Crouch hints at Stoke exit

Peter Crouch has admitted that he may need to leave Stoke City, .

The veteran striker scored in Saturday’s 2-1 FA Cup third round victory over League One side Doncaster Rovers, but has not started a Premier League game this season, with all three of his outings coming as a substitute.

He moved to the Britannia Stadium in the summer of 2011 and has racked up one hundred and sixty-two appearances for the club, far more than any of the previous sides for which he has played.

He has hit forty-four goals for the Potters, and also has an impressive scoring record for his country netting twenty-two times in forty-two games though he hasn’t featured for them since October 2010.

Having booked their place in the fourth round, 2011 FA Cup finalists Stoke c…

Van der Sar saves penalty on comeback

Edwin van der Sar enjoyed a successful comeback at Noordwijk as the former Netherlands international stopped a penalty for the Hoofdklasse B side in their 1-1 draw with Jodan Boys on Saturday.

The 45-year-old denied Jorn van Lunteren from the spot shortly before the interval, although he was eventually beaten by Mo Bellahcen late in the second half.

Jaap van Duijn salvaged a draw for Van der Sar and his team-mates with a well-taken free kick in the dying seconds of the encounter.

Noordwijk had asked Van der Sar to make a one-time comeback after first-choice goalkeeper Mustafa Amezrine was ruled out of this weekend s encounter with a knee injury.

He previously played for Noordwijk between 1985 and 1990 before making the step to professional football at Aja…

Argentina eyeing World Cup semi-finals – Tapia

Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia believes reaching the World Cup semi-finals is a good target for the nation.

The 2014 runners-up are not considered among the hot favourites for the tournament in Russia, having struggled through qualifying.

Tapia said the semi-finals were a realistic target for Argentina, who face Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in Group D.

Being in the top four is a positive goal, he told TyC Sports.

[SELECCIÓN MAYOR] realizó hoy ejercicios físicos de baja intensidad en su primer día en la ciudad de Bronnitsy.

— Selección Argentina (@Argentina)

Lionel Messi will again lead Argentina as he continues to look for a first senior trophy with his nation.

Tapia was full of praise for t…

Bony ends unhappy Manchester City spell with heroes´ return at Swansea

Wilfried Bony has returned to Swansea City from Manchester City in a deal reported to be worth in the region of £12million.

The Ivory Coast international left south Wales for the Etihad Stadium in January 2015 in a £28m transfer but struggled for form and fitness under then City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

A loan stint at Stoke City last term was similarly fruitless, with the 28-year-old scoring twice in 11 appearances – both of which came against Swansea.

His overall return at Manchester City stands at 10 goals in 46 games but he is very much a returning hero at Swansea, where he will step into the breach left by Fernando Llorente s deadline-day departure to Tottenham.

We ll go wild, wild, wild  

— Swansea City AFC (@SwansOfficial)

Morata doubts Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave Juventus

Juventus forward Alvaro Morata does not believe Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave the struggling Serie A champions.

Ronaldo has been linked with returns to former clubs Real Madrid and Manchester United following Juve s Champions League last-16 exit.

Juve – third and 10 points off the pace in Serie A this season – have not progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League since Ronaldo s blockbuster arrival in 2018.

Morata was asked about Juve team-mate Ronaldo and the five-time Ballon d Or winner s future in Turin.

President Andrea Agnelli presents a special shirt to mark his extraordinary record!

— JuventusFC (@juventusfcen)

I don t think that s the case,  Morata told El Larguero while on international duty with Sp…

22nd June: Fridays World Cup Accumulator – 19/1

With the 2018 Russia World Cup now fully underway, each team will look to move one step closer to booking their spot in the round of 16. With an action-packed month of football, we have found a number of interesting bets that can help boost your Friday World Cup acca.

Friday 22nd June

13:00 BST Brazil vs Costa Rica

Although it wasn t the stellar start that many of us had expected from Brazil, Tite s star-studded side still remain one of the leading candidates to be crowned World Champions. Coming off the back of a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their opening matchup in Group E, although Neymar and co were unable to capitalize on a string on chances, the iconic Yellows will certainly fancy their chances of making a much more empathic statement on Friday afternoon. Alon…

Manchester United close to re-signing Tom Heaton

Manchester United are interested in signing Aston Villa goalkeeper Tom Heaton in the summer transfer window, according to . It has been reported that the Red Devils are close to securing the services of the goalkeeper on a free transfer.

Heaton will replace Sergio Romero in the United squad. Romero is reported to be on the radar of AS Roma. Former United manager Jose Mourinho will take over the Italian club at the end of the season, and ex-Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea boss wants sign the  Argentine goalkeeper on a free transfer this summer.

Villa goalkeeper Heaton started his professional club football career at United, but the 35-year-old failed to establish in the first team, having had loan spells at Cardiff City and Queens Park Rangers among other clubs. Heaton wa…

Sancho´s Dortmund future undecided amid Man United links – Zorc

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said no decision has been made on the future of reported Manchester United target Jadon Sancho.

Dortmund star Sancho continues to be linked with a big-money move to Premier League giants United, who have reportedly identified the England international as a top potential addition.

The Red Devils tried to lure Sancho to Old Trafford during the off-season, however, they were unsuccessful in bringing the 19-year-old back to England after he left Manchester City for Dortmund in 2017.

Asked about Sancho s future beyond 2020, Zorc told Kicker: No decision has been made. But you don t have to be a prophet to know he won t play here for another five years.

Sancho has established himself as one of Europe s most prom…

Gronkowski´s unexpected renaissance holds key to Bucs´ hopes of repeat

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded for Rob Gronkowski back in April 2020, it was tough to picture the future Hall of Fame tight end having a substantial impact.

After all, Gronkowski had appeared to have spent his last reserves in Super Bowl LIII when he hauled his clearly ailing body downfield and made a diving grab for a 29-yard fourth-quarter reception that set up the New England Patriots only touchdown of their 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams.

It was a catch that at the time served as a spectacular last ember of an incredible career, but the Bucs put stock in Tom Brady s belief that Gronkowski s fire to deliver at the highest level still burned brightly, and they have been emphatically vindicated.

He caught seven touchdowns in the 2020 regular season, bu…

Tuchel relishing clash with ´idol´ Vieira when PSG face Nice

Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel has revealed he used to idolise Patrick Vieira as he prepares to take on the World Cup winner.

Tuchel s modest playing career in lower-league German football was grinding to a premature halt when the young Vieira was helping France lift the Jules Rimet Trophy on home soil in 1998.

Vieira went from strength to strength with Arsenal and Les Bleus, later enjoying spells at Juventus, Inter and Manchester City.

It took Tuchel many years to establish himself in the game as a coach, but success at Mainz and Borussia Dortmund paved the way for a move to Paris.

At the age of 46 he is three years Vieira s senior, and they will go head to head in Ligue 1 on Friday when leaders PSG travel to take on ninth-placed Nice.