Dutch star snubs Tottenham

Turkey s selection problems ahead of Wednesday s Euro 2008 semi-final with Germany deepened on Monday as they lost their appeal against first choice goalkeeper Volkan Demirel s suspension.

Volkan had received a two match suspension after pushing over Czech striker Jan Koller in their final group match, and had served the first of those match bans for the quarter-final against Croatia.

However, Turkey had appealed to have the second one rescinded but found no favour with the UEFA Appeal Commission.

Volkan s suspension will see 35-year-old veteran Rustu Recber one of the few survivors from the side that reached the 2002 World Cup semi-finals win his 118th cap, though, it was a glaring error by him that handed Croatia what looked like being the winning goal in t…

The Swiss city of Lausanne, disappointed it would not be hosting a Euro 2008 game, found another way to celebrate the sport with artsy, offbeat interactive football tables.

Twenty-two artists and designers were invited to customise soccer tables based loosely on a popular European game called baby-foot or foosball to their own interpretation. Each table was then placed in a different place across this city on the banks of Lake Geneva.

The rules were simple but strict the artist could do anything as long as the public could play with the creation.

One designer tapped the sport s financial stakes, with players represented by stacks of fake Swiss banknotes the better the player, the bigger the denominations or the thicker the stack, just like real-life salaries …

Erling Haaland netted a goal on his debut as Manchester City defeated Bayern Munich 1-0 at Lambeau Field in their pre-season friendly on Saturday.

Torrential rain meant lengthy delays and 40-minute halves, with the two sides sent back to respective dressing rooms after only 13 minutes of play, but not before Haaland opened his account for City.

The 22-year-old was left with a relatively simple finish, tapping in from close range after the reigning Bundesliga champions failed to clear a dead ball, with Kevin de Bruyne playing Jack Grealish in for the evential assist.

The Norway international made way for Julian Alvarez during a shortened half-time break, while Bayern looked particularly out of sorts in possession without the talismanic Robert Lewandowski.

Few in the Premier League would have given Dusan Tadic s move to Ajax a second glance last year, but he has been one of the stars of the Champions League this season.

Tadic left Southampton after an inconsistent four years in England and quickly rediscovered his best form with surprise semi-finalists Ajax.

Much of the focus on the Eredivisie giants has centred around youngsters Matthijs de Ligt and Frenkie de Jong, yet Tadic had perhaps been their most outstanding performer.

The Serbia international has provided both goals and assists and saved some of his best performances for the biggest stage of all.

Tadic sparkled as Ajax s star man in an incredible 4-1 win at Real Madrid in the last 16, before again playing a key role in victory at Juventus last time…

Crystal Palace defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka is determined to represent England at senior level despite overtures from Democratic Republic of Congo.

The 21-year-old right-back has enjoyed a fine campaign at Selhurst Park that has led to him being linked with Manchester United and Arsenal.

A potential senior England call-up has been mooted, though Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate is well stocked in that department thanks to Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez.

Wan-Bissaka is of Congolese descent and has represented DR Congo at youth level, but the England Under-21 international said he still aspires to play for the country of his birth.

The aim is England, he told Standard Sport.

I am happy playing with England and r…

Germany coach Joachim Low has challenged his fringe players to make a case for themselves against Cameroon on Sunday.

Low is set to name his 23-man FIFA World Cup squad, who will be considered among the favourites in Brazil, after the friendly in Monchengladbach.

The 54-year-old said it was an opportunity for some of his players to put their names forward one last time.

It is another opportunity for me to gain a few pertinent insights, Low said.

And for individual players to make a case for themselves.

Low s squad had been in a training camp in the Italian Alps, albeit with injury concerns over Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

The spirit in the squad is what has pleased Low most after Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund factions…

Belgium face against former coach Georges Leekens on Saturday as Tunisia provide the opposition in their final FIFA World Cup warm-up match.

Leekens has managed his home nation twice, with the most recent spell ending in 2012, and he will hope his knowledge of the current squad can help the African nation cause an upset.

After qualifying for their first FIFA World Cup in 12 years, Belgium travel to Brazil as one of the favourites after impressing throughout qualifying and possessing a squad brimming with talent.

Even though striker Christian Benteke will miss the tournament through injury, coach Marc Wilmots still has a plethora of attacking options to choose from, with Romelu Lukaku making his claim for a starting role with four goals in their two recent warm-up match…

Brazil extended their winning run to nine games and made it two victories from two matches to start the Copa America with a 4-0 triumph over Peru on Thursday.

Alex Sandro fired defending champions Brazil ahead early before star team-mate Neymar added the second goal in the 68th minute, marking the fourth consecutive match he has scored for the Selecao. 

It was Neymar s 68th international goal as the Paris Saint-Germain forward closed within Pele s record of 77 for Brazil.

Everton Ribeiro and Richarlison completed the scoring during the closing stages in Rio de Janeiro, where the result continued Brazil s exceptional form under head coach Tite, having not conceded a goal in their past six games.

Peru, playing their Copa America opener, were dogged but cre…

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is adamant he remains focused on England and their exploits at the ongoing European Championship amid growing speculation about his future.

The 27-year-old reportedly informed Spurs of his desire to move on following their failure to secure a place in next season s Champions League. Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea have all been credited with interest in his services, as have Paris Saint-Germain with Kane apparently willing to consider a move abroad.

Kane s performances at the Euros have been largely underwhelming so far. He hasn t scored in either of England s two matches played so far, with their only goal coming from Raheem Sterling in the 1-0 win over Croatia. But in an interview with he insisted the speculation ha…

Barcelona attacker Neymar says world football would not be the same without his team-mate Lionel Messi.

Messi won the Ballon d Or in 2015, but has had a turbulent time over the last month, a spell which started when he retired from international football after Argentina s failure to win the Copa America.

Messi was then convicted of tax fraud, which led to him being fined and sentenced to a 21-month jail term, which he is appealing to the Spanish Supreme Court despite being unlikely to serve any time in prison.

That is because any sentence of less than two years – for non-violent offences – can be served under probation, according to Spanish law.

Asked about Messi s sentence, Neymar said: Messi is not only my friend, he is also my idol, and I will alwa…