1 hour ago France’s Sakina Karchaoui: ‘If everyone brings their own little madness, it will make us win’

PSG player on her reinvention in midfield, Euro 2025 confidence and how she embraces her role-model statusSakina Karchaoui is one of the most popular players in the France team. Perhaps the most popular. But when she joins us at 9am at Clairefontaine, the national centre of French football, Les Bleues’ No 7 appears quite shy. Wearing a blue tracksuit emblazoned with the French rooster, she smiles for the first time when Kenza Dali teases her: “Interview for the Guardian in English please, Saki!”Spring has finally sprung in the French capital and for the native of Salon-de-Provence, in southern France, the prospect of training in the sunshine is another reason to smile. “We are almost ready for the Euros,” Karchaoui says as she looks at the training ground below. “We work a lot tactically with the coach, we work technically, physically, all aspects of football. I think we can win many things together; we’ve got so much talent. And if everyone brings their own little madness, their ow...

Politics

2 d. ago Luka Modric set to become minority owner of Swansea as Real Madrid star makes surprise decision

Croatian midfielder will not have his player career impacted by ownership move

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4 d. ago US star McKennie among 13 players being investigated for illegal gambling

Juventus and USA midfielder named in probe, per reportsInvestigation focuses on poker and non-soccer bettingUnited States midfielder Weston McKennie is among 13 soccer players being investigated for illegal online betting in Italy, according to widespread media reports.A new investigation by Milan prosecutors stems from evidence given by Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Fagioli in 2023. Both then served lengthy bans, ruling them out for most of last season, after agreeing plea bargains that also included therapy for a gambling addiction. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago Graeme Souness names ex Celtic boss in top 10 list of best midfielders he ever played against

Souness missed him in the dugout by a month but the duo had plenty on field battles in England and Italy

Economics

7 d. ago I joined Manchester United 'angry' for trophies but there was one big problem

Former Man Utd midfielder Nemanja Matic will play against his old club on Thursday night when Lyon host the Reds in their Europa League quarter-final first leg.

Politics

1 week ago Scott McTominay speaks out about Man Utd issue – 'You have to know your place'

Scott McTominay left Manchester United for Napoli last summer and the Scotland midfielder has argued that he was often played out of position during his time at Old Trafford

Politics

2 w. ago Manchester United have Sekou Kone dilemma after a stunning goal for the academy

Man Utd signed Sekou Kone last summer and the young midfielder has spent this season playing for the Under-21s.

Politics

2 w. ago 'Doesn't forget': Victor Wanyama's Celtic links still strong as he names pals he stays in touch with and fan wish

Former midfielder relishes new challenge at Pars but Celtic play big part in life

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3 w. ago Barcelona without Raphinha as La Liga restarts 44 hours after Argentina

Uruguay’s Araújo also out of rescheduled Osasuna match Barça’s Flick: ‘The flight is long, it’s not the ideal situation’Barcelona’s best player was not at their final training session at San Joan Despi before facing Osasuna on Thursday night. Instead, as his teammates took to the practice field on Wednesday morning, Raphinha, scorer of 27 goals and provider of 20 assists this season, was still somewhere over the Atlantic. The same was true of defender Ronald Araújo, with the Barcelona coach, Hansi Flick, confirming that neither of them will play as La Liga restarts – 44 hours after Brazil kicked off against Argentina in a World Cup qualifier more than 10,000 miles away.The Osasuna midfielder Enzo Boyomo may play, at least that was the hope Barcelona’s opponents hold on to, but with a day to go his manager did not know where exactly he was either, let alone what shape he was in. “We have to see if he makes it first,” Vicente Moreno said. The Cameroon international had embarked on a j...

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3 w. ago Barry Ferguson transforms this Rangers star on two levels and Celtic are just one of the latest to find out

The Rangers interim manager could do for this player what Alex McLeish did for him as the midfield holder became a goalscorer

Politics

3 w. ago Arsenal told they are just one signing away from being 'big, big title favourites'

Arsenal are 15 points behind Liverpool in the Premier League table after being hurt by their lack of forward options - with Mikel Arteta forced to play midfielder Mikel Merino as a makeshift centre-forward amid their injury crisis

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3 w. ago ‘Be ruthless with each other’: Tuchel’s method to get best out of England

Tactics-obsessed head coach wants his players to feel free to criticise anyone not doing their job properlyThomas Tuchel loves to talk tactics with an obsessive attention to detail, taking in the tiny tweaks, the dizzying range of possibilities. The England head coach started with a 4-2-3-1 system in his first game against Albania on Friday, playing Curtis Jones alongside Declan Rice in midfield, partly because he was conscious of the threat of the opposing No 8s. He did not want Rice to be outnumbered against the ball.Tuchel, who is looking ahead to the meeting with Latvia on Monday night, thinks it would be possible for his England to play a 4-1-4-1 with “five very offensive players and more or less Dec as a holding midfielder”, although he wonders whether this would provide enough control in midfield. Would it be too open? He mentioned using a “3-2, with three No 10s and two No 6s” – in other words, a different version of 4‑2‑3‑1, allowing him t...

Politics

3 w. ago Rogers pushing for England start against Albania but Tuchel may omit Guéhi: football – live

Scathing assessment of Euros displays under SouthgateFootball Daily | Football Weekly Extra | And email JohnMorgan Rogers is pushing for a starting spot in attack when the Thomas Tuchel era begins with England’s World Cup qualifier against Albania tonight.Rogers, who can play in a variety of roles in attacking midfield, has been in fine form for Aston Villa this season and has done well in training this week. He has not started for England yet but could feature as the No 10 against Albania, with Jude Bellingham in a slightly deeper role with Declan Rice. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Morgan Rogers pushing for England start against Albania in Tuchel’s bow: football – live

Scathing assessment of Euros displays under SouthgateFootball Daily | Football Weekly Extra | And email LukeMorgan Rogers is pushing for a starting spot in attack when the Thomas Tuchel era begins with England’s World Cup qualifier against Albania tonight.Rogers, who can play in a variety of roles in attacking midfield, has been in fine form for Aston Villa this season and has done well in training this week. He has not started for England yet but could feature as the No 10 against Albania, with Jude Bellingham in a slightly deeper role with Declan Rice. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Nico Raskin told real reason behind Belgium call as Rangers nod hints at fast track to crucial role

The midfielder has emerged as a key player for the Premiership side - and could be given the chance to do the same for his country

Politics

4 w. ago Ryan Gravenberch withdraws from Dutch squad as Liverpool handed major injury scare

Midfielder Ryan Gravenberch has played in all 29 of Liverpool's Premier League games this season, but he could be a doubt for the Merseyside derby after leaving the Dutch camp

Events

4 w. ago Chelsea complete £62.5m double deal for Quenda and Essugo from Sporting

Seventeen-year-old Quenda will stay at Sporting next seasonHolding midfielder Essugo could play in Club World CupChelsea have completed the double signing of Geovany Quenda and Dário Essugo from Sporting, agreeing a combined fee of around £62.5m for the pair.The Portuguese club announced the deals late on Wednesday night, confirming 17-year-old Quenda would join the Blues for just under £44m and Essugo for £18.5m. Continue reading...

Economics

4 w. ago Tottenham: Lucas Bergvall responds to 'fun' praise from Man City boss Pep Guardiola

Man City boss was full of praise for Spurs midfielder after the two sides played last month

Politics

4 w. ago Gary Lineker suggests new Jordan Henderson role for England after 'odd' call

Jordan Henderson was one of several surprise inclusions in Thomas Tuchel's first England squad, and Gary Lineker has suggested a new role for the midfielder to play

Politics

4 w. ago Kalidou Sibidie a Celtic transfer 'target' as £2m midfield giant's suitor list swells

Midfield powerhouse Sidibie is the among the tallest players in Ligue 2, standing at nearly 6ft 7 inches

Events