Mikel Merino has been left out of Real Sociedad s squad for their LaLiga opener against Rayo Vallecano, amid speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal.
Sociedad and Arsenal are reportedly in negotiations over a move for the Spain midfielder, who was part of the side that won Euro 2024 last month.
Merino has made 242 appearances for La Real since joining from Newcastle United in 2018, helping the club win the 2019-20 Copa del Rey.
And it appears he is nearing a return to the Premier League, with Sociedad head coach Imanol Alguacil confirming his absence from the 24-man matchday squad for the visit of Vallecano on Sunday.
We worked with the idea that we would count on him, but I decided to leave him out of the squad, Alguacil told reporters at his pre…
Jack Grealish credits Manchester City’s togetherness for their recent success ahead of another crucial run-in in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s men are second in the table, just one point behind Arsenal with a game in hand, as they aim to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive league title.
City have already won the Club World Cup this season, beating Fluminense to earn the trophy, and they will also play in the FA Cup final against Manchester United for the second year in a row later this month.
Despite the hopes of back-to-back trebles being ended by their Champions League quarter-final exit to Real Madrid, Grealish is confident that City will finish the season successfully, highlighting the crucial strong bond amongst the team.
I ve said in…
Joachim Low will step down as Germany head coach after Euro 2020, ending a 15-year stint in the role with the national team that included a World Cup triumph.
Appointed in 2006, Low led Germany to global glory in 2014 when Mario Gotze s extra-time goal earned a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final.
Germany consistently challenged at the business end of international tournaments during Low s reign, until the 2018 World Cup, when a group-stage exit raised the first major doubts about the coach s continuing hold on his job.
Low was due to reach the end of his current contract following Germany s 2022 World Cup campaign.
A new face will be in charge for Qatar 2022, however.
Joachim will step down as national team head coach after .
— Ge…
Hope Powell has joined the England backroom staff for the men’s Under-20 World Cup in Argentina, the Football Association has announced.
Powell, who was head coach of the senior England women’s team between 1998 and 2013 and was more recently in charge at Brighton, will serve as a technical advisor to Ian Foster and his coaching team.
The 56-year-old also coached the Great Britain women’s team at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Hope Powell will be part of our backroom team at the , supporting Ian Foster and his coaching team as a technical advisor
— England (@England)
She led the Lionesses to the 2009 European Championship final and coached the team at two World Cups.
Powell’s appointment is supported by the England Elite Coach…
Kevin De Bruyne confirmed he was likely to stay at Manchester City for the upcoming season but said it s hard to say what will happen after that.
De Bruyne has one year left on his current contract but has been the subject of interest Saudi Pro League clubs in recent months.
The Belgian has enjoyed a glittering nine-year spell at City since joining from Wolfsburg in 2015, winning six Premier League titles, the Champions League, five EFL Cups, two FA Cups and the Club World Cup.
De Bruyne is currently away at Euro 2024 with Belgium preparing for their last-16 tie with France on Monday, and said he aims to get his future sorted once the tournament is over.
I ve read a lot of headlines, but I haven t spoken to anyone, De Bruyne told HLN, via The Athletic.
Barcelona have confirmed David Villa will not be going to Euro 2012 with Spain after losing his battle for fitness following a broken leg.
The striker s inclusion in the Vicente del Bosque s final 23-man squad has been in doubt since he fractured his tibia during Barca s FIFA Club World Cup semi-final win over Al-Sadd in December.
The former Valencia man had returned to training in the past month and was hoping to feature in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao on May 25.
Following further analysis of the 30-year-old s condition, Barca team doctor Ricard Pruna and his medical team have recommended Villa should not be selected for Spain for the European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.
I ve tried, but I can t be 100 percent to play the Euro…
Nizhny Novgorod was a city closed to foreigners until 1990, but it has thrown open its doors to visitors from around the globe in the first week of the World Cup.
Fans from Sweden, South Korea, Argentina, Croatia, England and Panama have descended on the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers in huge numbers, along with travellers from Colombia, Mexico, Japan, China and even India.
The action on the pitch has seen a nightmare outing for Argentina and goalkeeper Willy Caballero, as well as a record-breaking victory for England. VAR has, of course, also made an appearance.
Away from the pitches, we ve seen matches on the beach, giant pandas halting traffic and even a tapir predicting results to come. Below are just some of the highlights.
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The EU and UEFA have launched an information campaign and helpline to advise fans travelling to Euro 2008 on their consumer rights and to provide support for those who run into problems.
The campaign deals with consumer issues ranging from fake match tickets to transferring tickets in the case of illness, to air travel, roaming charges, EU health insurance and problems shopping abroad, according to an EU statement.
A free phone consumers rights helpline service on 0080067891011 will also run in all EU languages throughout the tournament, based in Austria and Switzerland, from June 1.
However, as Austria s co-hosts Switzerland is not part of the EU, fans based there will have to access any information through a pay number, 003222999696.
EU Consumer Co…
John Herdman hopes a short break from action allowed Toronto FC an emotional reset and the chance to build chemistry ahead of Saturday s return to MLS play at the Houston Dynamo.
Toronto reached the first knockout stage of the Leagues Cup but were beaten 4-3 by Inter Miami in a thrilling tie on August 9, giving them over two weeks to prepare for their next game.
With Toronto currently occupying a play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, Herdman hopes they can use that match as a learning experience ahead of the run-in.
We ve had a good crack at it. Miami will always be some way around the finals, Herdman said, reflecting on the Reds Leagues Cup run.
It s a good lesson for us because if you want to make the playoffs, these are the teams you have to learn…
Maybe it s wishful thinking, but if Denmark could pick a moment to remember from their Euro 2020 campaign, surely this would be near the top of the list.
Toe-poke, trivela, call it what you will – Joakim Maehle s outside-of-the-foot cross for the second goal against the Czech Republic was one of the finest pieces of skill seen at these finals.
With enough pace to elude defenders but not the arriving Kasper Dolberg, curling away from Czech heads and onto the striker s foot, it was impudent expertise of the highest order.
It was also entirely in keeping with Maehle s standard of performances at this tournament. This was no fluke or Hail Mary; this was calculated brilliance by a player at the top of his game.
Maehle s form has been a bit of a subplot to…