Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller – pillars of the Germany national team over the last decade – are battling to prove their fitness with barely three weeks remaining until the World Cup begins.
Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann confirmed in a press conference on Friday that neither player will be fit enough to feature in Saturday s Bundesliga game against Mainz.
Goalkeeper Neuer remains troubled by a shoulder issue, while attacking midfielder Muller has a hip problem, and Nagelsmann could not say with conviction when both will be back in club action.
The news will inevitably be a worry for Germany boss Hansi Flick, as the former Bayern head coach finalises his plans for the Qatar 2022 finals.
Muller played for half an hour as a substitute in Bayern s …
Raphael Varane indicated he is on course to be fit for France s World Cup campaign as the Manchester United defender recovers from a leg injury.
Centre-back Varane is not expected to play any club football until the Qatar 2022 tournament gets under way, having been substituted in pain during United s October 22 draw at Chelsea.
He jarred his leg badly just before the hour mark at Stamford Bridge, casting doubt on whether he would be able to play any part in the finals for France boss Didier Deschamps, as Les Bleus defend their title.
News on the 29-year-old s recovery is positive though, with the 87-cap international posting pictures and a video on Sunday of him training at the France team s Clairefontaine headquarters.
He wrote in English: Thank you ever…
Spain have replaced the Netherlands at the top of the latest FIFA world rankings.
The current European and world champions jumped ahead of the country they beat in the 2010 FIFA World Cup final, with Germany remaining in third.
Copa America winners Uruguay have vaulted to their highest ever ranking of fourth, while Portugal arefifth, ahead of Italy, Brazil and England, who tumbled four places to eighth.
Australia are inside the top 20 for the first time since September 2009, rising to 19th, which leaves them one place behind Switzerland who rose 12 places into 18th.
Bosnia-Herzegovina were also big movers, climbing 17 spots to 22nd, while Hungary moved 18 places to 27th and Armenia climbed 27 spots to 44th.
Away from the top 50, Estonia were the …
Brazilian striker Hulk and four other Porto players will be charged with an alleged assault on two security guards nearly two years ago.
The charges relate to a tunnel brawl during the Portuguese Liga match between Porto and Benfica at the Estadio da Luz in December of 2009, which the home side won 1-0.
The Portuguese Public Prosecutor (MP) has reportedly gathered evidence which shows that Hulk, Helton, Jorge Fucile, Cristian Rodriguez and Cristian Sapunaru assaulted two security guards, Sandro Correia and Ricardo Silva, after the game, Correio da Manha reported.
It is alleged that the Porto quintet acted deliberately and consciously , with the intent to cause physical damage to the two guards.
Sapunaru, a Romania international defender, is facing up to …
Chelsea will end their partnership with Adidas at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, paying the sportswear manufacturer a compensation fee to terminate their agreement six years early as they plan to agree terms with a new equipment supplier.
The Stamford Bridge side – who have mounted an abysmal Premier League title defence and can finish no higher than ninth this season – and Adidas had been working together since 2006.
Chelsea and Adidas announced today that they have mutually agreed to terminate their existing partnership agreement prematurely. The agreement will now end on June 30, 2017 and not, as originally agreed, on June 30, 2023, a statement from Adidas reads.
Adidas has been sponsor and sportswear supplier for Chelsea since 2006. This mutual a…
Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba wants to take the qualities from players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in order to become a new kind of complete midfielder.
The France international has developed into one of the most-coveted midfielders since joining Juventus from Manchester United in 2012, in which time he has won four Serie A titles.
Pogba scored eight goals in 35 league appearances this campaign, while setting up 12 more, but he is determined to contribute even more.
I want to become the complete player, Pogba told ESPN. I want to do everything: defend, attack, score, give assists, tackle, win back the ball. Be a leader on the field.
I want to become a new midfielder. From defensive midfielder to attacking midfielder to attacker. I want t…
Nicolo Zaniolo scored both goals as Roma recorded a 2-1 home victory over Porto in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie.
A largely forgettable game finally came to life in the 70th minute, Zaniolo angling a right-footed shot beyond Iker Casillas to put the Serie A side on their way to a first win over Porto in European competition.
Edin Dzeko created the opener and was also involved in the second too, his low drive striking the post before his team-mate tucked home the rebound.
Teenager Zaniolo s brace gives Roma a lead to take into the return fixture next month, though Adrian Lopez s half-volleyed finish from Tiquinho Soares accidental assist means Porto picked up what could be a crucial away goal.
Remember the name!
Nicolò Za…
Crystal Palace are set to make a move for Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko,.
The South London club have money to sell after seeing fellow midfielders Yannick Bolasie and Mile Jedinak move on, and are keen on signing the want-away France international.
The twenty-seven year old is yet to feature for Rafael Benitez’s side, who have lost their opening two league fixtures, this season having starred for his country at this summer’s European Championships.
Sissoko moved to St James’s Park from French side Toulouse in the January 2013 and has since racked up one hundred and thirty-three appearances for the North East outfit in all competitions, scoring twelve goals.
He played in all but one of their Premier League games last season, scorin…
Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness insisted James Rodriguez s future was in the hands of the Bundesliga giants amid uncertainty over the attacker.
James, 27, arrived at Bayern from Real Madrid on a two-year loan deal in 2017, with speculation linking the Colombia playmaker with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu.
But Hoeness said the German champions would have the final say on James, whose deal includes a €42million option to buy.
It all depends on what our coach decides, he told Sport1.
If he [Niko Kovac] says he wants James for next season, we ll pay the €42million. It is up to us what happens.
We have an option we can either trigger before May or not. If we decide that s what we will do, he will have to stay. But we haven t yet made an…
No stranger to controversy, especially on the Champions League stage, Sergio Ramos is facing a spell on the sidelines in Europe s top competition.
UEFA called the Real Madrid captain s bluff after he collected a needlessly clumsy booking for a foul on Ajax forward Kasper Dolberg in the 89th minute of the reigning champions 2-1 last-16 win in Amsterdam.
Speaking after the match, Ramos told reporters he had considered trying to force the yellow card so he could serve a one-match ban during Tuesday s second leg, with Madrid in a reasonably strong position in the tie.
Although he backtracked on those comments, UEFA had seen and heard enough to slap him with a two-game suspension.
Ramos has unquestionably doubled down on his status as European football s ult…