Mark van Bommel has rued the fact that Arjen Robben has had to retire from international football on a low after Netherlands failed to qualify for next year s World Cup.
Although Robben scored twice as Netherlands ended their qualifying campaign with a win over Sweden, the damage had already been done and Dick Advocaat s side missed out on a play-off place on goal difference.
The Bayern Munich winger announced his decision to quit the international stage after that victory, but Van Bommel is frustrated that a fine player could not bow out with a title.
An absolutely exceptional player like Arjen deserves a worthy farewell instead of this failed World Cup qualifying campaign, he told Bild.
He would be entitled to end his impressive national team career …
Manchester United have made Everton’s Seamus Coleman their top right-back transfer target, .
Manager Louis van Gaal is keen to shore up his defensive line this summer after predominantly concentrating on attacking areas in the past.
They had been monitoring the situation of Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne, though with the England international expected to complete a move to Liverpool in the coming days, they have been forced to look elsewhere.
Having moved to Goodison Park from Irish side Sligo Rovers in 2009, Coleman has racked up one hundred and eighty-five appearances for the Toffees in all competitions, scoring nineteen goals, while he helped Blackpool gain promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs during a loan spell in the 2009/10 season.
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Jonas Gutierrez claims he was not considered for selection by Newcastle United so they could release him from his contract after deeming him a liability following cancer treatment.
The Argentine winger is suing the club for a fee reported to be in the region of £2million and, in a statement to an employment tribunal that is hearing his claim for disability discrimination, Gutierrez accused Newcastle of deliberately ensuring he did not play enough matches to trigger an extension.
Gutierrez, who joined Newcastle in July 2008, had a testicle removed in October 2013 and underwent chemotherapy treatment the following year.
The 32-year-old returned to first-team action in March 2015, but was released by Newcastle at the end of last season.
In his statement, Gu…
Roberto Martinez takes an Everton side buoyed by victory over Premier League champions Chelsea to former club Swansea City on Saturday and is convinced he has a squad ready for success.
Steven Naismith came off the bench to score a perfect hat-trick as Everton put Jose Mourinho s men to the sword at Goodison Park last weekend in a 3-1 triumph.
The task for Everton now is to replicate that fine performance at the Liberty Stadium against a club Martinez captained as a player and managed between 2007 and 2009.
I do [think we have a squad to compete], he said. I feel the characters we have are hungry, desperate for success, desperate to push each other and we have competition for places now that we didn t have before.
The football demands of bein…
Market: Bristol City win
Odds: 8/7 @
Hoping to climb off the foot of the Championship table on Saturday afternoon, Sheffield Wednesday will make the trip to Ashton Gate when they meet Bristol City.
Starting with the hosts, while Bristol City might have opened up the 2023/24 campaign dreaming of the chance to mount a genuine play-off charge, the Robins find themselves in the midst of another recent rut. Last seen putting in a downbeat display as they slumped to a 2-0 loss at the hands of Cardiff, that result was enough to cost Nigel Pearson his job at Ashton Gate. Battling it out in the bottom-half of the Championship standings and almost sat in second-tier limbo, they have also lost three of their previous four Championship appearances. With it looking like thei…
Pablo Zabaleta will be staying in Premier League for another year. Former winner of the competition back when he played for Manchester City has signed a new deal with West Ham United, the club announced. The defender will remain with the club through summer 2020, which will be his third season with the team.
It s great news and I m so happy, Zabaleta said. I m enjoying my time at West Ham and I ve got so much respect and so much passion for this profession. I m still enjoying it and it s made me feel I can go for another year. I just want to focus on what we’re doing with the Club and with the team this season and be ready to go again next season, because I just want to enjoy every single moment.
Zabaleta was West Ham s main right-back in the past two seas…
Cristian Romero said Argentina s Copa America showdown with Colombia didn t seem like a final due to the chaotic scenes outside the ground in Miami.
Fans without tickets flooded the turnstiles at the Hard Rock Stadium for Sunday s clash, with kick-off delayed for almost 90 minutes.
The poor organisation eventually resulted in those fans being allowed to enter, causing further chaos.
Romero, who helped Argentina to a 1-0 victory, said emotions were running high.
It was hard because many had their families outside, they didn t know what was going on, he told TyC Sports.
It didn t seem like a final, there was a lot of commotion and a lot of concern.
The sentiment was echoed by Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni.
He told reporters: It s…
Napoli still have work to do to qualify for the Champions League knockout stages after Union Berlin ended 12 consecutive defeats by securing a 1-1 draw at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Chelsea loanee David Datro Fofana cancelled out Matteo Politano’s earlier strike as Union, bottom of Group C, picked up their first Champions League point.
Serie A champions Napoli, who knew a win would leave them needing one point from their final two games to guarantee a last-16 spot, had two chances to go in front after 15 minutes.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia did well to beat his marker before playing in Piotr Zielinski who was denied from close range by Union keeper Frederik Ronnow.
Matteo the man making the difference so far
— Official SSC Napoli (@…
Juventus chief executive Maurizio Arrivabene thinks Cristiano Ronaldo s situation at Manchester United is sad to see .
Portugal international Ronaldo is reported to have asked for a move away from Old Trafford during the transfer window to play for a team competing in the Champions League.
Despite being linked with the likes of Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Napoli and his former club Sporting CP, Ronaldo remains a United player following Thursday s transfer deadline.
The five-time Ballon d Or winner started just one of United s five Premier League matches this season ahead of Sunday s home clash with Arsenal.
Ronaldo s total of 175 minutes played this term is only the 13th most among all United players, with Anthony Elanga (215) among those to have featured m…