Former Germany international Gerald Asamoah has tipped his nation to go close to winning the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The Ghana-born Schalke forward, who represented Germany 43 times between 2001 and 2006, believes Joachim Low s men are well-placed to go all the way.

But he is wary of several other countries, including Brazil, Argentina and Spain, as well as Chile.

I felt we could ve already won it in 2010but we have an even better chance this time around, Asamoah told the Bundesliga website about Germany s chances.

The boys have matured, plus a number of quality players have come through.

I firmly believe Germany can become world champions, although they re of course not the only ones to have improved in recent years.

Like most, Asamoah believes th…

Udinese s Czech striker Matej Vydra wants to return to the Premier League permanently following his loan spell with West Brom.

The 22-year-old has spent the last three seasons away from his parent club with Belgian side Club Brugge, Championship outfit Watford and finally West Brom.

Vydra scored 22 times while at Vicarage Road and, despite struggling for regular playing time at West Brom, managed three goals in nine starts during a turbulent season for the Premier League club.

Having come close to relegation after replacing Steve Clarke with Pepe Mel, West Brom managed to secure their top-flight status and Vydra is eager for a return to England.

I am a Udinese player but I have spoken to my agent and he says there s interest in me in England and Germany, he to…

World Cup-winning boss Marcello Lippi stepped down as head coach of China following their Asian Cup exit on Thursday.

Lippi confirmed his departure after China lost 3-0 to Iran in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi.

The 70-year-old Italian and former Juventus coach, who guided Italy to 2006 World Cup glory, was appointed by China in 2016 following three successive leagues with Guangzhou Evergrande.

This match ends my contract with China Team, Lippi said. For me, it has been such an honour to have coached the team of such an important country like China.

I tried my best during the period and the team have improved and got better. I want to thank everyone for your support.

Perhaps many had expected the eventual result against Iran. …

Chelsea striker Diego Costa looks set to leave the club, leaving the door open to the arrive of Romelu Lukaku

Romelu Lukaku’s situation at Everton took a very definitely twist earlier this week when the Belgian international stated that he knew which club he would be joining this summer.

Speculation has been rife that he would return to former club Chelsea this summer.

However, a move to the Blues seemed unlikely, as Spanish international Diego Costa was already at the club and undisputed first choice striker.

There has also been talk of Costa moving on since the January transfer window. Now he has revealed that boss Antonio Conte has told him that he does feature in the Italian’s plans.

Told by text message he can leave

Costa is quot…

Manchester City have cut short Lukas Nmecha s season-long loan to Wolfsburg, instead sending the striker to Middlesbrough after he failed to score in Germany.

The 21-year-old, who has played for both England and Germany at youth level, joined Wolfsburg at the start of the season but struggled to make an impact.

Nmecha made 12 appearances for his loan club in all competitions but started only once and did not find the net.

City recalled the striker on Friday and loaned him back out to Championship side Boro, where he joins Patrick Roberts a team-mate in Manchester who endured a similarly tough stretch at Norwich City.

Straight to work

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro)

Nmecha spent the 2018-19 season on loan at Preston North End, having appe…

Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to Arsene Wenger, describing the Frenchman and Alex Ferguson as sweet enemies .

Mourinho was involved in a fierce rivalry with the Arsenal and Manchester United managers during his two spells at Chelsea and then again with Wenger after taking over the reins at Old Trafford in 2016.

Mourinho s first stint at Chelsea started the season after Arsenal s legendary 2003-04 campaign, which saw them lift the Premier League trophy without suffering defeat – an achievement that saw them christened the Invincibles .

The Portuguese, who has been out of a job since being dismissed by United in December, looks back fondly on his battles with Wenger and Ferguson and believes the former Arsenal boss deserves more credit for guiding the Gunners…

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Liverpool are set to welcome Brighton and Hove Albion to Anfield on Saturday afternoon for what should be a very interesting match within the 10th round of the 2021-22 season in the Premier League.

Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp s team have spilled a couple of points so far, but they remain the only unbeaten team in the Premier League this term, and that says a lot about the way they ve been playing. It s as if they are extremely keen to prove that the woes of last season, which still saw them finish third against all odds, were all down to the incredibly bad luck they had with injuries in the centre-back department.

Be that as it may, those dropped points are the reason why they sit second to Chelsea in the table with 21 to their nam…

Lionel Messi felt hurt when it emerged Barcelona president Joan Laporta had hoped the six-time Ballon d Or winner would play for free in order to stay at Camp Nou.

Messi left Barcelona in August after spending his entire professional career to that point with the club, his contract having expired at the end of June.

Barca expected Messi to be re-signed after they agreed a new contract with him, but LaLiga ultimately blocked them from doing so as the league refused to let the Blaugrana circumvent salary cap rules.

Due to suffering €480million in losses over the previous financial year, during which their debts increased to €1.4billion, Barca saw their salary cap reduced by €280m for 2021-22.

That left them with a spending limit of €97m, less than a…

Stoke midfielder Rory Delap still cannot quite believe he is still playing in the English Premier League.

The 35-year-old has been an integral player for the Potters since they gained promotion to the top-flight in 2008, and due to their hard work they have attracted big name players like Peter Crouch and Jonathon Woodgate to the club.

Delap credits manager Tony Pulis with establishing Stoke City in the Premier League and gaining European football for the club.

If I was being brutally honest, I wouldn t have thought five years ago that I d still be playing at this level, but I ve dug in, Delap said.

When I came to the club, the gaffer said this is where he wanted to be and asked who wanted to be with him, and he and the chairman have kept their promis…

Portugal must overcome a two-leg play-off against Bosnia and Herzegovina if they are to reach next year s European Championship finals.

The draw for the Euro 2012 qualifying play-offs took place in Krakow on Thursday, with Portugal, captained by Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo, handed a challenging tie against Balkan opposition.

Bosnia finished just one point behind France in Group D of qualifying, with a late goal from Samir Nasri in the final game scuppering their hopes of an automatic berth in Poland-Ukraine.

The tie will be a replay of their 2010 World Cup play-off in November 2009, which Portugal won 2-0 on aggregate.

The Republic of Ireland received arguably the kindest tie, drawn to play against Estonia, who have never reached a World Cup or Eu…