Italian football has lost appeal through racism and financial issues – FA president

Gab Marcotti shares his takeaways from a Milan derby that ‘had everything,’ as Inter move up to third with a victory over their biggest rivals.

Alexis Nunes and Ale Moreno flex their knowledge in predicting European Qualifying fixtures containing Belgium, England and France.

Alejandro Moreno addresses the latest rumours surrounding Alexis Sanchez, Sadio Mane, Antoine Griezmann and more in Transfer Rater. The president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Gabriele Gravina, says he is working hard to restore credibility to the Italian game after years in which he claims it has “lost its appeal.”
Racism and violence have continued to overshadow Italian football and in the last week alone Inter Milan were handed a suspended sentence for racist chanting in Sunday’s Milan derby and Fiorentina fans were condemned for unsavoury chants aimed at a dying Cagliari fan.
Gravina was elected president of…

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Kane: England winning Nations League would beat World Cup run

With the UEFA Nations League semifinals set, Craig Burley believes a resurgent Netherlands side will give England all they can handle.

Netherlands’ Virgil van Dijk insists there is a new buzz around the national team and they are ready to face anyone including a resurgent and impressive England side.
England captain Harry Kane has said winning the inaugural UEFA Nations League would surpass last year’s run to the World Cup semifinals.
The striker was a key member of the squad that made history in Russia under Gareth Southgate, winning the Golden Boot and helping England reach the final four of a major tournament for the first time in 22 years.
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England begin their qualifying campaign for Euro 2020 against Czech Republic at Wembley on Friday before travelling to Montenegro for a second qualifier…

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England captain Kane impressed with Hudson-Odoi in first training session

England manager Gareth Southgate wasted no time in selecting Declan Rice in his latest England squad, citing the West Ham midfielder’s versatility.
England captain Harry Kane said Callum Hudson-Odoi has looked “hungry” in training after receiving his first international call up by boss Gareth Southgate.
The Tottenham forward was speaking to the press at St. George’s park on Tuesday afternoon, and said he was impressed with the new additions to the squad, but in particular 18-year-old Hudson-Odoi.
Editors’ Picks

ESPN FC’s experts ranked the best men’s players and managers in world football. Check it out.

On Feb. 8, a fire at an uninspected youth dorm at Flamengo killed 10 young players. How?

– Follow Transfer Talk LIVE
– Fantasy: Set lineups, check scores!

The Chelsea winger, who won the under-17 World Cup with England in 2017, is yet to start a Premier League game for this season, but was called up…

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Low’s new Germany comes at a price as Hummels, Boateng and Muller are hard to replace

Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng are two of the finest German defenders around.
And just like that, they were gone. The international careers of World Cup winners Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller came to an end on Tuesday, when Germany manager Joachim Low personally told the trio that their services were no longer required.
Axing the very players that his coaching staff had resolutely defended against all critics only five months earlier, calling them the team’s “important axis” was a hugely surprising statement of intent by Low, both in terms of timing and rationale.
So…

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Ukraine drop Rakitskiy after defender’s Russia move

Yaroslav Rakitsky’s move to Zenit was unpopular in Ukraine.
Ukraine have dropped defender Yaroslav Rakitskiy from the national team after he joined Russian club Zenit St. Petersburg.
Rakitskiy was not included in Ukraine’s squad for their upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Portugal and Luxembourg, his country’s first games since he signed for Zenit in January .
Ukraine coach Andriy Shevchenko has not explained the decision to drop Rakitskiy, who has played 54 times for his country.
Rakitsky’s move to Zenit was unpopular in Ukraine,…

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European Championships qualifying draw: Germany, Netherlands in Group C, easier draws for England, Spain

The Netherlands trailed 2-0 with five minutes to play at Germany, but two late goals earned the Oranje a spot in the first Nations League finals.
Netherlands and Germany were grouped together in qualification for the 2020 European Championship at Sunday’s draw in Dublin.
Germany, who dropped into pot two for the draw after their dismal UEFA Nations League campaign, will also play Northern Ireland, Estonia and Belarus in Group C when qualification begins in March.
Holders Portugal will face Ukraine and Serbia in a tricky five-team Group B, while world champions France drew Iceland and Turkey in Group H.
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Kylian Mbappe and the curse of the World Cup
Is there such a thing as peaking too early? Given all that Kylian Mbappe, just 19, has accomplished, we might soon find out.

Three-times champions Spain were drawn…

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Republic of Ireland confirm Mick McCarthy as manager, Robbie Keane as coach

Mick McCarthy, second from right, with, from left, assistant coach Terry Connor, FAI chief John Delaney and Robbie Keane.
Republic of Ireland have confirmed the appointment of Mick McCarthy as their new manager, with record goal scorer Robbie Keane hired as a coach.
McCarthy replaces Martin O’Neill, who left after their relegation for League B in the UEFA Nations League, for his second spell in charge, having taken Ireland to the 2002 World Cup during his first.
The Football Association of Ireland confirmed that the ex-Wolves and Ipswich manager will be in charge for two years, before being replaced by former Dundalk…

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France’s Blaise Matuidi puts international retirement on hold for Euro 2020 glory

ESPN FC’s Gab Marcotti and Craig Burley have a heated debate on Joachim Low’s future following Germany’s defeat against France.

Germany won’t be appearing in the Nations League finals this summer as they fall 2-1 to France and face the prospect of relegation from League A.

France captain Hugo Lloris believes Paul Pogba gets judged unfairly because of the record transfer fee Manchester United paid for the midfielder in 2016.
Blaise Matuidi has said he considered quitting international football after France’s World Cup win, but wants to bow out on a Euro 2020 victory.
Matuidi, 31, was a central figure as Les Bleus’ became world champions in Russia last summer, and with coach Didier Deschamps having a wide range of other options in midfield, it seemed an opportune moment for the Juventus man to bow out.
Matuidi admitted the thought had crossed his mind, but that the prospect of bringing the curtain down on his international…

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