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Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford were on target as Manchester United ensured their place in the Europa League knockout stages with a convincing 3-0 win over Partizan Belgrade.

Knowing a win would be enough to see them through courtesy of a better head-to-head record against Partizan in Group L United wasted little time in asserting their authority, with Mason Greenwood capping a dominant start in the 21st minute.

Martial added a magnificent second soon after, with Rashford, who had been wasteful in the first half, making it 3-0 shortly after the restart as United cruised into the round of 32 with two matches to spare.

Martial and Partizan s Umar Sadiq both had goals disallowed for offside in the opening five minutes, before Rashford drilled wide from 10 yards …

Brazil s defeat to Cameroon is a warning signal they must heed ahead of the World Cup knockout rounds, says Dani Alves.

The Selecao fielded a much-changed side in their final Group G match, with progression to the last 16 already secured.

But a late Vincent Aboubakar finish condemned Tite s side to a shock 1-0 loss in Lusail, to check Brazil s momentum heading forward.

With a last-16 tie against South Korea now confirmed, veteran defender Alves who skippered his nation against Cameroon believes it is a reminder that there is no safety net now for his side.

It s a warning signal, he said. There is no weak rival. Here is the lesson, we need to stay switched on throughout the game. One detail and it s over.

We end today with the feeling that a beau…

You know that the next year it will be another manager here. I think everybody knows who, he said.
However, despite Benitez s claims to the contrary, Mourinho insisted in his Tuesday press conference that his future is not yet decided.
I have thought about staying in Real Madrid. I have thought about this, he said.
Fans think what you (media) sell, I don´t want any doubt about me trying to force my way out of the club. I will get money in Real Madrid up to the last day I will work, I don´t want one extra euro, just whatever I earn up to that day.
The former Porto boss quit the London club in 2007 amid reports that his relationship with Abramovich, who has overseen the sacking of nine managers, had deteriorated beyond repair.
The 50-year-old went on to lead Inter to Coppa Italia…

Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter suffered the ignominy of being left off the organisation s list of footballing birthdays on Thursday.

The Swiss, celebrating his 80th birthday, was a notable absentee from FIFA s daily list despite having spent more than 40 years working for the game s governing body.

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic and veteran striker Samuel Eto o were among those to be recognised for March 10 birthdays.

Happy Birthday to (23), (28), Priscila (34) and (35)

— FIFA.com (@FIFAcom)

Blatter stepped down as president last year and was subsequently banned from football for six years following an investigation into an alleged disloyal payment made to former UEFA president Michel Platini in 2011.

Police conducted a searc…

Carlos Queiroz insist complications during preparation can inspire Iran when they face Morocco in their World Cup opener on Friday.

A pre-tournament friendly against Greece in Turkey was shelved due to political tensions between the European nation and their neighbours, while late replacements Kosovo also pulled the plug.

Geopolitical turbulence has rarely been too far from Queiroz s side of late, with the former Real Madrid boss criticising Nike this week after the US sportswear giant refused to supply boots to his players on account of trade sanctions.

Over the course of seven years at the helm, which took in qualification for Brazil 2014, Alex Ferguson s former assistant at Manchester United has chosen to harness such troubles as motivation for his underdogs.…

It was a drama-filled evening after CONMEBOL controversially overturned the result of last week s Copa Libertadores first-leg clash as Independiente advanced to the quarter-finals ahead of Santos.

Santos and Independiente played out a goalless draw on August 21 but the latter were awarded a 3-0 victory just hours before Tuesday s return fixture after the Brazilian side fielded an ineligible player.

Carlos Sanchez was at the centre of the controversy due to a red card he was given during his River Plate stint in 2015, with Independiente arguing the Uruguay international should have been suspended for the opening leg.

CONMEBOL ruled Sanchez did not serve the entirety of the ban handed out three years ago.

Describing the decision as embarrassing on the day o…

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is not concerned about Manchester City in the wake of the Premier League champions annihilation of Watford.

Beaten 3-2 by an injury-ravaged Norwich City in their previous league match, City responded with an 8-0 destruction of Quique Sanchez Flores Watford at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

By contrast, Liverpool were made to work far harder for a 2-1 win away to Chelsea thanks to first-half goals from Trent Alexander-Arnold and Roberto Firmino.

Henderson, though, says his only concern is on sustaining Liverpool s winning run, rather than giving too much thought to City s threat.

Eight to choose from but which one was your favourite? 

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Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed he will leave Juventus at the end of the season but he is yet to decide if retirement beckons.

The 43-year-old re-joined the club two years ago having spent 2018-19 at Paris Saint-Germain, but he feels the two parties have reached the end of a cycle .

Over the course of his second spell in Turin, Buffon has been second choice to Wojciech Szczesny, playing 16 times in Serie A since the start of 2019-20.

He won his 11th league title last term, but under the guidance of his former team-mate Andrea Pirlo, 2020-21 has been a drag for the Bianconeri, who sit fifth in the table with three games to go – Inter have already claimed the Scudetto.

Now he feels it is time to move on again, though he has not come to a decision as to wh…

Frank De Boer insisted he always wants to win after suffering a 1-0 loss to Mexico in his first match in charge of the Netherlands, but defiantly reminded his critics that he rested key players ahead of his side s forthcoming Nations League fixtures.

Raul Jimenez scored a second-half penalty to settle the friendly at Johan Cruijff Arena on Wednesday, which saw De Boer go head-to-head with Mexico boss Gerardo Martino – who he succeeded as head coach of MLS outfit Atlanta United.

De Boer left Atlanta in July following a poor run of form and his appointment as Ronald Koeman s successor as coach of the Netherlands raised concerns among supporters unimpressed by his record at club level in recent years.

Inter sacked De Boer after he had been in charge for just 85 da…

As the contract of Alphonso Davies at Bayern Munich approached its final year and negotiations over a new one hit an apparent impasse, speculation mounted over his potential transfer to Real Madrid this summer. Bayern are believed to have offered the Canada international a salary between €13 and 14 million per year, while he demanded €20m.

Real Madrid s interest in the 23-year-old left-back was concrete in the past, but with the opening day of this summer s transfer window getting closer, the Spanish giants are yet to take steps in that direction.

Meanwhile, in addition to Real Madrid s idleness on that front, Bayern s recent appointment of Vincent Kompany as the new head coach has made Davies remaining at the club and signing a new deal possible again, according to…