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Real Madrid will be thinking they can sign Manchester United star Paul Pogba for a cut-price fee, claims Liverpool legend Steve Nicol.

Pogba was linked with a move to Real Madrid throughout the summer transfer window.

But despite manager Zinedine Zidane’s public desire to sign his fellow Frenchman, Pogba stayed at Old Trafford.

Like United, Pogba has struggled this season and is currently sidelined with a foot injury.

Nicol believes Pogba’s situation will make Real think they can get him for cheaper, but he has advised United to reject any advances.

He told ESPN FC: “Well I think if you’re Real Madrid you’re thinking, because of what’s happening with him as an individual, you might get him for a little less. That’s the truth of the matter.

“But, you’d have to say, what would Man United be thinking if they let Pogba go?

“Man United need players, they don’t need to let their best players go.

“I would suggest that Pogba’s form right now isn’t what it could be or should be because of what is around him, not because of him.

“So this makes no sense from a Manchester United point of view. Certainly I’m sure Pogba would jump at the chance but this is a miss.

“I would assume he was promised [better players to be signed around him] from the very get-go [at United] and look where they are now.”

United midfielder Nemanja Matic has been linked with a move to Inter Milan but Nicol does not see the logic in that deal for the Serie A side.

“Listen, Matic can’t get a game for Manchester United right now,” he continued.

“So that kind of tells you either his form or his legs are not what they were.

“And if that’s the case then how is he going to make Inter Milan better?

“If it’s a body they need to fill the squad out, to have an experienced guy they can count on, then yes.

“But other than that it makes no sense to me.”

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Liverpool were on course to win the Premier League title in 2014 before they dropped points against Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

And former Reds star Glen Johnson has opened up on the matches, admitting they were devastating for the club.

Liverpool went into their Premier League clash with Chelsea knowing a win would all but seal the title. However, they were beaten 2-0 on a dire afternoon at Anfield.

Shortly afterwards they threw away their chances of title glory with a 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace – having been 3-0 up.

And Johnson, speaking to The Anfield Wrap, has opened up on both matches.

On the game against Chelsea, the former England international said: “We’ll never know but the reason we were where we were in the league was because we took teams and attacked them, and we scored so many early goals that way.

“That’s your philosophy and your mentality and it’s been working so well.

“Imagine if we sat back and then lost, we’d be killing ourselves to think we should have just gone for it and beat them the way we beat everybody else.

“It’s one of those things you can only answer in hindsight I guess.”

And he also spoke of how the draw against Palace zapped all confidence from the Liverpool squad at the time.

“When I mentioned about the confidence going through the roof it was like we lost all of that in 90 minutes,” he added.

“Afterwards it was crazy because we killed them in the game, it should have been 5-0 at one point.

“Delaney hit like a strike that, no disrespect to him but he’s never struck a ball like that in his life, and it flies into the top corner and then you’re thinking oh here we go, but it’s only 3-1 you know, don’t need to panic.

“Then the crowd get going and then the players start getting a bit more belief and then they got another goal and then you’re thinking oh god.

“It just seemed like a wave of emotion that we couldn’t stop, we just couldn’t get the game back again.”

Despite his failure to win the title, Johnson has only positive words for his time at Liverpool.

“I loved all of the Liverpool days, you know,” he added.

“I think that’s probably where I stamped my authority on the game a bit more.

“I don’t live with regrets. I achieved pretty much everything I set out to achieve so I certainly don’t have any regrets.

“Even the bad times, or what felt negative at the time, looking back I enjoyed them.”

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New Link With Catalan Giants

Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford could be a target for Barcelona next summer.

Reports from the Catalunyan newspaper Mundo Deportivo claim the England international is one of four potential targets for Barca as they eye up a replacement for Luis Suarez. Rashford, Harry Kane, Paris Saint-Germain’s Kylian Mbappe and Inter Milan’s Argentine striker Lautaro Martinez are all on the shortlist to eventually replace Suarez.

The Uruguayan turns 33 in January and much depends on his performances over the course of this season. If he plays badly any move will come in the summer of 2020. But with six goals in eight games in all competitions so far this campaign such a move could well deferred to the summer of 2021 if he keeps up his current strike rate – or anything like it.

Barcelona were linked with Rashford over the course of last season. However, he signed a new contract at Old Trafford this summer and his current deal with Manchester United runs to 2023.

Meanwhile, the Sunday Mirror claims Manchester United could make a £70 million move for West Ham United midfielder Declan Rice.

The England international was believed to be a target for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the summer transfer window. However, Rice insisted on remaining with the Hammers and his attitude doesn’t appear to have changed.

“I signed a five year contract with West Ham last year, which will keep me at club till I’m 24, and for me this is the best place to be right now,” he said recently.

“I am playing for a manager who has given me my chance and played me week in week out.”

The key word in the Mirror report is ‘could’.

Follow @footie_gossip

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The Racing Post’s football experts will select their best multiple bet every day. Here is Monday’s treble bet: 

France to beat v Turkey 7.45pm

France needed an Olivier Giroud penalty to sneak a 1-0 victory away to Iceland on Friday but they can put on a more polished performance against Turkey in Paris. Turkey defeated the French 2-0 in Istanbul but they are likely find life much tougher at the Stade de France.

Iceland-Iceland double result against Andorra 7.45pm

Iceland’s hopes of qualifying for a third successive major tournament are hanging by a thread but they should have few problems defeating Andorra in Reykjavik. Andorra have lost 24 of their last 25 competitive away games and failed to score in any of them.

Portugal to beat Ukraine 7.45pm

Ukraine are on the brink of qualifying for Euro 2020 but they are likely to suffer a setback against Portugal in Kiev. Portugal have won their last four qualifiers and dominated their 0-0 draw at home to Ukraine in March.

A £1 treble bet pays £3.89 with Coral. Prices subject to fluctuation.

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FIRST PUBLISHED 2:03PM, OCT 13 2019

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Mario Balotelli could quadruple his salary with goal-related bonuses for Brescia this season, according to reports.

The striker returned to his hometown club and accepted a pay cut compared the deals he had at OGC Nice and Olympique Marseille.

According to the Corriere della Sera newspaper, there are some hidden details in the contract he signed with Brescia.

This means his salary of €1m per year could be quadrupled to €4m with bonuses for securing Serie A safety and if he were to find the net 15 times in Serie A.

SuperMario missed the opening four games due to a left-over ban in Ligue 1, but has now scored one goal in two matches.

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Manchester United chief Ed Woodward has three names under consideration for the role of technical director at Old Trafford, according to reports.

The Red Devils have been looking to bring in somebody to assist the club on transfers, working under Woodward and in tandem with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mike Phelan.

Phelan was linked with the role at Manchester United over the summer but ultimately was given the job of being Solskjaer’s assistant.

And the Telegraph say Woodward has Rio Ferdinand, Darren Fletcher and Edwin van der Sar in mind for the role.

Ferdinand spent 11 glittering years at the club during his playing days, winning five Premier League titles along the way.

He’s been working as a pundit for BT Sport in recent years and his view on football has made him a potential candidate.

Fletcher also enjoyed a lengthy spell at United.

And so too did Van der Sar, who has forged a reputation as one of football’s best directors during his time at Ajax.

Of the trio, it’s the Dutchman who United fans would most like to see touch down due to his experience in the position.

And, speaking recently, he admitted he would love to move to United and would be interested by the possibility.

“Besides my family, my wife and kids and everything I have two loves in my life,” Van der Sar told Planet Futbol.

“That’s Ajax, who gave me the opportunity to develop, they scouted me, they gave me the chance to shine in the world of football.

“And the last club of my career (Manchester United) also gave me a lot of attention, recognition and everything, developed at a later stage. And of course, I’d be interested in a position.”

He did insist, though, that he wasn’t ready to return to Old Trafford just yet.

“I need to learn a little more here [at Ajax], develop myself further and eventually let’s see what the future brings,” Van der Sar added.

“United is a fantastic club, there’s a great following all over the world. Everybody wants to play for them and eventually, work for them.”

United are aiming to bring in a technical director to assist them in their quest to return to the summit of English football.

Solskjaer’s side have endured a nightmare campaign so far, winning just two of their first eight Premier League games.

And whether he’s still in charge by the time United hire a director is something only time will tell.

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MATCH INFO

Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: BeIN Sports

Andriy Shevchenko enjoyed an illustrious career as Ukraine’s greatest striker. Now as manager of the national team, he is on the brink of guiding the side to Euro 2020.

The former Dynamo Kiev and AC Milan star, nicknamed “Sheva”, was appointed Ukraine coach in July 2016, his first managerial role.

On his watch, the team fell short of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup after a home loss to Croatia in the final round of games knocked them out of contention.

But ahead of next year’s European Championship, Ukraine need just a point from their remaining two matches to reach the final stages of the tournament.

“I want to see this project through … to get to the Euros and perform well there,” Shevchenko told Agence France-Presse ahead of Monday’s clash at home to defending champions Portugal.

Ukraine are unbeaten in qualifying with 16 points after six matches, the most recent a 2-0 win over Lithuania on Friday, and hold a surprise five-point lead in Group B.

Shevchenko appears to have struck a balance between young talent and experienced players such as West Ham United forward Andriy Yarmolenko and Shakhtar Donetsk winger Yevgen Konoplyanka.

Shevchenko took over from Mykhaylo Fomenko, who resigned after Ukraine were knocked out of Euro 2016 without scoring a goal.

Critics pointed to Shevchenko’s lack of experience and argued that as Fomenko’s assistant, he was partly responsible for Ukraine crashing out after losing all three games in their group.

“It was a very big challenge for me. I agreed to do it with my eyes open,” Shevchenko said of the managerial role.

“The harder it is to succeed, the more it motivates me. I wanted to succeed with the national team and I believed in the players.”

Ukraine did not qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia but many had urged a boycott over Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and support for the separatist insurgency in eastern Ukraine.

The current qualifying campaign has allowed the team’s younger talents to mature, with Ruslan Malinovskyi, who joined Atalanta from Belgian champions Genk this summer, and Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko developing into key players.

Shevchenko and his Italian assistants, Mauro Tassotti and Andrea Maldera, have transformed the team’s style into a more creative and attacking approach.

“I thought ball control and attacking football weren’t for us because we didn’t have enough technically skilled players,” Artem Frankov, the editor-in-chief of Football magazine, told AFP.

“But suddenly a very curious side has appeared before us – a Ukraine team that is rejuvenated and quite combat-ready.”

At his peak as a player Shevchenko was renowned for his lightning counter attacks and clinical finishing. He was equally prolific with Dynamo Kiev and AC Milan as he was for Ukraine, for whom he scored 48 times in 111 matches.

With AC Milan he won the Champions League in 2003 after a penalty shoot-out victory over Juventus, and claimed a Serie A title in 2004, when he was awarded the Ballon d’Or as European footballer of the year.

Shevchenko endured a difficult two-year spell at Chelsea, where he won the FA Cup and League Cup before returning to Dynamo Kiev, where he first shot to fame helping his side to five straight league titles from 1995.

After ending his playing career following Euro 2012, Shevchenko tried to go into politics but failed to win a seat in Ukraine’s parliament.

Updated: October 13, 2019 12:49 PM

MATCH INFO

Fixture: Ukraine v Portugal, Monday, 10.45pm (UAE)

TV: BeIN Sports

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10am Transfer news LIVE: Real Madrid join Haaland race, Man Utd and Arsenal eye French starlet, and  The Sun Source link . More news

Manchester United duo Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mike Phelan have given Ed Woodward the names of six transfer targets ahead of the January window, according to reports.

The Red Devils are currently stuck in a rut, sitting just two points above the relegation zone after winning just two of their first eight Premier League matches.

Manchester United know they must strengthen their squad to boost their chances of climbing up the table, particularly after landing just three fresh faces back in the summer.

And the Daily Mail say Phelan and Solskjaer have given Woodward the names of half a dozen players they feel would thrive at Old Trafford.

However, while United are looking ahead to the New Year, they would rather wait until the end of the season to bolster their ranks.

The Red Devils are wary of signing players in the middle of the campaign due to how they got their fingers burned by Alexis Sanchez.

Sanchez signed for United in January 2018, with Woodward moving in to steal him from under the noses of Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

The Chile international was expected to close the gap between United and City amid their fight for the Premier League trophy that season.

Yet the forward managed just five goals in 18 months at Old Trafford and was offloaded to Inter Milan on loan for the current campaign.

No names are mentioned in the report about who United are specifically looking at.

But it’s the understanding of Express Sport that the club have reached an agreement with the entourage of Juventus hitman Mario Mandzukic, who was previously eyed in the summer.

With the January transfer window creeping closer, reports elsewhere have linked Solskjaer’s side to various players too.

Moussa Dembele is on United’s radar but the Red Devils are wary of meeting Lyon’s massive £71million asking price – particularly in the middle of the campaign.

And links to Declan Rice and James Maddison are refusing to die down amid their stellar form at West Ham and Leicester respectively.

Former United prodigy Clayton Blackmore, meanwhile, believes his old side should look to either Zlatan Ibrahimovic or Robert Lewandowski this winter.

“We’re lacking a target man and the only thing that is going to save us this season is Ibrahimovic,” said Blackmore. “He has thrown his name in the hat and he’s probably the best targetman you can have.

“He’s still scoring goals too. We have got rid of so many good strikers – Wayne Rooney went, Robin van Persie went, loads of them.

“These players have gone but they have not been replaced. Bringing Ibrahimovic in is a no-brainer.

“He doesn’t run but he doesn’t need to because he is that good.

“There are not many players who can jog around the pitch and control the game but when he was here before we won trophies with him, when he was fit.

“We should get him in January, or whenever we can because he can lead the line.

“Getting Robert Lewandowski would be perfect too. That’s obviously a big ask but he’s also the kind of player the club needs.

“Yes, he’s a bit older but he’s the kind of player that can help the kids come through.”

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Liverpool’s lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table is only going to get bigger, according to former Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino.

Liverpool are currently eight points clear of back-to-back champions City, eight games into the season.

Pep Guardiola’s City side are without star centre-back Aymeric Laporte until early 2020 at least due to injury, meaning midfielder Fernandinho has had to fill in at the back in recent weeks.

Midfield maestro Kevin de Bruyne has also been on the sidelines due to a groin problem.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have won every game so far this term and Cascarino cannot see Manchester City’s problems getting any easier.

“City are going to have to hang on to the coat-tails of Liverpool in the next few months because they’ve got certain players out injured that are a big loss to them,” Cascarino told talkSPORT.

“Obviously De Bruyne and Laporte are just as important.

“They have to keep that gap at eight points because I can only see Liverpool extending it in the months to come, I don’t see City getting closer.

“It’s not like last season. Last season happened because City were a much better team.

“They’re not as good a side this year, whether it’s injury-based.”

Cascarino has also questioned the team selection from Guardiola this season.

“I think Pep has done something I’ve not really seen him do too often as a manager – he changed that side and made it weaker last week [against Watford],” he added.

“He played [Joao] Cancelo and [Kyle] Walker in the same team. I know Walker came off after 45 minutes but that was for other reasons than performance.

“But he’s generally changing a lot of positions in the team.

“Why was Bernardo Silva sub last week against Wolves? Why? He was phenomenal last year.

“I know [Riyad] Mahrez has come in and done okay but he hasn’t earned the right to take Bernardo Silva’s place in the team.”

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Inter full-back Danilo D’Ambrosio is expected to leave the Italy camp after an injury. “I fear I’ve fractured my little toe.”

He suffered several knocks during Saturday’s 2-0 win over Greece at the Stadio Olimpico, which secured qualification for Euro 2020.

“I did get a bruise to my right knee, but the real problem is that I fear I’ve fractured my little toe on my left foot,” D’Ambrosio told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“We need to get some tests done and see what’s happened.”

D’Ambrosio and Federico Chiesa, who limped off with a muscular problem in the first half, are expected to miss the trip to Liechtenstein on Tuesday.

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Marcelo Gallardo has put together an impressive CV in his six years in South America.

Pep Guardiola is a big fan of River Plate coach Marcelo Gallardo and it’s looking increasingly likely the Manchester City coach will be able to see his work more closely in the coming year.

“What Gallardo has done with River is incredible,” Guardiola told an Argentine TV station. “Some things are inexplicable. Every year three coaches are named as the best in the world, and he’s never among them. I can’t understand it. It’s as if there’s nothing else in the world apart from Europe.”

– FIFA Club World Cup: All you need to know 

Before long, though, Gallardo will probably have crossed the Atlantic. After over five years in charge of River Plate, he is surely running out of road. He has won the Copa Libertadores twice, and his team appear well set for another final appearance after their 2-0 win over historic rivals Boca Juniors in the first leg of this year’s semifinal.

How much more can he possibly achieve in his current position? So far, it seems, he has not been tempted by the Argentina national team — and recent speculation is linking him to Barcelona, as a possible successor to Ernesto Valverde. It is certainly possible to imagine Gallardo receiving the blessing of Lionel Messi. With a combination of youth, experience, a commitment to attacking football and an impressive CV as a player, Gallardo ticks most of the boxes.

He was a top-class attacking midfielder in his playing days, subtle and skillful, with over 40 caps and two World Cups to his credit. His playing career is mostly associated with River Plate, but he had some good times in France (more with Monaco, less with PSG) and spells in the United States and Uruguay, where he ended his playing days and promptly started coaching with Nacional, taking them to the league title.

But it is his time with River that has put him on the map. He is now well into his sixth year in charge — a rare enough feat in European football, and all but unthinkable in South America, where demands change so quickly. It is very difficult to maintain consistency in an environment where the best players are continually being sold. But as Guardiola pointed out, at River Plate “every year the players leave, but the work continues.”

Coping with this has given Gallardo a depth of experience beyond his 43 years and certainly beyond the baby-faced appearance that has left him dubbed “The Doll.”

The most impressive part of his work is how he has grown over the course of his reign at River. Initially, it appeared that he was happiest playing a 4-4-2 formation, featuring the old-fashioned Argentine diamond — a holder in front of the centre-backs, two mixed midfielders either side and the traditional No. 10, the type of player Gallardo had been to direct operations. Over time, though, he has become proficient at reading the opposition, studying his own resources and tweaking the tactical plan, always, it would, seem, without over complicating and confusing his players.

Marcelo Gallardo guided River Plate to the 2018 Copa Libertadores title over Boca Juniors.

On occasions — the first leg of last year’s Libertadores final against Boca the most notable, but there have been others — he has caused a surprise by going with a back three. Ten days ago against Boca, he had obviously prepared his team to use width to get around and outside a tight defensive line. It will be fascinating indeed to see what he comes up with later this month for the second leg. At home, in their intimidating stadium, Boca are obliged to chase the game. Gallardo is unlikely to think only of defence. An away goal could clinch things in his side’s favour, and the coach will doubtless be thinking of how to get it.

A one-off decider against either of the Brazilian semifinalists, Flamengo or Gremio, would be a test. River rode their luck to get past Gremio in last year’s semifinal, and under Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus, Flamengo have become a hugely attractive and efficient attacking threat.

Get past that and there is another crack at the FIFA Club World Cup — the one place where Gallardo has been found wanting. In 2015, his side did little of note in a 1-0 semifinal win over Sanfrecce Hiroshima of Japan, and then caved in timidly to a 3-0 defeat in the final against Barcelona. And last year River did not even make the final, falling on penalties to Al Ain of the Arab Emirates.

It is surely Gallardo’s failure in these competitions that has stopped him getting on the podium in the world coach of the year awards. He has not yet shown that he can do it outside South America, but he may not have much longer to wait.

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Arsenal boss Unai Emery must bring Mesut Ozil “in from the cold” to capitalise on the poor form of top four rivals Manchester United and Tottenham, claims Paul Merson.

Ozil has made just two appearances for Arsenal in all competitions this term.

The German World Cup-winner has been left out of Emery’s match day squad for the last three games.

But Merson says, with Tottenham struggling down in ninth in the Premier League table and United in 12th, Arsenal must use Ozil to give them the best chance of winning as many points as they can.

“Mesut Ozil should be starting Arsenal’s next few games so they can take advantage of how badly Tottenham and Manchester United are struggling,” Merson told the Daily Star.

“Arsenal have to make hay while the sun shines and their rivals are struggling, so they have got to put some points together in these games and go on a run.

“It’s a big few weeks for them – and that’s why I would play Ozil. I personally think he’s their best player.

“In terms of ability and talent he’s the best player at the club.

“He’s a luxury player, and the manager has obviously decided he can’t carry a player like that in a team that’s already one of the worst around without the ball.”

However, Merson does not think Emery sees Ozil as part of his plans and therefore says the midfielder should be sold in January.

“Unai Emery should bring him in from the cold. But he won’t,” he added.

“If he plays Ozil and they win, he has to keep playing him, and the manager doesn’t want that. The manager wants him out.

“And if that’s the plan then they are going to have to swallow a pill and get rid of him in January come what may.

“He’s on £350,000-a-week and he’s not playing and doesn’t look like having any chance of playing. I think that’s a mistake.

“But if Emery has made his mind up, Arsenal are going to have to find him a move – and they will have to subsidise his wages to do it because no-one else is playing him that.”

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Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr is likely to shuffle his squad for the high-profile international friendly against Brazil this afternoon.

The Super Eagles are without a number of key first-team players after several late withdrawals, while a host of changes are expected from the defeat to Togo last time out.

Nigeria slumped to a 4-1 loss in the first leg of their African Nations Championship qualifier last month, although only players based in Africa are allowed to participate in the tournament.

Therefore, plenty of stars who featured in the run to third place in this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations are expected to return to the starting line-up.

That means Premier League aces such as Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi should get the nod while Samuel Chukwueze and Emmanuel Bonaventure are also likely to start.

However, Rohr is without Peter Etebo, Kenneth Omeruo, Ola Aina and Samuel Kalu so Brighton defender Leon Balogun may be drafted in to deal with the threat of Neymar.

West Brom ace Semi Ayayi should fill in at centre-back alongside William Troost-Ekong with Jamilu Collins starting at left-back.

Anderson Esiti could fill in for Etebo alongside Ndidi, anchoring the midfield behind Chukwueze, Iwobi and Bonaventure.

Lille forward Victor Osimhen is expected to lead the line but fellow striker Suleiman Abdullahi should be handed some minutes while Chidozie Awaziem bolsters Rohr’s defensive options.

Ikechukwu Ezenwa has also linked up with the squad but Francis Uzoho should start between the posts.

Nigeria have only met Brazil on one previous occasion at senior level while the Super Eagles have won just one of their last eight international friendlies.

The Selecao are without Alisson, Marcelo, Fernandinho and Douglas Costa but are still expected to field a strong side for the second match of their Singapore double-header, following Thursday’s 1-1 draw with Senegal.

Nigeria predicted line-up vs Brazil – International friendly

(4-2-3-1): Uzoho; Balogun, Ajayi, Troost-Ekong, Collins; Ndidi, Esiti; Chukwueze, Iwobi, Bonaventure; Osimhen

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THE FACTS

When does Estonia vs Germany kick off? Sunday 13th October, 2019 – 19:45 (UK)

Where is Estonia vs Germany being played? A. Le Coq Arena

What television channel is Estonia vs Germany on? Sky have the rights to UEFA European Qualifiers matches in the UK, so it is worth checking the Sky Sports schedule

Where can I stream Estonia vs Germany? If the match is televised on Sky Sports, then subscribers will be able to stream the match live via Sky Go

What was the score when the teams last met? Germany 8-0 Estonia

THE TEAM NEWS

ESTONIA

Estonia recorded their first point of the campaign with a 0-0 draw in Belarus on Thursday, which ended a run of eight consecutive defeats in European Championship qualifying.

Centre-back Joonas Tamm is available again having been suspended for Thursday’s game but coach Martin Reim may keep faith with the same back four after their first competitive clean sheet since November.

Youngster Vladislav Kreida will be hoping to keep his place after being handed his full debut against Belarus, while veteran Konstantin Vassiljev was recalled to the side.

Predicted line-up (4-2-3-1): Lepmets; Teniste, Mets, Baranov, Kallaste; Kait, Kreida; Zenjov, Vassiljev, Ojamaa; Sorga

Unavailable: Klavan (Injured)

Doubtful:

GERMANY

Germany are one of three teams tied on 12 points at the top of Group C so they need to make sure they get the job done and get the three points here.

Coach Joachim Low experimented with a back three in Wednesday’s friendly against Argentina but he is expected to revert to a more familiar system given the number of defenders he is missing.

Centre-back Niklas Stark has been ruled out after missing the Argentina game so Robin Koch is set to partner Niklas Sule again, while Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gundogan and Marco Reus should start after being rested on Wednesday.

Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Neuer; Klostermann, Koch, Sule, Halstenberg; Gundogan, Kimmich, Havertz; Reus, Gnabry, Brandt

Unavailable: Kehrer (Injured), Sane (Injured), Rudiger (Injured), Schulz (Injured), Ginter (Injured), Stark (Injured), Kroos (Injured), Goretzka (Injured), Hector (Injured)

Doubtful: Werner (Illness), Tah (Illness)

THE PREDICTION

Germany thrashed Estonia 8-0 in their last meeting but given the number of key players who Low is without, it is unlikely to be as easy for Die Mannschaft on this occasion. Nevertheless, they should not have too many problems against a team who have found the net just twice in this campaign.

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Philippe Coutinho has enjoyed a positive start to his loan spell at Bayern Munich (Image: GETTY)

Philippe Coutinho is catching the eye with his recent performances in the Bundesliga following a loan move to Bayern Munich.

The Brazilian was deemed surplus to requirements at Barcelona this season, but his recent displays suggest the Catalan club may have been too hasty in shipping out the 27-year-old.

Coutinho rose to fame during a stellar five-year spell at Liverpool, scoring 54 goals and providing 45 assists for the Reds after joining from Inter Milan for just £8.5million in 2013.

And the Anfield club generated a huge profit on their investment when Barcelona made their move in January 2018.

Liverpool were keen to keep hold of Coutinho until at least the end of the 2017/18 campaign but reluctantly agreed to sell after Barca shelled out £105m up front, with a further £37m arriving in performance-related add-ons.

The La Liga giants saw Coutinho as a long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta but an ill-fated 18 months at the Nou Camp followed as the star failed to settle.

He did manage to score 21 goals and supply 11 assists in 76 appearances for Blaugranes but looked out of place in a deeper midfield position and was often overlooked in favour of Ousmane Dembele on the left of the attacking trio.

Barcelona therefore decided to loan the Brazilian to Champions League rivals Bayern Munich this season, but his current statistics suggest manager Ernesto Valverde may have made the wrong decision.

The Brazilian has endured a tough 18 months at Barcelona (Image: GETTY)

Coutinho often found himself rotating with Ousmane Dembele (Image: GETTY)

Coutinho has made eight appearances for Bayern, scoring two goals and providing three assists in a positive start at the Allianz Arena.

His basic numbers are impressive with 84.1 per cent pass accuracy, which only drops to 71.7 per cent in the final third, and he has successfully completed 23 out of 33 attempted passes in the opposition box.

According to Wyscout, the Brazilian has made 16 progressive runs and set up 14 shooting chances in 570 minutes of football, while his own shots per 90 minute ratio of 2.74 is higher than Bayern team-mates Thomas Miller and Ivan Perisic as well as Dembele.

And the key appears to be Coutinho’s deployment in a central attacking midfield position, allowing the 27-year-old to play a more active role in building attacks than when on the left wing at Barcelona.

The playmaker has scored twice and provided three assists already at Bayern (Image: GETTY)

Heatmaps from Barcelona (2018/19), Liverpool (2017/18) and Bayern show Coutinho’s move centrally (Image: WYSCOUT)

The Brazilian has been given the responsibility of starting attacks for his new side (Image: GETTY)

And this is highlighted by his attempted dribbles per 90 minutes, with the star’s average of 6.17 higher than the current Liverpool frontline of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino as well as Muller and Dembele.

The demands of Coutinho’s position mean he does not threaten the opposition’s penalty area like these other more natural forwards, but it is his link-up play that has been most eye-catching this season.

The Bayern ace has provided more key passes per 90 minutes than Salah or Mane, while his average of 9.82 final third passes per 90 minutes is a stand-out statistic.

This data suggests Coutinho is relishing the responsibility of orchestrating attacks for Bayern, with his central deployment allowing him to impact the game far more than when out wide for Barcelona.

Coutinho has been dropping deep to pick up possession and turn (Image: WYSCOUT)

This allows him to run at opposition defences from a central position (Image: WYSCOUT)

His vision has also been on display during his loan spell (Image: WYSCOUT)

Surprisingly, the Brazilian has recently been criticised by German publication Sport Bild for ‘not doing enough’ during Bayern’s defeat to Hoffenheim.

But manager Niko Kovac appears happy enough with his new signing, praising the loanee following his performance against Paderborn.

“Philippe speaks for himself really,” said Kovac.

“I think everyone in the stadium today and everyone who watched the match once again saw the ability he has and the quality he has on the ball.

Coutinho was criticised for his efforts against Hoffenheim (Image: WYSCOUT)

But he scored and provided an assist against Paderborn (Image: GETTY)

Coutinho’s performance against the Bundesliga minnows was praised by Niko Kovac (Image: WYSCOUT)

“At times it really looks like he’s dancing with the ball, there’s no other way of saying it. He knows exactly when, how and what to do with the ball.”

And it seems the Bavarian club know exactly how to get the best out of him, although it remains to be seen if they will take up the £107.6m (€120m) option to buy the playmaker at the end of the season.

Judging by his early performances, Coutinho must surely hope that they do.

Bayern must decide whether to sign Coutinho permanently before June 30 next year (Image: GETTY)

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Greece Coach John van’t Schip believes Italy “can be one of the favourites to win Euro 2020” after maintaining their perfect qualifying record.

The Azzurri beat Greece 2-0 in Rome last night thanks to a Jorginho penalty and deflected Federico Bernardeschi strike, booking their spot at the tournament with seven wins out of seven.

“I would like to congratulate Italy on the victory and their qualification,” said van’t Schip in his Press conference.

“We had a good start to the game and were very disciplined, not giving Italy any space. It was different in the second half, as they really pressed our defenders and we were pushed deeper and deeper. It’s a pity, as we had two good chances before the penalty, but we didn’t take them.

“We knew that we could cause Italy problems on the counter-attack, but after the second goal, it was really difficult to get back into it.”

Topping the group means Italy are now guaranteed playing their three Euro 2020 group games at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.

“Italy have always been a great footballing nation. The crisis they went through two years ago in failing to qualify for the World Cup is behind them now.

“They’ve got excellent defenders, midfielders and talented forwards. Italy can be an excellent outsider for Euro 2020, maybe even one of the favourites. I see no reason why they can’t win.”

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