Alex Neil admitted Viktor Gyokeres’ equaliser in Sunderland’s 1-1 draw with Coventry proved the difference between playing in the Championship and life in League One.Sunderland looked to be heading for an opening-weekend victory when Jack Clarke headed home Lynden Gooch’s cross to open the scoring in the 12th minute at the Stadium of Light.The Black Cats soaked up Coventry pres...Full Story »

Wigan picked up a point on their Sky Bet Championship return after being held to a goalless draw by a Preston side who had substitute Ched Evans sent off late on.The Latics, last season’s League One champions, started well and asked several questions of their established second-tier opponents.Preston could not clear a corner and, after a scramble, Jack Whatmough’s shot was diverted j...Full Story »

A Mitch Megginson double earned Scottish Championship newcomers Cove a 2-0 win over Raith.Rangers were promoted from League One last season and this victory sent them top of the fledgling Championship table.Megginson opened the scoring after eight minutes, tucking the ball home from close range.Liam Dick had the chance to equalise for Raith, but his shot was well-saved before Jamie Gullan’...Full Story »

Vincent Kompany’s reign as Burnley boss got off to a winning start with a 1-0 victory at Huddersfield in the opening match of the new Sky Bet Championship season.On-loan Chelsea winger Ian Maatsen marked his Clarets debut with the only goal of the game as Burnley secured three points on their return to the second tier following six seasons of top-flight football.Huddersfield were a pale sh...Full Story »

Aymeric Laporte will miss the start of Manchester City’s Premier League title defence after undergoing knee surgery in the summer.Manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed the Spain international could be out for at least a month after playing through the pain barrier in the closing matches of last season.City were hit by a number of other defensive injuries during the run-in with John Stones, K...Full Story »

Manchester United flop Paul Pogba could miss the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after sustaining a tear of the lateral meniscus in his right knee during Juventus' pre-season tour of the United States Paul Pogba could be set to miss the 2022 World Cup (Image: 2022 Daniele Badolato - Juventus FC) Juventus star Paul Pogba could be set to miss the World Cup with a knee injury that could keep him out unti...Full Story »

Newly-promoted Wigan will check on the fitness of forward Charlie Wyke ahead of their Sky Bet Championship opener against Preston.Wyke was due to have a scan after missing Latics’ final pre-season friendly against Sheffield Wednesday last weekend with a knock.Midfielder Gwion Edwards is likely to miss out after suffering an Achilles injury early in the pre-season.Fellow midfielder Jordan C...Full Story »

Luton will be without Fred Onyedinma for their Sky Bet Championship season opener at home to Birmingham.The winger, who missed the end of the previous campaign through injury, is once again sidelined following a pre-season knock.New signing Louie Watson (ankle) will also miss out as the Hatters aim to improve on their play-off semi-final defeat last year.The likes of Cauley Woodrow, Carlton Morr...Full Story »

St Johnstone are facing early Premier Sports Cup elimination after losing another penalty shoot-out.The 2020-21 winners have only two points from two games after following a midweek stalemate against Annan with a 2-2 draw against Queen of the South in Dumfries.Jamie Murphy’s well-taken double was the highlight for Callum Davidson’s side. The summer signing twice equalised, the s...Full Story »

Partick Thistle moved into pole position in Group B of the Premier Sports Cup after coming out on top in a penalty shoot-out at Kilmarnock.Fraser Murray’s slip cost Killie as Thistle edged their hosts 5-4 in the shoot-out following a 1-1 draw.Murray lost his footing as he scuffed his penalty over the bar before Kyle Turner netted to earn the Jags a bonus point which put them above the Cham...Full Story »

Hibernian manager Lee Johnson suffered his first defeat on a poor night for top-flight clubs in the Premier Sports Cup.Aidan Nesbitt’s 39th-minute goal earned Falkirk a 1-0 victory over Hibs to send the Bairns top of Group D.Livingston had goalkeeper Max Stryjek sent off as they fell to a 2-1 home defeat by Inverness while St Johnstone went down to nine men in a goalless home draw with Ann...Full Story »

Chelsea have joined Arsenal in the race to sign Argentina international Guido Rodriguez. Rodriguez only moved into Europe in 2020, signing for Spanish club Real Betis, joining from Club America in Mexico. The Argentina international is now attracting interest from the Premier League, with Betis expecting an offer this summer. Arsenal previously showed an interest, but Chelsea have now enter...Full Story »

Argentina opt for their traditional national colours in an effort to tap into past World Cup triumphs Argentina will don this new home kit throughout the 2022 Qatar World Cup, which takes inspiration from the nation's historic winning ways. The kit features stripes across the top in the nation's traditional white and baby blue colour scheme and navy blue accents throughout, including the cla...Full Story »

Thibaut Courtois has unveiled a new tattoo of a brick wall on his arm, to honour his goalkeeping heroics for Real Madrid in their Champions League Final triumph over Liverpool. The Belgian turned in a stunning performance in goal as Los Blancos edged the Reds in Paris to end their four-year wait to be crowned kings of Europe once more. Having sometimes come under fire for his performances si...Full Story »

GARETH BALE looks to have made the wisest move of his career - and not just because of the 19 local golf courses in Los Angeles. The Wales captain is heading for the golden state of California as he prepares his all-important countdown for the World Cup with MLS outfit LAFC. There are 19 local golf courses within teeing distance of LAFC's home stadium Bale grinned when he had "loads" of optio...Full Story »

From Champions League screamers to era-defining dribbles, GOAL selects the best of Leo's wonder strikes. Have we missed any? The goalscoring exploits of Lionel Messi will endure long after the he hangs up his boots. With well over 700 net-rustling strikes to his name, Messi has piled up more than a few highlight reel moments across his career and it is difficult to decide which of them are h...Full Story »

The Toffees striker is eager to make a move to a top team this summer and could end up Tottenham Hotspur are expected to submit a bid for Everton star Richarlison in the coming days, GOAL understands. The north London team hope to meet with the striker's agents to discuss a deal for the 25-year-old. Richarlison has been linked with a move away from Goodison Park after four years with the To...Full Story »

Costa Rica beat New Zealand 1-0 in the World Cup play-off final Former Arsenal man Joel Campbell helped Costa Rica book their place at November's World Cup in Qatar as they beat New Zealand 1-0 in their closely-contested high-stakes play-off. Ticos have appeared at three of the last four tournaments having previously featured in Germany (2006), Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018). Now they have mo...Full Story »

Gareth Bale says it is better Wales make their mistakes now and not at the World Cup after suffering more stoppage-time heartbreak against Holland.Memphis Depay secured an eventful 3-2 Nations League victory for Holland in the third minute of stoppage time in Rotterdam, just seconds after Bale had equalised from the penalty spot.Wales are bottom of their A4 group with one point having lost three...Full Story »

ENGLAND footballers’ wives and girlfriends have been approached to star in a £1million Netflix documentary to be filmed during the World Cup. Optomen TV has asked several Wags to take part in the show in the build-up to the tournament — in a move which may concern England boss Gareth Southgate. England footballer Jarrod Bowen's girlfriend Dani Dyer has been approached to appea...Full Story »