Galatasaray head coach Okan Buruk has urged his players to harness the power of the Rams Park crowd when they face Liverpool in the Champions League last-16 on Tuesday. The Turkish side are looking to repeat their success from the league phase, where a 1-0 victory in Istanbul proved they can handle the Premier League giants on their own turf.
Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has confirmed the club is in no rush to extend Manuel Neuer’s contract. As the legendary 39-year-old goalkeeper approaches his 40th birthday, the hierarchy is waiting for him to evaluate his physical condition. With Jonas Urbig impressing in relief, the club remains calm about the future transition between the sticks.
Sao Paulo have announced the surprise departure of head coach Hernan Crespo. The former Chelsea and Inter striker leaves his post following a decisive meeting at the Barra Funda training centre on Monday, with the club hierarchy opting for a change despite a seemingly positive run of domestic results in the early stages of the new campaign.
Brentford owner Matthew Benham has revealed how the club nearly signed future superstars Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Omar Marmoush and Mykhailo Mudryk for a fraction of their current values. Speaking in Boston, he shared fascinating insights into the massive bargains that ultimately slipped away due to staggering agent demands and complex negotiations.
The defending Premier Soccer League champions have revealed plans to face one of the elite teams, not only in Germany but in Europe at large. South African players have an opportunity to gauge themselves against their European-based colleagues and maybe get better deals abroad. Mzansi football lovers will enjoy watching their own team facing a top side.
Masandawana return to action, hoping to win and widen the gap at the top over fierce rivals, Orlando Pirates. Currently, the Premier Soccer League leading sides have the same points - 44 - with the Sea Robbers leading by a slim goal difference. Should the Brazilians win, Bucs will have a chance to close the gap when they play Richards Bay a day later.
Iraq head coach Graham Arnold has issued an urgent plea to football’s international governing body to postpone his team’s intercontinental qualifier for the World Cup because of disruptions caused by the escalating Iran war. The Lions of Mesopotamia are currently scheduled to face either Suriname or Bolivia in a winner-takes-all play-off on March 31 in Monterrey, Mexico, but the logistical mountain has become too steep to climb.
Real Madrid's preparations for their crucial Champions League round of 16 clash against Manchester City have suffered another major setback. Young defender Alvaro Carreras has sustained a calf injury, joining key players like Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo on the sidelines. Head coach Alvaro Arbeloa faces severe selection challenges ahead of the Bernabeu tie.
Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has escalated his legal dispute with the British government over the £2.5 billion proceeds from the sale of the Premier League club. Despite international sanctions freezing his assets following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Russian oligarch insists that he should maintain control over how the massive windfall is allocated for charitable purposes.
Javier Tebas has vehemently denied the explosive allegations that La Liga approved Lionel Messi's return to Barcelona in 2023. The league president's rebuttal comes amid a public feud that has erupted between Xavi Hernandez and Joan Laporta just days before the club's presidential elections, with the latter brutally dismissing the former coach's tenure while defending his own decisions.
Masandawana are the only team from Mzansi in the ongoing CAF inter-club competition following the elimination of the Glamour Boys, the Sea Robbers, and Stellenbosch. The Brazilians will reap big, as confirmed by the organisers, but they should go all the way and bring the most coveted trophy home. Last season, they reached the final but fell to Pyramids.
adidas have thrown it back to the 1994 World Cup and gotten us bang in the mood for the 2026 edition by dropping a jersey inspired by an iconic USMNT look from the last time the tournament was hosted in the United States.
Dagenham & Redbridge are officially "daring to dream" following the high-profile arrival of YouTube sensation and entrepreneur KSI as a major shareholder. The social media icon, whose real name is Olajide Olatunji, was unveiled as a key investor in the National League South side last week, marking a significant shift in the club's profile and ambitions as they look to climb back up the English football pyramid.
GOAL Exclusive: The American midfielder discusses adversity, gratitude, and why this year’s challenges have prepared him to fight for a World Cup spot.
Manchester United legend Patrice Evra has identified Paris Saint-Germain boss Luis Enrique as the "dream" candidate to lead the Red Devils, though he remains keen on seeing former midfielder Michael Carrick given a chance. Speaking on the future of the hot seat at Old Trafford, Evra suggested that Enrique’s tactical genius and personal resilience make him an ideal fit for the scrutiny of the Premier League.
In what could infuriate the Amakhosi fan base again, the national team head coach has not named a single player from the club. However, the Sea Robbers enjoy a high representation, followed by their close Premier Soccer League rivals, Mamelodi Sundowns. Thembinkosi Lorch, who has enjoyed an impressive run, has not been called up again.
An icon of the noughties era, Reebok are finally set to make a return to the football pitch after a 16-year absence. Evoking the days of prime Ryan Giggs and Thierry Henry, a Juventus star will be the face of the brand's comeback in the beautiful game and will wear their brand new boots.
Mohamed Salah's form has been a significant source of concern for Liverpool this season, leading many to wonder if the Egyptian King has finally lost his touch. Former Reds midfielder Didi Hamann has again criticised Salah, arguing that the Egyptian's struggles will not change, as his glory days are over. He urged the management to make immediate changes next season by recruiting new players.
Pep Guardiola can breathe a sigh of relief after Manchester City lynchpin Rodri avoided a playing suspension for his scathing assessment of match officials. The FA confirmed on Monday that an independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Rodri for the media comments he made following a controversial 2-2 draw with Tottenham on February 1. While the Ballon d'Or winner has been slapped with a heavy £80,000 fine, he remains available for selection as City continue their hunt for silverware.
Over the years, some high-profile strikers have come out of Mzansi, but recently, the upcoming ones have struggled to reach the standards set by their predecessors. As Hugo Broos looks forward to naming his World Cup squad, he should be scratching his head on whether the available centre-forwards will deliver. Before then, though, a retired striker has shared lessons for the current crop.
GOAL runs the rule over the British players earning a living away from their homeland, with plenty more stars deciding to leave their comfort zones in search of a better footballing life elsewhere. The Premier League is still obviously one of the world's most entertaining divisions and the Championship can prove fantastic for development, but there are more options out there.
Liverpool's Champions League ambitions have been rocked by the news that Alisson will miss the first leg of their last-16 clash against Galatasaray. The Brazilian shot-stopper, who is still widely considered to be one of the world's top goalkeepers, was a notable absentee as the Reds confirmed their 21-man travelling squad for the daunting trip to Istanbul.
Referees play critical roles in any football competitions but are always on the verge of a severe dressing-down if they make decisions considered biased. The coaches have always expressed their dissatisfaction openly when they feel decisions made were against their teams. Although freedom of expression is allowed, an experienced tactician has cautined his colleagues against public condemnation of the match officials.
Liverpool's preparations for their crucial Champions League clash against Galatasaray took a bizarre turn on Monday morning. While the focus was on who was present at the AXA Training Centre, former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood was left baffled at video footage of a training routine involving some of the club's biggest stars - a clip that was eventually deleted by Sky Sports.
Weston McKennie admits that the USMNT will be under “pressure” to deliver at a home World Cup, but considers that level of expectation to bring with it “extra motivation”. The United States is counting down the days to another major tournament on American soil, with McKennie explaining to GOAL how Mauricio Pochettino’s squad will handle the demands of heat and travel.
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