Virgil van Dijk has backed Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah to turn disappointment into success after Egypt failed to qualify for this year s World Cup.
Salah, who had lasers directed at him from the crowd as he lined up his spot-kick, blazed over in the penalty shoot-out on Tuesday as it was Senegal – spearheaded by fellow Liverpool star Sadio Mane – who booked their spot in Qatar following a 1-1 aggregate draw across two legs.
It was the second time this year that Salah and Egypt have suffered shoot-out agony against Senegal, who triumphed in the same way in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Salah has been one of the standout players in European football this season, yet will not get the chance to show his quality on the biggest international stage.
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Rodriguez spent the last two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich, at the end of which the Bundesliga title holders decided not to trigger the option to buy, set at €42 million. However, the Spanish giants are hoping they will be able to get close to that amount for the attacking midfielder who seems to have fallen short of the promise announced by his fantastic performances in the 2014 World Cup.
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Julian Nagelsmann said Bayern Munich won t take any chances with Robert Lewandowski s fitness when they face Freiburg on Saturday, with the striker nursing a rib injury.
The Bayern boss offered a promising update on Leon Goretzka s fitness, saying he would love to let the midfielder play, but could be left without Joshua Kimmich due to the imminent birth of his child.
Lewandowski netted a second-half penalty to set Poland on their way to World Cup qualification on Tuesday, opening the scoring in a 2-0 play-off win over Sweden.
The 33-year-old s last club outing saw him net twice against Union Berlin to reach 30 Bundesliga goals for a fifth time, a feat only previously achieved by the legendary Gerd Muller.
Ahead of the trip to fifth-placed Freiburg, Nagel…
Neymar insisted Miranda was fouled as Switzerland equalised to deny Brazil victory in their opening game at the World Cup, and the star striker also urged referees to offer better protection after he came in for some rough treatment in Rostov-on-Don.
Steven Zuber appeared to push Miranda before heading home a second-half goal that saw Tite s side held 1-1 in a Group E clash at Rostov Arena.
The coach of the Selecao was adamant Switzerland s goal should have been ruled out by referee Cesar Ramos, and Neymar agreed with that assessment.
I guess it was foul, he said.
When you see the moment on [the] replay, people celebrating the goal I was seeing it again but it s not for me to talk about it, there are four professionals working for that. They have t…
Croatia and Eintracht Frankfurt star Ante Rebic praised former boss Niko Kovac but played down speculation of a reunion at Bayern Munich.
Kovac was officially unveiled as Bayern head coach on Monday, having moved to the Bundesliga champions to replace Jupp Heynckes.
Since joining Bayern, Kovac has been linked with a raid on his old club, with Croatia forward Rebic reportedly at the top of the list after spending two years working together.
Rebic who scored twice and Kovac masterminded Frankfurt s stunning 3-1 win over Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final last season.
Eintracht Frankfurt star Ante Rebic was asked about former boss Niko Kovac and talks of a reunion at Bayern Munich.
Said he’s only focused on Eintracht and
— Sacha Pisan…
Mauricio Pochettino believes Kylian Mbappe’s uncertain future will be clarified soon following reports linking the superstar striker with a move away from Paris Saint-Germain.
France international Mbappe lit up the Camp Nou with a devastating hat-trick to crush Barcelona in PSG’s 4-1 Champions League last-16 win on Tuesday.
Following his starring performance, the 22-year-old said: It would be stupid to decide my future on a single match, sparking speculation about his long-term plans with his hometown club.
Mbappe’s contract expires in June 2022 and some of Europe’s biggest club are rumoured to be circling if the French champions cannot not lock down the World Cup winner to a new deal.
Last year’s losing Champions League finallists, PSG, are c…
Marco Giampaolo has become the latest AC Milan head coach to see his time at San Siro cut unceremoniously short.
Appointed in June on an initial two-year contract, the 52-year-old oversaw just seven Serie A matches before becoming the seventh Rossoneri boss to be sacked since Massimiliano Allegri left in January 2014.
Four defeats and only six goals scored in those seven league games underlines the difficult start to the season Milan have made, even if they did battle to a decent win over Genoa on Saturday.
Still, sacking a coach so soon in a season is remarkably impatient and short-sighted, surely? Well, Opta data paints something of a different picture
1 This is the first team a Milan head coach has been sacked after the first seven matchdays of a Serie…
World Cup winner and former AC Milan defender Cristian Zaccardo is determined to find a club and he is using LinkedIn to do so.
Zaccardo was part of the Italy team who lifted the World Cup trophy aloft in 2006 but the 35-year-old is currently without a team.
The Italian veteran played for Vicenza last season but he was unable to prevent relegation from Serie B.
And Zaccardo has now turned to LinkedIn – a professional networking service that allows job seekers to post their CVs online – as he looks to prolong his career.
I cancelled the contract that tied me to the Vicenza until June 2018 I m currently a free soccer player, Zaccardo wrote in English and Italian on the social media site.
I m still good physically I could play two more years at…
Feyenoord striker Robin van Persie is set to retire at the end of the season.
Former Arsenal and Manchester United forward Van Persie rejoined boyhood club Feyenoord in January and has enjoyed his return, but he is not planning on staying beyond the 2018-19 campaign.
The 35-year-old played his role in his side s KNVB Cup triumph last term and will not prolong his career solely in pursuit of the Eredivisie title, insisting his second stint with Feyenoord is already a success as he has rediscovered his enjoyment of the game.
When should I stop? That is normally at the end of this season. That s the approach, Van Persie said ahead of Sunday s Klassieker against Ajax.
I will be 36 years old and will have been a professional for 18 years. From the age of f…
Verdict: Draw at HT, Chelsea at FT yes
Best Odds:
Bookmaker:
Chelsea and AS Roma will collide this Wednesday at Stamford Bridge. An authentic battle of giants will meet two attacking-minded teams, and there is a lot at stake. Whoever wins this game will move closer to clinching a berth in the tournament s next round. Kick-off is scheduled at 19:45 BST, and Damir Skomina will be the referee.
Chelsea
Chelsea have looked like two different teams if we compare their form in the UEFA Champions League and the English Premier League. In the continental stage they have won their two matches against Qarabag and Atletico Madrid, but their domestic run has been quite poor. They actually lost two games at home already against Burnley and Manchester City and have …