BREAKING NEWS: Roma dismiss Rudi Garcia

Rudi Garcia s contract as coach of Roma has been terminated by the Serie A club.

Roma finished as runners-up to Serie A champions Juventus in each of Garcia s two full seasons in charge but are seven points off the pace in fifth this time around.

The 2-0 win over Genoa stands as the capital club s only victory in 10 matches across all competitions, during which time they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia on penalties by Serie B minnows Spezia at the Stadio Olimpico.

Garcia survived a similar slump after Christmas last season but Roma s board, led by president James Pallotta, has decided to act following Saturday s 1-1 draw against AC Milan.

According to numerous reports, Luciano Spalletti Roma boss between 2005 and 2009 is poised to return to the club…

Croatia v Portugal: Cacic determined to spring another shock

Croatia boss Ante Cacic believes his side have shown they are more than capable of defeating Portugal to book a spot in the quarter-finals of Euro 2016.

A surprise come-from-behind 2-1 win over holders Spain saw Croatia finish top of Group E, following an earlier victory over Turkey and a 2-2 draw with Czech Republic.

Portugal have won all three of their previous games with Croatia without conceding a goal, including a 3-0 triumph in their only prior competitive encounter at Euro 96.

But with Croatia now unbeaten in 12 matches the longest run of any side left in the finals Cacic is confident they can survive another difficult draw.

In this phase of the competition there are no easy opponents and we probably got the most difficult, he said. But we were in…

FA asks Mikel Arteta and Arsenal for observations after referee comments

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stood by both the club’s and his own criticism of Premier League officiating after Arsenal’s loss at Newcastle on Saturday as the Football Association asked for observations following the condemnation of referees.

The Gunners lost 1-0 at St James’ Park – their first Premier League defeat of the campaign – as Anthony Gordon scored a controversial winner for the hosts.

The second-half goal was checked for three separate VAR offences – the ball going out of play, a foul by Joelinton on Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes and a potential offside – but survived them all to ultimately earn Newcastle the three points.

Speaking after the defeat, Arteta said it was “embarrassing” and a “disgrace” that the goal stood, w…

Villarreal to sign Sergi Cardona on free transfer

Villarreal are set to sign Sergi Cardona in the summer transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano. The well-known and well-respected Italian journalist has reported that Cardona is a free agent at the moment, and that La Liga club Villarreal have agreed a deal to secure his services.

Romano wrote on : “EXCL: Villarreal have agreed deal to sign Sergi Cardona as free agent, here we go!

“Despite proposals from Porto, Italian and English clubs, Cardona will join Villarreal.

“Understand it will be three year contract, medical booked on Thursday morning.”

Cardona left Las Palmas at the end of last season. The 24-year-old left-back made 30 starts and five substitute appearances in La Liga last season, scoring one goal and providing two assists in the…

Michael Beale confirms lengthy Connor Goldson absence after Rangers beat Hibs

Michael Beale hopes for better luck on the injury front at Rangers next season as he confirmed Connor Goldson is out for 10 weeks.

The 30-year-old centre-back missed the 3-1 cinch Premiership win against Hibernian at Easter Road on Sunday with a foot injury picked up in the victory over Celtic last weekend.

Beale described the mentality of his side in winning as “absolutely fantastic” after Alfredo Morelos, Glen Kamara and Scott Wright were added to a long list of absentees, with Rabbi Matondo on the bench but unable to come on.

On-loan attacker Malik Tillman is back at Bayern Munich with a hamstring problem which has ended his season while Ben Davies, Ryan Kent, Borna Barisic, Antonio Colak, Kemar Roofe, Tom Lawrence, Steven Davis and Filip Helander were als…

Rashford sees Liverpool as ideal opponents for under-fire Man Utd

Marcus Rashford believes Manchester United s clash with Liverpool represents the ideal opportunity for the Red Devils to reverse their dismal start to the Premier League season. 

United have lost their first two matches of the campaign after producing calamitous displays against Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford, leaving new boss Erik ten Hag facing fierce criticism ahead of Liverpool s visit.

They have not won any of their last eight Premier League meetings with Liverpool, conceding nine goals without reply in two games against their rivals last term. Indeed, United last had a longer winless league run against a single opponent between 1983 and 1987 (10 vs Everton).

Another defeat to Jurgen Klopp s side, meanwhile, would see United slip to four consecut…

Arbeloa: These are my last months at Real Madrid

Alvaro Arbeloa has confirmed that he expects to leave Real Madrid at the end of the season.

Former Spain right-back Arbeloa has made 236 appearances for Madrid since joining from Liverpool in 2009, but has been limited to just four outings in La Liga this term.

Dani Carvajal s return to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2013 shunted Arbeloa to second choice, while Danilo s arrival ahead of the current campaign has limited his options even further.

After playing a full 90 minutes for the first time in the league in 2015-16 at Las Palmas on Sunday, Arbeloa thanked coach Zinedine Zidane for the run-out, but confirmed he will be looking for a new club for next season.

I am aware that these are my last few months at Real Madrid, Arbeloa told reporters. I train very …

Werder Bremen appeal three-game ban for Djilobodji

Werder Bremen have appealed the three-game ban handed to Papy Djilobodji for unsportsmanlike conduct after making a throat-slitting gesture in the 1-1 draw with Mainz on Saturday.

The 27-year-old, on loan at Werder from Chelsea, made the signal at a grounded Pablo de Blasis after battling for possession with the attacker during the Bundesliga clash, something the German Football Association (DFB) took a dim view of.

However, Werder refuse to accept the DFB s decision and have appealed the centre-back s suspension.

Werder have been told by the DFB that Papy Djilobodji has been handed a three-match ban. Werder do not agree with this decision and have decided to appeal the decision, a statement on the Bremen website read.

Papy Djilobodji has been accused o…

Ibrahimovic hails ´mastermind´ Mourinho

Manchester United star Zlatan Ibrahimovic lauded mastermind Jose Mourinho and said the manager made his decision to move to Old Trafford an easy one.

Ibrahimovic, 34, reunited with Mourinho in July, signing a one-year deal with United after his time at Paris Saint-Germain came to an end.

The pair won the Serie A title together at Inter in 2008-09 before Ibrahimovic left Italy for Barcelona.

Ibrahimovic was full of praise for Mourinho, who has led United to three Premier League wins from as many games ahead of Saturday s Manchester derby.

Mourinho is a mastermind. He knows everything about the game, the striker said.

I do not have many regrets, but I do regret that I did not get to play under Mourinho for longer. When the opportunity came again f…

Memories not clouding Barcelona challenge for Guardiola

Pep Guardiola will enjoy a special occasion when Manchester City take on Barcelona at the ground where he progressed from boyhood fan, to key player and head coach.

City lie two points behind Barca in Champions League Group C heading into matchday three and will aim to overturn a run of four consecutive losses in the tournament against the LaLiga kings.

Guardiola was also on the receiving end of a beating when he returned to Camp Nou with Bayern Munich in 2015, as Lionel Messi inspired a 3-0 win on the way to a semi-final triumph and the European title.

Nevertheless, the 45-year-old conceded this can never simply be a routine fixture for him as a visiting coach.

It was one-and-a-half years ago when I came here with Bayern Munich. It is always special for…