Lee Jae-sung and Son Heung-min found the target as South Korea defeated Myanmar 2-0 to make a winning start to 2018 World Cup qualifying.
South Korea were beaten 2-1 by Australia in the final of the Asian Cup this year, and are bidding to bounce back by reaching their ninth consecutive World Cup in Russia in three years time.
Lee struck a late winner in a 1-0 friendly victory over New Zealand back in March, and the Jeonbuk Motors man had a telling impact once again here with a free header from a corner in the first half.
He nodded home after Myanmar goalkeeper Van Lal Hruai had failed to collect Son s delivery from the left-hand side.
Midway through the second half, Son benefitted directly from more poor goalkeeping as his well-struck free-kick from …
A prominent supporters group has voiced strong opposition to reported plans to play Premier League fixtures abroad.
The idea of a 39th game was originally suggested in 2008, whereby an extra fixture would be added to the Premier League schedule and staged overseas, but the concept was shelved after fierce criticism.
However, reports in the British media have suggested that the notion of playing one of the regular 38 games outside of Britain is being considered by clubs.
The Football Supporters Federation (FSF) will oppose the new proposals, which are said to be at an early stage, and will consult with other groups on the issue.
As reported [by The Times, BBC, and others], the Premier League is exploring the possibility of holding competitive matches over…
Inter defender Federico Dimarco has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until June 2026.
The full-back s previous deal was due to expire at the end of next season.
The former Italy youth international first joined the club at the age of seven, but made just two senior appearances and spent time on loan at Ascoli and Empoli before departing for Swiss side Sion in 2017.
However, Dimarco returned to San Siro a year later as Inter exercised a buy-back option, with further loan stints following at Parma and Hellas Verona.
A lifelong Inter fan, Dimarco has impressed new head coach Simone Inzaghi this season and made 24 appearances for the Nerazzurri in all competitions, scoring two goals.
| NEW DEAL signs on till 2026
— I…
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank says that Ivan Toney will not be leaving the Bees on transfer deadline day.
England striker Toney has been linked with Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Chelsea in the January window.
The 27-year-old has scored 34 goals in 68 top-flight games for Brentford and Frank insists Toney will stay put after a month of speculation.
“This will be breaking news, OK – but Ivan will stay,” Frank said at his press conference previewing Monday’s clash with Manchester City.
Composed finishing from
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC)
Elsewhere, there were few big early moves from top-flight clubs – although Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa and Newcastle all completed deals to strengthen their squads.
Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe has urged the squad to harness the spirit of the underdog ahead of Thursday’s World Cup opener against Australia.
The World Cup debutants begin their Group B campaign against the co-hosts, who are 12 places above them in the FIFA rankings and will be backed by the majority of the 80,000 crowd at Sydney’s Stadium.
It will be only the second match between the nations but Ireland won 3-2 when they met back in 2021, thanks to a goal from Denise O’Sullivan, who has been declared fit for the fixture.
…
Brighton have completed the signing of midfielder Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord.
The 24-year-old has penned a five-year contract, with the Seagulls paying a reported £25.4million (€30m).
Having joined Feyenoord in 2022, Wieffer proved to be a key figure for now-Liverpool boss Arne Slot.
Wieffer played a role in helping Feyenoord win the Eredivisie title in 2023, and then the KNVB Beker last season.
Wieffer is a Seagull!
— Brighton Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC)
We’re delighted to welcome Mats to the club, a player whose qualities we have admired for a long time, said Brighton s technical director David Weir.
He has a lot of experience in the Champions League as well as the Eredivisie and has developed into one of the best de…
The San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders each have something to prove this season, but in very different ways.
Sunday’s visiting 49ers have been a near-constant in the Super Bowl discussion in the Kyle Shanahan era, but still have yet to win their sixth title. Meanwhile, the Raiders have to bounce back after a terrible 6-11 season which saw them miss out on the playoffs.
As usual, a lot of this preseason discussion is about who isn’t there, whether that’s starting quarterbacks or Raiders running back Josh Jacobs, who is holding out. Don’t miss our NFL picks and predictions for 49ers vs Raiders on Sunday, August 13.
49ers vs Raiders odds
49ers vs Raiders predictions
S…
Bayern Munich have more talent at their disposal now than when they last ruled Europe in 2013, according to captain Manuel Neuer.
Neuer, along with David Alaba, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller, was one of four players remaining from their Wembley triumph over Borussia Dortmund who started Wednesday s 3-0 semi-final triumph against Lyon.
Despite coughing up early chances to their Ligue 1 opponents, there was little doubt over the outcome after Serge Gnabry s fabulous opener – the initial part of a first-half brace from the Germany winger.
Robert Lewandowski, who played for Dortmund in the showpiece seven years ago, typically got in on the act with his 55th goal of the season, meaning only Paris Saint-Germain lie between Bayern and a sixth European title.
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Jordan Pickford is set to return to Everton’s starting lineup against Manchester City on Wednesday having missed the last four matches with a rib injury.
David Squires on … football and the cyber cesspool of social mediaRead more
The England international has been absent since colliding with a post during last month’s home defeat by Newcastle but returned to full training on Monday. Providing there is no adverse reaction to the injury in training, the 26-year-old will replace Robin Olsen against the Premier League leaders and be in contention to face Liverpool in Saturday’s Merseyside derby at Anfield. Pickford was roundly criticised for the tackle that ended Virgil van Dijk’s season in October.
Carlo Ancel…