Dribble Diaries

Those in positions of authority at La Liga team Sevilla will not be present at this weekend's matchup with Barcelona. Mundo Deportivo claims that this is the case, using the ongoing "Negreira case" as justification. As many will undoubtedly remember, Sevilla's board said in September that they would not be attending any of the events surrounding the team's La Liga away trip to Barcelona. The Nervionenses issued a statement outlining their reasons for declining the invitation to use an executive box at Montjuïc as well as the customary pre-match boardroom meal. As stated in the order circulated in the media, "complete indignation and rejection of the practices carried out by the former FC Barcelona leaders accused in the Negreira case, practices that supposedly constitute a crime for the Investigating Court number 1 of Barcelona." Furthermore, as previously said, the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán's leadership has not changed their position in the 12 mont

Following the international break, Europe's top leagues return, and this weekend's schedule promises some really interesting matches. These are our top five picks for this weekend's must-see games. Eintracht Frankfurt against Bayer Leverkusen With Xabi Alonso's team unusually exposed at the back, Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga defense has not gone as planned. However, as the champions try to stay up with RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich at the top, Leverkusen is still only three points behind them. However, after being pushed into the top four by Omar Marmoush, Eintracht Frankfurt will be looking to take advantage of the newly discovered weaknesses of the Bundesliga Invincibles from the previous season. The Egyptian leads Europe's top five leagues in goal involvements with eight goals and four assists in just six games. Tottenham and West Ham There is still love between West Ham and Tottenham, and this weekend will see the London rivals square off once more. Thr

During the last international break, Mikel Merino received much-needed playing time for Spain, and the midfielder is now prepared to start for Arsenal. He was sidelined for many weeks following an injury sustained during his first training session, delaying his Gunners debut. Merino has since, however, made fleeting appearances in Arsenal's most recent two games against Southampton and PSG, which was sufficient to win him a return to the Spanish national team. Now, the midfield player is excited to get started in the match against Bournemouth. In contrast, Thomas Partey is more fit and in excellent form than ever, making it challenging for anyone to replace him in the starting lineup. Merino is eager to get a starting position soon, but Jorginho has also done well when given the chance. Merino is attempting to advance in the hierarchy and is hoping to start against Bournemouth, according to Standard Sports. After carefully weighing his midfield options, Mikel Arteta will choo

The 2024 Golden Boy award, which is given annually to the top u-21 football player in Europe, has unveiled its final 20-player selection. With three selections on the final shortlist—Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho, and summer acquisition Leny Yoro—Manchester United is well-represented. After a quick ascent at Old Trafford, Mainoo made his senior team debut the previous season and helped lead England to the 2024 Euro final. Prior to Garnacho joining Argentina's Copa America team, he and Garnacho scored the goals when the Red Devils defeated Manchester City in the FA Cup final the previous season. Manchester City has two nominees, Rico Lewis and Savinho, and Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton is also on the final shortlist. Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is the favourite for the accolade, having had a record-breaking year at the age of 17. Yamal shone when Spain won Euro 2024 in the summer, winning the Young Player of the Tournament award and dominating the competition in as

According to Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic, Manchester United will be without Kobbie Mainoo for "a few weeks" due to an unspecified injury. The 19-year-old midfielder was substituted in the 3-0 home loss to Tottenham at the end of September, but he did play against Porto and Aston Villa. He did, however, withdraw from England's team for friendlies against Greece and Finland, and is now expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time. It is United's latest injury issue, after Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, and Leny Yoro have already been ruled out, and Noussair Mazraoui and Manuel Ugarte are uncertain for Saturday's game against Brentford. However, the Moroccan defender, along with Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho, trained on Thursday. After a dismal start to the season, Erik ten Hag will be under a lot of pressure when the Bees visit Old Trafford.

The powers that be at La Liga giants Barcelona are ready to compete with their counterparts at arch rivals Real Madrid for the signing of Alphonso Davies. That is according to Mundo Deportivo, which reported on Thursday on the latest happenings behind the scenes in Catalonia's capital. Left-back Davies' name has long been prominently featured in Spanish news. This comes amid widespread speculation that, as his contract with Bayern Munich expires next summer, the Canadian international has been identified as a top transfer target by the aforementioned Real Madrid. After acquiring Kylian Mbappé from Paris Saint-Germain this past summer, Los Blancos have been quietly attempting to sign their second high-profile free agent in as many months. However, as previously mentioned, Real will not have it all their own way in the Davies transfer drama if the most recent rumor from the media is any indication. This comes as Barcelona is after the gifted left-back as well. In accordance

Rumors that Ruben Amorim would follow Sporting Lisbon's football director Hugo Viana to Manchester City have been dispelled. Txiki Begiristain, who is set to depart the team at the end of the current campaign, will be replaced by Viana, the Premier League champions have agreed. Due to Viana's imminent arrival to the Etihad, there has been conjecture about other Portuguese imports, with Amorim being floated as Pep Guardiola's possible replacement. In 2020–21, the Portuguese coach brought Sporting's 19-year Primeira Liga title drought to an end, and last season, he added another championship. Guardiola's current deal with the Citizens expires in the summer, and there is no word on a possible extension. City aim to persuade Guardiola to return to the club, but may be obliged to hire a new coach at the conclusion of the season. However, Amorim has emphasized that Viana's relocation to England will have no bearing on his own destiny. "Hugo Viana and I have d

After the midfielder's ban for failing a drug test was lowered on appeal, Paul Pogba is scheduled to make his football comeback in March. The Court of Arbitration for Sport lowered Pogba's original four-year football suspension to 18 months, allowing the Frenchman to resume playing in the new year. Despite holding a contract with Juventus, rumors have it that the Italian team is negotiating a mutual termination after determining the 31-year-old is not part of their plans. A player like Pogba will be in great demand as a free agent, even with his prolonged absence from the game. Five possible locations for Paul Pogba have been examined. Real Madrid Pogba had already flirted with Real Madrid, and while that ship appears to have sailed, his availability and a vacancy in Carlo Ancelotti's midfield might lead to a transfer. Toni Kroos retired this summer, while Luka Modric turned 39 last month in what appears to be his final season at Real Madrid. Pogba possesses a creative e

As part of their continuous rebranding initiative, Ligue 1 has introduced their new trophy. After being disparaged as a "farmer's league," the French first division has made a concerted effort to change its reputation this season. NEW TROPHY! 🆕🏆 Additionally, the Hexagoal shield that was given to every champion from 2006–07 until the most recent season has finally been replaced. Which trophy do you like better, the new one or the old one? Tell us in the comments section.

Thomas Tuchel has been selected as the new head coach of the England national team, as the Three Lions prepare for a new era. Given his track record of success in several European leagues, the FA views his hiring as a coup. England has acquired a serial winner to coach a highly skilled squad in a time when the top managers favor club football. On January 1st, Tuchel will formally start working in preparation for 2026 World Cup qualification. Getting England over the finish line in a major tournament is the clear directive. Tuchel's hiring as England's third foreign coach will undoubtedly divide opinions, but his qualifications—rather than his passport—are what matter most. No English manager has won the Premier League, and England hasn't won a major tournament in 58 years and counting. In comparison, Germans have fared well on both fronts. But, what will Tuchel bring to England? A proven winner. Few managers on the market can match Tuchel's collection of accolades,

Throughout his tenure, Tuchel won league titles in France and Germany, led Chelsea to their second Champions League victory in 2021, and won six domestic cups. The former Chelsea player replaces current interim manager Lee Carsley, who will return to his position as U21 manager, marking his maiden foray into international management. Last Monday, Tuchel agreed to a deal that will start on January 1 and run for 18 months, ending after the 2026 World Cup. Anthony Barry, with whom he previously collaborated at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, will support him. "I am really happy to have been granted the opportunity to lead the England team. I've had a long-standing personal relationship to the game in this country, and it's already provided me with some fantastic moments," Tuchel said. England FA Statement:- We are pleased to announce that Thomas Tuchel, the winner of the UEFA Champions League, will take over as head coach of the senior men's team for England. Anthony B

It's almost certain that Thomas Tuchel will be the next manager of England. According to reports, the 51-year-old has reached an agreement to take over as manager of the Three Lions and guide them to the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup in North America, replacing Gareth Southgate. The Football Association had considered a number of well-known applicants, including Jurgen Klopp, Graham Potter, Eddie Howe, and Pep Guardiola of Manchester City. However, they focused on Tuchel this week, who hasn't had a job since leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the last campaign. While we wait for formal confirmation of the hiring, here is what we currently know. When will Tuchel be announced as England's manager? The FA could make an announcement about his appointment soon, and Tuchel is anticipated to be officially introduced during a press conference at midday on Wednesday. What are the details of Tuchel's contract? This has not yet been made public, but indications indicate that Tu

Giorgio Chiellini was a significant part in Italy's Euro 2020 victory, despite being involved in a controversial moment during the final when he probably should have been sent off for a foul on Bukayo Saka. The former defender, who is now retired and works for Juventus, is most known for a dramatic incident in the final in which he pulled Saka back as the Arsenal winger appeared to break free. Saka was heading towards goal and could have either scored or created a golden opportunity for a teammate. Nevertheless, Chiellini's foul simply earned England a free kick; the Italian defender did not receive a red card. Many England supporters still bring up the event whenever they see him because they think it was a blatant red card offence. That was one of the topics covered as the defender talked about his recent career. According to Juventus News24, he stated: "It's red, every Englishman I meet tells me." Only Arsenal's viewpoint England supporters are correct to

Piotr Zielinski, an Inter Milan midfielder, has disclosed that he could have joined Arsenal and other clubs if Napoli had agreed to transfer him. Zielinski, 30, joined Inter Milan as a free agent at the start of the season after spending nearly a decade with Napoli. During his time at Naples, some of England's premier clubs, notably Arsenal and Liverpool, expressed interest in signing the Poland international. Napoli refused to sell, and they would eventually lose him for nothing, but the midfielder has since spoken out about some of the moves he could have made, saying, as published by Goal.com: "Liverpool sent a private jet to Florence for me, and I flew with my agent, Bartlomiej Bolek; afterwards, we drove up to [Jurgen] Klopp's house and had a great conversation." This was the first time I'd flown like that. He said I reminded him of [Ilkay] Gundogan and [Cesc] Fabregas. "We watched a Premier League match at his house on his massive TV; I had never see

The second round of Nations League fixtures in October began on Sunday. Greece makes it four from four. Greece continued their unbeaten start to the Nations League campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ireland. Caoimhin Kelleher was the busier goalkeeper in a scoreless first half, stopping Giorgios Masouras, Vangelis Pavlidis, and Dimitris Giannoulis. But only three minutes after the restart, Anastasios Bakasetas broke the deadlock with a volleyed finish that deflected off Liam Scales. Deep into additional time, replacement Petros Manatolos took advantage of Kelleher's bad clearance before around the goalkeeper and blasting into an empty net. Heimir Hallgrímsson's team is now third in League B: Group 2, with their hosts leading England by three points.

Yunus Musah had a fantastic night, scoring his first goal for the United States against Panama in front of new manager Mauricio Pochettino on Saturday. The Milan man has been a fixture for the Stars and Stripes for some time, becoming only the second player in USMNT history to play over 3000 minutes before turning 22, joining U.S. Soccer star Landon Donovan in doing so. Despite the lengthy minutes, Musah's first international goal came after being switched to the right wing against Panama, a moment he cherishes. Musah was thrilled to have been given a new position by Pochettino and was ready to commend his manager for making the bold choice to change things up. "Pochettino? He is well-versed in my past, having attended Valencia and Arsenal's academy programs. Because of this, I played wide; I was a former wide player. "Having a coach who is well-versed in my background and who has a great deal of faith in me is fantastic. I simply have so much gratitude. Musah will

Julian Nagelsmann was asked if he could see himself keeping his job as the Germany coach beyond his current term at a press conference on Sunday. The sporting director of the German national team, Rudi Völler, stated in an interview with Die Welt that he hopes Julian Nagelsmann will continue as head coach after the World Cup in 2026, when his present contract ends. "We'll make an effort to persuade Julian that continuing as coach for an additional few years makes sense. When the moment is right, we'll see. Naturally, the DFB is delighted to have Julian Nagelsmann," Völler stated. Nagelsmann "can only decide for himself" whether to continue after the World Cup, Völler added in an interview with Die Welt. "He's a young guy who might have ambitions to do something else." Nagelsmann responded to Völler's remarks at a press conference on Sunday evening, leaving everything open. "When you accept the position, you have a strong convict

When Lee Carsley leads England to Finland on Sunday, the team will aim to go back to winning ways. In advance of the Nations League match in Helsinki, the PA news agency examines five key discussion issues. Grieving about Greece's defeat His provisional rule began with 2-0 wins against the Republic of Ireland and Finland, but then things went wrong when England suffered their first-ever defeat to Greece. In a well-earned 2-1 loss, Carsley's team performed poorly both inside and outside the ball, dropping them three points behind Thursday's visitors to Wembley in the Group B2 rankings. England cannot afford to let the gap between meaningless Finland - the lowest-ranked team in the group - widen before November's crucial trip to Athens. Carsley's decision to deploy five attackers without an out-and-out striker backfired against Greece, leaving England rudderless without the ball and ineffective with it, resulting in an awful overall performance. The interim manage

According to reports, the FA has found their "dream" manager to lead England, but they haven't yet had interviews with any of the front-runners. Following their loss to Spain in the 2024 Euro final, Gareth Southgate resigned as head coach of the Three Lions, leaving them without a permanent replacement. In the interim, U21 manager Lee Carsley is in charge of the team while the Association looks for a replacement for the position. The vacant has been connected to a number of well-known figures, including Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter. Both of the previous Chelsea managers are unemployed and probably available for interviews. Eddie Howe is another name on the FA's shortlist, although the Newcastle United manager is thought to have no interest in taking the post and is content at St James' Park. His release clause is apparently set at £6 million, which may beyond the sporting body's willingness to pay. According to The Telegraph, Manchester City manager Pep G

In their London derby on Saturday, Mayra Ramirez and Sandy Baltimore each scored two goals in the first half to help Chelsea defeat Arsenal. Both of these teams had somewhat contrasting campaign starts going into this match against Emirates. After defeating Barcelona in the Champions League, Chelsea was victorious, while Arsenal was humiliated against Bayern Munich and occupying the mid-table spot in the WSL after just one victory. And things only got worse for the Gunners as Chelsea took an early lead thanks to a goal from Mayra Ramirez in the fourth minute. Shortly after, Sandy Baltimore headed in at the back post to give the west London team a two-goal lead. However, just before halftime, the hosts equalized through Caitlin Foord, who finished from the most unexpected of angles. As Arsenal pressed for an equalizer in the second half, gaps appeared in their defense. Lauren James took advantage of the space around the hour mark, believing she had a penalty after a lunge from Lotte

Cristiano Ronaldo continued to build on his football legacy in Portugal's match against Poland. Roberto Martínez's Seleçao leads 2-0 at half-time in their UEFA Nations League A Group 1 match against the hosts at Stadion Narodowy, thanks to their star player. Ronaldo extended his team's lead eleven minutes later, after Manchester City's Bernardo Silva had already scored. Goals: 906 — Cristiano Ronaldo 906 — Maradona and Ibrahimović combined The Al-Nassr front man scored a close-range rebound after Rafael Leão's rocket was blocked by Bologna's Łukasz Skorupski. Ronaldo, 39, has scored 33 goals for club and country this year, bringing his total to 906, which is equal to Diego Maradona and Zlatan Ibrahimović combined. Aging like a good wine.

The 25-year-old Kylian Mbappé is in the middle of a maelstrom. For the current international break, Les Bleus did not include the captain of France in their roster. It followed a thigh injury that was originally expected to keep him out of action for the duration of the international break. He did, however, recuperate in time to play Lille OSC in the UEFA Champions League the night before Didier Deschamps announced his starting lineup. Mbappé was not included in the squad despite his rehabilitation, citing his recuperation from an injury. When he started for Real Madrid against Villarreal in their last game before the international break, that argument, however, lost credibility. Mbappé is photographed in Sweden during a France match. Both Deschamps and FFF President Philippe Diallo have downplayed the controversy surrounding Mbappé's absence. Both have claimed that the choice was made after consulting with the former Paris Saint-Germain forward and with player welfare in mind. W

Manchester United will be momentarily without the abilities of summer acquisition Noussair Mazraoui. On Thursday, conflicting sources suggested that the Morocco international had heart palpitations and was anticipated to be sidelined for the long term. According to an update from Manchester Evening News chief correspondent Samuel Luckhurst, the 26-year-old underwent a little preventive corrective operation and recovered completely. The fact that Manchester United views it as a “relatively common condition” and that the player should make a full recovery gives them hope. The Premier League team anticipates Mazraoui's comeback to action in the upcoming weeks, according to MEN. Concerning the player's situation, Manchester United has not yet released a statement. Under Erik ten Hag, the former star of Ajax and Bayern Munich has made ten appearances this season in all competitions.

After the departure of Sergio Busquets in 2023, Barcelona has been eager to acquire a superior defensive midfield player. Since they couldn't afford one right away, Oriol Romeu was brought in from Girona; but, by the time he returned to Montilivi in 2024, no one had been signed. The situation might ultimately be adequately handled if Barcelona does, in fact, return to La Liga's 1:1 rule prior to the start of the 2025 transfer window or windows. Joshua Kimmich would undoubtedly be a top contender if that turns out to be the case, not only because he has experience playing for Hansi Flick but also because he is expected to be a free agent at the end of the current campaign. Kimmich's contract with Bayern Munich ends on June 30th. Negotiations have not been fruitful thus far, but Bild (via CaughtOffside) reports that he is set to sign a contract renewal later this season. Kimmich would be a tremendous addition to Barcelona's squad, even more so than he would have been h

The Three Lions' Thursday loss to Greece at Wembley was a blow for Lee Carsley, who is currently serving as interim manager of England. With their first-ever victory over England at the tenth attempt, the visitors maintained their flawless start to the UEFA Nations League campaign. The outcome is a step backward for England as the Three Lions attempt to advance in the post-Gareth Southgate era, despite positive signals during September's camp. Cavalier Carsley was chastised. Prior to the match, Lee Carsley made waves with his team selection, starting England in an avant-garde formation full with attacking talent. Despite the lack of a designated center-forward in the starting lineup, the inclusion of Jude Bellingham, Bukayo Saka, Anthony Gordon, Cole Palmer, and Phil Foden in the same lineup excited the anti-Southgate crowd, as the former manager was frequently criticized for his practicality. Carsley sent the wrong statement, if that was what he meant to send. With the failu

Four more games in South America took place on Thursday night as part of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers. This is what transpired. Brazil scored a late victory in Chile thanks to two less well-known strikers from Botafogo, who might perhaps save their qualification campaign. Eduardo Vargas gave Chile the lead after just two minutes, shocking the visiting team. It was a nightmare start for a Brazil team who needed some positive feelings to start the game. Brazil answered with lots of chances but failed to create any significant scoring opportunities, as has been the case for the majority of their qualifying campaign. However, in the final seconds of the half, a young player had a significant impact. Four more games in South America took place on Thursday night as part of the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifiers. This is what transpired. Brazil scored a late victory in Chile thanks to two less well-known strikers from Botafogo, who might perhaps save their qualification campaign. Eduardo

When you see the star-studded Brazilian team that includes players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and others, Igor Jesus is not the first person that comes to mind. However, the young player had a significant impact on his country's game against Chile this evening, which was his first start. The Botafogo attacker has been making an impression for his team and was selected for an unexpected opening start against Chile in a World Cup qualifier. Recently, Dorival Júnior's team has had a terrible run, winning just three of their first nine qualifying matches, which has caused serious concerns across the country. And in less than two minutes on Thursday night, they were behind 1-0. However, Igor Jesus would save their bacon in the last seconds of the first half, leveling the score in his debut with an incredible flicked header. The Brazilian national team hadn't had a goal from Botafogo since Bebeto in 1998, so the 23-year-old's goal created history. Luiz Henrique, who c

Given that Bukayo Saka has been a constant in his starting lineup this season, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has acknowledged that he may give the winger a rest in next games. Saka's efforts have been vital to Arsenal's success, helping them get off to a solid start and maintain their position close to the top of the Premier League standings. Saka has been in outstanding form. Saka's ongoing success has been a major contributor to the Gunners' victories as they look to contend for the Premier League crown once more this season. In addition, he has been shattering and creating records, which has further cemented his place among the team's most crucial players. But some supporters are starting to worry that Saka might be overworked, which means he needs to take some time off to prevent burnout or injury. Although giving him a break would be a wise long-term move, supporters may become a little nervous because of how much Arsenal has profited from his reliable play. When

In their 3-2 loss to Brighton, Ange Postecoglou criticized Tottenham for their "unacceptable" second-half  `performance and acknowledged that it was the worst loss of his time with the team. Before halftime at Amex Stadium, goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison put the Spurs ahead 2-0 and set them up for a sixth straight win in all competitions. Johnson now had six goals in as many games, but the Seagulls had a complete turnaround after the break when Yankuba Minteh cut the deficit in the 48th minute. After 66 minutes, former Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck completed the comeback by heading home the game-winning goal, after 10 minutes of excellent play by the remarkable Georginio Rutter. Tottenham was second best and appeared to be a shadow of the club that had come into this match following impressive victories away at Ferencvaros and Manchester United. However, they had put on a commanding first half performance. In retrospect, Postecoglou said after his 51st gam