Paul Pogba is indispensable to France but needs to raise his game, according to head coach Didier Deschamps.
The Manchester United midfielder was whistled by some fans when he was substituted during the 3-1 win over Italy on Friday, prompting Deschamps to jump to his defence.
Pogba has had a frustrating 2018, having struggled for form at club level while his relationship with manager Jose Mourinho reportedly soured, although he was named United s player of the month for April.
Deschamps nevertheless has no doubts about the 25-year-old s importance to his World Cup plans, although he does admit his performances must improve.
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Sevilla have received no offer from Barcelona for centre-back Clement Lenglet and are in talks with the Frenchman regarding a contract extension that will increase his release clause, according to club president Jose Castro.
Lenglet has gained many admirers since joining Sevilla from Nancy in January 2017, quickly securing a first-team role under Jorge Sampaoli and remaining a key figure this season, playing 35 times – more than any of his team-mates – in LaLiga.
Reports of Barca s interest were prominent for much of the campaign and there have even been claims the club already have an agreement with Lenglet.
But Castro insists he sees no reason not to be optimistic about Sevilla s talks over a possible contract extension for Lenglet, as they hope to inc…
Kawasaki Frontale battled back from a goal down to beat fellow J-League side Nagoya Grampus 2-1 in the first leg of the AFC Champions League quarter-finals here on Wednesday.
Lanky Australian striker Joshua Kennedy headed home in the 27th minute for Nagoya but Japan midfielder Kengo Nakamura pulled one back for Kawasaki on the hour mark and Brazilian striker Juninho put them ahead three minutes later.
Kawasaki, who have not lost to Nagoya in their recent nine encounters, go to Nagoya in the return leg on September 30 to vie for a semi-final berth in the top Asian club competition.
We had a few chances but could not put them away in the first half, Kawasaki coach Takashi Sekizuka said.
Kengo s goal shook the kinks out of our play and helped us regain ou…
England captain John Terry believes he will be haunted by a sense of failure until the end of his days if he doesn t win either the Champions League trophy or the World Cup before he stops playing.
With Chelsea going well in Europe under Carlo Ancelotti and England currently regarded as third favourites for next year s World Cup in South Africa, Terry knows that, at 28, this season could be the one that defines his career.
This is my biggest season ahead of me and it s important to stay fit and keep playing well for Chelsea, Terry said ahead of England s trip to the Ukraine for Saturday s penultimate qualifier.
Fabio Capello s squad have already qualified for the finals but the Italian has made it clear that no player can take their place in the squad for South…
Barcelona forward Neymar could feature against Cordoba at Camp Nou this weekend after returning to training on Friday.
The Brazil international missed the goalless draw against Getafe last time out in La Liga and was not part of the much-changed side that hammered Huesca 8-1 in the Copa del Rey on Tuesday.
But he is back in contention, with head coach Luis Enrique confirming that a decision will be made over the 22-year-old s participation on Saturday, when Barca will look to close the gap on leaders Real Madrid to one point.
Neymar trained with the rest of the squad and he s available, Luis Enrique said.
Neymar is enjoying a stellar campaign, with 11 goals in 13 league appearances.
He will hope to play some part as Barca seek a response to …
Roberto Carlos has warned that former team-mate Samuel Eto o could be a damaging influence in the Chelsea dressing room.
The pair played together while at Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, with Carlos joining the club first as a player before moving to form part of Guus Hiddink s backroom staff.
Eto o was brought in from Inter on a lucrative package in 2011 but Carlos who has since left the Russian outfit, along with Hiddink, following a cost-cutting exercise over the close-season believes that the Cameroon international can be a disruptive influence.
I ve known Eto o since I was 16, and from that time on he s always been a good guy who I ve liked a lot, Carlos told Globo.
He s a good person, but there s a part of him that thinks I, and not the group , which is rea…
Thomas Sorensen believes the fear factor of travelling to Russia has dissuaded more Denmark fans from making the trip to get behind their team at the World Cup.
In both of their opening Group C matches, Danish supporters were heavily outnumbered by their counterparts from Peru and Australia, although it seems not to have fazed Age Hareide s men, who have picked up four points and will secure a last-16 spot if they avoid defeat against France in Moscow on Tuesday.
Russian hooligans dominated the headlines at Euro 2016 due to a number of violent incidents, although there have been no such problems at this year s finals, while the nation s politics are also a bone of contention for some.
Sorensen, part of the last Denmark squad to reach the second round in 2002, adm…
Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has confirmed he is set to complete an imminent move to join Serie A rivals Inter ahead of the 2018-19 season.
The Belgium international, overlooked by Roberto Martinez for the Red Devils World Cup squad in a move that led him to retire from international football, has continually been linked with a move away from Roma in recent times.
After four and a half years at the Stadio Olimpico, Nainggolan has verified reports that he will move to Inter and medicals are set to take place next week.
Speaking to Gazzetta Dello Sport, the 30-year-old midfielder said: The choice to leave was not up to me, it is a decision taken by the club that I have respected.
I will wear forever in the heart every moment lived with these co…
Ricardo Pepi was the hero on Wednesday, converting the game-winning penalty as MLS All-Stars prevailed against Liga MX All-Stars in a shoot-out.
The annual showdown, typically pitting MLS best against an elite European club, finished 1-1 at the end of 90 minutes in Los Angeles midweek.
But Dallas sensation Pepi settled the contest in the shoot-out after Orlando City star Nani had spurned an earlier opportunity to win it, miscuing his effort into the stands.
It was the 25th MLS All-Star Game and the first involving All-Stars from two different leagues, though it was the second time Liga MX had been involved after MLS All-Stars beat Chivas Guadalajara 3-1 in 2003.
18-YEAR-OLD RICARDO PEPI FOR THE WIN Game pres. by
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) <…
Bundesliga leaders RB Leipzig have completed the signing of Dinamo Zagreb playmaker Dani Olmo on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
Leipzig – who are four points clear at the top of the Bundesliga – could end up paying in the region of €35million for Olmo, according to reports.
The 21-year-old, a product of Barcelona s famed La Masia academy, had been linked with several major clubs after impressing for Spain at last year s European Under-21 Championship and Dinamo in the Champions League.
Barca had been tipped to move for their former midfielder, while Premier League side Chelsea and Serie A club Milan also reportedly held an interest.
But Dinamo boss Nenad Bjelica revealed on Thursday a move to Leipzig was likely and the German club announced the comple…