Costa Rica coach Jorge Pinto is aiming to take advantage of England s inconsistencies at FIFA World Cups when the pair meet in Brazil.
Pinto s men opener their Group D campaign against Uruguay at the Estadio Governador Placido in Fortaleza on Saturday.
But the Costa Rica boss has already taken a swipe at England, who they will meet in their final group-stage match on June 24.
England have failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in their past four World Cup appearances, with two last-eight berths sandwiched in between reaching the round of 16 in 1998 and 2010.
And Pinto is hoping to exploit England as Costa Rica attempt to make it out of the group stage for just the second time in their history, having advanced to the knockout rounds at the 1990 World Cup.
Juventus have reignited their interest in Hamburger winger Eljero Elia, according to Tuttosport.
The Bianconeri have expressed interest in the Netherlands international last summer, but failed to agree a transfer fee with HSV chiefs.
However, they could now return for the talented winger as boss Antonio Conte looks to add more quality to wing positions.
The Old Lady were thought to be closing in on Michel Bastos, but after that transfer proved to be very difficult to complete, they are likely to turn their attention to Elia.
Hamburger are reportedly prepared to sell the winger for €10 million, which is well within Juventus’ transfer budget.
The Dutch forward has amassed 58 appearances for Hamburg since arriving from Twente in 2009, scoring ni…
Vito Mannone has signed a new contract with Sunderland that will keep him at the Stadium of Light until June 2018.
The goalkeeper s previous deal was due to expire at the end of the upcoming campaign, but he has now agreed a one-year extension.
Mannone started his professional career at Arsenal and also enjoyed loan spells with Barnsley and Hull City before joining Sunderland in July 2013.
The 28-year-old has since made 69 appearances in all competitions for the club, leading his team to the final of the League Cup in 2014 with two penalty saves in a semi-final shootout against Manchester United.
Mannone is the third player to sign a new contract with Sunderland in recent weeks, with Jermain Defoe and Patrick van Aanholt previously inking new deals.
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Neymar has admitted he was slightly overwhelmed by the presence of Lionel Messi and his team-mates ahead of his Barcelona debut.
The Brazil international joined Barcelona from Santos in June 2013 and has since developed into one of the Catalans undisputed stars.
But Neymar needed some time to adapt to his new surroundings, with compatriot Dani Alves in particular helping him feel at home in Spain.
I was afraid when I saw Messi and the others before my first Barcelona game, Neymar told TV Globo.
I got into the dressing room and Messi, Xavi, [Andres] Iniesta, [Gerard] Pique and Dani Alves were all there. These guys were my idols.
It was almost as if I was playing on the Playstation. It was very difficult in the beginning.
Dani Alves w…
Manchester United scored two late goals in the space of five minutes as they came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Burnley at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
Ashley Barnes and Chris Wood appeared to have set Burnley on course for a first away win against United since September 1962 and inflict a first defeat on caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
However, Paul Pogba s 87th-minute penalty and an injury-time strike from Victor Lindelof his first for the club salvaged
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a point for the home side that could yet prove important in the race for the top four.
Marcus Rashford scuffed a glorious early chance wide and Barnes could have punished that miss were it not for a vital interception by the returning Phil Jones.
Pogba had the ball in the net but was pul…
According to a report from Tuttosport, Italian side AC Milan are believed to be preparing to make a bid of around £44 million for Memphis Depay. The Lyon forward has enjoyed a successful spell with the French club since making the move over in 2017, after a disappointing run with English giants Manchester United. Depay, who is a Netherlands international, is said to be one of the top targets for AC Milan, who will be desperate to convince him to make the move.
However, a potential spanner in the works could be Depay’s desire to move to either Barcelona or Real Madrid. While neither club has made a formal approach up to this point it certainly seems like Memphis has a clear direction in his head, and jumping ship to Serie A may not be a part of that.
Depay, aged 24, f…
Stuart Kettlewell feels Motherwell’s final pre-season match against Dundee United has left the Fir Park outfit in confident mood ahead of the opening game of the new campaign on Saturday.
A goal from new signing Conor Wilkinson gave Well a 1-0 win over Championship side Dundee United in a behind-closed-doors game at Tannadice.
The Steelmen begin the 2023-24 campaign with a trip to Elgin City in the Viaplay Cup at the weekend and buoyant boss Kettlewell told Motherwell’s official Twitter account: “It was good to get here and almost play a proper game, it gets us closer to what we want.
“In terms of performance level, we were stages up from where we were on Saturday (2-2 draw with Falkirk) and that’s pleasing.
“I thought we looked fitter, I thou…
Carlo Ancelotti confirmed Everton will appeal Lucas Digne s red card, questioning whether the extensive coverage of Jordan Pickford s tackle on Virgil van Dijk last week played a part in the decision.
James Ward-Prowse and Che Adams did the damage at St Mary s on Sunday, as Premier League leaders Everton suffered their first defeat in all competitions this season.
Everton s 2-0 reverse means 2020-21 is the first English top-flight campaign since 1967-68 in which no side has gone unbeaten through the first six matches.
A year to the day since Southampton were thrashed 9-0 at home by Leicester City, Everton s hopes of a comeback were further diminished when Digne received a straight red card for a challenge on Kyle Walker-Peters in the 72nd minute.
Sprintin…
Pep Guardiola is refusing to look beyond Manchester City’s visit to Crystal Palace despite Real Madrid looming as a Selhurst Park slip-up would leave their Premier League title hopes in tatters.
A win for City in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off will move them level on points with leaders Liverpool, who head to Old Trafford for a clash with arch rivals Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
Guardiola accepts a draw or defeat would all but end their aim of claiming a fourth-successive title so even the prospect of a trip to the Spanish capital on Tuesday evening will not divert his attention.
City are also defending their Champions League crown and take on Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the quarter-final first leg but Guardiola will only start thinking about the cla…
Manchester United dented bitter rivals Liverpool’s title hopes as Mohamed Salah’s late spot-kick salvaged a 2-2 draw in Jurgen Klopp’s final trip to Old Trafford.
Three weeks on from Erik ten Hag’s men edging an FA Cup classic at the end of extra-time, this age-old rivalry resumed in a similarly chaotic clash in the Premier League on Sunday.
Luis Diaz put dominant Liverpool into a deserved half-time lead against stumbling United, only for Bruno Fernandes’s 45-yard jaw dropper and a magnificent Kobbie Mainoo effort to turn the match on its head.
The points are shared at Old Trafford.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC)
Salah levelled with a late penalty after Aaron Wan-Bissaka brought down Harvey Elliott, but the Reds could not eke out a winner as…