Salah out to banish Champions League nightmare

Alexis Sanchez revelled in the best thing to happen to him after Chile claimed back-to-back Copa America titles with a penalty shoot-out win over Argentina on Sunday. 

With the scores locked at 0-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, penalties were to decide who were crowned champions of South America for a second successive year between the two nations. 

But just like in 2015, when Chile secured their maiden Copa victory, Sanchez and Co. emerged triumphant, this time thanks to a 4-2 shoot-out win. 

Sanchez was also awarded the Golden Ball for best player of the Centenario tournament as Chile successfully defended their Copa crown. 

I have no words. Thanks to the people who came to support us, to my team-mates. This is all so incredibl…

Valencia midfielder David Silva on Tuesday withdrew from Spain s squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Bosnia and Armenia due to a left ankle injury, Spanish media reported.

Spain coach Vicente Del Bosque will not replace the 22-year-old who was ruled out of the squad following tests at a Madrid clinic on his injury, the online edition of daily newspaper El Mundo reported.

Silva will be the squad s second big absence. Del Bosque on Monday tipped Barcelona striker Bojan Krkic to replace Liverpool s Fernando Torres who pulled a hamstring during a weekend English Premiership match.

Silva and Torres were two of the squad s best players during Euro 2008 which was won by Spain.

Spain will face Bosnia on Saturday in Murcia and Armenia four d…

Under-fire France coach Raymond Domenech lightened up a press conference ahead of Wednesday s crucial 2010 World Cup qualifier with Serbia, saying thankfully the guillotine doesn t exist anymore .

Domenech has been feeling the heat this week after Saturday s 3-1 hammering at the hands of Austria in their opening World Cup qualifier.

French media has gone into overdrive following the defeat to the 101 world ranked side, calling it a colossal catastrophe , with one newspaper saying it was already Waterloo .

The 56-year-old coach weighed into the media debate on Tuesday with his own brand of histrionic self-deprecation.

In the world today it is the smell of blood that interests you, he said to the assembled reporters.

Thankfully the guillotine …

Liverpool s attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino is the best in Europe according to former Reds forward Dirk Kuyt, who said his former club deserve a trophy for their achievements this season.

As Jurgen Klopp prepared his players for Saturday s Champions League final against Tottenham in Madrid, Kuyt waxed lyrical about the strength of a Liverpool side that scored just six goals fewer than Premier League champions Manchester City in 2018-19.

Salah, Mane and Firmino scored 56 of Liverpool s 89 league strikes between them and they head into Saturday s final having notched four each in the Champions League across the course of the campaign.

Kuyt told France Football he had seen a marked improvement in the trio s performances, saying: I thi…

Anderlecht defender Chancel Mbemba is reportedly a target for Portuguese giants FC Porto, .

The Dragons could stay without Danilo and Diego Reyes at the end of the season and the Congolese defender is one of the players they are looking at.

Mbemba, 20, has shown a great deal of potential ever since he was handed his Anderlecht debut in July 2013 and he has already amassed 55 league appearances, scoring 6 goals in the process.

The centre-back, who can also operate on the right flank, represented Congo DR at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, starting all six matches at the tournament finals.

Mbemba has a contract until June 2017 with Anderlecht, but he could soon be joining a top European club if he continues the rich vein of form.

His suitors FC Por…

Arsenal agree deal for Ospina

Premier League outfit Arsenal have reached an agreement to sign Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina from Nice, .

The Gunners were on the lookout for a new shot-stopper after Lukasz Fabianski left the club and they seem to have wrapped up the deal for the Colombia star.

Nice-Matin has learned that the two clubs have agreed on a €4 million fee, with the transfer expected to be made official in the coming days.

David Ospina developed into one of league s top goalkeepers during the five years at Alianz Riviera, making 189 league appearances for les Aiglons.

The 25-year-old further proved his credentials with some excellent performances for Colombia at the 2014 World Cup.

Ospina is likely to be Arsenal s third sig…

Armando Obispo s header denied Rangers as they were held to a 2-2 draw by PSV in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie at Ibrox.

Seeking a first group-stage appearance in four years, Ruud van Nistelrooy s side took a 37th-minute lead as Ibrahim Sangare scooped the ball home after Rangers failed to deal with a corner.

But the hosts responded within three minutes following a neat one-touch move that culminated in Antonio Colak sweeping home his fourth goal in as many matches.

Giovanni van Bronckhorst s men edged ahead in fortuitous circumstances 20 minutes from time; Walter Benitez fumbling Tom Lawrence s ambitious free-kick into his own net.

However, Obispo levelled matters eight minutes later when he headed in Cody Gakpo s corner to leave t…

Manchester City youngster Liam Delap has joined Championship side Stoke City on loan for the duration of the 2022-23 campaign.

The 19-year-old burst onto the scene with a goal on his senior debut for City in an EFL Cup tie two years ago and has gone on to make five further first-team appearances.

Delap was part of City s squad for last weekend s 4-0 thrashing of Bournemouth, but Pep Guardiola confirmed after the game that the teenage striker would soon go out on loan.

The Premier League champions announced on Thursday that Delap has followed in father Rory s steps by joining Stoke, who saw off competition from a number of other clubs.

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity)

Stoke boss Michael O Neill told the club s official website: It s no sec…

Former Manchester United forward Nani says that Alex Fergsuon was like a father to him during his time at Old Trafford.

The 29-year-old, who captained Portugal to victory in the Euro 2016 final against France following an injury to Cristiano Ronaldo, ended his eight-year association with United in 2015 when he sealed a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce, though he had spent the previous season on loan at former club Sporting Lisbon.

Following his exploits during his country s European Championship-winning campaign, Nani secured a move to Valencia  who kick-off their La Liga season against Las Palmas on Monday.

But speaking to The Guardian, the winger reflected with fond memories on his time playing in the Premier League, and revealed his respect for Fer…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a Hollywood entrance to life in MLS with two goals in a 19-minute cameo as LA Galaxy came from three goals down to beat Los Angeles FC 4-3 in an enthralling contest.

Ibrahimovic only arrived in California on Thursday and completed one training session before Saturday s derby with their new city neighbours.

But he showed little sign of rustiness with two trademark strikes that showed just why Galaxy were so keen to bring the veteran to America.

It looked like being a debut to forget for the former Manchester United striker as he watched Galaxy fall 3-0 behind from the bench – Carlos Vela scoring twice for LA FC.

However, Galaxy came roaring back, with their hungry lion at the centre of it all.

ZLATANNNNN WHAT JUST HAPPENED…