Lauren James’ maiden World Cup goal was enough for England to maintain their 100 per cent record in Group D with a 1-0 victory over Denmark at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Chelsea forward struck the sixth-minute opener, but England suffered a major blow after 38 minutes when midfielder Keira Walsh was stretchered off with an apparent knee injury and later appeared on the touchline using crutches.
James’ goal was England’s first from open play since April’s Finalissima at Wembley, while Denmark came within inches of a last-gasp leveller when Amalie Vangsgaard’s header clipped the post.
England now have to wait for the result of China and Haiti in the late kick-off to learn if they have advanced to the knockouts with a match to spare.
Sarina W…
Darwin Nunez is more flexible than Erling Haaland and an ideal fit for Liverpool, according to one of his former coaches.
Nunez joined Liverpool from Benfica on Tuesday, with the Lisbon club confirming the fee to be £64million (€75m), and a further £21.4m (€25m) in potential add-ons.
The Uruguayan striker netted 34 times in 41 games in all competitions for Benfica last season.
Meanwhile, Manchester City who pipped Liverpool by one point in a compelling Premier League title race last month clinched the signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund after triggering his release clause of a reported £51.2m (€60m).
Haaland scored a monstrous 86 goals in 89 games for Dortmund during two-and-a-half seasons in the Bundesliga, and talk has already…
Italy continued their perfect record in Euro 2020 qualifying as Andrea Belotti s double helped them claim an emphatic 5-0 away win over Group J minnows Liechtenstein.
Federico Bernardeschi scored as Italy secured their place at next year s finals with a 2-0 triumph over Greece on Saturday, and the Juventus winger wasted little time in making his mark on Tuesday as he rattled in the Azzurri s fastest goal since June 2013.
The Azzurri were fortunate not to have fallen behind inside the opening 60 seconds, with Dennis Salanovic proving a real menace to the visitors throughout, though Salvatore Sirigu came out on top in an entertaining duel.
Sirigu s saves set the stage for a late Italy charge that included four goals in the last 20 minutes.
Belotti made sure…
Hoffenheim have temporarily removed Georginio Rutter from their first-team environment due to speculation over a transfer to Leeds United causing him to become preoccupied .
Rutter has reportedly emerged as a primary target of the Premier League side, who are supposedly ready to part with £26.5million (€30m) to bring the 20-year-old to Elland Road.
Media speculation suggests he has already agreed personal terms with Leeds, who are keen to bolster their attacking options in their bid to avoid relegation – they are only two points above the bottom three.
Rutter, a France Under-21 international, joined Hoffenheim from Rennes at the start of February 2021 for a fee said to be around €500,000, and although still raw, has since gone on to show real promise in th…
Matthijs de Ligt insists he did not attack Juventus when pointing out the club had underperformed, although he feels he will be better suited to playing for Bayern Munich.
De Ligt left Juve for Bayern ahead of the 2022-23 season, having widely been seen as failing to fulfil his potential in three years in Turin.
The Netherlands centre-back was outstanding in Ajax s run to the 2018-19 Champions League semi-finals, earning a move to Juve, where he faced a battle for his place.
De Ligt started fewer than 30 Serie A matches in each of his three seasons with the Bianconeri.
There was some backlash then when De Ligt, discussing the possibility of a transfer in June, criticised Juve s back-to-back fourth-placed finishes.
Speaking to De Telegraaf on Satu…
Southampton striker Shane Long has signed a two-year contract extension at St Mary s.
The 33-year-old had been out of contract at the end of the campaign but has agreed terms to stay at the Premier League club.
Long, who joined Southampton from Hull City in 2014, has scored just twice in 19 league appearances so far this season.
But the Republic of Ireland international has impressed manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who also penned a new deal this week.
Shane is an outstanding professional, Hasenhuttl said. He has been an important player for me and I know also for the managers before me.
2014 2022
Staying where he belongs
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC)
He has scored some big goals for us and helped to create many more f…
Chelsea have continued their January spending spree with the signing of right-back Malo Gusto from Lyon.
The France Under-21 international has signed a seven-and-a-half-year deal at Stamford Bridge, but he will spend the remainder of the 2022-23 season on loan at Lyon.
Gusto, who has made 54 appearances for Lyon since making his debut in January 2021, is reported to have cost Chelsea an initial £26.3million (€29.9m) plus various add-ons.
He becomes Chelsea s seventh signing of the window following the arrivals of Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile, Noni Madueke, Andrey Santos, David Datro Fofana and Joao Felix, the latter joining on loan from Atletico Madrid.
The 19-year-old attacking full-back will provide long-term competition and cover for Reece Jam…
Reported Tottenham target Nikola Milenkovic has committed his future to Fiorentina by signing a contract extension until 2023.
The Serbia international had been widely linked to Spurs, Wolves and West Ham, with just a year left on his previous deal.
However, with Cristian Romero arriving to bolster Nuno Espirito Santo s squad and the other two Premier League clubs wary of finances, talks broke down and Milenkovic has signed a one-year extension.
Head coach Vincenzo Italiano will be delighted to have secured the defender s services for another term, given it seems fellow centre-back German Pezzella is on the brink of moving to Real Betis.
Milenkovic joined from Partizan in 2017 and has racked up 133 appearances across all competition for Fiorentina, scor…
Orlando City reached the MLS play-offs for the first time in their history, while Columbus Crew also clinched a spot in the post-season.
A last-gasp 1-1 draw against New York Red Bulls was enough for Orlando to secure a place in the MLS Cup play-offs on Sunday.
Orlando were stunned in stoppage time – Brian White s 95th-minute equaliser cancelling out Nani s 56th-minute penalty at Red Bull Arena.
But after Toronto edged Atlanta United 1-0, Orlando were assured of their first trip to the play-offs, having entered the league in 2015.
The Captain getting it done |
— x Orlando City SC (@OrlandoCitySC)
We ve put ourselves in a good position, Orlando forward Daryl Dike said. Obviously we just made the play-offs today, but I think we re g…
Arsenal put in a dominant display to return to winning ways as they saw off Brighton at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners were well-beaten by Roberto De Zerbi’s men in the corresponding fixture last season, all-but ending their Premier League title charge in the process.
This 2-0 victory in an entertaining contest – coming after defeat at Aston Villa eight days ago – would have helped banish some of the ghosts of that defeat while keeping Mikel Arteta’s side very much in the mix at the top of the table.
Arsenal take top spot as they become the first side to keep Brighton at bay this season
— Premier League (@premierleague)
Gabriel Jesus’ all-round game was exceptional throughout but it was his back-post header from close-range that …