Didier Deschamps was ready to select Dimitri Payet in France s World Cup squad before injury struck for the Marseille attacker during Wednesday s Europa League final.
The Ligue 1 side slid to a 3-0 defeat against Atletico Madrid in Lyon, with their performance deteriorating after Payet left the field in tears after half an hour.
Other high-profile omissions such as Manchester United forward Anthony Martial and Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette have been axed on grounds of form but, in Payet s case, Deschamps confirmed a newly acquired hamstring injury counted as too much of a risk.
He was a serious candidate for a position in the 23, Deschamps told TF1 after naming his final party for Russia 2018 on Thursday.
He played the first half-hour of the Europ…
Serbia will appeal UEFA s decision to dock them three points and fine them €100,000 for their part in the abandoned fixture with Albania.
The Euro 2016 Group I qualifier between the two sides in Belgrade took place among a fractious political backdrop, and was abandoned shortly before half-time when a drone carrying a flag featuring Albanian national symbols entered the stadium and hovered over the pitch.
Serbia defender Stefan Mitrovic attempted to pull the flag down, which sparked an angry reaction from opposition players, with supporters invading the field as the situation escalated.
Referee Martin Atkinson abandoned the game and UEFA issued a statement on Friday declaring that Serbia had been handed a 3-0 walkover result, but had also been deducted three po…
Barcelona have completed the signing of young Japan attacker Hiroki Abe on a four-year deal from Kashima Antlers.
The J1 League side confirmed Abe s impending departure on Friday after agreeing a reported €2million deal, and Barca have since announced his arrival.
Abe, 20, was named Rookie of the Year in Japan s top-flight last year and featured in all three of Japan s group matches at the 2019 Copa America.
He is expected to initially link up with Barca s second string but could feature for the first-team on their pre-season tour.
[ÚLTIMA HORA] Hiroki Abe se incorpora al Barça. El delantero del Kashima Antlers, de 20 años y elegido mejor jugador joven de la J-League 2018, firma por cuatro temporadas.
¡Bienvenido al Barça Hiroki!
�…
Borussia Dortmund have seen off competition from a host of major European clubs to sign Salzburg talent Erling Haaland, the Bundesliga club have confirmed.
The Norway international has signed on until 2024, putting an end to the speculation around his future that had been fuelled by his scintillating impact with Salzburg in the Champions League.
Haaland, 19, only joined Salzburg at the start of 2019 having agreed a move from Molde the previous August, but his form this season has forced Europe s biggest clubs to take notice.
After making only two appearances in last season s Austrian Bundesliga, Haaland has enjoyed a remarkable rise to prominence by netting 28 goals in 22 appearances in all competitions.
The powerful striker scored eight goals from just f…
The fixtures for next years Major League Soccer have been announced. The Qwest Field will host the first game of the MLS season with Seattle Sounders FC hosting new franchise Philadelphia Union in their inaugural season in MLS on March 25th 2010.
Seattle know how Philadelphia feel with the Sounders only starting their MLS careers last season. The 2008 expansion side managed to attract an average of 30,000 fans per game in their first ever season in MLS and they will be hoping to continue to attract fans to the Qwest Field next season.
Philadelphia Union become the 16th team in MLS next season and are coached by MLS All-Time Best eleven member Peter Nowak. The former Polish international has proved a big success in America as a player and will be hoping to continue that …
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan said he wouldn t lose any sleep after his side drew their second consecutive game at Parkhead in their match against Dundee United on Saturday.
The home side threw away a two-goal lead against United to share the points in a thrilling 2-2 draw just a week after defeating rivals Rangers 1-0 at Ibrox in the second Old Firm derby of the season.
In their previous game at Parkhead Celtic were forced to work hard for a 1-1 draw against Hearts.
But with his side eight points clear of Rangers, who take on Inverness Caledonian Thistle on Sunday, in the Scottish Premier League Strachan said he was focussing on the positives of back-to-back away victories rather than dwelling on dropped points at home.
I would be more concerned if…
May 4 is Star Wars Day, and the global holiday that celebrates the most-popular sci-fi franchise of all time also means there are some great deals floating around the internet. Over at Amazon and Best Buy, there are plenty of Star Wars movies on both 4K and Blu-ray that have deep discounts.
Every single movie in the Star Wars franchise is discounted today, from 1977’s A New Hope–originally just titled Star Wars–to the most recently release, 2019’s The Rise of Skywalker. Star Wars 4K Blu-rays typically go for $23 each, so you’re saving $7 on each one. We’ve only listed the 4K Blu-rays here, because they are actually cheaper than the standard Blu-ray editions. All of the 4K editions come with standard Blu-ray and digital copies, too. Most of the listings below are…
Aston Villa midfielder Leandro Bacuna has signed a new five-year deal with the Premier League club that will keep him at Villa Park until 2020.
Bacuna was a first-team regular during his first season at Villa after moving from Groningen in 2013, but found opportunities hard to come by under Tim Sherwood last term.
The 23-year-old only made 10 league starts in 2014-15, but his performances have impressed the
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Villa hierarchy and he has been rewarded with a new deal.
I am absolutely thrilled to sign a new contract and continue my time at Aston Villa, he told the club s official website.
I love it here and am really excited about my future in claret and blue under the manager.
I feel I can really develop here and show my worth to the …
Eric Abidal has revealed that former team-mate Dani Alves offered to donate part of his liver during his recent battle with illness.
The France international was diagnosed with a tumour on his liver in March 2011 and, though that was successfully removed by doctors, the Frenchman required a transplant a year later.
And he has now explained that Alves, who wears Abidal s shirt number for Barcelona this season following his friend s close-season departure, was prepared to make a sizeable sacrifice upon hearing the news.
My relationship with Dani goes much further than him taking my old No. 22 shirt, he told Radio Catalunya.
When I had to undergo surgery, he offered to donate his liver. Of course, it’s completely out of the question because he is a professional fo…
Paris Saint-Germain have been dealt an injury blow just days from their Ligue 1 season opener after Ander Herrera suffered a calf strain.
Herrera, who joined PSG in July after his contract at Manchester United expired, played in last week s 2-1 victory over Rennes in the Trophee des Champions as he rounded off a busy pre-season with his new club.
But PSG confirmed Spanish midfielder Herrera, 29, injured his left calf in training on Wednesday and will face three to four weeks on the sidelines.
PSG head coach Thomas Tuchel has the likes of €18million signing Pablo Sarabia available in midfield, as well as the likes of Marco Verratti, Idrissa Gueye and Julian Draxler, but the loss of Herrera just four days before PSG s clash with Nimes is nevertheless a signif…