Winless in four, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has insisted his side will be ready to perform in their FIFA World Cup opener against Iran.
The African nation takes on the Group F minnows in their curtain raiser in Brazil on Monday, and are expected to dispatch of their opponents despite their underwhelming lead-in.
Nigeria twice came from behind to draw with Scotland 2-2, were well held by Greece 0-0 and lost to the United States 2-1 in their warm-up friendlies.
But Keshi said he was not bothered by the scorelines in their recent matches.
We are in Brazil for serious business, Keshi said.
Friendlies are meant to serve as rehearsals; the team is different from competitive matches.
This is not an excuse for our performance in the matches, but seriously sp…
The latest reports today have revealed that Alberto Aquilani, who arrived at Liverpool from AS Roma for a hefty transfer fee of £20 million two years ago, will not return to Fiorentina on a loan deal this season.
The Italian, who has made just 18 league appearances for Liverpool since his transfer to the club in 2009, wants his future sorted out in the near future, targeting either a permanent transfer back to Italy, or a confirmed future with the Reds.
The failures of 2009
Aquilani arrived from the Italian capital as a direct replacement for the departing Spaniard, Xabi Alonso, who completed a £30 million move to Real Madrid. However Aquilani was injured when he was signed, so he was automatically at a disadvantage by not being able to partake in Liverpool�…
A 72nd-minute equaliser from Fernandinho grabbed Manchester City a 2-2 draw against Paris Saint-Germain after an absorbing first leg to their quarter-final Champions League tie.
After Joe Hart saved Zlatan Ibrahimovic s early penalty, the visitors struck first at the Parc des Princes when Kevin De Bruyne finished off a quick counter-attack, thrashing a shot beyond PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to register his 14th goal of the season.
However, a shocking error from Fernando gifted Ibrahimovic an equaliser, the Swede s attempt to block a pass ending up in the net to make amends for his earlier profligacy.
Adrien Rabiot put PSG ahead when tapping home from close range after the hour, but Fernandinho made the most of a lucky break inside the box to grab Manuel Pell…
Gerardo Martino was full of praise for Lionel Messi as well as Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez after Argentina s 2-1 win over Croatia.
Martino s side came from a goal down to see off a spirited Croatia side on Wednesday, with a heavy deflection off Aguero leading to the equaliser before Messi tucked home a winner from the spot.
Tevez was then introduced off the bench to make his first Argentina appearance since 2011 having been shunned by former coach Alejandro Sabella.
The former Barcelona boss was delighted with the trio, in particular captain Messi, going into Tuesday s friendly with Portugal.
Messi was the best player for us, the right end position is a starting position [for him], Martino said.
Kun [Aguero] played well on the wings and back …
The last few years have been pretty fascinating for fans of Welsh football. They were able to make it all the way through to the semi finals of UEFA Euro 2016 in what can only be described as a huge triumph, and then just a few years later, they failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Under the guidance of Ryan Giggs many fans weren t sure what to think of the road to UEFA Euro 2020, but now, it seems as if there s cause for optimism.
Positive steps
The Welsh were able to start off their qualification campaign with a big win over Slovakia in Cardiff this afternoon, and they did so with a really efficient performance. They came flying out of the blocks in every way a team could possibly hope to, with Daniel James bullet giving them an early lead.
The visitors sl…
There may be some bitterness from Monaco fans towards Kylian Mbappe as he turns out for Ligue 1 rivals Paris Saint-Germain this season, but few could have predicted his monumental rise to become such a key player at Stade Louis II.
The France international made his debut in December 2015, before sparkling in a further 59 first-team appearances in all competitions, scoring 27 goals, and then agreeing a loan move to PSG that is expected to end with him becoming the world s second most expensive player.
Mbappe was a key member of the Monaco squad that won the Ligue 1 title and reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2016-17, giving the club s supporters some memorable moments along the way.
We have picked out five of his best goals en route to superstardom.
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Market: Over 1.5 goals
Odds: 4/11 @
Two sides who find themselves battling it out at opposite ends of the Super League standings, Nantong Zhiyun will welcome Dalian Pro to the Rugao Olympic Sports Center on Wednesday lunchtime.
Starting with the hosts, suffering last-gasp heartbreak away at Tianjin Jinmen over the weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 1-1 draw, Nantong Zhiyun are still seeking some much-needed Super League stability. While Gabri’s men might have only made their top-flight return this season, the Blues hold just a one-point buffer from slipping into the drop zone. However, opening July with an action-packed 2-2 stalemate at home against Meizhou Hakka, the Rugao-based outfit have recorded just a pair of wins from any of their last 13 st…
Jordan Henderson hailed England s powers of recovery but warned there was one more big push required after victory over Denmark secured a place in the Euro 2020 final.
The Three Lions conceded their first goal of the tournament half an hour into Wednesday s semi-final, Mikkel Damsgaard thrashing a free-kick beyond Jordan Pickford.
However, they levelled the match up prior to half-time, forcing Simon Kjaer to put through his own net, before going on to secure a 2-1 win through Harry Kane in extra time.
Henderson was delighted with the way in which his team-mates responded to adversity to set up a final meeting with Italy.
It was a good goal, a fantastic free-kick, he said of the opener. But I thought the lads reacted really well, sometimes that happens i…
Mauricio Pochettino hailed a “turning point” in Chelsea’s strained relationship with their fans after Cole Palmer’s stoppage-time double completed a hat-trick and sealed a 4-3 win against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
United looked to have the match won until, in the seventh minute of stoppage time, Diogo Dalot fell into Noni Madueke to concede a penalty from which Palmer scored to seemingly rescue a point.
But there was more drama to come. With almost the game’s final kick, Palmer blasted at goal and, via a deflection from Scott McTominay, scored to bury Erik ten Hag’s side and spark joyous scenes amongst home supporters.
Stoppage-time wins. No feeling like it. |
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
Relations between fans and the c…
Roberto Martinez will make a last-minute decision on whether to include injured Inter striker Romelu Lukaku in Belgium s World Cup squad.
Lukaku has been plagued by injuries since returning to Inter from Chelsea on a season-long loan in June, featuring in only three of their 19 matches this term.
The 29-year-old made his return from a thigh problem with substitute appearances against Viktoria Plzen and Sampdoria late last month, but he has since suffered a setback.
Simone Inzaghi confirmed on Saturday that Lukaku will not play for Inter again before the World Cup, which begins for Belgium against Egypt on November 23.
The Red Devils then face Canada on November 27 and Morocco four days later, and Martinez is hoping the striker will at least be available f…