FIFA president Gianni Infantino predicts the 2022 World Cup will be the best ever despite a continuing lack of clarity over the number of teams involved and where matches will be played.
Qatar s awarding of the tournament was controversial due to the country s lack of football heritage, poor human rights record and hot weather that resulted in a switch from the typical June-July dates to November and December.
In August, Qatar s World Cup bid team denied allegations it conducted a smear campaign to increase their chances of hosting the 2022 tournament, having succeeded ahead of competing bids from the United States and Australia.
But Infantino, who has proposed expanding the tournament from 32 teams to 48 nations, feels the first ever World Cup in the Middle …
Will Grigg scored twice to become the FA Cup s leading goalscorer as Wigan Athletic collected another Premier League scalp, dumping out 10-man West Ham United on Saturday.
Grigg took his tally to six goals in this season s competition as Wigan followed up a third-round success over Bournemouth with another victory over top-flight opposition.
Swansea City have shown improvement under their new coach Carlos Carvalhal but were held at Notts County.
League Two side Coventry City booked a place in the fifth round with a win at MK Dons, while Javi Gracia s first game in charge of Watford ended in defeat.
2013 CHAMPIONS MARCH ON
Wigan are no strangers to cup shocks, of course, having triumphed against the odds to beat Manchester City in the 2…
Juventus midfielder Miralem Pjanic has backed Gianluigi Buffon to prove he remains the best goalkeeper in the world despite two costly mistakes in recent matches.
Buffon presented Vitolo with a simple finish when he completely missed an interception during Italy s 1-1 World Cup qualifying draw with Spain on October 6.
The Juve captain fared little better on his return to club action on Saturday, as he allowed Jakub Jankto s shot to squeeze beneath his grasp to give Udinese the lead, before Paulo Dybala s double rescued a victory.
Pjanic, however, says the 38-year-old will produce his very best form when Juve take on Lyon in Tuesday s Champions League Group H encounter.
Buffon is our captain. I don t think he s having a bad spell, Pjanic told a news confe…
So I think it s more about John, and the reception he ll quite rightly get from the Chelsea fans the most decorated captain, the greatest captain who won everything.
He feels the club, everyone knows that, and I m sure the fans will certainly show their appreciation.
I m sure it will be pretty emotional for John, and he deserves that moment, and I ll certainly be pleased to see his face back at the Bridge.
Terry has previously spoken of his desire to follow in the footsteps of Lampard and one day manage his old club.
For now he is still learning the ropes, with Villa boss Smith saying he has been an invaluable member of his staff.
It will be special for him, Smith added of Terry s return.
He ll get an unbelievable reception from thei…
Germany head coach Joachim Low is disappointed and confused by Mesut Ozil s apparent disinterest in holding face-to-face talks.
Low visited Arsenal s training ground during a trip to London this week, reportedly to meet with the club s academy manager, former Germany defender Per Mertesacker.
He is believed to have also held discussions with Bernd Leno and Shkodran Mustafi but Ozil was not present at the time.
The playmaker retired from international football in July citing discrimination against his Turkish heritage from the German Football Association as a motivating factor.
Low has previously spoken of failed attempts to contact Ozil over the phone and the pair s relationship appears to remain at a low ebb.
Mesut was not [at the training …
Diego Simeone has acknowledged he recently met Juventus star Paulo Dybala, but refuted rumours Atletico Madrid want to sign the Argentina international.
Having been left out of Argentina s squad for the friendlies with Italy and Spain, Dybala who has been linked with a move to Atleti as a replacement for the reportedly Barcelona-bound Antoine Griezmann was spotted with Simeone at a restaurant in Madrid during the international break.
Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri has since laughed off speculation that the meeting indicated the 24-year-old would soon be moving to the Wanda Metropolitano, and Simeone was quick to clarify the circumstances of his encounter with Dybala.
It is a pity that there are times when the information is not good, Simeone told reporters…
West Ham United are interested in signing Nelson Semedo from Premier League rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Wolves are looking for a new right-back and have made enquiries about a potential deal.
Semedo can operate as a right-back or as a right wing-back. The 29-year-old Portugal international has made 102 appearances in the Premier League so far in his career. The former Barcelona player has scored one goal, given three assists, and kept 22 clean sheets in those games.
West Ham are seventh in the Premier League table at the moment with 13 points from seven matches, three points behind Liverpool in fourth and five points behind leaders and defending champions Manchester City.
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Harvey Elliott has been handed a first Premier League start for Liverpool against Burnley, while captain Jordan Henderson returns to action for the Reds.
Henderson suffered a groin injury in the derby defeat to Everton at Anfield in February and has not featured for Jurgen Klopp s men since, though he was involved in England s Euro 2020 campaign.
Elliott became the youngest player to make an appearance in Premier League history in May 2019, making his debut for former club Fulham when aged 16 years and 30 days.
The 18-year-old now gets the chance from the outset after appearing twice as a substitute during the 2019-20 campaign for Liverpool, with Andy Robertson is also fit again to return to the bench.
The Scotland left-back suffered ankle ligament d…
Jarrod Bowen landed a deadline-beating move to West Ham as the Premier League strugglers raided Hull City for the Tigers biggest asset.
The in-demand 23-year-old forward has signed a five-and-a-half year deal with the London club for a fee reported to be in excessive of £20million.
Bowen has scored 16 Championship goals and produced seven assists for Hull this season, and West Ham were not the only top-flight club linked with a move for the former Hereford player.
Newcastle and Crystal Palace were both said to be admirers of Bowen, who was also strongly linked with a move to Leeds United.
Bowen showed flashes of his potential in the FA Cup fourth-round match against Chelsea last weekend and he has been one of the standout performers in the Champi…
Lille captain Rio Mavuba has poured cold water on speculation linking him with a summer move away from French Ligue 1.
The experienced midfielder is nearing the end of his current contract and he was widely expected to leave the club on a free transfer.
His former coach Rudi Garcia is determined to lure Mavuba to AS Roma, while few more high-profile sides are believed to be keen.
However, the 31-year-old has now suggested that he could extend his stay at Lille, even if he has yet to receive an offer from his current employers.
“I have spent many years here, it s true that there is some stability, there is a kid who was born here. So I feel good here,” Mavuba told Radio Monte Carlo.
“We must study everything and see the project LOSC can offe…