OFC World Cup Qualifying Review: Samoa to meet Tahiti in next round

Controversial Brazilian striker Adriano failed to appear at a police interview Monday in connection with alleged links to a drug-dealing gang that has been accused of murdering police officers.

Adriano had been summoned for a 1700 GMT meeting to be quizzed by chief Luiz Alberto Cunha de Andrade.

But he did not show in person, instead sending his lawyer Adilson Fernandes to ask for the meeting to be delayed, a police spokesman told AFP, adding that no date had been set for the footballer to re-appear.

The news could be a blow to Serie A side AS Roma, for whom the Flamengo striker known as much for his goalscoring talents as the controversy he courts off the pitch will sign in June.

Adriano, who has played for Inter Milan, Fiorentina and Parma in Italy s S…

Scottish champions Glasgow Celtic are hot on the trail of Nantes striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, .

While Leigh Griffits has been in excellent form this season, the remaining forwards in the squad have been pretty disappointing of late, and it appears that manager Ronny Deila is in the market for a new centre forward.

According to the Daily Record, the Norwegian coach has set his sights on Nantes striker Kolbeinn Sigthorsson, who is widely expected to leave the Canaries after the disappointing start to his career in France.

The Bhoys had previously attempted to recruit the Iceland star back in 2013, when he impressed playing for Ajax against Celtic in the UEFA Champions League.

After he was surprisingly allowed to leave the Dutch giants, the 25-year-old cou…

DC United star Wayne Rooney revealed Everton s owner Farhad Moshiri was behind his departure from the Premier League club.

Former England captain Rooney returned to boyhood club Everton in 2017-18 after leaving Manchester United as their all-time leading goalscorer, but the 32-year-old only spent a single season at Goodison Park.

Rooney swapped Everton for Washington and he has since scored four goals and set up six others for DC to help boost their play-off chances in MLS.

Reflecting on his Everton exit, Rooney told the Daily Mail: It wasn t easy to leave Man United. But I wasn t playing and that was difficult and Everton was the main reason why I left.

One more sleep. 

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— D.C. United (@dcunited)

I wanted to help them mo…

The Mail Online understands that West Ham United are in danger of Declan Rice following a dispute over pay.

The teenager, who was named the Hammers’ Young Player of the Year in both 2017 and 2018 has impressed this season, not least in the last two matches where he has helped his side take four points from six available.

His current contract, worth just £3,000-per-week runs until the end of next season and the East London club are willing to increase that figure £12,000-per-week.

However, the nineteen-year-old and his advisors consider that to be way off the mark, with a several Premier League clubs monitoring the situation.

In total, Rice has played just thirty-six times in all competitions, with his senior debut coming in the final game of the…

Antonio Conte will attend the funeral of Gian Piero Ventrone on Sunday after the Tottenham boss oversaw an emotional Premier League win at Brighton and Hove Albion.

Spurs fitness coach Ventrone died on Thursday, reportedly after being diagnosed with leukaemia, and Conte said his fellow Italian had asked just days ago if he could be allowed to miss work due to illness.

After Harry Kane s goal earned a 1-0 win for Spurs, who sit third in the table, Conte spoke about the trauma that all at Tottenham have felt over the loss of Ventrone.

It was the first time Conte had opened up in public about Ventrone, having cancelled his regular pre-match press conference on Thursday.

He said it had been really, really difficult for us to focus on the game , saying the exp…

England manager Sarina Wiegman has denied reports she has agreed a contract extension, but says she remains relaxed about the situation and is very happy in her role.

Wiegman s impact since taking charge of the Lionesses last year has been nothing short of remarkable; England are unbeaten in 23 matches under the Dutch coach, winning 21 and scoring 120 goals.

Reports had suggested Wiegman, who led England to a remarkable home triumph at the Women s Euros in July, had agreed a new deal to run until 2027.

Wiegman s current contract is set to expire in 2025, and while the 52-year-old acknowledges talks over a renewal have taken place, she refuted suggestions a deal was already agreed.

I m very happy with the contract I have. I feel very valued, we have had …

Former England captain David Beckham scored his first goal in over a year to help lift the Los Angeles Galaxy to a 2-1 win over Chivas USA.

Los Angeles on Sunday led 1-0 when Beckham scored in the 39th minute on a 26-yard free kick into the upper-right corner of the net. It was Beckham s first goal of the season and his first since September 9, 2009, against Toronto.

I knew as soon as I hit it, it was in, Beckham said. Even though they ve got a very good keeper, I think he expected me to put the ball over the other side, so he was cheating to the right.

Galaxy coach Bruce Arena was relieved to see the highest-paid player in the league finally score.

Where Beckham hit that spot to the goalkeeper s left is the spot to put that ball, Arena said. The goal…

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Needing to mount a second-leg comeback on Tuesday night, Bayern Munich will welcome Lazio to the Allianz with a Champions League quarter-final ticket hanging in the balance.

Bayern Munich

Starting with the hosts, once again failing to find any kind of momentum over the weekend as they eventually had to settle for a 2-2 stalemate away at Freiburg, it is no secret that Bayern Munich find themselves in the midst of an extended crisis. Announcing last month that Thomas Tuchel will be leaving the Allianz at the end of the season, the German giants have come under some increasing scrutiny. Needing a miracle in their bid to make more Bundesliga history in 2024, Bayern have recorded just a single victory from any of their previous five appear…

Former England international Gary Lineker is confident Gareth Bale can become Real Madrid s main man once Cristiano Ronaldo is out of the picture.

The Welshman has had to settle for a place in Ronaldo s shadow ever since joining Madrid from Tottenham in 2013, but Lineker has little doubt the 26-year-old will flourish in the not too distant future,

Bale s a wonderful talent. He s a great player, he s unbelievably talented, Lineker told AS.  He s always going to be in the shadow of Ronaldo while he’s there, because all players are. But he could be the player that steps up once Ronaldo’s powers begin to wane.

I think he s amazing with Wales because he is the main man there and I think he revels in that, he enjoys it. He can t quite be that yet at Real Madr…

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique has acknowledged he may rest his star names against Bayer Leverkusen but insisted his side will not let up in their Champions League dead rubber.

The European champions are already guaranteed top spot in Group E prior to Wednesday s meeting at the BayArena while Leverkusen need a win to stand of a chance of progression.

Amid suggestions the likes of Lionel Messi who scored five times in a 7-1 win against Leverkusen in 2012 could be rested, Luis Enrique refused to divulge any possible absences from the starting XI.

Tomorrow is a good day to tell my players who will play before the media, that s always my system, he said.

Messi is capable of anything. There s nothing that can surprise us about Leo. We want him to play as much …