Deschamps to stay as France coach until 2026

Didier Deschamps has agreed to stay on as France coach until June 2026.

The French Football Federation (FFF) confirmed the news on Saturday.

France reached the World Cup final in Qatar, losing to Argentina on penalties following a remarkable 3-3 draw at Lusail Stadium.

Deschamps was appointed France coach in July 2012, succeeding Laurent Blanc.

France reached the final of Euro 2016 on home soil under Deschamps tutelage, though lost to Portugal in extra time. However, they had no such trouble in Russia two years later as they went on to win the World Cup for the second time.

A disappointing showing at last year s delayed Euro 2020 perhaps suggested the beginning of the end for Deschamps, yet France – despite suffering from injuries to key players…

Conte committed ´100 per cent and more´ as Tottenham pursue Champions League football

Antonio Conte insists he is 100 per cent and more committed to Tottenham as speculation persists over his future next season.

Conte was appointed as Nuno Espirito Santo s successor in November and has transformed Spurs fortunes, lifting them from ninth to fifth in the Premier League with two games to play.

Tottenham sit just a point behind fierce rivals Arsenal after winning 3-0 against Mikel Arteta s side on Thursday, their biggest league win over the Gunners since April 1983 (5-0).

However, questions continue to surround the future of Conte, who has been linked with the Paris Saint-German job should Mauricio Pochettino be dismissed for his Champions League failures.

But the Italian appears set on staying put at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Real Madrid coach Ancelotti not interested in Italy job

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has no interest in leading Italy as he enjoys day-to-day work at club level.

Italy are currently in good hands with Roberto Mancini, who guided the Azzurri to Euro 2020 glory.

Mancini is contracted to Italy until 2026, having overseen the country setting a new world record of 37 matches unbeaten.

A 26-time Italy international, former Parma, Juventus, Milan and Napoli boss Ancelotti was asked about coaching at international level.

I don t know, I don t know, Ancelotti told ESPN Colombia as Italy gear up for their decisive Group C contest with Switzerland on Friday.

I like the day-to-day work of training with teams. I d have to think about a national team role, but I don t think so.

Ancelotti is back…

Rennes 2-0 Paris Saint-Germain: Mbappe and Neymar misses costly as PSG´s winning start ended

Paris Saint-Germain s winning start to the Ligue 1 campaign came to an end with a shock 2-0 loss to Rennes on Sunday.

Mauricio Pochettino s side had won eight out of eight in the league prior to their trip to Roazhon Park and were 15 without defeat in the competition since early April.

But the visitors were made to pay for poor misses from Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as Gaetan Laborde and Flavien Tait struck for Rennes either side of half-time. 

Mbappe had a goal chalked off for offside and Lionel Messi went close from a free-kick, having earlier struck the crossbar from one, but PSG could not find a response in a rare setback for Pochettino.

Travel problems forced PSG s players to make their way to Rennes via road late on Saturday and that appeared to sh…

Rumour Has It: Chelsea close in on €100m deal with Atletico Madrid for permanent Joao Felix stay

Joao Felix has had a mixed start to his loan spell at Chelsea, but the Premier League club are eager to make his stay permanent.

The 23-year-old Portugal forward joined Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid in January, getting sent off on debut before scoring on his Premier League return against West Ham on Saturday.

Felix signed for Atletico from Benfica in 2019 on a seven-year contract for a transfer fee of €126 million and extended his deal until 2027 prior to the move to Stamford Bridge.

TOP STORY – CHELSEA WANT PERMANENT JOAO FELIX STAY

Chelsea want to make Joao Felix s stay at Stamford Bridge permanent, according to Relevo.

The Portuguese is on loan with the Blues for the rest of the season from Atletico Madrid, with Chelsea willing to pay …

Conte: Richarlison assessment of ´s***´ season correct

Richarlison s assessment of his debut season at Tottenham was correct in the eyes of Antonio Conte.

The Brazilian forward caused a stir following Spurs Champions League exit at the hands of AC Milan, describing the campaign as s*** .

Richarlison, who is yet to score for the north London side in the Premier League, was also perceived to have questioned Conte s management amid growing pressure on the Italian.

The Tottenham boss does not see it that way, however, believing the comments were not a direct criticism of him, while agreeing with Richarlison s views on his campaign.

However, he also feels the former Everton man made a mistake when referencing himself rather than the team as a collective.

He didn t criticise me. He said his season was s***…

Barzagli to retire from Italy after Euro 2016

World Cup-winning defender Andrea Barzagli is to retire from international duty with Italy after Euro 2016.

The 34-year-old has 52 caps to his name, having debuted against Finland in November 2004, and featured in Italy s final Euro 2016 qualifier against Norway on Tuesday.

Antonio Conte s men sealed their place at the competition with a 3-1 win over Azerbaijan three days earlier and the tournament is due to be Barazgli s last in an Italy shirt.

I ll leave the Azzurri after the Euros,  Barzagli told Sky Sport24.

It s right to give the younger players a chance.

The Juventus man featured twice as Italy won the World Cup in Germany nine years ago while he also helped the country to the final of the European Championship in 2012, where they …

Bale hitting top form as Real Madrid star mulls Spurs stay

Gareth Bale is performing at his best and Ryan Mason is delighted to have the Real Madrid loan star on top form for Tottenham s run-in.

Spurs face Leeds United at Elland Road on Saturday with designs on narrowing the five-point gap to fourth-placed Chelsea in pursuit of Champions League football.

Consecutive Premier League wins over Southampton and Sheffield United have aided their cause, with Bale scoring four goals across those two games, including a hat-trick against the Blades.

That treble put Bale top of the pile in terms of his goals-per-minute ratio in the top flight, with his nine goals coming at an average of one every 81 minutes.

It marks an upturn in fortunes amid a loan spell in which the Welshman has often underwhelmed, but there is talk of …

Man Utd´s Rashford bemoans Europa League loss: Runners-up medal means nothing

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford vented his frustration after the shock Europa League final loss to Villarreal, insisting finishing second counts for nothing, though he is confident the Red Devils are on the right path under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

United were looking to win their first trophy with Solskjaer at the helm, however, the Premier League giants were upstaged by Unai Emery s Villarreal following a marathon 11-10 penalty shoot-out on Wednesday.

Penalties were needed after the match ended 1-1 at the conclusion of extra time in Gdansk, where Edinson Cavani s 55th-minute goal cancelled out Gerard Moreno s first-half opener for Villarreal.

United goalkeeper David de Gea missed the only spot-kick as Solskjaer s men – who have not won silverware since 20…

Chelsea want more from Lukaku, Allegri out to right his predecessors´ wrongs – Champions League in O

Champions League holders Chelsea get their knockout campaign started on Tuesday as the defence of their crown enters an altogether more challenging stage.

Thomas Tuchel s men may feel they have dodged a bullet or two by getting this draw, with their next opponents Lille struggling to match the highs of their Ligue 1 title victory from last season in 2021-22.

Tuesday s other encounter sees Juventus travel to Villarreal, with Massimiliano Allegri looking to improve on the knockout exploits of Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo before him.

Here, Stats Perform delves into the Opta data to pick out the key statistical narratives and subplots ahead of Tuesday s games.

Chelsea v Lille

Much of the attention at Stamford Bridge will be on Romelu Lukaku, wheth…