Jordan Pickford has revealed England s defeats in the 2018 World Cup semi-final and Euro 2020 final have provided added motivation ahead of Qatar 2022.
Everton goalkeeper Pickford has been a key man in the most successful England team since becoming world champions in 1966.
But tournament glory has still evaded the Three Lions, who let early leads slip to Croatia in the last four in Russia and Italy in last year s Wembley decider.
The penalty shoot-out loss in the Euros final was particularly painful in front of a home crowd, yet Pickford is confident that experience can benefit Gareth Southgate s side.
Yes, Pickford replied when asked if England can win the World Cup this year.
Obviously it is going to be challenging against the best teams in t…
Newly promoted Premier League club Nottingham Forest have broken their transfer record to sign forward Taiwo Awoniyi.
Forest, who have returned to the top flight for the 2022-23 season after 23 years away, reportedly triggered a £17.2million (€20m) release clause in Awoniyi s Union Berlin contract.
The Nigeria international spent six years at Liverpool but only received a UK work permit last year, shortly before departing for Union in a permanent transfer.
Liverpool are reportedly due to receive 10 per cent of the fee paid by Forest for Awoniyi, who scored 15 times in 31 Bundesliga games last season.
In all competitions, the striker – who spent the previous campaign on loan at Union and was also linked to Newcastle United – netted 20 goals in 43…
Fans of Cardiff City may be somewhat bewildered when they see Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the opposition dugout when Manchester United visit the Welsh capital on Saturday.
The Norwegian has been handed the United reins until the end of the season following the sacking of Jose Mourinho and is tasked with steering the club into the Premier League s top four.
Solskjaer s appointment at one of the world s biggest clubs comes despite the total failure of his last shot at management in England s top flight, with Cardiff in 2013-14.
Cardiff had been guided to promotion from the Championship by Malky Mackay in the previous season but the Scot was sacked in December 2013 after a public falling out with eccentric owner Vincent Tan and with the club battling against the drop.
Trezeguet thumped home a stoppage-time winner as Aston Villa beat Leicester City 2-1 to reach the EFL Cup final.
The winger got on the end of Ahmed El Mohamady s superb cross from the right and sent a fine volley across goal and into the right corner.
It gave Villa a 3-2 aggregate triumph and left Leicester distraught, with the match having looked destined to go to extra time.
Matt Targett had given Villa a 12th-minute lead, but Leicester deservedly levelled through Kelechi Iheanacho in the 72nd minute.
A clash with Manchester City or Manchester United awaits Dean Smith s team, while Brendan Rodgers Leicester must put the disappointment behind them. Leicester at least remain in the FA Cup, while they also sit third in the Premier League.
We re g…
Gerrard captained Liverpool during Dalglish s second spell in charge at Anfield, which ended in May 2012, and the pair have a close relationship.
Now manager of Rangers, Gerrard wrote: Get well soon king.
Liverpool s current goalkeeper Alisson sent his well wishes, writing: Love from Becker family to Sir Kenny Dalglish!!
Reds past and present, Robbie Keane and James Milner, both sent Get well soon Sir Kenny messages, echoed by former England striker Gary Lineker and the Scottish Football Association.
Celtic, the club where Dalglish began his playing career, said: Sending our love and best wishes to @kennethdalglish following tonight s news. Get well soon, King Kenny.
Newcastle United and Blackburn, who he also managed, also rallied behind Da…
Zinedine Zidane does not know when Eden Hazard will be fit to play for Real Madrid as the Belgium star s struggles in the Spanish capital continue.
Although Madrid successfully wrested control of LaLiga from Barcelona last season, it was a campaign of personal frustration for Hazard following his initial €100million switch from Chelsea.
He managed a solitary goal and struggled to regain top condition after undergoing surgery on a broken right foot.
Hazard signed off his season with a lacklustre showing in Madrid s Champions League last-16 loss to Manchester City.
The 29-year-old went on international duty during the recent break for Nations League matches against Denmark and Iceland but did not play a single minute and reports from Madrid suggested he…
According to a recent report from Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona are hoping to take advantage of the growing uncertainty at Italian side Napoli in order to try and convince midfielder Fabian Ruiz to reject a new contract with the club, agreeing a move to the Nou Camp in the process.
Ruiz is a wanted man with Liverpool also sniffing around for his services, but it doesn’t quite appear as if any real deal is going to get done until we make our way through to next summer’s transfer window as opposed to January’s.
Ruiz has been a name on the lips of fans from many top European clubs, and understandably so. He’s been the shining light in what has been a mixed first half of the season for Napoli, with many calling for him to be given even more responsibility with th…
Barcelona head coach Xavi will continue to exercise great caution with Ansu Fati despite his encouraging form from the bench.
The Spain international sustained a serious knee injury in November 2020 that required operations, and then he had recurring hamstring issues.
As a result, Fati has made just nine league starts since his breakthrough in the 2019-20 season and been limited to substitute appearances in his five outings this term.
Despite those limited opportunities, Fati has caught the eye with two goals and two assists in 120 minutes of LaLiga football, but Xavi made it clear he will not rush the 19-year-old back into the starting line-up.
We are making a plan with great caution. These sensations I had are costing a little, but we are doing well, …
Bayern Munich and France defender Lucas Hernandez has avoided jail time for disobeying a restraining order in 2017 after a Madrid court accepted his appeal.
The 25-year-old appeared in court last week and was given until October 28 to voluntarily enter a prison of his choosing, where he faced a six-month sentence.
However, the latest appeal Hernandez lodged was upheld by the Madrid Provincial High Court on Wednesday.
Hernandez, a World Cup winner with France in 2018, has instead been handed a suspended sentence of four years and ordered to pay a €96,000 fine.
We consider that the appeal must be accepted and that the execution of the sentence of deprivation of liberty imposed on Lucas Francois Bernard Hernandez must be suspended, a statement from the co…
Bayern Munich 1-1 Manchester City (1-4 agg): Haaland strikes as Guardiola´s side seal semi-final spo
Erling Haaland scored his 48th goal of the season after missing a penalty as Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bayern Munich to cruise into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Haaland was on target in a f3-0 first-leg victory that put City in control of the quarter-final and he struck again to open the scoring at Allianz Arena on Wednesday.
The prolific striker had missed a spot-kick for the first time in two years in the first half, but he silenced the Bayern faithful after the break.
Joshua Kimmich ended City s 10-match winning run by converting a harshly awarded penalty before Thomas Tuchel was sent off as Pep Guardiola, a former Bayern boss, saw his side seal a 4-1 aggregate win and a last-four tie against holders Real Madrid.
We have run out of words …