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Chelsea are closing in on a deal worth around £47.4 million ($62.3 million) for Atalanta full-back Marco Palestra, sources have told ESPN. The final fee is yet to be agreed but talks are progressing well and an agreement is expected to be reached soon. Inter Milan had been in negotiations to sign the 21-year-old after he was named Serie A’s defender of the year following a season-long loan at Cagliari…

England midfielder Eberechi Eze says the dynamic of Group L has not changed after the 0-0 draw with Ghana. Thomas Tuchel’s side could not break down a resolute Ghanaian defence in Boston as they drew their second game for a fourth successive major tournament. The point all but secured qualification to the round of 32 and they will seal top spot against Panama on Saturday if they better Ghana’s result…

Javier Aguirre will not be swayed by numerous calls from fans and even current national team players for Mexico goalkeeping great Guillermo “Memo” Ochoa to start against Czechia on Wednesday. Ochoa, 40, made history this summer after being included in Mexico’s World Cup squad for a sixth time but has yet to play in the tournament. With Mexico having already secured a spot in the knockout rounds as Group A…

Gary Neville said that Anthony Gordon is “under the most pressure” in the England team after Thomas Tuchel’s side were held to a 0-0 draw against Ghana on Tuesday. Gordon has started both of England’s World Cup group games but struggled against a resolute Ghana defence and was replaced by Bukayo Saka in the 65th minute. “Anthony Gordon — he’s probably the one that’s under the most pressure now,” Neville…

Barcelona‘s Raphinha says he will do everything within his power to play again at the World Cup this summer, with the Brazil forward set to miss Wednesday’s final Group C game against Scotland in Miami. Raphinha, 29, injured his hamstring in Brazil’s 3-0 win against Haiti last weekend and faces a race against time to feature again at the tournament in North America. ESPN Brasil report his current aim is…

Bruno Fernandes was relieved that Portugal teammate Cristiano Ronaldo opened his goal account with two strikes at the World Cup on Tuesday. The Manchester United midfielder set up Ronaldo for Portugal’s third goal in a 5-0 win over Uzbekistan. “It’s always special to get an assist with the national team, especially at the World Cup, which is a special tournament,” Fernandes said. Portugal and Ronaldo had been criticised in the…

Former Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso was officially hired by Lazio on Tuesday. The Serie A club announced the news in a short statement and did not give details of his contract. Italian media reported Gattuso signed a two-year deal. “Lazio announces that it has appointed Mr. Gennaro Gattuso as head coach of the first team,” it said. “The club … is confident that his experience, professionalism, and determination will contribute…

LIGUNA NIGUEL, Calif. – United States men’s national team manager Mauricio Pochettino said he and his staff were “naïve” when he first signed his contract with the U.S. Soccer Federation in 2024, and that the complacency around the program felt like a “big punch.” Pochettino and the USMNT are flying high at the World Cup, having already clinched the top spot in Group D with one game to spare, that…

ALAMEDA, California – Multiple changes to the Socceroos XI to take on Paraguay have been flagged by assistant coach Paul Okon, with one to be enforced after Mathew Leckie was ruled out through injury. With a 2-0 win over Türkiye and a 2-0 defeat against the United States to their names so far, Australia will face Paraguay in Santa Clara this Thursday [Friday AEST], knowing that a win or a…