Galtier furious as virus-stricken PSG produce abject display in Monaco defeat

Christophe Galtier was enraged by Paris Saint-Germain s catastrophic start after the Ligue 1 leaders were hampered by injury and illness in a 3-1 defeat at Monaco.

Hamstring issues had already left PSG without Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe at the Stade Louis II, while Fabian Ruiz was surprisingly absent and Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Ramos began on the bench.

PSG were torn apart in the first half as Wissam Ben Yedder scored twice after Aleksandr Golovin s opener, capitalising on an error from 17-year-old defender El Chadaille Bitshiabu for his first.

The visitors were unable to build on Warren Zaire-Emery s response and have now suffered three defeats in their last seven league games, as many as in their previous 45.

While selection issues plagued PSG on t…

Antic extends Serbia deal to 2012

Serbia coach Radomir Antic has extended his contract with the Serbian Football Federation (FSS) until 2012, to lead the national squad to the 2012 European championships, officials said Friday.

This is a sign of great trust and I hope that both myself and the players I lead will live up to it, Antic said after signing the contract at the FSS offices in Belgrade.

Last month, the FSS said they had decided to extend Antic s deal until 2011 based on his results which were on the whole excellent and positive.

Antic who once coached Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, was also awarded with the Golden Ball for the best coach in Serbia.

Former player for a number of Serbian, Turkish, Spanish and English teams, Antic took over the helm of the national s…

Carsley welcomes England Under-21 assistant Cole to interim staff

Ashley Cole will reunite with interim England head coach Lee Carsley for the Three Lions upcoming Nations League fixtures next month.

The pair led England to success at the European Under-21 Championships in 2023, with Curtis Jones on target in the final versus Spain to secure their third success in the competition.

Joleon Lescott will also join Carsley s temporary backroom staff alongside the FA s head of coaching Tim Dittmer, who also worked with Carsley last year.

At the tournament in Romania and Georgia, the Three Lions won all six of their fixtures, scoring 11 goals and overperforming their expected goals (xG) figures by 2.5.

Averaging a 56.4% possession share, Carsley s side scored the most build-up goals (seven) in the competition, with France …

On This Day in 2005 – England striker Peter Crouch signs for Liverpool

Peter Crouch joined Liverpool from Southampton for £7million on this day in 2005.

The forward signed a four-year deal with the Champions League holders to link up with England team-mates Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher on Merseyside.

Crouch had scored 12 goals in the previous Premier League season, but it was not enough to keep Southampton up and he subsequently moved to Anfield after Saints’ relegation.

Tottenham academy graduate Crouch would spend three years with Liverpool, scoring 40 goals across 135 appearances and helping them win the FA Cup in 2006.

After previous spells with QPR, Portsmouth and Aston Villa, Crouch had to wait a number of months before he opened his account for new club Liverpool.

Crouch eventually grabbed his maiden …

Brentford keen on Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah

Brentford are interested in signing Eddie Nketiah from London and Premier League rivals Arsenal in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Gunners are willing to offload Nketiah at the end of the season, and that the Bees are among the clubs who are keen on the striker.

Nketiah has been on the books of Arsenal since 2015 and has come through the North London club’s youth system. The 24-year-old is now part of the first team at the Gunners, but he is a squad under manager Mikel Arteta. The England international striker has made 10 starts and 14 substitute appearances in the Premier League so far this season, scoring five goals and providing two assists in the process.

TEAMtalk has claimed that Arsenal are ready to sell Nketiah to avoi…

I’m absolutely buzzing – Jill Scott ‘honoured’ by place in WSL Hall of Fame

Former England and Manchester City midfielder Jill Scott said she is “absolutely buzzing” at being inducted into the Women’s Super League Hall of Fame and seeing her name up alongside some of her heroes.

Scott joins former Lionesses team-mates Ellen White and Anita Asante as the third batch of players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, which was launched in 2021.

The 36-year-old retired from football in August 2022, capping off a glittering 18-year career by winning the European Championship crown with England at Wembley.

Previous years have seen the likes of Emma Hayes, Eni Aluko, Rachel Yankey and Fara Williams all inducted into the Hall of Fame and Scott described her pride at joining some of the most illustrious names in women’s football.

S…

Euro 2016´s top five moments so far: Payet cries a river as newcomers steal the show

Euro 2016 has produced some soaring and memorable moments throughout the group stage, with an emotional Les Bleus hero, a string of surprise packages and a certain veteran s unusual attire capturing our imagination. 

Here we run through the groups stage s highlights

 

PAYET S PASSION

First there was Dimitri Payet, moved to tears after scoring the winner in France s tense opening game against Romania.

Merci ! 

— Equipe de France (@equipedefrance)

The West Ham winger moved to the Premier League 12 months ago and was not even in Didier Deschamps squad in October, but he has forced his way into the reckoning and is likely the first name on the France team sheet heading into the last 16.

 

WILL GRIGG S ON FI…

Varane announces surprise retirement after suffering knee injury

In my career I have taken on many challenges, rose to occasion after occasion, almost all of it was supposed to be impossible.

I hold myself to the highest standard, I want to go out strong, not just holding on to the game. It takes a big dose of courage to listen to your heart and your instinct.

Desire and needs are two different things. I have fallen and risen a thousand times, and this time, it s the moment to stop and hang my boots up with my final game winning a trophy at Wembley.

I have no regrets, I wouldn t change a thing. I have won more than I could have even dreamed of, but beyond the accolades and trophies, I am proud that I have stuck to my principles of being sincere and have tried to leave everywhere better than I found it.

And so, a n…

Atletico Madrid´s Wanda Metropolitano to host 2019 Champions League final

The Wanda Metropolitano, Atletico Madrid s new home, has been awarded hosting rights for the 2019 Champions League final.

UEFA confirmed at their ExCo in Nyon on Wednesday that Atletico s 67,000-seater stadium has been chosen to host the showpiece match for next season s competition.

The last Champions League final to be hosted in Spain was in 2010, when Inter beat Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu, host of the city rivals of Diego Simeone s side, Real Madrid. 

Atletico have made the final in two of the last four seasons, losing to Madrid on both occasions.

BREAKING: Madrid s Estadio Metropolitano has been selected to host the 2018/2019

— UEFA (@UEFA)

Estadio Metropolitano s first game was played on Saturday, with Atletico winn…

Carsley: Only the best should be considered for England role

Lee Carsley said he understands his role as interim England head coach for the next three camps, insisting the best person should get the job on a full-time basis.

Carsley kickstarted his Three Lions tenure with a comfortable 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland last weekend, with Declan Rice and Jack Grealish on the scoresheet.

England continue their Nations League campaign on Tuesday against Finland at Wembley, an occasion they will be looking to mark with a win on Harry Kane s 100th international appearance.

Carsley could also become the first manager since Fabio Capello in 2008 to win his first two competitive games in charge.

The only managers to win their first two England games at the helm without conceding a goal are Steve McClaren (2006), Ron Gr…