Five-time winners Brazil go into the World Cup as the team most likely to emerge victorious and add to their record-breaking title collection, according to Opta s World Cup Predictor.
With just a day to go until the big kick-off in Moscow between hosts Russia and Saudi Arabia, Tite s Selecao look in good shape and will be the favourites of many, with Opta giving them a 13.2 per cent chance of winning the tournament.
Reigning champions Germany are rated as the next most likely to take the title on 10.7 per cent, with Argentina (10.1) the only other side said to have in excess of a 10 per cent chance.
At the other end of the scale, Morocco – who have been drawn into the tricky Group B alongside Spain, Portugal and Iran – are rated as having the smallest chance …
Gerard Pique has reiterated his desire to become Barcelona president following the conclusion of his playing career.
The defender, who has been at Camp Nou since 2008, first revealed his interest in the position back in 2014, and former midfielder Xavi has since teased that Pique s dream includes appointing him as head coach, Segio Busquets as assistant and Carles Puyol as sporting director.
Having announced his planned retirement from international football with Spain after the 2018 World Cup, Pique remains intent on fulfilling his grand ambition.
Yes, when I say it it s true I want to be president of the club, he told TV3. It is the step that I would like to take when I retire.
I don t see myself as a coach. I don t think I would enjoy it so much…
New Chelsea signing Renato Veiga has urged fans to trust the process under Enzo Maresca after their heavy pre-season friendly defeat to Celtic on Saturday.
The Blues were thrashed 4-1 by the Scottish champions in Indiana, which followed a 2-2 draw with League One side Wrexham in their first match under the Italian.
Chelsea had 10 shots on target in their defeat to Celtic and struck the woodwork twice, but their only goal came from the penalty spot as Christopher Nkunku converted.
They have also struggled in defence, getting caught playing out from the back three times in those games, leaving Maresca with problems to solve ahead of their Premier League opener against Manchester City.
However, Veiga, who played his first minutes in a Chelsea shirt on Saturd…
Cristiano Ronaldo will be omitted from the Manchester United squad to face Chelsea on Saturday following his early walkout during Wednesday s win over Tottenham.
The veteran forward, an unused substitute, walked down the tunnel before the final whistle at Old Trafford as Erik ten Hag s side downed Spurs in a 2-0 win.
Ten Hag said after the game that he would deal with Ronaldo s behaviour on Thursday, and the Dutchman has followed through on that by sanctioning the 37-year-old.
The Portugal captain will play no part in his side s next fixture away to Graham Potter s Blues.
Cristiano Ronaldo will not be part of the Manchester United squad for this Saturday s Premier League game against Chelsea, read an official club statement.
The rest of the squa…
Beth Mead scored twice as Arsenal thumped struggling West Ham 3-0 at Meadow Park in the Women’s Super League.
It did not take long for Arsenal to open the scoring as Frida Maanum put the hosts 1-0 up just two minutes in and Mead got her first since returning from injury in the 18th minute before she tapped in from six yards to make it 3-0 just before the break.
Jonas Eidevall’s team sit in second position and continue to pile pressure on league leaders Chelsea.
Six wins in a row
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC)
Lauren James scored twice as the Blues stretched their winning run to six games in the league with a 5-2 win over Leicester.
Chelsea scored twice in the first five minutes through James and a Courtney Nevin own goal and added …
Lucas Hernandez has joked he is ready to go to war with compatriot Kylian Mbappe when Bayern Munich face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The heavyweight clubs were paired together in Friday s draw, potentially giving PSG a chance to exact some revenge following last season s 1-0 loss to the same side in the final.
Hernandez was an unused substitute for Bayern that day, while Mbappe played the full 90 minutes through the middle of the French giants three-man attack.
France international Hernandez played the full 90 minutes of Bayern s 2-1 second-leg win over Lazio in the last 16, but he has more regularly been used as a substitute this season.
But if the versatile left-sided defender is given the nod to play against PSG in eithe…
Zinedine Zidane told Real Madrid to keep going to the death after a goalless draw at Getafe hit their LaLiga title prospects.
Having cut Atletico Madrid s lead down to one point by winning El Clasico, Zidane s defending champions were second best at times at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday.
Hampered by injuries and COVID-19 absences, under-strength Madrid needed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois to make six saves to repel a lively Getafe.
That was the highest number of saves from shots on target that the Belgian has made in games for Madrid where he has not conceded a goal, and centre-back Eder Militao was also kept busy.
The Brazilian defender made 10 clearances, the most he has made in a match for Madrid and one short of the highest number made by any playe…
Verdict: Harry Kane to score anytime
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Sunday offers up the first north London derby of the season as Arsenal host rivals Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium, as Unai Emery gets his first taste of this historic match.
Arsenal
Starting with Sunday s hosts, coming off the back of a 3-0 win over Vorskla that confirmed their spot as group winners in this years Europa League, nobody can doubt the immediate impact that Unai Emery has had at Arsenal. Now unbeaten in their last 18 matches across all competitions, the Gunners are also now unbeaten in their last 11 Premier League matches with their most recent defeat coming at Chelsea in August. Now sat just one point adrift of reclimbing back into the Champions League positions, the former …
Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic could make a surprise move to Atletico Madrid ahead of next season.
The Croatia international is reportedly unhappy at Camp Nou and has been linked with a move away since the off-season.
Now, a stay in LaLiga could eventuate, but away from Barcelona.
TOP STORY – ATLETICO BEGIN TALKS WITH BARCELONA S RAKITIC
Atletico Madrid ar
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e already negotiating with Rakitic about a possible move at the end of the season, according to Cadena SER.
The 31-year-old is contracted at Barcelona, where he arrived from Sevilla in 2014, until 2021.
Rakitic admitted on Sunday he considered leaving the club in January, and it seems a move is likely come season s end.
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Scott McTominay has signed a new contract with Manchester United, the 20-time English champions have officially .
Despite his competition for a place in the team consisting of players like Premier League winner Nemanja Matić, the league s record signing Paul Pogba, and €59m signing Fred, the 23-year-old has managed to find his place in the group and make an important contribution to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s project so far. Playing the majority in a defensive or central midfield role, he has made a total of 28 appearances (25 starts) in all competitions this season, scoring five goals and setting up one more. The Scotland international is a product of United s Academy and has been with the club since 2012.
The new deal is obviously a recognition of his contribution and …