Soccer (FIFA)

Soccer (FIFA)

Although the Scottish giants might have already watched their European knockout stage dreams go up in smoke, Rangers are enjoying what has become a real domestic romp and they will simply be looking to extend on their purple patch here. Making their return from a month-long festive break in midweek, Ludogorets open their penultimate group stage battle sat with their nose in the top-24, and they face what looks set to be a must-win contest in Glasgow.

Sure, volleying a can of Tin from the bath straight into the bin feels good, but have you ever felt the rush of successfully slipping a foreign word in a sentence? Whether Football Daily is subtly and frivolously deploying a merci at Pret a Manger or winning hearts and minds at Football Daily Towers by describing an overcome hangover as the greatest remontada since Barcelona's 6-1 win over PSG in 2017, there is simply nothing like the smugness one feels after borrowing a word or two from our European brethren.

"You will fill me with strength in times of difficulty, and I will always remember what you always told us: always happy and moving forward. Everything I do in this life will always be for the brightest star I have in the sky. As someone once told me, 'When the going gets tough, only the tough get there,' you were always a fighter, and you taught me that from the very beginning. That is the greatest act of love I can do for you: to show you that I can handle anything and that I will never give up."

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

Marseille's squad is absolutely fascinating. The city has always been a place of eccentric chaos and it feels like this team is an extension of that, with players as varied as Matt O'Riley (on loan from Brighton), Benjamin Pavard (on loan from Inter), rising star Igor Paixao, Timothy Weah (now apparently a right back), English players Angel Gomes (signed on a free transfer), CJ Egan-Riley (signed from Burnley), top scorer Mason Greenwood, veterans Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Neil Maupay, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, Geronimo Rulli, and Geoffrey Kondogbia.

Vinicius has been having a lacklustre season, and some fans viewed him as one of the reasons why coach Xabi Alonso was replaced last week. Vinicius had spats with Alonso, a former Madrid and Spain great as a player, who was replaced as a coach following a tumultuous eight-month stint. Vinicius was reportedly the main player not backing Alonso in the locker room.

Senior officials at the top of Fifa and Uefa are "very concerned" about the potential impact of the United States interest in Greenland on the World Cup and wider game, sources say, as football federations try to tread their own difficult balance in traversing a diplomatic crisis.

The dates for the inaugural Club World Cup were approved by the FIFA Council in December. The tournament is set to run in the middle of the English domestic calendar -- which will also impact several leagues across Europe including Spain, France and Germany. A spokesperson for the WSL said holding the tournament in January is "at best inconvenient, and at worst, catastrophic" for the domestic game in England, commercially and for player welfare.

There have been a number of stunning managerial changes in recent weeks -- from Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid to Ruben Amorim at Manchester United -- and the cutthroat nature of a career in football management will not be lost on Gary Rowett. The 51-year-old former Derby County, Birmingham City and Leicester City defender was sacked as head coach of Championship side Oxford United just two days before Christmas. The call on Dec. 23 came just over a year after the one that appointed him.

It was a fast start from Atleti, which saw Julian Alvaraz hit the side-netting before Giovanni Simeone headed home from Matteo Ruggeri's cross from the left wing to give the visitors an early lead. However, Galatasaray equalised in the 20th minute after a moment of madness from Marcos Llorente. The right-back turned a low cross from Roland Sallai into his own net, despite being under no pressure from the opposition in the six-yard box.

There are many ways to self-destruct on a football pitch but PSV Eindhoven chose one of the more obvious methods. In opting to play out slowly from the back against high-pressing opponents possessing forwards blessed with the speed and skill of Yoane Wissa and Anthony Gordon, Peter Bosz's team were always likely to come undone. Their inevitable unravelling left Newcastle on course for the Champions League knockout phase.