The Guardian

Carlo Ancelotti praises ‘improved fitness’ of Santos player Vinícius Júnior, Rayan and Igor Thiago also selected Neymar will make his fourth World Cup appearance after Brazil named him to their 26-man squad on Monday. The decision was not guaranteed as questions surrounded Neymar’s fitness since his anterior cruciate ligament tear more than two years ago. The Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti, said t…

Professional Footballers’ Association ‘let players down’ under finance director Darren Wilson, says watchdog Former footballer and professional players union executive Darren Wilson has been given a regulatory ban after a watchdog inquiry uncovered serious financial mismanagement at a charity for ex-players. The Charity Commission said conflicts of interest, poor financial controls and inadequate…

Forward was dropped after a previous attempt to undermine coach, but doing so now could spark mutiny We can safely say how Arne Slot would like to respond to Mohamed Salah’s latest attempt to undermine him . The Champions League trip to Inter in December, when Salah was left at home as punishment for his incendiary interview at Leeds three days earlier, provides as clear an indication as any. But…

Guardiola has been manager of club for 10 years He is set to go with one year left on his contract Pep Guardiola is expected to leave Manchester City after 10 trophy-filled years as manager. The club did not confirm reports on Monday night that Guardiola’s last game as City manager will be at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, the final day of the Premier League season. But increasingly figures aroun…

Spurs need a draw at Chelsea to effectively secure safety ‘It’s good to imagine celebrating the win in their stadium’ Roberto De Zerbi says the idea that “everyone wants Tottenham relegated” ought to motivate his players as they look to set aside the club’s dismal record against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge to get the result they need to stay up. Spurs have won once at Stamford Bridge since 1990 bu…

It was a night when fervour and hope ran into yet more Arsenal anxiety. This was supposed to be straightforward, wasn’t it? Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on 22 April. They sacked their manager, Scott Parker, shortly afterwards and came here under the caretaker, Michael Jackson. They had avoided defeat only three times in their previous ten league matches, drawing all …

After a spring of boardroom civil war, the Giallorossi’s two-goal hero put his side on the verge of a historic return to Champions League A Rome derby on the penultimate weekend of a Serie A season could never be a low-stakes occasion. Scudetto wins come rarely in Italy’s capital city – Roma and Lazio have only five between them – leaving neighbourly bragging rights as the next-most important pri…

Nice began the season in the Champions League but may end it in Ligue 2 – a terrible indictment of Ineos’ ownership By Get French Football News Nice’s players and staff were attacked by their own fans a few months ago . On Sunday night, their ultras stormed the pitch after their goalless draw at home to Metz and the players had to scamper down the tunnel. It was a perfect snapshot of the scale of…

Matheus Cunha scored after teammate had handled Refereeing chief admits goal should not have stood Howard Webb, the Professional Game Match Officials (PGMO) chief refereeing officer, has admitted to Nottingham Forest that Michael Salisbury was wrong not to disallow Matheus Cunha’s goal owing to Bryan Mbuemo’s handball in Manchester United’s 3-2 win on Sunday at Old Trafford. Salisbury’s decision …

Club reported £104.2m loss in last set of accounts Bowen, Fernandes and Summerville would have suitors West Ham will be under pressure to raise more than £100m through player sales if they are relegated. The club reported a loss of £104.2m in their last set of accounts and their financial problems will deepen if they are no longer in the Premier League. Nuno Espírito Santo’s are on the brink of g…

Gambling Commission set to rubber-stamp new regulations which could inflict irreparable damage on the racing industry James Noyes, one of the initial proponents of affordability checks for gamblers, has issued an urgent call for a pause in their implementation. Stuart Andrew MP, the gambling minister in the last government and also a former supporter of checks, agrees with him. The British Horser…

One of the greats of Scottish rugby who went on to have a successful broadcasting career Scott Hastings, the most capped centre in the history of Scotland’s rugby union side, played a key role in his country’s epic 1990 grand slam victory over England at Murrayfield. Scott, whose name will be forever linked with his elder brother Gavin, was a defensive bulwark of the Scottish team and his astonis…

Red Roses showed the hunger needed to defend World Cup in 2029 by clinching an eighth successive Six Nations If the top of the pyramid is defending their Rugby World Cup title in 2029 then this Women’s Six Nations has formed the base from which England can build. The world champions won their eighth straight Six Nations and proved they can succeed even when they have to stretch their squad to the…

Unheralded coach has presided over a remarkable turnaround as club navigates La Liga’s epic relegation battle Luís Castro was 11 when he started vomiting blood. Taken to hospital and diagnosed with purpura, initially doctors told his parents there was no chance of him living and even when he was cured they said he couldn’t do any physical exercise ever again. But three lonely years later, driven …

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now! An occasionally contrary but invariably entertaining studio regular on Jim White’s TalkSport show before and between stints at Celtic this season, Martin O’Neill made himself available this morning to discuss his side’s dramatic weekend title heist. It’s not often a game of fitba completely overshadows the FA Cup final but Saturday’s denouement …