England
Raheem Sterling believes Manchester City and England will reap the benefits of his big-money summer move to the Etihad Stadium. A prolonged transfer came to an end in July when he finally left Liverpool and made the move to City, who made Sterling the most expensive English player in history at £49 million (Dh273.4m). “To go into training every day and see players of that calibre that I am working with, there’s only one thing that you can do and that’s improve,” Sterling said, speaking in a press conference for the first time since his summer move. “They’ve been around for many years, achieving stuff for many years. I am just happy to be in a squad like that and hopefully I continue my development and win trophies in the future with my football club.”
Republic of Ireland
Martin O’Neill has revealed he would be open to extending his contract as Republic of Ireland manager. The 63-year-old Northern Irishman is understood to have been offered an extension to the two-year deal he signed in November 2013 regardless of whether he steers Ireland to Euro 2016 via a play-off double-header against Bosnia-Herzegovina this week. O’Neill confirmed the Football Association of Ireland wanted him to stay, and that he was happy to talk to chief executive John Delaney about it. He said: “If we could qualify, that would be great and we would go on to France; I would be delighted to do that if that’s the case. But if we didn’t qualify, John and myself will sit down and see where we go.”
Fifa
Sepp Blatter is to remain in hospital until next week after suffering what has been described as a “small emotional breakdown”, but his stay will not prevent him from fighting against his provisional ban imposed by Fifa’s ethics committee, his adviser said. Blatter, the outgoing Fifa president who is currently suspended for 90 days, was admitted to hospital in Zurich for a check-up due to stress last week and is expected to remain there until the beginning of next week. His adviser Klaus Stoehlker, his adviser, said: “He is in hospital but he has just been told to relax for a few days and he will be back to work on Tuesday.”
Spain
Real Madrid midfielder Isco has pulled out of the Spain squad for the upcoming international friendlies against England and Belgium with a muscular injury. Isco started in Real Madrid’s 3-2 defeat at Sevilla on Sunday but was replaced in the 63rd minute. He underwent an MRI yesterday which revealed a strained muscle. A statement from the Spanish Football Federation read: “After undergoing several medical tests at the Sanitas-La Moraleja hospital and after analysing the results, and sharing them with his club, Isco has left the national team.”
Hungary
Hungary will look to beat Norway for the first time since 1981 when the sides square off at Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium in the first leg of their Euro 2016 play-off tie tonight. The Hungarians have not competed in a major tournament since the 1986 World Cup. “The next two games are the most important games of my career,” Hungary captain Balazs Dzsudzsak, who plays for Turkish side Bursaspor, told hungarytoday.hu. Hungary’s German coach Bernd Storck will be hoping his side has the upper hand heading into Sunday’s second leg at Budapest’s Groupama Arena. “We want to achieve a good first-leg result in Oslo, which could be a good starting point for us in the second leg,” Storck said.
Lille
Lille have parted company with coach Herve Renard after less than six months in charge, the club have announced. Renard joined the club in May on a three-year contract but with the club struggling in 16th in Ligue 1, Saturday’s draw with Bastia proved to be his last game in charge. A club statement read: “LOSC announce the end, in amicable fashion, of their collaboration with Herve Renard. Herve Renard is no longer the coach of LOSC. First-team preparations will be conducted in the coming days by one of his assistants, Patrick Collot, and the technical staff.”
Japan
Former Japan international striker Kazuyoshi Miura has renewed his contract at Yokohama for 2016 to play his 12th season at the club. Just 15 months short of his 50th birthday, Miura has extended his stay at the J.League Division 2 outfit for next term after continuing to impress, scoring three goals in 16 games so far this season as Yokohama sit safe in 16th place with two matches remaining. The Japanese club announced the news of much-travelled Miura’s new deal at 11:11 local time on yesterday, November 11, in a tribute to the player who wears the No 11 shirt.
* Agencies
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