France striker Karim Benzema remained positive after his side s elimination from the FIFA World Cup and pledged to play at Russia 2018.
Germany eliminated France in the quarter-finals on Friday, with Mats Hummels first-half header providing the only goal of the game at the Maracana.
The result ended a promising campaign for France, who bounced back from their terrible performance in South Africa four years ago to reach the last eight, scoring 10 goals and winning three games on the way.
Benzema will leave Brazil having managed three goals in his first World Cup and the 26-year-old is convinced he will still be involved when Russia 2018 rolls around.
I m happy we made it this far, Benzema said after France s loss in Rio de Janeiro.
I m young enou…
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been omitted from Belgium s 25-man squad for Euro 2024.
Courtois suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury shortly before the start of the season in August, only returning to action against Cadiz earlier this month.
He is seen as the favourite to start between the sticks when Los Blancos face Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League final on Saturday, despite Andriy Lunin impressing as Carlo Ancelotti s side overcame Manchester City and Bayern Munch in the last two rounds.
Courtois became embroiled in a public spat with Belgium coach Domenico Tedesco last June, walking out on the squad when he was not named captain in the wake of Eden Hazard s retirement.
That incident meant he was always unlikely to featur…
The Confederations Cup is, as FIFA has regularly reminded us, a proving ground for the World Cup that takes place the following year.
The tournament in Russia, won by Germany in Sunday s final, has been no different. VAR technology was given a trial run on the international stage, the revamped venues have tested extra security measures and the host cities suitability to welcome thousands of foreign football fans has been laid bare.
Now that the Confederations Cup is over, the simple question remains: will Russia be ready to host the World Cup in 2018? Omnisport s team on the ground in Kazan, Moscow, Sochi and St Petersburg have given their assessment.
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Is Russia ready for ? Here are some thoughts from Kazan after a successful
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Ronald Koeman said he will take responsibility for the Netherlands defeat to Austria as pressure continues to mount on the Oranje head coach.
The Netherlands twice came from behind in Berlin thanks to goals from Memphis Depay and Cody Gakpo and looked set to finish as runners-up in Group D.
However, Marcel Sabitzer s late strike secured Ralf Rangnick s side top spot, as Koeman s team finished in third following France s 1-1 draw with Poland as a potential meeting with England in the last-16 beckons.
I am ultimately responsible. I put this team together because I thought it was the best. But that wasn t the case, said Koeman.
I m also disappointed in myself that we re starting (games) like this. I thought the beginning was a poor performance, but not t…
Juventus head coach Thiago Motta has called for more precision from his forward players after a drab goalless draw against Roma at the Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
Motta, who had won his first two league games in charge, had to settle for a share of the spoils after seeing just one of his sides eight shots on target.
The hosts managed just 18 touches in the opposition s box, with striker Dusan Vlahovic presented with the only notable chance of the contest.
And while Juventus remained unbeaten in their first three Serie A games of the season for the third year in a row, Motta was left wanting more from his forward line.
Today we were too frenetic. At times we did well, at times they did well, it was a really difficult and balanced game, Motta said.
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Seattle Sounders visit Western Conference leaders Real Salt Lake in midweek and Brian Schmetzer is enjoying the challenges of chasing an MLS playoff spot.
The visiting Sounders have two wins and a draw in their last three outings after defeating Portland Timbers 2-1 on the road.
Seattle sit 10th in the West, just three points shy of St. Louis City above them, and Schmetzer knows the pressure is there to chase a postseason position.
We re three points from the playoff line, that pressure is still there, said Schmetzer.
We re still too far down the standings for our liking. But you go to Philly and get points, you come here [to Portland] and get points.
You have 120 minutes of kids gritting it out [in the U.S. Open Cup]. I can sense that the grou…
Marcus Thuram plundered a hat-trick to propel Inter to a 3-2 victory over 10-man Torino in Saturday s Serie A clash.
The victory places Inter second in the league standings with 14 points, two behind leaders Napoli.
Visiting defender Guillermo Maripan was given a straight red card after 20 minutes for a late challenge on Thuram.
Inter swiftly made their numerical advantage count, with Thuram heading in from close range five minutes after the sending-off.
Thuram doubled Inter s lead in the 35th minute with another header from close range. However, Torino pulled one back a minute later, with Duvan Zapata taking advantage of a defensive error to finish from inside the box.
Thuram completed his hat-trick on the hour mark, being in the right place to t…
The Euro 2024 group stage came to an end on Wednesday as knockout football awaits in Germany.
Romania, Belgium and Slovakia all progressed to the last 16 as Ukraine were the unlucky losers after Group E became the first pool in European Championship history to see all four teams finish level on points.
Group F also provided a shock as Georgia stunned Portugal to achieve their first win at a major tournament and a place in the knockout rounds, while Turkiye overcame Czechia thanks to last-gasp chaos.
As the last-16 stage looms, we unpick the best of Wednesday s action by taking a deep dive into the Opta data behind the final group-stage encounters.
Ukraine 0-0 Belgium: Woe for Rebrov in unwanted history
A battling performance for Ukraine will be sc…
FIFA president Sepp Blatter on Friday said he was confident that South Africa would be able to meet its commitments associated with staging the 2010 World Cup.
Be confident in Africa and in Africans I know they are capable of doing that which they are called to do, Blatter said on a visit to Belgrade.
Things are on schedule, four stadiums are currently under construction and everything will be ready for the Confederations Cup which will be held next year in South Africa, Blatter said in comments reported by the Beta news agency as he closed a two-day visit to Serbia, the first by a head of world football s governing body.
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Alvaro Morata went from hero to zero at Wembley after rescuing extra time for Spain before missing a penalty in the shoot-out as Italy booked their place in the Euro 2020 final.
The Juventus loanee was left out of Spain s starting line-up for the first time this tournament but made an impact from the bench by cancelling out Federico Chiesa s superb curled opener 10 minutes from time as the game finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.
Neither side could find a way through in the additional period in what was a repeat of the 2012 final, which Spain won 4-0 for their third European title, though it was Italy who prevailed in Tuesday s enthralling clash.
Morata s penalty was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, paving the way for Jorginho to convert the winning spot-kick in a 4-2 s…