Spain have won the match for third place at the 2009 Confederations Cup, beating hosts South Africa 3-2 after extra time. A free kick from Xabi Alonso led Vicente del Bosque s side to victory.

Spain struggled in the first half but seemed to be doing better in the second. However, a disallowed goal from Llorente took away some of their motivation and South Africa took advantage as Katlego Mphela received the ball near the goal after an incisive attack, and slammed it past keeper Casillas for 1-0.

The South African fans had already begun to celebrate their imminent victory when Daniel Guiza levelled in the 89th minute, to even put Spain ahead with a magnificent chip one minute later.

But there was more to come at Rustenburg s Royal Bafokeng stadium, and significan…

Wolfsburg s German international midfielder Christian Gentner will join former club Stuttgart at the end of the season, the buying club announced Friday.

Gentner, 24, played for Stuttgart between 2005-2008 and has signed a three-year deal. Stuttgart are currently 15th in Germany s Bundesliga.

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Inter captain Mauro Icardi is 100 per cent staying at the club despite the dramatic saga that has seen him clash with the club s largest group of ultras, Wanda Nara says.

Icardi infuriated sections of the Curva Nord ultras after a passage in his new autobiography suggested he had made himself a hero by standing up to one of the group s leaders.

The 23-year-old claimed he had argued with the fan following Inter s 3-1 loss to Sassuolo in 2014-15, after his shirt which he attempted to give to a member of the crowd was thrown back at him.

Banners were displayed during Inter s 2-1 loss to Cagliari on Sunday claiming Icardi s career with the club was finished , while sections of the home support ironically cheered when he missed a penalty.

Inter fined Icardi fo…

New Liverpool signing Alisson has revealed former Roma team-mate Mohamed Salah sent him text messages encouraging him to complete a move to Anfield.

Alisson s arrival on Merseyside was confirmed on Thursday for a world-record fee for a goalkeeper that could rise to £65million.

The 25-year-old shared a dressing room with Salah at the Stadio Olimpico during the 2016-17 campaign before the Egypt international departed for Liverpool, where he was a revelation last season.

And Alisson says Salah made contact when speculation grew over a potential move.

We didn t have that much contact after he left Roma, Alisson told Liverpool s official website.  We met again in the game when we were up against each other [in the Champions League in April]..

Yes…

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Looking to extend their buffer at the top of the Premier League table on Saturday afternoon, Manchester City will welcome Leeds to the Etihad.

Manchester City

Starting with the hosts, eventually breezing their way to a 3-0 romp at home against West Ham earlier in the week, Manchester City are in the midst of a remarkable purple patch. Finding a route back to the top of the Premier League table and now tipped as a standout pick to defend their domestic crown, Pep Guardiola’s superstar squad are riding what has become a stellar wave of momentum. Only continuing to shine on either side of March’s international break, the Sky Blues are now unbeaten in each of their last 19 straight appearances across all competitions a run that stems a…

Arsene Wenger hailed Emmanuel Eboue after the Ivory Coast international inspired Arsenal back into the Premier League title race.

Eboue has endured a difficult time at the Emirates Stadium following his move from Beveren in 2005.

He has complained himself that he has often been played out of position, and even suffered the humiliation of being substituted against Wigan in December 2008, despite only having come on as a substitute himself.

But during the past 12 months, the 26-year-old has worked hard to fight his way back into the Arsenal team.

And the fact he was treated to a standing ovation from the home supporters in Saturday s 2-0 victory over Sunderland, which left the Gunners six points behind leaders Chelsea and just two points away from second p…

Manchester United utility Daley Blind warned his team-mates not to look too far ahead, with the third and final automatic UEFA Champions League qualifying spot still up for grabs.

United have already emerged as a favourite to win the Premier League title next season, while they are an outside chance of overhauling Chelsea this term, after crushing rivals Manchester City 4-2 in the Manchester derby on Sunday.

A six-match winning streak has rocketed Louis van Gaal s United up to third in the standings with six fixtures remaining, four points above City and eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea heading into Saturday s trip to Stamford Bridge.

However, Blind is solely focused on helping United secure Champions League football after a season out of Europe s premier c…

Chelsea captain John Terry believes team-mate Gary Cahill is the best centre-back in the Premier League.

Cahill has seen his spot in the Chelsea starting XI come under threat from promising France defender Kurt Zouma but, since vowing to silence his critics last month, he has nailed down a place in a team poised to win the league.

Earlier in the month former England manager Fabio Capello called on Terry who retired from international football in September 2012 to return to the national team.

But Terry insists Cahill is the best option for current England boss Roy Hodgson.

Terry said: Gary is a big character. He was obviously disappointed to be left out of the Chelsea side a few months ago, but he has come back and taken his chance again.

He has b…

LaLiga teams have been told they will be able to return to training provided they comply with protocols laid out by the Spanish government.

The decision was made following a meeting on Sunday between Spain s National Sports Council (CSD), the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and LaLiga.

The intention is to permit players to resume training subject to the progress of the coronavirus pandemic and the decisions adopted by the Ministry of Health , the CSD said in a statement.

Training sessions will be held under strict protocols and only for as long as circumstances allow, the CSD said.

It has been suggested the 2019-20 season is on track to restart in June, although the CSD did not confirm any specifics on a return date for either training sessions …

Mason Mount is relishing the battle for places in the England team, particularly with Jack Grealish and Phil Foden in the long term. 

England manager Gareth Southgate has something of an embarrassment of riches in the attacking positions at the moment, with a host of players thriving at club level. 

Mount has been a key man for Chelsea this term, playing more minutes (2,231) than any of his team-mates, while his 69 chances created is 41 more than anyone else. 

He has been a creative pillar for the Blues, as further evidenced by his 168 passes into the box being by far the most among Chelsea players, while the fact he quickly won his place back after being left out for Thomas Tuchel s first game in charge speaks to his impressive mentality. 

That…