Soccer (FIFA)

Soccer (FIFA)

The match was immediately attritional, with both teams struggling to establish any control amid frequent stoppages and fouls. DR Congo carried a threat in the first half, particularly through Cedric Bakambu, who went close with a header and later forced a save from Luca Zidane after being picked out by Theo Bongonda. Algeria responded with sporadic attacks of their own, Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Amoura combining on the counter, though clear chances were limited before the break.

That made it a little bit easier to know that there was the club and the national manager still wanting me available for selection for another year. So, yes, that definitely made it a little bit easier.

Algeria eased through to the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations after winning all three of their group games. Wins over Sudan, Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea mean a last-16 clash with DR Congo is the only thing standing between them and a place in the quarter-finals. Their opponents, the Leopards, secured their passage thanks to a second-placed finish in Group D only behind Senegal.

I like the idea of being a manager, but I'd prefer to be an owner. I'd like to have my own club, start from the bottom, and make it grow. To be able to give the kids the opportunity to develop and achieve something important. If I had to choose, that's what would appeal to me most.

I only agree to invest if the startup and its founders check all the boxes,

Starting with Atletico, while Diego Simeone's men might have got December underway with consecutive La Liga defeats, it appears that was just a minor blip for Los Rojiblancos. Despite opening the New Year with a 1-1 stalemate away at Real Sociedad last weekend, they have won each of their other four appearances across all competitions and have also suffered just a pair of domestic defeats since the opening weekend of the 2025/26 campaign.

Gary O'Neil has agreed to become Strasbourg's manager after Liam Rosenior left the French club to join sister club Chelsea. O'Neil, 42, has been without a club since he was sacked by Wolves in December 2024. He previously had a year-long spell at Bournemouth in the 2022-23 season, helping the south coast club avoid relegation before being sacked and replaced by Andoni Iraola. His appointment at Strasbourg comes before a Coupe de France tie against third-tier Avranches on Saturday.

I spoke with my staff and we think that when Ronald is back we have good alternatives at centre-back. Joao can play at both full-backs,

Goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen has abandoned Barcelona's camp in Saudi Arabia to return to Spain for tests after getting injured in training on Tuesday, the club have confirmed. Ter Stegen, 33, has struggled with injuries during the last two years, missing most of last season with a knee injury and the start of the current campaign after undergoing back surgery.

The January transfer window is now open, and already clubs are moving to bring in fresh talent for the second half of the season. Crystal Palace, for example, wasted no time in splashing 35 million on former Tottenham Hotspur man Brennan Johnson, who has already played his first Premier League game for his new employers. But all sides do not need to be as eager as the Eagles in tying up their business. Here's how long clubs have left to get those big-money moves finalised.