Greuther´s Kramer demands vocal atmosphere against Hamburg

Greuther Furth coach Frank Kramer has called on his club s fans to yell themselves hoarse when they host Hamburg on Sunday.

Hamburg will travel south to Bavaria for the second leg of the Bundesliga s promotion-relegation play-off hoping to maintain their record of having played every season in Germany s top tier.

The first leg on Thursday finished 0-0 in Hamburg and Kramer wants Greuther s fans to cheer his team into the Bundesliga.

I think our fans will whip us forward. I hope I will not be the only one after the game, which is hoarse, the 42-year-old told Greuther s website on Friday.

Greuther finished third in the 2.Bundesliga and must overcome Hamburg in a two-legged play-off to reach Germany s top flight.

Hamburg are the only club to have played every …

Barcelona search for Wijnaldum alternative

According to , Georginio Wijnaldum s decision to join Paris Saint-Germain has hit Barcelona hard. The soon-to-be former Liverpool midfielder had already agreed to a Camp Nou switch after five successful years at Anfield, but a last-minute offer to double his wages by the Ligue 1 giants seems to have turned his head and he called the deal off, leaving Barcelona to scramble for an alternative target as best they can.

The problem is, no player on the market is deemed capable of providing the same qualities as the Dutch international. Real Sociedad s Mikel Merino and Fabian Ruiz of Napoli have been considered in that aspect, but their prices, reportedly set at €30m and €50m, respectively, are something Barcelona cannot afford at the moment. It points to another advantage the ac…

Millwall ´dismayed and saddened´ after returning fans jeer BLM demonstration

Millwall have described themselves as dismayed and saddened after supporters at The Den jeered a demonstration in support of Black Lives Matter prior to Saturday s game against Derby County.

Fans are coming back to stadiums in some parts of England including London this week amid the coronavirus pandemic.

But their return for the Championship clash between Millwall and Wayne Rooney s Derby was marred by the loud boos that met the players now customary anti-discrimination display as they took the knee.

The act, popularised in the United States by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, has remained part of elite competition across the world since the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis in May.

Players are demonstrating in support of BLM and ag…

Roma secure Nigerian duo Sadiq and Nura

Roma have signed Sadiq Umar and Abdullahi Nura from Serie B side Spezia for a combined fee of €5million.

Both players have signed four-year contracts at Stadio Olimpico after impressing while on loan at the club in 2015-16.

The permanent acquisition of 19-year-old Sadiq will boost Luciano Spalletti s attacking options  the tall striker scored two goals in six Serie A appearances for Roma last season and was reportedly being tracked by a number of other top European clubs.

Nura s preferred position is right-back, and he made 11 appearances in Roma s Primavera youth side in 2015-16, scoring three goals as they won the Primavera title.

Sadiq Umar and Abdullahi Nura are now players after deals were tied up today:

— AS Roma English (@ASRoma…

Hodgson resigns: Five contenders to replace him as England boss

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…

Ribery back in training at Bayern

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 …

Chiellini aims for Zenit return

Juventus centre-back Giorgio Chiellini has targetted next week s Champions League clash against UEFA Cup holders Zenit St Petersburg for his injury comeback.

Chiellini, Italy s one bright spark in their miserable Euro 2008 campaign in June, injured his knee in a friendly last month and was expected to face a month on the sidelines.

The 24-year-old now feels he is ready to start playing again and has not ruled out being included in Sunday s visit of Udinese.

But it is the match against the Russians that Chiellini is targetting as Juve are in one of the toughest qualifying groups for Europe s premier competition, also including Spanish champions Real Madrid.

I hope to be on the field against Zenit. Who wouldn t want to play in such a match? he said.

Arsenal changed my life – Giroud explains muted celebration

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…

Prediction: Sevilla vs Manchester United

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 …

Forecast good for Bradford´s Liddle

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…