Lionel Messi heads off to Copa America with Argentina after starring once again in MLS, with Jordi Alba calling on Inter Miami to battle in the forward s absence.
Former Barcelona forward Messi made MLS history on Sunday, reaching 25 goal contributions in just 12 appearances this term to shatter the previous fastest record held by Carlos Vela (16 in 2019).
Messi was on target in the 3-3 draw with St. Louis City, while Alba – who assisted Miami s first two goals – salvaged a point at Chase Stadium with a late leveller in a thrilling contest.
Yet Gerardo Martino will not have Messi to call upon for the foreseeable future, as the legendary attacker prepares for Argentina s Copa title defence.
Knowing the player that he is for us, it s hard, but the team…
James Rodriguez says Colombia are not getting ahead of themselves as they prepare to take on minnows Panama in the Copa America quarter-finals.
Panama shocked the hosts United States in the group stage, with that 2-1 win over the Stars and Stripes paving the way for a 3-1 victory over Bolivia, which secured their place in the last eight.
Their reward is a contest against Colombia, who are unbeaten in their last 26 matches and finished top of Group D, ahead of nine-time Copa America winners Brazil.
The Opta supercomputer hands Colombia a 61.6% chance of winning the tie, with Panama s win likelihood only 18.8%, but captain James knows Nestor Lorenzo s team must be focused on the task at hand at State Farm Stadium.
There s still a lot of work to do, and on …
West Ham United are now unlikely to be able to sign Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that although United and West Ham have reached an agreement in principle over Wan-Bissaka, the right-back’s wage demands are too much for the Hammers.
Wan-Bissaka has been on the books of United since 2019 when he joined from Palace. The 26-year-old has done relatively well for United, but he is not always guaranteed a place in the starting lineup. The right-back gave two assists in 20 starts and two substitute appearances in the Premier League and provided one assist in two starts and one substitute appearance in the UEFA Champions League last season.
Manchester United finished eighth in the Premier League t…
Steve Clarke spoke of his pain after Scotland lost 4-0 to the Netherlands in their friendly encounter in Amsterdam which served as the start of preparations for Euro 2024.
The visitors started well and hit the goal frame through Ryan Christie but the Dutch took the lead five minutes from the break with a Tijjani Reijnders drive.
Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland hit the bar in the 62nd minute with only goalkeeper Mark Flekken to beat and they were made to pay 10 minutes later when Georginio Wijnaldum headed in a second.
Goals from substitutes Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen in the 84th and 86th minutes then made it six games without a win for the Scots, with 18 goals conceded ahead of the friendly against Northern Ireland at Hampden Park on Tuesday night.
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Pau Cubarsi, Marcos Llorente and Aleix Garcia have been cut from Luis de la Fuente s Spain squad for Euro 2024.
De la Fuente named a 29-man party last month, with a youthful look to it, as Spain aim to regain European glory in Germany.
Cubarsi started Spain s friendly win over Andorra, setting up Ayoze Perez, who is a surprise inclusion in the final squad, for his debut goal.
Despite impressing in his breakout season in LaLiga, there is no place for the 17-year-old as De la Fuente opts for a more experienced group of centre-backs in Robin Le Normand, Nacho, Aymeric Laporte and Dani Vivian.
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The Seattle Sounders will be flying if they can beat Los Angeles FC on Saturday.
That was the message from coach Brian Schmetzer, who is relishing a huge occasion at Lumen Field, where the Sounders have been outstanding.
Seattle are on a five-game winning run in MLS, with four of those matches coming at home. They have lost in Seattle only once this year, back in April.
After a slow start, there are now only five teams above them in the Western Conference, but one of those are LAFC.
It was a defeat in Los Angeles that set in motion the Sounders five-game winless run to start the campaign, while their 2023 season ended with a defeat to LAFC at Lumen Field.
Seattle should not be short of motivation then, and Schmetzer is now shying away from the sig…
Germany boss Joachim Low was critical of Euro 2016 s 24-team format after his side exited the tournament to France in the semi-finals.
The world champions suffered a 2-0 defeat to the hosts in Marseille on Thursday thanks to Antoine Griezmann s double.
Germany have not won the Euros since 1996 and Low – who is taking time to reflect on his future after the loss was not a fan of the first tournament to include 24 teams after its extension from the previous mark of 16.
I think 24 teams are too many, Low said to sport1. The World Cup is going to be increased to 40 teams and it is getting more and more.
That is a problem in the long term. Sometimes you get the feeling it s not doing football any good. The quality is suffering.
Defender Mats Humme…
Italy are European champions and on a long unbeaten streak but should be even better by the time of the 2022 World Cup, according to former forward Gianfranco Zola.
The Azzurri have been transformed under Roberto Mancini since missing out on qualifying for the previous finals in Russia.
Mancini s men won the Euro 2020 final against England on penalties and are now undefeated in 34 matches, the longest run in the team s history.
However, Zola – who earned 35 caps and scored 10 goals between 1991 and 1997 – sees an even brighter future for Italian football.
Despite including 34-year-old Leonardo Bonucci (the oldest scorer in Euros final history) and 36-year-old captain Giorgio Chiellini (the third-oldest player in final history), Italy named only the 1…
The Championship kicks off on Friday with a clash between Reading and Derby County, one that has taken on a new level of global intrigue after the appointment of Frank Lampard.
The 40-year-old is taking his first steps into management and has certainly embraced a challenge with the Rams, who have flirted with promotion back to the Premier League in recent seasons without quite making the grade.
Lampard s odyssey would be the dominant talking point ahead of 2018-19, were it not for the fact Marcelo Bielsa has taken up residence at Elland Road.
With new bosses in place at Stoke City and Swansea City and uncertainty around Aston Villa s future, we should be in for a terrific campaign
LAMPARD STILL ADJUSTING TO THE DUGOUT
Former West Ham, …
Former Manchester City goalkeeper David James hails Pep Guardiola for doing remarkable things but believes he is still not at Alex Ferguson’s level.
City became the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive titles with their 3-1 win over West Ham on Sunday, pipping Arsenal to the crown by two points.
Manchester United had previously won three consecutive Premier League seasons, achieving the feat twice under Ferguson (1998-2001 and 2006-2009).
Guardiola’s side can create more history on Saturday as they aim to clinch unprecedented back-to-back league and FA Cup doubles against the Red Devils.
Asked if this achievement put Guardiola’s name alongside Ferguson’s as the best Premier League manager, James, who spent two years with Ci…