Didier Descahmps lauded France for keeping Cristiano Ronaldo quiet but conceded his side were short of their best in Sunday s 0-0 draw with Portugal.
The two remain locked together at the top of Nations League Group A3 after playing out a goalless draw at the Stade de France, which housed 1,000 socially distanced fans.
It was the first meeting between the sides since Portugal s triumph in the Euro 2016 final, but the contest failed to deliver much in the way of drama.
Ronaldo saw a late strike repelled by Hugo Lloris in what was a largely underwhelming clash between the champions of the world and the champions of Europe.
That s full-time. 0-0 beween France and Portugal. Focus now on Wednesday for the game against Croatia.
— French Team (@F…
English Premier League clubs spent close to £130 million during the January transfer window, with title contenders Chelsea splashing out about £48 million to bring in the likes of Bertrand Traore, Kurt Zouma, Mohamed Salah and Nemanja Matic.
Zouma, 19, joined Chelsea from St Etienne in a deal reportedly worth £12 million on transfer deadline day but will remain on loan at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard for the rest of the season.
The highly-rated France youth international has put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half deal at Stamford Bridge.
In other news, Chelsea priced at to win the Premier League managed to beat Liverpool to the £11 million signing of FC Basel winger Mohamed Salah, who scored in both UEFA Champions League group matches agai…
Manchester City midfielder David Silva has penned a new five year deal with the club, .
The Spain international moved to the Etihad Stadium from Valencia in the summer of 2010 and he has since made one hundred and eighty-three appearances for the club in all competitions, scoring twenty-seven times.
He has won two Premier League titles and both domestic cups during his time in England, which will now run to the end of the 2018/19 campaign.
As well as his haul of club honours, the 28 year old was part of the Spain squads that won the European Championships in both 2008 and 2012 and the World Cup in 2010, while he also appeared in all three of his country’s games at this summer’s tournament in Brazil.
City begin their title defence at Newcastle Uni…
PSV Eindhoven have confirmed that they ve reached a full agreement with Liverpool over the transfer of Cody Gakpo to Anfield.
The talks between the Merseysiders and PSV Eindhoven obviously progressed very quickly, and the medical preceding the move should take place imminently. After that, it ll be only up to Liverpool to issue an official confirmation.
Liverpool s seemingly sudden determination to sign the Netherlands international stems from the injury absences of Luis Diaz and Diogo Jota, both of whom are expected to remain out of action a while yet. They ve reportedly beaten Manchester United in this race, after the Red Devils considered the winger last summer and maintained their interest in his services afterwards.
Gakpo usually plays on the left attacking…
France head coach Didier Deschamps insists Antoine Griezmann is not an irreplaceable member of his team.
The Atletico Madrid forward left the national team camp to return to Spain after suffering a foot injury in the 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Sweden.
Deschamps agrees that Griezmann the top scorer at Euro 2016 has developed into a leading light for France, but he is confident that his absence from Tuesday s friendly against Ivory Coast will give others the chance to impress.
Nobody is irreplaceable, he told a news conference. Antoine is very important for us, he made himself essential to this France team. But he is not here.
I didn t call someone up [to replace him] because it didn t make much sense, just two days before the game. I ve already …
Matthew Upson has stepped up his recovery from an ankle injury after returning to training with Leicester City.
The veteran centre-back was signed on a free transfer by manager Nigel Pearson to add experience to Leicester s defence ahead of their return to the Premier League.
However, Upson is yet to make a competitive appearance for Leicester due to injury.
Pearson, though, confirmed on Friday that the 35-year-old is nearing a return to action.
He s training with the first team now, which is good, he said ahead of Saturday s Premier League game at in-form Southampton.
We have lots of options and an almost fully fit squad.
Leicester travel to second-placed Southampton on the back of a five-match winless league run, a return that leaves …
Leo Afonso scored an incredible 94th-minute winner as Inter Miami fought back to beat the Philadelphia Union 2-1 in MLS on Saturday despite being reduced to nine men.
Miami s grasp on top spot in the Eastern Conference looked like being weakened when Gerardo Martino s team – who were without both Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez as Argentina and Uruguay continue their Copa America preparations – fell behind after three minutes.
Mikael Uhre s one-on-one finish put the Union ahead, but Miami levelled just after half-time as Julian Gressel fired into the top-right corner from the centre of the box.
The Herons, though, found themselves up against it when both David Ruiz and Tomas Aviles were sent off, the former for a horror challenge on Leon Flach and the latter ear…
Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions after their rivals Manchester United slumped to a shock 1-0 home loss to struggling West Brom on Sunday.
Only a West Brom win at Old Trafford could secure the championship for Pep Guardiola s side this weekend, but a close-range header from Jay Rodriguez in the second half proved enough to end United s slim hopes.
City missed the chance to claim the title last weekend when they let a two-goal lead slip at home to United, Paul Pogba scoring twice in a stunning comeback win for Jose Mourinho s men.
But with City so far clear at the top of the table it was a question of when and not if their coronation would be confirmed, especially after a 3-1 win over Tottenham at Wembley on Saturday put them on the brink.…
Trophies are what David de Gea craves as the reported Real Madrid target looks to lead Manchester United back to the top of English and European football.
De Gea has not won the Premier League since Alex Ferguson retired in 2012-13 – the Europa League, FA Cup and EFL Cup the only silverware added to the star goalkeeper s cabinet.
The 27-year-old Spain international, who continues to attract interest from two-time reigning Champions League holders Madrid, has flourished with numerous individual honours – including four successive PFA Team of the Year inclusions.
But De Gea has his sights firmly set on trophies as United prepare to face Chelsea in the FA Cup final next month.
I m playing well, I m confident but I have to maintain it and win trophies, …
Inter have substantially underachieved this season while AC Milan are exceeding expectations, says former Italy international Massimo Oddo.
Just two points and one league position separate the city rivals heading into Saturday s derby clash at San Siro, with the Rossoneri in sixth and Stefano Pioli s side seventh.
Both teams have won 17 of their 31 Serie A matches this term but Milan Supercoppa Italiana winners in December are enjoying an encouraging run of form, while Inter have lost back-to-back matches.
Inter have invested heavily in the squad since last season, with Joao Mario, Gabriel Barbosa and Antonio Candreva the marquee signings of a reported €154million splurge, while Milan have largely focused on developing young players who have emerged through the…