Germany keeper Jens Lehmann has announced his retirement from international football. After earning sixty-one caps over a ten year career he has decided to hang up his international gloves.

The former Arsenal player made his decision after a two-hour discussion with Germany manager Joachim Low.

Lehmann said he could not give any assurances that he would still be playing football after his one-year contract with new club Stuttgart expires.

He made his last appearance for Germany in the Euro 2008 final and didn t make any quick decisions after that defeat. But after careful consideration, Lehmann said he had made up his mind to quit.

I suggested to Low and to the goalkeeping coach, Andreas Koepke that they no longer include me in their plans for the Ge…

EnglandÂ’s football manager Fabio Capello has expressed confidence in his side ahead of Wednesday nightÂ’s friendly against the Czech Republic.

Capello said that he has been impressed by the progress that his England players have made in the four friendlies that they have had since he had taken over.

Speaking about Euro 2008 he also felt that the England team would have beaten the Spanish, that is had they been at the Championships.

He added that his biggest concern was the need for the English players to display the same self confidence when they play for their country as they do when they play for their clubs.

Capello also stated that the up – coming friendly would be an important one for many of the players who still …

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang s transfer saga became a burden to Borussia Dortmund, according to Ilkay Gundogan.

Germany midfielder Gundogan played with Aubameyang at Signal Iduna Park before joining Manchester City in 2016 and watched on from afar as the Gabon striker became Arsenal s club-record signing for £56million on transfer deadline day.

The 28-year-old scored 13 goals in 16 Bundesliga games for Dortmund this season but, as their title challenge faded amid Peter Bosz s departure as head coach, Gundogan felt persistent speculation over Aubameyang s future proved an unwelcome sideshow.

The whole hiccup was certainly not conducive to the performance of the team, he told Sport Bild.

As a player, you see that and if you read negative things in the paper…

Gabriel Barbosa says he did not get the opportunity to show what he could do at Inter or Benfica, after making a goalscoring return to Santos.

The Brazilian known as Gabigol scored in his first Santos appearance in a draw at Ferroviaria on Saturday after ending an unhappy spell in Serie A.

Inter paid a reported €25 million to sign the Brazil international in August 2016, but he scored just once in the league, never starting a Serie A game.

A loan spell at Benfica went little better, the 21-year-old appearing for only 13 minutes off the bench in his only league appearance.

And after heading back to Santos on loan in the January transfer window, Gabigol complained about his lack of chances in Europe.

Happy to be able to play again, Barbosa told …

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has agreed a new deal to remain at the Championship club until 2017.

The former Wolves boss took over at Portman Road in November 2012 when Ipswich were bottom of the division.

Having guided them to safety that season, McCarthy then led Ipswich to a top-nine finish in the last campaign, just four points shy of a play-off spot.

McCarthy, 55, expressed his joy at having penned a new deal, with assistant Terry Connor also agreeing a three-year extension.

I m delighted with it, more importantly I hope everyone else is delighted with it, he told the club s official website.

I m enjoying my time here and we are making progress. The challenge now is to continue to make progress.

I d like to think the players…

Sunderland have sacked Martin O Neill following the club s 1-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday.

The loss, inflicted by a Titus Bramble own goal, has left the Black Cats hovering just a solitary point above the drop zone and saw their winless run in the Premier League stretch to eight games.

O Neill, who took over at the Stadium of Light in December 2011 and invested heavily last summer in the likes of Adam Johnson and Steven Fletcher, has been dismissed with immediate effect and a replacement is due to be confirmed in the coming days.

The club has parted company with manager Martin O Neill, a statement on the club s official website read.

Sunderland AFC has announced that it has parted company with manager Martin O Neill this evening.

…

Thomas Tuchel never felt Chelsea had a huge gap to Tottenham before seven months in which the clubs appeared to travel in opposite directions.

Chelsea won all four meetings with Spurs in all competitions last season without conceding.

Indeed, the Blues are unbeaten in seven against their London rivals in the Premier League, with Tottenham having won only one of their past 37 trips to Stamford Bridge in all competitions.

Spurs coach Antonio Conte said after a 2-0 Chelsea win in the EFL Cup semi-finals that Tuchel s men were much stronger than us .

This game confirmed what I thought about the difference between the teams, he added.

However, since then Tottenham have joined Chelsea in qualifying for the Champions League and enjoyed an excellent tra…

Erik ten Hag is adamant Manchester United s humiliating 4-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday was caused by individual mistakes rather than it being a consequence of flawed tactical decisions.

United were hoping to bounce back from last weekend s 2-1 home loss to Brighton and Hove Albion when they travelled to London, but they left with one of their worst defeats in Premier League history.

Brentford were 4-0 up at half-time, becoming only the third team to reach such a scoreline against United in the Premier League by the interval, while the Red Devils succumbed to a fourth successive league loss for the first time in 43 years.

As such, United finished the day bottom of the Premier League, something that has not occurred since the competition s second matchday ever…

Alvaro Morata is in line to make his first competitive start for Spain against Ukraine on Thursday after Diego Costa withdrew from Vicente Del Bosque s squad.

The Juventus striker has been in fine form for the Italian champions this season, scoring 11 goals in all competitions including two in his last two.

And Morata s rise looks set to continue on the international stage this week, with the 22-year-old likely to lead the line for his country in Seville as regular starter Costa has a hamstring injury.

Del Bosque will hope Morata can transfer his club form into the international arena, with Spain sitting second in Group C three points adrift of leaders Slovakia and level with Ukraine.

Spain have lost three of their six matches since their ignominious…

In-form Swansea City striker Bafetimbi Gomis is content at Swansea City and intends to remain at the club next season. 

The former Lyon man has scored four of his five Premier League goals in the last six outings, having become the focal point up front for Garry Monk since Wilfried Bony s departure to Manchester City.

A brace in Saturday s 3-1 win against Hull City continued the upturn in form for a player who was heavily linked with leaving the Liberty Stadium in January.

Asked whether he regretted departing Lyon for the Welsh club, Gomis told L Equipe:  No, I do not regret it. In Swansea, there is a culture and a philosophy of play that I like, and for which I signed. 

I did not make a mistake. I see myself here next year, although in football you…