Blog (Page 200)

[ad_1] Barcelona centre-back Gerard Pique has been given the chance to reignite his international career after being included in Spain’s preliminary World Cup squad. The veteran defender retired from international duty in the aftermath of the 2018 World Cup and has not played for his country since, although reports emerged earlier this year suggesting Pique was considering making a return. Now, numerous Spanish outlets have claimed that Pique has earned a place in Luis Enrique’s preliminary 55-man squad ahead of the tournament. Enrique has chosen not to make his full squad public and will instead confirm a final team of between 23 and 26 playersRead More →

[ad_1] UEFA’s introduction of the Europa Conference League established a new phase to the Europa League known simply as the ‘playoffs’. It’s a rejuvenation of the round of 32 in which 16 teams compete in a bid to join the eight group winners in the last 16. It’s all to play for on Matchday 6 in both the Champions League and Europa League, with many of the groups across the two competitions being wide open with just one game remaining. Thus, there’s still plenty of mystique as to who exactly will be competing in the playoffs next year. Here’s everything you need to know aboutRead More →

[ad_1] Barcelona will be put out of their Champions League misery on Tuesday as they travel for a dead rubber against Viktoria Plzen. Having already failed to qualify for the knockout stages, Barcelona have secured third place and the Europa League spot that comes with it, so there is nothing other than pride on the line in this one. Here’s how Xavi could set up. Pique was stunned to get a game / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen – Ter Stegen won’t be expecting a busy night here. RB: Hector Bellerin – Barcelona’s injury crisis has worsened, leaving Bellerin as the only naturalRead More →

[ad_1] Liverpool face the prospect of falling to a second straight home defeat against Europe’s most in-form side when Napoli come to Anfield on Tuesday. Both these sides have already qualified for the Champions League knockout stages and while first place technically remains up for grabs, Liverpool would have to overturn a goal difference of seven to claim top spot. Given Napoli haven’t lost at all this season, chances are this group is already done and dusted. With a massive Premier League game against Tottenham at the weekend to consider, here’s the lineup Jurgen Klopp may opt for. Nunez is quietly figuring himself out /Read More →

[ad_1] A draw would be enough for Tottenham to qualify from a perilously set-up Group D on the final day of Champions League action. Antonio Conte’s men currently sit top on eight points but are just two clear of bottom-side Marseille, who will be desperate for the victory that would likely eliminate Spurs from the competition. It really is all to play for. With the stakes so high, here’s the lineup Conte could select. Romero could return / Visionhaus/GettyImages GK: Hugo Lloris – One of Lloris’ two European clean sheets this season came in the victory over Marseille in the first game of the campaign.Read More →

[ad_1] Nikita Parris is already proving the doubters wrong at Manchester United, having already bettered her WSL goal tally from last season with Arsenal just five games into the 2022/23 campaign. Parris has in part benefited from usual ‘number nine’ Alessia Russo missing a handful of games through injury, but her very presence in the squad is indicative of the type of depth that United lacked this time last year and what manager Marc Skinner was so keen to address in summer. In Russo’s absence, which began before the September international break and ended when she came off the bench in Sunday’s win over Everton,Read More →

[ad_1] 90min rounds up the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip circulating around the world… With more non-EU spots now cleared up, Real Madrid will reignite their interest in Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus at the end of the season. (The Sun) Real Madrid are also interested in Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, but Liverpool are tracking his situation as well and have long been admirers of the South Korean. (Dean Jones) Inter Miami are growing in confidence that they will be able to sign Lionel Messi next summer. Paris Saint-Germain continue to push for a renewal and Barcelona want to re-sign him too, but the MLS side believeRead More →

[ad_1] Chelsea manager Paul Green believes Lauren James’ flying start to the 2022/23 campaign is a ‘testament’ to the manner in which she was carefully nurtured during her debut season with the club. James joined Chelsea from Manchester United in the summer of 2021, but was limited to just six WSL appearances during her first season in west London as she struggled with injuries and fitness. Emma Hayes frequently spoke about the importance of managing the young forward carefully and not rushing her back. The 21-year-old has already made six appearances in the WSL this term – four of them starts – and netted twoRead More →

[ad_1] Arsenal came from a goal down to notch up a record-breaking 13th consecutive WSL win with a 3-1 victory over West Ham at Meadow Park on Sunday evening. The Gunners had trailed after Dagny Brynjarsdóttir capitalised on a mix up at the back between Steph Catley and Manuela Zinsberger, but rallied to take all three points through goals from Jordan Nobbs, Stina Blackstenius and Frida Maanum. Nobbs turned in a player of the match performance – her second in the space of four days following a stunning display against Zurich – despite being on the pitch for just 50 minutes. The midfielder was introducedRead More →

[ad_1] Marcus Rashford has discussed his 100th Man Utd goal and admitted that the change in ‘energy’ at Old Trafford this season has contributed to his upturn in form. The wide forward had been on 98 club goals since early October, but added two in the last few days – firstly against FC Sheriff in the Europa League, and against West Ham on Sunday in the Premier League. Rashford’s stunning first half header proved not only to be his 100th for the club, but also the winner in a hotly contested affair at Old Trafford. Speaking after the game to Sky Sports about the centuryRead More →