A tight game at Wembley in the English summer of 2021 and a spot of clock-watching and bench-watching to see whether Jack Grealish might come on. It s basically become a national past time.
Of course, this was the more sedate setting of the Community Shield between Leicester City and Manchester City, whose freshly minted £100million man was among the substitutes, and not the febrile passion pit of a push for Euro 2020 glory. More the sort of occasion that might cause you to happily wave a sparkler around rather than stick a flare somewhere unmentionable.
Not that the men on the touchline were taking this lightly. Pep Guardiola, fairly remarkably, managed to get booked as he did during the 2019 version of this fixture. He disagreed volubly after referee Paul Tierney pe…
Tom Heaton became the second player in as many days to commit his future to Burnley by agreeing terms on a new three-year deal.
With Sean Dyche s men planning for life in the Premier League, defender Ben Mee signed a three-year contract on Wednesday and on Thursday it was confirmed that goalkeeper Heaton had followed suit.
Heaton, who had one year left on his previous deal with an option for a further 12 months, joined Burnley from Bristol City at the start of the 2013-14 campaign.
He started every league game as the Lancashire club finished runners-up to Leicester City in the Championship, keeping 19 clean sheets as Dyche s side ended the season with the best defensive record in the division.
And the 28-year-old believes Burnley can defy the odds to main…
Two goals in as many second-half minutes helped seal a 3-1 friendly win over Swaziland for South Africa on Wednesday.
The result marked only the second win of 2015 for South Africa, who exited the Africa Cup of Nations in the group stage with just a point to their name.
But they had little difficulty in disposing of Swaziland who Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim Mashaba managed between 2008 and 2010 defender Thulani Hlatshwayo opening the scoring in the 51st minute with a header from a free-kick.
Thabo Mnyamane doubled the advantage a minute later with a goal on his debut following a fine pass from Thulani Serero.
Felix Badenhorst pulled one back in the 65th minute, only for midfielder Mandla Masango to make sure of victory for the visitors four mintues…
Gareth Bale has urged team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo not to leave Real Madrid amid rumours of a return to the Premier League.
Ronaldo s value to the UEFA Champions League holders has been evident in recent times, with the Portugal forward carrying his incredible goalscoring form from last season into new campaign.
The 29-year-old netted his 22nd La Liga hat-trick and third treble of the season in last Sunday s 5-0 win over Athletic Bilbao to take his tally for the new term to 17.
But speculation of a move back to Manchester United, who he left to join Real in 2009, has been rife, while Manchester City have also been linked with a sensational swoop for the former Sporting Libson man.
Yet Bale, whose arrival in the Spanish capital last season and subsequent…
According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea and Trevoh Chalobah both expect to part ways in the upcoming January transfer window.
The versatile 24-year-old defender was of strong interest to Bayern Munich towards the end of the summer window, but the proposed transfer collapsed in the end. That interest apparently hasn t gone away, but the race is for Chalobah s services is now open, with other clubs prepared to submit proposals of their own.
Having struggled with a thigh problem, Chalobah is yet to play a competitive game this season. But even without the injury, he would hardly get a chance under Mauricio Pochettino, with the likes of Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill preferred as the back three. That is the main reason for his desire to leave the club, with regula…
Sam Allardyce secured his first win as Sunderland boss with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby at the Stadium of Light.
After Paolo Di Canio, Gus Poyet and Dick Advocaat, Allardyce who coached Newcastle for less than a year between 2007 and 2008 is now the fourth consecutive Sunderland boss to record their maiden victory in the role against the club s local rivals.
Newcastle dominated the opening period but found themselves behind in first-half stoppage time when Adam Johnson converted a penalty after Fabricio Coloccini saw red for a clumsy challenge.
Sunderland made the most of their extra man in the second half, adding a second when Billy Jones tapped home from inside the six-yard box.
The crossbar denied Johnson a sec…
Simone Inzaghi conceded runaway Serie A leaders Napoli are unreachable for Inter after expressing disappointment for a wasteful performance at Sampdoria.
Inter trail the in-form Napoli by 15 points at the Italian top-flight summit after being held to a goalless draw by strugglers Sampdoria on Monday at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium.
The Nerazzurri attempted 25 shots in a one-sided contest, the first time Inter have recorded as many shots without scoring in a Serie A match since February 2022 (29 at home to Sassuolo).
Inzaghi s side have failed to score in two of their past four Serie A matches, as many times as in their previous 31 matches in the competition, and the Inter head coach acknowledged his team s shortfalls.
It s normal to be disappointed, we wan…
After a breakout season with Championship side Reading, defender Michael Hector is looking to carry his form into his first international appearance for Jamaica.
Despite having never been to the island nation, Hector, 22, is about to form a big part of their defence at the Copa America.
Hector, whose family all live in London where he has been tied to Reading since 2009, said he was still a proud Jamaican despite never travelling there.
It s a big part of my family, the centre-back said, via the Jamaica Football Federation.
Since I was young, I was always in a Jamaica shirt. I ve always wanted to do my family proud, and I knew that playing for Jamaica, that would make my family proud.
While his family hails from Kingston, Hector packs a hea…
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho unleashed a stunning attack on Real Madrid counterpart Rafael Benitez, whilst poking fun at the latter s weight.
Benitez s wife, Montse, caused a stir when she claimed her husband is always tidying up after Mourinho, having coached Inter, Chelsea and now Real.
Montse s comments provoked a response from Mourinho, who was quizzed by reporters following Chelsea s 4-2 penalty shoot-out win over Barcelona in the International Champions Cup on Tuesday.
Mourinho pointed to Benitez s record with Inter just months after the Portuguese boss guided the Milan club to a historic treble in 2009-10 as he shot down Montse s claims.
Benitez was sacked six months into a two-year deal.
The lady is a bit confused, with all respect, Mour…
Tottenham defender Kieran Trippier is happy to bide his time as he searches for his first Premier League appearance with the London club.
Trippier, 25, made the move from Burnley in the off-season but he is yet to play any minutes in the league.
The right-back has played just three games so far this season two in the Europa League and once in the Carling Cup.
Kyle Walker is Trippier s competition at right-back, with the two friends having played together when England made the final of the European U19 championships in 2009.
Trippier defended his decision to move to Tottenham, claiming he could have easily gone somewhere where he was guaranteed a starting spot.
I m looking forward to playing in the Premier League and making sure that when …