Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer believes Sweden sounded a World Cup warning with their play-off victory over Italy.
Joachim Low s world champions begin their Russia 2018 campaign in Group F against Mexico – a side they dispatched 4-1 on the way to Confederations Cup glory earlier this year.
South Korea are also in the section alongside Sweden, whose two-legged 1-0 triumph over Italy last month meant the Azzurri missed out on the World Cup finals for the first time since 1958.
We ve got opponents who are not unknown to us. I always like it best when we know what to expect, said Bayern Munich star Neuer, who is set to return in the new year following surgery on a broken foot.
captain : We have to take each opponent very seriously, but our aim has to be…
Joshua Zirkzee is reportedly drawing interest from Milan, Juventus and Manchester United, and will have the chance to further his stock after a late call-up for the Netherlands at Euro 2024.
Oranje boss Ronald Koeman has lost Frenkie de Jong and Teun Koopmeiners, as well as midfielder Marten de Roon, in the build-up to the tournament in Germany.
Koeman criticised former club Barcelona for their handling of the injured De Jong before Koopmeiners absence was also confirmed this week in another blow for the Netherlands.
Ajax forward Brian Brobbey is another said to be struggling for fitness, forcing the Dutch to act swiftly with reinforcements.
Zirkzee s inclusion was confirmed on Wednesday as the Netherlands added the striker to their international camp ahe…
Roberto Martinez has confirmed Kevin De Bruyne will be fit for Euro 2020, albeit the Belgium star may not be able to feature in the opening game.
Martinez had been confident his talisman would be available for the tournament despite a facial injury suffered in Manchester City s Champions League final defeat to Chelsea.
De Bruyne sustained a fractured nose and left orbital in a collision with Antonio Rudiger, and was clearly in distress as he left the field in Porto.
However, after medical assessments and a minor surgical intervention – as Martinez described it – De Bruyne has been passed fit to link up with Belgium s squad on Monday.
After looking at the images, it was decided Kevin needed a little bit of an intervention and that has taken place to…
Northern Ireland s Euro 2016 hero Michael McGovern has joined Norwich City on a three-year deal.
Goalkeeper McGovern s Hamilton Academical contract expired at the end of last season and he had been tipped to join Rangers, but a string of impressive displays in France most notably against Group C giants Germany attracted interest from elsewhere.
The 32-year-old now heads to Carrow Road, linking up with former Hamilton manager Alex Neil, as the Canaries look to bounce back from last season s Premier League relegation.
Having worked with the gaffer before, that was a big pull for me, McGovern told Norwich s official website.
I had some interest from elsewhere but I m really looking forward to working with him again now at Norwich. It s nice to join a clu…
Manchester United open their 2019-20 Premier League campaign with a home game against Chelsea, who are expected to be under new leadership with Maurizio Sarri linked with Juventus.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer faces a rebuilding project at Old Trafford after his side missed out on qualification for the Champions League last term.
United will hope for better results in this season s Manchester derby clashes with rivals Manchester City, who won both games in 2018-19 as they defended their title, becoming the first team to do so since the Red Devils a decade ago.
The first Manchester derby of the new season is set for December 7 at the Etihad Stadium, with the return match held at Old Trafford on March 7.
Manchester United s 2019-20 Premier League fixtures in full (all…
Rodrigo De Paul says the Argentina captaincy still belongs to Lionel Messi despite his extended injury lay-off.
The Inter Miami star has been out of action since the Copa America final due to an ankle injury and will not be involved in Argentina s upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia.
Messi is still a key part of Lionel Sclaoni s plans with the national side, and he played in all but one of their games at that tournament, though only registered one goal and one assist for the tournament.
Angel Di Maria retired from international duty after their Copa America triumph and was the usual deputy to Messi, who has captained Albiceleste since 2011.
With neither of those two available, it is expected that De Paul, who has 69 international cap…
Liverpool s frustrating run continued as they slipped to a 1-0 Premier League defeat against Southampton, handing further impetus to Manchester United and the chasing pack.
Having drawn their final two games of 2020 to West Brom and Newcastle United, Liverpool were downed by an early goal from their former striker Danny Ings at St Mary s.
They remain top, above United on goal difference having played a game more ahead of a crunch clash between the two old rivals at Anfield on January 17.
Ings earliest goal of his Premier League career came after Liverpool switched off from a James Ward-Prowse free-kick.
Southampton might have added to their lead before half-time, but although Jurgen Klopp s champions dominated after the restart, they could not avoid a …
Although deployed in an unfamiliar central attacking role, Liverpool forward Sadio Mane sank Watford quickly with his fantastic brace turning into an opening act for a 5-0 thrashing.
The first goal was superbly taken, but the second was as cheeky as it gets. Enjoy.
Unless you re a Watford fan, of course.
…
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini will be looking for his side to get back to winning ways this evening, as the Champions visit Wigan
There are eight games in the Premier League this evening. Chelsea host Fulham at Stamford Bridge looking for their first victory under new boss Rafa Benitez, after the Blues drew 0-0 with champions Manchester City last weekend.
Spanish striker Fernando Torres has come in for heavy criticism since he arrived at Chelsea, but Benitez will be hoping to get the best out of the Spanish striker, just as he did at Liverpool.
The visitors have lost their last two games in the top flight, at home to Sunderland before losing 1-0 at Stoke last time out.
The Cottagers are also in the midst of an injury-crisis. Bryan Ruiz, Alex Kacan…
Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions for the fourth time in five seasons, seeing off a spirited challenge from Liverpool.
Pep Guardiola s men may not have won as many trophies as they would have liked this season, but they have been exceptional in defence of their league title in the face of stiff competition.
If City were not already intimidating enough, they will be adding one of the best strikers in world football to their ranks next season in the shape of Erling Haaland.
The lethal Norwegian will surely come in and plunder plenty of goals, just as he has in the Bundesliga at Borussia Dortmund before his £51million (€60m) move to the Etihad Stadium.
However, will his arrival realistically improve them all that much, or more to …