Striker Mario Balotelli feels Group D rivals England will be no match for Italy at the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The Milan striker could lead the line for Cesare Prandelli s side when the nations meet in Manaus on June 14 for their World Cup opener.

In what will be Balotelli s first outing at the tournament, he dismissed any chance of England winning the competition or posing a threat to Italy.

The former Manchester City man believes that Italy have more experience among their squad and the capability to spring a surprise in South America.

I don t look at England as a team that can win the World Cup, The Daily Mail quotes him as saying.

They have some good players, but they are no real rivals for Italy.

I am not saying that Italy are favou…

Cristiano Ronaldo has proven himself the man for the big occasion this season and could decide the Champions League final, former striker Ivan Zamorano has said.

The Portugal star has scored 16 goals – including a hat-trick in the quarter-final against Wolfsburg and goals in each leg of the last-16 tie with Roma during Real Madrid s run to the final this term, putting him one shy of his own scoring record in a single season, set in their victorious 2013-14 campaign.

And Zamorano, who won La Liga and the Copa del Rey in a four-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu, expects Ronaldo – scorer of the winner in the 2-1 Clasico defeat of Barcelona in April – to be the decisive player in next week s final versus Atletico Madrid.

He will be the man in charge of makin…

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has hinted that Peter Crouch could sign a new contract at the Britannia Stadium,.

The 33 year old scored his first Premier League goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Queens Park Rangers, while he also provided the assist for Mame Biram Diouff’s eleventh minute opener in the same game.

Crouch moved to Stoke in the summer of 2011, and has since made over a hundred league appearances for the club, something he has not achieved at any of the other clubs he has represented so far in his career.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp, who targeted signing the striker during the summer, has suggested that he may again move for him in January though Hughes is set to offer him the opportunity to remain with the Potters.

Stoke f…

Former Arsenal and France midfielder Abou Diaby confirmed his retirement on Monday after a career riddled by injuries.

Diaby, 32, last played competitively in August 2016, when he lined up for Marseille in Ligue 1.

However, injury woes disrupted and cut short his career, which included nine and a half seasons at Arsenal – the club he arrived at from Auxerre in January 2006.

I put an end to my professional career, Diaby told RMC Sport.

It was time. For a number of years, it has been difficult for me to come back. I had a lot of physical problems.

Thanks for the memories,  

We re all wishing you the very best following your retirement

— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal)

He added: I decided to stop simply because the body was no…

Verdict: Leicester City not to lose

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The opening fixture of the 2017/2018 Premier League campaign will see Community Shield winners Arsenal take on 2015/2016 champions Leicester City. Both sides will be hoping for a bright start to the new season, meaning we should witness an entertaining match at the Emirates.

Arsenal

An impressive run of 20 successive top 4 finishes in English Premier League came to an end last season as the Gunners ended the campaign in fifth place, thus missing out on this year’s Champions League. And with key men Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil having entered the final year of their respective contracts, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger doesn’t have a lot of time to persuade the duo to stay and try to get the team…

Romelu Lukaku was named Europa League player of the season on Friday even though it was the Belgian s own goal that decided the 2019-20 final.

The Inter striker was out of luck in the Cologne showpiece against Sevilla when he deflected in an overhead kick from Diego Carlos in the 74th minute, giving the Spanish side a 3-2 win. 

The former Manchester United man netted seven goals including a penalty in the final in five starts and one substitute appearance over the course of the competition.

Lukaku told uefa.com: I want to congratulate Sevilla personally. They won the competition so I congratulate them on having a great tournament.

I want to thank Antonio Conte and his staff and everyone at the club  the board, the president for their trust and for …

Chelsea have signed 16-year-old goalkeeper Sami Tlemcani, Ligue 2 side Paris have announced.

France youth international Tlemcani spent just over two years with Paris and began training with the first team when he was 15.

It is a new spotlight for the development of the capital club, who allowed the young Sami Tlemcani to join one of the biggest European clubs in recent years, a Paris statement read.

He becomes the second keeper to arrive at Stamford Bridge since the end of the 2019-20 season, with Edouard Mendy having been signed from Ligue 1 side Rennes.

…

Substitute Mateo Joseph netted a late equaliser to earn Leeds a 2-2 draw at Watford – but that was not enough to lift his side back to the top of the Championship table.

Mid-table Watford led twice before half-time thanks to goals from Vakoun Bayo and Emmanuel Dennis either side of a fine Leeds reply from Crysencio Summerville.

Leeds were in danger of suffering a first league loss of 2024 until 20-year-old Spaniard Mateo came off the bench and scored seconds later.

Leeds ended Good Friday in second spot however as Ipswich, 1-0 winners at Blackburn earlier in the day, are a point ahead.

Watford started brightly but their appeals for a penalty in the 12th minute when Ethan Ampadu appeared to catch Yasir Asprilla on a foot were rejected by referee David We…

Former Netherlands and Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar’s condition remains stable but “still concerning” after suffering bleeding around his brain.

The 52-year-old was admitted to intensive care on Friday and his family have expressed their gratitude for the messages of support they have received.

Edwin van der Sar will remain in intensive care for the time being. His condition is stable but still concerning. Ajax shares this information on behalf of Annemarie van der Sar, Edwin s wife.

The Van der Sar family, along with Ajax, is grateful and deeply touched by the many…

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax)

“Edwin van der Sar will remain in intensive care for the time being,” said a statement by Ajax, where the Dutchman was chief ex…

Didier Drogba has set his sights on winning the Premier League for a fourth time after rejoining Chelsea.

The veteran striker is back at Stamford Bridge after a two-year absence, which saw him represent Shanghai Shenhua and Galatasaray.

Having linked up once again with Jose Mourinho, Drogba is focused on ensuring Chelsea claim their first domestic title since 2010.

I m not coming here to break records, I just want to win trophies, the 36-year-old Ivorian told the club s official website.

Five years is a long time not to win the Premier League, so I want to win it.

To lift the Premier League trophy is a fantastic feeling and we haven t experienced it for a few years it s too long for a club like ours.

Drogba initially joined Chelsea in …