Gareth Bale does not believe he has any added responsibility on his shoulders ahead of Wales showdown with England, who Rob Page has described as a beatable opponent.
Wales face an early exit from their first World Cup since 1958 as they require victory against England and for the United States and Iran to draw in Tuesday s other Group B match.
The Dragons, who followed up a 1-1 draw against the USA with a 2-0 loss to Iran, will also advance to the knockout stage with an improbable 4-0 victory over their fierce rivals.
Bale played a major role in Wales ending their long wait to play on the world stage, as he did in their successful campaigns in qualifying for Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
Ahead of what could be his final appearance for Wales at a tournament, t…
“His comeback is very impressive. I notice the difference in his condition. Our whole recovery and physio department and he can be proud.
“I’m almost proud of the fact he’s come back. It’s all far more than a given. I’m very confident he’ll quickly reach his top form.”
Tuchel told a press conference: “I don’t feel he’s tensed up. I think he’ll show everyone again, but there’s some joy in him that he’s done it.
“I see a whole new level in goalkeeper training. He’s in his own league. He should see it as a gift for his work. We trust his experience and intuition.
“He has been match fit for a few weeks, now he is going to get playing time, but he can compensate for it all with his experience.”
Neuer will also have a…
Sadio Mane says he will never forget his time with Liverpool having made a move to Bayern Munich in the recent transfer window.
Mane joined the Reds from Southampton in 2016 and spent six successful years at the club, winning both the Premier League and the Champions League.
And while the 30-year-old now plies his trade in the Bundesliga, he says he will always have fond memories of playing for Liverpool.
Honestly, I will never forget my time there, Mane told UEFA.com.
I learned a lot – as a man and as a football player. The supporters were amazing, the people from the city were amazing. It is a club that will stay in my heart forever.
It is also a legendary club – they have won everything. And also, it is the club that had all the best Cha…
Inter Milan are interested in signing Hoffenheim star Florian Grillitsch in the summer of 2022, according to . It has been reported by the Italian news outlet that Grillitsch is out of contract at Hoffenheim in the summer of 2022, and defending Italian champions Inter are keen on securing the services of the 26-year-old on a free transfer then.
Grillitsch, who can operate as a midfielder or as a central defender, has been on the books of Hoffenheim since 2017. The 26-year-old has made seven starts and one substitute appearance in the Bundesliga so far this season. The Austria international made 22 starts and four substitute appearances in the Bundesliga last season, scoring two goals and providing one assist in the process.
Hoffenheim are 10th in the Bundesliga table at…
Mauricio Pochettino called on the Premier League to reassess the way it schedules fixtures over the Christmas period to even out the time that teams have to recover.
Chelsea face Wolves at Molineux on Christmas Eve before welcoming Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge three days later.
Palace, by contrast, will have had double the recovery time having most recently played six days earlier on December 21 against Brighton.
Two more sleeps ‘til Christmas, one more ‘til Wolves! See you tomorrow, Blues!
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)
Gary O’Neil’s side will also have enjoyed two extra recovery days compared with Pochettino’s team, with Chelsea having been in action against Newcastle in their Carabao Cup quarter-final on Tuesday.
The Blues…
With all eyes falling on the King Power on Monday night for a crucial showdown at the foot of the Premier League table, Leicester and Everton played out what was a thrilling 2-2 draw.
Two sides who find themselves firmly at the heart of a bottom-three scrap, it was Everton who took advantage of their bright start as Dominic Calvert-Lewin converted from the penalty spot after just 15 minuets.
However, in what was a rollercoaster affair on Monday night, it was Leicester who headed into the half-time break with a 2-1 lead as Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy completed what was an eye-catching first-half comeback.
However, with James Maddison missing from the spot just seconds before heading into the interval, Leicester will know that they missed out on a golden chance…
Cristiano Ronaldo s next step is to rediscover his spark after proving he has improved physically in Juventus 2-2 draw with Sassuolo, says head coach Maurizio Sarri.
The Portugal forward has been struggling with a knee problem, which saw him miss last weekend s contest with Atalanta before he was restored to face Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Prior to the international break, Ronaldo had been hauled off in wins over Lokomotiv Moscow and Milan despite Juve having been level at the time of his withdrawal.
Ronaldo netted a 68th-minute penalty at Allianz Stadium to earn a point against Sassuolo on Sunday, though, and Sarri was encouraged by what he saw.
The feeling is that he has regained strength, Sarri told DAZN. He is doing better in the fina…
Kyle Walker s scored his first Manchester City goal in sensational fashion to hand the Premier League champions a hard-fought 2-1 win over Newcastle United.
Raheem Sterling s clinically taken opener in the eighth minute suggested a romp in line with City s 6-1 thumping of Huddersfield Town in their previous home game.
But Pep Guardiola s side switched off defensively and DeAndre Yedlin was rewarded for a lung-bursting run when Salomon Rondon picked him out to level with half an hour played.
It fell to England right-back Walker, who failed to find the net as City racked up points and goals records last season, to step forward with a long-range stunner and ensure the 10th anniversary of Sheikh Mansour s takeover was celebrated with a victory.
Newcastle und…
David Moyes may have had the best year of his managerial career but he has yet to agree a new contract at West Ham.
Moyes led the Hammers to a first trophy in 43 years in June when they won the Europa Conference League, and they ended 2023 lying sixth in the Premier League.
“If I look back on things to win a trophy would mean that I would say ‘yes’, it would have to be my best year,” said the former Everton and Manchester United boss.
“To win a trophy in 2023… you have to say it was difficult for the first part of last season, we couldn’t get a result, we didn’t start well, we had a few new players coming in.
“But once we got to the World Cup, that was my thing. I think we improved in the second half of the season. Somebody said to me it…
Belgium threw away plenty of their hard work from across the last five years in their Nations League defeat to France, says a frustrated Roberto Martinez.
First-half goals from Yannick Carrasco and Romelu Lukaku had seemingly put Belgium well on their way to facing Spain in Sunday s final, only for Les Bleus to fight back to win 3-2.
Theo Hernandez got the winner in the final minute of normal time, just moments after Lukaku thought he had restored Belgium s lead following Karim Benzema s strike and a Kylian Mbappe penalty.
Yet VAR came to France s aid with an offside call, as they won their first game after trailing by two or more goals at half-time since May 2012 against Iceland in a friendly.
Belgium will return to Turin to face European champions Ita…