Marquinhos signs new PSG deal until 2024

Paris Saint-Germain have handed defender Marquinhos a new four-and-a-half-year contract.

The Brazil international has committed to the French champions until 2024, a two-year extension to his current deal.

Marquinhos is the club s vice-captain behind compatriot and fellow centre-back Thiago Silva.

He joined the club from Roma in July 2013 and has helped PSG to five Ligue 1 titles over that span.

The club confirmed the extension on Monday, calling him one of the most successful players in the history of Paris Saint-Germain .

Marquinhos said: Paris and PSG have every argument for me to stay here and extend my contract.

It s an ambitious club that still wants to do great things, making football and club history.

Then there s the cit…

Messi´s legacy will not be harmed if he fails to win World Cup, says Guedioura

Lionel Messi does not need to win a World Cup to cement his legacy, Adlene Guedioura told Stats Perform.

Seven-time Ballon d Or winner Messi has landed eight league titles and four Champions League trophies during a glittering club career.

But international success with Argentina has largely eluded Messi, though he did lift the Copa America last year having finished a runner-up three times previously.

Messi came close to winning the World Cup in 2014, but La Albiceleste suffered final heartbreak as Mario Gotze scored an extra-time winner.

The 35-year-old s failure to bring home international football s top prize has been cited by some as harming his legacy in comparison to the likes of Pele and compatriot Diego Maradona.

The ongoing tournament in …

Italy 2-0 Greece: Jorginho and Bernardeschi book the Azzurri´s Euro 2020 spot

Italy clinched a place at Euro 2020 as Jorginho and Federico Bernardeschi scored in Saturday s 2-0 win over Greece.

Roberto Mancini s men were far from at their fluent best at Stadio Olimpico, appearing devoid of craft against an often-packed Greece defence, but a pair of second-half goals ensured they did enough to make sure of a top-two finish in Group J.

The victory extended their strong qualification campaign, giving Italy a seventh successive victory.

Unsurprisingly, Greece set up to frustrate Italy and they certainly achieved that goal in the first half, with the Azzurri crafting few notable opportunities in a dour opening 45 minutes.

But a combination of Italy s determination and a defensive blunder from Andreas Bouchalakis in the second period al…

Ipswich confirm Phillips season-long loan from Man City

Kalvin Phillips has completed a season-long loan move to Ipswich from Manchester City, the Tractor Boys confirmed on Friday.

Phillips, who spent the second half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan with West Ham, could be available for the visit of Liverpool in their opening game of the season.

The 28-year-old has struggled to regain the form shown at Leeds prior to his £42m move to City in 2022, making just 30 appearances for Pep Guardiola s side.

His move to the Hammers aimed to put him in contention for England s Euro 2024 squad, but that failed to transpire as he endured a difficult spell at the London Stadium.

Phillips started three times for West Ham, losing possession on 49 ocassions in his 10 league games, including on his debut, which resulted in D…

MK Dons spoil Wrexham’s EFL return in front of Hollywood’s best

Ryan Reynolds, Rob McElhenney and fellow Hollywood star Hugh Jackman watched Wrexham’s long-awaited English Football League return end in a 5-3 home humbling at the hands of MK Dons.

Saturday’s encounter was an emotional occasion in north Wales as a sell-out crowd watched their side play their first Sky Bet League Two game since 2008.

But Wrexham returned with a bump in front of ambitious owners Reynolds and McElhenney, with the dominant Dons becoming the first side to win a regular season match at the SToK Racecourse since November 2021.

These sides were two divisions apart just three months ago and the visitors quickly showed their quality, taking a two-goal lead just 10 minutes into Graham Alexander’s first game in charge.

Ben Foster could not pr…

England W.Cup 2018 bid chiefs warned to step up

England s World Cup bid chiefs have been told their attempt to win the right to host the 2018 tournament is spluttering to towards failure, according to a report in the Times on Wednesday.

After starting the bidding process as favourites ahead of Russia, Australia and the joint-venture by Spain and Portugal, England s 2018 campaign has hit choppy waters in recent weeks.

England s bid has been severely criticised by Jack Warner, one of FIFA s executive committee members, and Lord Triesman, the English bid chairman, has come under pressure over his inability to devote more than two days a week to his role.

It is believed that Warner s influence is likely to result in at least another two votes and probably more like another three or four votes being lost, accordin…

UEFA to consider increasing Euro 2024 squad sizes at meeting next month

UEFA will consider a possible increase in the size of squads for Euro 2024 at a meeting next month.

A number of coaches have called on European football’s governing body to allow countries to take 26 players to Germany instead of 23, a move England boss Gareth Southgate may be glad to accept as he deals with a number of injuries.

“We have taken note of comments expressed by some national team coaches on the squad size for Euro 2024,” UEFA said in a statement released on Friday.

“A workshop with the participating teams will be held on 8 April and on that occasion UEFA will listen to the views of the coaches.

“Any idea in this respect will then be considered and assessed.”

This summer’s finals is the first time since the 2018 World Cup…

Blanc names Euro 2012 squad

France coach Laurent Blanc has named his squad for the forthcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers against Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

And the surprise call up was Lyon s Bafetimbi Gomis who scored a sensational goal for his side in the Champions League against Dinamo Zagreb on Tuesday.

Gomis replaces the injured Guillaume Hoarau while there was no call up for Real Madrid s Raphael Varane.

Maxime Gonalons and Jeremy Toulalan were also excluded from the squad but Karim Benzema made the cut.

Blanc explained Gomis inclusion in the squad, telling RMCsport: He is in the team because of the form he has shown in the early season.

He has lots of confidence and his goal (against Dinamo) proved this. He was always close to being called because of the good perfo…

Nagelsmann staying coy over Germany´s final Euro 2024 squad

Julian Nagelsmann announced he has basically made a decision about his final Euro 2024 squad but would not be revealing it until Friday.

Germany face Greece in their final warm-up game on Friday before their home tournament, which they will kick off against Scotland on June 14.

Nagelsmann initially named a provisional squad of 27 and needs to reduce that by one, confirming the official 26-man group by Friday.

The former Bayern Munich manager conceded that places will still be up for grabs depending on performances against Greece but would not give any hints about whom the player likely to drop out would be.

We have our starting 11 in our heads but the performance in the match and in training must fit, Nagelsmann told a press conference on Thursday.

MLS announce 2012 competition format

Major League Soccer announced the competition format for the 2012 regular season and MLS Cup playoffs on Sunday.

Each of the 19 MLS clubs will play 34 games, with Western Conference clubs to play each West opponent three times, while East teams will play seven conference opponents three times each (21 games).

Having a competitively determined site for MLS Cup is one of the most exciting improvements our Board of Governors has adopted, MLS executive vice president Nelson Rodriguez said.

We believe this provides every club a tremendous incentive during our regular season and ensures a festive and boisterous setting for our championship game.

The Montreal Impact will begin their inaugural MLS season as the 10th team in the Eastern Conference, while the…