Rafinha: I´ve never spoken to Germany

Chile midfielder Matias Fernandez has been ruled out of the upcoming Copa America Centenario due to a knee injury.

Fernandez, 30, suffered a meniscal injury in his left knee which will keep him out for several weeks, meaning he will miss the special-edition Copa held in the United States, starting Friday.

The Fiorentina midfielder was flown back to his homeland and will begin treatment with the locally-based medical staff of the Chilean national team.

The decision was taken because the athlete had a twist in his left knee that caused a joint blockade during training on Monday, a statement on the Chilean Football Federation (AFP) website read on Wednesday. 

The player was unable to partake in any physical activity the next day, suggesting a medial me…

Chelsea and Arsenal battle for Djilobodji

French daily newspaper that the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal are keeping close tabs on Nantes defender Papy Djilobodji.

The 25-year-old centre-back has largely impressed in his first ever top flight season, making 28 appearances and scoring 3 goals.

His excellent performances did not go unnoticed as Chelsea, Arsenal and Marseille are among clubs vying for his signature.

Nantes are desperate to keep hold of their star player, especially since they have been banned from signing new players until the summer of 2015.

But, even though the Canaries president Waldemar Kita has suggested it would take around €20 million to sign the highly rated footballer, Le 10 Sport believes Nantes chiefs would seriously con…

Juventus are desperate for striker Alvaro Morata s future to be sorted with Real Madrid holding a buy-back option.

The eight-time Spain international has impressed over two seasons in Serie A after leaving the Liga giants in mid-2014.

However, the deal was done with a buy-back clause that Madrid could activate, a move that will reportedly cost them €30million.

Juve general manager Giuseppe Marotta wants Morata s future decided one way or another as the Serie A giants look ahead.

Our intention is to do things fast with Real Madrid because we plan right away for next season, he said, as quoted by AS.

While Juve are on the verge of sealing a fifth-straight Serie A title, Madrid are fighting for La Liga and remain in the Champions League.

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Everybody was ready to start a new season of Poland s top-flight tournament (Ekstraklasa) this weekend. In the first match of the season Arka Gdynia were about to host Polonia Warsaw. But this and all other ties of the first match day were postponed and the competition suspended.

Everything started three years ago. In August 2005 Piotr Dziurowicz, then chairman of GKS Katowice, revealed details of a match-fixing scheme in an interview with Gazeta Wyborcza . Initially, the Polish FA (PZPN) denied any knowledge about what had only been whispered so far. But when the prosecutor s office in Wroclaw started to arrest people involved in football corruption (more than 100 persons up til now, including referees, club chair mans, coaches, players and a member of the FA board), even they…

Erik ten Hag hailed Manchester United s character after a 4-1 victory over Real Betis got his side back on track.

Not hindered by the humiliating result against Liverpool on Sunday, United bounced back at Old Trafford to take command of their Europa League round of 16 tie.

Marcus Rashford, Antony, Bruno Fernandes and Wout Weghorst were on target in a dominant win that put one foot in the quarter-finals and lifted the club s spirits.

Given the pressure heading into the game, Ten Hag felt the performance showed once again the team can respond to setbacks.

I think we played a very good game. At half time, we should have been up 3-0, but it was 1-1, we made one mistake and were punished for it, but I think we played well, he told BT Sport.

We scored…

Ivan Rakitic praised Barcelona for their patient approach after their 5-0 rout of Real Betis at the Benito Villamarin on Sunday.

Quique Setien s side had proved a match for the LaLiga leaders for much of the opening 50 minutes but a ruthless second-half display saw the visitors take all three points.

Former Sevilla captain Rakitic put Barca ahead in the 59th minute before two goals each from Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez made certain of a 17th win in 20 league games in 2017-18.

Rakitic felt his side produced a clever tactical display by allowing Betis to adopt their usual bold pressing approach before making the most of their chances.

Knowing the Betis boss, who generally risks a lot, we knew that they would want to press high and steal the ball, he told …

Luis Alberto has signed a new Lazio contract, extending his stay with the Serie A side through to 2022.

After moving to the Italian capital in August 2016 to end an unhappy spell in the Premier League with Liverpool, Luis Alberto has thrived.

The 25-year-old midfielder has scored seven goals in the league this season and he won his first Spain cap last November, coming off the bench against Costa Rica.

Luis Alberto has also provided a strong creative threat for Lazio, recording seven top-flight assists this term.

6+7 Luis Alberto is the youngest player to have score at least five goals (six) and delivered at least five assists (seven) in Serie A this season. Mature.

— OptaPaolo (@OptaPaolo)

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FIFA president Sepp Blatter says goal-line technology is no longer an alternative but a necessity .

The Euro 2012 Group D clash between England and Ukraine on Tuesday produced the latest in a succession of high-profile errors, with the tournament co-hosts not awarded a goal in the second half at the Donbass Arena, despite the ball having crossed the goal-line.

England, who were the victims of a similar incident against Germany at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, went on to win the match in Donetsk 1-0, ending Ukraine s participation.

European football governing body UEFA have stationed two additional officials behind each goal in a bid eliminate referee errors in and around the penalty area.

But the case for a technological solution appeared to receive a signifi…

FIFA have defended their World Coach of the Year award in the wake of Jose Mourinho s claim that the process was fixed.

The Real Madrid coach said in a TV interview on Tuesday that he was right not to attend the 2012 Ballon d Or Gala, highlighting an apparent adjustment of voters submissions which he suggested had compromised his hopes of winning the award given to the year s outstanding boss.

Mourinho told Record: Do I regret not attending the gala? No, it was the right decision.

They called me more than once. Two or three people said they voted for me but they appeared in another vote so I decided not to go.

But FIFA have responded by claiming Mourinho is wide of the mark in his assessment votes were altered.

A spokesperson for the world game …

Lionel Messi stepped up to salvage something from the wreckage of Barcelona s nightmare week as he fired a 76th-minute winner in a 1-0 win over Levante.

Juventus comprehensively beat Barca 3-0 in midweek to deny them top spot in their Champions League group a reverse that came on the back of a 2-1 LaLiga loss at Cadiz.

Despite ceding possession as expected for long periods, Levante looked set to hold out for a result to pile further pressure on embattled head coach Ronald Koeman.

Plenty of questions over the Dutchman s stewardship of Barcelona will remain, but Messi surging onto Frenkie De Jong s perfectly weighted throughball for an assured finish will buy him a little breathing space.

Koeman opted for experience at a time of adversity, recalling Sergio …