The Arsenal futures of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez remain in doubt but the duo proved key to avoiding a potential slip-up in their Premier League top-four ambitions at a historic bogey ground with a 4-1 win over Stoke City.
Ozil and Sanchez will be out of contract at Arsenal at the end of next season and negotiations over extensions have been stalling, but they proved their worth with a goal each to send the Gunners one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who take on West Ham on Sunday.
After Olivier Giroud s 42nd-minute opener, the pair combined for a sensational second Sanchez s pinpoint pass finding Ozil in the box and the German obliged with a lovely dink beyond Jack Butland.
Stoke pulled a goal back in controversial fashion as substitute Peter Crouch s…
Gareth Southgate admits he is his own biggest critic amid scrutiny of England s performances at Euro 2024 so far.
The Three Lions edged to a 1-0 victory over Serbia in their opener before being held to a 1-1 draw against Denmark.
However, their performances at the tournament so far have drawn a lot of criticism from fans and pundits alike as England have struggled to find their rhythm.
Harry Kane and Jarrod Bowen have already responded to some of those questions, singling out Gary Lineker s comments on the team, but Southgate remains calm amid the outside noise, saying he finds it easier to ignore ahead of their meeting with Slovenia on Tuesday.
I m oblivious to it [criticism from pundits], Southgate said. It s not important to me. What s important to me…
Thomas Muller was left disappointed, angry and upset after Bayern Munich s unbeaten start to Julian Nagelsmann s tenure was brought to an end with a shock 2-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Bayern had gone 10 without defeat in competitive games since Nagelsmann replaced Hansi Flick, winning the last nine of those, but they came unstuck at Allianz Arena on Sunday.
Leon Goretzka deservedly put the reigning champions in front, only for Martin Hinteregger to equalise before half-time and Filip Kostic to secure a smash-and-grab win late on.
Kevin Trapp produced 10 saves to keep Frankfurt in the match, with Bayern only finding the net from one of their 20 shots, compared to two goals from five efforts for the visitors.
Muller created a game-high five big chance…
England s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney has conceded that his time playing under Fabio Capello s management for the national team ranked as a significant disappointment.
Rooney s 50th England goal against Switzerland in last month s Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley lifted him above Bobby Charlton the former Manchester United great who had held the record since 1968.
Speaking to the BBC in a documentary to mark the achievement, Rooney paid tribute to Sven-Goran Eriksson, under whom he made his debut for the Three Lions, and current boss Roy Hodgson.
But he reflected less fondly on his time under Capello a towering figure of European club management from his decorated spells with AC Milan and Real Madrid.
Capello partially restored England’s fortunes a…
Jesse Marsch and his Canada team are not satisfied with their achievements so far after reaching the Copa America quarter-finals.
A goalless draw with 10-man Chile on Saturday was enough to send Marsch s side into the last eight.
Canada finished second in Group A behind Argentina, and will now face either Venezuela, Ecuador or Mexico in the quarters.
The Reds became the third team from outside CONMEBOL to reach the knockout rounds in their first Copa America appearance after Mexico (1993) and Honduras (2001), but former Leeds United boss Marsch is not done yet.
1st COPA AMERICA FOR CANADA QUARTERFINALISTS
— Concacaf (@Concacaf)
We are not satisfied. The group is not satisfied. They want to keep going, Marsch said.
They know, …
Wolves winger Chiquinho is facing a long spell on the sidelines after sustaining an anterior cruciate ligament injury during a pre-season friendly.
The Portugal Under-21 international made a positive impression after arriving at Wolves from Estoril in the January transfer window.
He made nine appearances in all competitions for Wolves in the final three months of the 2021-22 season and assisted three goals in six Premier League outings.
Chiquinho had been expected to play a prominent role under Bruno Lage this coming season, but he may now miss the remainder of the year.
Wolves announced on Sunday that the 22-year-old suffered the injury during a collision with a Burnley player in a behind-closed-doors friendly the previous day.
Scans confirmed a…
Juan Mata has rejected a big money move to China and is now set to agree a new deal with Manchester United, according to the Mirror.
The Red Devils are ready to exercise a one-year extension clause in his current deal after the twenty-nine year old turned down the chance to move to the mega-rich Chinese Super League.
Mata was signed from Chelsea by former United boss David Moyes in January 2014 and he has since racked up one hundred and fifty-five appearances in all competitions, scoring thirty-seven goals and has tasted success in the FA Cup, League Cup and the Europa League.
He has been capped forty-one times for Spain and was part of the squads that won the 2010 World Cup finals and the 2012 European Champions though he hasn’t featured for them since pla…
Having dismantled Germany in stunning fashion, Rui Jorge s Portugal can write their name into UEFA European Under-21 Championship history against Sweden in Tuesday s final.
Portugal hit top gear to put five past 2009 winners Germany in Olomouc on Saturday as the likes of Bernardo Silva and William Carvalho showcased their huge potential.
Sweden also recorded a convincing victory thumping Scandinavian neighbours Denmark 4-1 and, like Portugal, will contest their second final.
Portugal s sole previous final appearance came in 1994 when a side including future greats such as Luis Figo and Rui Costa fell to an Italian team that featured the likes of Fabio Cannavaro and Filippo Inzaghi.
However, Jorge is confident his side have what it takes t…
that Vincent Kompany will not be sold by Manchestetr City this summer.
The club captain has managed to rack up just thirteen league appearances so far this season having struggled with an ongoing calf problem and there are fears that he may never be able to fully shake it off.
Pep Guardiola will take charge at the Etihad Stadium in the summer a huge overhaul of the current squad is expected with Yaya Toure’s future also under question.
However Kompany, who signed from Hamburg in August 2008 is expected to stay put as his side look to bounce back from a what has by their standards been a dissapointing league campaign.
The Citizens are in fourth place, fifteen points behind leaders Leicester City and have West Ham United and rivals Manchester Unite…
Olympiacos coach Marco Silva said his side deserved more from their 3-0 home loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
The Greek club are bidding to reach the knockout stages in UEFA s prestigious club tournament for the first time since 2009-10, but began with what turned out to be a heavy defeat.
Trailing 1-0 late in regulation, Bayern topped off their trip to Piraeus via an effort from Mario Gotze, and Thomas Muller s injury-time penalty the latter s second goal of the game.
It was a disappointing end for us and it s left a bitter taste because we played well, Silva said via UEFA.com.
We were unlucky with the first goal we conceded, and if we had taken our chances things would ve been different.
Muller s opener from long range appeare…