Argentina head to their first World Cup since Diego Maradona s death but the Albiceleste great will be there in spirit.

That was the message from Maradona s former agent Guillermo Coppola at the opening of CONMEBOL s Tree of Dreams in Doha to celebrate South America s rich football heritage.

Lionel Scaloni s side are among the pre-tournament favourites in Qatar ahead of Tuesday s Group C opener against Saudi Arabia, searching for a first World Cup crown since a Maradona-inspired triumph in 1986.

There has not been a South American winner of FIFA s top tournament since Brazil in 2002, but Coppola hopes that will change for Argentina in their first outing since Maradona passed in November 2020.

This is going to be the first World Cup that [Maradona] is not…

Liverpool s pursuit of Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has ended, with the 25-year-old informing the Merseysiders about his decision to stay with the Basque club, according to multiple sources.

Liverpool were prepared to pay the 60 million release clause to sign Zubimendi, with head coach Arne Slot keen to add what he believed was the perfect choice of a new No. 6 for his team. Sociedad, however, exerted strong pressure on the player who, not wanting to spoil the relationship with his boyhood club, decided to stay put as a result.

As for Liverpool, they re now unlikely to pursue an alternative target, with the 2024/25 season starting this week. According to Paul Joyce of , their attempt to sign Zubimendi was an opportunistic one, a chance to sign a player that…

Ander Herrera believes fellow Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti is on the level of Barcelona legends Xavi and Andres Iniesta.

Herrera signed for PSG in 2019 after the expiry of his contract at Manchester United and established himself as a reliable figure, making 19 league appearances and six in the Champions League last season.

Amid the constant battle for places in PSG s midfield, though, Herrera believes Verratti holds an exceptional status.

When Herrera was asked which midfielder ranks as the best he has played with over the course of his career, the Italy international was the clear pick, even if it comes at the expense of his own time on the pitch.

The best I have played with is Verratti, but I have played with very good ones, he tol…

Leicester City have had a fantastic season in the Premier League so far. After they shocked the world by winning the title in 2015/16, very few people believed they would ever finish anywhere near the top again. However, after 29 rounds, they re sitting third and seem set to make another appearance in the Champions League next season.

They ve had a few disappointing results recently, and here s Jamie Vardy, one of the heroes of that title-winning run, giving his thoughts on it.

https://twitter.com/footballdaily/status/1237019055837585409

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Lewis Hall has joined Newcastle on a season-long loan from Chelsea with the option for a permanent deal for the defender.

The clubs have been in negotiations over a move for the 18-year-old academy graduate since last week, with Eddie Howe’s side having come in with an initial offer of £28million.

The PA news agency understands that should Newcastle choose to make the deal permanent in a year’s time, the deal will include an additional £7m in possible add-ons plus a sell-on fee owed to Chelsea should he later depart.

Lewis Hall has joined Newcastle United on loan for the season.

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC)

Hall agreed a new six-year contract to stay at Stamford Bridge earlier in August but Newcastle’s interest has persuaded the Blues to …

Leicester City are yet to receive any offers for Youri Tielemans despite reported interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, according to club chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.

Belgium international Tielemans has been linked with a move away from the King Power Stadium after entering the final 12 months of his contract with Leicester, for whom he made 32 Premier League appearances last term.

The midfielder has recorded 120 league outings for the Foxes since joining – initially on loan – in January 2019, a tally only bettered by goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (127) during that time.

Meanwhile, only Harvey Barnes (24) and James Maddison (19) have bettered Tielemans 18 league assists for the side since his arrival from Monaco, and only four Leicester player…

As the old adage goes, form is temporary, class is permanent.

It can happen to the best. Harry Kane, for example, scored just once in his first 13 Premier League games for Tottenham last season, before netting 16 in his next 24 outings once he had his mojo back.

Going under the radar slightly given their results did not particularly suffer as they hunted down an unprecedented quadruple, but opposite to Kane, Mohamed Salah s outstanding goalscoring form in the first half of the season for Liverpool regressed after the turn of the year.

Salah scored 20 non-penalty goals in 26 games in all competitions before heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, where his Egypt team suffered an agonising defeat on penalties to Sadio Mane s Senegal in the final.

On his ret…

Mikel Arteta believes his Arsenal side have shown enough in the group stage to prove they can compete back in the Champions League.

The Gunners drew 1-1 at PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday night in the final game of Group B – with both sides already assured of their place in the last 16 before kick-off in the Netherlands.

Arteta made eight changes for the game and Eddie Nketiah’s first Champions League goal put them ahead only for Yorbe Vertessen’s smart finish to seal a share of the spoils.

First goal

— Arsenal (@Arsenal)

Arsenal had already secured safe passage as group winners on their return to the elite level of European football following a seven-year absence – and Arteta feels his team have proven they belong at the top table…

Mohamed Salah delivered for Liverpool in the sensational 7-0 win over Manchester United last weekend – and doubtless he had many fantasy bosses celebrating too.

Two goals and two assists in the Anfield rout showed the Egyptian is getting back to somewhere near his very best for Jurgen Klopp.

Salah has Bournemouth in his sights on Saturday, and our four fantasy team selections for the weekend are players heading out on the road.

Kaoru Mitoma has been in eye-catching form for Brighton and Hove Albion, who head to Leeds United on Saturday, while World Cup winner Emiliano Martinez has four clean sheets already in 2023 for Aston Villa, who visit West Ham on Sunday.

Chelsea s Ben Chilwell returns to an old stomping ground on Saturday as the Blues travel to hi…

The Buffalo Bills will have revenge on their mind against the Chiefs, having seen their past two seasons reach a disappointing climax in Kansas City – including a 42-36 overtime defeat in the divisional round this year.

Widely tipped as the favourites to go all the way this season, the Bills enter the Week 6 contest on the back of a 38-3 drubbing of the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.

That was their second win by at least 34 points this season – having had multiple such wins in just two previous seasons (1992 and 2021).

Against the Steelers, Gabe Davis had two touchdown receptions of at least 60 yards and finished with 171 yards, taking his yardage for the season to 309. An in-form Davis is a frightening prospect, particularly when paired with Josh Allen – …