Clarke: Argentina should select Yacob

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has launched a stinging condemnation of Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis after he stated he would not sign African players unless they agreed to waive Africa Cup of Nations duties.

De Laurentiis angered the continent s governing body and others ahead of the new campaign when he said he would no longer recruit individuals eligible for the prestigious continental international tournament.

Unlike other major representative events, such as the European Championship and Copa America, AFCON is usually held midway through the European season, where many of its stars ply their trade.

This year s Qatar 2022 World Cup represents a break from the norm in a mid-season staging, though that was a decision dictated by the weathe…

Should FA appoint Sam Allardyce? / Image via goal.com

England are standing at a major crossroads following their yet another international campaign that ended up in utter disappointment.

With Roy Hodgson gone, the FA face an important decision on appointing a right manager that will be an improvement for the 68-year-old tactician, whose good work during the Euro 2016 qualifiers counted for nothing with the Three Lions showing uninspired and toothless displays that were in great deal attributed to Roy Hodgson’s tactical incompetence.

A couple of names have already been singled out as a possible replacement, but Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce is currently leading the pack in front of the likes of Eddie Howe, Jurgen Klinsmann, Glenn Hoddle, Guus Hidding and eve…

Luke Shaw feared for his career after breaking his leg in two places in a Champions League game for Manchester United last September.

Shaw suffered the injury in a match against PSV and missed the rest of the campaign, including Euro 2016, as a result.

But the left-back is fit and ready for 2015-16 with United set to continue their pre-season preparations against Borussia Dortmund in the International Champions Cup on Friday.

When I first did it, the first thoughts that went through my head were am I going to play football again and how long am I going to be out for , Shaw said. 

I wasn t thinking too much of the pain because I can deal with that at that point but yes there was a fear of how long it was going to take or even if I was going to get ba…

Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick says he would consider making himself available again for England selection.

Carrick, 30, reportedly rejected the chance to be part of Roy Hodgson s Euro 2012 squad on the basis he was not guaranteed first-team action, but has seemingly softened his stance.

I ve had no contact from Roy Hodgson, so it would be wrong of me at this stage to make a decision either way, Carrick told The Guardian.

But I would consider it, definitely.

Fabio Capello had included Carrick in his squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but the midfielder barely featured in the tournament.

Carrick said he was only keen to avoid a similar situation at Euro 2012, but dismissed rumours he had fallen out with Hodgson.

I didn t…

Didier Deschamps conceded France were nowhere near their best in a 2-0 Euro 2020 qualifying defeat in Turkey on Saturday.

The world champions failed to muster a shot in target in what was a miserable performance as goals from Kaan Ayhan and Cengiz Under helped Turkey to a memorable triumph.

Turkey are now three points clear of France in Group H and Deschamps said his side simply had an off night.

When you have a performance like that, there are no positives to take, the France coach was quoted as saying by L Equipe.

Even if we are world champions, from there, we cannot hope for anything.

We took a smack tonight. We can analyse. 

There is a match waiting for us in three days. Nothing to add except to congratulate Turkey and return to …

Arsenal are interested in signing Slavia Prague attacker Abdallah Sima, according to . It has been reported by the Italian news outlet that the Gunners have scouted the 19-year-old forward, with Juventus also interested in securing the services of the Senegalese youngster.

Sima has been on the books of Slavia since the summer of 2020 when he joined from MAS Taborsko. The teenager has established himself as an important player in the first team at Slavia and is one of the brightest young players in the Czech Republic.

Arsenal are a massive club, but the Gunners are struggling at the moment and may not finish in the Champions League places in the Premier League table this season. As for Juventus, the Turin giants are going strong in Serie A and could make it 10 Scudetto s…

As La Liga s title race enters its final six matches of the season, Real Madrid head to Celta Vigo knowing they can ill-afford another slip-up at Balaidos.

In the penultimate game of the 2013-14 campaign, Real lost 2-0 at Celta, a result which ended their hopes of reclaiming the league trophy.

This season, Carlo Ancelotti s men are well in the hunt again, although they lie two points behind fierce rivals Barcelona, who kick-off at Espanyol more than 24 hours before Real get under way.

As a result, Real could begin the game five points adrift of the leaders or, should Barca fail to take all three points in the Catalan derby, Ancelotti s side will be able to replace them at the summit with victory over Celta.

Ancelotti is without the trio of Karim Benzema, …

Christian Vieri has given Italy coach Antonio Conte full credit for the country s impressive performance at Euro 2016 so far, saying it s all him .

Conte has led his side to victories over Belgium, Sweden and Spain, setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Germany in Bordeaux on Saturday.

Italy have conceded just one goal in the tournament, during a 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland with qualification for the knockout stages already assured, and former Azzurri striker Vieri heaped praise on his one-time Juventus team-mate for masterminding the campaign.

Comparing Italy s performance at Euro 2016 with their poor showing at the World Cup in 2014, when they failed to make it out of their group, Vieri told La Gazzetta dello Sport: It’s like day and…

Tottenham Hotspur manager Andres Villas Boas is preparing for a mass exodus at White Hart Lane by placing ten of his first team players up for sale,.

The 35 year old is keen to restructure his squad for a Champions League push next season, having narrowly missed out to North London rivals Arsenal last time around.

David Bentley and William Gallas have already left the club after not having their contracts renewed.

Strikers Jermaine Defoe and Emmanuel Adebayor are set to be the highest profile casualties, with the pair having scored just sixteen goals between them last season, while England’s 2011 Player of the Year Scott Parker is also surplus to requirements.

Goalkeeping duo Heurelho Gomes and Brad Friedel are likely to move on having fallen out …

West Ham midfielder Yossi Benayoun has vowed to impress at Upton Park despite limited first-team opportunities early in the season.

His lack of Premier League game time so far this season has seen him dropped from the Israel national team despite his status as his country s captain.

But Benayoun is hopeful that he will have a successful season at east London while he is on loan at the club from Chelsea.

There is an option to extend my loan, he told reporters.

My ambition is to be here for a full season and to make it a good one. It s great to be here but there s strength in depth.

Benayoun arrived in England at West Ham and was impressive enough to earn a move to Liverpool in 2007.

Last season, he spent a campaign on loan at Arsenal f…