Didier Deschamps vowed the show must go on for France after the latest crushing blow to their World Cup hopes saw Karim Benzema ruled out of the tournament.
Pain in the quadriceps of his left thigh – a femoral rectus injury to be exact – means Real Madrid s Ballon d Or winner will play no part in the Qatar 2022 finals.
Benzema, who missed Les Bleus triumph at Russia 2018 while out of favour amid an ongoing blackmail investigation, was hoping to play a big part in the trophy defence this time.
He was battling to prove his fitness after recent injury strife with Madrid, and Saturday s training session was his first full on-pitch activity with the France squad of this camp.
The 34-year-old could not make it through unscathed though, pulling out after fee…
Xabi Alonso is looking for a big improvement from Bayer Leverkusen against fellow Champions League side RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
After a 3-2 league win at Borussia Monchengladbach, Leverkusen edged to a narrow 1-0 victory at fourth-tier FC Carl Zeiss Jena in the first round of the DFB-Pokal on Tuesday.
Despite winning their opening two games of the season, and maintaining their impressive unbeaten streak, Alonso said his double-winning side are far from their best selves.
We know that we can play better and have not yet reached our top level yet. We need to work on that, Alonso told reporters on Friday.
That s why we want to carry on working. It s a process to achieve that level, but it s our aim, and we re focused on that. And I m con…
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola believes the club’s recent slump has delivered a much-needed reality check.
Guardiola says he and his treble-winning players have enjoyed being stroked “like a cat” for too long after their recent successes and it was time they were given a shake.
City were not only beaten but outplayed at Aston Villa on Wednesday – a result which extended their winless run in the Premier League to four games and saw them slip to fourth in the table.
“As a manager I sometimes need that, I need that challenge,” said Guardiola at a press conference to preview Sunday’s game at Luton.
“I think for everyone it is good. I think it’s necessary to live that.
“For a long time, we’ve lived like a cat (strokes head) an…
Diogo Jota gets a first Premier League start in 2021 as one of seven changes made by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp for the home game against Fulham on Sunday.
Having suffered a knee injury in December, Jota made a return to first-team action on Thursday, though his appearance off the bench could not help the Reds avoid going down 1-0 to top-four rivals Chelsea at Anfield.
The Portuguese forward is named in the starting XI to take on relegation-threatened Fulham, with Roberto Firmino ruled out due to what Liverpool announced to be a minor knock .
Klopp named Fabinho, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Thiago Alcantara and Sadio Mane on a strong bench, with the second leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against RB Leipzig to come on Wednesday.
The d…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has indicated he will return to Serie A, saying he will join a club that has to win again .
Ibrahimovic, 38, has been heavily linked with a return to former club Milan after confirming his departure from MLS side LA Galaxy last month.
The star striker is set to be back in Serie A and he could end up at San Siro, where he has played for Milan and Inter previously.
I will go to a club that has to win again, that has to renew its history, which is looking for a challenge against everyone, Ibrahimovic told GQ Italia.
See you soon in Italy.
I came, I saw, I conquered. Thank you for making me feel alive again. To the Galaxy fans you wanted Zlatan, I gave you Zlatan. You are welcome. The story continues Now go back to watch basebal…
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson believes his side can hold their heads high despite missing out on the Premier League title by a solitary point.
Manchester City put together a run of 14 straight wins to end the season and retain their crown, culminating in a 4-1 victory at Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday.
Henderson was disappointed to have to come so close to ending the Reds 29-year wait to be crowned champions but believes Pep Guardiola s men narrowly deserved it.
We always believed that, until the last day, if we kept doing what we were doing then we d maybe [win it] so it s disappointing, obviously, he told Liverpool s official website.
But I think after a few days, when we ve got time to reflect, I think we ll be proud of how we ve performed t…
Lionel Messi can play until he is 50 , according to Brazil legend Ronaldinho.
Argentina can lift their third World Cup on Sunday, when they take on reigning champions France at Lusail Stadium in a highly anticipated match that will crown the tournament s winners.
At 35-years-old, Messi has played a vital role for Argentina in Qatar as he seeks a first World Cup crown, scoring five goals to become La Albiceleste s record goalscorer in the competition, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta.
Messi can cap his spectacular career against France, who are looking to make their own history as the first nation to retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
Ronaldinho, who was part of the Selecao team that won the 2002 World Cup and like Messi is a former Barcelona star, is …
Monaco coach Thierry Henry believes the appointment of former distance runner Bouabdellah Tahri as a member of the medical staff to aid mental preparation will be a great thing for the club.
Henry s arrival as coach has not sparked a revival in fortunes for Monaco, winning just two games since the former Arsenal and Barcelona star took charge.
The club sit second bottom in Ligue 1 and crashed out of the Champions League with just one point from six group games.
Their struggles have led to the principality club turning to Tahri, a 2009 World Championship bronze medallist, to help deal with a host of injury problems that have hindered their season. He will be in charge of the performance, re-training and mental preparation of the professional team .
I …
“There are certain things you need to do on a football pitch. OK, I was training with the best team in the world, but games get you sharper.
“You can train all you like but you are never going to really get match fit and match sharp unless you play games, do you?
“So, that’s the reason I’m frustrated and gutted.”
West Ham were trailing to Taiwo Awoniyi’s first-half opener when Phillips picked up two quick bookings in the second half, the first for grappling with Nicolas Dominguez and then fouling Morgan Gibbs-White.
He tried to speak to referee Thomas Bramall after the game, but left the City Ground frustrated.
“I’m annoyed with myself over the first booking. He’s got my shoulder and I’ve tried to push him off – perhaps nex…
Could Lionel Messi perform on a cold, wet, Wednesday night in Stoke? Of course he could, and the Barcelona forward has a record against English clubs in the Champions League to prove it.
The Potters are unlikely to test the derided adage any time soon but, in anticipation of Barcelona s quarter-final against Manchester United, Messi s record certainly stands up to scrutiny.
Barca s captain goes into the last-eight clash in fine form, having scored 10 goals in his last six appearances in all competitions for the Catalan giants – putting them on the verge of another LaLiga title.
Ahead of Wednesday s first leg at Old Trafford, with the use of Opta numbers, we assess Messi s record against Premier League clubs in European competition.
1992 final
2011 fin…