Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo would be an undeserving winner of the Ballon d Or, according to UEFA president Michel Platini.
The Portugal forward is strongly fancied to win the prestigious award for a third time after yet another standout campaign.
But Platini feels a player who performed well at the World Cup would be a more deserving winner, particularly a member of the victorious Germany team.
Ronaldo s Portugal failed to get out of the group stage in Brazil, with the 29-year-old scoring just once.
The Ballon d Or tends to go to a player who has performed exceptionally well at the World Cup, someone who won it, Platini told BeIN Sports.
So this year it should be for a Germany player. It was always that way until 2010 when Leo Messi won d…
Expectations were high for A-League champions Brisbane Roar on their AFC debut, but they were beaten 2-0 by a slick FC Tokyo on Tuesday.
The Japanese Emperor s Cup winners had to wait until moments before the interval to open the scoring when Aria Hasegawa s low cross found the onrushing Tatsuya Yazawa who hammered home from close range.
Tokyo added a second when Michael Theoklitos could only parry Naotake Hanyu s shot into the path of Hasegawa on 56 minutes.
Brisbane improved in the second half at Suncorp Stadium with an Henrique chance and Mohamed Adnan header, but could not find a route to goal.
Tokyo s J.League rivals Gamba Osaka were not as convincing, falling to a shock 3-0 loss to 2009 Asian champions Pohang Steelers at home.
The Steelers…
Germany coach Joachim Low is expecting an unbelievably difficult World Cup for the reigning champions.
Having claimed glory in 2014, Germany sailed through qualification for the 2018 finals, while a youthful squad gave evidence of the nation s strength in depth with victory in the Confederations Cup in July.
But Low is under no illusions as to how tough it will be for Die Mannschaft to repeat their triumph in Russia next year, insisting there will be no room for error in their performances.
In 2014, we weren t in the focus too much, Low said. We played ourselves into the tournament as a team and constantly improved.
Now we re world champions, the reigning Confederations Cup champions, the number-one ranked team in the world. We re the only team th…
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has dismissed suggestions Philippe Coutinho could leave Anfield amid speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona.
The 24-year-old has developed into Liverpool s undisputed star player since joining the club from Inter in January 2013 and his good performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere.
Barcelona are believed to be keeping a close eye on his development and former Camp Nou captain Xavi kick-started the Catalans possible public courtship of Coutinho by saying he is one of few players in world football that could improve Luis Enrique s side.
However, Klopp believes Coutinho is happy to play his part in the Reds livewire line-up and hopes he will remain committed to Anfield.
My opinion is that he feels very well he…
Wolves have signed teenager defender Ki-Jana Hoever from Liverpool as Diogo Jota prepares to make his move in the opposite direction.
The 18-year-old Netherlands youth international has signed a five-year deal after making a switch reported to be worth in the region of £10million.
Hoever joined Liverpool from Ajax in 2018 and made his debut at Molineux last January, 11 days before his 17th birthday.
That saw him become the club s youngest ever player as Jurgen Klopp s side went down to an FA Cup third-round defeat.
Hoever marked his fourth start with a goal against MK Dons in last season s Carabao Cup and made four competitive appearances for Liverpool overall, also featuring as part of the squads that lifted the UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup in 201…
Captain Dani Parejo has signed a new four-year deal with Valencia.
Parejo s contract will see the Spanish midfielder remain at the La Liga club until June 2020.
The 26-year-old, who arrived from Getafe in 2011, scored a team-high 12 goals as Valencia finished fourth to qualify for the UEFA Champions League play-off round last season.
This is one of the happiest days of my life. This was what I wanted. Everybody knew this and I was always confident that we would reach an agreement, Parejo said via Valencia s official website.
I have always said that there is no other club at which I could be happier. I feel very happy and I identify strongly with Valencianismo; all that remains is to thank the club and the fans for their faith in me.
Parejo ad…
Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen is stalling over signing a new deal at the Reebok Stadium.
The former Finland international has spent 15 seasons at the Lancashire club and was awarded a testimonial match in 2009.
However, after picking up an injury at the turn of the year the 37-year-old lost his place to Adam Bogdan, but despite not being first choice, his manager is keen to keep him.
I want to make it clear that I want him (Jaaskelainen) to stay, Coyle told reporters.
We know we have Adam, and that would give us two top keepers, but we want that strength in depth.
I had a very good chat with him last week and he knows my feelings on the matter.
We know how good a goalkeeper Jussi is, the fantastic service he s put in for Bolton…
Rangers and Celtic will renew their Old Firm rivalry in the Scottish League Cup after being paired together in Thursday s semi-final draw.
The Glasgow rivals are the two most successful clubs in the competition s history, with Rangers having 27 titles to Celtic s 15.
Celtic defeated Alloa Athletic 2-0 to book their place in the last four, while Rangers battered Queen of the South 5-0.
The Bhoys resoundingly earned bragging rights in the first derby of the season earlier this month with a 5-1 victory at Celtic Park, which marked the first Scottish Premiership meeting between the sides since 2012 and Rangers demotion to the fourth tier after their liquidation.
However, Rangers did beat their fierce rivals in last season s Scottish Cup semi-final courtesy o…
Emmanuel Adebayor has been left out of both Tottenham Hotspur’s Premier League and Europa League squads, .
The Togo striker was expected to leave White Hart Lane this summer, though proposed moves to Aston Villa and West Ham United failed to materialise.
He now faces the prospect of not playing all season, despite Harry Kane being Spurs’ only recognised striker.
Adebayor’s last appearance for Tottenham came in May, while he hasn’t scored for the North London side since he netted in a 2-1 home defeat to Newcastle United almost a year ago.
The thirty-one year old moved to White Hart Lane initially on loan from Manchester City in the summer of 2011, and he has since played for the club one hundred and six times in all competitions.
He …
Liverpool are readying a move for Leicester City midfielder Riyad Mahrez, according to the Express.
The Merseyside outfit are on the lookout for a replacement for Phillippe Coutinho, who completed his move to Barcelona earlier this week and have identified Mahrez as their top target.
The Algeria international has designs on securing a move to Arsenal though Reds boss Jurgen Klopp is ready to try and turn his head.
Mahrez has been plying his trade at the King Power Stadium since January 2014 and has so far racked up one hundred and sixty-two appearances for the East Midlands outfit in all competitions, scoring forty-three times.
He was instrumental in their title-winning 2015/16 season, a campaign which culminated in him being named the PFA’s Player…