Soccer (FIFA)

Soccer (FIFA)

"We have competed well so far, but we haven't achieved anything," said Mascherano. "Tomorrow's game will be very complicated. We're facing an opponent that's earned the right to play the Conference Final. An opponent that's won three playoff games on the road." "Our mentality and our vision for tomorrow have to be to go for it from the opening minute."

Oxford United moved out of the relegation zone in the Championship as they beat Ipswich Town 2-1 at The Kassam Stadium. Goals from Mark Harris and Przemyslaw Placheta, either side of a brilliant volley from Leif Davis, saw Oxford move up to 19th in the standings, while Ipswich have missed the chance to go second and put pressure on the surrounding teams ahead of the weekend's action.

Their profligacy is not a new concern; it was evident during last summer's Euros, particularly in the quarterfinal against France and the semifinal against Spain. But this time it hurt them more than it should have. In many ways, it was a near-perfect performance. Germany created wave after wave of opportunities, pushed Spain deep into their own half, and left goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger with little to do. Yet the one thing they needed, and arguably deserved, never came: a goal.

Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil. Levi's stadium in Santa Clara, a 2026 World Cup site, and Oracle Park in San Francisco were included as possibilities.

FourFourTwo's Dating Game takes a page out of the Wordle playbook: all you have to do is enter your four-digit number guess, and the system will instantly give you feedback by lighting up the digits. Correct numbers in the correct position will shine bright in green, letting you know you're one step closer to victory: those that are in the wrong position will light up orange, while the rest will stay greyed out.

- United want new Old Trafford ready for 2035 WC -FIFA Council OKs 48 teams for Women's World Cup in '31 Twenty-six additional U.S. stadiums were mentioned as suitable venues for a 48-nation tournament the bidders project would draw 4.5 million fans and generate about $4 billion in revenue, up from $570 million for 2023 in Australia and New Zealand and a projection of $1 billion for the 2027 tournament in Brazil.

St Johnstone are one of many clubs keen on a January loan deal for Hearts striker James Wilson, with the 18-year-old Scotland cap having started just one Premiership game this term. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

When England welcome China to a sold-out Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon, it will mark the sixth meeting between two nations who have been on different trajectories in recent years. The marketing has focused on the clash of continental champions England as the holders of the European Championship and China as the winners of the 2022 Asian Cup but there has since been a change in fortunes between the two. The widening gap was evident the last time they met, at the 2023 Women's World Cup, when England put six past the Steel Roses to progress to the last 16.

Every Friday I will pick the weekend's best or most exciting games that are not to be missed in the world of football. From derbies to top-of-the-table clashes, relegation six-pointers to world-class players facing each other or other interesting tactical battles, there will be something for everyone to enjoy. This week, it is all about top (or near top) of the table clashes, so let's get right into it!

When these two sides met at Tynecastle in August, they delivered arguably the best match of the season so far. Jens Berthel Askou's Motherwell swept into a three-goal lead with some of the free-flowing football we've become accustomed to from them this season, before Hearts roared back to snatch a point, thanks to Claudio Braga's double. They lock horns again this weekend, with a similarly high-scoring encounter hopefully in the works.

That said, he is still following his old club as well. In an interview with RTL, as captured by @iMiaSanMia, he said: "The team is very well-equipped, and the coaching staff with Vincent Kompany is doing an outstanding job. It's a joy to watch them play. I haven't watched all the games, but I've gotten a good impression. It's been fantastic so far, and I hope things will continue this way."

Manchester City have joined Arsenal in showing an interest in Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, the Daily Mail reports. Even though both Premier League clubs have creative midfielders, they will continue to monitor the Spain youth international's progress and any developments in his situation. The 20-year-old is also on Real Madrid's radar In addition to impressing for Elche, where he has scored two goals in 10 appearances for the newly promoted LaLiga side.

Maybe I have a theory to rotate because it's impossible to sustain but I had a lot of confidence in them and I still do. I have a huge value for what they are as football players. Maybe I think higher of them than they think about themselves. It was a good lesson for me, as experienced as I am as a manager it was a good lesson for me for the future.

Erling Haaland has stormed into a commanding lead in the race for the season's top scorer award. After missing out last year, he has returned with the kind of relentless scoring form that made him a phenomenon in previous seasons. With a sizeable gap already separating him from the rest of the field, the competition is beginning to look like a chase for second place unless something dramatic shifts.

Musiala has been out of action since sustaining a serious fibula and ankle injury during the FIFA Club World Cup against Paris Saint-Germain this summer following a collision with Gianluigi Donnarumma, who now plays for Manchester City. While Vincent Kompany is eager to have Musiala back in the fold, the club wants to do everything they can to not rush him back too soon and avoid risking a major injury setback, as has unfortunately happened with players like Manuel Neuer several times in the past.

I don't know what is in your head but if, for example, you want another system with five defenders that could be an issue. I don't even have five defenders. The system we are playing now suits the players best. They have played this system probably throughout their whole career and there is hardly any training time for us. So it is almost impossible to change our complete idea about football if we play every two days.

I needed to do the press and I guess I felt it my responsibility to let people know,

All eyes will again be on Lionel Messi as he leads Inter Miami in an MLS semi-final against New York City. Messi, 38, has scored six goals in the playoffs alone as he looks to Miami to their maiden MLS Cup win. Inter Miami has the best overall record in the MLS in 2024 but were defeated by Atlanta United in round one of the postseason. They have already improved on that and now face a New York side who finished fifth in the Eastern Conference.

I don't know to what extent I can influence things there - other than showing him appreciation. I show him that every day.

Manchester City are ready to make Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson, 23, one of their top transfer targets in 2026 and prefer him to fellow England midfielder Adam Wharton, 21, of Crystal Palace. (Mail), external Sunderland are ready to battle Newcastle for Lazio's French midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, 26. (Teamtalk), external Napoli have lodged another enquiry with Manchester United over the availability of 20-year-old England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo. (Football Italia), external

I'm even surprised by the question. From the outside, people think I'm shy, that I don't talk much. It's probably because I've spoken publicly about my stutter. But people who know me will tell you. I can talk, of course. It's impossible to play for Bayern without talking. Otherwise, my teammates will say to me, 'You're a center-back and you can't even say, 'Is the ball coming?' - Kimmich would tell me straight away.

"I want to apologise for my behaviour yesterday," Edvardsen said on Thursday. "Things were said and done between us that do not belong on a football pitch."