Oliver Bierhoff knows Germany only have themselves to blame after they crashed out of a second successive World Cup at the group stage on Thursday.
Hansi Flick s side beat Costa Rica 4-2 in their final Group E match at Al Bayt Stadium, but that was not enough to see them through to the round of 16.
Japan s surprise 2-1 win over Spain ensured the Samurai Blue finished top and Luis Enrique s side secured second place due to having a superior goal difference to Germany.
Having failed to advance from their group in Russia four years ago, Germany were left stunned after falling short once again in Qatar.
A shock 2-1 loss to Japan in their opening match cost Germany, who held Spain to a 1-1 draw before claiming a first victory of the tournament in what proved t…
Gregg Berhalter backed the United States to take the next step on home soil in 2026 after seeing their encouraging World Cup run ended by the Netherlands on Saturday.
The USA suffered their fourth elimination in five World Cup last-16 ties at Khalifa International Stadium, as goals from Memphis Depay, Daley Blind and Denzel Dumfries gave the Oranje a 3-1 win.
Berhalter s team had 58.4 per cent of the possession and managed 17 shots during another energetic display, but they were unable to find a way back after falling behind 10 minutes in.
Head coach Berhalter said the USA – who will join Mexico and Canada in hosting the 2026 tournament – made clear progress in Qatar, only falling short due to a lack of a cutting edge.
Today it was small moments. We …
Nicolas Gaitan has described Benfica as one of the biggest clubs in Europe after signing a new four-year contract.
The Argentina international has established himself as one of the Primeira Liga s standout stars since moving to the Estadio da Luz in 2010 and has regularly been linked with a move to Manchester United.
Benfica announced on Wednesday that Gaitan has agreed a new deal containing a €45million release clause which will last until June 2019 and the 27-year-old was delighted to commit his future to the club.
This renewal is fantastic. It s a vote of confidence from the club and I m delighted, he told Benfica s TV channel.
It was a quick and easy decision. Both parties are happy. I m very happy at Benfica, they re one of Europe s top clubs. …
Wigan chairman David Whelan feels manager Roberto Martinez will remain with the club after guiding them to the first major trophy.
Martinez s men sealed victory in the FA Cup final with a dramatic 1-0 win over Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday, Ben Watson heading an injury-time winner for the relegation-threatened side.
The Spaniard has earned great plaudits for keeping Wigan in the Premier League since joining the club in 2009 and has been linked with a move away as a result of his achievements with the DW Stadium outfit.
However, the often outspoken Whelan has stressed his view that the former Swansea boss will continue his work with Wigan, but that survival remains the immediate priority with Martinez s side currently three points adrift of safety.
He told the BBC…
Sacked Roma coach Rudi Garcia has thanked the club s fans and staff, while rueing the fact his spell in charge came to what he felt was a premature end.
The 51-year-old led the team to consecutive second-place finishes in Serie A in his first two seasons at the helm, having previously guided Lille to a double of Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France in 2010-11.
But he was axed on Wednesday after a run of only one win in 10 matches, with Luciano Spalletti returning to the club to replace him on Thursday.
Garcia leaves Roma fifth in the table after 19 matches and with a daunting tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League round of 16 to come.
The Giallorossi are already out of the Coppa Italia, having lost at home to Serie B side Spezia last month.
Fo…
Liverpool are set make a big-money summer move for want-away Arsenal winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, .
The twenty-two year old is heading into the final two years of his current contract at the Emirates Stadium and is on the lookout for a new deal.
The Gunners are keen to keep hold of the winger who has also been linked with a switch to Manchester City, but may stop short of meeting his wage demands, leaving the door open for potential suitors.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has made one hundred and forty-nine appearances in all competitions for Arsene Wenger’s side in all competitions since signing from Southampton in 2011, scoring fourteen goals.
He has also been capped twenty-four times for England, scoring five goals and was part of the squads for both the…
Jorginho is happy to remain at Napoli but a move to Manchester City is an opportunity of a lifetime for the player, according to his agent.
The Italy international has been heavily linked with the Premier League champions, though media speculation has suggested Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool also hold an interest.
Having claimed to have rejected a €50million offer from City, Napoli club president Aurelio De Laurentiis said in a recent interview that a deal could be done in the next few days .
Joao Santos who represents Jorginho insists the midfielder is content to stay put, should a career-defining move to the Etihad Stadium fail to materialise.
Jorginho is good at Napoli, but there are negotiations with Manchester City and this is why we do not talk …
Diego Llorente has left Real Madrid and joined Real Sociedad, agreeing terms on a five-year deal.
The defender spent the previous two campaigns on loan at Rayo Vallecano and Malaga, enjoying life as a first-team fixture at both.
That was a far cry from his experience at Santiago Bernabeu, where he made just two substitute appearances in the league since 2012.
The 23-year-old made his Spain debut in a 3-1 friendly win over Bosnia-Herzegovina in May last year, and will be hoping his move to La Real will provide the platform to further build his reputation.
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— Real Sociedad (@RealSociedadEN)
Everything I have heard about San Sebastian has been very good, he said. I m very happy that a club like Real Sociedad have shown an interest i…
World champions France kicked off their Qatar 2022 qualifying campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Ukraine at the Stade de France.
Les Bleus, winners of the previous World Cup three years ago, had looked as though they might make light work of Wednesday s visitors when Antoine Griezmann scored in stunning fashion less than halfway through the first period.
But Ukraine regrouped at the interval and equalised through a fortuitous Presnel Kimpembe own goal before protecting a precious first point.
It was a far cry from their 7-1 friendly defeat to Didier Deschamps men when the sides last met in October, even if the first half hinted at a similarly one-sided affair.
France were on the front foot from the outset and might have led before their 19th-m…
West Ham United have joined the race to sign Jack Wilshere, according to Sky Sports.
The England international announced that he was going to leave Arsenal when his contract expires next month following a seventeen-year association with the club.
The Hammers one of the sides linked with a move for the twenty-six-year-old during the 2017/18 campaign with Crystal Palace and Bournemouth also in the running, along with a host of sides across Europe.
In total, Wilshere racked up just shy of two hundred appearances for the North London side, scoring fourteen goals – two of which were recognised as the BBC’s Goal of the Season.
He was part of the squad that won the FA Cup in both 2014 and 2015 though went on to spend the 2016/17 campaign on loan with Bo…