Fifa set to expand World Cup to 48 teams – and bank $1bn in extra revenue January 9, 2017 Controversial but highly lucrative proposals to expand the World Cup from 32 teams to 48 from 2026 are expected to be rubber-stamped by governing body Fifa on Tuesday. Critics say the plans, advanced by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, will dilute the overall standard, produce less exciting matches and could increase the likelihood of teams colluding. [...]
Fifa World Cup expansion vote Q+A: What are the proposals and how do they work? January 9, 2017 Fifa's Council is expected to approve plans to expand the World Cup to a record 48 teams from 2026 when it meets to vote on the issue on Tuesday. Here is the lowdown on how it works. What is being proposed? The first expansion of the World Cup since 1998, from 32 teams to 48. [...]
Jurgen Klopp to field Liverpool’s top brass against Southampton as playmaker prepares to make comeback January 9, 2017 Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp insists he will field the strongest line-up at his disposal during his side’s EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Wednesday. Klopp has also confirmed that Philippe Coutinho is primed for a return to action after being sidelined for more than six weeks with an ankle [...]
Chelsea youngster Nathan Ake vows to force his way into Antonio Conte’s first-team plans January 9, 2017 Chelsea youngster Nathan Ake has vowed to force his way into manager Antonio Conte’s plans after returning to Stamford Bridge having had his loan spell at Bournemouth cut short. The 21-year-old former Feyenoord player made 12 appearances for the Cherries, scoring three goals including a last-gasp winner against Liverpool last month, after moving to the [...]
Hull boss Marco Silva determined to keep hold of West Ham target, while Jose Mourinho ranks EFL Cup semi-final greater than Liverpool showdown January 9, 2017 Newly-appointed Hull boss Marco Silva has vowed to hold on to the club’s top-scorer Robert Snodgrass amid interest from fellow Premier League strugglers West Ham. Hull turned down an offer, believed to be in the region of £3m, for Scotland winger Snodgrass, who has spearheaded his side’s bid for top-flight survival by netting nine goals [...]
Justin Thomas survived extraordinary finish to beat Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth shows promising signs, Rory McIlroy to start year in unusual circumstances, and why Jim Furyk can be a great captain January 9, 2017 He won well in the end but it took an extraordinary finish before Justin Thomas clinched his second PGA Tour title already this season at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii on Sunday. Thomas led by two overnight and stretched his advantage over the red-hot Hideki Matsuyama to five shots, only to see that gap [...]
Eoin Morgan reveals his family were deeply offended by criticism of his decision to skip Bangladesh tour January 9, 2017 Limited-overs skipper Eoin Morgan has revealed that the criticism he received following his controversial decision to skip England’s tour of Bangladesh caused deep offence to his family. Morgan, together with opener Alex Hales, declined to travel to Bangladesh in October amid security concerns, a stance which England director of cricket Andrew Strauss said was “disappointing”. A [...]
Chris Robshaw to miss Six Nations after England flanker undergoes shoulder surgery January 9, 2017 England head coach Eddie Jones has suffered another major injury blow less than two weeks before he names the squad tasked with retaining the Six Nations after Chris Robshaw was ruled out of the tournament. Harlequins flanker Robshaw, a mainstay of England’s flawless resurgence under Jones last year, was due to have surgery on a [...]
President Xi loves football, but China’s spending spree won’t last long says ex-Manchester City man Sun Jihai January 9, 2017 Premier League clubs need not worry about losing their best players to the China, says former Manchester City defender Sun Jihai who predicts a slowdown in spending from the emerging football power. Chinese teams’ spending has exploded as some of the country’s richest men acquired football clubs in the wake of President Xi Jinping revealing [...]
How the Africa Cup of Nations affects Premier League clubs January 9, 2017 While January offers the opportunity for squads to be bolstered before the campaign’s business end, some Premier League managers are already counting the cost of international call-ups for the Africa Cup of Nations. A quick browse of the list of top-flight absentees for the tournament in Gabon, which begins on Saturday, shows those sides who [...]