Lehmann wants Germany swansong against England

Uruguay head coach Oscar Tabarez is confident star forward Luis Suarez will be fit for the Copa America in Brazil.

Suarez, who scored 25 goals in all competitions this season, will miss Barcelona s Copa del Rey final against Valencia on Saturday after undergoing knee surgery.

The surgery put Suarez in doubt for next month s Copa America – with Uruguay set to open their campaign against Ecuador on June 16 – however Tabarez has high hopes .

I think yes, I hope so, he s working well, Tabarez told reporters when asked if Suarez will be fit for the tournament.  I can t give you details but he keeps us updated through videos and images.

He s working on his recovery and I know the meaning Luis gives to these things, I know he ll give 100 per cent to be …

German second-tier club Union Berlin have extended the contract of midfielder Benjamin Kohler after he was diagnosed with stomach cancer.

Union Berlin have extended the contract of midfielder Benjamin Kohler, who was diagnosed with a rare form of stomach cancer earlier this week.

Kohler vowed to fight the illness with everything I ve got on Tuesday after doctors found a malignant tumour.

And Union, who play in the second tier of German football, have demonstrated their support for the 34-year-old by adding a year to his contract, which was set to run out at the end of the 2014-15 campaign.

Benny is and will remain an important part of our team, said Union coach Norbert Duwel.

His illness is a shock to all of us, but we are sure that Benny will…

Roma have confirmed the sale of Marco D Alessandro to Atalanta for €2million.

The winger, who has featured for Roma just three times, spent last season on loan at Cesena, helping the club to promotion from Serie B.

D Alessandro will now get a chance to test himself on a regular basis in Italy s top flight after moving to Atalanta.

Roma, who were runners-up to champions Juventus last season, also revealed on Friday that Marquinho has agreed a €1million season-long loan move to Al Ittihad.

The Brazilian has made 56 appearances for Roma, whom he represented on loan before signing a permanent deal in 2012.

However, he was shipped out to Verona last season and will now head to Saudi Arabia.

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Northern Ireland’s Euro 2024 qualifying misery continued as they fell to a 1-0 defeat to Kazakhstan after the long trip to Astana.

It was a fifth consecutive defeat in this campaign, and the fourth time in the last five Michael O’Neill’s injury-ravaged side have been unable to muster a goal.

Kazakhstan put the first nail in the coffin of Northern Ireland’s qualifying hopes with their smash-and-grab 1-0 win in Belfast in June, and added another here with Maxim Samorodov’s 27th-minute strike enough to take three points.

Northern Ireland can only envy the progress of a side ranked 40 places below them, with this Kazakhstan’s fourth win in Group H, keeping them in the thick of the qualification fight.

O’Neill has more than enough capital – bot…

Celtic are closing in on the signing of Aston Villa winger Scott Sinclair.

Manager Brendan Rodgers strongly hinted that a move was close on Friday after the Championship side s manager, Roberto Di Matteo, confirmed a new bid had been made by the Scottish champions.

Reports suggest the clubs have agreed a £3.5million deal and that Sinclair will be in Glasgow for a medical this weekend.

Celtic are eager to make a signing before Sunday, which is the final day they can register players for their pivotal Champions League play-off tie against Hapoel Beer Sheva.

Rodgers managed Sinclair, 27, for two seasons at Swansea City.

There s no smoke without fire and there s been a lot of smoke, said Rodgers.

Scott s a player I know well. I had him in a…

Neighbouring countries England and Wales continue their Euro 2014 journey with a highly anticipated match that will arguably be the most important one so far.

The Three Lions are keen to get past the opening disappointment and their 1-1 draw vs Russia as they need to win in order to stay in the competition. Harry Kane had a silent night against the Soviet Union team, but the Premier League top scorer from last season is expected to up his game and get on the score sheet against Welsh.

On the other side, Real Madrid star Gareth Bale scored his nation’s first-ever goal at a major tournament inspiring a 2-1 win over Slovakia and former Tottenham winger will be under the spotlight in tonight’s game as well.

Betfair have prepared a special new customer enhanced o…

Manchester United s Tom Cleverley will miss England s forthcoming friendly matches against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

The midfielder picked up a calf injury during the Premier League champions dramatic 5-5 draw against West Brom on the last day of the season and has not recovered in time to be available for his country.

In withdrawing, Cleverley joins an absentee list that includes forward Andy Carroll and midfielders Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere, all of whom are out through injury.
Jack Rodwell of Manchester City was last week called up to cover Cleverley s absence, but has himself struggled for full fitness during the 2012-13 season.
His last England appearance was in a 1-0 victory against Sweden in November 2011, and the former Everton man will hope to a…

PSV Eindhoven midfielder Kevin Strootman is close to becoming David Moyes’ first signing at Manchester United, theunderstands.

The former Everton boss originally registered an interest in the Dutch international some months ago, requesting detailed scouting reports on the player with a view to him replacing Marouane Fellaini should he move on.

Manchester United have been on the lookout for a new centre midfielder following the retirement of Paul Scholes, with moves for Fellaini, Juventus’ Claudio Marchiso and Barcelona duo Cesc Fabregas and Thiago Alcantara all mooted.

Strootman helped PSV to a second place finish in the Dutch Eredivise last season, scoring six goals in thirty-five league appearances.

The 23 year old is currently in Israel as …

John Stones’ injury has given England manager Gareth Southgate the chance to explore his centre-back options in the Euro 2024 qualifiers against Malta and North Macedonia.

The City defender was forced off with a problem in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Young Boys with boss Pep Guardiola admitting it is “deep bad news”.

Stones only returned to action in October after a two-month absence with hamstring and hip problems but Southgate had no hesitation in starting him in the important qualifying win over Italy.

But with qualification for the summer’s tournament in Germany already secured, Southgate – who names his squad on Thursday – can afford to look at his back-up options.

Brighton captain Lewis Dunk and AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori start…

David Villa closed in on Samuel Eto o at the top of the goalscoring charts scoring his 24th and 25th goals of the season as Valencia defeated Real Betis 2-1 to boost their Champions League hopes.

Spanish international Villa struck the opener on 65 minutes and grabbed a second in the 79th minute as Valencia closed to within two points of third-placed Sevilla and opened up a six-point gap over rivals Villarreal and Atletico Madrid.

Villa may be heading for a big summer move but his loyalty to Valencia remains unquestioned and he has scored 25 out of their 60 league goals this season and is now just one goal behind Barcelona s Eto o.

Valencia and Villa s next challenge is a home match against Barcelona this Saturday when they want to avenge their 4-0 thrashing earl…