China will look to take another step towards their third East Asian Cup win when they meet hosts South Korea on Wednesday.
Caretaker manager Fu Bo saw his side equally share six goals with Japan in their first match in Seoul on Sunday, while South Korea got their campaign under way with a goalless draw against Australia on Saturday.
The Socceroos were invited to join the tournament that exclusively includes Japan, China and Korea with a fourth party vying to participate through qualifying.
And Holger Osieck s team will prove stern competition for the other members having already qualified for their third consecutive FIFA World Cup and remaining unbeaten since March this year.
However, China are looking to win their third East Asian Cup and will be buoyed by th…
Paul Pogba was supposed to be the jewel in the crown of a glorious Manchester United renaissance when the Red Devils delved deep into their seemingly endless pit of reserves to bring the Frenchman back to Old Trafford.
Jose Mourinho arrived as the messiah following the turgid existence under Louis van Gaal. Henrikh Mkhitaryan the man with the guile to unlock defences. Eric Bailly a raw, powerhouse centre-back was a glimpse into the future. But above all was Pogba – the prodigal son was back to fulfil his destiny on the red side of Manchester.
Fast forward nine months and the harsh reality is in stark contrast to the glorious vision that was painted.
United have limped to a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and with, so far, only a League Cup victory to …
Manchester United are eyeing a move for Barcelona star Sergio Busquets, .
The twenty-seven year old is yet to be offered a new deal at the Nou Camp, despite holding out for a pay increase and the Red Devils are ready to launch a big-money bid.
Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain are also interested in agreeing a deal for the midfielder, with the former about to be managed by Pep Guardiola, who worked with Busquets for four years in Catalonia.
The Spain international has racked up three hundred and seventy appearances for Barca in all competitions, scoring twelve times and has won a whole host of major honors with the club including five La Liga titles, three Spanish cups and three Champions Leagues.
He has been capped eighty-two times for his c…
Barcelona have reached an agreement to sign Arturo Vidal from Bayern Munich on a three-year contract, the LaLiga champions have announced.
The 31-year-old is set to complete his move following a medical over the coming days, in a deal understood to be worth in the region of €20million.
FC Barcelona and FC Bayern Munich have reached an agreement for the transfer of player Arturo Vidal, read a statement on Barca s official website.
The agreement with Arturo Vidal is for the next three seasons and is pending medical review that the player will pass in the coming days.
FC Barcelona will soon inform of the arrival of the player and the agenda of the presentation.
Vidal was linked with a Serie A return at Inter, having starred for Juventus bef…
Sergio Aguero continued his rich vein of scoring form with a clinical hat-trick as Manchester City overcame Chelsea, who finished the match with 10 men following Thibaut Courtois dismissal, 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Aguero has now scored 13 goals in his last 12 top-flight appearances, and his display helped City temporarily move up to third position, though Arsenal would overtake them if they beat Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Argentina international was dangerous from the early stages, with he and Pedro having efforts blocked by last-ditch defending inside the opening 10 minutes.
Kevin De Bruyne was a constant menace on his first return to the club who sold him in 2014, playing a key role in Aguero s first two goals, which both came from swift counter-attacking mo…
I really hope that this can be my season with Real Madrid, James told El Chiringuito.
James is recovering from a calf injury sustained in action for Madrid prior to the international break.
The injury ruled James out of Colombia s friendlies against Brazil and Venezuela.
Zinedine Zidane s Madrid have only won one of their opening three matches following back-to-back draws to be four points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid.
Madrid return to action when they welcome Levante to the Santiago Bernabeu on September 14.
…
Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denied allegations that he benefitted improperly from bonus payments over the last five years.
On Friday, lawyers conducting an internal investigation at world football s governing body claimed that Blatter and fellow disgraced former officials Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner benefitted improperly from bonuses totalling 79million Swiss francs (£55m).
Law firm Quinn Emanuel believe two clauses in contract extensions granted to ex-secretary general Valcke and former deputy secretary general Kattner in April 2011, shortly before Blatter s re-election ahead of Mohammed Bin Hamman, contravened mandatory Swiss Law.
Quinn Emanuel stated that the evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officia…
FIFA has announced that AS Pirae from Tahiti will replace Auckland City at the Club World Cup due to COVID-19 rules in New Zealand.
Auckland were set to participate at the 18th edition of FIFA s global tournament, which is due to take place in February in the United Arab Emirates.
Champions League winners Chelsea and Copa Libertadores holders Palmeiras are the headline teams as UEFA and CONMEBOL s respective entries, though FIFA has been forced into a late change with Pirae nominated as the OFC s representative following Auckland s withdrawal.
FIFA announced the decision on Friday in a statement that said the delayed reopening of the borders in New Zealand due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as the reintroduction of quarantine protocols in the country ha…
Wigan Athletic have signed Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton on a 28-day emergency loan.
The Championship club have secured the 23-year-old s services in time for him to face QPR on Wednesday.
And manager Owen Coyle was delighted to bring a player with Premier League experience into his squad.
Marc has shown what an outstanding player he is time and again in the Premier League, and he is someone I have tried to sign in the past, so I m delighted to bring him on board to strengthen our squad, he told the club s official website.
He s at a young age with the potential and scope to get even better; he s quick, dangerous and pleasing on the eye and I feel he s going to really enhance the attacking options we have at Wigan Athletic, particularly in light of Shaun Mal…
Dusan Vlahovic will always be grateful to Fiorentina and is calm ahead of his first return to Florence, according to Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri.
The Serbia international joined Juve for an initial €70million free in January, bringing an end to a three-and-a-half-year stay at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Vlahovic had previously turned down the offer of a new contract with Fiorentina, forcing the club s hand somewhat as he had just 18 months to run on his existing deal.
After reportedly rejecting proposals from Premier League sides Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle United among others, Vlahovic instead opted for Serie A rivals Juventus.
Having also lost Federico Bernardeschi and Federico Chiesa to Juve in recent years, Vlahovic s choice of club di…