Cash-strapped Livingston relegated over financial woes

Iraq coach Bora Milutinovic has paid tribute to his players intelligence and expressed optimism that the Asian champions Confederations Cup run will continue beyond Saturday s game against New Zealand.

Iraq go into this last Group A tie knowing a decent win will see them sneak into the semi-finals on goal difference at the expense of South Africa if the hosts lose to Spain.

I don t like to think of tomorrow as our last game, said the canny Serb who has guided five different teams to the World Cup finals in his long career.

We ll be doing everything we can to achieve our goal of making it into the next round.

Iraq drew up the blinds to hold South Africa to a goalless draw in last Sunday s opener before containing Fernando Torres and company to just one…

Italy s future No. 1 / Image via goal.com

Serie A and the Italian football in general, both on club and international level, have long been on what turned out to be quite an unsuccessful hunt for the worthy successor of legendary Gianluigi Buffon until recently.

Buffon Legacy

Without a proper hair to his throne at Juventus and national team, Juventus shot stopper has been untouchable for the best part of the last two decades and still remains – at the age of 38 – undeterred in increasing scrutiny.

A living legend is slowly starting to show signs of slowing down, which was most evident in his nation’s most recent match against Spain, when Buffon’s blatant error lead to La Roja’s goal. His missed 55th-minuted clearance in front of Vitolo was not somethi…

Neymar s disappointment at the World Cup can fuel the Brazil star to win everything at Paris Saint-Germain, according to new team-mate Gianluigi Buffon.

The forward described losing to Belgium in the quarter-finals of Russia 2018 as the  the saddest moment of his career, having scored twice in five games at the tournament and drawn criticism for his play-acting.

Neymar missed the end of the 2017-18 season with a fractured foot as PSG won a domestic treble in his first season in the French capital after joining from Barcelona in a world-record €222million deal.

Real Madrid have denied making an offer for Neymar as reports continue to link the 26-year-old with a return to LaLiga after a single season in Ligue 1.

And Buffon thinks failing to win the Wor…

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 4/5 @

In what looks like it could be a lively affair from the Estadio Municipal on Saturday night, Girona will welcome Real Sociedad to Catalonia.

Starting with the hosts, while Girona might have watched their Copa del Rey adventure come to an abrupt end following a 3-2 defeat away at Mallorca last week, Michel Sanchez’s side are in the midst of a domestic fairytale. Cementing their spot as one of Europe’s ultimate surprise packages this season and battling it out at the top of the La Liga table, the Catalonia-based outfit are certainly going blow-for-blow with Spanish icons Real Madrid. Mustering 55 points from their 22 top-flight appearances this season and at least cruising their way to a Champions League ticket in 2024, …

Nemanja Vidic

Nemanja Vidic was one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s best pieces of business in his whole time at Manchester United. He moved to United from Spartak Moscow in January 2006 for a fee believed to be around £7 million. He quickly established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Torrid

On two occasions, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has given him a torrid time and those two games seem to have somehow overshadowed what has been a brilliant few seasons for the Serbian international.

This season has been plagued by injury and constant rumours that Vidic wants to leave Old Trafford. The twenty-eight year old defender still has an awful lot to offer and Sir Alex is keen to keep him at the club. He told the BBC,

Of course…

Juventus moved closer to a first Coppa Italia trophy in 20 years, reaching the showpiece after overturning a first-leg deficit to beat Fiorentina 3-0 and seal a 4-2 aggregate success in their semi-final on Tuesday.

The Italian champions suffered their first home loss since 2013 in the first leg but produced an excellent display in Florence as goals from Alessandro Matri, Roberto Pereyra and Leonardo Bonucci secured their progression.

Making the win more impressive was the amount of stars Juventus were without. Forward Carlos Tevez missed with a muscular problem while Andrea Pirlo (calf) and Paul Pogba (hamstring) remained on the sidelines and goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon was rested.

Their win was soured by an 88th-minute red card to forward Alvaro Morata, a dec…

Patrick Vieira has been appointed as the new head coach of MLS side New York City FC.

The former Arsenal midfielder has agreed a three-year deal and will start his new role on January 1, 2016.

Vieira, the head coach of Manchester City s Elite Development Squad since June 2013, replaces Jason Kreis at Yankee Stadium.

I am delighted to take up the role of head coach of New York City FC, said Vieira via the club s official website.  To work with this squad, with [sporting director] Claudio Reyna and [assistant coach] Rob Vartughian and the fantastic support team that is in place, is an exciting prospect for any coach.

This established football set-up, together with a passionate and loyal fan base, located in a special city which I know well, makes for a…

Borussia Dortmund interim head coach Edin Terzic hailed Erling Haaland but insisted the Bundesliga club cannot always rely on the star forward following his brace.

Haaland scored twice – including a 90th-minute equaliser – as Dortmund salvaged a 2-2 draw away to lowly Cologne on Saturday.

Linked with Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Liverpool, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, Haaland opened the scoring in the third minute.

However, two unanswered goals put Cologne ahead before Haaland rescued a point for Dortmund with a last-gasp leveller on the road.

14 () has scored 14 away goals in the this season – more than Bremen (13), Hertha (13), Mainz (11), Bielefeld (10) and Schalke (8) have scored at home in 2020-21.…

Thomas Lemar struck in the 99th minute to complete a dramatic late comeback as Atletico Madrid edged past Espanyol 2-1 at RCDE Stadium on Antoine Griezmann s second debut for the club.

Espanyol had failed to score in their opening three games since returning to the top flight – and a joint-LaLiga record eight matches stretching back into their last campaign at this level – but they took the lead through Raul de Tomas 40th-minute header.

That was a deserved opener for the hosts in a half they dominated and Diego Simeone responded by making a triple substitution at half-time and changing system.

Simeone s alternations ultimately paid off in an incredible conclusion to Sunday s contest as Lemar – one of those brought on – found a winner deep into added time …

(GSM) Portsmouth s appeal to lift their transfer embargo and be given £7m in television money, is being considered by the Premier League.

If the Premier League rules against Portsmouth, it could redirect the club s latest slice of TV money to repay their football creditors.

The decision, whether favorable to the troubled club or not, is expected to be announced on Wednesday after the club representatives met officials in central London on Tuesday, giving further information on their current finances.

Along with Ligue 1 clubs, Lens and Rennes, Chelsea and Tottenham are understood to be owed money by Pompey.

A Premier League spokesman told BBC Sport: Portsmouth have provided the Premier League with new information regarding their outstanding debts to othe…