Willy Caballero s clanger presented Ante Rebic with an opportunity he could not refuse, and Croatia rolled on to a stunning 3-0 victory over Argentina that sent them into the last 16 of the World Cup.
Jorge Sampaoli s side produced an abysmal second-half display that severely damages their hopes of following Croatia out of Group D, with Caballero s stray pass to Gabriel Mercado that was volleyed home by Rebic in the 53rd minute proving the turning point.
Any hopes of a late Argentina fightback were extinguished 10 minutes from time as the irrepressible Luka Modric whipped a fine strike into the bottom-right corner from just outside the penalty area.
Argentina had all but given up by the closing stages and they were punished further in stoppage time when Ivan Rak…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho will be hoping to maintain his 100 per cent record against Ajax when they meet in the Europa League final on Wednesday.
Two of the continent s most iconic clubs will battle for silverware in Stockholm s Friends Arena, with Ajax looking to end a 21-year European trophy drought and United hoping to clinch the only piece of silverware still evading their clutches.
Mourinho rested his first team for the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday and can take confidence from having won all six of his previous matches against the Dutch giants.
However, Ajax triumphed 2-1 at Old Trafford in the most recent meeting between the sides in the 2011-12 Europa League last 32.
Here, we take a look at the best Opta stats a…
Leicester City are considering a move for former Arsenal and Manchester City full-back Bacary Sagna, according to ESPN.
The defender is free to secure a deal outside of the transfer window having been released from his contract with the Citizens earlier this summer and the Foxes are ready to pounce.
A number of clubs are contemplating making an offer for the thirty-four year old who boasts a plethora of experience having played over two hundred and fifty times in England’s top flight.
He won the FA Cup in his final season in North London before tasting success in the League Cup with City a year later.
Internationally he has been capped sixty-five times for France and was part of their squads that went to the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa an…
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has released a statement through his agent Jorge Mendes company Gestifute to stress that he is in compliance with all his tax obligations and has not heard anything to the contrary from the Spanish tax authorities.
The former Real Madrid boss has been accused of defrauding tax authorities to the tune of €3.3million by a Spanish regional prosecutor, with a complaint filed on Tuesday.
Mourinho is under suspicion of having committed two offences in relation to personal income tax, but the 54-year-old has denied any wrongdoing.
Jose Mourinho has not received any notification with regards to the news published Tuesday. To this date, neither the Spanish tax authorities, nor the public prosecutor have contacted Jose Mourinho o…
Kick It Out has reiterated its stance on the issue of black managers getting jobs in British football after John Barnes comments on the difficulties he has faced.
The former Celtic, Jamaica and Tranmere Rovers boss has not worked since 2009, when he left Prenton Park, and suggested white bosses find it easier to get a job back in football once they depart a role.
Very few black managers can lose their job and get another job, Barnes told ITV4 s Sports Life Stories programme, which airs on Tuesday.
With debate continuing to rage over the pros and cons of the Rooney Rule a system used in the NFL, which requires teams to interview at least one minority candidate for each head coaching role Kick It Out again called for improved equality in the game.
Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has trolled old team-mate Rio Ferdinand after he confirmed his plans to become a boxer.
The 38-year-old is to train under ex-WBC super-middleweight champion Richie Woodhall and will compete in a series of fights with a view to a possible title bout.
Ferdinand has described the challenge as the perfect opportunity to show people what s possible as he attempts to establish a career in a new sport two years after retiring from football.
Neville, who enjoyed huge success alongside Ferdinand at United between 2002 and 2011, has moved to keep his friend s feet firmly on the ground by teasing him about the task ahead.
It s happening Can’t wait to get started with the team have put together, and
— R…
Real Madrid s dismal run of form continued as Ajax won 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu to dump the Champions League holders out of the competition for the first time since 2014-15.
After winning Europe s elite club tournament in three consecutive years under Zinedine Zidane, a tough first campaign since the French icon s departure was capped in remarkable fashion on Tuesday in a 5-3 aggregate loss.
Madrid fell apart in the first half and saw their 2-1 first-leg lead overturned in the opening 20 minutes by goals from Hakim Ziyech and David Neres as Ajax ran riot.
The irrepressible Dusan Tadic added another with a controversial second-half strike, leaving Madrid requiring three goals to stay in the competition, and although Marco Asensio got one back, a fourth home…
Sadio Mane s new contract confirmed Liverpool should be able to rely on the Senegal forward, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino for many years to come.
All three attackers have agreed new long-term deals in 2018 as Liverpool build towards a trophy under Jurgen Klopp, having lost two major European finals under the German.
Klopp believes his front three can match any front line in world football, with Mane alone having scored 40 goals in 89 appearances since signing from Southampton in 2016.
Here, we assess some of the other lauded front threes from Europe s top five leagues in recent years to see where Mane, Firmino and Salah rank.
Mane, Firmino, Salah Liverpool
Liverpool s front three all scored 10 goals in the Champions League last se…
Mohamed Salah scored one goal and made another as Liverpool won 2-0 at Wolves to guarantee they will be top of the Premier League on Christmas Day.
The leaders toiled for much of Friday s clash at a sodden Molineux, with in-form Wolves having won their last three league games to move up to seventh.
But Salah s 11th Premier League goal of the season, meaning the Egypt star is now leading the race for the Golden Boot, set up Liverpool s sixth straight win in all competitions.
And when Salah crossed for Virgil van Dijk to stab home his first Premier League goal for the club in the 68th minute, Liverpool extended their lead over Manchester City to four points, although Naby Keita s injury was a sour note on a professional performance.
THAT. MAN. MO.
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Tired of your mates recycling the same old football trivia questions from years gone by?
Bring them bang up-to-date and get them guessing with our Opta-powered Premier League quiz.
All the answers are at the bottom of the page, so you can claim the high ground when it comes to statistical knowledge!
1. If Liverpool beat Wolves on Friday, they will be guaranteed to be top of the Premier League on Christmas Day, ahead of facing title rivals Manchester City on January 3. Who were the last side to be top on Christmas Day but fail to win the title?
FAB-inho s display Ice cool Mane Super Shaqiri Fortress Anfield
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
2. Eden Hazard has scored 99 goals for Chelsea in all competitions and could, against Lei…