Lionel Messi says Argentina dreams of Copa America, but are aware of the challenge that faces them in the quarter-finals against Uruguay.
Argentina tackle Uruguay at Santa Fe s Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez on Saturday, in the first meeting between the two rivals since qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in October 2009.
While both sides are undefeated in the Copa America, their form has been unconvincing.
Argentina was held to two frustrating draws to Bolivia and Colombia, eventually breaking the shackles in a 3-0 over Costa Rica on Monday in their last Group A match.
Uruguay began their own tournament with two draws against Peru and Chile before edging Mexico 1-0 in Group C on Tuesday.
But they still present a tough challenge for Ri…
Florent Balmont has backed defending champions Lille to record their first win of the Ligue 1 season when they host Montpellier on Sunday.
Midfielder Balmont was part the Lille team that completed an impressive 640 passes in their match at Nancy last weekend, but could only manage a 1-1 draw in what was the opening round of the campaign.
Lille had previously gone down 5-4 to Marseille in the curtain-raising Trophee des Champions, having lost key men such as Gervinho, Adil Rami and Yohann Cabaye in the close-season.
But Balmont insists the remaining players are equipped to retain their title in 2011/12.
We definitely deserved to beat Nancy, Balmont said.
We used the ball well against a team that was set up just to defend and we ll have to get u…
La Liga strugglers Real Sociedad host champions Atletico Madrid on Sunday for their first game since Jagoba Arrasate was sacked as coach.
Sociedad have won just once in the league this season a shock 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in August and slipped to 19th in the table after losing 1-0 at home to Malaga last weekend.
That result proved to be the final straw for the club s board, with Arrasate being sacked on Sunday.
Coaches Asier Santana and Imanol Alguacil took charge of training during the week, and the prospect of facing in-form Atletico who have won their last five games in all competitions without a boss represents a daunting one.
But ahead of the champions visit, Sociedad captain Xabi Prieto called for fans to keep their faith despite their disma…
Roberto Soldado feels the pressure on his shoulders at Tottenham was ultimately what caused him to fail at White Hart Lane after making his £26 million move.
The 30-year-old striker is battling to rebuild his career at Villarreal after seeing his stock fall during two years in England following his move from Valencia, where he had scored 59 La Liga goals in three seasons.
At Tottenham, he mustered only seven strikes from 52 games in the Premier League before he moved to Villarreal for a reported £10 million at the start of the season.
Ahead of his team s clash with English opposition – Liverpool – in the Europa League semi-final first leg on Thursday, Soldado reflected on what went wrong with Spurs.
I think in the end what let me down at Tottenham …
Stoke City have signed Kevin Wimmer from Tottenham for £18million.
Wimmer, 24, sealed his move and signed a five-year contract with Mark Hughes side on Tuesday, having completed his medical on Monday.
He becomes Stoke s seventh signing of the transfer window and the fourth defender to come in after the arrivals of Bruno Martins Indi, Kurt Zouma and Josh Tymon.
Stoke boss Hughes told his club s official website: Kevin is an undoubted talent and he will significantly add to the quality of the group of players that I already have at my disposal.
We put a real emphasis on trying to enhance the defensive areas of the squad this summer and we feel that we have been able to do that.
We brought Kurt Zouma in earlier in the window and managed to bring B…
According to a recent report from Sky Sports, Bayern Munich are of the belief that they can bring Ilkay Gundogan over to the club during the summer transfer window. The 28 year old has been with Manchester City since back in 2016, when he made the switch from fellow Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund. Since then it’s fair to say he’s had a solid run at the Etihad, having been instrumental in helping City to win a series of trophies during his tenure at the club.
Gundogan has been a regular in the German national team setup for quite some time now, too, which strengthens the rumours that he could be on his way back to Germany sooner rather than later.
Ilkay hasn’t seen as much game time this season as he did in previous years, which could make this a solid move for …
Massimiliano Allegri is set to make a number of late calls on his Juventus XI for Sunday s Derby d Italia, with Dusan Vlahovic still not fully fit.
Vlahovic has not featured for the Bianconeri since their costly Champions League defeat to Benfica in the middle of last week.
And the Serbia striker may not return in time to take on Inter this weekend, as Allegri revealed an ongoing groin issue at his pre-match news conference on Saturday.
The coach could at least offer a more positive update on Angel Di Maria and Bremer, who are both back in the fold, although he would not confirm the role of either player at Allianz Stadium.
[Di Maria and Bremer] are recovered – the only doubt is Vlahovic, because he is not well and tomorrow I have to evaluate, Allegri …
Arsene Wenger believes Thierry Henry can still have a successful managerial career, despite his sacking after just three months in charge of Monaco.
Henry, who enjoyed eight trophy-laden years under Wenger as a player at Arsenal, was sacked after 20 games at the helm of a Monaco side that won just four times under his leadership.
But Wenger said the timing of Henry s arrival at Stade Louis II contributed to the shortlived nature of his tenure, pointing out that pressure on coaches mounts more quickly in the middle of a campaign than at the start.
Speaking at the Laureus World Sports Awards 2019, Wenger said: If you arrive in October and the team is in a bad position, you have three months because in January everybody starts to become nervous that things could…
Jurgen Klopp remains optimistic heading into the knockout stages of the Champions League, despite Liverpool being drawn against Real Madrid in a repeat of last season s final.
Liverpool finished as runners-up to Napoli in their European group, allowing them to be paired with holders Madrid in the competition s last-16 draw on Monday.
Klopp s side have lost two Champions League finals to Madrid in the past five seasons, but the German is looking forward to two special meetings with Carlo Ancelotti s men.
I know we have played Real Madrid in a couple of recent finals, but it is not so often that our two clubs have met in a two-legged tie, so now we can look forward to this happening, Klopp told Liverpool s website.
Real s European record is the best arou…
Mikel Arteta sees record signing Declan Rice as Arsenal’s “lighthouse” as the north London club look to win the Premier League.
Fresh from completing big-money moves for Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber, the Gunners completed their British record £105million acquisition for the West Ham captain on Saturday.
Rice’s arrival is a huge shot in the arm for Mikel Arteta’s improving side, who beat perennial Premier League champions Manchester City to the England international’s signature.
It is a deal that Arsenal hope can next season help topple Pep Guardiola’s men at the top as they look to win a first league title since 2004.
A new chapter begins.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal)
“I see him like a lighthouse – that he is willing to pu…