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Preview: Players to watch, predictions, tactics, more

From Dec. 12 to Dec. 22, the top team from each continent will compete for the honour of being the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup champion in Saudi Arabia as the tournament kicks off on Tuesday between Al Ittihad and Auckland City. Reigning champions Real Madrid were knocked out by Manchester City in the 2022-23 Champions League season, with the Premier League side representing Europe with strong backing to win.…

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December 12, 2023

Turkish league club president punches ref in face

The Turkish Football Federation (TFF) has suspended all leagues on a night of “shame” for the nation’s soccer after Ankaragucu’s president Faruk Koca punched the referee in the face at the end of their Super Lig home match against Rizespor. Koca entered the field and hit referee Halil Umut Meler when the final whistle blew after Rizespor scored a 97th minute equaliser in the 1-1 draw at Eryaman Stadium on…

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December 12, 2023

Pep urges City players to prove critics wrong

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has urged his players to prove their critics wrong as they came from behind to secure a 2-1 victory at Luton Town on Sunday. Luton scored with a Elijah Adebayo header on the stroke of halftime, but City fought back with two goals three minutes apart from Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish to return to four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool. – Stream on…

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December 11, 2023

Why Infantino, FIFA’s interest in women’s soccer, World Cup feels like an act

In less than six months FIFA will, at long last, award hosting rights to the 2027 Women’s World Cup. Now that South Africa has withdrawn from the field of bidders, just three potential hosts remain. On Dec. 8, joint bids from the United States and Mexico; Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands; and a solo effort by Brazil, have been formalized for FIFA’s member nations to vote on May 17, 2024.…

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December 11, 2023

Transfer Talk: Bayern linked to Araujo and Lenglet

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December 10, 2023

Talk cheap for Ten Hag as Bournemouth embarrass Man United

MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United have been keen to present a unified front this week, but the thing about telling everyone you’re in it together is that it’s not enough to talk about it — you have to show it. The 2-1 win over Chelsea on Wednesday was supposed to be evidence that this is a team fighting for each other and their manager, Erik ten Hag, but there was…

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December 10, 2023

Copa America group-stage draw reaction, predictions, keys, more

The stage is now officially set for the 2024 Copa America! Following Thursday’s draw for the group stage, next summer’s 16 participants (two of which have yet to be determined) can begin their preparation for the highly-anticipated CONMEBOL tournament that will be hosted in the United States. Seeking back-to-back Copa America trophies, World Cup-winners Argentina were given a fairly straightforward path through the group stage, but in a possible knockout…

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December 9, 2023

Belgium, Netherlands, Germany in joint WWC bid

Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have submitted a joint bid to world football governing body FIFA to host the Women’s World Cup in 2027, the countries’ football associations said on Friday. The three countries will be competing with Brazil to host the tournament after the South American country submitted their bid last month while the United States and Mexico have also expressed their interest. – Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga,…

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December 9, 2023

Santos relegated from Brazil top tier for 1st time

One of the most exciting seasons of the Brazilian league ended Wednesday with the most stable team of the season defending its title and the club that was home to the late Pelé relegated for the first time. Palmeiras drew 1-1 at Cruzeiro to be crowned Brazilian champion for the 12th time. The 18-year-old Endrick scored his 11th goal of the season to give Palmeiras an early lead and Nikao…

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December 8, 2023

Jakub Jankto talks coming out as gay, being a reluctant role model, Euro 2024 hopes and more

CAGLIARI, Italy — Jakub Jankto just wants to play football, like he always did. The Czech midfielder sits by his locker in the dressing room at Unipol Domus, Cagliari Calcio’s temporary home while the Stadio Sant’Elia silently awaits reconstruction next door. A small red-and-blue shirt cut from cardboard marks his place, with No. 21 printed on it. To the right, Paulo Azzi; to the left, Nicolas Viola, a leader who…

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December 8, 2023

Title gone for Arsenal as attention turns to Real MadridApril 6, 2025
LIVERPOOL, England — If it’s true that this year’s battle for the Premier League title has been a one-horse race for some time, then this was the day Arsenal all but surrendered their hopes of pipping Liverpool at the finishing post. With one of the world’s most famous sporting fixtures, horse racing’s Grand National, taking… Read more: Title gone for Arsenal as attention turns to Real Madrid
Spurs’ Ange: Out of love with football over VARApril 5, 2025
Ange Postecoglou has said he is “falling out of love with football” after admitting he made a mistake in celebrating Pape Matar Sarr’s disallowed goal against Tottenham, but not because he risked a fan backlash. Spurs lost 1-0 at Chelsea on Thursday but Sarr had a second-half strike ruled out by VAR. Postecoglou’s decision to… Read more: Spurs’ Ange: Out of love with football over VAR
Fenerbahce: Mourinho provoked before nose grabApril 5, 2025
Fenerbahce have come out in defence of their coach Jose Mourinho, claiming he was provoked by his Galatasaray counterpart Okan Buruk following Wednesday’s Turkish Cup game between the sides. Mourinho, whose team lost 2-1 in the quarterfinal, was seen grabbing the nose of Buruk following a scuffle that broke out between the players on the… Read more: Fenerbahce: Mourinho provoked before nose grab
Harry Kane is on a mission to finally end his long personal trophy droughtApril 4, 2025
Harry Kane is a man on a mission. Not just for Bayern Munich but also for himself. It’s simple: the England captain finally wants to win silverware of note. Despite winning goal-scoring trophies and featuring in five finals, Kane has never tasted victory in a major competition, a run of futility that has even made… Read more: Harry Kane is on a mission to finally end his long personal trophy drought
Tottenham’s Postecoglou on thin ice with his future more uncertain than everApril 4, 2025
LONDON — Ange Postecoglou is no stranger to risk, but on Thursday, he played his most dangerous game yet. Tottenham Hotspur were midway through another insipid Premier League performance when his 64th-minute double change — introducing Pape Matar Sarr and Brennan Johnson for Lucas Bergvall and Wilson Odobert — elicited a brief but audible chant… Read more: Tottenham’s Postecoglou on thin ice with his future more uncertain than ever
City fans protest over ticket issues, miss 1st goalApril 3, 2025
Manchester City fans boycotted the opening of their Premier League fixture against Leicester City on Wednesday in protest at ticketing issues at the Etihad Stadium. Supporters gathered outside the stadium an hour before kick-off with a banner which read: “MCFC – For the love not the money.” Hundreds of fans also remained in the concourses… Read more: City fans protest over ticket issues, miss 1st goal
Carlo Ancelotti to go on trial for tax evasionApril 3, 2025
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told a Spanish court on Wednesday that he “never thought about committing fraud” as he gave evidence in a trial in which he’s accused of failing to pay over €1 million ($1.08m) in taxes. Prosecutors have accused the veteran coach of evading paying tax on his image rights income during… Read more: Carlo Ancelotti to go on trial for tax evasion
Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategyApril 2, 2025
NOTTINGHAM, England — Anthony Elanga chose a muted celebration after his wonderful solo goal against Manchester United, but the smile that crept over his face gave away the quiet satisfaction of scoring against his former club. Who could blame him? Man United decided Elanga wasn’t good enough when he was allowed to move to Nottingham… Read more: Anthony Elanga is proof of how Man United desperately need to improve transfer strategy
Flick: No luck to Barcelona success this seasonApril 2, 2025
Hansi Flick has said there is no luck to Barcelona success this season but he knows it is trophies that matter as he prepares for Wednesday’s “final before the final” against Atlético Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Barça and Atlético drew 4-4 in the first leg of their Copa semifinal in February and finally… Read more: Flick: No luck to Barcelona success this season
Isco on Antony: We need to crowdfund for himApril 1, 2025
Real Betis midfielder Isco has joked that crowdfunding will be needed to keep Manchester United’s loanee Antony at the club for at least next season. Antony has been a big hit in Spain since joining on loan from United after a difficult first half of the campaign at Old Trafford. However, the loan deal which… Read more: Isco on Antony: We need to crowdfund for him