss Arsene Wenger during the tournament.   Despite winning the Premier League with Leicester, being named footballer of the year by the Football Writers’ Association and getting married, Vardy was also part of the England squad which crashed out of the European Championships to Iceland. Add to that a high-profile bid from Arsenal, which the … [Read more...]

Luke Shaw withdrawn from England squad

Luke Shaw withdrew from the England squad for Sunday’s World Cup qualifier in Slovakia after missing training on Saturday morning. The 21-year-old left-back has only just returned from double leg-break and has started the season well with Manchester United. He was replaced in training at St George’s Park by Arsenal’s Tafari Moore, who is part of the Under-20s set-up, and did not fly with the team. Shaw now misses out on a potential England return having last been capped almost a year ago in a 2-0 Euro 2016 qualifying victory over … [Read more...]

Kelechi Iheanacho scores to give Nigeria victory over Tanzania

Hopes of Africa Cup of Nations qualification were already dashed before a dominant Nigeria beat Tanzania 1-0. Kelechi Iheanacho's stunning late strike ensured Nigeria ended their failed Africa Cup of Nations qualifying bid with a 1-0 win over Tanzania. The Super Eagles' 1-0 loss to Egypt in March thwarted their hopes of reaching Gabon 2017 in a group reduced to only three teams following Chad's withdrawal for financial reasons. But they at least got their first victory of the campaign at the Akwa Ibom Stadium on Saturday, having shared … [Read more...]

Referee Halsey ‘told to say I did not see incidents on the pitch’

Mark Halsey's claims that he had been told to say he hadn't seen incidents by the referees' body could be a "major issue" for the Football Association and the Premier League, former Manchester United and England star Gary Neville believes. Halsey refereed in the Premier League for 14 years between 1999 and 2013, as well as being a FIFA listed official for six years. In a Twitter discussion about the three-game ban handed down to Sergio Aguero on Friday for an elbow on West Ham's Winston Reid, Halsey told one user that he had been in that … [Read more...]

Neuer named new Germany Captain

Coach Jaochim Low as appointed Manuel Neuer as  successor to Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has retired from international football. Neuer won his first full cap on June 2009 in a 7 - 2 victory over UAE. He left his feeders club Schalke two years later to join FC Bayern, where he has won World best Goalkeeper award, The Champions League, The FIFA World Cup and four German Championship titles. … [Read more...]

Mkhitaryan a major doubt for Manchester derby

A statement from the Armenian FA has revealed captain Henrikh Mkhitaryan has suffered a thigh injury and is out for up to 10 days. Manchester United's Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a major doubt for next weekend's derby against Manchester City after being ruled out for between seven and 10 days with a thigh injury sustained on international duty. The Armenia midfielder was hurt in a clash with Marek Suchy during a friendly against Czech Republic on Wednesday, with his side going on to lose the game 3-0. A statement released by the Armenian FA … [Read more...]

I found it hard under Martinez at Everton- John Stones

England defender John Stones describes it as a weight off his shoulders to be enjoying his football at Manchester City after a breakdown of communication with Roberto Martinez marred his final season with Everton. Stones joined City in a £47.5 million deal over the summer, a huge sum that reflects the 22-year-old's youth, potential and nationality but not necessarily his recent experiences. He was part of an underachieving Toffees side who finished 11th last year and were frequently accused on being defensively disorganised. Martinez, … [Read more...]

Olivier Giroud has ‘no problem’ with Wenger over limited game time

Olivier Giroud insists he does not have an issue with his failure to start a match for Arsenal this season, saying he understands Arsene Wenger’s reasons. France striker Giroud has been limited to just 12 minutes of first-team football this season with Wenger giving his quartet of Euro 2016 semi-finalists an extended break. However, with Laurent Koscielny rushed back into the side at Leicester to shore up a struggling backline, Mesut Ozil also found himself recalled to the starting line-up for the win at Watford last weekend. Giroud was … [Read more...]

Bastian Schweinsteiger out of Europa Leauge squad

Bastian Schweinsteiger has been left out of Manchester United's squad for the Europa League group stage. The World Cup-winning Germany star has been completely frozen out at Old Trafford since Jose Mourinho's arrival as manager. He has yet to feature in any of Mourinho's squads this season and the Portuguese has admitted it will be "very difficult" to give the 32-year-old any playing time this season. Schweinsteiger, who joined the club from Bayern Munich in 2015, still has two years left on his contract and is determined to … [Read more...]

Klopp treated Balotelli like **** at Liverpool- Mino Raiola

Jurgen Klopp acted like “a piece of sh*t” with regards to Mario Balotelli at Liverpool, according to Mino Raiola. Balotelli left Liverpool after two tumultuous years at Anfield, having joined under Brendan Rodgers in summer 2014. The Italian striker, who blamed “physical problems ” for his struggles, left on a free for French side Nice ahead of Wednesday’s transfer deadline. He scored just one goal in 16 Premier League appearances for the Reds, but never even featured under Klopp. Balotelli’s agent, Raiola, has hit out at the German … [Read more...]

Sergio Aguero handed three match ban, to miss Manchester derby

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero will miss the Manchester derby after being given a three-match ban for elbowing West Ham defender Winston Reid. The Football Association found the Argentine guilty of violent conduct after he clashed with Reid in the 3-1 win at the Etihad on Aug. 28. City failed in an appeal to get the decision overturned and he will now miss the game against Manchester United on Sept. 10 as well as the home clash with Bournemouth on Sept. 17 and EFL Cup tie at Swansea City four days later. Aguero caught Reid in the … [Read more...]

Schweinsteiger in Man Utd’s Premier League squad

Jose Mourinho has included Bastian Schweinsteiger in Manchester United’s 25-man squad for the Premier League campaign. Schweinsteiger has been exiled at Old Trafford following the arrival of Mourinho, with the club failing to move on the midfielder on deadline day. The 32-year-old is understood to be training with United’s reserves, but is determined to force his way into Mourinho’s first-team plans. “I have a contract with United until 2018 and you know what the atmosphere is like at Old Trafford and it’s my dream to run out there … [Read more...]