Joe Ledley scored against his former club Cardiff City to plunge them into relegation danger as Crystal Palace secured a crucial 3-0 win.

Jason Puncheon also scored twice at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday as Tony Pulis side gave their Premier League survival hopes a huge boost.

With only five points separating the two sides heading into the game, Pulis had insisted his side would do Cardiff no favours, despite the Welshman having watched the club during his youth.

His words certainly bore truth in a spirited first half as a fierce drive from Puncheon saw Palace lead 1-0 at the break.

The hosts pushed for a leveller in the second half, but they were caught out when Marouane Chamakh – returning from a month-long hamstring lay-off – saw a header parried in…

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc dismissed claims Manchester City have a buy-back option on Jadon Sancho, insisting they only have a matching right .

Sancho has enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence in the Bundesliga since joining Dortmund in August 2017, with his form this season earning him his first call-up to the senior England team.

City were unable to convince Sancho to sign a new lucrative contract and allowed him to depart in a reported £8million deal, with the winger then going on to make 12 Bundesliga appearances in his first campaign.

Although often used as a substitute this term, Sancho has already featured 11 times in the league and been instrumental – scoring four and setting up six goals – in Dortmund sensational start to the seas…

Chelsea have agreed deals in principle for Cagliari s Nicolo Barella and Zenit s Leandro Paredes, according to .

Barella is a highly talented 21-year-old box-to-box midfielder. A tireless runner with a fine ability to pick a pass, he will certainly have a part to play in Maurizio Sarri s team next to the likes of Jorginho, Ross Barkley, N Golo Kante and Mateo Kovačić. He should fit well into the squad space left open by the departure of Cesc Fabregas to Monaco.

Chelsea s middle section will be further strengthened by the presence of 24-year-old Paredes. The Argentina international is a highly versatile midfielder, capable of sitting deep in front of the back four, running from box to box or playing just behind the striker.

Having completed the Fabregas deal, M…

Spain held their nerve to win the UEFA Nations League final by beating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes in Rotterdam.

Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal converted the winning spot-kick after Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon had saved efforts from Croatia’s Lovro Majer and Bruno Petkovic.

Spain’s triumph saw them seal a fifth major trophy and become the second nation after France to have won the World Cup, European Championship and the Nations League.

Nations League winners for the first time!

— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024)

Manchester City pair Rodri and Aymeric Laporte, who scored and missed for Spain respectively in the shoot-out, have won a fourth major trophy of the season.

Croatia, who beat the Netherlands 4-2 af…

Arsenal missed the chance to regain their four-point lead at the Premier League summit after Stuart Armstrong s second-half equaliser held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw at Southampton.

The Gunners had enjoyed their best start to a top-flight campaign and dominated the first half on Sunday at St. Mary s Stadium, with Granit Xhaka opening the scoring.

Arsenal continued to look good value for their lead, with Gabriel Jesus spurning a couple of chances, but Southampton fought back as Armstrong levelled in the 65th minute.

Martin Odegaard saw a late strike ruled out as Arsenal moved two points clear of second-placed Manchester City, while Southampton extended their unbeaten run to three games and are 15th.

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC)

Gavi…

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has been warned about his future behaviour after making comments about referee Howard Webb.

The Scot made comments about Webb ahead of his team s crucial 2-1 English Premier League win over Chelsea on May 8.

The Football Association (FA) said on Tuesday that Ferguson had broken the rule that forbids manager s from talking about referees prior to a match.

It was a minor breach but a breach nevertheless, an FA statement said.

The chairman of the commission said Ferguson s minor breach should act as a warning to all managers.

This rule was brought in at the start of the 2009/10 season and this was reiterated formally to all clubs again on 21 October 2010, the chairman said.

This is a clear breach o…

Crucial he stays fit

I have to say that I am very worried by the England goalkeeping situation at the moment and in the future.

Good

Manchester City keeper Joe Hart is good. He might not be great but he is good. I have no problem with him being England s number one and as a young man he could hold that position for many years to come.

No, it isn t the first choice that is a problem. The problem comes if Joe Hart is injured or suffers a loss of form. The next goalkeepers in line are simply not good enough. They are not international class and it is questionable whether they are even Premiership class.

Selection

The original selection for England s Euro qualifier against Switzerland on 4th June saw West Brom s Scott Carson and Fulham s David …

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…