Author: News Desk

As for the successors of recently retired players, Marc-Andre ter Stegen is expected to take Neuer’s place. The 32-year-old Barcelona keeper has been given the number one jersey for the games against Hungary and the Netherlands, indicating he has finally reached his goal after a long waiting period. By contrast, there is no clear-cut successor for Kroos as the deep-lying playmaker. The most realistic choice might be Bayern’s Aleksandar Pavlovic, who withdrew from the Euros squad because of tonsillitis. The 20-year-old is seen as a blue-chip talent who could mature into the next great string-puller for Germany. But it would…

Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah’s brilliant early-season form illustrates why footballers must get proper rest periods, players’ union chief Maheta Molango has said. In their first three Premier League matches of the 2024-25 campaign, Manchester City striker Haaland has scored seven times and Liverpool forward Salah has three goals and three assists. Neither player featured in post-season major tournaments and were highlighted as case studies by Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) chief executive Molango as a new player workload monitoring (PWM) report of 1,500 footballers by global union Fifpro was released on Thursday. “There is a big difference between players who…

On paper, AFC Croydon Athletic’s game at Camberley Town in the Combined Counties League on 9 April seemed a pretty unremarkable affair. So unremarkable, in fact, only 43 paying spectators bothered turning up to watch the midweek match in English football’s ninth tier. Yet among those inside Krooner Park that night was Wilfried Zaha, who has become accustomed to playing in front of crowds of 50,000 since joining Turkish giants Galatasaray. As co-owner of non-league AFC Croydon Athletic, former Crystal Palace star Zaha takes his responsibilities seriously. “Wilf had a few days off so decided to fly over and watch…

Dozens of fans have gathered for the funeral of Barrow AFC life president Brian Keen. Mr Keen, who headed up a consortium of businessmen which saved the Cumbrian club from going bust in 1999, died earlier this month. About 60 fans lined the street outside the club’s grounds, and led “three cheers for Brian” as his hearse rode by, before his funeral was held at the nearby Barrow Crematorium. Chris Altree, former mayor of Barrow, said he came to pay respects to someone who had a “great and lasting influence on the club”. Mr Altree said: “Because of him, we…

Manchester City have signed goalkeeper Katie Startup from Brighton & Hove Albion on a two-year contract until the summer of 2026. The 25-year-old spent the second half of last season at City on an emergency loan from the Seagulls. Startup began her career at Charlton Athletic in 2017 and joined Brighton three years later. She made her debut for the club during the 2021-22 season following short-term loans to Charlton and Liverpool. On returning to City, Startup said she was “really excited” to be back, and for longer this time. “I really enjoyed my time here and I felt really…

Former Wales captain Ashley Williams and ex-Manchester United defender Phil Jones react to the new Champions League draw with fixtures for Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Aston Villa. Watch the video here

Spain international Aitana Bonmati is close to agreeing a new contract with Barcelona to extend her stay beyond 2025. The current Ballon d’Or holder has reportedly attracted interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including Women’s Super League champions Chelsea. The 26-year-old midfielder has made over 150 appearances for the Catalan club after graduating from their academy. Talks have been ongoing for several months, with both parties always hopeful of agreeing a new deal which could see her become the world’s highest paid female player. Earlier this week, Bonmati was confirmed as a nominee for this year’s Ballon d’Or award…

Premier League champions Manchester City will face Inter Milan on 18 September in their first match of this season’s Champions League – in a repeat of the 2023 final in Istanbul. Liverpool travel to AC Milan – the Reds’ opponents in the 2005 and 2007 finals – on 17 September, while Arsenal kick off their campaign with a trip to Atalanta on 19 September. Aston Villa, back in the competition for the first time since 1982-83, travel to Swiss side Young Boys on 17 September. Scottish Premiership champions Celtic host Slovan Bratislava in their opener on 18 September before taking…

Jonathan Haggerty is promising blood and fireworks on his ‘revenge mission’ against Superlek Kiatmoo9 as he looks to defend his ONE Championship bantamweight Muay Thai belt. The double-champ Londoner holds the bantamweight belts in Muay Thai and kickboxing, putting the former strap on the line in Denver on Friday night. His clash with the brilliant Thai known as ‘The Kicking Machine’ is a rematch from a 2018 bout when the young Brit was beaten by a more experience foe, and Haggerty is ready to show Superlek how much has changed in the last six years. ‘It’s a revenge mission, brother,’…

Arsenal considered a move for in-form Brentford forward Bryan Mbuemo during the closing stages of the summer transfer window. Mikel Arteta looked unlikely to strengthen his attack right up until the moment he and Edu pulled off an audacious loan deal to bring Raheem Sterling to the Emirates from Cheslea. Having failed in their attempts to sign the likes of Benjamin Sesko and Nico Williams, Arsenal looked set to rely upon the players which scored a collective 91 goals last season when they finished just two points adrift of champions Manchester City. An injury to Gabriel Jesus, however, forced Arteta’s…