Coronavirus: Spain needs football for economy and to distract fans – Sergio Ramos

Manchester United produced a thrilling triumph against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux on Thursday.

Until the 71st minute, United were two goals up, courtesy of Marcus Rashford (5 ) and Rasmus Hojlund (22 ), but Wolves decided they weren t going to be beaten that easily. Pablo Sarabia reduced the score, and even though Scott McTominay restored United s two-goal lead in the 75th minute, Max Kilman cut it in half again with five minutes to go, and Pedro Neto scored what appeared to be a last-gasp equalizer.

However, almost seven minutes into the stoppage time, Kobbie Mainoo turned hero for his team with an extremely late winner.

Speaking to the press after the game, United boss Erik ten Hag was understandably full of praise for the 18-year-old midfielder.<…

The French national football side is going through a difficult period in terms of replacing the older generation with younger players, admitted under-fire coach Raymond Domenech on Monday.

The 58-year-old whose popularity has plummeted since guiding the French to the 2006 World Cup final insisted, though, that he was getting a firmer idea of the makeup of his 23 man squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa, which runs from June 11 to July 11.

There is a changing of the generations taking place, said Domenech, who was capped eight times as fullback from 1973-79.

Apart from Brazil, who have an immense reservoir of talent, which assures them of a natural renewal without the team suffering the consequences, all the other teams function cyclically.

W…

Lionel Messi lived up to the pre-game billing given to him by Pep Guardiola to spoil his former coach s Camp Nou return as Barcelona beat Bayern Munich 3-0 in their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg.

Wednesday s encounter in Catalonia marked the first time since his departure from Barca in 2012 that Guardiola had met the team he led to 14 major trophies in four years.

Guardiola had branded Messi unstoppable  in the build-up to the game and his words proved prophetic as Messi dismantled Bayern with two spectacular late goals.

Having seen Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer frustrate Barca for much of the encounter, the two sides looked set to head back to the Allianz Arena next week with the tie finely poised at 0-0.

But Messi, playing in his 100…

Zenit secured their first Russian Premier League title since 2012 on Sunday with a 1-1 draw against Ufa.

Andre Villas-Boas sides better head-to-head record with Krasnodar means the point at the Stadion Petrovskij is enough to end their three-year wait to be crowned champions.

Hulk put Zenit ahead with his 15th league goal of the season just after the half hour, but Zenit were denied all three points as Haris Handzic grabbed an equaliser with three minutes to play.

Sunday s achievement is Villas-Boas first Russian Premier League title as Zenit head coach.

…

Real Betis are interested in signing Rodrigo from Leeds United in the summer of 2021, according to . It has been reported by the Spanish news outlet that Rodrigo wants to leave Premier League club Leeds at the end of the season, and that La Liga outfit Betis are keen on securing the services of the Spain international, who can operate as a striker or as a winger.

Rodrigo joined Leeds from Valencia in the summer of 2020. The 30-year-old is not having the best of seasons, although he has been used out wide or as a creative midfielder instead of as a striker. According to , the former Benfica striker has made 12 starts and eight substitute appearances in the Premier League for Marcelo Bielsa’s side so far this campaign, scoring three goals and providing one assist in the process…

Juventus boss Antonio Conte has refuted suggestions he could leave his post in order to replace Cesare Prandelli as Italy coach.

Reports in the Italian media have claimed that Prandelli, who has led his country since leaving Fiorentina in 2010, is set to announce his intention to retire after the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

But former Italy international Conte, capped 20 times for his country, has quickly moved to quash speculation that he could be lined up as a replacement.

I think someone wants to get me out of Juventus, he joked at a UEFA-organised forum for coaches in Switzerland.

For me, the national team is guided by the right man but I do not know what will happen after the World Cup in Brazil.

Conte has overseen two Serie A title victories in his two seas…

Spain forward David Villa is convinced England have the perfect players to win the World Cup.

Villa, who signed for Barcelona from Valencia at the end of the season for 40million euros, has earmarked Fabio Capello s squad as one of the favourites to lift the trophy in South Africa and drew a parallel between England and his own country before they won Euro 2008.

Going into the European Championships two years ago, Spain were regarded as perennial underachievers.

But they finally fulfilled their potential with a series of fine performances to win their first international trophy for 44 years.

Vicente del Bosque s side are now widely hailed as the best in the world and Villa believes England, who last won the World Cup 44 years ago, have enough talent in t…

Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be given the chance to play first-team football before the season is out

Chelsea and their boss Antonio Conte have been linked with signing every Tom, Dick and Harry in January.

However, so far the only transfer action that has happened at Stamford Bridge is the departures of Brazilian playmaker Oscar and John Obi Mikel to the Chinese Super League.

No doubt the Blues will be looking to strengthen their squad options this month.

There could be another viable option for the league leaders, though, using youngsters they already own. It’s a revolutionary idea I know, but it may just work.

A very capable youngster

Chelsea have been criticised in the past for stockpiling players, espec…

Michael Keane said he is flattered by interest from some of the Premier League s biggest clubs but insists he is happy at Burnley.

Keane has flourished since leaving Manchester United for Burnley in 2015, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City reportedly eyeing the defender.

The 24-year-old Englishman who was sold by former United manager Louis van Gaal has also been linked with a return to Old Trafford.

It s flattering to see, but I m focused on Burnley, Keane said.  We ve got nine games left in the season and we need to make sure we remain in the league.

But to see things like that can only mean you re playing well.

Keane added: I always thought, personally, that I was going to make it at United. A few changes in managers didn t help, s…

Teenage striker Folarin Balogun has signed a new long-term contract with Arsenal.

The 19-year-old, who has been at the Premier League club since he was aged only nine, has scored twice in six first-team appearances for Mikel Arteta s side this season.

New York-born Balogun, on target against Molde and Dundalk in the Europa League, also has eight goals in 18 PL2 and EFL Trophy games in the 2020-21 campaign.

Gunners boss Arteta believes he has a bright future.

My home. My heart
See you soon Gunners

— Balogun (@fbalogun67)

He said: We have been extremely impressed with Flo this season. He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us and we have been equally impressed with his early integration into th…