Gonzalo Jara believes Chile go into the FIFA World Cup a more mature group than in South Africa four years ago.
Jara was part of Marcelo Bielsa s side that made it through to the last 16 of the competition four years ago before bowing out with defeat to Brazil.
With a higher average age of 28 this time around, Jara feels Jorge Sampaoli s squad are a more experienced set and backed his team-mates to cope with the challenge in Brazil.
Even with Arturo Vidal a doubt for their Group B opener against Australia on June 13, the Nottingham Forest man feels their experience from four years ago will stand them in good stead.
Chile are a bit more mature than in 2010 and that suits us fine, he said.
But you have to keep a cool head because each World Cup is complete…
Park Chu-young hopes to play a vital role when South Korea open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Russia on Tuesday.
The match in Cuiaba will bring an end to the opening round of group games in Brazil.
Park, who is expected to be utilised as a lone striker, believes Korea can start with a victory, but acknowledges he will require sufficient support from his team s midfielders.
Hong Myung-bo s side were beaten 4-0 by Ghana in their final pre-tournament friendly, illustrating the need for improvement.
Everyone needs to work together to create chances, Park told The Korea Herald. But we were not able to do that (against Ghana).
I don t want to just take a lot of shots by myself. I would like to help the whole team be more productive.
South Korea are…
Inter president Erick Thohir has confirmed the club are in talks to sign Domenico Berardi and Antonio Candreva, while new owners Suning Holdings Group are interested in Palmeiras youngster Gabriel Jesus.
In June, the Chinese retailer purchased a 68.55 per cent stake of Inter from Thohir, who became majority shareholder in 2013 and will stay on as president.
At a shareholders meeting to introduce the new board, the president outlined the Nerazzurri s transfer hopes ahead of the 2016-17 season.
Sassuolo forward Berardi and Lazio winger Candreva are already being discussed, while Gabriel Jesus a reported target for Barcelona and Real Madrid could also be targeted.
We want to build a good team, starting from what is already here, said Thohir.
We a…
England boss Roy Hodgson is confident he and his squad have learned lessons from their disappointing performances in recent tournaments.
Having see his side eliminated in the quarter-finals on penalties by Italy at Euro 2012, Hodgson was unable to guide England out of the group stages at the World Cup two years ago, despite an unbeaten qualifying campaign.
But after sealing a place at Euro 2016 with 10 wins from 10, the 68-year-old says he will not repeat his own mistakes and has backed the young players to thrive without the pressure of past failures hanging over their heads.
I would like to think we have learned a lot from the two previous tournaments we have been at, he told the Football Association s official website at a media briefing. I would like to…
Hannover have dismissed head coach Andre Breitenreiter with the club second-bottom of the Bundesliga following an eight-match winless run.
A 5-1 defeat at Borussia Dortmund on Saturday proved to be the final straw for the club s directors, who brought the 45-year-old s tenure to an end 22 months after his appointment in March 2017.
Breitenreiter s arrival at the club preceded an unbeaten run of nine matches as he led the club back into the Bundesliga, where Hannover finished 13th in his first full season in charge.
But Hannover s 2-1 win over Wolfsburg on November 9 – only their second of the 2018-19 campaign – proved to be their last under Breitenreiter, with assistant Volkan Bulut also leaving his position.
Club manager Horst Heldt told the club s o…
Saul Niguez sublime solo goal a world s difference / Image via dailystar.co.uk
Saul Niguez is not that far from leaving his club, according to various media, as the Atletico Madrid star has been on Pep Guardiola s shortlist. Manchester City manager is very interested in signing the midfielder, but Los Colchoneros are firm on their stance you can have him if you meet his release clause.
And that might be the problem Saul Niguez s release clause is €150m, according to Spanish AS. The club is insisting that any team interested in the Spaniard will have to meet the clause, which is a completely logical thing for Atleti, not only given his importance for the team, but also given his contract runs out in 2026!
Reportedly, Man City are willing to pay as much as €…
Matt Bloomfield called the alleged racist abuse of Wycombe defender Chris Forino “abhorrent” following his side’s 0-0 draw with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road.
Wycombe defender Forino, 23, was engaged in a long discussion with both sets of managers and the officials towards the end of the first half after reporting being targeted by a discriminatory remark from the stands.
Forino played the full 90 minutes as Wycombe held out for a clean sheet which dented Blackpool’s League One play-off hopes.
Bloomfield said: “There was something said to Chris, racial abuse from behind the goal. It’s so disappointing because the game is for all, and it’s 2024.
“Fair play to Chris, he’s dealt with it in a mature way by reporting it as he should. He was ab…
Tottenham Hotspur are interested in signing Ajax goalkeeper Andre Onana, according to . It has been reported that Tottenham head coach Antonio Conte has told the club’s managing director of football Fabio Paratici that he wants to sign a new goalkeeper, and Onana is on his list.
Hugo Lloris is the first-choice goalkeeper at Spurs at the moment. However, the France international is out of contract at the North London club at the end of the season and no new deal is in place yet. Spurs signed Atalanta goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini on a season-long loan deal in the summer of 2021.
Onana is out of contract at Ajax at the end of the season and us unlikely to sign a new deal with the Dutch giants. Spurs head coach Conte is keen on signing the 25-year-old Cameroon internation…
Former Barcelona defender Lilian Thuram has claimed that the Catalan club s unique football philosophy is good for the game.
The Frenchman featured for the La Liga giants between 2006 and 2008 before retiring due to a heart condition, and the 40-year-old is still very fond of his former team.
Barca have a philosophy of play and behaviour that is not common. I hope people take them as an example because the club is a good thing for world football, Thuram told Sport.
Barcelona sit seven points behind rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish top flight, yet Thuram believes Pep Guardiola s men are a better team than Real.
The difference between Barcelona and Madrid is that (Barca) are a team that have stayed true to their playing philosophies. The Barca players p…
Lionel Messi has scored in his return for Inter Miami in their 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids.
Messi has been out of action since he was subbed off during the Champions Cup match against Nashville on March 13, missing four Inter Miami games and two with Argentina during his period on the sidelines.
He returned to the field on Saturday night from the bench, scoring and equalising in the 58th minute after Colorado forward Rafael Navarro scored via penalty just before halftime.
Points shared!
— Inter Miami CF (@InterMiamiCF)
In his fourth goal in the MLS this season, Messi beat Rapids keeper Zach Steffen to the ball and took a low shot that struck the post before skittering across the goal, eventually crossing the line.
Just minute…