Olivier Giroud has revealed he and Didier Deschamps are set for talks about the striker s future with France.
A return to favour for Giroud this week came about after Real Madrid s Karim Benzema pulled out of the squad for friendlies against Ivory Coast and South Africa due to injury.
Veteran striker Giroud has impressed with Milan this season, but the 35-year-old s efforts had not been enough to initially persuade coach Deschamps he should be part of the current group. This late call-up shows the Qatar 2022 World Cup later this year may not be out of reach for Giroud.
With 11 goals, the former Chelsea and Arsenal frontman is the joint-leading scorer across all competitions for Serie A leaders Milan.
His last appearance for France was as a substitute in t…
Massimiliano Allegri lauded the mentality of Cristiano Ronaldo, while the former Juventus head coach believes Inter can win the Scudetto.
Ronaldo should be in the twilight of his career, but the 34-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down after joining Juve from LaLiga giants Real Madrid in 2018-19.
Allegri was in charge when Juve prised Ronaldo to Turin in a stunning €112million deal last season – the five-time Ballon d Or winner scoring 21 Serie A goals and 28 in all competitions as the Italian champions claimed their eighth consecutive Scudetto.
Asked about Ronaldo – who netted four goals in Portugal s 5-1 rout of Lithuania to become the highest scoring player in European Championship qualifying history – Allegri hailed the veteran superstar.
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Arsene Wenger will go down in history as one of English football s greatest managers, despite the last few years of decline becoming a source of frustration for some Arsenal fans.
Wenger was a revolutionary following his Arsenal appointment in 1996, helping to usher a new era of hyper-professionalism into the Premier League.
While others soon caught up and Wenger appeared to run out of ideas in his latter years, the Frenchman will leave Arsenal with a highly impressive record.
Here, we assess the Opta numbers to cover a 22-year spell that means Wenger will always be remembered as one of the greats of the game.
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal)
1,228 Wenger has taken charge of well over a thousand matches at Arsenal and if they reach…
Real Madrid have reportedly agreed a deal with Bayern Munich defender David Alaba.
With his contract expiring at the end of the season, Alaba, 28, has been linked with Europe s biggest clubs.
And the Austria international looks set for the Santiago Bernabeu.
TOP STORY – ALABA AGREES FOUR-YEAR DEAL WITH MADRID
Alaba has agreed a four-year deal with Real Madrid, according to Marca.
The Bayern defender will make the move to the LaLiga giants ahead of 2021-22, the report says.
Alaba was also linked to the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Acuerdo cerrado con Alaba
— MARCA (@marca)
ROUND-UP
Staying at Real Madrid and the news is not so good when it comes to Lucas Va…
Lionel Messi has denied knowledge of any wrongdoing while testifying in a tax case at the Eighth Court of Barcelona.
Messi and his father, Jorge, have been charged with three counts of tax fraud worth €4.1million, dating back to a period from 2007 to 2009.
Proceedings began on Tuesday but the Barcelona forward arrived to testify in person on Thursday, just four days before he is due to represent Argentina in the Copa America Centenario in the United States.
The 28-year-old denied knowledge of any fraudulent activities, stating that football was his only focus.
I never asked my dad about these things, Messi is quoted as telling the court by AS.
The truth is that, as I said before, I trusted him and the lawyers. I didn t know anything about…
Life has not always been easy for Karim Benzema at Real Madrid.
Having arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu from Lyon for an initial fee of €35million in July 2009, the France striker has developed into one of Madrid s most influential players and one of the world s best centre-forwards, reflected in his record of 162 goals in 317 appearances.
It has not always been plain sailing in the Spanish capital for Benzema, though.
Manuel Pellegrini often preferred to utilise Gonzalo Higuain up front, while successor Jose Mourinho rotated between the two during his three-year stay in the dugout.
Benzema still hit 20 or more goals in each of his three seasons under Mourinho, however, and eventually became the undisputed first-choice striker upon Carlo Ancelotti s arr…
Graham Dorrans was released by Glasgow Rangers at the start of September, and joined Dundee as a free agent only a few days ago. Having made his debut for his new club in a 1-0 defeat away to Morton, the central midfielder opened up on his departure from Rangers.
Speaking to , the 12-cap Scotland international said it was all about game-time. In the three seasons he spent at the Ibrox, he only made 23 appearances and scored five goals in all competitions. Injuries plagued his time there, and the situation reached the point where manager Steven Gerrard simply couldn t count on him at all anymore. Acknowledging that, Dorrans said it wasn t really hard for him to decide to leave. At the age of 32, he wants to be playing every week, which is something he wasn t going to get at Rang…
Leroy Sane marked his return to the Manchester City starting line-up with a quickfire goal to ignite a 3-0 victory over Fulham.
Germany winger Sane tapped home after 96 seconds and David Silva netted his 50th Premier League goal midway through the first half.
Raheem Sterling helped himself to a third goal this season as City made a similarly rapid start to the second period – Fulham s cavalier attacking approach leaving their excellent goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli repeatedly exposed.
Pep Guardiola s champions remain in touch with early pacesetters Liverpool and Chelsea, two points off the Premier League summit in third.
18 – Leroy Sane has had a hand in 18 goals in his last 16 Premier League games at the Etihad Stadium (6 goals, 12 assists). Return.…
Manchester United capitalised on a pair of Arsenal errors as newly-appointed captain Bruno Fernandes and Jadon Sancho got their US tour off to a winning start.
Erik ten Hag’s side finished third last season and took on the Premier League runners-up on Saturday evening at a sold-out MetLife Stadium – potential host of the 2026 World Cup final.
United emerged victorious from the sides’ first meeting on American soil, Fernandes and Sancho striking in a 2-0 friendly win against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.
Gunners goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was at fault for the opener as Fernandes all too easily beat him from distance, fresh from being named Harry Maguire’s successor as captain.
Super stuff in the States! ||
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
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Gareth Bale netted and Sergio Ramos saw red as Real Madrid swept to a confident 3-0 away victory over Deportivo La Coruna to open their LaLiga title defence.
Zinedine Zidane called for big year from Bale ahead of the match and the Wales international responded by scoring Madrid s opening league goal of the season for a third consecutive campaign.
Casemiro, in with Bale as two of four changes from the Supercopa de Espana second-leg victory over Barcelona, added to his UEFA Super Cup goal against Manchester United by capping a brilliant Madrid passing move to double the visitors lead.
Ramos was fortunate not to be sent off for putting his hand to the face of Depor defender Fabian Schar after the break, but the captain was perhaps unlucky to receive a second yellow …