Petr Cech saved a penalty for the first time since 2011 on his way to reaching 200 Premier League clean sheets in Arsenal s 3-0 win against Watford on Sunday.
The Czech goalkeeper had not kept out a spot-kick in the top flight since denying Clint Dempsey in the final minute of a goalless draw between Chelsea and Fulham at Craven Cottage seven years ago.
However, the 35-year-old got a strong arm to Troy Deeney s effort from 12 yards a save that will have felt all the sweeter following the striker s comments regarding Arsenal s perceived lack of cojones earlier in the season.
The stop also helped Cech finally reach 200 clean sheets, having conceded at least one goal in each of his last 11 matches, becoming the first Premier League goalkeeper to reach the marker.
Verdict: Serbia
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Costa Rica locks horns with Serbia in an opening match of the Group E with both the Ticos and Eagles hoping to get off a flying start to their respective World Cup campaign.
Costa Rica
The 2014 World Cup quarter finalists head into the World Cup on the back of a string of poor performances. The Ticos lost their final two friendly internationals ahead of the final shopiece in Russia by a desperately humiliating 6-1 scoreline.
Furthermore, Costa Rica lost six of their final eight matches which all contributed to a poor sentiment heading into the World Cup. Lack of goals has been the biggest problem for Costa Rica knowing the Central Americans scored just two in their last seven matches. The opening match a…
Aston Villa s Moussa Diaby has completed a reported £50million move to Al-Ittihad, the Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday.
Diaby, who became Villa s record signing following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen, helped Unai Emery s side secure Champions League football last season.
The 25-year-old made 54 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals, three of which came during their semi-final run in the Europa Conference League.
Diaby joins fellow compatriots Karim Benzema and N Golo Kante at the club, although the latter has been linked with a return to the Premier League.
Al-Ittihad finished fifth in the Saudi Pro League last season, losing four of their last six games to miss out on qualification for the AFC Champions League Two group sta…
Argentina and Lionel Messi have their place at the 2018 World Cup on the line when they face familiar foes Nigeria in St Petersburg on Tuesday.
A 1-1 draw against Iceland after Messi was thwarted from the penalty spot, followed by a chastening 3-0 reverse to Croatia, means only a win will do for La Albiceleste and their under-fire head coach Jorge Sampaoli.
Thankfully for Messi and his team-mates, that is precisely what tends to happen when Argentina face Nigeria.
Remarkably, this is the fifth time the sides have been placed together at the group stage since 1994.
Although Nigeria can draw confidence from dispatching Iceland 2-0 last time out and a 4-2 friendly victory over a Messi-less Argentina last November, their World Cup history in this fixture do…
Prediction: Los Angeles FC to win 3-0
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Los Angeles FC and Vancouver Whitecaps will lock horns with each there in Major League Soccer this coming weekend. The match between Steve Cherundolo’s side and Vanni Sartini’s team will be held at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, California and is scheduled to kick off at 3:30am UK time on Sunday.
Los Angeles FC
Los Angeles FC have been superb in Major League Soccer so far this season and have been arguably the best team in the division. Under head coach Steve Cherundolo, the Falcons have been flying high, and the signs are that they could do even betterthan last season. In the 2022 MLS campaign, Los Angeles FC won the Western Conference and eventually beat the Philadelphia Union in the …
Liverpool handed Manchester City their first Premier League defeat of the season thanks to a Mohamed Salah strike in an enthralling encounter at Anfield.
The Egyptian raced onto a long pass from Alisson with 14 minutes remaining before slotting past Ederson to give the Reds just their third league win of the season.
City were frustrated to see Phil Foden’s second half goal ruled out following a VAR check for a foul by Erling Haaland in the build-up.
The result leaves Pep Guardiola’s men four points behind league leaders Arsenal, while Liverpool move up to eighth after a much-improved showing.
100 Mo Salah has become only the second player in history to score 100+ left-footed goals, after Robbie Fowler (105). Wand.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
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Ancelotti linked with a premature departure from Bayern Munich / Image via mirror.co.uk
Ancelotti was never the main focus for Bayern
announced Carlo Ancelotti as Pep Guardiola’s successor in December 2015, long before the Spaniard was due to leave his post.
It looked like a trademark Bayern Munich move – a well-thought idea to bring a celebrated expert and a man who specialized in winning European trophies during his successful career – but Carlo Ancelotti was the only available high-profile name in the business and the Bavarians needed to act fast.
Bayern Munich officials made no secret in their desire to get a German tactician as next manager, someone who will understand the nature of German game and a man who would successfully implement the plan of …
Europa League winners Atalanta are significantly less competitive at the moment compared to just a few months ago, coach Gian Piero Gasperini conceded.
Gasperini led Atalanta to victory in the Europa League final in May with a 3-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin, having impressively knocked out Liverpool at the quarter-final stage.
His side are set to face Champions League winners Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw on Wednesday, but Gasperini warned fans of the Bergamo club not to expect a strong start to the season.
It s inevitable that it s turned out like this, but at this moment, the season has already become complicated, he told the local newspaper, l Eco di Bergamo.
The 66-year-old coach confirmed that central midfielder Teun Koopme…
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain continued his fine form in front of goal by getting the winner as Liverpool saw off Genk 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, meaning the Reds usurp Napoli at the top of Group E.
It was far from a vintage display from Jurgen Klopp s men, who for a period looked to be in danger of dropping points after Mbwana Samatta s fine header, but the impressive Oxlade-Chamberlain justified his selection with the winning goal that ensured Liverpool capitalised on Napoli s 1-1 draw with Salzburg.
Georginio Wijnaldum opened the scoring early on with a clever finish, but Liverpool lacked a clinical edge for the remainder of the first half and were pegged back by Samatta five minutes before the interval.
Still, Liverpool were dominant after the break a…
Vinicius Junior has confirmed his intentions to stay with Real Madrid, declaring: I will continue with the biggest team in the world .
The winger initially struggled to make his mark after arriving from Flamengo in 2018 for a reported €46million fee.
However, Vinicius enjoyed a breakthrough season in the 2021-22 term, scoring 22 goals in 52 games in all competitions, seven more than in 118 games for Los Blancos in his previous three campaigns (15).
The Brazil international also recorded the most goal involvements by LaLiga players born in 2000 or after across all competitions (38 – 22 goals and 16 assists).
Vinicius scored the winning goal in the Champions League final against Liverpool, but there were some suggestions he could be tempted by a mo…