Real Sociedad hosts rival Athletic Bilbao in a mouthwatering Basque derby on Saturday, aiming to tighten its grip on third place in LaLiga. Sociedad has toyed with a top-four finish in recent seasons but ultimately lacked the stamina to cling on to it, so Imanol Alguacil hopes things can be different in this campaign. The coach […]
Rikesh Sharma
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Talented Joao Felix needs Chelsea rebirth after Atletico struggles
Joao Felix is aiming to reignite his career at Chelsea on loan after underwhelming at Atletico Madrid, which he joined for an eye-watering 126 million euros ($135 million) in 2019. The Portugal international arrived from Benfica as one of the most expensive signings of all time, despite having played just 26 top-flight games. Atletico hoped […]
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Pressure rising: Barca must cope without Robert Lewandowski in derby
Robert Lewandowski has taken LaLiga by storm, but Barcelona coach Xavi must cope without him during a busy January period, starting with a Catalan derby against Espanyol on Saturday. The Polish striker is the division’s top scorer but is suspended for three league games after being sent off in Barcelona’s final match before the World Cup. […]
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Portugal coach Santos finds the right formula (no Cristiano Ronaldo) at the right time
Portugal coach Fernando Santos had put off the decision for years, but eventually rolled the dice — and benched Cristiano Ronaldo. The gamble paid off handsomely as Goncalo Ramos struck a hat-trick in a 6-1 thrashing of Switzerland to set up a World Cup quarterfinal showdown with Morocco on Saturday. Newly liberated Portugal has installed […]
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Spain: Luis Enrique is out as head coach after World Cup flop
Spain sacked coach Luis Enrique on Thursday after the 2010 champions were dumped out of the World Cup by Morocco at the last-16 stage, quickly naming his replacement as under-21s boss Luis de la Fuente. Spain started its campaign in Qatar in style by hammering Costa Rica 7-0 and qualified for the knockout phase despite […]
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Morocco stuns Spain to reach World Cup quarterfinals for first time
Achraf Hakimi struck the decisive penalty in a shootout to send Morocco into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time on Tuesday as the African side stunned Spain after a goalless draw. Spain coach Luis Enrique had claimed he set his players the “homework” of taking 1,000 penalties each. But Pablo Sarabia, Carlos Soler […]
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Tireless Luka Modric leads by example for Croatia
Croatia’s squad features only a few of the players which led them to the World Cup final in 2018, runners-up to France, but Luka Modric is defying time to be one of those few constants. The 37-year-old Real Madrid midfielder worked tirelessly across the full 90 minutes of the 0-0 draw with Belgium on Thursday […]
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Japan stuns Spain, but both advance
Spain staggered through to the World Cup last 16 on Thursday despite a 2-1 defeat by Japan, which remarkably won Group E on a roller-coaster night when four-time champion Germany was eliminated. At the end of the first half, Spain and Germany were through. Then, for three minutes, Japan and Costa Rica were positioned to […]
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Morata's time may be now for Spain after underwhelming decade
Alvaro Morata strikes for Spain against Germany at the World Cup. * * * * * * * * * * Spain and Atletico Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has a star-studded resume, spending time at Real Madrid, Juventus and Chelsea, but is rarely considered an elite striker. Two LaLiga titles, two Serie A titles and […]
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Top scorer Valencia back in World Cup spotlight with Ecuador
Journeyman Ecuador striker Enner Valencia has drifted in and out — mainly out — of planet soccer’s consciousness. The striker skirted the periphery of relevance until arriving at the World Cup, where suddenly he is in his element. Ecuador’s 33-year-old captain burst into the limelight in Brazil 2014, scoring three in the group phase against […]