From Banfield to Bayern – James Rodriguez´s nomadic career

Antoine Griezmann says he was embarrassed by Thibaut Courtois s criticism of France s style of play after they knocked Belgium out of the World Cup.

Goalkeeper Courtois claimed he would have preferred to lose to Brazil in the quarter-finals as at least that was a team that wanted to play football , before describing France as an anti-football team .

Eden Hazard was also scathing of Didier Deschamps side, who had only 36 per cent of the possession at Krestovsky Stadium but still attempted 10 more shots than their opponents, with their winning goal coming from a Samuel Umtiti header from a corner.

Griezmann thinks Courtois s comments were odd given he was part of the Atletico Madrid team under Diego Simeone that won LaLiga and reached the Champions League final in…

Jupp Heynckes revealed on Thursday that Bayern Munich have asked him to return as head coach for the rest of the season following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti.

Heynckes possesses a prestigious reputation at the Allianz Arena forged on the foundation of prior successes a new agreement would secure his fourth stint in charge of the Bavarian giants.

The former Real Madrid boss last season at the Bayern helm, 2012-13, produced an unprecedented treble of Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League glory, before he made way for Pep Guardiola to take over.

At the time, Heynckes said he had no intention of taking any more coaching jobs but at the age of 72, he is set to return as the oldest manager across Europe s big five leagues, usurping another recent appointme…

Crystal Palace have confirmed that Christian Benteke has signed a new contract with the club.

The 30-year-old striker arrived to Selhurst Park from Liverpool in 2016 for a club-record fee at the time, and has gone on to score 82 goals in 255 appearances for the Eagles. Ten of those goals came in the 2020-21 Premier League campaign, and his form has been deemed good enough for Belgium coach Roberto Martinez who has named him in the 26-man squad for the upcoming European Championship.

Big changes are expected at Palace this summer, with manager Roy Hodgson already gone and a large number of players reaching the end of their contracts. However, Benteke will still be there, having extended his own deal by two years.

I m happy and proud to commit my future to Crysta…

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a brilliant hat-trick as Juventus produced a stunning Champions League comeback, winning 3-0 at home against Atletico Madrid to progress to the quarter-finals 3-2 on aggregate. 

A VAR review denied Juve a fourth-minute opener, but Ronaldo s first header of the game gave them hope and the Serie A leaders drew level in the tie thanks to the Portugal superstar s aerial power again. 

The excellent Federico Bernardeschi then drove into the penalty area and was brought down by Angel Correa, with Ronaldo stepping up with four minutes to go to convert the spot-kick and down Atletico yet again. 

Ronaldo has now scored 25 goals against Atletico in his career, with the former Real Madrid player s treble on Tuesday denying his old club s …

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta has made it clear he is not looking to return to native Brazil in the near future.

The 35-year-old is nearing the end of his contract at Parc des Princes, and a summer exit is a realistic possibility.

While spending his youth career in Brazil, Motta has been in Europe since 1999, but he does not appear to be missing his country.

“A return to Brazil? I’m getting old. Never say never, but I am at an age when it is not easy,” Motta told O Globo after the Marseille game.

“Of course, I love playing football, it’s my life, but I am getting to a certain age. Today, returning to Brazil is not be intention, honestly…”

Thiago Motta has spent last six years at Paris Saint-Germain, making 155 Ligue 1 …

Andres Iniesta admits he has some regrets that he did not win the Champions League more often with Barcelona.

One of Barca s greatest modern players, Iniesta left the club at the end of last season after spending more than 22 years with the youth teams and senior side at Camp Nou.

Iniesta won a remarkable 30 major trophies for Barca, including four Champions Leagues, the last of which came in the treble triumph of 2014-15.

The Catalans have since endured frustration in Europe, though, failing to progress beyond the quarter-final in each of the last three seasons while watching Real Madrid lift the trophy three years running.

While he is proud of his achievements and does not feel resentment towards Madrid s success, Iniesta concedes he would have liked to…

Hertha Berlin head coach Pal Dardai knows how it feels to beat Bayern Munich and has challenged his side to spring a surprise when they take on the champions at the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Dardai has enjoyed a strong start to life as permanent head coach at Hertha, having kept the club in the Bundesliga during his temporary spell last season.

The capital club sit fourth in the Bundesliga table, but face German football s most fearsome task this weekend as they travel to play Bayern.

Pep Guardiola s team have dropped just two points this season and have won all seven of their home league matches, scoring 28 goals in the process.

Recent history is also against Hertha, who have lost their last eight games against Bayern a run that stretches back to Fe…

Gabriel Jesus scored twice and set up another two goals as Arsenal made it two wins to start the Premier League season by beating Leicester City 4-2.

Jesus impressed without getting on the scoresheet in his competitive Gunners debut against Crystal Palace, but the former Manchester City striker delivered the goods on Saturday to make up for some questionable Arsenal defending.

The Brazil international s double put Arsenal into a commanding first-half lead, and he capped off a brilliant display with two second-half assists after Arsenal twice gifted Leicester some hope.

Granit Xhaka netted Arsenal s third following William Saliba s own goal, and after James Maddison struck through Aaron Ramsdale s legs to make it 3-2, Jesus set up Gabriel Martinelli to complete …

Jamie Vardy passed a century of goals for Leicester City as they brushed aside Fulham 3-1 in the Premier League on Saturday.

The Foxes had looked to be heading for a frustrating draw at the King Power Stadium in Brendan Rodgers first home game in charge, but Vardy
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s late double changed all that. 

His first in the 76th minute took him to 100 goals in all competitions for the Foxes, while he kick-started the next century four minutes from time with a scuffed finish from Harvey Barnes pull-back.

The 32-year-old becomes the seventh Leicester player to reach a century of goals for the club and the first since Gary Lineker did so during the 1984-85 campaign.

Vardy s first Leicester goal came on his debut – a 4-0 EFL Cup win over Torquay United…

Verdict: Zenit

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Scottish runaway leaders Celtic prepare for a new beginning in Europe following the Champions League disappointment, with a last 32 tie against Russian heavyweights Zenit St Petersburg who enjoyed a successful run in the group stage of Europa League.

Celtic

Scottish champions Celtic dropped out of the Europe’s elite club competition having finished third in Group B, behind Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, but will continue their European path in the Europa League.

With their eight-point lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, Celtic are welcoming Zenit St Petersburg fully fit for what’s definitely going to be a challenge quite different to their domestic exploits. The Russian giants are a lev…