In a recent report, The Daily Mail claimed that Chelsea are locked in a three-way battle for Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix. It has been mentioned that the Blues would have to rival Arsenal a...
Chelsea are planning at least two major signings, with a possible third, but face a balancing act this summer. A further signing is expected to be Valentin Barco from partner club Strasbourg. The Argentina international has played primarily in central midfield over the past two seasons, but previously operated at left-back for Boca Juniors and Brighton.
Dublin-born defender’s display against Spain drew comparisons with Paul McGrath’s against Italy in 1994 but he says there is still room to improveRucksack on his back, Roberto “Pico” Lopes was standing on the corner of the narrow walkway way below the stands at the Atlanta stadium on Monday afternoon when the last of Spain’s players tried to make their way home. More than an hour after the final whistle had gone and they still couldn’t get past him, someone quipped. The centre-back from Crumlin reckoned he was “rusty” too here, yet he was at the heart of the greatest moment in Cape Verde’s history, one his coach claimed went far beyond football, and the kind of story only the World Cup can write.It had taken a little while and a word or two to realise it. In the final minute when Spain had their 11th and last corner, Lopes had looked at the clock and seen that it was close. He had heard the final whistle go, heard the roar as it was confirmed that Cape Verde had held on, undefeated on their tournament debut. He had seen the tears and celebration, family and friends in the stands, As he went down the tunnel he encountered Ray Houghton, scorer of the goal in New York when the Republic of Ireland defeated Italy 32 years ago, and embraced him. It was, he said, “lovely”, but what all this meant hadn’t entirely sunk in yet. Continue reading...
Forward Toyosi Olusanya is "buzzing to be back" at Aberdeen after agreeing a two-year deal at Pittodrie. The former St Mirren attacker, 28, had a loan spell at the Dons from Houston Dynamo last season and leaves the Major League Soccer outfit at the end of his contract. Englishman Olusanya scored twice in 18 Aberdeen appearances between January and May.
Support in LA included those of past and present regimes, and opponents of both, but a match that captivated all could not dissolve troublesSoccer unites. This is what we are told. It swoops in, majestic in the players’ grace, and gives a people – any people – a thing to rally around in good times and bad. It’s true, that does happen on occasion. But other times, as in Monday’s 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand here in southern California, the magic of this ridiculously simple game lies in its power to make one, or several, or several thousand, forget.Before the game, Iranians worldwide had been divided by decades of political and cultural difficulty and the Iran team were hamstrung by interrupted preparations for what should be the pinnacle of any player’s career. Continue reading...
Fifa president sets gruelling itinerary across tournamentWorld Cup to generate about 9m tons of carbon dioxideGianni Infantino is planning to attend two World Cup games each day where possible for the rest of the tournament despite the huge distances involved.The Fifa president has access to a private jet provided by Qatar Airways as a value-in-kind element of its sponsorship deal with the world governing body, which will come in useful as Infantino journeys across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Continue reading...
After shining for several years, France arrives established as one of the best national teams in the world. However, they will not be able to count on Hugo Ekitike, being a key absence heading into the offensive facet. France have established as one of the best national teams in the world. Maintaining a star-studded roster and a clear playing philosophy, they arrive as clear favorites to win the 2026 World Cup. While they have Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, they will not be able to count on Hugo Ekitike, who was in outstanding form with Liverpool, making him a very significant absence for the tournament. Hugo Ekitike suffered a severe Achilles tendon rupture on April 14, 2026, while playing for Liverpool against PSG. With an estimated recovery time of nine months, he could return between January 2027 and April 2027. As a result, the 23-year-old striker was ruled out of the 2026 World Cup with France. Without his presence on the field, France loses a reliable backup option to replace Kylian Mbappé. After arriving as a star signing for Liverpool, Hugo secured the starting striker role. Playing 45 matches, he managed to score 17 goals and provide 6 assists. Not only were his statistics impressive, but his contribution to the collective game was also outstanding. He can play both as a striker and as a winger, making him a difference-maker. Because of this, France loses a key element. Who replaced Hugo Ekitike in France’s 2026 World Cup squad? Over the last few years, head coach Didier Deschamps has decided to rely on Hugo Ekitike as a key asset in both the striker and winger positions. After establishing himself as an essential player, his injury was a significant blow. Without a player with the same characteristics, France decided to turn to a player who has been shining in England: Jean-Philippe Mateta. Hugo Ekitike of Liverpool and Jean-Philippe Mateta of Crystal Palace. At 28 years old, Mateta has emerged as an undisputed starter for Crystal Palace. Although he is coming off a knee injury, he regained his competitive rhythm and returned to the starting lineup for his club. He even managed to score 16 goals and provide 3 assists, making him a reliable goalscorer for certain situations. In addition, Deschamps has Marcus Thuram and Maghnes Akliouche as dependable attacking alternatives. Despite missing the 2026 World Cup, Hugo Ekitike has a great chance of returning to the national team. At just 23 years old, he could make a strong comeback at UEFA Euro 2028, which would be an ideal stage to shine. To do so, he has plenty of time ahead of him to regain his best form at Liverpool and provide guarantees for France.
