Mario Gotze has all the qualities to return to the Germany squad ahead of the World Cup in Qatar, according to former Die Mannschaft coach Joachim Low.
Gotze has won 63 caps for his country and scored an extra-time winner against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final as Germany lifted the trophy for a fourth time.
The creative midfielder has not appeared for the national side since November 2017, though, when he appeared as a second-half substitute in a friendly against France.
That is due to a lack of club success for the former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich star, who has traded PSV for Eintracht Frankfurt in a reported €4million move to the Europa League winners.
Appearing in the Champions League for Eintracht, alongside returning to the Bundes…
After a summer in which the England team took another historic step forward, the Women’s Super League returns this week with the next major phase in its development on the horizon.
New ground was broken by the Lionesses once again as, a year on from claiming their first major trophy with Euros glory on home soil, they reached a maiden World Cup final.
While they ended up being edged 1-0 by Spain on August 20, the exploits of Sarina Wiegman’s side at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand only further strengthened the sense of momentum surrounding the English women’s game.
The returns this week!
Have you got your tickets yet?
— Barclays Women s Super League (@BarclaysWSL)
The WSL has been a key contributor to that as well a…
Gianluigi Buffon hopes his former club Juventus sign Angel Di Maria as he likened the Paris Saint-Germain attacker to Argentina great Diego Maradona.
Di Maria joined PSG from Manchester United in 2015 but is to leave the French capital at the expiration of his deal at the end of June.
Juve have reportedly offered Di Maria a one-year contract with the option of an additional one-season extension.
Reports suggest Di Maria is intent on staying in European football for just one more season, though, before playing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and returning to compete in his native Argentina.
That is said to have led to a delay in negotiations between the 34-year-old and Massimiliano Allegri s side.
Former Juve goalkeeper Buffon encouraged the Bianc…
Responding to Benatia s announcement, which he revealed on Instagram, Juventus striker Paulo Dybala sent a heart emoji to his former team-mate. Ex-Bayern winger Franck Ribery did likewise, with current Juve full-back Juan Cuadrado and former favourite Sami Khedira also among those that sent greetings.
Blaise Matuidi, the former Juventus and France midfield general, wrote: What a career, my brother. I remember those days at [French national football centre] Clairefontaine where we began to dream of being a professional footballer, but by dint of work you did much more than that. Incredible clubs, captain of a nation and having won a good number of titles, you can only be proud brother.
Manchester United defender Eric Bailly joined in the praise, writing: Bravo capitano…
In what was a dramatic El Classico showdown on Saturday afternoon, Real Madrid mounted a stunning last-gasp comeback as they secured a 2-1 victory against Barcelona.
While Xavi’s side might have opened the scoring after just six minutes as former Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan notched his first La Liga strike, it was eventually Madrid’s latest icon that once again stole all of the headlines.
Returning from the half-time interval chasing a 1-0 deficit, Los Blancos were calling on the record-breaking Jude Bellingham to spearhead their charge in Catalonia.
With the England international bagging Carlo Ancelotti’s men level thanks to a stunning strike from distance, the former Birmingham starlet then wrote himself into El Classico history as Bellingham tap…
Market: RB Leipzig win
Odds: 1/2 @
Looking to skyrocket their way back into the Bundesliga top-four, RB Leipzig will welcome Freiburg to town on Sunday evening.
Starting with the hosts, managing to claim what was a welcomed Champions League boost earlier in the week as they secured a 2-1 victory away at Red Star Belgrade, RB Leipzig will certainly be seeking a repeat performance here. Cruising their way to the knockout stage and continuing to gain a string of European plaudits this season, Marco Rose’s side should be smelling a real opportunity here. Opening this weekend’s fixtures sat just a single point adrift of breaking into the top-four, the Red Bulls will certainly be excited to make a return to home soil on Sunday evening. Last seen in front of their …
Antonio Conte claimed Champions League qualification would be life-changing for Tottenham ahead of Saturday s Premier League clash with Brighton and Hove Albion.
Conte also reiterated, however, that Tottenham face a difficult challenge to secure a place in Europe s premier competition, insisting another four clubs were also competing for fourth spot.
Spurs have won four consecutive league games to move into the Premier League s top four, the last two of those by four goals (a 5-1 win over Newcastle United and a 4-0 victory at Aston Villa). Another four-goal win would make Conte s team the first side to win three successive Premier League games by four goals since Manchester City in September 2017.
Tottenham will be confident of extending their excellent form agai…
England midfielder Kalvin Phillips is reportedly on his way out of Leeds United, with Manchester United, Aston Villa and West Ham said to be the parties most interested in prying him away.
Phillips, 26, has been with Leeds since 2010, but Football Insider has reported he has no interest in remaining with the club next season, even if they remain in the Premier League.
The tough midfielder followed in the footsteps of Wilfried Zaha and Jack Butland as the only English players in the 21st century to earn a senior cap while having never played in any country s top division, and confirmed his class at Euro 2020, starting every game and earning the title of England s 2020-21 Men s Player of the Year.
TOP STORY – PHILLIPS GETS READY FOR EXCITING NEW CHAPTE…
Inter coach Simone Inzaghi backed his side to respond from defeat at Bologna but conceded the Scudetto race is out of the Nerazzurri s hands.
Milan returned to the Serie A summit with victory at Lazio on Sunday and Inter initially made a positive response when Ivan Perisic struck after just two minutes and 53 seconds at the Stadio Renato Dall Ara on Wednesday.
That was the Nerazzurri s fastest league strike of the season but Marko Arnautovic equalised against his former club with his 13th league goal this term, his best tally in a single campaign in Europe s top five leagues.
A costly Ionut Radu error was then punished by substitute Nicola Sansone with nine minutes remaining as Inter dropped ground in the Scudetto race, the 2-1 defeat leaving them two points be…
Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez has learned a lesson after serving his three-match suspension for violent conduct, says Jurgen Klopp.
Nunez – signed from Benfica prior to the season – was sent off on his Anfield debut for headbutting Joachim Andersen in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on August 15.
The forward subsequently missed Liverpool s defeat to Manchester United, their 9-0 thrashing of Bournemouth and Wednesday s dramatic 2-1 win over Newcastle United.
Klopp is thrilled to have Nunez back in the fold ahead of Saturday s Merseyside derby with Everton at Goodison Park, while Diogo Jota could also be involved after returning from injury, but Liverpool s manager is sure his new striker has learned a valuable lesson when it comes to keeping his cool.