Germany boss Flick praises Fullkrug after debut goal but admits need to raise levels at the World Cu
Hansi Flick was pleased to see Niclas Fullkrug score on his Germany debut, but admitted his side were far from their best despite the 1-0 win over Oman.
The visitors struggled in Muscat in their World Cup warm-up game, relying on substitute Fullkrug s 80th-minute strike to take victory in a match that never really got going.
Though Germany will not be the only side battling fatigue amid a mid-season tournament, their lacklustre performance against relative minnows perhaps highlighted the difficulties they could face at Qatar 2022, which begins on Sunday.
Flick did take time to praise Fullkrug, the Werder Bremen striker winning his first cap after firing 10 goals in 14 Bundesliga games this season, while outlining his concerns over their warm-up showing.
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Chelsea
It seems as though Chelsea are battling for second-place this year, with their fight to defend their title seemingly over after just 17 games. Manchester City are the best team in England right now, and they can claim to be one of the best in Europe too. 17 games, 16 wins and one draw along with 52 goals is a frightening record, and they have blown every other team out of the water this season, including the reigning champions. By contrast, Chelsea have won 11 games, drawn twice and lost four matches, scoring 31 goals along the way. The Blues downfall has been an inability to maintain a strong run of form, with losses adorning their record, while City are on a 15 game winning run. However, the Blues must focus u…
Villarreal dealt Atletico Madrid s rapidly fading LaLiga titles hopes another blow as they coasted to a comfortable 3-0 win at El Madrigal on Monday.
Atletico s uncharacteristic sloppiness at the back proved particularly damaging, with individual errors to blame for Villarreal s first-half goals and a third league defeat in five leaves Diego Simeone s men 12 points adrift of pacesetters Real Madrid.
Tiago was culpable for Villarreal s first goal with Manu Trigueros profiting and applying a calm finish, before a goalkeeping howler from Jan Oblak allowed Jonathan dos Santos to add the second before half-time.
Villarreal were less reluctant to commit players to attack in the second period, with their miserly defence standing up to their reputation as LaLiga s best h…
Palermo are ready to sell Matias Silvestre to Inter Milan in a deal believed to be worth around 10 million euros.
The Sicilian outfit s president Maurizio Zamparini said negotiations with Inter
are in the final stages and a deal could be struck soon.
Silvestre, 27, already announced his intention to leave Palermo after just one
season and has been linked with both Inter and AC Milan.
Andrea Stramaccioni s outfit had originally offered seven million euros for the
defender, who also holds an Italian passport, but have now upped their bid in
order to ward off competition from their city rivals.
I met with Inter president Massimo Moratti. We spoke about Silvestre and
we are on the same page, Zamparini told Radio Radio…
Reigning champions the United States were knocked out of the Women’s World Cup after the VAR intervened in a dramatic penalty shoot-out against Sweden.
Lina Hurtig’s winning penalty was found to have crossed the line following a check with the VAR officials after USA goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher appeared to have saved the effort.
Replays showed the ball had just crossed the line and Sweden were able to celebrate a 5-4 win on penalties after a goalless draw in the last-16 clash in Melbourne.
Alyssa Naeher nearly kept it out
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer)
The back-to-back defending champions led 3-2 in the shoot-out but misses by Megan Rapinoe and Sophia Smith opened the door for Sweden to take it to sudden death.
Goalkeeper Naeher scored for…
Schalke are interested in extending Germany international Lewis Holtby s contract, according to his agent Marcus Noack.
The 21-year-old midfielder has been with the Gelsenkirchen club since 2009, but recently admitted that he would be tempted by a move to England, the country of his father s birth.
However, Noack has assured Schalke fans that his client has no interest in a transfer away from the Veltins Arena, and talks have begun over extending Holtby s deal, which expires at the end of the 2012-13 season.
There have been talks and the club have indicated that they would like to extend Lewis contract, Noack told Goal.com.
We know that many (club) names are being circulated in the media, but we re not making much of that because it happens every year…
Tottenham winger Giovani dos Santos has revealed he is open to remaining with the club this summer.
The Mexican joined the north London outfit in 2008 from Barcelona but struggled to break into former manager Harry Redknapp s first-team plans and has been loaned out three times.
But the 23-year-old, whose contract expires next year, says he could yet stay with Spurs following the appointment of new boss Andre Villas-Boas.
I m very happy here [in England] but the most important thing is the game, Dos Santos said after scoring both goals in Mexico s 2-0 win over Gabon at the Olympics in Coventry on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Mexico Olympic coach, Luis Fernando Tena, has insisted that Dos Santos current club situation is hurting the youngster at international leve…
Hector Bellerin is delighted his decision to leave Barcelona and join Arsenal has paid off as he continues to enjoy a run as first-choice right back at the Emirates Stadium.
The Spain under-21 international left Camp Nou for London as a 16-year-old in 2011 and signed a new long-term contract in the close-season after making his first-team breakthrough last year.
Bellerin, 20, has been preferred to fit-again Mathieu Debuchy in defence by manager Arsene Wenger, starting five of his team s six Premier League games in 2015-16.
The Catalan spoke fondly of his time learning the game with Barca but is thrilled with his decision to leave the European champions and is eager to stay with Arsenal for the long haul after establishing himself in the side.
It has pai…
Manchester United have completed the signing of forward Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven on a four-year deal.
The Holland international, who was shortlisted for the Young Player Award at the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil last summer, led the Dutch Eredivisie with 22 goals in 30 games in 2014/15.
This is a dream come true for me; to play for the biggest club in the world and also to have the chance to work with someone who I believe is the best manager in the world, Louis van Gaal, Depay told the club s official website. I have great belief in my ability and I work hard to strive to achieve my dreams.
I have been at PSV Eindhoven since I was 12 years old and I would like to thank them for everything. It was a great moment when we won the lea…
Chelsea continued their relentless march towards the Premier League title with a controlled 2-1 win over West Ham at London Stadium.
A much-changed Blues XI were knocked out of the EFL Cup at the same ground in October but Antonio Conte s men were all business this time around.
They absorbed early pressure without coughing up chances and Eden Hazard displayed the devastating, clinical edge West Ham lacked as he scythed through them for a counter-attacking opener.
Conte s side carried menace on the break throughout, although their second came courtesy of poor set-piece defending from Slaven Bilic s side, with Diego Costa needing no second invitation to collect his 18th goal of the season after 50 minutes.
Manuel Lanzini grabbed a late consolation for the …