Southgate could be teh man to lead England forward / Image via gazzettelive.co.uk

Dismal weeks have gone by and the time has arrived for some proper football work in the England national team to be done.

Sam Allardyce was given a boot after revelations by The Daily Telegraph of England now former boss’ willingness to engage himself into circumventions of Football Association rules on third-party ownership and his generally unprofessional and illegal behaviour with the former England international Gareth Southgate being seated into the hot chair at the most inconvenient moment possible.

Often portrayed as a protected, cosseted establishment man Southgate showed great courage when accepting the role of interim manager. Following his first couple of days in charg…

Neymar scored twice as Barcelona progressed to their first UEFA Champions League final since 2011 despite a 3-2 second-leg semi-final defeat at Bayern Munich.

A Lionel Messi double and Neymar s strike at Camp Nou last Wednesday had given the Liga leaders a 3-0 lead after the first encounter and Bayern were unable to complete a remarkable fightback six days later despite a spirited display.

Medhi Benatia s early header gave Bayern hope, but Pep Guardiola described his former club Barca as the best counter-attacking team in the world ahead of the game and they lived up to that billing at the Allianz Arena.

Luis Suarez laid on two goals for Neymar who now has 37 for the season and had scored in his last seven matches  in the first half and, although Robert Le…

Thomas Muller shone for Bayern Munich last season but Germany boss Joachim Low is not planning to recall him.

Low announced Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels would not be selected again after Germany failed to get out of the group stage at the 2018 World Cup.

However, the Bayern attacking midfielder rediscovered his best form under Hansi Flick last season, accumulating a record-breaking 20 assists as the Bavarian giants stormed to an eighth straight Bundesliga title.

Bayern went on to clinch a treble by winning the DFB-Pokal and Champions League, with Muller playing a starring role in the 8-2 humiliation of Barcelona in the quarter-finals of Europe s premier club competition.

However, Low does not intend to bring the 30-year-old back into the intern…

Mauricio Pochettino believes Manchester City are perfectly capable of winning an unprecedented quadruple under Pep Guardiola.

City meet Tottenham in London on Tuesday for the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final tie, looking to keep themselves in the hunt to win four major trophies this season.

Having already claimed the EFL Cup in February, Guardiola s side reached the FA Cup final last Saturday by beating Brighton and Hove Albion, and they are locked in a battle with Liverpool for the Premier League title.

Pochettino thinks they have developed in such a way in recent years that a seasonal clean sweep is certainly possible.

Manchester City in the last few years have been in to try to win everything, the Spurs boss told a news conference. They…

Germany legend Gunter Netzer said his country s meagre warm-up to Euro 2012 has not dimmed his view of their tournament favouritism.

The Euro 2008 finalists were beaten 5-3 by Switzerland and defeated Israel 2-0 in their two warm-up friendlies for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine, and Netzer feels that these results have not changed Germany s status as one of the teams to beat.

The friendlies against Switzerland and Israel have not done anything to change Germany s status as one of the favourites to win Euro 2012. They remain one of the teams to beat, Netzer told Bild am Sonntag.

The 5-3 loss against the Swiss obviously gave food for thought, but I don t see any reasons to be worried. These friendlies are used to try new things.

I still think tha…

With the Copa Libertadores knockout stage getting underway in the early hours of Wednesday, South America’s elite will all battle it out in midweek.

Ahead of a stacked Copa Libertadores schedule throughout Wednesday, we have found a couple of tips that can potentially offer a great return for your midweek flutter.

01:00 River Plate vs Internacional

Making real Primera Division history last season as they were crowned Argentinian champions for a record-breaking 38th time, River Plate have only continued on a major romp in 2023. Eventually reclaiming their domestic title thanks to an 11-point buffer last month, Wednesday’s hosts will be excited to turn their attention back to Copa Libertadores duties here.

Signing off their Primera Division flurry wi…

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

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Without a win in their last four attempts, Jose Mourinho will be desperate to start 2018 with a win. 15 points off runaway league leaders Manchester City, the Red Devils will now be fully focused on securing a top-four finish come May. On New Years Day, Mourinho s men will travel to Merseyside to face an Everton side who s eight-match unbeaten run came to an end last weekend.

Everton

For Everton, it appears that Sam Allardyce s honeymoon period at Goodison Park has come to an end. Prior to their trip down the south coast to face Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon, the Toffees were a side on an eight-game unbeaten run. Picking up consecutive 0-0 draw s against Chelsea and West Brom before their defeat aga…

With three Premier League games played so far this season, it is the threeArgu preseason favourites for the title that occupy the top three positions in the division and with the campaign not even a month old, two of those sides face off next time out.

Antonio Conte will be undoubtedly delighted the focus is not on his Chelsea side next weekend and he will be hoping the Blues can do the business as they travel to Swansea City.

However, all eyes will be on Manchester in Saturday’s early kick of as United face City at Old Trafford.

Like Chelsea, both the Red Devils and the Citizens have taken maximum points so far though something will have to give as managers Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola renew their rivalry.

The pair battled in out in La…

Neil Warnock insisted the 2019-20 season is absolutely his last as a football manager as he prepared for a return to the Championship, where his Cardiff City side will battle for promotion in a division of contrasting football philosophies.

Former Leeds United boss Warnock will relish the Bluebirds games against his old club more than ever as he pits his wits against Marcelo Bielsa following a turbulent first season in England for the former Argentina coach.

Slaven Bilic will embark upon his first adventure as a Championship boss as he aims to steer West Brom back into the Premier League, while Fulham s Scott Parker, Derby County s Phillip Cocu and Charlton Athletic s Lee Bowyer all make their managerial debuts in the division.

West Brom, Derby and Leeds come int…

Pep Guardiola did not deny an interest in Riyad Mahrez amid widespread reports Manchester City are keen to tie up a blockbuster deal for the Leicester City winger ahead of Wednesday s transfer deadline.

City completing a £57million swoop for Athletic Bilbao defender Aymeric Laporte but the 23-year-old French centre-back might swiftly lose his status as the club s record signing, with the Premier League leaders understood to be testing Leicester s resolve over Mahrez.

The Algeria winger was one of the stars of the Foxes improbable title triumph in 2015-16 but his future has regularly been the source of speculation since and City s interest reportedly prompted the 26-year-old s latest transfer request at the King Power Stadium.

Speaking ahead of Wednesday s match …