Chile will give Arturo Vidal until the last minute to prove his fitness ahead of their FIFA World Cup opener against Australia.
The condition of the Juventus star has dominated Chile s pre-tournament build-up, with his availability remaining unclear ahead of Friday s Group B clash at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba.
Vidal underwent minor surgery on a knee complaint at the end of the club season, and has been struggling with inflammation on the injury.
Chile coach Jorge Sampaoli will take heart from the 27-year-old s involvement in training on Wednesday the first time he was able to do so since a brief cameo in the 2-0 friendly victory over Northern Ireland last Thursday.
There was also a question mark over the fitness of Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez who has been…
Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth ended an unhappy spell with the Washington Redskins by joining the New England Patriots on Thursday.
Haynesworth signed for the Redskins in a US$100 million, seven-year deal in February 2009, but failed to adapt to the tactics of defensive coordinator Greg Blache.
His disruptive behaviour, including public criticism of coach Mike Shanahan, led the Redskins to suspend him for the remainder of the 2010-11 season from December 7 onwards.
He was traded to the Patriots for a fifth-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft.
Also on Thursday, running back Reggie Bush rejoined the Miami Dolphins in a two-year, US$10 million deal from the New Orleans Saints.
Bush is set to be replaced at the Saints by Heisman trophy winner Mark …
Southampton manager Ronald Koeman is considering offering Fraser Forster a new contract at the end of the season, .
The England shot-stopper has been in fine form for the Saints since returning from injury in January, keeping clean sheets in half of his Premier League appearances this season.
His performances have seen him linked with a big money move to Chelsea though Koeman is keen to secure his services.
Forster moved to the south coast club from Celtic in the summer of 2012, and his next outing for the Saints will be his fiftieth in all competitions.
Aswell as his four seasons in the Scottish top flight the twenty-eight year old has had loan spells with Stockport County, Bristol Rovers and Norwich City while internationally he has been capped fiv…
Michael Garcia has blasted erroneous representations of the facts in his investigation into the 2018 and 2022 World Cup bidding process.
Former United States attorney Garcia led the investigation by FIFA s Ethics Committee into the bidding process for the next two World Cups, to be held in Russia and Qatar respectively.
The decision to award Qatar the 2022 showpiece was met with particular criticism over alleged corruption and staging the tournament in the country s extreme weather conditions.
However, the report published by Hans-Joachim Eckert, chairman of the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA s independent Ethics Committee, on Thursday cleared the Gulf state of any wrongdoing, seemingly ending the possibility of the bidding process being restarted.
The Foo…
Cristiano Ronaldo went off injured as Portugal were held to a 1-1 draw by Serbia in a frantic Euro 2020 qualifier in Lisbon.
A goalless draw with Ukraine in their opening Group B fixture on Friday put the pressure on Portugal heading into Monday s encounter, and their task was made more difficult when Ronaldo appeared to suffer a hamstring injury before the half-hour mark.
Dusan Tadic s penalty had put Serbia ahead early on, though Portugal overcame Ronaldo s injury to level through Danilo Pereira s rasping 42nd-minute strike.
Portugal were awarded a spot-kick with 17 minutes remaining only for referee Szymon Marciniak to change his mind after consultation with his assistant and Serbia held firm to frustrate their hosts.
William Carvalho had a goal dis…
Benfica have signed Gabriel Barbosa on a season-long loan from Inter with an option to buy while offloading Greece striker Kostas Mitroglou to Marseille in a deal reportedly worth €15million.
Gabriel joined Inter last August for a fee in the region of €25million but endured a poor first season at San Siro as he made just nine Serie A appearances and scored only one goal.
But the Brazil forward has been handed an escape by Benfica, who will look to have the 21-year-old play a role in their bid for a fifth consecutive Primeira Liga title.
Leaving Estadio da Luz, though, is Mitroglou, who links up with a Marseille team looking to improve on last season s fifth-placed finish in Ligue 1 under Rudi Garcia.
Marseille have taken seven points from their openin…
Jonathan Taylor has been ruled out for the Indianapolis Colts Week 9 clash with the New England Patriots, head coach Frank Reich announced on Friday.
The running back is out with an ankle injury and is one of four absentees against the Patriots, along with cornerback Tony Brown (hamstring), quarterback Matt Ryan (shoulder) and linebacker Grant Stuard (pectoral).
Deon Jackson filled in for Taylor in his previous absences in Weeks 5 and 6, rushing 25 times for 104 yards and a touchdown, as well as catching 14 passes for 108 yards in those two games.
He faces fresh competition in the backfield, however, following the arrival of Zack Moss – who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday that saw Nyheim Hines depart, with the Colts also earning a cond…
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward says he does not know the origin of reports about a breakaway European Premier League.
Talks over the mooted competition, detailed in a Sky News story, are said to involve United and rivals Liverpool.
The two sides were also driving forces behind the failed Project Big Picture in England, which would have secured increased voting rights on Premier League matters for big six clubs.
But speaking as United s latest financial results were revealed on Wednesday, Woodward said the club could not comment on the latest alleged plans.
I saw the reports on [the European Premier League] and candidly don t know where that story came from, he said. We have nothing to say.
We are in regular discussions wit…
Mikel Arteta predicted Bukayo Saka will “fly” during Arsenal’s Premier League run-in but the England winger could be a doubt to face Brighton on Saturday.
The 22-year-old missed his side’s 2-0 win over Luton on Wednesday that briefly returned them to the top of the table before being knocked back into second by Liverpool ahead of the weekend’s visit to the Amex Stadium.
A muscle injury sustained during the goalless draw at Manchester City meant Saka missed a league game for just the second time this season, with Reiss Nelson deputising as Arteta’s side made it nine wins from their last 10 in the title race.
Mikel has provided a fitness update on Saka
— Arsenal (@Arsenal)
Saka has scored 16 goals in all competitions as Arsenal seek …
Raphinha fired 10-man Barcelona to a dramatic 2-1 win at Osasuna in LaLiga, as the Blaugrana recovered from Robert Lewandowski s first-half dismissal to go five points clear at the summit.
Barca fell behind to David Garcia s early header on Tuesday and were a man down when Lewandowski picked up a second booking for a reckless foul on the goalscorer.
Unused substitute Gerard Pique ended his Blaugrana career with a whimper when he also saw red for berating the officials at the break, but Xavi s men hit back in the second half, first through Pedri.
Despite Osasuna looking the more likely victors late on, Raphinha came off the bench to nod in five minutes from time, snatching a crucial victory in Barca s final game before the World Cup.
RAPHINHAAAAAAAAAA!!!!…