Algeria head coach Vahid Halilhodzic says he is uncertain of his team s chance of success at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Halilhodzic took over as head coach of Algeria s national team in June 2011, and has led them to eight victories in 10 games during his tenure.
But having been grouped with Tunisia, Ivory Coast and Togo, the 60-year-old remains wary of high expectations.
Algeria did not qualify for last year s AFCON but finished fourth in the 2010 tournament in Angola under former coach Rabah Saadane.
In the lead up to Algeria s opening game versus Tunisia, however, Halilhodzic does not seem convinced his team can match that result in South Africa.
It s a tough tournament, Halilhodzic said.
I am optimistic but we will see what…
Bayern Munich have been drawn against Augsburg, while Borussia Dortmund will tackle Union Berlin in the second round of the DFB-Pokal.
Defending champions Bayern will face Bundesliga opposition after seeing off Carl Zeiss Jena 5-0 in the first round.
Meanwhile, Dortmund, runners-up to Bayern in the final last season, face 2.Bundesliga opposition in Union.
The 2014-15 champions, Wolfsburg, play away to 1. FC Heidenheim, while Borussia Monchengladbach take on Stuttgart.
Wurzburger Kickers, who were playing in the fourth division of Germany just a few seasons ago, will host 1860 Munich.
Hamburg travel to third-division side Hallescher FC, Bayer Leverkusen face Sportfreunde Lotte, and Freiburg will tackle SV Saundhausen.
St Pauli will …
Jose Mourinho doubts Dele Alli will leave Tottenham before the transfer deadline despite links with Paris Saint-Germain.
Alli has played only four times in the Premier League this season, those appearances amounting to just 75 minutes.
Having once looked like a future star of English football, the 24-year-old s career now appears to be at a major crossroads, with Mourinho seemingly unconvinced by him.
Mauricio Pochettino s appointment at PSG earlier this month seemed to be a lifeline for Alli, as a reunion with his former coach appeared to be on the cards.
But now Mourinho is not expecting any movement on that front, with Alli looking set to remain at least until the end of the season.
I expect [Alli to stay] and I am saying that since the beginn…
Mark Viduka could remain at Newcastle beyond the end of the season, manager Alan Shearer has revealed.
Australian international Viduka is set to be involved for the first time in seven weeks when Newcastle travel to Tottenham on Sunday in search of crucial points to boost their Premier League survival bid.
A string of injuries this season have restricted Viduka to just one start and five substitute appearances, well short of the number of games the 33-year-old requires to trigger a 12-month contract extension when his current deal expires in the summer.
It has been widely expected the former Melbourne Knights striker will see out the remainder of his career by returning to Australia in a bid to earn a place in the national squad for next year s World Cup finals …
Hellas Verona F.C. midfielder Jorginho Luiz Frello has talked up a potential move to Arsenal or Chelsea after confirming the English Premier League duo sent scouts to watch him against Parma on Sunday.
Jorginho, 21, has turned in a number of eye-catching performances for Hellas this season, having scored five goals including a match-winning brace, both penalties, against the Crociati at the weekend in eight Serie A appearances.
The once-capped Italy Under-21 international, valued at around £10 million, has led Verona to five wins in eight league matches in 2013/14, which has them sitting in fourth-place in the Serie A table.
In the match against Parma there were scouts from teams like Arsenal and Chelsea, Jorginho told Gazetta Dello Sport.
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Stoke City winger Xherdan Shaqiri is hopeful he can remain in the Premier League.
Shaqiri scored eight goals in the 2017-18 season but was unable to prevent Stoke from dropping down to the Championship.
The 26-year-old former Bayern Munich man bowed out of the World Cup on Tuesday after Switzerland lost 1-0 to Sweden in St Petersburg, putting his club future back into focus.
At the moment, I can t say anything. You are going to hear soon on my future, said Shaqiri, who has been linked to Liverpool, as well as a reunion with former Stoke boss Mark Hughes at Southampton.
I was not thinking about this because I was just focused on my national team and wanted to make a good tournament for my team and my nation. It s pretty normal to be aware of clubs…
There is always a horrible feeling when an ex-star comes to play back at your home ground. The ex-hero who was once worshipped and is now almost hated. No matter how much of a hero he used to be.
Owen returns
Take today when Manchester United take on Liverpool at Anfield. Michael Owen was once a worshipped Kop idol. If he plays he will receive a stream of abuse from the fans who once loved him because he choose to join the Reds bitter rivals. It seems it doesn t matter how much a player is loved if he joins a rival that s where the love stops.
It is almost inevitable that Owen will come back to haunt the Reds tomorrow, if he gets the chance of course. The little former Kop idol still seems thrive on the big game atmosphere and will be really up for this game.
Roma striker Edin Dzeko feels more pressure from supporters in Serie A than he did during his time in England, saying it feels like fans are waiting to insult him.
Dzeko was a consistent if unspectacular performer during four and a half seasons at Manchester City, scoring four goals in 22 Premier League appearances in his final campaign before joining Roma in 2015.
After a sluggish first season, the 30-year-old has scored 20 goals in 29 appearances in all competitions this term, though he retains a reputation for wasting too many chances in front of goal.
Dzeko said the reaction of supporters to missed chances is far more severe in Italy, but his experience with Bosnia-Herzegovina helps him cope.
In England there was less pressure. If you do not play wel…
Ilkay Gundogan helped himself to a superb double as Manchester City edged closer to a fifth Premier League title in six seasons with a 3-0 win at Everton.
As a result of their victory on Merseyside and Arsenal’s 3-0 home defeat by Brighton, a maximum of three more points from their remaining three matches, the first of them at home to Chelsea next Sunday, will secure the trophy once again.
Indeed, Pep Guardiola’s men could be crowned champions on Saturday evening should the Gunners lose at Nottingham Forest, and even a draw at the City Ground would effectively end the race as a result of City’s superior goal difference after a straightforward afternoon at Goodison Park.
Man City take a step towards the title
— Premier League (@premierleague)
Chelsea starlet Andreas Christensen is set to join Borussia M gladbach on a season-long loan, .
The Bundesliga side have already done some business with the Premier League champions, signing Thorgan Hazard on loan before they purchased his contract in February.
Die Fohlen are now set to recruit another Chelsea footballer, with the season-long loan for Andreas Christensen all but agreed.
The talented centre-back arrived at Stamford Bridge from Brondby in 2012 and he was handed his Premier League debut on the final day of last season.
Christensen amassed 17 appearances in UEFA Youth League, while starting two domestic Cup matches for the senior side.
The 19-year-old is already an important member of Denmark U21 side, and has so far made a total of …