Neymar has slammed critics of him following Paris Saint-Germain s hard-fought 2-1 win over French champions Lille in Ligue 1 on Friday.
The Brazilian had a disappointing first half in PSG s come-from-behind win, playing a key role in the second half including providing the assist for Angel Di Maria s 88th-minute winner.
Neymar has not scored for PSG since netting from the penalty spot in a 2-1 win over Olympique Lyon on September 20, his only club goal of the 2021-22 season, prompting some criticism.
The critics are normal. I ve been playing football for 15 years, I don t care, Neymar told Amazon after the game.
The most important critic is me. I know what I m doing on the field for my team.
Out there they don t know what s going on, what we re…
Italy are in the hunt for two national records on Saturday, as they aim to overcome Austria in the Euro 2020 round of 16 at Wembley.
The Azzurri flew through the group stages, scoring seven goals – the most they have scored across their first three games of a major tournament since 1998 – in victories over Turkey, Switzerland and Wales.
Roberto Mancini s team have won 11 games in a row without conceding a goal. Their clean sheet streak has lasted 17 hours and 35 minutes since Donny van de Beek scored for the Netherlands in October 2020.
One more clean sheet will see them equal their record for consecutive games without conceding (12), set between 1972 and 1974, while also surpassing the previous total of minutes (1,143) without letting a goal in.
The…
England manager Fabio Capello says he could never join Inter because of his close links with Milan, Juventus and Roma.
The 65-year-old has represented all three Serie A giants as a player and a coach during his lengthy career spanning more than 47 years.
Capello was linked to the Inter coaching job in the summer yet he decided to continue with the England national side.
There are clubs you are never able to join. I was 18 years old and Helenio Herrera asked Angelo Moratti to sign me (for Inter), but the president of my then club Spal said no, Capello told ANSA.
Other times we were close but it never quite reached a conclusion. There s nothing we can do. It feels like hitting the post from point-blank range, as you know it s going to go in. I m like tha…
Porto FC are looking to sell forward Cristian Rodriguez in January, according to A Bola.
The 26-year-old winger has found his options severely limited under new boss Vitor Pereira, having started just a handful of games this season.
Porto paid €7 million for 70% of the player’s contract in 2008, but they are now willing to sell him for just a portion of that amount.
The Dragons are looking to trim down the squad in January and they reportedly want €3 million for the Uruguayan.
Rodriguez should have no problems finding a new club as sides from Turkey, Russia and Greece have shown interest in his services.
…
The Peruvian Primera Division final will go to a third leg after Sporting Cristal and Juan Aurich played out a goalless draw.
Juan Aurich had fought back for a 2-2 draw at home in the first leg, scoring twice in the last five minutes, but neither they nor Cristal could find the win that would have secured the title on Wednesday.
The Peruvian top flight does not use aggregate scores or away goals to decide their finals, so after two draws a third leg will be required, which will go to extra time or penalties if needed.
Juan Aurich will host Sporting Cristal in the third leg on Sunday.
Cristal, who won the Clausura, are looking for their first overall championship since 2012, while Juan Aurich the Apertura champions last won the Primera Division in 2011.
Ray Wilkins has called upon seven players from Al Wehdat as he looks to steer Jordan to Asian Cup glory.
The Englishman was named as head coach of the Jordan national team in September and he will look to mastermind a first ever continental title for the nation.
And the 58-year-old, formerly manager of QPR and Fulham, has selected heavily from Jordanian champions Al Wehdat in his 23-man squad.
Rajaei Ayed Fadel Hasan, Sameer Raja Suleiman, Mahmoud Zatara, Monther Abu Amara, Saleh Ibrahim and Ahmad Elias Ahmad Ali are among those to be selected from Al Wehdat.
Goalkeeper Amer Shafi rounds off the seven, and he joins the likes of Al Salmiya s Odai Al Saify and Ahmad Hayel of Al Arabi in having previous Asian Cup experience.
Wilkins is charged with t…
Feyenoord have revealed that the local government in Naples has banned their supporters from attending the upcoming Champions League game against Napoli on September 26.
Reports began to emerge last month that tickets for the Group F clash would not be made available to visiting fans, and those restrictions were confirmed by the Dutch champions on Monday.
A statement from the Province of Naples government stated concerns regarding clashes between rival supporters was behind their decision.
Those concerns are reportedly due to the trouble between fans of Feyenoord and Roma in the 2015 Europa League, when there was a reported €1million worth of permanent damage to the 500-year-old Barcaccia fountain in the Italian capital.
Due to the ruling, Feyenoord w…
AC Milan have secured the futures of Colombian central defenders Cristian Zapata and Jherson Vergara after both players signed contracts keeping them at the club until 2019.
Zapata, who made 16 appearances in a frustrating 2015-16 season for the Rossoneri, joined Milan for €6million in 2012, and has become a popular figure at San Siro.
Milan announced the news of Zapata s contract extension during Copa America, where the 29-year-old is on international duty for Colombia and scored after just eight minutes of a 2-0 victory over United States.
Compatriot Vergara was not named in Colombia s squad for the tournament and has yet to make an appearance for Milan since his arrival from Universitario Popayan in 2013.
The 22-year-old played 22 times for Livorno …
Juventus star Miralem Pjanic said Paris Saint-Germain are a club where all players are ready to go amid links with the French champions.
Pjanic is contracted to Serie A holders Juventus until 2023 but the Bosnia-Herzegovina international has reportedly emerged as a transfer target for both PSG and Real Madrid.
The 29-year-old has scored four goals this season to help Juve claim their eighth successive Scudetto and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.
Asked about reported interest from Paris, former Metz and Lyon midfielder Pjanic told Canal+: PSG are among the best European clubs. In the Champions League, they want to take a step.
It s a club where all players are ready to go. This club is respected and there is a good chance of winning the Champi…
Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune have sacked Chris Coleman after 11 months at the helm.
Coleman, who took Wales to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, succeeded Manuel Pellegrini last June shortly after suffering relegation with Sunderland, but he has paid the price for a poor start to the 2019 campaign.
After finishing sixth in the division last term, Hebei have claimed just a single victory in nine CSL games, leaving them second from bottom in the 16-team league.
They have lost each of their past three games, including Saturday s 3-2 home defeat to Henan Jianye, when supporters held up a banner that read: Hello Mr. Coleman, please go home! You re fired!
The club s hierarchy have since decided a change of leadership is required.
A statement …