Chiellini aims for Zenit return

After Roy Hodgson stepped down in the wake of England s humiliating Euro 2016 exit at the hands of Iceland, thoughts immediately turned to his successor.

Goals from Ragnar Sigurdsson and Kolbeinn Sigthorsson cancelled out Wayne Rooney s early penalty, as the outsiders remarkable debut at a major tournament continued with a 2-1 success.

Iceland will now take on hosts France in the quarter-finals in Paris on Sunday, while England are left to contemplate another ignominious exit.

With Hodgson resigning after four years at the helm, we look at five possible contenders to take charge.

GARETH SOUTHGATE

The England Under-21 boss appears the man in pole position to take over. He is well established at the Football Association, although he endured a mi…

French midfielder Franck Ribery took part in full training with Bayern Munich on Thursday for the first time since his Euro 2008 ankle injury and expects to play again by the end of September.

Having torn ankle ligaments in June, Ribery, 25, trained with his team-mates under new Bayern coach Jurgen Klinsmann in Munich watched by more than a thousand fans.

He is working day after day with more energy, Franck is getting more and more confidence, said Klinsmann.

The Bayern boss expects Ribery to return for the German giants on September 27 for the Bundesliga match against Hanover.

The Frenchman damaged his ankle playing for his country in the 2-0 defeat at the hands of Italy on Tuesday June 17 during the Euro 2008 group stages and underwent surgery two …

Olivier Giroud says he refused to celebrate his goal in Chelsea s Europa League final triumph over Arsenal because the Gunners changed his life .

The France international opened the scoring in Baku shortly after half-time – his 11th of this season s competition – to set his side on their way to a resounding 4-1 win.

Giroud joined Chelsea in January 2018 after spending five and a half years with the Gunners and says it would not have felt right to celebrate against a club that has given him so much.

These two clubs changed my life, they gave me the opportunity to play in the Premier League, he told BT Sport.

I didn t want to celebrate against Arsenal but I am so proud to win this trophy with Chelsea.

It was a good final and we have been bett…

Verdict: Sevilla not to lose

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La Liga giants Sevilla ahead into the last 16 stage clash against Europa League holders Manchester United looking to finally make it to the Champions League closing stages. The Red Devils are in a similar position having last reached the UCL quarterfinals four years ago.

Sevilla

With five titles to their name, Sevilla are Europa League’s most successful side, but los Rojiblancos now plan to leave their mark on the Champions League as well. The Spanish side haven’t had too much success in the competition of late, and they have never managed to reach the quarterfinals. Sevilla have somewhat struggled since the departure of transfer guru Monchi, but they managed to revive their top 4 hopes in La Liga …

Bradford City defender Gary Liddle was able to breathe a sigh of relief after poor weather had threatened his chances of playing in Saturday s FA quarter-final against Reading.

The inclement weather was a threat to Bradford s League One fixture at home to Crawley Town last Tuesday a match that saw Liddle serve the second of a two-match ban.

Had that game which Bradford won 1-0 been postponed the former Middlesbrough man would have had to sit out the last-eight tie against Championship side Reading at Valley Parade instead.

I was obviously very nervous looking at that weather forecast, Liddle told Perform. 

Once the pitch inspection got passed and the game kicked off thankfully the weather stayed okay.

Bradford have become famed for their cup e…

Jake Livermore does not think that playing for Hull City should dent his hopes of representing England again.

The 24-year-old midfielder has one cap to his name, earned while at Tottenham in August 2012, and hopes to add to that tally under Roy Hodgson.

However, there is a perception that players at some of the so-called lesser clubs are overlooked for international duty and Livermore Hull s record signing does not believe that should be the case.

Asked if being at the KC Stadium permanently might limit his England opportunities, Livermore told Perform: It shouldn t do, it certainly shouldn t.

If you look at the World Cup just gone by, I think other countries – not saying this country s got it wrong, but other countries have got it right – [Ron] Vlaa…

Lionel Messi became a free agent last week.

Initial reports suggested he had agreed to a new two-deal with Barca.

The 34-year-old told Barcelona last year he wanted to leave but opted to remain.

TOP STORY – MESSI BEING EYED BY DUO

Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are both monitoring Lionel Messi s transfer position after becoming a free agent, according to the front page of Tuesday s Mundo Deportivo.

Messi s Barcelona contract expired on June 30, but he has been widely expected to re-sign with the LaLiga giants, who need to manage their finances.

However, with Messi still unattached, Ligue 1 powerhouse PSG and Premier League champions City are continuing to eye the six-time Ballon d Or winner.

FINALISSIMA

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Facing Liverpool at Old Trafford is the perfect game for Manchester United to kick-start their season, Virgil van Dijk has warned.

United followed up a 2-1 home loss against Brighton and Hove Albion in their opening Premier League game of the campaign with a heavy 4-0 defeat at Brentford last weekend.

The Red Devils find themselves bottom for the first time since August 1992, which is the only previous occasion they lost their opening two games in the competition.

Erik ten Hag is the first United manager to lose his opening two games in charge since John Chapman in 1921 and the Dutchman s task does not get any easier.

United face fierce rivals Liverpool on Monday, when Van Dijk expects the home side to be extra motivated to get off the mark in front o…

Chelsea midfielder Oscar admits he was scared by Antonio Conte s approach during his first few training sessions as the club s manager.

The former Juventus and Italy boss took charge at Stamford Bridge last month and has enjoyed an encouraging start, with Chelsea winning 2-1 in their Premier League opener against West Ham.

Oscar has revealed that Conte s intensity was a little alarming at first, but he is confident that the club can mount a title challenge this season and put their dismal 2015-16 campaign behind them.

It s a change, it s different, and he is a very good coach, a very good guy. Every coach is different to one another and we re playing slightly different style, but we enjoy it and we re hoping to have a very good season, he told Sky Sports.

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Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-yeung is delighted to have signed a new four-year contract at the Premier League club.

Ki joined Swansea for £5.5million from Celtic in 2012 but his future at the club looked in serious doubt after he was sent on loan to Sunderland for the 2013-14 season.

But the South Korea international is back in favour under new manager Garry Monk and scored in his side s surprise 2-1 win at Manchester United on the opening day of the season.

He has played the full 90 minutes in both of Swansea s Premier League fixtures this term they followed up their victory at Old Trafford by beating Burnley and said he was excited after committing his future to the Welsh outfit.

I m very pleased, Ki told the club s official website.

This …