Argentina and Chile will relish the chance to end long waits for major international trophies on Sunday in the final of the Copa America.
Tournament hosts Chile came through a close-fought semi-final with Peru to move within one win of their first Copa success while Argentina thrashed Paraguay 6-1 and inched closer to their first major title since 1993.
Gerardo Martino saw Lionel Messi shine in their dismantling of Paraguay last week with this weekend s clash offering the four-time world player of the year the chance to seal his first international honours.
Despite winning a host of titles with Barcelona, Messi s international career has not yet reached the same heights, although victory in Santiago would go a long way to silencing any remaining detractors.
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According to a recent report from Bild, Bayern Munich are hopeful that they can complete the signing of Sadio Mane this summer.
The belief is that Bayern think Mane is keen on the idea of a move to the German giants, but of course, they may want to reassess that theory after the Champions League final on Saturday.
Bayern are still one of the biggest clubs in world football and that can t be denied, but their ability to draw in high profile players is going to be tested as we make our way through the upcoming transfer window. They managed to capture the Champions League crown in 2020, and yet in that time, the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester City and Liverpool seem to have consistently surpassed them in just about every way.
Mane is a Liverpool legend already bu…
Australia will look to take advantage of an Asian Cup gift when they face the United Arab Emirates in the semi-finals on Tuesday.
While coach Ange Postecoglou and his team will not admit it, Australia were given a big boost when the United Arab Emirates eliminated title-holders Japan from the Asian Cup on Friday.
Australia will face the UAE in Newcastle on Tuesday with a spot in the Asian Cup final on the line and with Japan out of the way, the host nation have been given a huge opportunity to win their maiden title.
Japan have won three of the past four Asian Cups, knocking off Australia 1-0 in extra time in the 2011 final, while they have not lost to the Australians since 2009, including a 2-1 triumph in Osaka in a friendly in November.
By contrast, Pos…
Real Sociedad have named Eusebio Sacristan as their new head coach following the sacking of David Moyes.
The former Manchester United manager was dismissed earlier on Monday after La Real were beaten 2-0 by Las Palmas on Friday to leave them just two points off the bottom of La Liga.
Assistant coach Billy McKinlay was also removed from his role.
Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Eusebio, who was head coach of the Barca B squad from 2011 until February this year, has since been announced as Moyes s replacement after signing a two-year deal at Anoeta.
He will be presented tomorrow [Tuesday] at noon and will lead his first training session in the afternoon, a club statement confirmed.
Eusebio won four La Liga titles and the European Cup as a pla…
Boss Rudi Garcia admits Napoli must beat Union Berlin to ensure they maintain a strong position in the Champions League.
Garcia’s men sit second in Group C, three points behind leaders Real Madrid, who won 3-2 in Naples earlier this month.
Napoli opened their campaign with a 2-1 win over Braga in Portugal and now go to Union Berlin on Tuesday.
“We know all about Union Berlin’s recent history, they reached the Champions League after an excellent season last year,” said Garcia.
“They have strong players like (Leonardo) Bonucci and (Lucas) Tousart. The Champions League is a great competition to play for both players and coaches.
“We started well, but then we didn’t take any points against Real Madrid and we have to win tomorrow.”
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Vincent Kompany is relishing resuming his respectful rivalry with Wayne Rooney when Manchester City host Everton on Monday.
Kompany and Rooney did battle on either side of the Manchester divide over the past decade but Manchester United s record goalscorer is now back with his boyhood club.
The 31-year-old enjoyed a dream return to Premier League action at Goodison Park last weekend when he headed the only goal in a 1-0 win over Stoke City.
City captain and centre-back Kompany was a keen observer and felt the goal showed many of the qualities some critics claimed deserted Rooney over a difficult final couple of seasons at Old Trafford remain in full working order.
I have a lot of respect for Wayne, he told reporters. We ve played so many games against …
Catalan super club could be set to lose Argentinian stalwart Javier Mascherano as the versatile 33-year old seeks a return to Premier League giants . That is the opinion of Barcelona s other star Argentinean Lionel Messi at least, who is known to be a great friend of Mascherano, the reports.
The defender enjoyed a successful spell at Liverpool between 2007 and 2010, where he played in central midfield, quickly becoming a crowd favourite at Anfield due to his no-nonsense approach and obvious commitment to the red shirt.
If a deal were to materialise between Barcelona and Liverpool it could well mark the final chapter in Mascherano s career. The Argentinian has won four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues during his time in Catalonia, meaning that an emotional retu…
Atletico Madrid are full of confidence heading into their Champions League last-16 second leg against PSV at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday, according to Saul Niguez.
The first encounter in Eindhoven ended goalless and saw the hosts lose Gaston Pereiro to a second yellow card midway through the second half, setting up a finely poised clash in Madrid.
Since then, Diego Simeone s side have won four successive matches – the latest of which came in a 3-0 victory over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.
Saul s powerful header opened the scoring and was added to by Antoine Griezmann – converting for the fourth consecutive game – and Angel Correa seven minutes from time.
The midfielder thinks the victory has primed Atletico to book a place in the quarter…
Javier Zanetti maintains that Inter s primary goal this season is to qualify for the Champions League and believes other challengers in Serie A are better equipped to win the Scudetto.
The Nerazzurri are riding high in Italy s top flight this season having won nine and drawn two of their 11 matches to sit two points adrift of leaders Napoli in a congested title picture.
Inter last won the title in 2010 and have not played Champions League football since 2011-12, and Zanetti credits the team s impressive showing to the work of head coach Luciano Spalletti, who made the switch to San Siro from Roma in the close season.
But Inter great Zanetti, who is now the club s vice president, believes it is still a tall order to win the league this term.
We are demons…
Arsenal are interested in signing Dan Bentley from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Gunners have made an opening bid for the goalkeeper.
The London Evening Standard has noted that Arsenal have offered Wolves £50,000 in transfer fees for Bentley. The Wanderers have turned it down. Wolves value the 30-year-old goalkeeper at much higher than that. Although Bentley is out of contract at Wolves at the end of next season, the Wanderers will sell him only if the money can be reinvested in the squad.
Arsenal are looking for a goalkeeper to potentially replace Aaron Ramsdale. The England international lost his place in the Gunners’ starting lineup to David Raya and could be on his way o…