Miku makes Celtic loan move

Former Portugal star Joao Pinto believes a draw against Germany would be a good start to their Euro 2012 campaign.

Paulo Bento s men face a tough task getting out of Group B, which also includes the 2010 runners up the Netherlands and Germany, who made the semi-finals of that competition.

Therefore Pinto suggested that although winning Saturday s game would be ideal, a draw would still leave the side with a good chance of advancing to the quarter-finals.

The best result is always the victory, but a draw would leave everything open, he told Abola.

You can only say that a draw was a good result after the game, but a draw with Germany is never a bad thing.

The 40-year-old said players would be feeling the nerves now that the action in Poland and …

Aymeric Laporte s club-record move to Manchester City ensures the former Athletic Bilbao defender will enjoy a much higher profile, boosting his World Cup chances.

Paying his Athletic release clause may have cost City £57million, but Laporte remains uncapped by France, although he was called up for the first time by coach Didier Deschamps last year.

France have perhaps the strongest group of young players in the world right now, with 23-year-old Laporte battling for international selection alongside the likes of Barcelona duo Samuel Umtiti and Ousmane Dembele.

Kylian Mbappe and Laporte s new Manchester City team-mate Benjamin Mendy are also likely to be involved at Russia 2018.

Here we profile eight of Deschamps future stars.

Looking in, !

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Real Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal will miss the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain after UEFA upheld his two-game suspension.

In December, European football s governing body suspended the Spain international for two matches – one for collecting a second booking of the Champions League group stages and a second after ruling Carvajal collected that caution against APOEL deliberately to serve his suspension in a dead rubber against Borussia Dortmund.

A statement issued by UEFA read: The UEFA Appeals Body met on 1 February following an appeal lodged by Real Madrid CF against the decision announced by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body (CEDB) on December 7, which ordered

Real Madrid player Dani Carvajal to be sus…

David Beckham has been left frustrated as plans to set up a Miami-based MLS franchise have been delayed.

As plans to create a Miami-based MLS franchise hit snags, former England captain David Beckham has been mildly frustrated by the delay, but expects an announcement in the near future.

Beckham confirmed in October 2013 that he was intending to set up an outfit in Miami, although he suffered a blow last year when plans for a 25,000-capacity stadium in the city were rejected.

Miami obviously doesn t have a stadium at the moment and we ve continued to work hard on that, Beckham said.

We re making good progress, at some point in the next couple of months there ll be an announcement.

It s hard work, but nothing in life is easy so we re focusing …

Marvin Martin has extended his contract at Ligue 1 club Lille by a further two years, it was announced on Monday.

The 26-year-old midfielder made the switch to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy from Sochaux in June 2012.

His previous deal with Lille ran until 2017, but he has now put pen-to-paper on a contract that will see him stay until 2019.

Marvin Martin has agreed with Lille to extend his contract for two more seasons, read a statement on the club s official website. The number 10 is now linked to Lille until 2019.

Martin has made 67 appearances for Lille, including 20 in Ligue 1 last term.

The France international would undoubtedly have featured even more prominently, but missed part of the campaign with a knee injury.

Particularly after a …

Graham Potter feels Chelsea have shown progress under his management but acknowledges there is still work to be done for the Blues to get back on top.

The former Brighton and Hove Albion boss succeeded Thomas Tuchel in September, as new owner Todd Boehly opted for a shake-up in the Stamford Bridge dugout.

A poor post-World Cup run of form, however, had left Potter under pressure, before a streak of three wins and progress to the Champions League quarter-finals eased matters.

Saturday s 2-2 draw with Everton, in which the Toffees scored a last-gasp leveller, saw them miss the chance to make it four on the bounce, but Potter still thinks his team are taking forward steps on his watch.

It s been an intense few weeks, he told the club s website. We have had …

Jose Mourinho is surprised Roma are being talked up as Serie A title contenders given  only Sampdoria and Lecce spent less than us .

The Giallorossi finished sixth last season and won the inaugural Europa Conference League in May.

Roma pulled off a huge coup by signing Paulo Dybala on a free transfer and have since brought in Georginio Wijnaldum on a season-long loan deal.

Mile Svilar and Zeki Celik have also joined the Eternal City giants, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan the most-high profile player to depart – joining Inter as a free agent – and Jordan Veretout also moving on to Marseille.

A 1-0 friendly victory over Tottenham and a 5-0 rout of Shakhtar Donetsk have increased the hype ahead of Roma s first Serie A match of the season at Salernit…

Manchester United midfielder Jesse Lingard claims the players feel free under new manager Jose Mourinho.

The 23-year-old scored a sublime solo goal as United claimed a 2-1 win over Leicester City in Sunday s Community Shield clash at Wembley, in which Zlatan Ibrahimovic s late header secured a first trophy for Mourinho since he took over at Old Trafford in May.

Lingard enjoyed a promising season under Louis van Gaal in 2015-16 and scored the winning goal in the FA Cup final a match which proved to be the Dutch manager s last in charge of the club.

Van Gaal was often criticised for encouraging a more prosaic style during his two-year United spell, and Lingard admits that the attacking players have already begun to feel liberated since Mourinho stepped into the r…

Eduardo Vargas scored four goals as defending champions Chile embarrassed Mexico 7-0 in a remarkable quarter-final to reach the final four of the Copa America Centenario.

Disjointed and inconsistent heading into Saturday s blockbuster clash at Levi s Stadium, Chile were the complete opposite as they dismantled Mexico, whose 22-game unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end in scenes similar to Brazil s 7-1 demolition at the hands of Germany at the 2014 World Cup.

All eyes were on Mexico amid their impeccable run of form but they failed to perform in a dark day for Mexican football, seemingly giving up in second half, conceding three goals in the space of eight minutes after Vargas and Edson Puch put the Chileans in control at the interval.

Alexis Sanchez who moved …

Leverkusen to offer Zenden pay-per-play deal

Bayer Leverkusen are seriously thinking about signing free agent Boudewijn Zenden, .

The German giants are a bit short on cover at the left-back position and they believe the veteran would be a good solution for the burning issue.

The 36-year-old has been a free agent for over a year now and he was recently invited by his friend and Bayer Leverkusen boss Sami Hyypia to train with die Werkself.

After seeing the player in action, the club chiefs are reportedly ready to offer the player a one-year contract and a chance to finally return into action.

Given that the player has been out of competitive action for so long, Zenden will be offered a pay-per-play deal.

The veteran midfielder has a wealth …