Richarlison believes God recognised his effort to get to the World Cup, as the Brazil forward turned his focus to Monday s clash with Switzerland.

Tottenham attacker Richarlison scored both of the Selecao s goals in their opening 2-0 win over Serbia on Thursday.

After bundling in a rebound, Richarlison scored the goal of the tournament so far to double Brazil s tally, sending an acrobatic attempt into the left-hand corner.

Richarlison has scored nine goals in his last seven appearances for Brazil in all competitions, becoming the eighth Brazilian to score a brace on his World Cup debut, and first since Neymar in 2014.

Since his debut for the national side in September 2018, Richarlison has scored more goals in all competitions for Brazil than any other pl…

Neymar merely needs to find his rhythm to rediscover his best form, so says Mauricio Pochettino.

Brazil star Neymar has endured another injury hit campaign for Paris Saint-Germain, with the 30-year-old having made just 22 appearances across all competitions.

That is 16 fewer than Kylian Mbappe, who has arguably outshone the former Barcelona forward since they both arrived in Paris in 2017.

Neymar served up a reminder of his qualities with two fine goals in PSG s 5-1 thrashing of Lorient last time out, though it was again Mbappe who stole the show with a pair of superb strikes and three assists, with the final star of Pochettino s attacking trio, Lionel Messi, also netting.

It was not for a lack of trying from a creative standpoint for Neymar, though, as…

Best odds: 5/6

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The last round of the group stage at the World Cup is well underway, and in Group E on Thursday, Costa Rica and Germany will face each other at the Al Bayt Stadium with one aim set for both sides to do their best to book a place in the round of 16. In the other match of the group, Spain face Japan.

Costa Rica

If anyone had called it before the start of the tournament, or after the opening round, they would probably have been laughed at, but at this crucial point in the race, Costa Rica appear much closer to achieving that goal than Germany. Sitting third in the group with three points, a win over Germany, as unlikely as it seems, would guarantee them a place in the next stage. It could even see them finish top of the group, providing S…

Isco has posted a farewell message to Real Madrid and after nine years at the Santiago Bernabeu and took a subtle dig at Kylian Mbappe.

Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti confirmed last week that Isco would be leaving the club at the end of the season as a free agent.

The 30-year-old midfielder has thanks to the club, and also appeared to mock Mbappe, who turned down a move to the European champions and sign a new contract at Paris Saint-Germain.

Isco posted on Instagram on Monday: When I was in Malaga and knew I had to leave I made a commitment to join another team, but Real Madrid called and you just can t say no, although there are always exceptions, before adding an emoji of a turtle (Mbappe s nickname) and a laughing face.

He added: I remember tel…

Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg has completed a move to Marseille.

Hojbjerg, who made 184 appearances for Spurs, will join the Ligue 1 side initially on loan with the agreement including an obligation to buy for £17million.

The Denmark international made 39 appearances in all competitions during Ange Postecoglou s first season in charge, but only 10 were from the start.

Hojbjerg had entered the final year of his contract at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and is Roberto De Zerbi s fifth signing of the transfer window.

The 28-year-old scored 10 times during his four years with Spurs, one of which came against his new employers in the Champions League to secure top spot in Group D back in 2022.

We have reached a…

Karim Benzema deserves to win the Ballon d Or, according to Real Madrid great Roberto Carlos. 

A stellar season with Madrid has made Benzema one of the favourites for the accolade. He scored 44 goals and supplied 15 assists in 46 games in all competitions, helping Los Blancos win LaLiga, the Champions League and the Supercopa de Espana. 

The 34-year-old scored a joint-record 10 goals in the knockout stages of the Champions League, earning the competition s Player of the Season award. 

Luka Modric is the only player other than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to have won the Ballon d Or since 2008, but Roberto Carlos thinks now is Benzema s time. 

We hope that this year it can be given to him because he has had a great season and we are all eager fo…

Goalkeeper Mattia Perin said Juventus draw with Sampdoria left  a bad taste in our mouth and showed where Massimiliano Allegri s side must improve.

Juventus were looking to join Napoli, Inter and Roma on six points from two games at the start of the Serie A season on Monday, but could only manage a 0-0 stalemate on their travels.

They failed to break down a Sampdoria side who lost 2-0 to Atalanta on the opening weekend of the season, and coach Allegri said his players would need to train hard ahead of Saturday s enticing tussle with Roma.

Perin said of the result: This draw should serve as a lesson to understand which areas we need to work on. 

Obviously, it leaves a bad taste in our mouth, but it will be an extra incentive to better prepare for the n…

In-form England striker Harry Kane insisted he does not mind if he becomes a marked man at Euro 2016 later this year.

The 22-year-old has scored 42 Premier League goals for Tottenham since the start of 2014-15 and boosted his hopes of a starting role with England at the tournament in France by netting in their 3-2 win over world champions Germany in Berlin.

Kane understands that his stock is rising in the game and feels having to cope with closer attention from opponents is something that has to be overcome if he wants to reach his goal of becoming one of the world s top stars.

Maybe I will be a marked man in the summer, he told reporters. Again, that is football. 

If you want to be one of the top players in the world, you have to deal with that. I am …

The A-League will expand to 12 teams by 2020 after confirmation Western Melbourne Group and Macarthur South West Sydney were granted licences.

After delays and plenty of speculation, Football Federation Australia (FFA) announced its decision on Thursday.

The club from Melbourne will enter the competition in 2019-20, while the Sydney side is set to join a season later.

We have seen unprecedented interest from bids to be part of the Hyundai A-League and we are excited about our two new expansion clubs in Sydney and Melbourne, FFA chairman Chris Nikou said in a statement.

An expanded Hyundai A-League will connect new communities in our two biggest markets, create new rivalries, bigger television audiences, more derbies and importantly, further opportunitie…

Best Odds: 4/11

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Looking to make it back-to-back Premiership victories on Sunday lunchtime, Celtic will travel to Easter Road when they meet Hibernian.

Hibernian

Starting with the hosts, enduring what was a major Premiership struggle last season as they spent large spells of the 2023/24 campaign scrapping it out at the foot of the table, Hibernian are desperate to put in a better account of themselves this time around. However, getting the new season underway with a nightmare performance away at St. Mirren last weekend as they slumped to a 3-0 drumming, David Gray’s men will be bracing themselves for another stern examination here. Mustering just a single win from any of their final eight Premiership appearances last season, Hibs will certainly be w…