Gary Lineker: England could go all the way at World Cup
Gary Lineker believes England can be a contender for glory at the Qatar World Cup and can win a major tournament in the next decade.
Iran Sport News
Liverpool boss Klopp given one-game touchline ban
LONDON: Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has been handed a one-match ban after the Football Association appealed against the decision to only fine the German for his touchline tirade. Klopp was initially fined £30,000 ($35,000) by an independent regulatory commission following his rant at referee Anthony Taylor during Liverpool’s 1-0 win against Manchester City in the Premier League on October 16. The FA felt that was too lenient and an independent appeal board has now suspended the German from the touchline with immediate effect.
World Cup-bound Callum Wilson faces race to be fit for Newcastle-Chelsea clash
NEWCASTLE: Eddie Howe has revealed Callum Wilson faces a late fitness test ahead of the visit of Chelsea to Tyneside. The Newcastle United frontman — called up to Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad this week — was withdrawn halfway through the 4-1 win at Southampton last weekend due to illness, and was absent altogether from the Carabao Cup win over Crystal Palace in midweek. “We’ll wait and see,” said head coach Howe when asked whether the No.9 will be fit to face Champions League rivals, the Blues.
Maddison can make difference for England, says Hoddle
LONDON : Leicester City's in-form forward James Maddison should start in England's opening World Cup match against Iran, according to former manager Glenn Hoddle.
Former FIFA president Blatter says Iran should be barred from World Cup
ZURICH: Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter thinks Iran should be barred from the World Cup amid widespread protests in the Islamic Republic sparked by the death of a woman in the custody of morality police, a Swiss paper quoted him on Friday (Nov 11) as saying.
Europe’s World Cup stranglehold tested by Brazil, Argentina
DUBAI: When Gianni Infantino told a gathering of European soccer officials in Vienna he hoped the winner of the World Cup came from their continent, the FIFA President quickly stated — with a smile — he adapts the comment to whichever region he’s in. It’s no laughing matter for the rest of the world. Seven of the last eight World Cup finalists have come from Europe.
Injured Mane in Senegal World Cup squad, racing to be ready
DAKAR, Senegal: Sadio Mane was included in Senegal’s World Cup squad on Friday as coach Aliou Cissé gambled on one of the world’s best forward being fit and ready in time after injuring his lower right leg this week playing for Bayern Munich. Cisse said Senegal’s medical team hoped that Mane would need about a week to recover from the injury he sustained on Tuesday in a league game in Germany and therefore be ready for Senegal’s opening game at the World Cup against the Netherlands on Nov. 21 — on paper the strongest team Senegal will face in Group A in Qatar.
Uncapped Xavi Simons in Dutch World Cup squad, Cillessen out
ZEIST, Netherlands: Uncapped attacking midfielder Xavi Simons was included Friday in the Netherlands’ World Cup squad, while veteran goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen did not make coach Louis van Gaal’s roster for the tournament in Qatar. Van Gaal also selected injured stars Memphis Depay of Barcelona and Bayern Munich’s Matthijs de Ligt in his 26-player squad. Depay, who has scored 42 goals in 81 internationals, hasn’t featured since incurring a hamstring injury while playing for the Netherlands against Poland in September.