World Cup-winning defender Alessandro Nesta claims there is not enough quality in Italy to compete against Germany or other nations .
In an interview with Omnisport, former AC Milan defender Nesta one of the country s most decorated centre-backs following an illustrious career spanning 20 years lamented the standard of players coming through for Italy, despite their run to the quarter-finals at Euro 2016.
Under the guidance of former head coach Antonio Conte, Italy earned plenty of admirers as they upstaged Belgium and Spain before going down to world champions Germany on penalties in the last eight in July.
Italy have the chance to exact some revenge when the two sides meet in Tuesday s friendly at San Siro, and speaking ahead of the clash in Milan, 2006 World…
Nuno Espirito Santo revealed Son Heung-min is a doubt for Saturday s clash with Crystal Palace after returning injured from international duty.
The 29-year-old returned early from South Korea, missing their World Cup qualifier with Lebanon due to a calf problem suffered against Iraq.
And Nuno confirmed that Son, who has scored the most winning goals in the Premier League since the start of last term (8), may not feature at Selhurst Park.
Like some of our players, he came back with some issues, said Nuno, who was named the Premier League s Manager of the Month for August on Friday.
Sonny is not so well, but let s wait for the club to make the proper announcement and explain to you better what kind of injury he has.
Asked for further clarifica…
Valencia CF have completed the loan signing of Chile international forward Eduardo Vargas from S.S.C. Napoli until the end of the season.
Vargas, 24, joined Napoli priced at to earn a top-2 finish in Serie A from Club Universidad de Chile for £11.5 million in December 2011 but has failed to live up to the high expectations at the Stadio San Paolo.
The 2011 South American Footballer of the Year runner-up, who has not featured in the first-team for Napoli in 2013/14, tallied nine goals in 37 appearances in all competitions while on loan at Brasileirão side Grêmio last year.
Valencia CF is a beautiful club and institution, Vargas told the club s official website, . I would like to stay here for a long time and I hope to give my all on the pi…
claim Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is hopeful David De Gea, Luke Shaw, Ashley Young, Juan Mata and Ander Herrera will all sign contract extension soon.
De Gea, who was once again the hero for the Red Devils in their on Saturday, was strongly linked with Real Madrid for a long time. However, the Champions League holders have now signed Thibaut Courtois from Chelsea and United are confident the Spanish international goalkeeper will soon sign a new deal.
Young also made significant contribution at the Vicarage being involved in both goals and his value for Mourinho s team has once again been highlighted. Young played instead of Shaw who was injured on international duty, but the manager is finally showing faith in the former Southampton man.
Herrera an…
Portugal striker Danny is set to miss the World Cup last 16 match against Spain with a badly bruised leg, but Deco returns after missing the 0-0 draw with Brazil, officials said on Saturday.
The Portuguese Football Federation said Venezuela-born Danny has bruising on his left leg and would have treatment.
Deco meanwhile trained as normal after missing the draw with his native Brazil which sent the Portuguese through to a last 16 match with Spain on Tuesday.
Portugal put the Spanish out of Euro 2004 but since then the Spanish have ended a four-decade trophy drought by winning Euro 2008 and have only lost two of their last 50 matches.
On Friday they beat Chile to win their group and coach Vicente Del Boqsue believes that the opening day loss to Switzerland…
Mexico have overturned a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw against the United States in an international friendly in Arizona on Wednesday.
First-half goals from Michael Bradley and Chris Wondolowski had the USA on course for a routine victory at the University of Phoenix Stadium.
But Miguel Herrera s half-time team talk spurred Mexico into action as the visitors ensured honours were even courtesy of Rafael Marquez and Alan Pulido.
Despite avoiding defeat, Mexico remain winless in their past five encounters against Jurgen Klinsmann s USA team, with their last triumph a 4-2 victory in the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The contest, which consisted of predominately locally based players, was a tentative affair in the opening minutes.
Fans in attendance were finally…
Antonio Candreva, Miranda and Marcelo Brozovic are among six players to have extended their Inter contracts, the Serie A club announced.
Candreva has signed on for three years, while Miranda is committed for two and Brozovic has agreed a new four-year deal.
Also pledging their immediate futures to the club are Dalbert, Roberto Gagliardini and Matias Vecino.
Dalbert and Gagliardini are handed the longest contracts of Thursday s batch, seeing them through to 2023, while Vecino s deal expires a year earlier.
Just things
— Inter (@Inter_en)
Candreva has been a regular for Inter since arriving from Lazio in 2016, making 80 Serie A appearances, while 34-year-old Miranda has also been an important member of the first team in his three yea…
Liverpool forward Sadio Mane has won the Premier League PFA Fans Player of the Year award for 2019-20.
The Senegal star enjoyed a fine campaign, scoring 18 goals and providing seven assists as the Reds ended a 30-year wait for a top-flight title in dominant fashion.
Mane won the award, voted for via a poll from fans across England, ahead of Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne and Liverpool team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold, gaining 41 per cent of the vote.
Virgil van Dijk, Raheem Sterling and Jamie Vardy were also nominated for the prestigious individual award.
YES, SADIO!!
Mane has won the Premier League Fans Player of the Year award for 19/20
— Liverpool FC (Premier League Champions ) (@LFC)
Liverpool have unsurprisingly swe…
Erik ten Hag admits he must solve a defensive “puzzle” for Sunday’s Manchester derby.
Harry Maguire has joined Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia and Aaron Wan-Bissaka on the sidelines through injury and Manchester United boss Ten Hag is expected to pick from the same squad that edged past Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup in midweek.
Sofyan Amrabat returned to the United side on Wednesday on the left, with Diogo Dalot on the right.
Taking a closer look at the Reds derby-day preparations ||
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
Ten Hag said on manutd.com: “We have to lay the puzzle because we are still missing full-backs. We are still missing centre-halves.
“So we have to be creative but I think we can. On Wednesday, we show…
Franck Ribery has stressed the importance of not dwelling on the surprise 3-1 defeat at Borussia Monchengladbach as Bayern Munich look to finish their Champions League group-stage campaign with a flourish against Dinamo Zagreb.
There is little to play for in Wednesday s Group F clash at the Stadion Maksimir with Bundesliga champions Bayern guaranteed top spot, while Dinamo are consigned to a fourth-placed finish and elimination from Europe for this season.
However, Bayern will be keen to make an impression after finding themselves in the unfamiliar position of having to bounce back from defeat following an abject showing at Borussia Park on Saturday.
It was the first time Bayern had been beaten in the league before the mid-season break since the 2012-13 campaign…