Wales warmed up for their crucial Euro 2024 qualifier in Latvia with a goalless stalemate against South Korea in Cardiff.
Substitute Kieffer Moore went the closest to breaking the deadlock by heading Chris Mepham’s second-half cross against a post.
But Wales failed to secure a morale-boosting victory that under-pressure manager Rob Page craved, and it is now only one win in 13 games either side of a disappointing World Cup for the Dragons.
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A new-look France team beat Sweden 3-2 in a friendly international here on Wednesday but their deficient defensive qualities did not augur well for upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The international retirements of Lilian Thuram and tough-tackling Claude Makelele looked to have affected France s rearguard effectiveness less than three weeks before they play in Austria in their first 2010 World Cup qualifier on September 6. France then host Serbia four days later.
The back four of right back Bacary Sagna, central defenders Philippe Mexes and William Gallas, plus left back Patrice Evra, were far from the high standard of French teams over the last decade.
Steve Mandanda was in goal, Thierry Henry was captain in place of Patrick Vieira, playing up front with Karim …
Antonio Conte does not understand continual speculation over his position at Chelsea and remains adamant he will see out the remainder of his contract at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian led Chelsea to the Premier League crown in his first year in charge but has cut an unhappy figure for most of 2017-18, with suggestions he is not satisfied with the club s transfer policy adding to an underwhelming title defence.
This has inevitably led to suggestions he will leave Chelsea at the end of the season, 12 months before his deal expires either of his own accord or following the sack, but Conte insists that is not the case.
Speaking ahead of Monday s trip to Watford, he said: I don t know why [there is so much speculation].
My intention, my will is to respect my c…
Prediction: Sergio Aguero to score first
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Leicester City will hope the focus is on the football this weekend as they travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City.
Claude Puel will reportedly be without star man Riyad Mahrez for the trip to Eastlands, with the Algerian being denied a move to the Premier League leaders during the January transfer window.
With the task already being monumental against the Citizens, it will surely be even more difficult against Pep Guardiola’s troops without the skilful winger.
Manchester City
The current Premier League leaders welcome the former champions in fine form. Since their 4-3 defeat at the hands of Liverpool, City have gone five games without defeat, winning four of those clashes. The…
Kwesi Appiah will continue as Ghana head coach after he received the full backing of their Football Association.
Appiah s future with the African nation was brought under question following their elimination from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana lost two of their three matches at the Brazil showpiece, drawing the other against Germany, as they were knocked out following the group stages.
The 54-year-old coach insisted he was keen to stay in the role he has occupied since 2012 and the Ghana Football Association have given him their vote of confidence despite the disappointment.
Earlier on Wednesday the Ghana FA officially apologised to their fans for the side s early exit and the organisation s chairman, Kwesi Nyantakyi, followed that up with news about Appi…
R.S.C. Anderlecht striker Dieumerci Mbokani was the subject of a bid from an unnamed English Premier League club in the January transfer window, .
The Democratic Republic of the Congo international, joined Anderlecht from AS Monaco for a fee of €3 million in August 2011, has reestablished himself as a top-class European talisman after struggling for success at Monaco and VfL Wolfsburg over the past two seasons.
Mbokani, 27, was initially loaned to Anderlecht by parent club Tout Puissant Mazembe, previously known as Englebert, during the 2006-07 season.
After a successful loan spell in the Brussels-Capital Region, Jupiler Pro League giants Royal Standard de Liège snapped up Mbokani for an undisclosed transfer fee.
As previously men…
Sadio Mane is a top player who you can only sit back and watch , says Bayern Munich team-mate Alphonso Davies after Sunday s 2-0 win over Wolfsburg.
The Senegal international, who arrived from Liverpool ahead of the start of the 2022-23 season, has made an instant impact at his new home, setting the Bundesliga alight with his performances.
A superb league debut in a 6-1 rout of Eintracht Frankfurt last week saw him get himself on the scoresheet, and only a VAR intervention stopped him from finding it again this weekend.
But even without another goal to his name, Mane who fired the Reds to a domestic cup double last term and his country to Africa Cup of Nations glory, plus World Cup qualification has left his team-mates impressed.
Sadio Mane, you see this…
Hungary stunned 10-man Austria 2-0 as second-half goals from Adam Szalai and Zoltan Stieber earned a surprise victory in their Euro 2016 Group F opener.
Austria came into Tuesday s meeting in Bordeaux as the favourites to get their campaign off to a triumphant start, having cruised through qualifying in style, dropping just two points from their 10 fixtures.
But Hungary, who scraped into the play-offs before defeating Norway, had other ideas and after being on the back foot for much of the first half, took the lead just after the hour through Szalai s prodded finish.
And things went from bad to worse for Marcel Koller s men four minutes later when defender Aleksandar Dragovic was perhaps harshly shown a second yellow card.
Hungary, making their first a…
Verdict: England to Win
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Holland vs England was once one of the highest-profile international fixtures on the planet, but the Netherlands’ recent decent into football mediocrity, including failure to qualify for both the 2016 Euros and the 2018 World Cup, has taken some of the shine off this fixture. It should still be an excellent match however as neither squad is lacking in talent, and the Dutch should provide a good challenge for England ahead of the World Cup.
Netherlands
When you look at the Holland squad on paper it is difficult to see how they could go far wrong, or at least quite as wrong as they have gone. There are some big name players available to Ronald Koeman, including the likes of Memphis Depay and Georginio W…
Santos star Neymar has again voiced his dismay at his treatment in Brazil s 1-0 international friendly win over South Africa.
The tricky attacker was booed by his own fans on Friday as Brazil struggled to impress against the 2010 World Cup hosts, and Neymar feels that people are perhaps expecting too much of him.
I felt sick because of what happened against South Africa. I am not a machine, he was quoted as saying by Globo Esporte.
I was exhausted after Friday s match, both physically and mentally.
I just want to keep on playing and help Santos and the national team.
Brazil will be looking to improve on Friday s performance in the friendly against China on September 11.
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Signing Liverpool striker Andy Carroll is still West Ham s top priority over the off-season, according to club manager Sam Allardyce.
The 24-year-old forward spent last season on loan at Upton Park, scoring seven goals in 24 Premier League appearances.
Carroll s impact was not just limited to goals, with West Ham delighted with the all-round play of the most expensive British player ever, who cost Liverpool 35 million pounds from Newcastle in 2011.
Allardyce has reportedly made a bid of 15 million pounds for the striker, who is currently weighing up his options.
At this moment in time, our first priority is signing Andy Carroll, if we can, Allardyce told the club s official website.
Carroll declared at the end of the season that West Ham was a great club and that he had been o…