England trio pull out of friendly

Paul Pogba was dropped from the Manchester United starting line-up for Tuesday s crucial Champions League clash with RB Leipzig.

The midfielder started the 3-1 Premier League win at West Ham on Saturday, scoring his side s first goal as they came from behind to take all three points at London Stadium.

However, Pogba was left out of the team for the trip to the Bundesliga side just a day after his agent, Mino Raiola, claimed he is unhappy at United and should be sold in the next transfer window.

The outspoken Raiola told Turin-based newspaper Tuttosport that Pogba could return to Juventus as he needs a change of air .

The France international, whose season has been impacted by injury and struggles with coronavirus, has made 13 appearances in all competitio…

Brazil captain Thiago Silva believes he and his fellow defenders will be ready for Mexico s dangerous attack on Tuesday.

Mexico stunned Brazil in the 2012 Olympic final, winning 2-1 thanks to a brace from Oribe Peralta and Silva, who also skippered his country in London, is well aware of the Central American nation s quality.

Brazil take on Mexico in Fortaleza on Tuesday, with both sides knowing that a win would put them firmly in control of Group A at the FIFA World Cup.

And while the hosts will be overwhelming favourites to follow up their 3-1 win over Croatia last week with another victory, Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Silva is wary of Mexico s attacking threat after Peralta and Giovani dos Santos looked in good form in their 1-0 success over Cameroon.

The…

Manchester United left-back Alexander Buttner has agreed to join Russian Premier League side Dynamo Moscow, according to the club s official website, .

Since arriving at Old Trafford from Vitesse on a five-year deal in August 2012, the former Holland youth international has scored two goals in 28 appearances in all competitions for the Red Devils.

Buttner was destined for another bench-ridden campaign in 2014/15 following Patrice Evra putting pen to paper on a new one-year contract earlier this summer.

As a result, the former Holland youth international, 25, has decided to take his talents to the Russian capital, and understandably so.

I want to play in the Champions League and win trophies, Buttner said.

  Dynamo have a very s…

Germany striker Mario Gomez was both goal scorer and provider as VfB Stuttgart came from behind to beat Karlsruhe 3-1 at home on Sunday to go third in the Bundesliga as Schalke 04 finish the weekend top of the table.

The shock of the weekend was defending champions Bayern Munich s 5-2 defeat at home to Werder Bremen on Saturday their first league defeat of the season which saw the German giants drop from second to eighth.

Gomez led Stuttgart s recovery after they fell behind when Karlsruhe striker Sebastian Freis had a free header in the penalty area on eight minutes.

Gomez, who is rediscovering his form after a poor Euro 2008, set up the equaliser for midfielder Sami Khedira on 22 minutes and then put his side ahead on 68 minutes to claim his third goal in f…

Market: Dynamo Dresden win

Odds: 21/20 @

Looking to extend on their recent third-tier flurry on Monday night, Dynamo Dresden will make the trip to a struggling Ingolstadt.

Starting with the hosts, putting in another nightmare display last time out as they eventually fell to an action-packed 3-2 loss away at Mannheim, Guerino Capretti s men are enduring an extended blip. Only continuing to freefall down the Bundesliga 3 standings, the Bavaria-based outfit have now lost each of their last three straight appearances. Likewise, along with putting just a single point on their board since back on February 18th, the one-time Dynamo Dresden boss has seen his side show some rather glaring defensive issues. In fact, on a run that is highlighted by a 4-1 drumming at the ha…

Zlatan Ibrahimovic could make a sensational return to international football at the World Cup after admitting he misses playing for Sweden.

Ibrahimovic announced his retirement from the national team after Euro 2016, when he failed to score in any of Sweden s three group games as they made an early exit.

The 36-year-old moved to Manchester United weeks later and enjoyed a profitable first campaign at Old Trafford with 28 goals in all competitions.

However, his season ended prematurely after sustaining a knee injury in the Europa League.

Ibrahimovic vowed to return and, after signing a new deal at United, he was back in action in November, although he has been a more peripheral figure this season.

Further problems with his knee have limited him t…

Bundesliga side Schalke 04 are keen on signing the Juventus loanee Marko Pjaca on a permanent deal this summer, German media are reporting.

The Croatia international’s loan spell is set to end at the end of the season but he’s done more than enough to prove his worth to the German side who are happy to keep him past the expiration point.

Pjaca managed only five Bundesliga appearances for Schalke this season but he scored two goals for his club, including a match winner in a 1-0 triumph over Hertha Berlin last time out.

The 22-year-old was shipped out to Germany to get back to full fitness following a serious injury which prevented him from showing his worth at Juventus where he only made 14 Serie A appearances since his arrival from Dinamo Zagreb ahead of th…

Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund have confirmed they have received a number of enquires from clubs interested in star forward Robert Lewandowski.

The Polish international has established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in Europe and he was paired with a number of high-profile sides this summer.

Borussia Dortmund chiefs have been adamant they are not interested in selling the player and they have yet to change the stance.

However, club sporting director Michael Zorc has revealed several clubs have made official enquires about Lewandowski.

There have been enquiries from several clubs, Zorc was quoted as saying in Bild. Our position has not changed since March, Lewandowski still plays at Dortmund.

The 24-year-old joined Borussia…

Best Odds: 4/7

Bookmaker:

With a spot in the semi-final of this year s EFL Cup up for grabs on Tuesday night, Manchester City will make the trip to a struggling Arsenal in midweek.

Arsenal

Starting with the hosts, while Mikel Arteta might have praised his side s display away at Goodison Park over the weekend, it was another evening to forget for the Gunners. Firmly finding themselves at the heart of a growing crisis, the North London outfit were hit with a 2-1 defeat against Everton on Saturday and the pressure is firmly on Arteta s shoulders. Remarkably looking over their shoulder at the drop zone and managing to collect just 14 Premier League points since opening the 2020/2021 campaign, Pep Guardiola s former right-hand man finds his squad enduring their wors…

While Liverpool might open Christmas Day sitting at the top of the Premier League table, there is no doubt that fans around Anfield would have been concerned by Mohamed Salah s recent comments about his future on Merseyside.

Despite coming off the bench and bagging himself a brace in the Reds stunning 7-0 romp away at Crystal Palace over the weekend, the Egyptian ace is rumoured to be eyeing a potential move away from the Premier League.

gave an exclusive interview to Madrid-based newspaper AS at the weekend in which he expressed his admiration for both Real Madrid and Barcelona, fuelling speculation around his long-term future.

Also admitting that he was disappointed to have not been named captain against Midtjylland on Champions League duties, Salah has score…