New Liverpool signing Alexis Mac Allister admits playing his part in Argentina’s World Cup victory gave him a taste for more trophies and he believes he will be able to fulfil that aim at Anfield.
The 24-year-old’s arrival on a five-year contract signals the start of manager Jurgen Klopp’s much-vaunted midfield rebuild which will likely see further additions made this summer.
A fee has not been disclosed but it is understood the Argentina international had a favourable release clause, which is reported to be as low as an initial £35million, inserted into the Brighton contract he only signed in October to avoid him leaving on a free at the end of the season.
A walk and talk with World Cup winner
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
“Since I won the…
FIFA vice president Jeffrey Webb has cast doubt on the future of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, claiming the tournament cannot be held there with the current level of racism in the country.
Qualification for Russia 2018 began on Thursday but Webb, who also serves as CONCACAF s president, believes FIFA will have to move the World Cup somewhere else if the Eurasian nation does not clean up its act.
According to the World Values Survey an international network of social scientists between 15 and 20 per cent of the Russian population answered people of another race when asked to pick groups they would not want as neighbours in 2013.
For countries such as the United States, Australia, Sweden and Britain the percentage dropped to between zero and five per cent.
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Giorgio Chiellini believes head coach Luciano Spalletti can deliver magical Italian nights , ahead of the Azzurri s title defence at Euro 2024.
Spalletti s Italy will head to Germany as the reigning champions, after beating England on penalties at Wembley in the delayed Euro 2020 final three years ago.
Chiellini captained the Azzurri to their second European crown adding to their 1968 triumph with Roberto Mancini s side also defeating the likes of Belgium and Spain on the way to glory.
Three years on, the former defender believes the four-time World Cup winners will be outsiders at the tournament, where they will play Spain, Croatia and Albania in Group B.
However, he thinks that may play into Italy s hands should they progress into the latter stages.
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Reigning champions Germany booked their place at next year s World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Northern Ireland on Thursday.
Needing just a point in Belfast to top Group C, Joachim Low s side overcame a number of key absences, as well as a spirited home side, to make it nine wins from nine in qualifying.
Despite being without World Cup winners Mario Gotze, Sami Khedira, Manuel Nuer and Mesut Ozil as well as Timo Werner Germany demonstrated their strength in depth as two first-half goals saw off their nearest rivals on the road.
Sebastian Rudy let fly with a right-footed rocket inside two minutes to score his maiden international goal, his wonder strike briefly silencing a boisterous crowd inside Windsor Park.
Any hopes of the hosts marking M…
Spain avoided an early Euro 2024 scare against Georgia to make it into the quarter-finals with a 4-1 comeback victory in Cologne.
Rodri cancelled out Robin Le Normand s 18th-minute own goal before the break on Sunday, and a spirited Spain rallied in the second half to leave Georgia powerless.
Fabian Ruiz fired Spain into the lead shortly after the break, with Nico Williams and Dani Olmo making sure of the victory late on to end Georgia s fairytale run at this European Championship.
Luis de la Fuente s side will next face the hosts Germany in a marquee quarter-final meeting in Stuttgart on Friday.
Spain march on |
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024)
Giorgi Mamardashvili was the most worked goalkeeper in the group stages, and he was called in…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp hailed Alexis Mac Allister’s “wonder goal” for turning around their fortunes in the 3-1 win over Sheffield United.
After Conor Bradley’s own goal early in the second half cancelled out Darwin Nunez’s 17th-minute opener – courtesy of an error by Blades goalkeeper Ivo Grbic – the tension at Anfield increased as a return to the top of the Premier League came into doubt.
However, Mac Allister, Liverpool’s best player over the last month, smashed home a brilliant strike reminiscent of Steven Gerrard’s winner against Olympiacos in 2004 to ease the nerves and Cody Gakpo added a late third.
“We needed Macca’s wonder goal to turn it around,” said Klopp on the Argentina international, who is the first Reds midfielder t…
Romania progressed to the Euro 2024 knockout stages as unlikely Group E winners as Slovakia also made it through with Wednesday s 1-1 draw in Frankfurt.
Razvan Marin s first-half penalty cancelled out Ondrej Duda s early header before the two sides shared the spoils, as was the case in Belgium s goalless draw in the other group game with Ukraine.
Serhiy Rebrov s side were the unfortunate losers as all four teams remarkably finished on four points, with Domenico Tedesco s side sneaking through in second and Slovakia in third.
Romania topped the group on goals scored and will face the best third-place side from Group A, B, C or D in Munich on Tuesday, while Slovakia will meet either England or Spain in the next round.
Despite knowing a draw would be enough,…
Competition: Euro 2016
Market: France to win against Portugal
Odds:
France welcome Portugal to the Stade de France in the final of the Euro 2016 tonight, and are favourites to come out on top in normal time.
Les Blues have been full of goals in the tournament this summer, coming off the back of an emphatic quarter-final victory and win over the World champions in the semis.
France made it this far after a straightforward group campaign that saw them finish top of Group A with seven points from a possible nine. Didier Deschamps’ men beat Romania and Albania before taking a draw to Switzerland, but their form spiked in the latter stages.
After beating Republic of Ireland in the last-16, a 5-2 thrashing of Iceland and a 2-0 win over Germany in…
Following the conclusion of the Euro 2024 group stages, Spain remain the only team to win all their games ahead of their last-16 tie against Georgia in Cologne.
La Roja ended their group campaign with a 1-0 victory over Albania that featured a much-changed side, with Ferran Torres early strike enough to secure the win.
However, they will face a Georgia side brimming with self-belief after their maiden triumph at a major international tournament over Portugal last time out.
Willy Sagnol s side have captured the hearts of football fans across the world, but know the enormity of the task ahead of them, with these teams having played against each other during qualifying.
Many expect Spain to maintain their winning start at Euro 2024, but as this tournament …
Ticket prices for the 2010 FIFA World Cup range from 80 dollars for group stages to 900 dollars for the final, the organising body said Wednesday.
We are anticipating an oversubscription of tickets. Our aim is to create a fair distribution system, David Will, chairman of the FIFA ticketing committee said ahead of the official opening of ticket applications on Friday.
The most expensive ticket for the opening match for category one stadium stands located alongside the pitch is 450 dollars.
Semi-final tickets go for 600 dollars while the final costs 900 dollars.
We are not sure how much impact the current global recession will have on the tournament, said Hirst Schmidt, a FIFA consultant for the World Cup.
What we know is that football fans are …