Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez admits his side are powerless to stop Lionel Messi if he brings his best form into the Copa America quarter-finals.
Tabarez’s side meet Argentina in Santa Fe on Saturday in what will be the first meeting between the countries since 2009.
Both teams finished the group stage with identical records, picking up five points from the opening games to claim runner-up spots, and are pursuing a record 15th title of the South American football’s showpiece event.
But Tabarez concedes Barcelona phenomenon Messi will prove the difference if he repeats his match-winning heroics from Argentina’s 3-0 win over Costa Rica on Monday.
He is going to cause trouble for us. That, as much as we want it to, will never disappear, Tabarez told …
Spain take on Italy on Wednesday, looking to improve on a mixed record in international friendlies since becoming world champions.
Vicente del Bosque s Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0 in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, adding to their 2008 European crown and cementing their status as the best team on the planet.
They have impressed in Euro 2012 qualifying, winning every match to top Group I, and comfortably defeated the United States, Colombia and Venezuela in exhibition matches.
But since lifting the World Cup in Johannesburg last July, the side that went a joint-record 35 matches unbeaten between 2006 and 2009 have endured two heavy reverses against fellow powerhouses.
They went down 4-1 away to Argentina in September and lost 4-0 against Iberian rivals …
Roy Hodgson says he is unlikely to select in-form West Ham striker Andy Carroll in England s Euro 2016 squad due to the wealth of options at his disposal.
After missing large parts of the season due to injury, Carroll, a member of Hodgson s party for the 2012 tournament, has impressed for West Ham and scored a brilliant hat-trick in the 3-3 draw against Arsenal at Upton Park last weekend.
That led to calls for the towering striker to be handed a ticket to France due to his aerial prowess and the different option he can provide England s front line.
However, Tottenham s Harry Kane and Leicester City s Jamie Vardy have been in supreme form for club and country this season, while captain Wayne Rooney, Arsenal s Danny Welbeck and Liverpool s Daniel Sturridge are seem…
Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham has welcomed the Hillsborough verdict and the end to the greatest miscarriage of justice of our time .
A jury concluded by majority decision that the 96 individuals who were fatally injured in the disaster in 1989 were unlawfully killed and were not themselves to blame in any way for the tragedy.
The Crown Prosecution Service later confirmed that it will formally consider whether any criminal charges must now be brought against individuals and organisations deemed responsible for the disaster.
And Burnham, who has been steadfast in his support for the families campaigning for justice, has called for prosecutions after the inquest s verdict.
This has been the greatest miscarriage of justice of our times. But, finally, …
Stoke City defender Kurt Zouma has been called up by France boss Didier Deschamps to replace the injured Raphael Varane.
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane lobbied for Varane s withdrawal and an adductor complaint has ruled the 24-year-old out of the World Cup qualifiers against the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Zouma, on loan at Stoke from Premier League champions Chelsea, will instead join Samuel Umtiti, Laurent Koscielny and Presnel Kimpembe as Deschamps options in central-defence.
The 22-year-old debuted for Les Bleus against Denmark in 2015, one of two international appearances in his career to date.
Important point away today
— Kurt Zouma (@KurtZouma)
France have won four of their six Group A fixtures to sit second behind S…
Mauro Icardi had little impact on his return to San Siro as Champions League-hopefuls Atalanta held Inter to a 0-0 draw on Sunday.
Icardi missed almost two months of action before Wednesday s win over Genoa, with speculation over his future, a contract stand-off and conflicting fitness claims all playing a part in the saga, but his re-emergence at San Siro fell flat.
Inter edged an entertaining first half, though they were unable to make the breakthrough, with Icardi particularly culpable when wasting a one-on-one situation.
Atalanta improved in the second half and caused Inter issues, but like their hosts they were unable to find a way through, meaning they failed to move above fourth-placed AC Milan, whom Inter move five points clear of.
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Bayern Munich moved to the top of the Bundesliga table as Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting hit a brace in a thrilling 3-2 win at Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Choupo-Moting scored twice in as many first-half minutes after Jamal Musiala opened the scoring, but Hertha clawed their way back into contention in an incredible opening period.
Goals from Dodi Lukebakio and Davie Selke, the latter from the spot, reignited the contest before the break, but Hertha never came close to equalising in a quieter second half.
Julian Nagelsmann s men consequently claimed their fourth consecutive Bundesliga win, moving two points clear of Union Berlin ahead of their trip to Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday.
Ain t no stoppin him now. He s got the groove. | |
— Bundesliga Englis…
Jurgen Klopp was delighted with Naby Keita after the midfielder produced an influential performance in Liverpool s 3-1 Premier League win away at Brighton and Hove Albion.
Keita assisted Mohamed Salah s sixth-minute opener after his pressing led to a turnover in possession, while he also started the move that led to Liverpool s second, scored by captain Jordan Henderson on Wednesday.
The Guinea international has struggled for consistency since joining the Reds from RB Leipzig in 2018, his career on Merseyside hampered by injury issues, but he has impressed since the resumption of the season.
Keita – who set up Sadio Mane s opener in the 2-0 win over Aston Villa on Sunday – created four chances before being substituted in the 61st minute against Brighton, wit…
Luton’s opening Premier League home game with Burnley has been postponed.
The match – the Hatters’ first ever Premier League game at Kenilworth Road – was due to take play on August 19.
But, with the stadium needing a dramatic £10million upgrade to make it ready for top-flight football, the Clarets’ visit is off because Luton cannot guarantee any work would not impact the game at short notice.
We have requested that our first home match of the 2023/24 season against Burnley is postponed from the scheduled date of Saturday 19th August.
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown)
Luton chief executive Gary Sweet said: “The joint decision to delay this fixture is regrettable, especially given the amazing progress that continues to be made on our con…
What the papers say
Liverpool are believed to be weighing an approach for Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips. Citing Sky Sports, the paper says the 27-year-old is on the radar of Reds bosses as a potential replacement for Fabinho, who is closing in on a move to Saudi Arabia.
Scott McTominay could be on the chopping block at Manchester United. According to the Manchester Evening News, manager Erik Ten Hag is willing to sell the 26-year-old midfielder for the right price in order to fund summer transfers.
The Daily Mail reports Giovani Lo Celso is nearing a move away from Tottenham. Spurs and Napoli have opened talks over either an outright transfer for the 27-year-old midfielder, or a loan move with an option to buy.
And the Daily Star says former Manches…