Prediction: Brazil vs Costa Rica

Nottingham Forest and Brighton made early moves in an otherwise sedate start to transfer deadline day.

Forest have been one of the most active clubs in the transfer market in recent times and continued that trend with the signing of Rodrigo Ribeiro from Sporting Lisbon.

The 18-year-old striker has joined on loan until the end of the season in a deal which could become permanent.

Ribeiro came through the ranks in Lisbon and made his professional debut for the club as a late substitute in a Champions League tie against Manchester City in March 2022.

We re delighted to announce the loan signing of Rodrigo Ribeiro from

— Nottingham Forest (@NFFC)

There was an exit rather than an arrival at Brighton, with midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud moving t…

“First half we wanted to score too much, we thought we would score a lot of goals, but we have got to stay calm always and wait for the game to come to us.”

Tottenham’s late show ensured Postecoglou kept his lengthy unbeaten home league record, which now stands at 50 matches across spells with Yokohama, Celtic and Spurs.

The 58-year-old has not tasted defeat in a league fixture on home turf in almost three years since Yokohama lost to Kashima in November, 2020.

Postecoglou said: “I do put a big emphasis on that wherever I’ve been because ultimately for your supporters, as much as you enjoy the away wins because you’ve got to earn every one of them, it’s when they come to their home ground that you want to really reward them.

“I’ve been v…

Raheem Sterling s first goal at a major tournament saw England get their Euro 2020 campaign off to a winning start, as they beat Croatia 1-0 at Wembley.

Having never won their opening game at a European Championship, England ended the wait to take a big step towards progression from Group D.

In stark contrast to their World Cup semi-final defeat to Croatia in 2018, Gareth Southgate s side enjoyed a measure of control throughout, albeit Phil Foden s early strike against the upright was the closest they came until the 57th minute when Sterling broke his tournament duck.

Harry Kane squandered a great chance to double England s lead, but the Three Lions were not made to pay by an ineffective Croatia attack.

19 Raheem Sterling has been directly involved in 19 …

Putting in what was a professional performance on Sunday afternoon, Manchester United claimed a thumping 3-0 victory against West Ham at Old Trafford.

With the red-hot Rasmus Hojlund opening the scoring midway through the first half and notching his fourth strike in as many appearances, Erik ten Hag’s side will take plenty of positives away from a gritty display on home soil.

Although the Hammers might have dominated possession over large spells, United were at their clinical best as Argentina ace Alejandro Garnacho bagged a second half brace.

Now collecting seven points from their previous three Premier League outings, Sunday’s 3-0 win also helped the former champions skyrocket their way back into the top-six.

Although West Ham might have secured an…

Prediction: Slovan Bratislava to win 2-1

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Swift Hesperange and Slovan Bratislava will lock horns with each other in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League Qualifying First Round this week. The match between the club from Luxembourg and the team from Slovakia will be held at Stade Alphonse Theis in Hesperange and is scheduled to kick off at 7pm UK time on Wednesday.

Swift Hesperange

Swift Hesperange are a modest club in Luxembourg. They do not have a rich history or a massive fanbase. Their stadium, Stade Alphonse Theis, holds just over 3000 spectators. Dany Theis’s side, though, did do something remarkable last season they won the 2022–23 Luxembourg National Division title.

Dany Theis’s team picked up as many as…

Ousmane Dembele is considering a move away from Barcelona, but Joan Laporta hopes the winger will decide to stay put. 

Barcelona paid an initial €105million to sign Dembele from Borussia Dortmund in 2017 and the five-year contract he received is set to run out next month.

Bayern Munich and Chelsea are reported to be keen on the World Cup-winning winger, who could be available on a free transfer.

Laporta acknowledged that Dembele is intrigued by the interest being shown in him, but the Barcelona president believes he could well choose to stay at Camp Nou.

He wants to stay but is very tempted by other options that offer conditions that may be considered better than ours, Laporta told Radio Catalunya.

The offer has been on the table for some t…

“I think the players will be focussed on the football side because they are used to it.”

Iraola has no doubts Lockyer will receive a warm welcome at the Vitality Stadium.

“Since the first seconds (after) it happened, everyone was very clear that the most important thing that mattered was for him to recover,” the Cherries boss said.

“The most important thing is he is much better. He has recovered well and I am happy to know that he is doing well.

Love him already

— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth)

“It will be amazing if he comes and we can see him. I am happy to know he is doing well.”

Bournemouth fought back from two goals down to draw 2-2 against Sheffield United on Saturday with a stoppage-time equaliser from E…

Veteran Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admits he is nervous ahead of his side’s Champions League clash with Manchester City.

The record 14-time winners host the current holders in the first leg of their quarter-final tie at the Bernabeu on Tuesday.

It is the third season in succession the two clubs have met in the knockout stages, with Real claiming a remarkable comeback victory in the 2022 semi-finals but City avenging that loss in emphatic fashion 12 months later.

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden)

The game will be Ancelotti’s 200th as manager in a competition he has won a record four times, but he recognises it will not be straightforward.

The Italian, whose side are eight points clear at the top of LaLiga, said at a press …

Joan Laporta has promised to do everything he can to persuade Lionel Messi to stay at Barcelona, as well as offering an assurance to head coach Ronald Koeman amid speculation over his future.

Laporta was officially unveiled as Barca s new president at a ceremony on Wednesday, having seen off competition from Victor Font and Toni Freixa during an election staged on March 7. 

It will be his second time in the role at Camp Nou; his previous stint from 2003 and 2010 saw the club win LaLiga on four occasions, as well as the Champions League twice.  

However, he returns now with Barcelona dealing with financial issues off the field and great uncertainty over the future of their best player, the talismanic Messi. 

The club s all-time leading scorer …

Germany head coach Joachim Low has insisted no final decision has been made on possible recalls for Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller and Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels.

The experienced pair have not played for their country since being told by Low in March 2019 that they, along with Jerome Boateng, had no future with the national team.

Low s decision to focus on younger talent has not always paid dividends, though, and last November s 6-0 demolition by Spain prompted loud calls from the likes of Mesut Ozil to bring those senior players back into the fold.

A report in Kicker claimed Muller and Hummels are set to be handed places in Low s Euro 2020 squad, which will be his last major tournament in charge before he steps down after 15 years in the role.<…