Italy boss Roberto Mancini has called up Atalanta s Matteo Pessina and Lazio midfielder Danilo Cataldi to his latest squad after losing Roma duo Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolo Zaniolo to injury.
The European champions face Switzerland and Northern Ireland in their final two qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup and currently sit top of Group C on goal difference, level on 14 points with the Swiss ahead of their crucial encounter in Rome on Friday.
Mancini, who is already without Marco Verratti due to a hip injury, confirmed earlier on Monday at a media conference that Pellegrini (knee) and Zaniolo (calf) will return to their club.
Zaniolo was a bit unlucky because he suffered two serious injuries. He is young and he has the qualities to get over it, he said.
Lorenzo Pellegrini and Romelu Lukaku steered Roma to a 2-0 win against nine-man Napoli in an ill-tempered Serie A clash at the Stadio Olimpico.
Matteo Politano saw red for Napoli shortly after the hour mark, with substitute Pellegrini putting the home side ahead 10 minutes later.
The visitors then lost Victor Osimhen after he was shown a second yellow card, with Lukaku sealing the win for Roma in the sixth minute of stoppage time. Roma move ahead of Napoli and into sixth place.
Both sides had a point to prove following recent disappointing defeats – Roma suffering a 2-0 loss at Bologna last weekend, while Napoli were dumped out of the Coppa Italia earlier this week following a 4-0 thrashing at home to Frosinone.
Following nine changes for their Coppa It…
James Maddison knows Leicester City s meeting with Everton could be a defining moment in the battle to avoid relegation from the Premier League, describing the six-pointer as massive .
Leicester and Everton are both in the relegation zone ahead of Monday s clash at the King Power Stadium, separated by just one point as they desperately scrap for survival.
The Foxes have experienced something of an upturn since Dean Smith took charge, beating Wolves and rescuing a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Leeds United in their last two games.
With just five matches remaining for the Foxes to save their season, Maddison hopes Smith s impact will prove decisive.
It s definitely given us a lift, Maddison said of Smith s arrival. When you have a new manager, it s a …
Russia kept injected life into their hopes of reaching the Euro 2020 knockout stages as they claimed a 1-0 win over Finland in Saint Petersburg.
Aleksey Miranchuk s exceptional finish saw Stanislav Cherchesov s side bounce back from a 3-0 defeat to Belgium on Saturday.
Miranchuk s 47th-minute goal came with the game s first shot on target – the longest wait for an effort on goal so far in Euro 2020 – and it set up an intriguing finish to Group B.
Both Russia and Finland remain in the running to reach the latter stages of the tournament having earned three points from their opening two fixtures.
A thrilling start saw Finland denied a well-worked opener by the linesman s flag, Joel Pohjanpalo having wandered just slightly offside before heading h…
A decade on from Robinho s British-record arrival at Manchester City, the Premier League club have regularly made waves in the transfer market.
The Brazil forward signed on the day the Abu Dhabi United group altered City s reality beyond all recognition. A 35-year trophy drought ended in 2011 and fans have revelled in three Premier League titles and four domestic cup triumphs.
However, it has not been all milk and honey, trophies and medals, Agueros and Silvas.
Trading with the backing of Sheikh Mansour s billions has not always prevented England s reigning champions from spectacularly missing the mark.
WAYNE BRIDGE
After Robinho was frantically bundled through the door the previous deadline day, January 2009 represented then-manager Mark Hughes…
Burnley boss Vincent Kompany has expressed his “immense joy” at seeing Lyle Foster back in action and enjoying the game.
The Clarets released a statement in November that said forward Foster was receiving specialist care for his mental health.
After an absence of eight matches in all competitions, the 23-year-old South Africa international made a comeback appearance on December 16 against Everton, and Saturday saw him score for the first time since that return, in the 3-2 loss at Aston Villa.
Kompany told a press conference: “(My feeling is) immense joy very specifically for Lyle Foster’s situation.
“We were dealing with a human tragedy really…such a good lad as well.
“To see him get back up, and just enjoying the game, not even the …
Raheem Sterling has praised the fantastic job done by Gareth Southgate in helping to change the perception of the England team, both with the national media and the supporters.
After a spell as interim boss, Southgate was appointed on a permanent basis in November 2016. Since then, he has steered England to a World Cup semi-final and the Euro 2020 final, where the Three Lions lost on penalties to Italy.
Sterling has been a key member of the squad during the current reign, having made his international debut under Rory Hodgson back in 2012.
I feel like when I first went into the camp, it was very much them versus us, the media versus the players, Sterling, who has won 70 international caps and scored 18 goals, said in an interview with Sky Sports.
When …
Frank Lampard has been appointed as Chelsea s new head coach, returning to the club where he enjoyed his best years as a player.
Lampard only ventured into management in 2018-19 but impressed with Derby County as he led the Rams to the Championship play-off final.
Derby went down 2-1 to Aston Villa at Wembley, but Lampard has nevertheless been handed a dream return to Stamford Bridge following Maurizio Sarri s move to Juventus.
To mark Lampard s move, we take a look at some of his finest moments in a Chelsea shirt.
39 Frank Lampard has scored against more different sides than any other player in the competition’s history (39). Celebration.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe)
SECURING CHELSEA S FIRST PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE
Lampard …
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Following their first triumph away to Brentford in the Premier League era at the weekend, Liverpool will be hosting Luton Town at Anfield on Wednesday evening as they strive to keep their place at the top of the Premier League table. The visitors come to Anfield on the back of a disappointing home defeat to Manchester United.
This game has been brought three days forward from the original schedule, due to Liverpool playing Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Liverpool
In the early kickoff against Brentford, Liverpool faced a trio of injuries in the first half, dampening the mood. However, the second half brought a more favorable turn of events for Jurgen Klopp s side at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Despite Dar…
Robbie Kruse scored his first A-League goal since 2011 to fire Melbourne Victory to a 1-0 win over Perth Glory that lifts them above their opponents into sixth.
Kruse, making his first start since rejoining the club in July after eight years away, tapped in from a few yards out with 33 minutes played for what proved to be the only goal of Friday s game at AAMI Park.
Neil Kilkenny went close with a long-range attempt, but Kruse soon found a way through up the other end after being teed up by Andrew Nabbout.
Glory had lost just one of their last 18 away league matches and nearly kept that record intact as Bruno Fornaroli rattled the post five minutes into the second half.
A good chance also came and went for Alex Grant, whose looping header skimmed the cr…