Spain striker Diego Costa has thanked coach Julen Lopetegui for making him feel more at home at international level.
Brazilian-born Costa switched allegiance to Spain ahead of the 2014 World Cup despite having played two friendlies for the country of his birth.
The Chelsea star struggled badly as the then-reigning world champions were the first side eliminated from the competition and he failed to make Vicente del Bosque s squad for Euro 2016.
But Lopetegui has brought the 28-year-old back into the fold and he scored his fourth goal of the qualification campaign for Russia 2018 in Spain s 4-1 win over Israel on Friday.
It s really important when the coach has the trust in you, Costa told reporters.
¡Así es está la clasificación tras nuestra v…
Shaw wants Man United move
that Southampton starlet Luke Shaw has expressed his desire to join Manchester United this summer.
The England international informed club chiefs a month ago that he wanted to move to Old Trafford in the summer transfer window.
Manchester United had earlier submitted a £27 million bid for his services, but the Saints have stalled the offer until they appoint a new manager.
While they cashed in on Rickie Lambert, Southampton will wait until a new boss is appointed before they decide on the futures of Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana.
England manager Roy Hodgson has asked his players to sort out any potential moves before the World Cup starts as he wants them to be fully focused on task ahead.
The Three Lions indeed …
Knowing that they faced a must-win showdown on foreign soil, Wales managed to keep alive their dreams of booking a spot at next year s World Cup finals as they secured a 1-0 win against Estonia on Monday night.
Making an immediate return to winning ways after having to settle for that 2-2 draw out in the Czech Republic over the weekend, the Dragons just about scrapped through what was a stern test in Tallinn.
Signing off their October international run with four points from their back-to-back Group E contests this month, we have taken a look at the major talking points from Wales scrappy victory on the road.
Wales claw their way over the finish line
Left hugely frustrated last month as they had to settle for a 0-0 stalemate against Estonia in Cardiff, Robert Pa…
Jurgen Klopp refused to be drawn over Georginio Wijnaldum s future at Liverpool, insisting the situation was all good amid speculation the midfielder is a transfer target for Barcelona.
Wijnaldum has become a key member of Klopp s squad in recent seasons, making 37 Premier League appearances last term as Liverpool ended their 30-year title wait.
The Netherlands international was also influential during the Reds Champions League success in 2019, though has now entered the final year of his contract at Anfield.
Media reports have linked the player with Barca, where his former national team boss Ronald Koeman is in charge, but Klopp was unwilling to discuss the matter in great detail on Friday.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference ahead of the Communi…
Real Madrid are continuing their fight against Jude Bellingham’s red card with boss Carlo Ancelotti calling his two-match ban “overzealous and inappropriate”.
The 20-year-old England midfielder was sent off against Valencia last weekend after he remonstrated with referee Jesus Gil Manzano, who blew for full-time seconds before Bellingham headed in what would have been a winner for Real.
Madrid saw an initial appeal against a two-match suspension rejected by the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) competitions committee on Friday.
Bellingham has not been named in Madrid’s 20-man squad for Sunday’s LaLiga visit of Celta Vigo but the league leaders are not letting the issue lie and, according to reports, have launched an appeal with Spain’s sports adm…
Anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International on Monday called on FIFA to postpone the race to host the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, after renewed media allegations of corruption were made.
The call by the private campaign group came just days before the executive committee of world football s governing body was due to designate the two host nations under the eyes of a brace of world leaders and stars.
The decision to award football s World Cup in 2018 and 2022, scheduled for December 2, 2010, must be postponed until full light is shed on the allegations published in the press, Transparency International Switzerland said in a statement.
These have brought such discredit to the decision-making processes at FIFA that a decision in the current circumstances wo…
Liverpool have rejected an approach from Swansea City to sign midfielder Joe Allen, .
The twenty-five-year-old swapped the Liberty Stadium for Anfield in the summer of 2012, when he became former manager Brendan Rodgers’ second signing for the Reds.
He has so far racked up one hundred and eleven appearances for the Merseyside outfit in all competitions though he has started just one Premier League game this season.
However, he has scored in two of his last three outings, firstly netting a last ditch equaliser in last week’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Arsenal before getting the goal-scoring underway in Wednesday evening’s 3-0 victory over Exeter City in their FA Cup third round replay.
Having just announced Francesco Guidolin as their new manager, …
Will Pato shine at Stamford Bridge? / Image via thesportbible.com
One striker left Stamford Bridge in January, another one arrived.
Patrick Bamford was the one to leave. The 22-year-old Chelsea striker has moved to Norwich on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season on the back of an unsuccessful first half of the season with Crystal Palace.
The youngster made just nine appearances at Palace and did not start a single Premier League game for the club.
Fashionable choice
His transfer went under the radar as Chelsea showed no desire to take their starlet back and offer him the chance to shine in the squad. It is not just the question of quality, Patrick Bamford is just not fashionable enough player for Chelsea.
Charlie Austin knows i…
Manchester United twice came from behind against Arsenal in an entertaining 2-2 Premier League draw at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Anthony Martial, on his 23rd birthday, cancelled out Shkodran Mustafi s opener in the first half following an error from goalkeeper David de Gea.
Alexandre Lacazette capitalised on a Marcos Rojo mistake in the second half the Argentine getting the final touch as the ball was bundled over the line only for Jesse Lingard to respond almost immediately, meaning each side had to settle for a draw that does not greatly benefit their top-four ambitions.
Arsenal grew into the game after some early United dominance and went ahead 26 minutes in, when De Gea let Mustafi s header slip through his grasp and Ander Herrera could not clear off the l…
Juventus have moved ahead of Barcelona as the favorites to land Ajax s Matthijs de Light, according to .
As the Catalan outlet exclusively report, the La Liga title holders are about to lose their primary defensive target to their Serie A counterparts. Barcelona representatives met with the player to discuss his move to Camp Nou, but apparently the meeting did not go as well as they would have hoped.
The main problem the Catalans face is that they cannot guarantee the 19-year-old a starting place, which is something the Old Lady won t have a problem with. Given the age of Giorgio Chiellini (34), Leonardo Bonucci (31) and Andrea Barzagli (37), De Ligt would fit in perfectly with their plans to rejuvenate the back line.
Further more, the transfer itself is set to …