Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has hailed England midfielder Jordan Henderson for his immaculate World Cup performances.
Henderson was not named in the starting line-up for the Three Lions opening two group games, but has made a big impression after featuring from the outset in the Group B closer against Wales and the last-16 triumph over Senegal.
The Liverpool midfielder scored the opener against Senegal, becoming his country s second-oldest scorer in the finals aged 32 years and 170 days, after Tom Finney against USSR in 1958 at 36 years and 64 days.
Gerrard has been impressed with his former Reds team-mate s leadership qualities and believes his contribution can sometimes be undervalued.
Obviously being an England fan I m following England an…
Zambia have been crowned COSAFA Cup champions after a 2-0 win over defending champions Zimbabwe on Saturday.
The host nation were beaten by Zimbabwe in the 2009 final but got their revenge thanks to goals from Alex N gonga and Kabaso Chongo.
N gonga gave Zambia the perfect start with a well struck free-kick after just four minutes, much to the joy of the home crowd.
Zambia were then forced to withstand heavy Zimbabwe pressure but went in one up at the break before an impressive Danny Munyau save to keep out Ronald Chitiyo s header after 66 minutes frustrated Klaus Dieter Pagels side further.
The game was all but over when, a minute into injury time, substitute Chongo scored Zambia s second to ensure Herve Renard s side were victiorious.
Prior to the final,…
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Blaise Matuidi believes Edinson Cavani is on a par with star in-form striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Cavani was the main man on Wednesday as PSG avoided a slip up against Saint-Etienne with a 2-1 win in the Coupe de la Ligue round-of-16.
PSG were without the suspended Ibrahimovic but Cavani opened the scoring and got the winner in extra time as the hosts progressed to the quarter-finals.
Cavani is someone who knows where the goal is, Matuidi said.
He is also someone who defends, who attacks of course, but defends, and works hard.
This is a great striker, world class, like Zlatan and we are fortunate to have both players.
I think all the French clubs would be pleased to have strikers like that.
PSG last lifted the Coup…
Inter s slim hopes of Champions League qualification were boosted as they came from behind to beat Udinese 3-1 at San Siro.
Cyril Thereau put Udinese into a shock early lead with his first touch of the game, volleying home a pinpoint lofted through-ball from Emmanuel Badu.
But Inter equalised before half-time, with Stevan Jovetic finishing off Mauro Icardi s pullback for a simple goal.
Jovetic got his second of the game 15 minutes from time, chesting in a terrific cross by Jonathan Biabiany, before Eder added a third deep in injury time in a game notable for it being the first in Serie A history to begin without any Italian players in either starting line-up.
It was Inter s first victory at home against Udinese in Serie A since September 2010 and Robe…
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has defended his record at Manchester City ahead of this weekend s fixture between the sides.
The Welshman took charge of the Etihad Stadium outfit in June 2008, but was relieved of his duties in December 2009 and replaced by Roberto Mancini.
Hughes, though, feels that his tenure at the club was a success, and that his removal was as much down to a change of ownership than a lack of results.
I enjoyed my time at Manchester City, he said ahead of Saturday s fixture. It was difficult as it was a big time of change for the club, but I think I can look back upon my time there and be pleased with what we achieved.
The season that I got the sack we had lost two games in 17, so it wasn t too bad. The owners wanted to make a change and brin…
Barcelona have agreed to pay a €5.5million fine over an error in tax planning following the signing of Neymar from Santos in 2013.
Spanish prosecutors had requested the player stand trial for fraud in relation to his switch to the Catalan club, alleging both Neymar and his father, who also acts as his agent, had hidden the true value of the deal.
Barcelona stated they paid a fee of €57m, with €17m going to Santos and the rest going to Neymar s parents.
A Brazilian investment fund who owned 40 per cent of Neymar s rights claimed they were not paid the correct amount, with investigators stating the actual price Barcelona paid was closer to €83m.
However, the Spanish champions have now found a resolution to the situation, meaning they …
AJ Auxerre chairman Guy Cotret has revealed it would take a huge offer to land highly-rated striker Paul-Georges Ntep de Madiba in the January transfer window, understands.
Ntep, 21, is the subject of reported interest from a number of European clubs, including English Premier League newcomers Crystal Palace and Hull City.
Hull, currently in 10th-place in the Premier League table, were linked with a £1.5 move for Ntep during the summer transfer window, but nothing materialised.
After the rumoured deal for Ntep fell through, the Tigers opted to bolster their strikeforce with the additions of Danny Graham (on loan from Sunderland) and Yannick Sagbo (Evian Thonon Gaillard).
The new arrivals have combined for just one goal in 16 appearances in…
Barcelona technical secretary Robert Fernandez insists the club are keen to sort the future of Javier Mascherano as soon as possible.
Mascherano, 32, had been linked with a move away in the off-season despite two years left to run on his contract at Camp Nou.
However, the two parties are keen to extend their partnership, with Fernandez looking to sort a new deal after securing contracts for Neymar, Sergio Busquets and Rafinha.
There are issues that still need to be sorted out, Fernandez said as Barca unveiled new signing Denis Suarez on Wednesday.
We ve been doing that with Rafinha, Sergio Busquets and Neymar, and now it s time to do the same with Mascherano.
He has told us that he wants to stay here, and that s comforting to know.
Spain are as hungry as ever to taste success at the FIFA World Cup despite their recent dominance, according to striker Fernando Torres.
Vicente del Bosque s men became the first team in history to win three straight major tournaments when they clinched Euro 2012.
Torres said while Spain were a different side to the one that won Euro 2008, they are as motivated as ever to be successful.
Obviously no-one is the same as six years ago, the Chelsea striker was quoted as saying by Marca.
When you re champions you focus on games differently but that does not mean we re going to do better or worse.
That s life and no-one is the same as a year ago or as they will be in a while.
The past is the past and this is why you play. I want to win as much as I did in 2…
The MLS franchise Chicago Fire is said to be once again looking at Real Madrid legendary goalkeeper Iker Casillas after missing out on the Porto custodian last season.
Iker Casillas extended his stay with the Portuguese outfit for a further season back in May but the latest reports coming from Spain have it that San Iker is once again being linked with a move to the United States of America.
The 37-year-old shot stopper is still highly regarded despite reaching the twilight of his career.
Chicago Fire manager Veljko Paunovic is not giving up on the prospect of adding another household name to his roster and will push hard in an effort to sign the goalkeeper ahead of the 2019 season, .
Widely considered as one of the most renowned goalkeepers in the world…