Manuel Neuer expressed relief that Germany are still alive in the World Cup after they salvaged a 1-1 draw with Spain on Sunday.
Germany s hopes of reaching the round of 16 suffered a shock blow when they lost their first match against Japan.
Yet Costa Rica responded to a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain by beating Japan 1-0 to leave all to play for in Group E s final games.
Alvaro Morata put Spain ahead in the battle between the Group E heavyweights at Al Bayt Stadium, but Germany s Niclas Fullkrug came off the bench to equalise and secure his team s first point.
In order to progress, Hansi Flick s Germany side must beat Costa Rica in their last group match on Thursday and hope Spain do them a favour against Japan.
Goalkeeper Neuer, who denied…
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is urging footballers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible.
In recent months, it has become increasingly clear that vaccine take-up is not as high among elite footballers as within the rest of society.
A story in British tabloid The Sun last week said Premier League clubs feared the government would ban unvaccinated players, suggesting there remains a reasonable proportion holding out.
The Premier League last released vaccination data in mid-October, at which point it was said only 68 per cent of players were fully vaccinated – in terms of wider society, over 80 per cent of adults aged 16 or older in England reported having been double-jabbed as early as July.
Vaccination has become an especially hot…
Central Coast Mariners playmaker Michael McGlinchey will captain the side against Perth Glory on Monday in the absence of John Hutchinson.
Hutchinson is suspended for the New Year s Eve encounter at Bluetongue Stadium, prompting Mariners coach Graham Arnold to hand New Zealand international McGlinchey the skipper s armband.
McGlinchey joined Central Coast from Scottish giants Celtic in 2009 and was a shining light for the All Whites at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
I think Mikey is one of the best players in the A-League, Arnold said on Sunday.
He s been to the World Cup, to the Olympics, he knows what pressure football is about.
We need a little bit extra out of Mikey tomorrow night so hopefully the armband can help.
Veteran d…
that Liverpool are hoping to sign Swansea captain Ashley Williams in the summer transfer window.
With Jamie Carragher set to end his career at the end of the current campaign and Martin Skrtel failing to live up to his potential, Brendan Rodgers is eager to sign a new centre-back in the summer.
According to Liverpool Echo, Swansea stopper Ashley Williams has moved to the top of Reds’ hit-list.
Williams has impressed at Liberty Stadium this season and club chiefs face a real battle to keep hold of their prized asset.
Arsenal and Liverpool are both believed to be keen on the 28-year-old, who was playing League Two football just five years ago.
Ashley Williams has been at Swansea since joining the club from Stockport County in 2008, and went on t…
Huddersfield Town midfielder Jonathan Hogg suffered a fractured neck against Bristol City and is set to miss the rest of the season, the Championship club confirmed.
Hogg had to be carried from the field on a stretcher after requiring 14 minutes of treatment following a collision with team-mate Mark Hudson in the first half of Friday s 4-0 defeat.
The 28-year-old was taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged on Saturday, with no significant trauma to any of the soft tissues in his neck.
A statement read: Although he is expected to miss the rest of the 2016/17 season, the Club is happy that Jonathan is in no immediate danger and looks forward to seeing Hoggy back out on the pitch as soon as is safely possible.
Alongside Jonathan, everyone …
Michael Carrick has admitted that things just didn t work when David Moyes was manager of Manchester United.
Moyes succeeded Alex Ferguson after he stepped down at the end of the 2012-13 season, in which United won their 20th top-flight title.
However, the former Everton boss endured a dismal campaign at Old Trafford and was sacked following a 2-0 defeat against his old club in April 2014 a result that ensured United would not qualify for the Champions League.
Carrick has denied that there was unrest in the dressing room during Moyes tenure but has conceded that the season was a difficult one.
It was a tough time. I think we can all say that with Sir Alex leaving and the changes that happened after that. It was a tough season, there s no getting away fro…
Dimitar Berbatov feels criticism of Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku is unfair and hopes the Belgian stays at Old Trafford.
Lukaku joined United from Everton in a £75million deal in 2017, scoring 28 goals in 66 Premier League games since then, but his performances have been much maligned.
The former Chelsea man has been heavily linked with a switch to Inter as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer shakes up his United squad ahead of the new season.
But Berbatov, who played under Alex Ferguson for four years at United, would prefer to see Lukaku remain at the club.
I hope Lukaku is staying because he s a good player and the criticism he s facing is not fair, he told the Straits Times.
25y 343d Aged 25 years and 343 days old, Romelu Lukaku is the sixth youn…
Barcelona star Lionel Messi empathised with Zinedine Zidane s high-pressure situation at Real Madrid but said top players and coaches must be ready for intense scrutiny.
Messi will be the centre of attention when his Barca side host bitter rivals Madrid in a crucial Clasico at Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Goal difference is all that separates the teams and an away victory would place Zidane s men in a strong position to win LaLiga for the first time since the 2016-17 season.
Edging three points clear would additionally be a big boost for the Frenchman, who has faced difficulties since returning for a second stint in charge of the capital club.
Barca captain Messi claimed the fact any criticism had been aimed at Zidane was evidence of the extreme pressures pla…
There was more penalty drama for Manchester City as the Premier League leaders visited reigning champions Liverpool on Sunday.
Gundogan skied his spot-kick at an empty Anfield, although it would not prove a costly miss as City ran out 4-1 winners to extend their advantage at the summit.
Pep Guardiola will no doubt be keen to correct a remarkable failing in his outstanding side s game, however.
City s record from 12 yards features in our quirky facts from the weekend s top-flight action.
Sterling s penchant for pens wasted at City
As Gundogan, who later scored twice, blazed over in front of the Kop, it meant City have now accounted for four of the past six Premier League spot-kicks to miss the target including three against Liverpool (also Riy…
Erling Haaland was back at the centre of Barcelona transfer speculation as his agent and father were pictured arriving in the Spanish city on Thursday.
The Spanish newspaper Sport published video on its website that showed agent Mino Raiola and Alf-Inge Haaland emerging from an airport and being driven away in a private car.
It was reported that the driver was a member of Barcelona president Joan Laporta s staff, pointing to Raiola and Haaland senior being on the way to a meeting with the newly elected Camp Nou chief.
Haaland has been long linked with a move to Barcelona, having dazzled in 15 months with Borussia Dortmund and emerged as a target for elite clubs across Europe.
Among those reported to have shown interest in the Norwegian are Real Madrid, Pa…