Los Angeles FC v Portland Timbers: Neville relishing swift rematch

Phil Neville is looking forward to a quick reunion with Los Angeles FC when the Portland Timbers head down to southern California.

The Timbers face LAFC on Saturday, just two weeks after they drew 2-2 with Steve Cherundolo’s team at home.

Felipe Mora and Evander scored for Portland that day, but Mateusz Bogusz’s double ensured a share of the spoils, with the Timbers having goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau sent off.

LAFC had a goal disallowed late on, and Neville believes both teams will feel they deserved more from that match.

He said: “Both managers came out of the game two weeks ago feeling hard done by – they had a goal disallowed in the last few minutes, we were really disappointed too in the performance of the referee.

“Saturday’s anothe…

Forest Green appoint Troy Deeney as manager to replace David Horseman

Troy Deeney has been appointed Forest Green head coach following the departure of David Horseman.

Deeney joined the Sky Bet League Two club as player-coach in August after playing over 600 games for Walsall, Watford – where he spent 11 years from 2010 to 2021 – and Birmingham.

“I am very pleased and honoured to be appointed as the new head coach,” Deeney told the official Forest Green website.

Forest Green Rovers have parted company with David Horseman and Louis Carey.

We can confirm that Troy Deeney is our new permanent Head Coach.

Read the full statement below

— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official)

“I know the fans will have many questions, which will be answered as soon as possible.

“We will not hide fro…

Hodgson will not beg for FA approval after Euro 2016

England manager Roy Hodgson is willing to stay in his post after Euro 2016 if asked but will not be put in a position where he is begging for the job  with the Football Association.

Hodgson is out of contract after the tournament in France and came in for criticism when a much-changed England team were held to a goalless draw by Slovakia, ceding top spot in Group B to Wales and landing them in the tougher half of the knockout-stage draw.

Victory over surprise package Iceland in Nice on Monday would secure a quarter-final at the Stade de France against either the host nation or Republic of Ireland.

On Saturday, FA chief executive Martin Glenn joined outgoing chairman Greg Dyke in offering his backing to Hodgson, whose 40 years in coaching edge him towards a…

Infantino: Russia and Qatar must deliver in 2018 and 2022

New FIFA president Gianni Infantino has dismissed the idea of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups being moved from Russia and Qatar respectively and called on tournament organisers to deliver the best World Cups in history .

With the allocation of both tournaments under investigation by the FBI, there had been suggestions the bidding process could be re-opened to allow other countries the chance to stage football s showpiece event.

But Infantino, speaking on Monday during his first full working day in the job after winning Friday s election to succeed Sepp Blatter, has called for everyone to focus on ensuring the tournaments go without a hitch.

He told reporters in Zurich: Concerning Qatar and Russia, the decisions were taken in 2010 by the executive committee, but sin…

2018 World Cup Group E: Team News, Prediction & Betting Odds

The shadow of 2014 World Cup disappointment is still lingering above the Brazilian national team. Determined to turn their fortunes around and get back up to the pedestal of international football, Tite’s men head into the showpiece in Russia eager to go all the way.

Slotted in the group E and pitted against the likes of Serbia, Switzerland and Costa Rica, the Selecao do not only stand as favourites to top the initial stages of the competition but to be crowned world champions as well.

Brazil

Esses são os 23 jogadores que defenderão a na Copa do Mundo. Agora é !

— CBF Futebol (@CBF_Futebol)

Historically speaking, Brazil are the side you can expect to be up there with the best – fighting for honours and for the coveted World Cup tro…

Martinez lauds Portugal hero Conceicao after Euro 2024 drama in Leipzig

Roberto Martinez lauded Francisco Conceicao as Portugal s much-needed hero after the Porto forward snatched a 2-1 victory over Czechia in their Euro 2024 opener.

Portugal seemed set for a disappointing draw in their first match at the tournament after Robin Hranac s own-goal cancelled out Lukas Provod s second-half rocket on Tuesday.

Yet Conceicao scored just two minutes after being introduced from the bench, sparking wild celebrations as Martinez s men escaped their first Group E test by the skin of the teeth.

Having only introduced Conceicao in the 90th minute, Martinez hailed the impact of the 21-year-old on his first competitive appearance for his country.

The Portugal boss told reporters: He deserves it. He always works with one eye in front of the g…

Africa begin Brazil 2014 qualification

Twenty-two of Africa s lowest-ranked teams will take part in playoff matches to determine the 11 teams which will continue in qualification.

The selection process for the continent s five representatives for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup begins on Friday with first-leg matches of the preliminary round of the qualifying series.

A total of 22 teams will be involved in this weekend s matches as the battle for places at the next World Cup moves into gear. The matches promise to be full of excitement despite the absence of the big giants, who have drawn a bye in the initial phase of the qualifying campaign.

Of the participating teams, DR Congo, formerly Zaire, and Togo DR Congo have had previous experiences at the World Cup DR Congo in 1974 and Togo in 2006, both in…

Mauritius 0 Ghana 2: Ayew, Atsu on target as Black Stars reach Gabon 2017

Ghana booked their place at next year s Africa Cup of Nations thanks to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Mauritius on Sunday.

Avram Grant s side had hammered their opponents 7-1 in the reverse fixture a year ago, but found their hosts in much less accommodating mood in Mapou.

Ghana had been 4-0 up inside half an hour the last time these two met, but it took the Black Stars 70 minutes to break the deadlock in this one.

And it was the captain, Andre Ayew, who made the breakthrough by controlling Baba Rahman s cross and firing home.

The lead was doubled two minutes later as Christian Atsu from another Rahman assist put the visitors into a commanding position.

It was an advantage the four-time champions never looked like relinquishing as they sealed top…

Thiago Silva to rejoin Fluminense when Chelsea contract expires

Thiago Silva will return to his boyhood club Fluminense when he leaves Chelsea at the end of the season, the Blues have announced.

Silva joined Chelsea from Paris Saint-Germain in 2020 and has made 152 appearances for the club, helping them win the Champions League, Club World Cup and Super Cup.

The 39-year-old confirmed last month that he would leave upon the expiration of his contract in June, pledging to return in another role when his playing days are over.

However, that will not be for some time as the centre-back has agreed a two-year contract with Fluminense, who he first joined as a 14-year-old in 1998.

Initially finding opportunities hard to come by with the Rio de Janeiro giants, he had spells with Pedrabranca, Juventude and Dynamo Moscow befor…

Serie A 2019-20: Why Inter and Conte can capitalise on Juve´s Ronaldo problem

Maurizio Sarri s start to life as Juventus boss was hardly going swimmingly before he was left tackling a bout of pneumonia this week.

After a frankly disorientating year at Chelsea, which amounted to speculation over his future and criticism of his fabled playing style being stitched together by the momentary distraction of bi-weekly football matches, Sarri won the Europa League, finished third in the Premier League and landed the Juve job. It felt like the football equivalent of getting out of jail and building a house on Park Lane in the same Monopoly move.

Board room and dressing room at Stamford Bridge never felt in harmony, but it no longer mattered. The former Napoli boss would now helm the slick and formidable football empire he came closer than many to toppling.…