Rafael called in for Brazil friendlies

Ireland captain Robbie Keane is convinced his team will enter Tuesday s Euro 2016 qualifier against world champions Germany full of confidence.

Keane s side thrashed Gibraltar 7-0 in Dublin on Saturday and won 2-1 in Georgia in September to claim a perfect start to their European Championship qualifying campaign, sitting three points ahead of fourth-placed Germany in Group D, while Poland top the standings on goal difference.

Martin O Neill s Ireland were superbly led by Keane against Gibraltar with the veteran forward scoring a hat-trick inside 18 minutes before his team-mates added four more goals after the break.

Ireland have not defeated Germany since 1994, while the Germans famously thrashed Keane and co 6-1 in 2012, but the Irish striker is relishing the pr…

Olympique de Marseille have extended the contracts of key players Mathieu Valbuena and Taye Taiwo.

Midfielder Valbuena, 23, added a year to his previous deal and will stay at the Stade Vélodrome until June 2013 after an impressive season in which he was called up by France for the first time. Nigerian international left-back Taiwo, also 23, will now stay with the French club until June 2011. His previous deal was to expire in summer 2009.

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Chelsea head coach Antoinio Conte has challenged Diego Costa to hit 30 goals this season after offering a ringing endorsement of the striker s talents.

Costa was influential in firing Chelsea to Premier League glory during the 2014-15 season but his faltering form last time around mirrored the Stamford Bridge outfit s shambolic title defence.

Conte s acquisition of Belgium forward Michy Batshuayi from Marseille and links with other strikers led to speculation that Costa s days at the club were numbered.

But the Italian has involved the 27-year-old prominently during pre-season and wants to see Costa focused solely on being a dynamic penalty box presence as he seeks to restore Chelsea to the upper reaches of English football.

Asked whether Costa could hit …

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger could hardly wish for better form ahead of this weekend s North London derby

Arsenal welcome Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates Stadium for Sunday’s North London derby in the Premier League, having gone four games without a win against Spurs in the division.

However, Arsenal are in fine form ahead of this weekend’s meeting while Tottenham are enduring one of their worst run of results in many years, so could the Gunners finally get their revenge?

Tottenham’s form since March 2016 has been a worry

Tottenham have recently hit a slump in form in all competitions, having failed to win their last five games but it’s Spurs’ form since March of last season that has been disappointing. Mauricio Pochettino’s men infamously…

Real Madrid have responded to a report that they are exploring the possibility of joining the Premier League, branding it absurd and impossible .

Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo claimed on Saturday that Madrid president Florentino Perez is looking at taking the club out of LaLiga.

The report said the Premier League was the preferred choice of Perez, who is at loggerheads with LaLiga president Javier Tebas.

Madrid staunchly opposed the new deal between LaLiga and CVC, which was voted in by the majority of clubs and will see around €2.1billion invested into the competition in return for a percentage of television revenue.

Tebas, meanwhile, is a firm opponent of the proposed European Super League, the breakaway competition still being pursued by Madrid,…

Thomas Tuchel has called on Bayern Munich to ignite the spark required to give them hope of a stunning Champions League comeback against Manchester City.

Bayern were beaten 3-0 at City in their quarter-final first leg, leaving Tuchel s side a mountain to climb in Wednesday s return match.

City were imperious at the Etihad Stadium, dominating Bayern despite the visiting coach s claims his team had performed well.

There is understandable talk of the need for a miracle in the German media, with only four teams in Champions League history having overturned a three-goal deficit in a two-legged knockout tie.

But Tuchel knows Bayern will have to go out and grasp the game – and the attention of the Allianz Arena crowd – to have any chance.

We can t c…

Everton are set to land Manchester City striker Jo on a loan deal at Goodison Park, according to the Daily Mail.

The Brazilian striker has failed to live up to expectations at City after moving to Eastlands for £19 million in the summer last year.

Jo arrived at City for a then transfer record, before Robinho joined later that year, but was signed by the club before the arrival of Mark Hughes and it seems the 21-year-old has fallen out of favour under Hughes since failing to make a league appearance in 2009.

Everton boss David Moyes is said to be desperate to land a striker after injuries to Yakubu, Louis Saha and James Vaughan. Tim Cahill has recently had to fill in up front, but with the capture of Jo Moyes will be able to resolve his striking problems …

Hugo Sanchez became a legend at Real Madrid in seven trophy-laden seasons but on Sunday the Mexican will put sentiment aside as his Almeria side look for a first ever win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Legendary striker Sanchez starred for Real between 1985 and 1992, winning five league titles and four Pichichi (top goalscorer) crowns, but now he wants to get one over on his old club.

It will be emotional to return to Real Madrid but I have to put my job first and we will go for the three points, said Sanchez.

I would like to make Almeria history by winning at the Bernabeu for the first time.

The only problem for Sanchez, and Almeria, is that Real can afford no slip-ups as they look to close the six-point gap to frontrunners Barcelona.

Juande Ramos…

Gareth Barry was on target in his 600th Premier League appearance to help Everton to a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough at Goodison Park on Saturday.

The 35-year-old has made an appearance in every Premier League season since making his debut in 1997-98 and it was his equaliser midway through the first half that led Everton to victory.

Barry s strike came three minutes after Boro had gone a goal up in curious fashion when Everton goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg dropped the ball into his own net after colliding with Alvaro Negredo.

After Barry s rapid response, goals from Seamus Coleman and Romelu Lukaku saw the hosts grab a decisive lead before the interval as Boro proved unable to threaten going forward, not recording a single shot on target all game.

It is t…

Ajax captain Davy Klaassen will be hoping to get off to a winning start when the Eredivisie leaders take on Celtic in Thursday s Europa League encounter at the Amsterdam ArenA.

The Dutch giants failed to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League after Rapid Vienna proved too strong in their qualifying tie and have now turned their attention to the Europa League instead.

Joined by Celtic, Fenerbahce and Molde in Group A, Ajax could hardly have been dealt a tougher draw.

The Europa League kicks off against Celtic. I have nothing but good memories of Celtic, Klaassen told the official Ajax website.

It s a beautiful draw. It s a shame that we are not in the Champions League, but the Europa League is great as well.

Normally, we should…