Johan Djourou believes anything is possible as Switzerland prepare to face Brazil in World Cup opener.
Brazil are among the pre-tournament favourites, having fallen in spectacular fashion on home soil against Germany in the semi-finals four years ago.
Serbia and Costa Rica the latter were quarter-finalists in 2014 fill out a competitive Group E, but Djourou feels Switzerland can qualify for the knockout rounds in Russia.
The Antalyaspor defender, though, accepts the calibre of opponent Switzerland face against Brazil on Sunday makes their opening task difficult.
I think that when you play a World Cup you can only be excited, Djourou told Omnisport.
That s one of the best things that can happen to a football player, is to play for your co…
Speculation is beginning to grow around the vacant Tottenham coaching position after Jose Mourinho s exit last week.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy is on the hunt as Spurs try to return to England s top echelon.
Spurs appear set to miss out on Champions League football for the second straight season.
TOP STORY – SPURS PLOT RODGERS SWOOP
Tottenham are planning a move to recruit Brendan Rodgers from Leicester City as their new head coach this off-season according to The Sun.
Levy is a long-time admirer of the former Liverpool coach although he reportedly needs to convince his fellow Spurs board executives after disparaging comments Rodgers made about the club years ago.
Rodgers has been in charge of Leicester since 2019 with the…
Prediction: Correct Score 3-0 Juventus
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Juventus will be trying to take a significant step towards yet another Serie A crown in the latest instalment of the Turin derby on Saturday afternoon.
Heading into the match, the Old Lady sit four points clear of nearest challengers Lazio, with nine matches of the season left to play. Meanwhile, Torino have targets of their own as they sit only six points clear of the drop zone so are under threat of being dragged into the relegation battle in the final few weeks of the season.
Juventus
Despite a tricky return after lockdown, having drawn consecutive matches against AC Milan and Napoli in the Coppa Italia, the latter seeing Maurizio Sarri s troops beaten in the final of the competition, …
Thiago Alcantara missed Liverpool s game against Tottenham due to a suspected positive coronavirus test result, as Jurgen Klopp was left without a raft of key players.
The midfielder, who contracted the virus in 2020, has been placed into isolation after returning the suspect result during the pre-match round of tests.
Jordan Henderson also withdrew from the Reds squad for Sunday s meeting with Antonio Conte s team after feeling unwell. However, the Liverpool captain has tested negative for the virus.
It meant manager Klopp was without his first-choice midfield for the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, given Fabinho and Curtis Jones were also sidelined.
Here’s how we line up for today’s meeting with !
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
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With a stacked midweek schedule from across Europe on our hands throughout Wednesday, we have a string of eye-catching meetings on the cards. So, for those of you looking to stick on a midweek acca, we have found a handful of helpful tips that are worth keeping an eye out for.
Wednesday 21st April
BST 18:00 Levante vs Sevilla
Starting with Wednesday s guests, coming from behind away at newly-crowned Copa del Rey champions Real Sociedad over the weekend, Sevilla have found themselves enjoying a stellar purple patch on either side of the international break. Eventually leaving with a 2-1 victory, Los Palanganas have really managed to build off of that 1-0 win against title outsiders Atletico Madrid when opening April. With the mood in their camp at a real high …
Cristiano Ronaldo is too expensive for any Portuguese club to buy, according to Porto president Pinto da Costa.
Ronaldo had his Manchester United contract terminated last month after he criticised the Red Devils hierarchy – including manager Erik ten Hag – in a controversial interview with Piers Morgan.
The Portugal captain created more headlines at the World Cup, where he was dropped to the bench for his country’s 6-1 win over Switzerland in the last 16, as well as their quarter-final defeat against Morocco.
The 37-year-old, who is using Real Madrid s facilities to train, has been linked with a move to Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr and the club where he started his career Sporting CP.
However, Da Costa thinks it is unlikely the five-time Ballon …
Barcelona are interested in signing Jorginho from Chelsea in the summer transfer window, according to . It has been reported that the Spanish and European giants are ready to offload Miralem Pjanic this summer and bring in the 23-year-old.
Jorginho has been on the books of Chelsea since 2018 when he joined from Napoli. Although the Italy international has done well for the Blues and has won the UEFA Europa League with them, there is a feeling that the 29-year-old has not been at his exact best and could do better.
According to , Jorginho has made 20 starts and five substitute appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea this season, scoring six goals and providing one assist in the process. Th Italian midfielder has also scored one goal and provided one assist in 11 Ch…
Carlo Ancelotti admitted Real Madrid missed the quality of Karim Benzema as he claimed their Copa del Rey exit to Athletic Bilbao was not a surprise.
The LaLiga leaders were beaten 1-0 at San Mames on Thursday, Alex Berenguer scoring a brilliant winner in the 89th minute to send Athletic into the semi-finals.
It was a measure of revenge for Marcelino s men, who lost 2-0 in the Supercopa de Espana final to Madrid last month, in which Benzema scored the second goal.
Los Blancos were without their talisman in the Basque country, though, as he had not recovered from a hamstring injury sustained in the 2-2 draw with Elche.
In the absence of Benzema, who has scored 24 goals in 28 appearances this season, Madrid managed just two shots on target against Athletic,…
Prediction: Potugal to win 3-0
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Portugal and Sweden will lock horns with each other in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League this week. The Group A3 game will kick off at 7:45pm UK time at Estadio Jose Alvalade in Lisbon on Wednesday, and it promises to be a very interesting and intriguing clash.
Portugal
Portugal are at the top of the UEFA Nations League Group A3 with seven points from three matches. Fernando Santos’s side kicked off their campaign with a 4-1 hammering of Croatia in Porto before getting the better of Sweden 2-0 in Solna, with Juventus forward Cristiano Ronaldo scoring both the goals. The Euro 2016 winners then played out a goalless draw with France in Saint-Denis.
Portugal will head into the match against …
Alan Shearer has described Newcastle United as bizarre after the departure of director of football Joe Kinnear.
The club s record goalscorer admits that off-field drama is commonplace at St James Park, making Monday s announcement of Kinnear s resignation unsurprising news.
But Shearer, who stepped in as caretaker when Kinnear left the manager s role in 2009, was surprised that the former Wimbledon boss was even given the director of football position in the first place.
That move came about in June, when Kinnear game a now infamous radio interview in which he revealed his appointment prior to official confirmation from the club, and in the process pronounced a series of players names wrong.
That s life at Newcastle United, Shearer told BBC Radio 5 Live.
I …