Brazil coach Tite has explained that joining in with his team s celebrations against South Korea was not an act of disrespect to the opposition.
The Selecao ran out 4-1 winners against South Korea on Monday as they sealed their place in the World Cup quarter-finals in style.
Vinicius Junior opened the scoring before Neymar converted a penalty after a foul on Richarlison, who added a sublime third prior to Lucas Paqueta rounding off Brazil s haul.
After Richarlison s goal, which capped a superb move, Tite celebrated with the Tottenham forward by performing the pigeon dance.
He was criticised by some sections of the media, but Tite has explained he meant no disrespect.
We try to adapt to the athletes characteristics. They are young, I have to get c…
Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Vanni Sartini has urged his team to keep fighting for a playoff place as they travel to CF Montreal in MLS.
The Whitecaps have lost just two of their last six matches and got back to winning ways on the road with their 3-1 win over Minnesota United in midweek.
They are now up to fifth in the Western Conference, but Sartini knows they cannot rest on their laurels with the teams below them closing in.
We hit like three or four performances where we were a little bit poor, and two wins where we didn t really deserve to win, Sartini said.
Playing more defensive allowed us to get points, but in the last two games, we ve returned to the form that got big results at the start of the season.
We need to put the costume fro…
Sadio Mane believes an African winner of the Ballon d Or is overdue, with both he and Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah seemingly in the frame ahead of Saturday s Champions League final.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the award since 2008, with Luka Modric the only player to break their hegemony in the World Cup year of 2018.
France Football announced changes to the voting process in March, moving to align with the European club season and reducing the number of judges to make wins much more demanding .
George Weah was the first and only African winner of the prestigious individual prize in 1995, but Mane appears to be in contention after enjoying a fine season with Liverpool and winning the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.
It s t…
Karim Adeyemi described Sebastien Haller s health scare as a smack in the face for Borussia Dortmund – and revealed why Jurgen Klopp influenced his move to the German giants.
Forwards Adeyemi and Haller have joined Dortmund as last season s Bundesliga runners-up look for a way to cope without Erling Haaland, who left for Manchester City.
However, Haller may be out for some time after medical checks this week discovered a testicular tumour. Haller was with his new club in Switzerland when he complained of feeling unwell at training on Monday, and the 28-year-old has since returned to Germany.
Ivory Coast striker Haller arrived on a four-year deal from Dutch champions Ajax, while Germany international Adeyemi has come to Dortmund from Salzburg.
According …
Neymar’s move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal is set to be completed in the next 48 hours, the PA news agency understands.
Sources close to Paris St Germain say the club are set to receive up to 100 million euros (£86.3m) from Al Hilal for the 31-year-old Brazilian as they rebuild their squad around younger, up-and-coming players.
The deal has been sanctioned by PSG because Spanish coach Luis Enrique was open to letting Neymar leave. Selling Neymar would also shift his 25m euro annual wage off the club’s books, with his existing contract due to run until the summer of 2025.
News of Neymar’s imminent exit comes less than 24 hours after the club confirmed striker Kylian Mbappe had been reinstated to first-team training.
— Paris Saint-Germ…
Juventus have completed the loan signing of Francisco Conceicao from Porto.
The 21-year-old recorded eight goals and eight assists in all competitions for the Portuguese club last season.
Conceicao also has six caps for Portugal since being given his debut in March, scoring the winner in his country s first Euro 2024 group stage match against Czechia.
Among forwards in the Primeira Liga last term, Conceicao was third for successful dribbles, with 67, behind only Helio Varela (73) and Viktor Gyokeres (68).
Presenting our latest Bianconero, Francisco Conceição!
— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)
Conceicao began his career at Porto, before moving to Ajax in the summer of 2022 after they triggered his release clause.
Having struggled to…
Jonny Evans is back in the Northern Ireland squad for next week’s Euro 2024 qualifiers but Michael O’Neill will once again be relying on youth with a long list of senior players still injured.
Evans – out of contract at relegated Leicester this summer – was unable to add to his 100 caps in March when he was forced to pull out of O’Neill’s first games back in charge of the national team due to a hamstring injury, but is in a 28-man squad to play Denmark away and Kazakhstan at home.
But with Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, Corry Evans, Liam Boyce, Josh Magennis, Conor Washington and Shane Ferguson all still sidelined, O’Neill has included five uncapped players, with 15 of the 28 having fewer than 10 caps.
The boss has named his squad for Denmark and Kaz…
Jamie Vardy spared Harry Kane s blushes as his late winner ensured England started their preparations for Euro 2016 with a 2-1 win over Turkey at the Etihad Stadium.
Tottenham striker Kane had put England into an early lead in Manchester, only for Hakan Calhanoglu to restore parity in the 13th minute.
Kane, top scorer in the Premier League this season, then missed a second-half penalty as it appeared Turkey would frustrate England in their first warm-up fixture for the European Championship in France.
However, Vardy whose goals helped Leicester City to an unlikely Premier League title this season fired in a late winner from a goalmouth scramble to boost his chances of starting England s opener against Russia in Marseille on June 11.
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Chicago Fire Frank Klopas is pleased with the impact his attacking players have been working together this season and is looking forward to seeing how they fare against Orlando City.
The Fire are level on points with their hosts heading into the game on Saturday but sit above them due to their superior goal difference.
Chicago are currently on a four-match unbeaten streak, winning each of their last two matches, with Klopas praising his players for finding their attacking groove in recent weeks.
Going to Orlando, especially in this heat, we have to be good on the ball, it s so important, and we ve worked hard on that, Klopas said. The team is in a good moment, and they re also working extremely hard and that s very important to me.
We ve been dangerous …
Luka Modric lauded Real Madrid s attacking ranks as the LaLiga champions fought from behind to thrash Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday.
Thibaut Courtois blunder handed the visitors a shock lead in the 54th minute, only for Dani Carvajal to level four minutes later after Jude Bellingham s cross was spilled by Joan Garcia.
Vinicius Junior s introduction breathed life into Carlo Ancelotti s side, however, teeing up Rodrygo s first-time finish with 15 minutes remaining.
Brazil star Vinicius followed that up with a goal of his own to make it 3-1 before Kylian Mbappe sealed all three points with his third penalty in as many LaLiga games.
Madrid captain Modric still saw room for improvement but acknowledged the attacking quality Los Blancos have after moving one point b…