The first of two semi finals at the 2009 Confederations Cup has European champions Spain take on the United States, whom not many expected to get this far at all.
The Spanish didn t have much difficulties in their group phase, beating New Zealand, Iraq and South Africa by a total goal record of eight scored and none conceded. Against more defensive teams, Spain seemed to be struggling a little more but the USA may be the type of opponent they like to face at this point.
After losing their first two games by two and three goals respectively, the USA were practically out of this tournament. But the 3-0 win over Egypt while Brazil beat Italy by the same margin was enough for Bob Bradley s men to secure a spot in the semi s. Whether the final is a realistic target remains t…
Ahead of the new Premier League season and amid Britain s deep recession, most top clubs in England are holding back from spending vast sums on new players without first offloading some of their own.
Only Manchester City are proving the exception, freely splashing the cash on some of their Premier League rivals biggest stars as they prepare for the start of the 2009-10 campaign on Saturday.
Bankrolled by wealthy Gulf-based owners, City have so far spent a combined 95 million pounds (110 million euros, 157 million dollars) on transfer fees for five big names.
It includes 25 million pounds for Argentina forward Carlos Tevez from last season s title winners and local rivals Manchester United.
The Eastlands outfit have also spent 40 million pounds to land Em…
Pablo Zabaleta hopes Pep Guardiola s inside track on Barcelona can help to give Manchester City the edge on their latest visit to Camp Nou.
City have suffered four defeats from as many Champions League matches against Barca, having been knocked out by the LaLiga champions at the last-16 phase in 2014 and 2015.
They meet in Group C this time around and long-serving right-back Zabaleta suggested Guardiola s status as a club icon both on the field and in the dugout for Barca could work to City s advantage.
The first thing is I think Pep knows very well the Barcelona players, he told a pre-match news conference.
He s been working with most of them and he knows very well their quality and I think Barcelona didn t change too much from his time at the club.
Manuel Pellegrini has hailed new signing Jack Wilshere as a great asset for West Ham.
Midfielder Wilshere joined the Premier League club on a three-year deal on Monday after ending his long association with Arsenal, who allowed him to leave as a free agent at the end of his contract.
Hampered by injuries in the past, the England international made 20 league appearances in the 2017-18 season but now starts a fresh chapter of his career.
Wilshere, who will wear number 19, linked up with his West Ham team-mates at a pre-season training camp in Switzerland on Tuesday, with Pellegrini praising the 26-year-old s desire to play for the club he supported as a boy.
Jack is a player with excellent technical ability, combined with great energy and commitment, …
Dundee and Livingston were the only cinch Premiership clubs to announce signings by mid-afternoon on deadline day but more business is expected at Celtic and Rangers among others.
Dundee re-signed Norwich goalkeeper Jon McCracken on loan while Livingston completed a move for Inverness midfielder David Carson.
Celtic are set to wrap up the loan signing of Norwich and Republic of Ireland striker Adam Idah, who has scored seven goals this season, after the 22-year-old arrived in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Several players could be on their way out of Celtic Park with David Turnbull and Mikey Johnston tipped to join Cardiff and West Brom respectively, and James Forrest linked with an exit.
But Gustaf Lagerbielke’s proposed loan move to Italian side Lecce could be…
West Ham have settled a compensation claim from former manager Alan Curbishley it was announced here on Wednesday.
In November, Curbishley won his case for wrongful dismissal against the Premier League club after his resignation from the east London side in September 2008.
But the issue of compensation was still outstanding.
Curbishley, 52, guided the Hammers to 10th place in his only full season in charge after making his name as a manager with London rivals Charlton, whom he helped establish as a top-flight club.
However, he quit Upton Park when players were sold against his wishes.
The League Managers Association (LMA) said Wednesday that Curbishley was entitled to resign because the sales constituted a breach of his contract.
We can …
With Manchester United finally accustomed to life under manager Louis van Gaal, former defender Gary Neville believes the Premier League giants can only get better following Sunday s derby win.
United claimed bragging rights and consolidated third position in the table after routing reigning champions Manchester City 4-2 in the Manchester derby at Old Trafford the club s first derby win since 2012.
Goals from Ashley Young, Marouane Fellaini, Juan Mata and Chris Smalling cancelled out City s eighth-minute opener via Sergio Aguero, who netted a consolation in the final minute of regulation time, as United moved four points clear of their neighbours with six matches remaining.
Having chalked up impressive victories over City, Liverpool and Tottenham in the past mont…
Chelsea are considering a move to sign Napoli striker Gonzalo Higuain, .
The proposed offer casts doubts over the future of current first-choice forward Diego Costa, who has scored three goals in all competitions so far this season.
Higuain is one of a number of forwards being monitored by the Premier League champions, who currently sit just two places above the relegation zone, fifteen points behind leaders Manchester City.
The Argentina international moved to Naples from Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, and has so far racked up one hundred and seventeen appearances for the club, scoring sixty-five goals.
He was also a consistent goal-scorer in his six-and-a-half years in La Liga, where his strikes helped fire Real to three championships and the C…
Gabriele Gravina said he cannot be the undertaker of Italian football as the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) president tries to restart the 2019-20 Serie A season.
Serie A was suspended indefinitely in March due to the coronavirus pandemic and the FIGC has already stated that the campaign will not resume until the health and safety of all concerned can be guaranteed.
Italy s minister for sport Vincenzo Spadafora is hoping to confirm a May 4 date for the return to Serie A training as soon as possible, with the current restrictions on movement and outdoor activities set to end on May 3.
Gravina is desperate to resume the campaign and the FIGC chief warned of the negative impact, should the Serie A season not be completed.
At the moment there are two app…
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Scotland and Austria will face each other in their opening 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign this week. Steve Clarke’s side and Franco Foda’s team will lock horns with each other at Hampden Park in Glasgow on Thursday. The Group F game is slated to kick off at 7:45pm UK time.
Scotland
Scotland are having huge success under manager Clarke. They have qualified for the European Championship in the summer of 2021, and the fans must be excited. Scotland have a good team with hard-working players, and the football-mad country have long awaited taste of competitive football in a major competition.
The Scots will be determined to head into the European Championship in good form, and tha…