Ali Mabkhout’s stoppage-time equaliser gave the United Arab Emirates a stay of execution but a 1-1 draw with Thailand left their World Cup bid hanging by a thread on Tuesday. The UAE were seconds from dropping out of the running for Russia 2018 when Mabkhout scored from close range after a knockdown in the third … Read more
Argentina’s Superclasico showdown with arch-rivals Brazil is set to pump tens of millions of dollars into the Australian economy when they play in front of 100,000 fans on Friday. Although Neymar is missing from Brazil’s line-up, his Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi will light up the occasion at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Melbourne is just the … Read more
New manager Jorge Sampaoli says he is looking to superstar Lionel Messi to revive Argentina’s World Cup fortunes starting with Friday’s friendly with Brazil in Melbourne Sampaoli has been installed to kick-start the two-time world champions’ ailing South American campaign where they lag outside the automatic qualifying positions in fifth spot with four games left. … Read more
Ernesto Valverde is leading the race to be the next Barcelona boss as the Blaugrana look ahead to a new era in the summer. At the beginning of March, current coach Luis Enrique announced his decision to leave at the end of the season and the Catalan club have been looking at a number of … Read more
Brazil became the first team to qualify for the World Cup on Tuesday after beating Paraguay to clinch an eighth consecutive victory as Argentina’s campaign stumbled after the shock suspension of Lionel Messi. Five-time champions Brazil had been left waiting in suspense after goals from Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Marcelo handed them a 3-0 win … Read more
The captain was absent for a 2-0 defeat at altitude, and if his ban is not reduced on appeal the clueless Albiceleste face an uphill struggle La concha de tu madre, which translates literally – and rather more offensively – into English as “your mother’s c***”, is a classic, almost poetic Argentine insult. An injudicious … Read more
Argentina will appeal the four-match ban handed to Lionel Messi by FIFA, national team secretary Jorge Miadosqui has confirmed. The punishment, which rules Messi out of competitive action for his country until the final World Cup qualifier against Ecuador next season, was announced just hours before Argentina take on Bolivia in La Paz on Tuesday. … Read more
Lionel Messi has been banned for four international matches after insulting an assistant referee in Argentina’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Chile last week. The Barcelona forward will sit out Argentina’s qualifier against Bolivia on Tuesday and has also been fined 10,000 Swiss francs after approaching the official at the end of the home side’s … Read more
Lionel Messi was the difference as Argentina edged a crucial World Cup qualifier against Chile. Elsewhere, an unlikely hattrick hero inspired Brazil to an emphatic win over Uruguay that moved them closer to Russia 2018. A Lionel Messi penalty was enough to give Argentina to a tight but crucial World Cup qualifying win over Chile … Read more
With 12 months to go before we know the 31 teams who will join hosts Russia at the 2018 World Cup, we take a look at some of the major nations and familiar names who appear to have a battle on their hands to make the finals. Ghana The Black Stars have become something of … Read more
Lionel Messi led the whole Argentina squad in a protest on Tuesday against perceived mistreatment by the media, saying they were boycotting the press until further notice, after the 3-0 home win over Colombia. Messi had just inspired the victory, scoring one goal and laying on the other two, to put Argentina’s World Cup qualifying … Read more
Daniel Passarella does not believe Lionel Messi is the right man to captain Argentina. Passarella skippered Argentina to their first World Cup title in 1978 and was part of the squad that triumphed again in Mexico eight years later. The South American giants are without a senior international trophy since lifting the Copa America in … Read more
Lionel Messi could miss Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela after Barcelona confirmed he has suffered a hamstring problem. Medical tests on Monday uncovered an issue with Messi’s left hamstring, but he will travel to Argentina to link up with his team-mates and undergo further assessments. Messi, who featured for Barcelona in their … Read more