1 week ago Brazilian teams have excelled at the Club World Cup. How far can they go?

Brazil’s four teams – Flamengo, Botafogo, Palmeiras and Fluminense – breezed through the group stage “Many people didn’t believe this would happen. It is happening,” said Fluminense manager Renato Gaúcho as he reflected on the performances of the Brazilian teams at the Club World Cup . With Fluminense , Palmeiras, Botafogo and Flamengo all on their way to the last 16, Renato said that Brazilian football and people should be “very proud” of what their clubs have done in the US.The results in the group stage were impressive. Botafogo beat European champions Paris Saint-Germain; Flamengo won convincingly against Chelsea; and the only defeat for a Brazilian team – when Botafogo lost to Atlético Madrid – came when they had an eye on the knockout stage. In all, they played 12 games, lost one and only conceded nine goals. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Football transfer rumours: Garnacho and Nkunku set for blockbuster swap?

Today’s rumours are still feeling that late-Sunday fileDespite a breakthrough season at Paris Saint-Germain, where he registered double digits for both goals and assists in Ligue 1 and made a sizeable contribution to the club’s maiden Champions League triumph, Bradley Barcola finds himself as the odd one out in Luis Enrique’s forward line. Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia appear to be in the box seats for PSG’s starting XI, the latter signing in January from Napoli, which has meant the absurdly talented Barcola could move on this summer. Europe’s elite are lining up, fluttering their eyelashes at the 22-year-old, with Arsenal, Bayern Munich and Liverpool all seen as frontrunners, should Barcola (and PSG) decide to move on.Nothing stirs the heart quite like the words “Japanese wonderkid” and the latest J1 League star to make his way to England is Kōta Takai, who is on the verge of a £5m move to Tottenham from Kawasaki Frontale – which would constitute a record s...

Sport

2 w. ago Rangers Champions League qualifying dates against Panathinaikos confirmed as Russell Martin gears up for baptism of fire

Gers face a tricky assignment in their bid to get amongst Europe's elite in the coming season

Economics

2 w. ago As Club World Cup gifts its riches a proper plan is needed for those left behind | Nick Ames

With the top-level juggernaut careering away the majority of Europe’s clubs need help and should be better rewarded for players they developWhile a dozen of Europe’s elite clubs were chasing the American dream, 170 of their less garlanded peers gathered for a barbecue next to Lake Geneva. They had converged on Uefa’s headquarters to attend the qualifying round draws for next season’s continental competitions; Tuesday night was time to get together, perhaps to speed-date representatives of the team you had been paired with or simply to cut loose before a labyrinthine summer spent journeying in search of league-phase football.Borussia Dortmund were slugging out a goalless draw with Fluminense while the meat hit the grills, but “Club World Cup” is a dirty formulation in Nyon’s corridors of power. Any available screens showed action from Uefa’s own Under-21 Championship and alternative sources of entertainment roamed the pastel green lawns. A caricature artist did the rounds, stopping a...

Politics

2 w. ago As Club World Cup hands out riches, a plan is needed for those left behind | Nick Ames

With the top-level juggernaut careering away the majority of Europe’s clubs need help and should be better rewarded for players they developWhile a dozen of Europe’s elite clubs were chasing the American dream, 170 of their less garlanded peers gathered for a barbecue next to Lake Geneva. They had converged on Uefa’s headquarters to attend the qualifying round draws for next season’s continental competitions; Tuesday night was time to get together, perhaps to speed-date representatives of the team you had been paired with or simply to cut loose before a labyrinthine summer spent journeying in search of league-phase football.Borussia Dortmund were slugging out a goalless draw with Fluminense while the meat hit the grills, but “Club World Cup” is a dirty formulation in Nyon’s corridors of power. Any available screens showed action from Uefa’s own Under-21 Championship and alternative sources of entertainment roamed the pastel green lawns. A caricature artist did the rounds, stopping a...

Politics

3 w. ago Flamengo or Fluminense? I asked a Brazil World Cup winner who can shock Europe’s elite

Exclusive: No country will take more teams to the expanded Club World Cup than Brazil and Kleberson, a 2002 winner with the Selecao, believes Flamengo can go far at the tournament

Events

3 w. ago Highland home where allied World War 2 spies hid out up for sale

Inverlair Lodge once housed members of The Special Operations Executive (SOE), an elite force set up to wreak havoc behind enemy lines in Europe.

Events

3 w. ago England navigate elite demands in bid to retain European Under

Lee Carsley’s new generation can seize the narrative in Slovakia in the face of the Club World Cup hubbubIt summed up the lot of an England Under-21s manager when Liam Delap confirmed he would compete for his new club, Chelsea, this summer rather than join his international teammates in Slovakia. The Club World Cup has provided a fresh headache for Lee Carsley, a further example of the barrelling dominance with which elite club football overcomes its alternatives. Something special may be required over the next two and a half weeks if his team are going to make any impression on the public consciousness.Fortunately, England and Carsley have a record of producing exactly that. They kick off their Uefa Under-21 Championship campaign as the title holders and, if anyone needs enthusing, a look back at their win against Spain in the final two years ago should have the right effect. James Trafford’s last‑minute penalty save in Batumi was a genuinely thrilling moment that broke 39&nbs...

Politics