Walker juggles music, football careers in Sweden

Kevin Walker does not have to sing for his supper, given his football ability.

However, it was his inability to train for Sweden s Under-21 international squad due to blood poisoning that saw him uncover his hidden talent music.

The doctor said I wasn t allowed to train or do anything, Walker told FIFA.com.

What am I going to do? I can t play PlayStation all day long. I bought a guitar and I started to write a few songs. I suppose you could put it down to not being able to train and do what you ve been doing all your life, I was just looking for something to fill that. 

It was a fluke that I ended up in Idol. They called me up after seeing little clips from an open mic thing. It s grown to something I didn t dare to dream of.

Walker, now 25, …

Newcastle come from behind to edge Valencia

Newcastle came from behind to see off Spain s Valencia 2-1 in a pre-season friendly on Saturday as James Milner bagged a last-gasp winner.

Milner struck after Damien Duff had cancelled out Joaquin s opener with 13 minutes remaining to give Kevin Keegan s side a smidgen of optimism for the new English Premiership campaign following a summer of scant transfer activity on the back of a mediocre league campaign.

Technical problems with the visitors aircraft in Spain delayed the start of the game by two hours but Valencia were out of the blocks smartly with Joaquin s goal on 13 minutes.

However the Magpies rallied after the break and Duff headed home on 77 minutes before Milner sealed the win in what was Newcastle s last pre-season workout ahead of their tough Pre…

Italian Squad to Face Austria: Gilardino In, Cassano Out

Italian coach Marcello Lippi named the squad to face Austria in a friendly on August 20 to be played in the Italian municipality of Nizza.

Notable changes to the Euro 2008 squad include Sampdoria midfielder Angelo Palombo in place of Massimo Ambrosini and World Cup winning forward Alberto Gilardino in place of the talented Antonio Cassano.

The list sees a continuation of Juve legend Alex Del Piero and the return of teammate Vincenzo Iaquinta,

Listed defender Giorgio Chiellini will not play as a result of injury he sustained in a friendly match against AC Milan.

An August friendly game usually brings players who have started their season preparation early due to Champions League qualification along and new players for the coach to view before World Cup qu…

Valencia 1/2 to beat Levante in Sunday’s La Liga showdown

Competition: La Liga

Market: Valencia to beat Levante

Odds:

Spain s top league continues this weekend for yet another huge round of games. The competition has remained incredibly tight as every side in the competition will be desperate to pick up all three points this weekend which can see them rise up a number of places. With this in mind, Valencia host Levante on Sunday.

Valencia have been in good form this season and they are looking to secure a Champions League place for their next campaign. After 22 games they have won 12, drawn four and lost six, scoring 42 goals and conceding 26 times. In their last five they have managed to win twice, but their other three games have ended in defeat, which has seen them onto 40 points for the season so …

Filip Kostic wants Hamburg move

Stuttgart star Filip Kostic is nearing an end to his episode with the Swabians as Jos Luhukay’s team struggled to keep hold of their key performer following the relegation to Zweite Bundesliga.

The 23-year-old Serbian international has been on the radar of several European clubs, including a couple from Premier League, but appears to be closest to a move to Bundesliga outfit Hamburger SV.

Die Rethosen have stepped up their interest in the Serbian winger having already seen their €12 million offer rejected by Kostic’s club.

His agent Sedat Duraki has told that Filip Kostic is eager to make a summer swoop to HSV and that Stuttgart have already been informed of the player’s wishes.

Two clubs are yet to find a solution in order to make this transfer…

Amalfitano makes Dijon switch

Midfielder Romain Amalfitano has left Newcastle United to join French side Dijon.

Amalfitano moved to St James Park in 2012 on a free transfer from Reims.

However, the 24-year-old was unable to break into the first-team at Newcastle, making just five appearances in his time with the club, all of which came during their 2012-13 UEFA Europa League campaign.

Newcastle loaned Amalfitano to Dijon last season, with the former Evian man enjoying a decent campaign as he netted two goals in 27 appearances.

Dijon, who finished sixth in Ligue 2 last term, have been suitably impressed by Amalfitano, signing him to a three-year deal.

Romain proved he could be valuable in organising the game and set pieces, Dijon president Olivier Delcourt told the club s offi…

Miliband resigns from Sunderland board

British Labour MP David Miliband has stepped down from his position as vice-chairman at Sunderland.

The former foreign secretary, who has also been a non-executive director at the Stadium of Light since February 2011, announced his decision on his personal website following the appointment of Paolo Di Canio as the club s new manager.

I wish Sunderland AFC all success in the future, he said. It is a great institution that does a huge amount for the North East and I wish the team very well over the next vital seven games.

However, in the light of the new manager s past political statements, I think it right to step down.

The volatile Italian, who has no top-flight experience after only managing with Swindon Town in League One and League Two, has been ta…

Azpilicueta ´very excited´ about further signings as Chelsea owners praised for spending spree

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has heaped praise on the club s new owners for showing great ambition in the transfer market.

The Blues entered the window restricted by sanctions imposed by the UK government on Roman Abramovich, which prevented any new signings from being made or new contracts being offered to players.

Such uncertainty ended with the completion of a takeover led by American Todd Boehly and Thomas Tuchel has been backed at the start of a new era.

Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly are among the new signings made by the London club, with Barcelona duo Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Frenkie de Jong potentially on their way to Stamford Bridge.

Azpilicueta signed a new deal after being a target for Barca and the defende…

Mexico 3-0 Panama: Lainez stars as El Tri cruise ahead of Gold Cup

Diego Lainez dazzled as Mexico returned to winning ways ahead of the CONCACAF Gold Cup with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Panama in an international friendly in Nashville on Wednesday.

The Real Betis midfielder opened the scoring in the 21st minute for El Tri, before defender Cesar Montes 57th-minute header made it 2-0.

Henry Martin worked a sublime one-two before a cool finish in second-half stoppage time to round out a strong win.

Mexico had lost last month s CONCACAF Nations League final on penalties to the United States, before a goalless friendly draw with Honduras.

Gerardo Martino s side made light work on Panama, who are currently ranked 78th in the world, ahead of the Gold Cup to be played in the US this month.

Montes hit the crossbar wit…

Dunga encourages Brazil to entertain

Brazil coach Dunga said his side must retain their trademark flair, but also sustain the defensive strength they have shown of late.

After the calamitous end to their hosting of the 2014 World Cup which saw them ship 10 goals in two games, the South American powerhouse has not conceded from free play in six friendlies since.

Brazil conceded their first goal in the latest reign of Dunga he took over from Luiz Felipe Scolari following the showpiece tournament in a 2-1 win over Austria in November, when Aleksandar Dragovic netted a spot-kick.

Centre-back Miranda and left-back Filipe Luis have started in all six matches of Dunga s second stint in charge of the national side he previously led Brazil from 2006 to 10  while central defender David Luiz (four starts) ha…