Contra retires as Romanian World Cup hopes dashed

Peruvian club Real Garcilaso snatched a late 1-0 victory away to Cerro Porteno to remain unbeaten in the Copa Libertadores group stages.

Peruvian club Real Garcilaso snatched a late 1-0 victory away to Cerro Porteno to remain unbeaten in the Copa Libertadores group stages.

Freddy Garcia s men moved to four points through two games, while their Paraguayan opponents made it back-to-back losses in the competition, after Alfredo Ramua netted an 88th-minute winner at Estadio General Pablo Rojas.

Argentine attacker Ramua was a second-half substitute, scoring 10 minutes after gracing the pitch to break a personal drought that extended back to November 2011, when he was with Ecuadorian side Olmedo.

Real Garcilaso sit second in Group 6, level on points and goal…

Few teams – if any – have moved quicker than Borussia Dortmund during the current transfer window in Europe. And BVB have taken a competitive advantage by getting their business done early in the offseason.

Just look at how quickly they have found attacking reinforcements. Knowing Christian Pulisic would leave the side once the 2018-19 season ended, Dortmund knew they had to sign someone that could fill the gap left by the American. And while Pulisic wasn’t a dominant force as he was in past years, Dortmund would’ve still missed him. With that in mind, they signed not one, but TWO attacking players – both during Wednesday, no less.

First, Dortmund announced the arrival of Thorgan Hazard from Borussia Monchengladbach on a five-year deal. And then, they announce…

Barcelona s Copa del Rey final defeat to Valencia on Saturday was not the fault of under-pressure coach Ernesto Valverde, according to the club s president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

A 2-1 defeat at Real Betis Benito Villamarin in Seville left Barca feeling as though the 2018-19 season has been something of an underachievement despite retaining their LaLiga crown.

Just a few weeks ago, after beating Liverpool 3-0 in the Champions League semi-final first leg, Barca looked entirely capable of winning the treble.

But they were humiliatingly beaten 4-0 by Liverpool in the return leg and Saturday s loss robbed them of a domestic double, with Kevin Gameiro and Rodrigo Moreno putting the game beyond Barca despite Lionel Messi pulling one back.

Valverde s suitability …

Xavi says he and his Barcelona team-mates are growing tired of the saga surrounding Neymar s transfer to the club.

Barcelona have had enough of the storm created by Neymar s transfer to Camp Nou from Santos, says midfielder Xavi.

Neymar moved to the Catalan giants in 2013, in a deal estimated to be worth in the region of €57million, although some claims suggested it was closer to €95m.

The details of that transfer have been the subject of an investigation, with allegations of tax fraud being levelled at former president Sandro Rosell and his successor Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Bartomeu is due to appear in court on Friday regarding the case and Xavi says the sooner the whole saga is over, the better.

The Neymar theme has been going on for…

Brazilian defender Dodo has completed a move from Roma to Serie A rivals Inter.

The 22-year-old left-back s exit from the Stadio Olimpico follows Roma s capture of Ashley Cole on Monday.

Dodo initially joins Inter on a two-year loan at a cost of €1.2m, but the deal includes an obligatory buy-out clause of €7.8m, to come into effect when he plays his first official game.

In a statement welcoming Dodo to the club, Inter said: The player has signed a contract until June 2019.

Roma had earlier confirmed Dodo s departure in a statement of their own, which read: AS Roma SpA announces that it has signed with FC Internazionale Milano SpA for the temporary transfer and two-year rights to the player JR Pires Ribeiro [Dodo], against a payment of € 1.2 million…

This week’s predictions are easier than they have been for a long time. I reckon I’m going to get most of them right. On the other hand, I also think that Watford are the best team in the World and that will beat Moredon Cheney 4-0 this afternoon!

Last week I got just four results right. I have written one hundred lines saying, ‘I must do better’. This week, I will!

Saturday 25th October 2008

Blackburn v Middlesbrough

Not the most thrilling of the weekend’s fixtures in truth. In fact, if you’re not a Blackburn or Middlesbrough fan it is about as uninteresting as a Premier League game can be.

Blackburn may go with Robbie Fowler up front who Paul Ince, appa…

Lewis Ferguson believes Scotland came up against a benchmark England side in their 3-1 defeat at Hampden Park.

In a challenge match to commemorate the first official international match between the two countries in 1872, the visitors were a class apart.

Goals from Phil Foden, the brilliant Jude Bellingham and skipper Harry Kane sealed a well-deserved victory against the Scots, whose only strike came courtesy of a Harry Maguire own goal.

After five straight Euro 2024 qualifying wins, it was a chastening night for Steve Clarke’s side and Ferguson gave due credit to Gareth Southgate’s men.

The 24-year-old Bologna midfielder said: “It was tough defeat, a difficult match. They are a top team and so that is the level we want to get to.

“In the f…

Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman says he wants to stay at the club for many years to come.

The France international is set to start the second season of a two-year loan at the Allianz Arena from Juventus after an impressive 2015-16 campaign for his club ended with him helping his country to the final of Euro 2016.

Bayern paid €7million to loan Coman and hold the option to purchase him on a permanent basis at any time until April 2017 for an additional fixed fee of €21m.

Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said last week there was a huge probability Bayern would activate the clause and Coman himself is eager to remain with them for the long-term.

I would like to stay, the 20-year-old told Kicker. It was one of my goals when I arrived here that I will pl…

Eden Hazard will not play for Belgium as a false nine despite being used in such a role for Chelsea this season, Roberto Martinez has said.

The 27-year-old has often been used as the focal point of the Blues attack in 2017-18, with Alvaro Morata struggling for form, Olivier Giroud yet to settle fully and Michy Batshuayi having been loaned to Borussia Dortmund.

It is not a role Hazard appears to enjoy, though, with the former Lille man saying after Chelsea s 1-0 loss to Manchester City this month: We could have played on for three hours, and I [still] wouldn t touch a ball.

And Belgium boss Martinez appears unwilling to follow Antonio Conte s tactical plans, insisting he would not play Hazard in the position at the expense of Manchester United s Romelu Lukaku or…

Valencia defender Adil Rami has confirmed that he is in negotiations with Italian giants Inter and Roma over a potential transfer.

The French centre-back has been a first-team regular at the Mestalla since joining from Lille in 2011, and has made 21 appearances for the Spanish club this season.

The 27-year-old s performances for Valencia have seen him linked with Premier League sides Manchester United and Arsenal of late, but he has now revealed that a move to Serie A could be on the cards.

He told L Equipe: It s true, we are in talks (with Inter and Roma), but nothing has been decided yet.

There is a 60 percent chance I am going to leave Valencia. The club offered me a new contract and it is an interesting proposal, but I turned it down.

Rami has made 25 appearanc…