Raphael Varane lauded Paul Pogba after the midfielder starred for France in their Euro 2020 opener against Germany.

Didier Deschamps world champions started their Group F campaign with a 1-0 win in Munich on Tuesday – Mats Hummels own goal the difference.

France also had two goals disallowed for offside, with Germany never truly clicking into gear as Joachim Low s decision to recall some veteran campaigners did not go according to script.

Instrumental in the win was Pogba, whose exceptional pass to Lucas Hernandez ultimately resulted in the unfortunate Hummels, who looked ponderous and out of place in Germany s back three, turning into his own net.

Playing on the right of a midfield three alongside Adrien Rabiot and N Golo Kante, Pogba attempted more …

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Two sides who have their sights set on securing a Champions League return this season, Atalanta will welcome Juventus to Bergamo on Sunday evening.

Atalanta

Starting with the hosts, while Atalanta might have marked their return from September’s international break with an action-packed 3-2 defeat at the hands of Fiorentina, La Dea have come roaring back. Last seen earlier in the week putting in a gritty performance as they landed a 1-0 victory away at Verona, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men should find the mood in their camp at a real high. In fact, opening their Europa League adventure with a routine 2-0 win against Rakow, the Bergamo-based outfit have won each of their last three appearances across all competitions. Likewise, along wi…

Barcelona have announced that they will face Major League Soccer sides Inter Miami and New York Red Bulls in the United States as part of their pre-season.

Barca still have one competitive game of the 2021-22 campaign to play – at home to Villarreal on Sunday – yet plans are in place for their preparations ahead of next season. 

Xavi s side will face David Beckham s Miami, who have been linked with Barcelona great Lionel Messi, at DRV PNK Stadium on July 19 and the Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena 11 days later.

With a big gap between those two fixtures, it has been reported that Barca are still hoping to arrange high-profile friendlies against Real Madrid and Juventus.

FC Barcelona return to the United States this summer to play two friendlies again…

Manchester City must overcome fatigue by channelling the mentality of teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona ahead of their FA Cup quarter-final away to Middlesbrough, according to Yaya Toure.

City will have had just two days to recover and prepare for the tie at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, having been held to a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to Stoke City in the Premier League on Wednesday.

It remains to be seen which combination of players head coach Pep Guardiola will entrust with the task of trying to guide City into the last four, but former Barca midfielder Toure knows what it takes to compete in multiple competitions at the sharp end of the season.

Discussing the readiness of fringe players to step into the first team when called upon, as well as the ca…

Arsenal will attempt to continue their perfect start to the season in the UEFA Champions League qualifying play-off versus Besiktas.

Arsene Wenger s side, buoyed by a busy transfer window that included the eye-catching acquisition of Alexis Sanchez, set tongues wagging with a 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City last week.

The London club were then required to show the kind of spirit that has been absent in recent years when beginning their Premier League campaign with a last-ditch 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The aim now is to secure their progression to the group phase of Europe s premier competition with the minimum of fuss.

Wenger, however, knows that a tricky test awaits as Arsenal attempt to reach the competition proper for …

Luciano Spalletti has travelled to China to finalise terms on an agreement to become the new head coach of Inter.

The 58-year-old left his post at Roma on May 30 after only 16 months in charge at Stadio Olimpico and is poised to be named the permanent successor to Stefano Pioli at San Siro.

Although a deal has not yet been finalised, Spalletti says a provisional agreement is in place and he hopes to bring talks to a satisfactory conclusion soon.

Everything is in place, he told the media at Malpensa airport, as he and sporting director Piero Ausilio prepared to fly out to meet Inter s Suning Group owners.

We ve shaken hands; we re old fashioned and we do things with a handshake.

Inter s owners are eager to help restore the club to the level they…

Former Olympic silver medallist Sherone Simpson won the women s 100 metres final at the Pan American Games on Wednesday, while Andre De Grasse took out the men s gold medal.

Jamaica s Simpson (10.95 seconds) edged out Angela Tenorio of Ecuador (10.99secs) in Toronto with Barbara Pierre of United States claiming third with a time of 11.01secs.

It was Simpson s first major individual triumph since claiming gold in the 200m at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The 30-year-old Jamaican sprinter won silver in the 100m at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, while she was also part of her country s gold-medal winning 4x100m relay team four years earlier in Athens.

In the men s 100m final, Canada s De Grasse triumphed after stopping the clock at 10.05secs, with Barbad…

Alejandro Grimaldo has hit out at Barcelona coach Luis Enrique over his lack of communication with the B-team players.

Barca B suffered relegation to the Segunda B last season and sit in 16th position in Group 3 of the third tier.

Luis Enrique began his coaching career with the Catalan giants second side in 2008, and, following stints with Roma and Celta Vigo, led the first team to a domestic and European treble in his maiden season at the helm.

But the 20-year-old defender, whose contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign, blasted the Barcelona boss over a lack of contact.

He has never told me anything, Grimaldo told RAC1.

I have not had any contact with him, nor do I have anything to say to him.

I work with my coach [Gerard…

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Looking to extend on their recent flurry late on Wednesday night, Columbus will welcome Nashville to Ohio.

Columbus Crew

Starting with the hosts, last seen over the weekend putting in a rampant performance as they stormed their way to a 5-1 romp away at New England, Columbus are cruising themselves to a play-off ticket this season. Battling it out at the top of the Eastern Conference table, Wilfried Nancy’s men will simply be looking to make another statement here. Although the Crew might have been left frustrated on June 20th as they suffered a 2-1 loss at the hands of Inter Miami, the former Montreal boss has seen his squad win three of their previous four MLS appearances. Likewise, laying down a real marker last week as they secu…

Diego Simeone s winless run against Barcelona in LaLiga continued as Luis Suarez s late equaliser held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Atleti have now not won in their last 15 league meetings with Barca a run that stretches back to February 2010, almost two years prior to Simeone s appointment.

It appeared as though that miserable streak would finally end on Saturday, as Saul Niguez s stylish first-half strike looked to have set up a victory for the hosts over a Barca team that had won its first seven matches this term.

But leaders Barca built momentum in the second half, with Lionel Messi striking the post and spurning further chances before the leveller deservedly arrived.

Suarez, marginalised in the first half but much im…