Robben tells Bayern to make it count

Germany captain Michael Ballack has been rated as doubtful on the eve of Sunday s Euro 2008 final against Spain after straining his right calf in training.

The 31-year-old Chelsea midfielder damaged his calf in Germany s final training session on Friday at their Euro 2008 base in Tenero, Switzerland, and has been receiving treatment for the injury.

Although the team flew to Vienna on Saturday afternoon for Sunday s final at the Ernst Happel Stadium, Ballack stayed behind at the team hotel for treatment and a decision on whether he plays will be taken in the count-down to kick-off.

Team manager Oliver Bierhoff told reporters that we ll do all we can to ensure Ballack can play.

Ballack missed the World Cup final loss to Brazil in 2002 through suspensi…

Tite gave no guarantees over his future after Brazil beat Ecuador 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Friday.

Brazil was this week confirmed by CONMEBOL as the new host nation for the upcoming Copa America, which was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The tournament was due to be staged in Colombia and Argentina, but was moved due to mounting political unrest in the former country and a surge in COVID-19 cases in the latter.

Yet there is uncertainty over whether Brazil will compete in the competition due to their displeasure over the relocation of the event.

Captain Casemiro suggested the entire Selecao squad are united against hosting the Copa America, which starts on June 13, with Brazil so hard hit by coronavirus.

There ha…

It looks like Napoli have signed a new winger for themselves! If Corriere dello Sport are not mistaken, then the fans in Naples will be welcoming another exciting talent this summer. The Italian newspapers claim Napoli have agreed a €40m fee with PSV Eindhoven for the sale of their star player Hirving Lozano.

The Mexico international is expected to sign a five-year deal with the Serie A runners-up, which will keep him at the club until June 2024. Carlo Ancelotti reportedly wanted to see Lozano become part of his team, while it is also said that the player s agent Mino Raiola had had a great deal in getting this deal done.

Lozano has been followed by numerous European clubs this summer, following an exciting World Cup appearance last summer and at PSV he has …

Competition: La Liga

Market: Villarreal to beat Real Sociedad

Odds:

La Liga returns for another massive round of games as the competition continues to heat up. The table has remained incredibly tight with a single victory often able to see a side rise a number of places, and with this in mind, Villarreal host Real Sociedad on Saturday.

Villarreal have been in fine form this season and they are looking to take an unlikely Champions League spot for next season. After 20 games they have managed to win 10, draw four and lost six times, scoring 28 goals and conceding 22 times. In their last five they have managed to win four and draw just once which has seen them onto 34 points. Villarreal are currently just one point behind Real Madrid in the final…

Sporting Lisbon have agreed to sign Spanish midfielder Oriol Rosell from Sporting Kansas City, .

The Lions had expressed their interest in the 21-year-old footballer few months ago and they seem to have finally secured his signature.

The cost of the transfer is around €1.2 million, although chances are Rosell will initially join on a loan deal as Sporting want to avoid high fees that are paid for outright transfers in the US.

Oriol Rosell has come through the youth ranks at Barcelona and he went on to make six league appearances for the B side before leaving the club for Sporting Kansas City in 2012.

The holding midfielder has profited a great deal from regular playing time in the MLS, making a total of 49 league outings for the club.

He is now…

Liverpool could be set to make a move for Adam Johnson after Sunderland rejected a bid from Everton to take the player on loan, .

The Black Cats are keen to reduce their wage bill this summer, and are willing to listen to offers for the former Manchester City man, who was one of the stand-out performers for the North East side last season.

Fabio Borini spent last season on loan at Sunderland from Liverpool, and a deal may be struck between the two clubs which would see the two players be exchanged.

Johnson moved to the Stadium of Light in the August 2012, and has gone one to make eighty appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring fifteen goals.

He has been capped eleven times by England, but hasn’t played for his country since appearing …

Market: Under 2.5 goals

Odds: 8/13 @

In a real early-season relegation six-pointer on Friday night, Real Valladolid vs Osasuna will take place at the Estadio Municipal José Zorrilla.

Starting with the hosts, while Real Valladolid might have managed to find a real bounce thanks to back-to-back victories against Granada and Athletic Bilbao either side of November s international break, they still find themselves at the heart of a relegation scrap. While they might have managed to put on a rugged display last time out against Champions League outfit Atletico Madrid last weekend, they did ship two late goals and suffered a 2-0 defeat in the capital. Knowing that three points on Friday night would see them leapfrog their guests and claw a route out of the drop zone…

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker:

With Manchester bragging rights up for grabs at Old Trafford this weekend, an inconsistent Manchester United will host their crosstown rivals from behind closed doors on Saturday evening.

Manchester United

Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have tried to mount one of their famous second-half comebacks away at RB Leipzig in midweek, the Red Devils could not save their Champions League adventure. Eventually hit with that dramatic 3-2 defeat in Germany on Tuesday night, the former Premier League champions have had to drop down to the Europa League and there is only growing scrutiny over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer s position in the Old Trafford dugout. However, despite putting in what was a woeful first-half display in East …

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi believes it is the moment for Atletico Madrid to land their first Champions League title.

Atletico take on city rivals Real Madrid at San Siro in Milan on Saturday in a repeat of the 2014 final which was won by Los Blancos as Carlo Ancelotti guided the club to La Decima.

Xavi, who claimed the trophy four times in a glittering career at Camp Nou, is predicting a different result this weekend.

He told www.sc.qa: I believe that Atletico will take home the trophy. I think this is the moment of Atletico. 

They deserve it because of the work they are doing. Of course it is not the philosophy of play that I like the most, because they speculate and wait in defence, but I think it is the moment of Atletico Madrid.

F…

Jermaine Pennant became Malky Mackay s 10th signing at Wigan Athletic after agreeing a contract until the end of the season on Saturday.

Wigan Athletic manager Malky Mackay has added the experienced Jermaine Pennant to his squad as they look to avoid relegation from the Championship.

A 3-0 humbling at home to Charlton Athletic on Friday left Wigan six points from safety, a margin that could increase on Saturday depending on other results.

Mackay has already added nine new faces at the DW Stadium since replacing Uwe Rosler in November, with a host of players departing during the transfer window as the Scot looks to revitalise their fortunes.

Pennant becomes his 10th signing after agreeing a contract until the end of the season, the 32-year-old joining on a…