Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has told ESPN an “improved” Lamine Yamal is ready to deliver as La Roja gear up for Friday’s World Cup quarterfinal against Belgium in Los Angeles. Yamal, 18, recovered from a hamstring injury to make the finals but has not hit top gear yet at the tournament. However, De la Fuente has said the Barcelona forward will be back to his best as the…
Arsenal have announced the signing of 26-year-old goalkeeper Illan Meslier from Leeds United. The French goalkeeper spent seven years at Leeds where he made 215 appearances and kept 70 clean sheets. He made his Leeds debut in a third round FA cup tie against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in 2020. “I’m extremely happy,” Meslier said after signing. “It’s a great day for me because I have just joined the…
Dan Burn has said he believes England must be far better than they were against Mexico to beat Norway and would relish the challenge of keeping Erling Haaland quiet. A place in the World Cup semifinals is on offer in the Miami heat this weekend as the Scandinavian surprise package take on Thomas Tuchel’s men buoyed by last Sunday’s 2-1 victory against Brazil. England overcame hostility, altitude and Jarell Quansah’s…
Barcelona have made an offer for Borussia Dortmund‘s Karim Adeyemi as they continue to build their attack for next season, a source told ESPN. Adeyemi, 24, is out of contract in 2027 and Barça are hopeful the versatile forward will be allowed to leave for a cut price fee this summer. Barça have already reached a loose agreement with the player over personal terms, but remain in negotiations with Dortmund,…
Spain winger Lamine Yamal has said he is thrilled to see Lionel Messi defy time and continue to have a starring role at this World Cup. Messi, 39, is leading the race for the Golden Boot with eight goals and had a standout performance in his team’s epic 3-2 comeback against Egypt on Tuesday that saw the defending champions progress to the quarterfinals. “Incredible,” Yamal, 18, told Spanish outlet El…
Manchester United have confirmed the location for their proposed 100,000-seater stadium. The new ground, which would be the largest in the UK by capacity, will be built about 350 metres north west of Old Trafford, in Stretford, between John Gilbert Way, Wharfside Way and Europa Way. The club announced in June that it had secured 25 acres of land in the area, with club bosses expecting the project to cost…
An England World Cup win could mean an extra bank holiday, Sir Keir Starmer has hinted ahead of a quarterfinal clash with Norway. The Prime Minister hailed Monday’s win over Mexico as “one of the best England performances I’ve ever seen” and victory against Norway would take them a step closer to a first World Cup win for 60 years. Asked whether he would back a bank holiday if England…
FIFA’s referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has defended officials at the World Cup after Egypt claimed “serious” mistakes had been made by the referee in their round-of-16 loss to Argentina. The Egyptian Football Association called for French referee Francois Letexier and his team to be sent home after being left angered by key decisions in Tuesday’s match, when they conceded three late goals to lose 3-2 to the defending champions. Egypt…
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois will face Spain for the first time in his international career on Friday, entering the World Cup quarterfinals as a self-proclaimed underdog capable of staging an upset. The Real Madrid keeper, who has spent 11 years playing in Spain, trained with Belgium at the LA Galaxy‘s facilities on Wednesday. While the memory of his team’s 4-1 thrashing of the United States in Seattle on Monday remains…