Wales coach Robert Page admitted his team had fallen well below the standards they set for themselves as defeat to Iran put them on the brink of World Cup elimination.Page refused to use Wayne Hennessey’s red card – only the third for a goalkeeper in World Cup finals history – as an excuse for the defeat, and said Carlos Queiroz’s team were well worth their win.Iran hit b...Full Story »

Wales headed into the game having secured a 1-1 draw with the USA in their opening group match. Iran, meanwhile, were put to the sword by England, with the Three Lions smashing six past them on Monday. So, if either side wanted to stake a claim for a spot in the last-16, they needed a win on Friday. And when all was said and done, Iran picked up the three points, leaving Wales’ qualif...Full Story »

Wrexham could have wing-backs Anthony Forde and Jacob Mendy available for the FA Cup visit of Farnborough.Forde missed the last three matches with a hamstring niggle while Mendy has been out since limping off in the 6-0 victory over Torquay on September 24.But Bryce Hosannah is set to miss out after picking up a hamstring problem in Saturday’s 2-0 win against Aldershot.Harry Lennon and Ree...Full Story »

Cristiano Ronaldo made history Thursday as the first male player to score in five World Cups in Portugal's opening game in Qatar against Ghana. The Portugal captain scored in the 65th minute from the penalty spot -- the 118th goal for his country -- to open the scoring at Doha's Stadium 974. Portugal went on to win 3-2 as goals from Joao Felix and Rafael Leao helped them weather two late effo...Full Story »

Jurgen Klopp is in line to take on further responsibility for Liverpool's player recruitment next summer, sources have told ESPN, following the surprise departure of sporting director Julian Ward after less than six months in the job. Ward was elevated to his role at the end of last season after Michael Edwards, the man credited with transforming Liverpool's recruitment policy into the best i...Full Story »

Chelsea are set to open preliminary talks to sign Brighton winger Leandro Trossard. With Chelsea struggling to find consistent form at the start of this Premier League season Graham Potter may need to consider bringing in reinforcements as early as the January transfer window. The likes of Raheem Sterling and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have been underwhelming signings so far, so a new attacker ...Full Story »

Chelsea to beat Man Utd to €75m Diogo Costa signing (Relevo) Chelsea have made contact with Porto goalkeeper Diogo Costa, Relevo reports. The 23-year-old goalkeeper has caught the attention of several teams in Europe, including Manchester United, but Chelsea hope to jump to the front of the queue to sign him by reaching out to discuss a move. The shot stopper has a €75 million r...Full Story »

Brazil coach Tite is hopeful Neymar will be fit to continue in the World Cup after he picked up an ankle injury in their opening 2-0 victory over Serbia.Richarlison scored both goals, the second a sublime leaping volley, but that was overshadowed by Neymar limping off late on and appearing emotional on the bench.The forward has struggled with ankle problems in the past, but Tite does not believe...Full Story »

Richarlison’s stunning volley capped an opening 2-0 victory for Brazil over Serbia in Group G.The Tottenham striker was preferred to Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and justified his selection with both goals at a yellow-clad Lusail Stadium.After a tepid first half where Serbia’s committed defence had the upper hand, Richarlison broke the deadlock with a tap-in in the 62nd minute and t...Full Story »

Portsmouth are hoping to have on-loan Owen Dale and Dane Scarlett available for their FA Cup clash with MK Dons on Saturday.Both were refused permission to play in the first round by their parent clubs, but Pompey are in ongoing negotiations with Blackpool over Dale and Scarlett’s Tottenham.Kieron Freeman looks set to be unavailable because of the calf injury he sustained in Papa Johns Tro...Full Story »

Charlton will be without Jayden Stockley for their FA Cup second-round clash against Stockport.Stockley starts the first game of a retrospective three-match ban following a charge of violent conduct in Charlton’s 1-0 defeat against Port Vale last weekend.Eoghan O’Connell (knee), Craig MacGillivray (concussion), Terell Thomas (hamstring) and Miles Leaburn (ankle) are all sidelined.Goa...Full Story »

Walsall striker Conor Wilkinson has made a welcome return to training ahead of the FA Cup second-round tie against Carlisle but is unlikely to be rushed back into action.Wilkinson has been out since April after needing knee surgery but has been stepping up his recovery and joined in with the first team earlier this week.Midfielder Jack Earing could come into contention for the cup tie having aga...Full Story »

Jack Currie is back in contention for AFC Wimbledon’s FA Cup second-round clash with National League Chesterfield.The left-back missed last week’s League Two trip to Tranmere with a knock but came through 90 minutes unscathed against Sutton in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday.Manager Johnnie Jackson is likely to revert to a more familiar line-up after making 10 changes for the...Full Story »

Hartlepool boss Keith Curle is expected to recall striker Josh Umerah for his side’s home FA Cup tie against Harrogate.Umerah missed last week’s league defeat at Barrow through suspension but is available having also recovered from a clash of heads in the recent defeat at Stevenage.Defender David Ferguson is an injury doubt after being withdrawn midway through the first half at Barro...Full Story »

Slobodan Tedic remains a doubt ahead of Barnsley’s FA Cup second-round tie against Crewe at Oakwell on Saturday.The on-loan Manchester City striker has missed the Tykes’ last two games after sustaining an ankle issue.Matty Wolfe, Jordan Helliwell and Luke Thomas are still sidelined.Boss Michael Duff is expected to bring a number of players back into his starting XI after making eight...Full Story »

Friends say Erling, 22, is “smitten” with the 18-year-old. Erling Haaland has been dating long-time pal Isabel Haugseng Johansen for months, pals said She was pictured with Erling in Marbella this week, where he owns a villa Credit: MEGA The girl pictured with Erling in Marbella this week has been dating him for months, pals said today. The pair have mutual friends after growing ...Full Story »

Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with a move for the South Korean defender Kim Min Jae. The 26-year-old has established himself as a key player for Napoli since joining the club from Fenerbahce and he has been linked with a number of European clubs in recent months. The defender's performances in the Champions League have attracted the attention of the London club and Antonio Conte's side ...Full Story »

Despite holding talks with super-agent Jorge Mendes earlier in the year, according to recent reports, Chelsea have 'no plans' to sign free agent Cristiano Ronaldo. That’s according to a recent report from journalist Matt Law, who claims the Blues are very unlikely to offer the Portuguese megastar a Premier League lifeline. Chelsea were heavily linked with signing the 37-year-old back i...Full Story »

PSG top contenders for Bellingham As per El Nacional, PSG currently have a strong possibility to land Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham next season. Bellingham is considered the next great midfielder and has several clubs on his trail. PSG will have to compete with the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, and Real Madrid to secure his signing next summer. Eintracht Frankfurt brac...Full Story »

The beaten finalists in Russia are not a patch on the team who knocked England out in the semi-finals four years ago. Hakim Ziyech and Luka Modric battled for possession in the Group F clash Credit: Getty Achraf Hakimi tested the goalkeeper with his long-range piledriver Credit: Getty And now they might struggle to even make it beyond the group stages after being forced into a stalemate by a ...Full Story »