LaLiga has spoken out against FIFA over plans to reshape the structure of the 2026 World Cup into four-team groups.
Football s governing body had originally intended to have 16 groups of three teams after expanding from 32 to 48 nations for the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
However, following the Qatar 2022 edition, plans to maintain the current four-team system resurfaced and have now been rubber-stamped at FIFA s annual congress.
The decision has enraged LaLiga however, with the competition set to expand to 104 games from 64.
LaLiga has also objected to plans for a new international club tournament, which will join an expanded Club World Cup on the football calendar. The latter is due to take place every four years s…
According to recent reports over in Italy, Inter Milan are interested in bringing in Massimiliano Allegri to replace Luciano Spalletti in the summer transfer window. Allegri is on the verge of winning the Serie A title once again with Juventus, who are considered to be the powerhouses of Italian football – and Allegri has played a big role in that.
Beppe Marotta, the club’s CEO, is very interested in bringing Allegri to Inter, who are currently attempting to battle their way into the Champions League spots. Allegri, who began his run with The Old Lady back in 2014, has been heavily linked with a move away from the club for quite some time now. On the opposite end of the spectrum, you’ve got Spalletti, who also seems set to leave at the end of the current campaign.
Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti made no secret of his desire to coach Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani amid reports linking the Uruguayan with a return to Stadio San Paolo.
Cavani enjoyed three of his best seasons at Napoli, netting 78 Serie A goals to establish himself as one of Europe s most feared marksmen, ultimately earning a reported €64million switch to PSG in 2013.
Although 19 league goals was the most he managed in a single season during his first three years in France, Cavani stepped things up a notch in 2016-17 with 35 strikes and he has been similarly lethal ever since.
But, amid suggestions of a fractious relationship with Neymar, speculation has hinted Cavani could be allowed to leave.
Media reports indicate Napoli as being among th…
Roma advanced to the Champions League knockout stages as Group C winners following a narrow 1-0 victory over Qarabag at Stadio Olimpico on Tuesday.
Knowing three points would put their progression beyond doubt, the home side enjoyed the perfect sequence of results as Diego Perotti s second half winner and Chelsea s draw with Atletico Madrid saw them earn a seeding for the Round of 16.
The Giallorossi were initially made to sweat by a scoreless first half, with a draw not enough to go through had Diego Simeone s side won at Stamford Bridge.
But they only had to wait a further eight minutes for the vital breakthrough, 29-year-old Perotti nodding home after Edin Dezko s initial close-range effort spooned kindly into the air.
And with a better head-to-head …
Manchester United´s on-field results must improve to maintain commercial strength – sports finance e
Manchester United s on-field results must improve if they are to retain their status as the world s highest-earning football club, according to a sports finance expert.
United, who are sixth in the Premier League table and 19 points adrift of leaders Liverpool after 17 games, sacked Jose Mourinho on Monday and have hired former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on a caretaker basis for the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign.
Though they face a battle just to secure qualification for the Champions League next season via a top-four domestic finish in this campaign, United will still hope to once again come out on top of the Deloitte Football Money League which ranks the world s biggest teams based on revenue generated when it is released in the new year.
That i…
Luis Suarez s hat-trick a fitting end to La Liga season / Image via bleacherreport.com
Barcelona have retained the La Liga title having pipped bitter rivals Real Madrid to the trophy in the last round of the Spanish championship.
Luis Suarez scored a hat-trick for a comprehensive 3-0 triumph to ensure his team won the league by one point from Los Blancos, who managed to beat Deportivo La Coruna 2-0.
As Luis Enrique and his men celebrate the success, here are the five things we learned from Barcelona’s title clincher at Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes:
Routine win at Granada
Despite somewhat silent opening to the Saturday’s game at Granada, Barcelona’s win was never put in doubt. Luis Enrique’s men controlled the proceedings from the off and we…
Milan legend Arrigo Sacchi is to receive the UEFA president s sward at Thursday s Champions League group stage draw.
The award, presented at the start of each season to recognise outstanding achievements that transcend the sport , was won by Milan defender Simon Kjaer and Denmark s medical team last year for their response to Christian Eriksen s cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin hailed Sacchi, who will follow in the footsteps of previous Italian recipients Paolo Maldini, Gianni Rivera and Francesco Totti, for his endless tactical innovations which reshaped football.
Sacchi was credited with transforming the game by implementing a high-octane pressing style during a four-year spell as Milan coach between 1987 and 1991, winning one Se…
The Mirror understands that Manchester United are ready to offer David De Gea a contract for life.
The Spain international moved to Old Trafford from Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011 and he hes been long linked with a return to the Spanish capital with reigning La Liga and European champions Real big admirers.
He has eighteen months remaining on his current deal, with an option of a further year on the table though the Red Devils are keen to keep hold of his far beyond that.
The twenty-seven year old is closing in on three hundred appearances in all competitions for United and since moving to England he has helped them win the Premier League title, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the Europa League.
Internationally, he has been capped twenty-five tim…
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have rightly dominated the headlines for the past decade, leaving Andres Iniesta s sustained brilliance to go under the radar somewhat.
However, there is no question that the Spanish magician is the footballers footballer.
Much like Paul Scholes before him, his technique, vision and ability to dictate the pace of a game has been consistently recognised by some of the most high-profile names in the sport.
Following the news that the 33-year-old will leave Barcelona at the end of the season, with China his likely next destination to see out the final years of his career, we look at some of the glowing tributes paid to the imperious Iniesta during his time at the very top of the game.
Pep Guardiola
In…
Julen Lopetegui aims to build on the achievements of Vicente del Bosque after being named as the veteran coach s successor as Spain boss.
Del Bosque oversaw Spain s triumphant campaigns at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 but, after their shambolic defence of the world title in Brazil two years ago, his reign petered out with a last-16 exit at Euro 2016.
Stalwarts of this golden period, which also took in glory at Euro 2008 under Luis Aragones, are approaching the end of their international careers but former Porto coach Lopetegui was keen to preach evolution rather than revolution at a news conference shortly after his appointment was confirmed on Thursday.
We will try to take advantage of all the good he has done for Spanish football for many years, the 49-y…