Playoff pitch a worry for Portugal

Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano is thoroughly enjoying life at the club and says playing there is the equivalent of winning a prize .

The 28-year-old joined the Camp Nou club from Liverpool in 2010 and has since become a valued first team member after a difficult start.

Playing at Barcelona is like winning a prize, it s a blessing. Joining Barca in 2010 was a great decision, Mascherano said.

In the two years that I have been at Barca, the Champions League final at Wembley was my best moment.

With Liverpool I got to a final, but we lost to AC Milan and I never thought at that moment that I would have another chance.

The Argentine said he feels changing positions and focusing on playing at centre-back has been the right decision.

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Former South African president Nelson Mandela was hailed as the architect behind his country s hosting of the 2010 World Cup finals here on Tuesday as FIFA president Sepp Blatter presented him with a replica of the World Cup trophy.

The Swiss football supremo said that without Mandela s stature it would have been unlikely South Africa would have become the first African country to win the right to host the finals.

You (Mandela) are the true architect of this FIFA World Cup; your presence and commitment made it happen, said Blatter.

Now the first African FIFA World Cup is a reality and the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 the dress rehearsal will already take place in less than ten months time, added Blatter, who had hoped to see South Africa host the…

Chelsea defender Nathan Ake has put pen to paper on a new five year contract with the club, .

The 18 year old broke into the Blues first team last season, making six appearances across three competitions.

Ake, who can play at centre-back, left back or as a defensive midfielder moved to Stamford Bridge from Feyenord in his 2011, and is delighted to have committed himself to the club.

He is set to play in Chelsea’s U21 fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Friday as the Barclays U21 Premier League gets underway.
Meanwhile, fellow teenager Lucas Piazon is set to move to Dutch Eredevise side Vitesse Arnhem on loan.

The former Brazil U17 striker, who featured three times for the Blues last season, had been linked with Premier League rivals Crystal Palace an…

Leroy Sane has vowed to bounce back after discussing his disappointment at missing out on Germany s final World Cup squad.

The Manchester City winger was a surprise omission from Joachim Low s 23-man party for Russia when the head coach cut four names from his preliminary group on Monday, Bayer Leverkusen s Julian Brandt getting the nod ahead of him.

Sane acknowledged missing out on the tournament came as a massive blow after his standout performances helped City to a domestic double of the Premier League and EFL Cup.

But the 22-year-old is planning to respond strongly and has hope Germany can defend their world title in Russia despite his absence. 

— Leroy Sané (@LeroySane19)

Thank you so much everyone for your encouraging messa…

Robert Lewandowski warned he is feeling fresh and is looking to make an impact for Poland at the World Cup.

The striker wants Poland to improve on their showing from Euro 2016, when they reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by eventual champions Portugal on penalties.

Lewandowski played close to 500 fewer Bundesliga minutes this season than he did heading into the tournament in France, and he hopes to reap the benefits of that reduced workload in Russia.

If we compare the preparations with those from before Euro 2016, it is completely different, said Lewandowski.

I am also coming off a different season at club level than two years earlier. This time I have played fewer minutes and matches.

I hope that you will see freshness [fro…

Harry Maguire s record transfer to Manchester United from Leicester City hinges on the last little details , according to manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

England centre-back Maguire is reportedly set to become the most expensive defender in football history, with an £80million price tag that would surpass the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for Virgil van Dijk in January 2018.

Speaking after Saturday s 2-2 International Champions Cup draw against AC Milan in Cardiff – where Wales international Daniel James dispatched the winning spot kick as United prevailed 5-4 on penalties Solskjaer told a news conference the Maguire deal could be done very soon and would not rule out picking the player for next weekend s Premier League opener at home to Chelsea.

Hopefully…

Barcelona are interested in signing Matheus Nunes from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that former La Liga and UEFA Champions League winners Barcelona are looking for cover in the middle of the park, and that Nunes is one of the players they are considering.

The 24-year-old Portuguese star has made 25 starts and three substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Wanderers so far this season, scoring one goal and providing one assist in the process.

Wolves are 13th in the Premier League table at the moment with 34 points from 31 matches, as many as seven points above the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Barcelona currently find themselves at the top of the La Liga table at the moment with 73 points from 29 m…

Sami Khedira turned down a reporter s offer of flight passes to take him and his Germany team-mates home from the World Cup in Russia, insisting they would not be needed until after the final.

Germany are in a precarious position in Group F after suffering a 1-0 defeat against Mexico in their opening game on Sunday, but Khedira said Joachim Low s squad remain confident of progressing to the knockout stages.

Die Mannschaft face Sweden on Saturday before their final group game against South Korea on Wednesday and Juventus midfielder Khedira rejected suggestions that their campaign could be over after just two matches.

When a Swedish reporter cheekily handed him tickets for flights back to Germany, claiming he would need them after the defending champions lose on Sa…

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has insisted his team-mates will remain grounded following Sunday s 4-1 win over Manchester United.

The 25-year-old grabbed two goals to help City crush their local rivals at the Etihad Stadium and lay down an early marker in the chase for the 2013-14 Premier League title.

But Aguero is adamant that manager Manuel Pellegrini, who enjoyed a dream derby debut, will not allow his charges to get carried away.

We will keep our feet on the ground the manager won t let us put our hands down anyway and keep on battling, he said.

It s important to keep going. There are a lot of teams capable of winning the championship, but we are going to do everything we can to be the team that wins it.

I m very happy for the victory and the t…

West Ham United centre-back Winston Reid has put pen to paper on a new two-year deal at Upton Park, .

Reid, 24, joined the Hammers from Danish Superliga side FC Midtjylland for an undisclosed transfer fee in August 2010.

Over the past two seasons, the New Zealand international has become a first-team regular in central defence for West Ham. The 24-year-old oftentimes features alongside Wales international James Collins.

I ve really enjoyed being here, said Reid. It s a good club and we ve done really well over the last couple of years. Now, I m looking forward to the next two years.

I think I have played some good football over the last two years but that goes for the whole team as well. Hopefully we can continue that. Of course we now plan…