Bale baffled by UEFA award snub

Filippo Inzaghi was pleased with his Milan side s determined performance as they came from behind to draw 2-2 with Sampdoria on Saturday.

Milan travelled to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on the back of a three-match winless streak, including last week s home loss to Palermo, but they took the lead early on in Genoa through Stephan El Shaarawy s first Serie A goal since February 2013.

Sampdoria equalised on the stroke of half-time through Stefano Okaka before Eder gave them the the lead soon after the restart.

However, Jeremy Menez restored parity from the penalty spot in the 65th minute, although captain Daniele Bonera s dismissal late in the game for a second yellow card did take the shine off a valuable point for the visitors.

Nevertheless, Inzaghi was deli…

Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is seemingly already under-pressure at White Hart Lane

Every day there seems to be somebody coming out with their opinion, defence, or criticism of Tottenham, so today is my turn.

Spurs keeper Hugo Lloris has revealed that he does not believe that boss Mauricio Pochettino is to blame for the team’s poor campaign so far.

Boss

Lloris told L’Equipe: I do not blame him (Pochettino). I trust the coaching staff and the current head coach.

When it s the third coach in a year and there are problems, the coach is not necessarily the problem. Nevertheless, we are working and trying to find answers.

Mauricio Pochettino was a major hit in his time at Southampton and won seemingly universal acclaim from experts…

Central Coast coach Graham Arnold says the A-League s leading scorer Daniel McBreen has done enough to earn a new contract with the side.

The striker scored again in a 1-1 draw at Wellington on Saturday to keep himself as the surprise leader of the competition s scoring charts, extending his lead over Phoenix marksman Jeremy Brockie.

The well-travelled veteran joined the Gosford outfit in 2011 with expectations of filling in behind youthful front men Tomas Rogic and Bernie Ibini.

And his supporting role in last year s minor premiership looked to be the limit of his endeavours.

However, he has enjoyed a new lease on life in 2012/13, with 10 goals in as many starts securing a regular berth in Arnold s first XI.

And the Mariners supremo is expecting…

West Ham v Swansea – Sunday 7th December, 1330. Live on Sky Sports 1

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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is at last able to enjoy the fruits of his players labours in front of goal in a season which is fast becoming an enjoyable one for all connected with the Upton Park club.

The Hammers have roared up the Premier League table and home advantage should see that continue against Swansea.

The London club have a better shots-per-game average than their visitors and Allardyce will look for that to continue against Garry Monk s side.

One of the chief arch…

Dutch international defender Khalid Boulahrouz is set to join Bundesliga outfit VfB Stuttgart, Chelsea announced on Monday.

An undisclosed transfer fee has been agreed for the 26-year-old, who joined Chelsea in 2006 but spent last season on loan at Sevilla, the club said.

We would like to thank Khalid for his contribution while he was at Chelsea FC and we would like to wish him luck at his new club, said a brief statement on Chelsea s website.

Boulahrouz earned the nickname Cannibal at former club Hamburg for his uncompromising style.

Last month he was hit by the death of his premature baby daughter, prompting the Netherlands to wear black armbands during their Euro 2008 quarter-final against Russia.

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Corinne Diacre was sacked as France head coach on Thursday after a player revolt highlighted irreversible dysfunctions ahead of the Women s World Cup.

The French Football Federation (FFF) said its executive committee determined a fracture between Diacre and senior players had reached a point of no return which harms the interests of the national team .

It follows captain Wendie Renard last month announcing she would not play at the World Cup under Diacre s leadership, with forwards Kadidiatou Diani and Marie-Antoinette Katoto following suit by putting their own international careers on hold. All three issued forceful statements on social media before effectively going on strike from the team.

Diacre came out fighting on Wednesday when she accused her detractors o…

Paul Pogba joined Kevin De Bruyne and Leroy Sane on nine assists for the Premier League season on Monday, the Manchester United midfielder demonstrating his importance despite being hampered by injury and suspension.

Pogba set up Antonio Valencia and Anthony Martial for United s two first-half goals in a 3-0 win at home to Stoke City, and in doing so the Frenchman became one of the three most productive players in the league in 2017-18.

That is despite the former Juventus star having only played in 13 league matches due to a hamstring problem that sidelined him for seven games and the three-match ban he incurred after being sent off against Arsenal.

De Bruyne has started all 23 of City s Premier League matches this term, while Sane has made 21 league appearances…

The January transfer window remains wide open but it’s fair to say that we already got more than we bargained for.

Philippe Coutinho leaving Liverpool for Barcelona was the first mouthwatering piece of the winter, although the Reds did well to respond with a high-value move for former Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk.

And as we wait for another wrinkle in the pond – read Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Arsenal – here is a look at arguably most significant transfer (in the Premier League) this January.

Sanchez–Mkhitaryan Swap

 Manchester United have made a huge statement of intent by aligning Alexis Sanchez from Arsenal, who ‘somewhat surprisingly’ rejected the expected move to Manchester City in favour of an Old Trafford switch.

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The LA Galaxy claimed their first home victory in more than two months, edging the Portland Timbers 1-0 in California on Sunday afternoon.

Having not secured a win at The Home Depot Center since accounting for Portland 3-0 in April, the Galaxy were determined to reward their supporters and they did.

A 62nd minute goal from defender Todd Dunivant, his first since hitting the target in Seattle on May 8th 2010, also handed the Galaxy their first clean sheet of the season.

Veteran David Beckham whipped in a corner and Dunivant headed home in front of the Timbers away contingent.

In Chicago, the Fire ended their run of two successive defeats with a 2-1 win over the New York Red Bulls at Toyota Park.

Chicago went into the interval one goal ahead courte…

Joao Moutinho believes Paulo Bento is the right man to lead Portugal to Euro 2012 glory.

Bento, 43, has successfully guided his country through the Group of Death in Poland and Ukraine, beating 2010 FIFA World Cup finalists Netherlands and Denmark on their way to the quarter-finals.

Portugal midfielder Moutinho, who played under Bento at Sporting Lisbon, said the 43-year-old has stamped his mark on the squad, and claimed all the players have been receptive to the coach s ideas since he took charge in 2010.

Of course I believe that Paulo Bento can guide us to success, Moutinho told TVI.

It is great to have a coach like him. He is doing a great job. I have known him for years.

His name is written all over this team. Ever since day one, he has tr…