European champions Portugal have to be regarded as one of the favourites for the World Cup, according to former midfielder Deco.
Fernando Santos men were by no means expected to clinch Euro 2016 glory and could consider themselves lucky to even get out of Group F as one of the best third-placed teams.
Portugal finished behind Hungary and Iceland, but subsequently scraped past Croatia and Poland in the first two knockout stages before beating Wales in the last four and hosts France in the final.
Despite that triumph, few are speaking of Portugal as one of the teams expected to go deep into the competition in Russia, something Brazil-born Deco – who played for his adopted country for seven years from 2003 – thinks is odd.
The World Cup is a more diff…
Newcastle United are determined to sign Raphinha from Barcelona in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Newcastle are willing to pay over €80 million to get a deal done for the former Leeds United winger, who moved to Barcelona from the Whites only in the summer of 2022.
Raphinha made 25 starts and 11 substitute appearances in La Liga for Barcelona this past season, scoring seven goals and giving seven assists in those games. The 26-year-old Brazil international winger made four starts and one substitute appearance in the UEFA Champions League for Xavi’s side this past campaign, providing two assists in those games.
Newcastle finished fourth in the Premier League table this past season and will play in the UEFA Champions League next…
Philippe Coutinho described wearing the captain s armband at Anfield as special after the stand-in skipper led Liverpool to a 7-0 victory with a hat-trick in the Champions League.
Coutinho was named captain on Wednesday in place of Jordan Henderson, who watched from the bench as Liverpool embarrassed Spartak Moscow on Merseyside.
The Brazil star – who has been linked with a move to LaLiga giants Barcelona – scored twice in the opening 15 minutes and added a fifth five minutes into the second half to guide Liverpool through to the knockout stages for the first time since 2008-09.
It was a very special night. I was very happy with my goals and the performance, Coutinho told UEFA.com.
It was special to be captain I think it was my first time here.
…
Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers believes British managers are just as talented as their foreign counterparts and deserve more respect for their achievements.
Rodgers took over at the Foxes in February 2019 and steered the club to a fifth-place finish in the 2019-20 campaign, missing out on a Champions League spot on the final day of the season.
His side have enjoyed a stellar start to the new season too, and sit top of the Premier League after winning six of their opening eight games.
Rodgers is widely considered to be one of the best British managers of his generation, having come close to winning the Premier League with Liverpool in 2014.
He also led Celtic to seven domestic trophies during his two-and-a-half seasons in charge of the Scottish c…
Harry Kane doubled the lead in the second half, finishing off a flowing team move in which Foden was an integral part.
The 23-year-old has scored just four goals since making his debut in 2020 and a place in Southgate’s starting XI is still not guaranteed, with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka often preferred on the right side of the attack.
“I always want more for myself, I think I can add goals to this team – and assists,” Foden told beIN Sports.
“I was involved in both of the goals (against Malta), maybe we weren’t at our best but we got the job done in the end and that’s the most important thing.
“I’m enjoying my football a lot at the moment, I’m expressing myself, I’m playing really well. So yeah, I need to keep that up, keep pushing mys…
Sepp Blatter has been handed a new ban from football of six years and eight months, FIFA has announced.
Disgraced former FIFA president Blatter was originally banned for eight years, reduced to six, in 2015 over breaches relating to a disloyal payment to ex-UEFA chief Michel Platini.
That suspension is up in October of this year, although the 85-year-old will now be barred from all football activities for a further eight years due to various violations of FIFA s code of ethics.
Jerome Valcke, the former FIFA general secretary who is banned from football until October 2025, has been given the same punishment on those grounds.
Both men have also been fined 1million Swiss francs (€900,000/$1.1m).
A statement issued by FIFA read: The investigations…
Roberto Firmino may miss a third straight game through injury as Liverpool prepare to face Wolves on Monday.
Firmino has missed Liverpool s last two games defeat to Fulham and victory over RB Leipzig with a knock.
He will be assessed ahead of the meeting at Molineux, with the Reds out to arrest a slide in form that has significantly dented their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.
Liverpool have lost six of their last seven games in the Premier League and have suffered defeat in a club-record six consecutive home league games.
That run left them seven points adrift of the top four going into Saturday s fixtures, with winning the Champions League looking like their best shot of qualifying for next season s competition after their last-16 triump…
With the 2023/24 Premier League campaign getting underway this weekend, we have a mouth-watering set of opening fixtures from across the country. For those of you looking to open the new season with a flutter, we have found a trio of Premier League tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Saturday August 12th
BST 12:30 Arsenal vs Nottingham Forest
Suffering Premier League title heartbreak last season after failing at the final hurdle and missing out on the chance to get their hands on a first domestic crown since 2004, Arsenal will be desperate to avoid an opening weekend banana skin here. While Mikel Arteta’s young squad might have eventually fallen five points adrift of dethroning Manchester City, Saturday’s hosts should take a string of positives away from …
Republic of Ireland defender Marc Wilson has been ruled out of Euro 2016 having suffered a setback in his recovery from a serious knee injury.
The 28-year-old has not played for club side Stoke City since January having damaged knee ligaments, but was hoping to make the tournament in France and had been named in manager Martin O Neill s 35-man provisional squad.
However, O Neill revealed that Wilson has had an additional problem and subsequently will not be fit in time to play at the Euros.
Marc Wilson has had a setback, he said. The best thing for him is to take four of five weeks off. He will be out.
Ireland goalkeeper and club team-mate Shay Given added: I have worked with Marc Wilson in the gym this season.
It s a big shame for him. The s…
Several star players will be available as free agents ahead of the 2020-21 season. Even though there’s no certainty on when the leagues will resume around the world, we do know one thing. These five players listed below will be available for free when the upcoming transfer market opens in the next few months.
Mario Götze – Dortmund
Götze will always be remembered as the player who scored the winning goal during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, the Germany international and current Borussia Dortmund star is far more than that. A gifted playmaker capable of playing all over the attacking third, he seems set to leave Dortmund for the second time in his career. Could a reunion with Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool be on the cards? That shouldn’t be ruled out, as Liverpool do not…