World Cup hosts South Africa could dump Brazilian coach Joel Santana if they suffer embarrassing friendly defeats in Norway Saturday and Iceland three days later.
Santana has been under public, media and official fire after six losses in seven outings with the sole success coming via a solitary goal at home to African featherweights Madagascar last month.
The national football association reacted by naming three assessors former national coaches Clive Barker and Jomo Sono and top South African Premiership coach Gavin Hunt to report on the national team.
This heightened a rumour mill already awash with names of possible new coaches, including Santana predecessor Carlos Alberto Parreira and recently fired Poland coach Leon Beenhakker.
While some believe it…
that Arsenal will move for Real Madrid midfielder Isco when the transfer window reopens in January.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has identified the twenty-three year old as one of his top targets, as he already makes plans to strengthen his squad for a potential title challenge.
The Spain international has played eight times in La Liga so far this season, but has completed ninety minutes just twice and Real may be willing to listen to offers.
Since moving to the Bernabeu in the summer of 2013, Isco has racked up one hundred and sixteen appearances in all competitions, scoring seventeen goals – three of which came on Los Blancos route to winning the Champions League in 2014.
Internationally, he has been capped eleven times for Spain, with his only se…
Spurs goalkeeper had a poor game at the Etihad
Exciting Match
It turned out to be quite an eventful affair at the Etihad on Saturday afternoon between Manchester City and Tottenham, after what has been a frustrating goalless draw.
Both teams pushed up their game and we saw four goals in just 45 minutes’ time for a extremely exciting match.
Here is our full match-report:
Form Guide Team News
Things turned on their head for Manchester City following their perfect start to the season and Pep Guardiola’s men have experienced plenty of problems and setback recently, which ultimately ruled them out of the Premier League title race.
Heading into the clash against Tottenham, the Citizens were well aware that this match was the beginning of …
Real Madrid midfielder Marco Asensio says he can t give an answer right now on the possibility of making a shock move to bitter rivals Barcelona.
The Spain international, whose contract expires at the end of the season, was repeatedly linked with a move away from Santiago Bernabeu during the transfer window.
And with Asensio appearing no nearer to a new deal at Madrid, he was this week said to be a target for Catalan giants Barca.
Asked about whether he could ever see himself playing for the Blaugrana in an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, Asensio replied: Honestly, I don t know.
I have not thought about it or weighed it up. I can t give an answer right now.
Enorme partido equipo! + 6 de 6
— Marco Asensio (@marcoasensio10)
…
Bayern Munich will not be signing a striker during the January transfer window, according to Sky in Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg.
The Bundesliga champions parted ways with Robert Lewandowski towards the end of the summer window after a long and obviously tedious saga, during which the 34-year-old Poland captain insisted on being sold to Barcelona while Bayern did everything they thought they should to keep him. In the end they accepted a €50m proposal from the Catalans and off he went, scoring for fun in La Liga at the moment.
Meanwhile, Bayern have been struggling to win matches lately, with three draws and a defeat on the bounce putting them in fifth place in the Bundesliga table at the moment, five points behind surprise leaders Union Berlin. There is bel…
Doncaster Rovers manager Paul Dickov is interested in bringing Shay Given and Billy Sharp to the club on loan.
Aston Villa goalkeeper Given has fallen out of favour under Paul Lambert while Sharp was a popular figure at the Keepmoat Stadium when he was at the club between 2010 and 2012.
Sharp scored 41 times in 86 appearances for the club and Dickov is keen to bring both in ahead of their return to the Championship.
We did make an enquiry to take Shay on loan a couple of weeks ago, Dickov told BBC Radio Sheffield.
Billy is somebody who s highly thought of at the club. A loan enquiry did go in a couple of weeks ago.
Dickov also confirmed that midfielder Richie Wellens is back in training with the club having been released by Leicester City, although Stephe…
Marseille were knocked out of the Coupe de France with an enthralling 5-4 home loss to Nice in the last 32 on Tuesday.
The 10-time winners took the lead after just three minutes through striker Andre-Pierre Gignac, only for goals from Alexy Bosetti and Neal Maupay to turn things around for the visitors.
Winger Florian Thauvin restored parity after 24 minutes, but a first-half injury-time own goal from defender Souleymane Diawara and a 51st minute Christian Bruls penalty put Nice in command.
Gignac s second gave Marseille hope just before the hour-mark, but Fabrice Abriel s 88th minute effort effectively killed the game off, despite a stoppage-time goal at the right end from Diawara.
The 2011 winners Lille remain in the hunt to lift the trophy again following a 3-…
Verdict: Manchester City win
Best Odds:
Bookmaker:
After picking up their first piece of silverware in the form of the Community Shield last weekend, Pep Guardiola s record-breaking champions will look to make the first defense of their crown when they travel to North London to face an Arsenal side now under the guidance of a new coach.
Arsenal
Although this will be the first time in 22 years Arsenal have not had Arsene Wenger in their dugout for a Premier League outing, many around The Emirates are excited about what could come in this new chapter. Now under the tutelage of Ligue 1 winning coach Unai Emery, The Reds have enjoyed an impressive pre-season tour and coming off the back of a 2-0 win over Serie A contenders Napoli, aside from a penaltie…
Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk insisted he cannot be compared to Lionel Messi, dismissing any suggestions he was disappointed not to win the Best FIFA Men s Player award.
Van Dijk finished second to Barcelona superstar Messi for the prize on Monday, with Juventus and Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo third.
The centre-back said there was no way he could be compared to Messi, who scored 51 goals in all competitions in 2018-19.
The people who vote made a decision and you have to accept it, Van Dijk told reporters.
That s just the case and as players you can t compare me and Messi because it s totally different.
I m very proud to be here.
The Reds |
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
Van Dijk helped Liverpool win the Champions L…
(GSM) Celtic have reportedly told Spartak Moskva that winger Aiden McGeady is not for sale under any circumstances.
The Moscow giants have made an enquiry about the 24-year-old s availability.
And it seems Spartak received the same answer as Birmingham City were given in January, with Celtic determined to hold on to one of their most influential performers.
A Republic of Ireland international, McGeady has been with the Hoops since his schooldays, winning three league titles, and signed a five-year contract in the summer of 2008.
McGeady, who was the SPFA Player and Young Player of the Year in 2008, made his first team debut four years earlier.
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