Italy and Serbia have drawn their first match at the 2009 UEFA Under-21 Championships 0-0.
The Italians were clearly the stronger side throughout the game but failed to convert that dominance. Serbia keeper Brkic made several crucial safes to keep his side alive.
The Italians are considered one of the favorites for this tournament, although Pierluigi Casiraghi s men will have to be more precise up front if they want to cause their opponents any real danger.
Earlier on Tuesday, Sweden beat Belarus 5-1 to leave the hosts in first place in this group.
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Barcelona have been dealt a double injury blow with the Catalans revealing that Alejandro Balde will undergo hamstring surgery in Finland.
Fellow defender Sergio Roberto is also set for a spell on the sidelines with an Achilles problem.
“Tests show that first-team player Alejandro Balde has an injury to the tendon in his right hamstring,” Barcelona said on X, formerly Twitter.
Tests show that first team player Alejandro Balde has an injury to the tendon in his right hamstring. In the coming days he will undergo a surgical procedure at the hands of Dr. Lasse Lempainen, under the supervision of the Club s medical staff, in Turku, Finland. Once the…
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona)
“In the coming days he will undergo a surgical procedure at …
Manchester United will attempt to re-sign Paul Pogba from Juventus in the summer, .
The midfielder left Old Trafford for Italy in the summer of 2012, and has gone on to make one hundred and thirteen appearances in all competitions, scoring twenty-two goals and was part of the squads that won Serie A in both 2013 and 2014.
Internationally, he has five goals in twenty-two outings for France, and was part of their squad for last summer’s World Cup finals in Brazil, with one of his strikes coming in the 2-0 win over Nigeria in the last sixteen of that tournament.
During his time with United, he mad just seven appearances, all of which coming as a substitute, though he could be set to return to the club after just three years away with Louis van Gaal considerin…
Mario Gotze insists he never considered seeking a move away from Bayern Munich before this season.
Gotze scored the extra-time winner for Germany against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final but his struggles to nail down a regular starting spot with the Bundesliga champions continued.
Now in his third season at the Allianz Arena since a controversial switch from Borussia Dortmund, the 23-year-old conceded that missing out on selection for big games was not easy but maintained that he is happy at Bayern.
The last two years were certainly like a maturing process for me, he told Suddeutsche Zeitung.
I feel very, very happy here. I am glad to be a Bayern player.
I would love to be a face of FC Bayern. I ve played a good part in the first two year…
Karim Benzema will have to sit out Sunday s derby, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has announced.
The France international came off with a knee injury in Madrid s Champions League win at Celtic earlier this month and has not featured since.
Ancelotti previously said Benzema could be fit for the derby with Atletico Madrid this weekend, but also noted caution at the time by saying if he did not recover, he would also not be available for the upcoming international break.
With Benzema absent from Didier Deschamps squad announcement for Les Bleus this week, it seemed unlikely he would feature at the Wanda Metropolitano, which Ancelotti confirmed at his press conference on Saturday, saying: I m not saying [who will play up front], Benzema won t be there.
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Arsenal named 15-year-old Ethan Nwaneri on the bench for their clash with Brentford, where Fabio Vieira will make his first Premier League start due to Martin Odegaard and Oleksandr Zinchenko s absences.
Nwaneri could become the youngest player in Premier League history – surpassing Harvey Elliot s top-flight debut for Fulham, aged just 16 years and 30 days – should he be brought on by Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners were without captain Odegaard after he sustained an injury in training, with Vieira taking his place behind Gabriel Jesus to make his first league start since arriving from Porto in June.
Zinchenko was another absentee with Kieran Tierney in the starting XI at left-back, while Thomas Partey returned from a thigh injury to replace Albert Sambi Lokon…
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger hailed Nicklas Bendtner s skills after a virtuoso display in Wednesday s 2-0 Premier League win over Hull City.
The Dane s inclusion in Arsenal s XI at the expense of Olivier Giroud came as a surprise, but Bendtner produced a superb performance, scoring in just the second minute for his first goal for the club since March 2011 and troubling Hull s defence throughout.
Mesut Ozil grabbed Arsenal s second, as Wenger s side dominated on home turf to maintain their four-point advantage at the Premier League summit.
After seeing first-team opportunities dry up, Bendtner has expressed his desire to quit the Emirates Stadium, but Wenger retains faith in the 25-year-old striker.
It was a very convincing performance, the Frenchman said. Bendtner …
Manchester City s director of football Txiki Begiristain is confident of beating Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League round of 16.
Manuel Pellegrini s side reached the knockout stages for the first time in their history after finishing second behind holders Bayern Munich in Group D, completing their group games with a 3-2 triumph at the Allianz Arena.
In Monday s draw City were paired against La Liga champions Barcelona in one of the standout ties.
And Begiristain who enjoyed a playing spell at Barca as well as serving as the club s director of football believes City are capable of ousting the 2011 Champions League winners.
I am very confident because our manager Manuel Pellegrini knows Barcelona perfectly, he told Sky Sports News.
We have to be ready fo…
Wolves and Nigeria goalkeeper Carl Ikeme has announced his retirement from football.
The 32-year-old was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2017 but confirmed last month he is in remission.
Following advice from medical experts, Ikeme has now decided to end his playing career.
Ikeme joined Wolves in 2000 as a 14-year-old and made 274 domestic career appearances in all competitions, 200 of which came for the Molineux club.
Thank you for the support over the years, Ikeme wrote on Twitter.
The unite in support of .
— Wolves (@Wolves)
My last day as a footballer. But one I am happy and grateful for!!!
Thanks to everyone to do with Wolves and everyone in football I have met.
Speaking to the club s official…
Former Japan, AC Milan and CSKA Moscow attacker Keisuke Honda has moved to A-League champions Melbourne Victory.
Honda joins Australian titleholders Victory on a one-year marquee deal after leaving Mexican side Pachuca, it was announced on Monday.
The 32-year-old, who scored 37 goals in 98 appearances for the Blue Samurai, retired from international football following Japan s last-16 exit at the World Cup.
Honda, the only Japanese player to score at three World Cups, said: I am so happy to join the Melbourne Victory.
The wait is over! ついにこの日が来ました。
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc)
When I knew they were interested in me, one week later after the World Cup. I really like to do new challenge that s me.
So …