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Paris St Germain captain Marquinhos insists they cannot afford to waste the opportunity of securing a place in the Champions League knockout stages.

The Ligue 1 side face Group F leaders Borussia Dortmund in Germany knowing victory will see them progress as winners, while a draw – providing Newcastle do not beat AC Milan – would be enough to see them through as runners-up.

There is even the fail-safe of a draw on Tyneside putting them through regardless of their own result but Marquinhos wants the team the seize the initiative themselves.

on !

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English)

“If I thought this team didn’t have the character to win, I would have stayed at home,” he said.

“This is the type of match that everyo…

Germany s first game following their World Cup disappointment ended in a routine 2-0 friendly victory over Peru, though Kai Havertz faltered from the penalty spot.

Hansi Flick s team bowed out in the group stage in Qatar, but began their preparations for Euro 2024 in convincing fashion on Saturday.

Niclas Fullkrug s double had put Germany into a commanding lead in Mainz by the time Havertz hit the upright with a 75th-minute spot-kick.

His finish on the rebound was disallowed due to no other player touching the ball, though it was merely a small blot on an otherwise accomplished Germany display.

Havertz and Fullkrug were rare bright sparks from the World Cup, and it was the duo who combined for the opening goal on Saturday when the latter finished crisply …

Manchester United again gifted Sevilla two goals as they crashed out of the Europa League following a 3-0 defeat in the away leg of their quarter-final.

Two late own goals at Old Trafford had seen Thursday s match at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan kick off with the tie all square at 2-2.

And another desperate defensive display saw United eliminated, with Youssef En-Nesyri helping himself to a brace after errors from Harry Maguire and David de Gea.

Loic Bade was also on target as Sevilla cruised through courtesy of a 5-2 aggregate success, with Juventus next in the semi-finals.

United had been quick out of the blocks at home last week, but they contributed to their own early downfall this time as Sevilla broke through in the eighth minute.

De Gea fed the ba…

Mario Gomez insists the achievement of winning Euro 2016 with Germany would not be dampened by his omission for his nation s World Cup triumph.

The 30-year-old was overlooked for the group that Joachim Low took to Brazil in 2014, but has been called up for the upcoming friendlies with France and Netherlands.

Gomez has scored eight times in 11 Super Lig appearances for Besiktas this season, prompting the Germany coach to select him for first time since September 2014.

Asked if glory in France would be tarnished by missing out on a place at the World Cup, he told Kicker: No. It would be the greatest and most beautiful title, alongside the Champions League. It would be tremendous.

Being at the Euro 2016 would be the highlight of a hopefully successful …

Of all the individual achievements in Cristiano Ronaldo s career, this one may well rank the highest. 

The Portugal star is now the leading goalscorer in the history of international men s football, having reached 110 against the Republic of Ireland in World Cup qualifying on Wednesday despite seeing a first-half penalty saved.

Ronaldo surpassed the tally of 109 set by Iran great Ali Daei, a figure once thought unlikely ever to be beaten, in the 89th minute and moved onto 111 with a stoppage-time header in the Algarve to complete his double.

To honour the new Manchester United forward s latest record, Stats Perform picked out perhaps the 10 greatest goals he has scored in his remarkable career  

Manchester United v Portsmouth: January …

Pep Guardiola said Erling Haaland s hunger for goals reminded him of his time working with Lionel Messi after the Norwegian opened his Manchester City account.

Pre-season arrival Haaland scored both goals in City s 2-0 win at West Ham on Sunday as the Premier League champions got their 2022-23 campaign off to a flying start.

However, in a post-match interview with Sky Sports, Haaland intimated he was unhappy not to have scored a hat-trick, as he did on his debut for previous club Borussia Dortmund against Augsburg in January 2020.

Speaking at a media conference after the victory over the Hammers, Guardiola praised his new striker s desire and compared him to Barcelona legend Messi, saying: That s good, I like it.

I was fortunate as manager to be with Mes…

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has confirmed the Reds owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG) are exploring a sale of the club but says there is no urgency for a deal to be completed soon.

Reports suggested last week that Liverpool had been put up for sale by FSG, who acquired the club from Tom Hicks and George Gillett in 2010.

The club s ownership group consequently released a statement saying it was seeking outside investment but remained fully committed to the success of Liverpool, both on and off the pitch .

On Wednesday, FSG partner Sam Kennedy, who is also the president and chief executive of the Boston Red Sox, revealed there has been a lot of interest in the club since that announcement, but said it was early days in terms of a deal being struck.

While Ke…

Benfica head coach Rui Vitoria has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2020.

Vitoria joined Benfica in 2015 and his old deal was set to expire at the end of the 2017-18 season.

However, he has penned fresh terms with the Lisbon club and is excited about the future at Estadio de Luz.

It is a huge pleasure to work in a club of this magnitude, he told Benfica s official website.

Rui Vitória renova até 2019/2020!

— SL Benfica (@SLBenfica)

My career was built step by step. This will continue to make me happy every day and I have passion in what I do.

Now, the aim is to continue with this project, to have the greatness that Benfica has and to look to the future.

I feel more and more integral in t…

Thomas Muller has extended his deal with Bayern Munich until the end of the 2023-24 campaign, the Bundesliga champions have announced.

The Germany international, who has spent his entire 14-season senior career with Bayern, was due to be out of contract at the end of the next campaign.

However, after playing a vital part in the Bavarian giants 10th successive league triumph this season, Muller and Bayern have agreed to fresh terms.

I m delighted to have extended my contact with FC Bayern Munich until 2024, Muller told the club s official website on Tuesday.

The journey we ve been on since I joined the FCB academy in 2000 has been a fantastic success story up to now.

It gives me immense pleasure to hold up the red colours year after year, on and…

France s build-up to the World Cup was dominated by talk of the so-called holders curse and Didier Deschamps uncertain future.

A few weeks later Les Bleus are on the verge of becoming the first reigning champions to reach the final since Brazil in 1998 – you have to go back another 50 years to the last time a European nation achieved such a feat when Italy did so in 1938.

Deschamps preparations were not helped by injuries to important players, but France s ruthlessness going forward has inspired another deep run into the tournament after seeing off England in the quarter-finals despite arguably being second best.

France go into Wednesday s semi-final at Al Bayt Stadium against Morocco as overwhelming favourites.

It will be the defending champions sevent…