Switzerland winger Xherdan Shaqiri feels his side have improved immensely since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The Bayern Munich man made just one appearance in South Africa four years ago, coming on as a late substitute in a goalless draw against Honduras in the group stages.
Four years on, the 22-year-old is one of the main men in Ottmar Hitzfeld s side as they hope to live up to their world ranking of sixth in Brazil.
And Shaqiri believes his side could make a splash at the showpiece.
We are now more a team (than we were in 2010) and (we) stick together more, Shaqiri is quoted as saying on the Switzerland Football Association website.
We are more talented than at the last World Cup. Many have evolved abroad. Respect the other teams (have for us) has become gre…
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said he feels they are being disrespected, on the eve of their FIFA World Cup opener against Nigeria.
The top-ranked Asian Football Confederation nation in Brazil, Iran are not expected to qualify out of Group F after a disruptive lead-up to the pinnacle tournament.
Queiroz has watched on as they had a friendly against Mozambique cancelled, while further problems arose when only 11 players reported for a training camp, and assistant Majid Salih quit his role just days out from their departure to South America.
But the former Manchester United and Real Madrid boss said it was no fluke that saw Iran qualify for the World Cup.
Our qualification was not a lottery situation, said Queiroz, who has helped three teams qualify for a World Cup aft…
The talent scout who helped Monaco turn a €60million profit on their transfer activity last season has announced his departure from the club amid interest from the Premier League.
Luis Campos was instrumental in the signing and sale of Anthony Martial by Monaco, who made a €58million profit on the France international, and he is also credited with the arrival of James Rodriguez, Radamel Falcao, Joao Moutinho and Bernardo Silva at Stade Louis II.
After working as a technical scout under Jose Mourinho at Real Madrid, Campos arrived at Stade Louis II in 2013 as the club s technical director and Monaco vice-president Vadim Vasilyev appointed him to the role of special counsellor in August 2015.
He is reportedly considering approaches from a number of English club…
Raphael Varane says Real Madrid are aware that any outcome is possible in La Liga s title race as they prepare to take on local rivals Rayo Vallecano at Vallecas on Saturday.
Goals from Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric secured an impressive 3-0 win over Villarreal – a team who sit only one place below them in the table – on Wednesday.
Zinedine Zidane s side are one point behind co-leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga having won eight consecutive league matches since their derby defeat to Diego Simeone s men in February.
Varane knows there is no margin for error and feels that streak needs to become 12 over the final four games of the league season if Madrid are to stand a chance of winning a first title since 2012.
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The Gregg Berhalter era opened with a 3-0 victory over Panama thanks to United States debutant Djordje Mihailovic, Walker Zimmerman and Christian Ramirez.
Berhalter was appointed head coach in December, the former Columbus Crew boss replacing Dave Sarachan, who had temporarily filled the void left by Bruce Arena in October 2017.
And USA – in rebuild mode having failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986 – got a glimpse into the future in Arizona, where a youthful team defeated regional foes Panama in a friendly on Sunday.
Chicago Fire s Mihailovic opened the scoring in the 40th minute before defender Zimmerman and substitute Ramirez sealed the win during the final 10 minutes at State Farm Stadium.
Debut and goal! scores the fir…
Brendan Rodgers was delighted his players produced an attacking and winning performance against Bournemouth as Leicester City fans paid tribute to former owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.
Srivaddhanaprabha, who died when his helicopter crashed after a Leicester match last October, would have turned 61 next week, and the club marked the occasion by offering supporters free beer and cake, a regular tradition when he was alive.
After 61 minutes, fans sung an emotional tribute, holding applause and waving banners to celebrate the man who oversaw the club s famous Premier League title win in 2016.
Leicester won Saturday s match 2-0 to move up to eighth in the Premier League, recording their third straight victory under an impressed Rodgers.
We are here to p…
Super sub Jeremy Sarmiento secured Sky Bet Championship comeback kings Ipswich a stunning 3-2 stoppage-time win against profligate Southampton to go back to the top of the table.
A packed Portman Road hosted this eagerly-anticipated Easter Monday encounter between a pair of sides pushing for a place in the Premier League next season.
Che Adams and Adam Armstrong put Southampton on course for a much-needed win after Leif Davis’ stunning opener, but all too familiar wastefulness cost Russell Martin’s men dearly.
IT S ALL OVER!!!!!!!
— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown)
Substitute Nathan Broadhead levelled and James Bree’s 85th-minute sending off for dragging back Davis made for a nervy final conclusion.
Ipswich looked set to fall short bu…
Xavi has his work cut out at Camp Nou following his appointment as Barcelona head coach.
Barca have struggled on the pitch amid off-field turmoil and financial problems.
But Xavi wants to make Barca great again and he reportedly has his eyes on some players across Europe.
TOP STORY – BARCA EYE TRIO
RB Leipzig star Dani Olmo and Manchester City pair Ferran Torres and Raheem Sterling are transfer options for Barcelona, according to Thursday s Mundo Deportivo.
Xavi is now at the helm of Barca and the club great is tasked with restoring the fortunes of the embattled LaLiga giants.
The Barca head coach is keen to reinforce his squad in either January or at the end of the season.
Barca have also been linked with Chelsea fo…
Shanghai Shenhua striker Nicolas Anelka said he was frozen out of training with the senior squad at Chelsea, after refusing to sign a new contract.
The Frenchman was forced to train with the youth squad and kept away from the rest of the first-team before eventually moving to the Chinese Super League outfit in January.
The 32-year-old Anelka who moved to Stamford Bridge from Bolton for 15 million pounds in January 2008 had been a key man for the Blues having finished as the Premier League top scorer with 19 goals under Carlo Ancelotti in the 2008-09 campaign.
Anelka had been linked with a move to Ancelotti s Paris Saint-Germain a move he denies was a possibility but the striker said he had a torrid end to his stint in London.
Ever since I was punished t…
Real Madrid are keeping tabs on Leeds United youngster Archie Gray, according to . The report has claimed that the Spanish and European giants watched Gray in action for Leeds in their Championship match against Hull City at Elland Road on Monday. Daniel Farke’s side won the game 3-1.
Gray is a midfielder by trade, but the 18-year-old has been playing as a right-back for Leeds this season. The England Under-21 international has made 36 starts and three substitute appearances in the Championship for the Whites so far this season. He has given two assists in those games.
Leeds are third in the Championship table at the moment with 86 points from 41 matches, a point behind second-placed Ipswich Town and two points behind leaders Leicester City, who have played 40 games. …