The frenzied events of the days that followed — PSG coach Unai Emery saying Neymar might avoid surgery, surgery happening after the player s father stated a preference for that route and differing recovery timeframes stated by the respective club and national-team setups — gave a taste of the saga to come as one of the world s wealthiest clubs and most iconic footballing nation fret over the wellbeing of their prized asset. Brazil s tournament opener against Switzerland on June 17 looms large.

So near and yet so VAR

The International Football Association Board s unanimous approval of video assistant referees means the much-debated technology is set to be used in Russia, with a final decision to be made by FIFA on March 16. Ever since it was trialed at the Confeder…

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Two unbeaten teams in the Premier League meet at Anfield on Saturday afternoon, as Liverpool host Nottingham Forest.

Arne Slot s side comfortably defeated arch-rivals Manchester United 3-0 before the international break, while Nottingham Forest secured a 1-1 draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Liverpool

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On a day when Mohamed Salah s standout performance at Old Trafford should have dominated the headlines, the Liverpool star instead intensified speculation about his future by suggesting that he is approaching the 2024-25 season as if it might be his final one with the club.

If the Egyptian forward does part ways with Liverpool in nine months, he will do so after once ag…

Spain captain Sergio Busquets admitted it was almost impossible to stay optimistic when he tested positive for COVID-19 just as Euro 2020 was about to begin.

On Friday, Busquets made an emotional return to the squad following a frustrating stretch in isolation, hugging coach Luis Enrique and team-mates as he arrived back in camp.

The Barcelona midfielder was removed from Spain s training base near Madrid and whisked away by ambulance on June 7, yet now he has been given the all-clear and is poised to contribute as Spain attempt to book a last-16 spot.

Busquets said he was very happy, on a high to learn he was healthy to rejoin the group, but recalled the sorry moment when he was told he had the virus.

The doctor called me, he told me, and at that mome…

Willi Lemke, a United Nations special representative for sports and development, on Saturday pledged his full support to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

I will do everything I can to make the 2010 World Cup a success, said the former Werder Bremen manager at the end of Germany s Olympic congress here.

South Africa s World Cup programme is facing several problems including recent crime waves across the republic and concerns about whether the country s infrastructure and stadiums will be ready in time.

Lemke insists giving the 2010 event to the southern African nation was the right idea and would help to stablise the country.

It was absolutely the right thing to give the World Cup to South Africa, said the SPD politician.

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Callum Wilson has signed a new four-year contract to end speculation he could leave Bournemouth.

England striker Wilson had been linked with Chelsea and West Ham, but has now committed his future to the Cherries through to 2023.

And Wilson, who has scored 58 goals in 148 appearances since joining from Coventry City in 2014, feels there is more to come.

We ve improved in all areas since I initially joined the club but there s still a long way to go,  Wilson told Bournemouth s club website.

While Bournemouth may be known as a smaller club, we ve got some really big ambitions here. Everyone is pulling in the same direction towards those targets and goals.

I feel like as an individual, my game is constantly improving here at the club. I want to c…

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has insisted the club are in position to decide where Mats Hummels will play his football next season.

The Germany international, who is under contract at Signal Iduna Park until June 2017, has been increasingly linked with a summer move to Manchester United, with the Red Devils reportedly prepared to offer Dortmund €35 million for the World Cup winner.

We have had the situation in Dortmund recently that we have lost one of our top performers every year, Watzke told Bild.

And we still haven t stopped playing football. But to make it clear, Mats Hummels knows the contract situation.

The decision as to where Mats plays next season is of course only down to Borussia Dortmund.

Even if Dor…

Tottenham s Clint Dempsey scored an injury-time goal to give his side a 1-1 draw with Manchester United

Yesterday’s Premier League games produced the usual drama and controversy.

In the early kick-off at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea defeated Arsenal 2-1.

The home side dominated the first half of the game, but Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud missed a gilt edge early chance to put the visitors into the lead.

Chelsea then went straight up the other end of the pitch and took the lead. Cesar Azpilicueta produced a superb cross and Juan Mata smashed the Blues into the lead on six minutes.

Santi Cazorla was denied by Petr Cech in the Chelsea goal with the Gunners second attempt on goal in the first half.

It was the visitors that found the second …

The group stage of the World Cup in Qatar is well over now, and while those whose journey towards the throne of the world continues prepare for the ever-increasing difficulties ahead, those who didn t make it into the second phase have perhaps had time to reflect on the things which went wrong for them.

There is no doubt that a lot of them the players, staff, supporters and the wider public in the countries in question will have been sorely disappointed by their lack of success on this great stage.

Germany

Drawn with Spain, Japan and Costa Rica in Group E, Germany were surely expected to get through at least from the second place, but they got off to a very poor start by losing 1-2 to Japan and it seems they simply weren t able to cancel out the negative effect that ha…

West Ham came from behind to beat Manchester United in the final game to be played at Upton Park on this day in 2016.

Headers from Michail Antonio and Winston Reid secured a 3-2 victory for the Hammers as they bade farewell to their home of 112 years ahead of their move to the London Stadium.

Diafra Sakho had given the hosts the lead until Anthony Martial put United ahead with a second-half brace.

The occasion was marred before kick-off when bottles were thrown at the Manchester United coach as it made its way into the ground.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed a police officer and a member of the public were hurt, with the Football Association launching an investigation.

Kick-off was delayed by 45 minutes but West Ham were quickly out of the block…

It’s been very busy in Las Vegas over this past week, as we’ve seen the news and subsequent fallout from the leaked Jon Gruden emails. This Sunday, the Raiders will be led by Rich Bisaccia as they travel to Denver to face the Broncos.

Both teams sit on 3-2 records but it feels like both franchises are going in different directions. Who will win on Sunday, though?

Don’t miss our free NFL betting picks and predictions for the Las Vegas Raiders vs. Denver Broncos, and find out.

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