Verdict: Algeria win and under 3.5 goals

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Two nations looking to secure their spot in the semi-finals of this year s African Cup of Nations, a high-flying Algeria will face off against the Ivory Coast at the New Suez Stadium on Thursday evening.

Ivory Coast

Starting with the Ivory Coast, while Les Éléphants may have managed to pick up an incredibly hard-fought 1-0 win over Mali last week to secure them a quarter-final spot, Head Coach Ibrahim Kamara will know that his side had luck on their side. Despite Crystal Palace Wilfried Zaha bagging the winner at the New Suez Stadium last weekend, the Oranges once again flattered to deceive. With the likes of Moussa Marega and Moussa Djenepo missing a string of golden opportunities for…

Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel have quelled reports that Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain will be rivalling Barcelona for Antoine Griezmann s signature.

Griezmann and Atletico Madrid confirmed on Tuesday that the 28-year-old s stay in the Spanish capital would be coming to an end after five years at the club.

Last June, the France forward signed a new contract to keep him at the Wanda Metropolitano until 2023, with a documentary titled The Decision  having been made to publicise Griezmann s choice not to move to Camp Nou.

However, following his change of heart, reports have suggested Premier League champions City were considering challenging any renewed interest from Barca by activating the forward s release clause, reportedly set at €120million.

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Scotland have appointed Alex McLeish as their new head coach for the second time, the 59-year-old reportedly signing a deal until 2020.

McLeish returns to a role that he previously held for 10 months in 2007, overseeing nine matches and claiming six wins.

He left his role with the national team to join Birmingham City, where he went on to lift the EFL Cup with victory over Arsenal in 2011.

Following a 168-game spell at St Andrew s, McLeish s career has been rather nomadic, enduring difficult tenures with Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, Genk and Zamalek.

McLeish has been out of work since May 2016 but will now be charged with leading Scotland s quest to reach Euro 2020 – having failed to qualify for their last 10 major tournaments.

The former Ab…

Bayern Munich made light work of Union Berlin as Robert Lewandowski s double helped the Bundesliga champions to a 4-0 victory on Saturday.

Kingsley Coman and Tanguy Nianzou put Bayern in control before Lewandowski netted either side of the break, taking his tally of league goals for the season to 31.

Union created chances on the break, notably through the lively Taiwo Awoniyi, but have now shipped nine goals in two games against Bayern this season.

The result moves Julian Nagelsmann s side closer to a 10th consecutive title on the day Bayern surpassed Werder Bremen as the team to have played the most Bundesliga games, with 1,935 outings.

1935 FC Bayern will play their 1935th game against Union Berlin, the most of any side in the competition s history,…

Liverpool have held initial talks with the representatives of James Milner over a new contract, according to James Pearce, formerly of Liverpool Echo.

The midfielder arrived on a free transfer from Manchester City back in 2015 and signed a five-year deal, which therefore expires next summer. By then, he will have turned 34.

Milner has so far played for Liverpool 181 times and scored 22 goals in all competitions, and his versatility has been invaluable to manager Jurgen Klopp since the German took over from Brendan Rodgers in October 2015. Though primarily a central midfielder, he has been deployed in a number of other roles, especially in 2016/17 when he spent the entire season on the left defensive flank.

Apparently, the player s representatives have approached…

According to , Italian giants and champions Juventus are interested in re-signing Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba this summer. The report claims that the Frenchman’s agent Mino Raiola has made contact with the Turin club over a possible return to Italy.

Pogba made his name in four glittering campaigns with the Bianconeri after joining the Italian champions from Manchester United as a free agent in 2012. However, he returned to Manchester in the summer of 2016 for a then world-record fee of £89million.

Has not been an overwhelming success at United

It would be wrong to claim that Paul Pogba has been an overwhelming success at United. In fact, he has produced three highly inconsistent campaigns. The midfielder has enjoyed purple spells where he has looked like…

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer insists a Manchester United win at Liverpool on Sunday would be a shock despite his team going into the match ahead of the Reds at the Premier League summit.

United and Liverpool have not faced each other as the Premier League s top two since April 1997. While Tottenham and Leicester City could potentially move above Jurgen Klopp s men before they clash at Anfield, it still highlights how rare it has been for both clubs to be fighting near the summit at the same time.

Liverpool were the last team to inflict an away defeat on United in the Premier League, as they emerged 2-0 victors in January last year the Red Devils have since gone 15 unbeaten on the road, drawing just twice.

At that point, Liverpool moved 30 points clear of United in the l…

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Spain will take on Russia in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup. The hosts finished second in their group after losing 3-0 to Uruguay as Spain s late equaliser against Morocco secured them the top spot in Group B.

For Stanislav Cherchesov s Russia side, although this summers World Cup hosts got off to a flyer in Group A after recording a 5-0 win against Suadi Arabia and a 3-1 win over Egypt, The Reds looked incredibly outmatched when they came across their first legitimate contenders. With South American powerhouses Uruguay thumping Russia 3-0 in the last outing in the group stages, with Zenit defender Igor Smolnikov sent off in the first half, it is hard to see the hosts stopping a Spain squad glittering with attacking talent.<…

Liverpool midfielder James Milner has retired from England duty, the Football Association (FA) has announced.

The 30-year-old, who made his debut in 2009, is eager to spend more time with his young family, new England head coach Sam Allardyce said.

Milner explained that the decision was common sense after holding talks with Allardyce over his international future this week.

I would like to thank Sam for taking the time to come and see me in person and have the conversation face-to-face, regarding my international future and role within the England set-up, Milner told the FA s official website.

I think the decision we have reached is all about common sense. I wish Sam, the players, staff and supporters success in the future.

Allardyce feels Mil…

Pep Guardiola has declared Liverpool the strongest opponents I have faced in my career as a manager after Manchester City shipped an early lead in this season s title race.

City are pursuing a third consecutive Premier League crown but a shock 3-2 loss at Norwich City last weekend – their first top-flight loss since January – left them five points shy of Jurgen Klopp s men, who have won five out of five in 2019-20.

As the two sides engaged in a titanic battle last season, City eventually prevailing on 98 points to Liverpool s 97, Guardiola said the Reds ranked alongside the Barcelona side of 2014-15 and their forward line of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar when it came to considering his strongest foes.

Speaking ahead of Saturday s home game versus Wat…