England captain Harry Kane has said he feels as good he has ever felt in his career as he looks to extend his remarkable season. Kane saved England’s World Cup hopes on Wednesday night with a late brace that saw Thomas Tuchel’s side come from behind to beat Congo DR 2-1 and advance to a round of 16 meeting with co-hosts Mexico. His stunning 86th-minute strike took him to 72…
Riyad Mahrez, a five-time Premier League winner, announced his retirement from international football following Algeria‘s World Cup exit, a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland in the round of 32 on Thursday. “There were good times and difficult times as well, of course. That’s part of a career,” he said afterward. “But representing Algeria has been a dream of mine ever since I was young, to play for my country. It’s been…
Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone has told ESPN he is still planning to build his team around Julián Álvarez despite Barcelona‘s interest in signing the wantaway Argentina forward. Barça president Joan Laporta confirmed earlier this week that the Spanish champions have made an offer for Álvarez, who told ESPN in May he wants to leave Atletico this summer. However, Simeone insists Atlético are still preparing for the future with Álvarez.…
Julian Nagelsmann is out as the Germany head coach following the team’s shock exit from the World Cup at the hands of Paraguay in the round of 32 with talks already being sought with Jürgen Klopp to replace him. Germany lost 4-3 on penalties to the South American side to suffere an early exit from the tournament for the third time in a row, following their failure to make it…
Brazilian teenager Endrick said he is “at peace” with the limited playing time he is getting at this World Cup, knowing coach Carlo Ancelotti is doing what’s best for the team. The Real Madrid forward has yet to start a game in the tournament having come off the bench against Haiti, Scotland and Japan. “He won’t do what’s best for me or for Endrick,” Endrick said of Ancelotti. “Or even…
Rodrigo de Paul has warned his Argentina teammates not to look beyond Friday’s round-of-32 World Cup game against Cape Verde. The defending champions are considered among the favorites to lift the trophy after their dominating performances in Group J. “It would be a mistake to think beyond Friday’s game,” the 2022 World Cup winner De Paul said. “Tomorrow’s game is the last one — that’s how I’m looking at it.…
Cristiano Ronaldo said he will make a decision regarding his future with the national team after the World Cup but insists “it’s not important right now.” Ronaldo, 41, helped Portugal progress to the Round-of-16 after scoring an equaliser from the penalty spot in Thursday’s 2-1 win over Croatia in Toronto. Asked after the game about reports in Portugal claiming that Ronaldo will retire from international duty after this tournament, the…
Real Madrid have stated they have not registered any interest in signing Enzo Fernández from Chelsea and have no intention to do so in the future. The midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Madrid and his agent, Javier Pastore, confirmed in an interview to Spanish outlet MARCA that he is “looking at possibilities to leave Chelsea.” ESPN reported on May 29 that the Blues would demand a…
FIFA has confirmed that Croatia’s equaliser against Portugal was correctly ruled out for offside due to technology housed inside the World Cup ball. Gonçalo Ramos‘ header put Portugal 2-1 up in the fourth minute of added time but it looked like Croatia had scored a dramatic equaliser when Josko Gvardiol nudged them level nine minutes later. Ivan Perisic sent a ball into the box, which bounced off Renato Veiga and…
Former Argentina forward Carlos Tevez has said that Lionel Messi always has “another story to tell” and the world is still “going crazy over him.” Messi — who turned 39 in June — became the World Cup’s outright all-time top goal scorer courtesy of his brace against Austria which broke the tie with Germany‘s Mirsolav Klose before hauling his tally to 19 when he scored again against Jordan. The Argentine…