Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio hailed coach Ottmar Hitzfeld as one of the most decorated in the world.
Hitzfeld s two substitutes – Admir Mehmedi and Haris Seferovic – came on to score and lead Switzerland to a come-from-behind 2-1 win over Ecuador in their Group E opener on Sunday.
Benaglio paid tribute to former Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund coach Hitzfeld, who has been in charge since 2008, and the way he has developed the European nation.
When you see how this team has developed with him coaching then you don t need many words, he said.
What makes him special is how he speaks with his teams, something we could see during half-time against Ecuador. Then he made smart substitutions, that s because of his big experience.
That s nothing new…
CONMEBOL has confirmed the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final will not be hosted by River Plate after an attack on the Boca Juniors team bus.
The second leg of the final was due to be played at El Monumental on Saturday but, after windows of the Boca bus were smashed on approach to the stadium, the kick-off was initially delayed and then postponed 24 hours.
But the match was not played on Sunday either amid protests from Boca, whose players also suffered injuries after pepper spray got inside the bus during the attack.
CONMEBOL held a meeting on Tuesday attended by River and Boca s presidents, after which South America s governing body said the final will be played on either December 8 or 9.
In a statement, CONMEBOL said it intends to play the fina…
Former Manchester United and Arsenal forward Robin van Persie scored his first goal for Feyenoord since leaving the Eredivisie club 14 years ago.
Van Persie scored within 50 seconds of his introduction on Thursday as reigning Dutch champions Feyenoord defeated Groningen 3-0.
The 34-year-old returned to his boyhood club last month, having initially left Feyenoord in 2004 for Arsenal before moving on to United and Fenerbahce.
And Van Persie gave fans at De Kuip plenty to smile about after he produced a powerful strike from inside the box to put Feyenoord 3-0 ahead with 11 minutes remaining.
50 – Robin van Persie scored 50 seconds after coming on against FC Groningen. Lightning.
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan)
Feyenoord are fourth in Eredivisi…
Ryan Giggs has urged Manchester United to sign Real Madrid s Luka Modric as a successor to Paul Scholes.
Former England international Scholes was crucial player for Alex Ferguson s all-conquering United side between 1992 and 2011, before also coming out of retirement in January 2012 to enjoy another 16 months in the Premier League.
Since Scholes retirement alongside Ferguson in 2013, United have not lifted the Premier League trophy and the midfielder s void has yet to be truly filled.
Paul Pogba arrived in August for a world-record fee reported to be £89 million with the expectation that the France international will become a midfield linchpin at the club.
But Giggs, who left the club ahead of the 2016-17 season having lost his position as assistant man…
Raheem Sterling believes he has transformed from a player who was not living the way I should into a football obsessive.
Sterling heads into Saturday s derby against Manchester United at the Etihad Stadium as Manchester City s premier attacking threat, particularly in the injury-enforced absence of Sergio Aguero.
The England forward has become indispensable for club and country, converting his promise into prolific returns over recent seasons.
Under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, former Liverpool star Sterling blossomed with 18 and 17 goals respectively in City s back-to-back Premier League triumphs in 2017-18 and 2018-19.
The 24-year-old has eight in 14 top-flight outings this time around, the same number of goals he amassed during England s successful…
Oman boss Pim Verbeek has urged his team to score as many as possible against Turkmenistan as they desperately bid to qualify for the 2019 Asian Cup knockout phase as one of the four best third-placed finishers.
Verbeek s men head into their final Group F outing having lost their first two games, however their goal difference is only minus 2, meaning they stand a good chance of progressing if they manage to beat Turkmenistan.
Their opponents find themselves in a similar situation, though they go into Thursday s game with a goal difference of minus five after getting hammered 4-0 by Uzbekistan last time out.
The opportunity to qualify despite losing two games is not one Verbeek wants to pass up, and he is putting the pressure on his men to go out and get goals.
Jupp Heynckes is anticipating a gigantic fixture when Bayern Munich face Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals.
The holders have been drawn against the newly crowned Bundesliga champions in a repeat of the last-four tie from five years ago, which Bayern won on penalties.
That was the season in which the German club won the treble under Heynckes and the head coach hopes the fact they have the first leg at home, just as they did in 2013, is a positive sign.
I have to say, it s a cracking tie. A gigantic fixture, in a very positive way, he said.
I have good memories of our treble season. We played against Juventus and Barcelona at home in the first legs. I hope that s a good omen.
Madrid met Bayern at the quarter-final stage last term…
Xavi is hopeful Barcelona will be able to announce a new contract for Gavi in a few days .
Barca president Joan Laporta this week publicly stated the club were frustrated by the delay in the 17-year-old signing a renewal.
Laporta suggested Gavi s agent Ivan de la Pena – a former Barcelona team-mate of Xavi – was comparing the offer to others, with the Spain international only having one year left on his deal.
However, Xavi was optimistic Gavi will put pen to paper in the near future after Barca beat the A-Leagues All-Stars 3-2 in Sydney on Wednesday.
These things take time, but I m hopeful that in a few days we can announce something, said Xavi.
A win in Sydney, Australia to wrap up the 2021-22 season!
— FC …
Andy Robertson has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, the Premier League side have announced.
The Scotland international, who has spent the past four years at Anfield, is reported to have agreed a deal that runs through until 2026.
Robertson joins fellow defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, plus goalkeeper Alisson and midfielder Fabinho, in agreeing fresh terms to commit his future to the Reds.
Obviously when the negotiations started and it looked as if my future was going to be here longer term than what it was, then I think it s no secret that I m happy at this club, he told the club s website.
I want to stay at this club for as long as possible and to extend my stay, it s always a happy time for me, for my family.
…
Manchester City can still shrug off their lacklustre Premier League title defence and enjoy the best season in the club s history, according to Bernardo Silva.
Pep Guardiola s side are a yawning 22 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, a virtually unassailable deficit that could be even bigger the next time they take to the field after Sunday s home match against West Ham was postponed due to the effects of Storm Ciara.
Focus will soon turn towards a mouth-watering Champions League last-16 meeting with Real Madrid, as City travel to the Santiago Bernabeu on February 26 for the first leg.
A Wembley showdown versus Aston Villa on March 1 gives Silva and his team-mates the chance to win a third consecutive EFL Cup, and they remain in the running for back-to-back …