Uruguay head into the second leg of their FIFA World Cup play-off with Jordan all but assured of a place in the finals.
The two-time world champions put themselves firmly in the driving seat by cruising to a 5-0 win in the first leg in Amman.
Uruguay have not lost a competitive match at home since October 2009 and with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani in excellent form will be expected to confirm qualification with minimum fuss.
Coach Oscar Tabarez, who guided Uruguay to the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup, is not anticipating any complacency from his players.
Footballers often feel their motivation according to their needs, he said.
When there s no need, there s no motivation but I think as we get nearer the match things will fall …
AJ Auxerre striker Paul-Georges Ntep has confirmed his interest in signing for Arsenal in the January transfer window, according to .
Ntep, 21, joined Auxerre from Brétigny Foot, a club that has produced Jimmy Briand and Patrice Evra, after a successful short-term trial in 2009.
The France Under-21 international, whose current contract at the Stade de l Abbé-Deschamps expires in the summer of 2015, is reportedly being scouted by the Gunners amid speculation he is set to leave the Ligue 2 side in the New Year.
The 21-year-old Cameroonian-born winger, a former team-mate of Arsenal striker Yaya Sanogo at Auxerre, is valued at £5 million.
Arsenal is a club that trusts young players, Ntep told L Equipe.
Will I leave in January? I am …
Fulham F.C. striker Marcello Trotta has claimed a number of Italian clubs are interested in him following his return to the club from a loan spell at Brentford.
The Italy Under-21 international, who began his career at Napoli before joining Manchester City in 2008 and Fulham one year later, helped the Bees win promotion from League One to the Sky Bet Championship last term, tallying 12 goals in 37 league appearances.
At the moment, it is unclear whether or not Trotta is in the long-term plans of manager Felix Magath but we now know that several Italian sides are keen on the 21-year-old front-man.
I m happy with my season at Brentford and for the promotion in the Championship. My loan is finished and Fulham have summoned me for the pre-season that…
La Liga heavyweights Atletico Madrid are said to be willing to bring Rafael Borre back to Spain.
The 23-year-old striker is currently going through a purple patch at River Plate and is gaining plenty of interest from his former employers who would like to give him another shot to prove his worth in the Spanish top flight.
Former Deportivo Cali attacking sensation struggled to adapt to his new surrounding after arriving in Madrid in 2015 and ended up being sent on successive loans before Atletico Madrid sold him to River Plate in 2017.
The explosive forward is currently thriving in Buenos Aires and Los Colchoneros are keen to bring him back and give him another chance, according to reports from Spain.
The player, however, is unsure of the move and would r…
Eden Hazard said he will follow team-mate Thibaut Courtois in signing a new Chelsea contract amid links with Spanish and European champions Real Madrid.
Doubts have emerged over Hazard s future at Premier League champions Chelsea after his father claimed the 27-year-old Belgium star rejected the chance to extend his contract in order to wait for a possible offer from Madrid.
Chelsea goalkeeper and former Atletico Madrid shot-stopper Courtois, 25, has also emerged as a target for Zinedine Zidane s men.
However, Hazard – under contract until 2020 – seemingly moved to reassure fans at the O2 Arena, which played host to the Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics in NBA action on Thursday.
Reportedly asked whether he will sign a new deal with Chelsea, H…
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone is a keen admirer of Jorge Sampaoli, but believes comparisons between his Sevilla counterpart and South American coaching great Marcelo Bielsa are wide of the mark.
Atleti travel to Sevilla for an intriguing LaLiga encounter on Sunday, with Simeone s men top of the table heading into the weekend fixtures – a point above their hosts in third.
Sampaoli succeeded Unai Emery after the former Valencia boss moved on to Paris Saint-Germain on the back of a third successive Europa League crown.
It marked a return to club football for the 56-year-old Argentinian, who led Chile to Copa America glory to prompt comparisons with countryman Bielsa s time in charge of La Roja between 2007 and 2011.
Simeone played under Bielsa …
Want to sign Jadon Sancho? Line up…
Borussia Dortmund sensation Sancho is attracting interest from a host of clubs, most notably in the Premier League.
And a return to England could be looming for the 19-year-old attacker.
TOP STORY – UNITED GIVEN BOOST AS REDS CHELSEA EYE SANCHO
Manchester United have been boosted by the news that rivals Manchester City will not be taking up the option to match any offers for Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho, reports the Mirror.
Premier League champions City have first refusal on in-demand England international Sancho, who left the Etihad Stadium for Dortmund in 2017.
Chelsea set to bid club-record £100m for Jadon Sancho with Borussia Dortmund star expected to leave Bundesliga side ne…
Former Manchester United and Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi has spoken of his relief at avoiding being hit with a drugs ban.
Rossi, who is currently without a club, reportedly gave a positive test for dorzolamide, an anti-glaucoma agent found in eye drops, after Genoa s 1-0 Serie A defeat to Benevento in May.
It was reported Rossi could be banned for a year, with his case handled by Italy s anti-doping agency, Nado Italia.
But at Monday s hearing the 31-year-old avoided a suspension, meaning he is free to sign for a new team and return to the pitch.
We don t understand how this substance ended up among Rossi s foods, said Rossi s lawyer Sergio Puglisi Maraja. There was no intentionality the line of good faith and consistency prevailed.
Ogg…
West Ham gave their supporters plenty to cheer as they boosted their Premier League survival hopes with a 3-0 victory over fellow strugglers Southampton.
Three weeks on from the angry pitch invasions during West Ham s capitulation to Burnley, the Hammers turned on the style on Saturday amid increased security at London Stadium.
Home fans were more than happy to stay in their seats as David Moyes side moved five points clear of the relegation zone, a first-half double from Marko Arnautovic coming after Joao Mario had broken the deadlock.
There was added significance for Arnautovic as he proved to be Mark Hughes tormentor for the second time this season, the Austrian – who scored against Hughes Stoke City in December coming back to haunt his former boss on his l…
Leeds United have agreed a deal to sign Salzburg s Brenden Aaronson after Jesse Marsch swooped on his former club for the United States midfielder.
Reports have indicated Aaronson will cost Leeds in the region of £24.7million (€29m) when the transfer officially goes through on July 1.
He has committed to a five-year contract and will strengthen the Leeds midfield after the Premier League side avoided relegation on the final day of the season thanks to a win at Brentford.
Former Philadelphia Union player Aaronson, 21, has earned 18 caps for the USA and scored five goals for his country.
is delighted to announce an agreement with Red Bull Salzburg for the transfer of Brenden Aaronson, which will be completed on July 1st
— Leeds United (@LUFC…