New Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov has refused to dismiss the hosts chances of winning the World Cup in 2018, but knows the task is enormous.
Cherchesov took over the national team this month following the departure of Leonid Slutsky, who oversaw a miserable Euro 2016 campaign.
Russia have qualified for the next FIFA showpiece automatically, meaning Cherchesov will have only friendly matches with which to rebuild a side that has not progressed beyond the group stage of a major tournament since reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2008.
However, the former national team goalkeeper will not discount the unlikely prospect of mounting a meaningful challenge on home soil.
By nature, I m an all-or-nothing person, he told the FIFA website.
The Olympic …
In what was a thrilling affair from Prague on Wednesday night, West Ham were crowned Europa Conference League champions as they clinched a famous 2-1 victory against Fiorentina.
Getting their hands on a first piece of silverware since their FA Cup success in 1980, David Moyes’ men had to put in a gritty display as they soaked up a huge amount of pressure during the first-half.
Nevertheless, with Said Benrahma powering home from the penalty spot just after the hour mark, it appears that the Hammers were on course to lift a first European trophy in over five decades.
However, while Moyes’ side might have been backed by a vocal support in Prague, Fiorentina almost immediately dragged themselves level as Giacomo Bonaventura produced a smart finish just five minu…
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Napoli and Ajax will face each other in the UEFA Champions League this week. The Group A match will held at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples and is scheduled to kick off at 5:45pm UK time on Wednesday.
Napoli
Napoli are doing extremely well in the UEFA Champions League at the moment and look set to move to the next round of Europe’s premier club competition this season. The Serie A outfit are at the top of Group A at the moment with nine points from three matches, three points ahead of second-placed Liverpool.
Luciano Spalletti’s side hammered Ajax 6-1 away from home in Amsterdam in the UEFA Champions League last week. Last month, Napoli got the better of Rangers 3-0 away from ho…
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was overjoyed to see how much Granit Xhaka s relationship with the fans has improved after his starring role in Saturday s defeat of Manchester United.
Xhaka got Arsenal s third goal at Emirates Stadium, drilling in from long range to put the game beyond the Red Devils.
United had previously threatened to wipe out Arsenal s lead, which had been 2-0 in the first half before Cristiano Ronaldo s well-taken goal.
But Xhaka s strike dulled United s momentum, and the Switzerland international enjoyed a rapturous ovation when he was withdrawn towards the end of the Gunners 3-1 win.
It marked a significant change in fortunes for Xhaka from when he routinely seemed to be at odds with the fans, revealing recently in an article for the …
Bradley Wright-Phillips believes football in North America can become “unstoppable” on the back of Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami and the 2026 World Cup.
It is a decade since the former Manchester City and Southampton striker swapped English football for Major League Soccer to join New York Red Bulls.
Wright-Phillips last year retired in sixth on the MLS all-time goals list having enjoyed a ringside seat to the sport’s growth in North America and says the best is yet to come.
Having signed an eye-catching broadcasting deal with Apple in 2022, further developments will be fuelled by Messi’s move to Miami and the World Cup being hosted in the USA, Canada and Mexico in three years’ time.
The is coming. Millions of MLS fans all over the world …
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is in agreement with Roy Keane that striker Harry Kane could boost any rival club.
Speaking after Manchester United s 1-1 draw with Liverpool last weekend, Keane urged his former side to sign Kane next year to resolve their goalscoring issues.
The England international has scored 127 Premier League goals since the start of 2014-15, twice finishing as the division s top scorer.
Keane suggested bringing in the prolific Tottenham forward would be a simple solution for United, who have failed to score more than once in a game since the opening weekend of the season.
A great win and something to build on.
— Harry Kane (@HKane)
Pochettino has heaped further praise on Kane in response to Keane s comments,…
Manchester City s David Silva has not been surprised by the positive impact Frank Lampard has had at Chelsea since taking over as head coach.
Chelsea face defending Premier League champions City at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, and head into the fixture a point and a place ahead of Pep Guardiola s side.
While City lost 3-1 to leaders Liverpool last time out, Chelsea have won their past six Premier League outings.
Silva played alongside Lampard at City in 2014-15 after the former England midfielder ended a 13-year playing stint at Chelsea and says he could spot the managerial potential immediately.
I could see a manager in him when he was here. He was an incredible player, a world-class player, said Silva, who will bring his City career to an end after …
Argentina are on the hunt for a new coach after sacking Edgardo Bauza on Monday.
Bauza coaxed Lionel Messi out of international retirement after taking the helm in the wake of the Copa America Centenario final defeat to Chile but has lasted less than nine months in the job.
A 2-0 defeat – without the suspended Messi – away at Bolivia in World Cup qualifying last month left Argentina outside of the automatic spots for a place in Russia.
The result piled the pressure on Bauza, who managed just three wins in his eight games in charge.
Automatic qualification for the 2018 World Cup remains a distinct possibility for Argentina, but who will the Argentine Football Association (AFA) entrust with the job?
Jorge Sampaoli
Although it …
France will target Zinedine Zidane to replace Didier Deschamps when the World Cup-winning coach departs, FFF president Noel Le Graet revealed.
Real Madrid head coach Zidane has been linked with the France post previously, but he returned to the Santiago Bernabeu last year.
Meanwhile, Deschamps, in charge of the national team since 2012, last month signed a contract extension to stay in his role through to the 2022 World Cup.
The France boss has championed his former team-mate as a future coach of Les Bleus, though, and chief Le Graet is also keen.
The day Didier decides to leave or his contract is not renewed, if Zidane is available at that time, he will be the man for the job, Le Graet told Canal+.
1 Zinedine Zidane has become the first French m…
Paris Saint-Germain 1 Manchester United 3 (3-3 agg): Last-gasp Rashford penalty secures historic com
Manchester United made Champions League history as Marcus Rashford s last-gasp penalty secured a 3-1 win away to Paris Saint-Germain, sending the English side through on away goals after a 2-0 loss in the first leg.
No side had ever progressed in a knockout match in Europe s elite competition after losing a home first leg by two or more goals, but United did the unthinkable, Rashford adding to Romelu Lukaku s brace after VAR drama.
Although PSG controlled the first half, seeing 76 per cent of the ball, Thilo Kehrer and Gianluigi Buffon were guilty of gifting the in-form Lukaku two goals either side of Juan Bernat s equaliser, meaning United led at the break.
PSG looked as though they had done enough, but with the use of technology, Presnel Kimpembe was penalise…