On that sultry night in Rio two years ago, Germany and Mario Gotze seemed set for the footballing stratosphere.
After a decade of chastening near misses, Joachim Low s sublimely talented generation had a major prize in their possession thanks to Gotze s extra-time winner against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final.
Spain s era of dominance was over and there would be plenty more where the 7-1 hiding of Brazil in the semi-final came from. Bayern Munich superstar Gotze, having lived out every boy s dream before partying into the night with pop star Rihanna, was going to be their jewel, their superstar.
As with many of the best-laid plans, things did not quite pan out that way. In Saint-Denis on Thursday, Germany faced Poland the opponent that punctured their b…
Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois wants to remain on loan at Atletico Madrid for a third year next season.
The Belgian shot-stopper, who joined Chelsea from Genk in 2011, has made 95 appearances in La Liga for Atletico in the last two campaigns, recently winning the Copa del Rey in the process, and wants to remain at the Vicente Calderon next season.
With Petr Cech continuing as Chelsea s first-choice goalkeeper, Courtois best chance of playing regular football is likely to be a move away from Stamford Bridge and the Belgian asserted it is Atletico that he wants to play for.
…
Portuguese midfielder Joao Moutinho has hinted that he would accept an offer from Tottenham by admitting that Andre Villas-Boas is one of Europe’s top coaches.
The 26-year-old was on the verge of joining Spurs on transfer deadline day, but the White Hart Lane outfit were unable to sort out the documentation before the transfer window closed.
They are, however, expected to return for the player in January and Moutinho admits a move to North London would appeal to him.
“Tottenham is not in my head now, although I was flattered by the interest, especially by the coach. Andre Villas-Boas is one of the best coaches in Europe today, the midfielder was by Daily Mirror.
The transfer window is closed but now I am focused on Porto and prefer not to talk abou…
Brennan Johnson is benefiting from the “extreme” demands placed on him by Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou and proving himself to be an elite player, says his Wales manager Rob Page.
Johnson has taken time to settle at Spurs following his £47.5million move from Nottingham Forest during the closing minutes of the summer transfer window.
The 22-year-old forward has yet to score and suffered a hamstring injury on his first Premier League start for Tottenham, ruling him out of action for a month.
Johnson’s second Premier League start against Chelsea on Monday also ended prematurely when he was sacrificed after Spurs were reduced to 10 men by defender Cristian Romero’s red card.
But Johnson has shown signs of promise in North London with a superb assis…
Wembley will remember Sir Bobby Charlton when Gareth Southgate’s England side play their first match since the 1966 World Cup winner’s death.
Heartfelt tributes have poured in since the jewel in the crown for club and country died at the age of 86 on October 21.
Charlton’s funeral was held at Manchester Cathedral on Monday and further tributes will be paid when England host Malta in a Euro 2024 qualifier at Wembley on Friday evening.
There will be a crowd mosaic and video celebrating the Manchester United and England great’s life before a pre-match ceremony and period of applause.
Players will wear black armbands in tribute to a man who left an indelible mark on the sport.
England boss Southgate attended the funeral and last week said the …
Jose Mourinho gave a clear indication that the vacant manager s position at Newcastle United would not appeal to him, saying that taking charge of a club where the objective is to stay in the top half of the table not in his nature.
The Magpies are searching for a new manager following the failure to agree a deal with Rafael Benitez, whose three-year spell at the club is set to end when his contract expires on Sunday.
Mourinho has been without a job in football since he left Manchester United in December 2018 and was linked with the vacancy at St. James Park.
But in an interview with The Coaches Voice he gave a clear description of the kind of job he does not want to take on.
The only thing I know is what I don t want, said Mourinho.
What I don …
Liverpool secured their second trophy in the 2019-20 season on Saturday, lifting the Club World Cup in Qatar after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Flamengo.
It was a long-awaited first triumph in the competition including their previous appearances in the Intercontinental Cup as Jurgen Klopp managed to achieve what club legends Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan and Rafael Benitez found a step too far during their respective tenures on Merseyside.
Having scored a dramatic late winner in the semi-final, Roberto Firmino was once again on target for the Reds on Saturday. The Brazil international crushed the hopes of his compatriots in the first period of extra time, converting Sadio Mane s pass.
After their success in Doha, we look back at Liverpool s previous near misses and…
Jose Mourinho feels Paul Pogba will be at Manchester United next season as the manager guaranteed neither him nor the club want to sell the star French midfielder.
Pogba has been linked to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain amid reports of a fractured relationship with Mourinho.
Those claims emerged after Pogba was benched following United s Premier League loss to Tottenham in January – the France international also dropped for both legs of the club s unsuccessful Champions League last-16 tie against Sevilla.
But back in the starting XI and crowned the club s Premier League Player of the Month for April, Mourinho insisted he has no plans to sell the 25-year-old – who cost United £89million from Juventus in 2016.
I think he s going to be here next…
Jose Antonio Reyes believes Luis Enrique and his former Arsenal team-mate Patrick Vieira should be in the running to succeed Arsene Wenger.
The Frenchman s near 22-year reign in charge of the club is over, with Arsenal yet to confirm who will be taking charge for the 2018-19 season.
Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta is reportedly a front-runner, with former Barcelona boss Luis Enrique and Vieira head coach of New York City among the other names to have been mentioned.
Reyes, who played for Arsenal between 2004 and 2007, feels Vieira and Luis Enrique would be capable successors to Wenger if appointed by the club.
Of course he could do the job, Reyes told Omnisport of Luis Enrique, who has been on a sabbatical since leaving Barca in 2017. We all know…
Valencia have completed the signing of PSV s teenage winger Zakaria Bakkali on a five-year deal.
The Belgium international moves on a free transfer having reached the end of his contract and pens terms until June 2020 at Mestalla.
Bakkali was thought to be interesting several clubs throughout Europe including Premier League giants Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool.
However, the 19-year-old has opted for a move to La Liga.
I am very young and it is a big step for me to join a club with the tradition and qualities of Valencia, in such an attractive and competitive league, Bakkali told Valencia s official website.
I arrive here fully motivated to work hard and to help my new team-mates. I had decided a while ago that I wanted to continue m…