From a ban for drug use in 2016 to an enduring strike partnership with Baghdad Bounedjah, destiny appears to be on the side of Djamel Belmadi’s unheralded mavericksIn March 2016 a shot at the Africa Cup of Nations title was the last of Youcef Belaili’s…
Within months of the earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands, the Nadeshiko let a grieving nation take leave of its senses for just a moment“We ran and ran,” the Japan captain Homare Sawa said. “We were exhausted, but we kept running.” Japan’s foo…
Today’s tittle tattle is hanging on until Doomsday Here’s some grim news for anyone who fancies a quiet life. Newcastle’s slow-burning takeover saga could be about to conclude, with the Dubai-based billionaire Sheikh Khaled bin Zayed Al Nehayan reporte…
• City winger has ‘no doubts about my quality’• ‘I knew it wouldn’t be easy in my first season’Riyad Mahrez had no doubt he would take his chance to fire Manchester City towards the Premier League title after his unexpected selection at Brighton on Sun…
The chairman, Tony Bloom, was alarmed at a loss of form that plunged the club into the Premier League relegation dogfightChris Hughton has rarely been tempted to overplay his hand and, speaking to a small huddle of journalists at the end of December, h…
From the age-old shirt removal debate to an expansion of goalline technology, via a cap on clubs’ total playing staffWelcome to theguardian.com review of the 2018-19 Premier League season. We have nominated some contenders for this category but this is…
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!If somebody hasn’t already bulk-ordered a few thousand “VINNY DON’T SHOOT” t-shirts for Sunday, or whenever Manchester City arrange their open-top bus parade, then consider this a helpful reminder and …
Today’s rumours need a strawberryRemember when Manchester United trumpeted the £36m – rising to £58.8m – signing of Anthony Martial in 2015? It made the forward, then 19, Britain’s most expensive teenage player and it seemed the start of a bright new d…
Live updates from the John Smith’s Stadium, kick-off 2pm (BST)I will get realistic chance to revive Manchester United, says SolskjærFeel free to tweet Nick or email nick.ames@theguardian.com 1.57pm BST And the teams are out on the pitch here! It seems …
The 21-year-old Serbia striker is being chased by clubs such as Real Madrid and Liverpool as he prepares to face Chelsea in the Europa League semi-finalEintracht Frankfurt had just beaten Schalke 3-0 and, among the smiling faces inside Commerzbank Aren…
• Striker says team were not ‘mentally’ ready for West Ham game• Repeat performance risked Champions League semi-final defeatIt took most of Tottenham’s players over an hour to leave the dressing room after falling to West Ham but, when he finally emer…
• Arsenal were beaten 3-1 at Wolves on Wednesday• Team have lost for third time in four league gamesSokratis Papastathopoulos says Arsenal’s players are “not stupid” and must be accountable for a run of performances that threaten to end their hopes of …
Anne Keothavong’s team lost in World Group play-offs in 2017 and 2018 but they host Kazakhstan at east London’s Copper Box Arena focused on victory and attracting a fresh audienceWhen Anne Keothavong was growing up in east London it was, at times, all …
Today’s rumours are in full blossomManchester United have big game at Barcelona tonight. You might have heard about that. And although they’re the underdogs they’re getting a bit confident, all this talk about 1999 and stuff, so is there anything to ha…
The former Arsenal midfielder was not surprised by Danny Rose’s exasperation at how football handles racism“You honestly wouldn’t want to know.” Emmanuel Frimpong laughs when asked how, now that playing football is no longer an option, he spends his da…
Minute-by-minute updates from the 8pm BST kick-offBenítez likens contract talks with Ashley to BrexitEmail your thoughts to Nick, or tweet him @NickAmes82 7.12pm BST Leicester: Schmeichel, Ricardo Pereira, Morgan, Maguire, Chilwell, Ndidi, Gray, Tielem…
Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!Being a key protagonist in today’s fast-moving media environment, the Fiver sometimes finds it hard to stop and pause for breath. In between dashing from one side of our cupboard to the other, it’s goo…
Slavia’s rise is tied to their social media-savvy chairman while the team’s talent threatens Chelsea’s Europa League hopesTo check Slavia Prague’s pulse just keep an eye on the Twitter feed of the club’s chairman. Jaroslav Tvrdik’s stream of consciousn…
The midfielder discusses his dream of reaching the Premier League and one day being able to represent Cuba as wellOnel Hernández cannot remember touching a football during the first six years of his life. He and his friends in Morón, a city in central …
England face guaranteed hostility in European Championship Qualifying match at Gradski Stadion where Wayne Rooney was sent off in 2011Gradski Stadion is one of Europe’s less accommodating venues for international football. Only around 15,000 will cram …
