New Oman coach Paul Le Guen says he wants his team to dare to dream that they can qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Former Lyon, Rangers and PSG coach Le Guen took over as the Oman national team boss in June.
Oman won the 2009 Gulf Cup of Nations under Frenchman Claude Le Roy but failed to progress to the final round of 2010 World Cup qualifiers, while they also missed out on the 2011 Asian Cup.
However, Le Guen, who guided Cameroon to the 2010 World Cup finals, told fifa.com his new side needs to believe in the dream of qualification for the Brazil tournament in three years time.
It’s not so much an aim or target, as a dream: we want to give everything we’ve got and qualify for the FIFA World Cup, Le Guen said.
We know that we’re not…
The England senior international team has been poor in last year.
The Three Lions cruised through the qualification for World 2010 but then simply didn’t show up for the tournament in South Africa.
England fans knew something needed to change and it has slightly but the results haven’t improved.
Weak
Quite frankly any other national team regarded as a top football national as England is would probably be cruising through this qualification group.
However England is making hard work of qualification. England is no longer a force in world football and that’s because the team has been allowed to get complacent.
Reputations
Players have just been picked on reputation, even though Fabio Capello promised to pick players on form. T…
Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has urged Connor Wickham to decide his own future.
Wickham, 21, joined Sunderland from Sheffield Wednesday for £8 million in 2011, but could leave the Stadium of Light on a free transfer in the summer, with the player s current deal set to expire on 30 June 2015.
However, a summer exit would give the Black Cats minimal compensation for Wickham, as Italian Serie A side Lazio continue to be linked with the 21-year-old striker.
Connor is still playing, there has been no ban, Poyet said. I ve not said if you don t sign you don t play.
There hasn’t been different treatment, but he needs to make a decision that’s best for his career. If he wants to go somewhere else and play in Europe, fine, that’s his decision.…
Garry Monk says Manchester City have the depth to cope with their significant list of absentees ahead of Saturday s clash with Swansea City.
The defending Premier League champions could be without four first-team regulars as they look to reverse a poor run of form at the Etihad Stadium this weekend.
Manuel Pellegrini s men have won just one of their last six matches in all competitions and were held to a 2-2 draw at lowly QPR prior to the international break.
The hosts who face Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday are likely to be without the injured Aleksandar Kolarov (ankle), while captain Vincent Kompany (calf), David Silva (knee) and Edin Dzeko (calf) are also doubtful.
However, Swansea boss Monk insists City have the squad to deal wi…
The clock is ticking for clubs across Europe looking to strengthen before the transfer window closes.
As the scramble for last-minute signings intensifies, there are several headline deals nearing completion and here are five of the biggest to keep an eye out for.
KYLIAN MBAPPE (MONACO TO PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN LOAN)
It has been a rapid rise to stardom for Kylian Mbappe, who is primed to swap Ligue 1 champions Monaco for runners-up Paris Saint-Germain.
The 18-year-old, who is also on Real Madrid s wish list, is set to join Neymar at the Parc des Princes in a loan deal that will be made permanent ahead of next season making the France international the world s second most expensive player behind the Brazilian.
Mbappe s rapid pace, smo…
Champions League squads: Diego Costa left out by Chelsea as Manchester United name Ibrahimovic, Wils
Chelsea have left striker Diego Costa out of their squad for the Champions League group stage.
The Spain international has been tipped to return to training with the Premier League champions after failing to secure a move away during the transfer window.
However, the 28-year-old has been omitted from the 25-man list for European duties, which cannot be updated again until January.
Manchester United have surprisingly named Zlatan Ibrahimovic and James Wilson in their own squad.
Ibrahimovic is recovering from a serious knee ligament injury and had been tipped to return to action in January, but his place on Jose Mourinho s list implies that he could be available for the latter part of the group stage.
Wilson, meanwhile, has been drafted into Mourin…
France boss Didier Deschamps insists he will continue to select players on merit and not in response to buzz ahead of his team s final two World Cup qualifiers.
The world champions sit top of Group D and will qualify for Qatar 2022 if they win either of their upcoming matches against Kazakhstan and Finland.
At a press conference ahead of the two games, Deschamps was asked why he has not yet selected Lens right-back Jonathan Clauss, despite the player making a buzz in Ligue 1 this season.
A buzz? But who is making the buzz? Deschamps asked with a smile. I watch the matches, so a lot of players, including this Lens player, of course. Buzz or no buzz, that s not what will lead me to select a player or not.
Of course, [Clauss] is one of the players …
Leonardo Bonucci says he turned down the chance to sign for Real Madrid in order to return to Juventus.
Bonucci left Juve for fellow Serie A side AC Milan in 2017 but re-signed for the Italian champions after a single season with the Rossoneri.
Having previously claimed to have been a target for Manchester City, Bonucci earlier confirmed he was pursued by their Premier League rivals Manchester United before rejoining Juve.
And ahead of his side s Champions League last-16 first leg away to Atletico Madrid, Bonucci revealed the tournament s holders Real Madrid tried to sign him too.
It is the truth: Madrid looked for me, Bonucci told AS. It has been a pride and a pleasure to be in their sights, it means that I have worked well in these years.
But …
Chelsea head coach Graham Potter thinks it is unfair for Raheem Sterling to be the focus of criticism when the whole team is failing to match expectations.
The Blues had enjoyed a solid start to Potter s tenure in charge, going unbeaten in his first nine matches, but a chastening 4-1 defeat away to his former club Brighton and Hove Albion saw the honeymoon period end in abrupt fashion.
A slender 2-1 win over Dinamo Zagreb followed in the Champions League, but Arsenal inflicted a second successive Premier League loss on Chelsea at the weekend as they left Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 victory.
Chelsea s performance in that London derby was desperately underwhelming, but Potter does not want one player taking the brunt of criticism, with Sterling – who struggled aga…
Manchester United has been fined £82,000 over two separate FA charges from their Premier League games with Newcastle United and Chelsea last month.
The club faced claims they had failed to control their players surrounding flashpoint incidents in both matches, crowding match officials after a disallowed goal against the Magpies and for a penalty concession against the Blues.
Now, having admitted to both charges, United have seen punishments handed out by the FA, with a heavy combined financial sanction for their troubles.
Manchester United has been fined £82,000 in total for breaching FA Rule E20.1 during its Premier League matches against Newcastle United on Sunday 16 October and Chelsea on Saturday 22 October, read a statement.
Manchester United adm…