Tite introduced some new faces for Brazil s upcoming international friendlies but there was no room for Juventus star Alex Sandro.
Uncapped trio Valencia goalkeeper Neto, Besiktas midfielder Anderson Talisca and Real Sociedad forward Willian Jose were named by head coach Tite on Monday.
However, full-back Sandro was overlooked for this month s matches against World Cup hosts Russia and reigning champions Germany, which Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar will miss as he recovers from a broken foot.
The squad still boasts plenty of star quality, with Philippe Coutinho, Marcelo, Roberto Firmino, Gabriel Jesus, Casemiro, Willian and Ederson set to face Russia in Moscow on March 23 and Germany in Berlin four days later.
I want to give all the athletes opportunit…
Barcelona have reached a key agreement with the city council in their plans for a €600million redevelopment of Camp Nou.
Officials have given the green light to the club s urban restructuring plan, which is essential to the massive planned update to the LaLiga leaders stadia and facilities.
The plan will now be presented to the Municipal Council and then the Catalan government for final approval.
It s a project that will mark the future of our club but also it s a leading project for the neighbourhood and the city of Barcelona, Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu said on Thursday.
It is a balanced proposal that will integrate what the club and the city need. We can say that Camp Nou will go from being a closed site to an open and friendly one to the …
Prediction: Draw
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Domestic football has been put on pause for a few weeks in favour of the return of the international break the second one of the new campaign. In the wake of the Euros and Copa America, as well as the Olympics, many would expect this to be a fairly inconsequential few weeks. Alas, the pandemic has ensured we have to speed up the process on the road to Qatar with Scotland and Israel being two of the many European nations attempting to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Scotland
The Scots didn t make the desired impact at Euro 2020 outside of a nice draw against England but despite that, they still seem fairly upbeat about their chances in World Cup qualifying. They were able to piece together two nice wins in…
Martin Odegaard has the character and intelligence to be a true leader for Arsenal, according to manager Mikel Arteta.
The 22-year-old has made four appearances since joining on loan from Real Madrid, where he struggled for starts, in the January transfer window.
He caught the eye in Thursday s 1-1 draw against Benfica in the Europa League, with no Arsenal player creating more big chances (two) than the midfielder, level with Hector Bellerin.
Odegaard also led the way for passes in the opposition half (29) and tackles (three), highlighting two different aspects to the Norway international s game.
Arteta has been impressed by what he has seen so far and has backed the loanee to grow in stature over the coming weeks.
On the pitch he is showing a l…
Michael Owen has labelled Alex Ferguson absolutely phenomenal following the announcement that the Manchester United manager is retiring.
The former England international won his only Premier League title under the stewardship of the 71-year-old and said Ferguson is possibly the best manager to ever grace the game.
What can you say he s just an absolutely phenomenal manager. One of the best, if not the best the world has ever seen, he said.
His list of honours is phenomenal and to be able to stand here and say I played underneath him for three years is pretty special. A remarkable man. Not just a remarkable manager but a remarkable man as well.
Ferguson won 38 trophies in his 26 years in Manchester, including two UEFA Champions League crowns and 13 Premier League titles.
And…
Rodrigo De Paul scored a brilliant late goal to snatch a 1-0 home victory for Atletico Madrid against relegation-threatened Celta Vigo, as they consolidated fourth spot in LaLiga on Sunday.
The Argentina midfielder controlled a clearance from a corner just outside the box before unleashing a breathtaking shot into the top-right corner with just six minutes remaining.
The win leaves Atletico with 70 points from 35 games – eight points ahead of fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao – while Celta are 16th with 34 points, five points above the drop zone.
Diego Simeone s hosts had launched a late offensive effort but remarkable saves from Celta goalkeeper Vicente Guaita kept them at bay until De Paul s stunner clinched three points.
Atletico can secure a spot in th…
Xabi Alonso says Bayern Munich must be at their very best during an intense month ahead, starting with a DFB-Pokal quarter-final at Bochum on Wednesday.
The Bundesliga champions have set their sights on winning the treble in their last season under Pep Guardiola and are only three wins away from cup glory.
Bayern won the Pokal in 2013-14, but lost on penalties to Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals last season.
Xabi Alonso is determined to do better this time around as Bayern chase their 18th triumph in the knockout competition, the Spaniard urging his team-mates to rediscover their sublime form from before the winter break.
A very intense month awaits. We have a major game coming up against Bochum in the DFB Pokal, then some tough games against Augsbur…
Everton defender Seamus Coleman has hailed the impact David Moyes and Phil Neville have had on his career.
Coleman, 24, was signed by Moyes from Irish outfit Sligo Rovers in August 2009, and has made 101 appearances for Everton since.
Playing regularly has helped him win recognition from the Republic of Ireland national team, with manager Giovanni Trappatoni handing him 11 caps.
With Moyes set to leave Goodison Park to join Manchester United in July, and Neville s contract not being renewed, Coleman took the chance to thank both.
For me, personally, David Moyes made me a Premier League player and Phil Neville helped along in a way and I ll be forever grateful to the two of them, Coleman told the club s official website.
The right-back played 90 minutes in Everton s convincing …
West Ham have signed Austria forward Marko Arnautovic from Premier League counterparts Stoke City for a club-record fee worth up to £25million.
The Potters revealed West Ham will pay an initial £20m, with an additional £5m depending on certain clauses being met.
It feels special to me to be a West Ham player, Arnautovic, who has signed a five-year deal, told West Ham s official website.
Everyone knows that West Ham is a big club, with big history and I m happy to be a part of it now. I can t wait to get started.
I played against West Ham at the old stadium – I didn t play last year at the new stadium because I was suspended – but I came to the game and I can only say it is a massive club with a lot of fans.
They are crazy for foo…
Verdict: Home win
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The rivalry between Brazil and Argentina is considered one of the biggest in the world. Both sides are among the most successful national teams in history, and while their current run of form is not similar, it is undeniable that the world stops every time these two titans clash. That will be the case on Friday, as both squads will battle for their pride in a friendly match in Melbourne, Australia.
Brazil
Brazil have been on top form at the moment. Since the arrival of Tite following their disastrous campaign in the 2016 Copa America, La Canarinha have returned to be one of the most feared sides in the world. And the numbers back that statement up, since Brazil have won their last 10 matches across all compet…