Germany midfielder Torsten Frings insists he would play himself in Sunday s Euro 2008 final against Spain if he was German coach despite having a fractured rib.
The holding midfielder fractured it in the 1-0 group stage win over Austria on June 16, but just nine days later declared himself fit enough to come off the bench as Germany beat Turkey 3-2 in Wednesday s semi-final.
One of three current survivors from the 2002 World Cup final defeat to Brazil, the 31-year-old is desperate to play in Sunday s final in Vienna and has already told coach Joachim Loew to pick him.
I feel absolutely fit, I hardly have any problems now and I am amazed how quickly I have healed, said Frings.
I was a bit nervous playing in the semi-final, I worried how I would cope i…
Barcelona boss Xavi has claimed there are no friendlies for the Blaugrana, while sidestepping questions over a potential move for Sevilla s Jules Kounde.
The Catalan club continued their pre-season preparations in the United States with a 1-0 victory in an overseas iteration of El Clasico against Real Madrid, thanks to a glorious strike from new recruit Raphinha in Las Vegas.
With Robert Lewandowski handed a club debut, the future continues to look rosy for Barca as they seek to reverse two years of diminishing gains with a high-risk transfer policy to reclaim their crown in La Liga.
Part of that process comes down to a mental belief that every game is there to be won, per their coach, who says that even pre-season tests cannot be interpreted as kick-about gam…
Everton manager David Moyes has made no bones about the fact that his number one target for the opening of the 2008/9 season is the Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher.
The bid is expected to be in the region of around 4 million.
With the departure of Lee Carsley to Birmingham City, a hole has been left ion the midfield where Scottish international would fit in best.
Fletcher may himself be quite keen on the move since he has never quite made it as a regular starter for the double champions and with the likely emergence of both Nani and Anderson as more regular starters this season, his future, for the foreseeable one, may be confined largely to the bench.
Last season the twenty four year old midfielder made only twenty three appearances in all compet…
Antonio Rudiger has been ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing knee surgery, Chelsea have confirmed.
Defender Rudiger hurt his left knee during Chelsea s Premier League draw away to Manchester United on Sunday.
The Germany international had only just returned from two weeks out with a separate knee injury but he will now face a spell on the sidelines after having surgery in Rome to repair his meniscus.
Chelsea will be without Rudiger for this week s Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt, with a final against Valencia or London rivals Arsenal the reward should they progress.
The Blues are on track to return to the Champions League, having established a two-point cushion between themselves and fifth-placed Arsenal in t…