Aurier joins Villarreal following Tottenham exit

Germany coach Joachim Low has ruled out international recalls for experienced Bayern Munich duo Thomas Muller and Jerome Boateng plus Borussia Dortmund s Mats Hummels.

Low sent the three players into the international wilderness in March 2019 as he looked to build towards the future after Germany flopped at the 2018 World Cup.

Attacking midfielder Muller (100 caps), and defenders Boateng (76 caps) and Hummels (70 caps) boast 246 appearances for Germany between them and were all in the team that won the World Cup in 2014, but the trio are all over the age of 30.

Germany have qualified for Euro 2020 but their defence in particular has been shaky in recent games, shipping seven goals in their last three matches, leading to calls for Boateng and Hummels to be reconsi…

Prediction: Belgium to win 2-1

Best Odds: 

Bookmaker: 

Belgium and Canada will face each other at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar this week. The Group F match will be held at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan and is scheduled to kick off at 7pm UK time on Wednesday.

Belgium

Belgium have one of the best teams at the 2022 Qatar World Cup and will head into the tournament aiming to go all the way. Roberto Martinez’s side have been placed in Group F along with Canada, Morocco and Croatia, and they will feel confident of getting out of the group.

The Red Devils will head into the match against Canada at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan on the back of a 2-1 defeat to Egypt in a friendly international in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Belgium w…

Toni Kroos believes Real Madrid have been dealt the toughest possible Champions League last-16 tie but is relishing the chance to take on Paris Saint-Germain.

Madrid were initially paired with Benfica on Monday, but a technical glitch forced a re-draw and the LaLiga leaders will now face Ligue 1 pacesetters PSG over two legs in February and March.

Record 13-time European champions Madrid finished top of Group D and could have faced either Benfica, PSG, Sporting CP, Salzburg or Chelsea.

But while the Spanish giants dodged a meeting with reigning champions Chelsea, Kroos feels his side will face an even tougher opponent in PSG, who boast the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Madrid legend Sergio Ramos in their ranks.

We have a very interesti…

West Ham United are willing to sell Nayef Aguerd in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that the Hammers are ready to cash in on the central defender despite signing him just 18 months ago.

Aguerd moved to West Ham from Rennes in the summer of 2022. The London club paid £30 million in transfer fees for the defender, and if they are to sell him in the middle of the season, then they will want a similar fee. The Morocco international central defender has scored one goal in 16 Premier League matches and has scored one goal in four UEFA Europa League games for the Hammers so far this season.

West Ham are sixth in the Premier League table at the moment with 33 points from 19 matches. David Moyes’s side are four points behind defending champi…

Hansi Flick will remain in charge of Germany through Euro 2024 despite a disastrous World Cup campaign following discussions with the German Football Association (DFB).

The former Bayern Munich boss succeeded Joachim Low following Euro 2020, and was tasked with reviving the national team s prestige after back-to-back disappointing major tournaments

But, as at Russia 2018, Germany instead crashed out in the group stage at Qatar 2022, sparking serious questions about leadership at the top, and leading to the exit of technical director Oliver Bierhoff.

Flick s own future has been up in the air too, but after holding talks with DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and vice-president Hans-Joachim Watzke, he has now been confirmed to be staying on board.

My coaching…

Trent Alexander-Arnold believes becoming Gareth Southgate’s midfield dynamo is his best shot of shining for England.

The Liverpool star excelled in a roaming role in Friday’s 4-0 Euro 2024 qualifying win in Malta.

His stunning first-half strike, the 24-year-old’s second England goal, capped a fine performance as he lined up alongside Jordan Henderson and Declan Rice.

Enjoyed that one

— Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA)

Alexander-Arnold, first played in midfield by Southgate against Andorra in 2021, has also seen his role at Liverpool evolve and feels the position is a strong option with England given the competition at right-back.

He said: “It’s certainly an avenue. One that is clearly being explored and is something the man…

Napoli manager Rudi Garcia highlighted Lazio’s quality despite the Biancocelesti losing their opening two Serie A matches ahead of their meeting on Saturday.

Maurizio Sarri’s side, who were beaten 2-1 at Lecce before a 1-0 home defeat to Genoa, find themselves in 18th place and travel to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in search of their first points of the season.

Garcia will look to extend Napoli’s flawless start despite failing to predict how Sarri’s side will set up when the two face off.

: Lindstrøm is another talent in a team filled with so much quality. He s quick and has an eye for goal. He can play down both wings. He won t start tomorrow

— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli)

“They’re a quality side that need points having…

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta does not want to sell Thomas Partey in the January transfer window, according to . The report has claimed that Partey is not unhappy at Arsenal, and that Arteta wants to keep him at the club for the second half of the season at least.

Partey has been on the books of Arsenal since 2020 and has been very good for the North London clubs over the years. There were injury problems for the 30-year-old defensive midfielder initially at Arsenal, but he has been very important for the team when he has been fit and available.

Arsenal are third in the Premier League table at the moment with 24 points from 10 matches, three points behind leaders and defending champions Manchester City, who have played 11 games. Partey has made 85 appearances in the Prem…

According to , Liverpool are set to re-open the negotiations with the representatives of Sadio Mane about a new contract, with recent reports saying Bayern Munich and Barcelona are interested in signing the Senegalese forward this summer.

Mane has been a vital cog in everything Liverpool have achieved since his arrival from Southampton in 2016, with 119 goals and 47 assists in 266 appearances in all competitions so far. He played the first season at Anfield on the right wing and most games since on the left, after the arrival of Mohamed Salah in 2017. Now he s mostly being used as the central attacker, with Luis Diaz on the left.

With his contract set to enter its final 12 months this summer, there has been much speculation about his future and it has been reported that…

England coach Sarina Wiegman believes Leah Williamson is ready to make her long-awaited return in Friday’s Euro 2025 qualifier against Sweden.

Williamson trained on her own on Tuesday after coming off at half-time of Arsenal’s Conti Cup final win over Chelsea on Sunday.

But she trained with the group on Wednesday and if she makes it through Thursday’s session unscathed she will be in contention to make her first international appearance in 12 months as the Lionesses begin their qualification campaign.

She has not featured for her country since suffering an ACL injury last April, having pulled out of a training squad in March with a hamstring strain.

“We need to manage it a little bit. She had a full training session on Wednesday, she will be on th…