Jerome Boateng claims he is not concerned about the calf injury he is carrying and will not alter his game despite the risk of suspension as Germany prepare to face Italy at Euro 2016.
The Bayern Munich centre-back was substituted late in the victories over Northern Ireland and Slovakia at the European Championship as the world champions attempt to manage the defender s muscle problem.
The 27-year-old, though, is confident of being fully fit to take on the Azzurri in the quarter-finals in Bordeaux on Saturday.
My calf is fine, he said.
It won t be an issue.
Should Germany win, Boateng could find himself suspended for the semi-final against hosts France or Iceland if he receives a second yellow card of the tournament.
I will go into t…
Virgil van Dijk has been ruled out of Liverpool s Premier League trip to Chelsea through illness, with Mohamed Salah surprisingly named on the bench as Jurgen Klopp makes six changes to his side.
Van Dijk reportedly missed training after feeling unwell ahead of Tuesday s game at Stamford Bridge, where Liverpool are looking to end a run of three successive defeats either side of the international break.
The defender previously missed seven games with a hamstring injury in January and February, with the Reds suffering demoralising defeats at Brighton and Hove Albion and Wolves in his absence.
Van Dijk is not the only notable absentee from Klopp s starting lineup in west London, with Salah joining Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson in dropping to the bench.…
Olivier Giroud believes Arsenal already have a strong enough squad to mount a challenge for the Premier League title.
Arsenal sit top of the table and moved two points clear of Leicester City with a 1-0 win over Newcastle United on Saturday, but critics have suggested the squad lacks the depth required to be crowned champions for the first time since 2003-04.
Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny is close to joining Arsene Wenger s side, but the French striker has refuted claims they also need a striker though the coach has admitted he will be busy during the January transfer window.
Tell me where [we need players]. Just tell me where! I will explain the opposite judgement, Giroud said.
We have very good players as well on the bench, young players waiting to …
Best Odds: 10/11
Bookmaker:
Turning their attention back to EFL Cup duties on Tuesday night, a high-flying Manchester United will welcome Charlton to Old Trafford.
Manchester United
Starting with the hosts, extending on their FA Cup adventure over the weekend as they picked up a 3-1 victory at home against a struggling Everton, the mood in Manchester United s camp should be at a real high. While the former Premier League champions might have opened the 2022/23 campaign in the midst of a wobble, the Red Devils have certainly now found their feet under Erik ten Hag. Finding a route back into the top-four and with a Champions League return at the top of their agenda, the former Ajax boss has seen his high-flying squad gain plenty of plaudits. Opening the New Year …
Zenit have confirmed the appointment of Roberto Mancini as their new head coach on a two-year deal.
Mircea Lucescu departed the club last month after he could only lead them to third place in the Russian Premier League and elimination from the last 32 of the Europa League.
And Zenit have now turned to Mancini, a league winner in Italy with Inter and England with Manchester City.
Since he was sacked by City in 2013, Mancini has led Galatasaray, winning the Turkish Cup, before returning to Inter in 2014.
He left San Siro for a second time on the eve of last season, however, amid tension over pre-season hammerings at the hands of Tottenham and Bayern Munich.
Mancini becomes the second Italian to coach Zenit, after Luciano Spalletti, who won two leagu…
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said Alexis Mac Allister’s versatility has added a different dimension to his midfield this season.
The Argentina World Cup-winner was a stand-out performer in a deeper-lying role again on Sunday as Liverpool strolled to a 3-0 home win against Nottingham Forest.
After Liverpool’s seventh league win of the season kept them three points behind leaders Tottenham, Klopp said of Mac Allister’s role: “It’s obviously really not a discussion we have, otherwise we wouldn’t play him there.
Brilliant yesterday,
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
“But I think today everybody could see the benefit of a player who comes rather from the offensive side of the game than from the other side.”
Mac Allister scored 12 goals …
Best Odds: 6/4
Bookmaker:
Opening the new campaign in North London this weekend, Tottenham will host a new-look Everton side from behind closed doors on Sunday afternoon.
Tottenham
Starting with the hosts, while Tottenham might have managed to open their pre-season preparations with three wins on the bounce, Jose Mourinho s men will be looking to bounce back from their shock defeat across the capital last week. Hit with a 2-1 defeat against recently relegated Watford at Vicarage Road, there is no doubt that the former Manchester United boss will be glad to make a return to home soil on Sunday afternoon. Really enjoying an end of season purple patch and managing to secure a top-six finish at the final hour, Spurs enjoyed a six-match Premier League unbeaten run e…
France were many people s tip heading into Qatar 2022, having been so impressive when they lifted the World Cup four years ago.
On paper, they have the sort of team that would have most players of the FIFA 23 video game drooling, or at least, they did before injuries started to pile up.
Midfield pair Paul Pogba and N Golo Kante, both so crucial to their 2018 success, had already been ruled out, and in the days since head coach Didier Deschamps announced his squad, two more high-profile names have been forced to withdraw.
The loss of Christopher Nkunku was a blow despite the RB Leipzig forward being unlikely to start, his 48 goal involvements (37 goals and 11 assists) in 2022 only second to France team-mate Kylian Mbappe (57 43 goals and 14 assists) among players …
Jurgen Klopp hailed Unai Emery as a world-class coach and vowed Liverpool will not underestimate Champions League semi-final opponents Villarreal.
The Reds are still in contention for an unprecedented quadruple and enter Wednesday s first leg with Villarreal at Anfield as strong favourites to advance to next month s final.
However, the Spanish club stunned Juventus in the last 16 and followed that up by eliminating a much-fancied Bayern Munich side in the quarter-finals.
Villarreal s domestic form has improved of late, meanwhile, having won back-to-back LaLiga games – against Getafe and Valencia – to move into seventh place.
Liverpool have progressed from nine of their previous 11 European Cup and Champions League semi-finals, but Klopp is taking not…
This clash is really Liverpool s last chance to stake a claim for Champions league football this year, but they will have their work cut out against a Chelsea side who really need to win this match to maintain their push for the premier league title.
Liverpool s chances in this match will also be hampered by the fact that they will have played three days earlier in the second leg of their Europa League semi final second leg match against Athletico Madrid. Benitez also has real selection problems up front with Torres ruled out, and Ngog and Kuyt both doubtful for the games ahead. One piece of fortune for the Anfield outfit is the return to form of Steven Gerrard. After riding serious allegations about his personal life in recent weeks, Gerrard has come out the other side firing …