Engelaar out of Dutch squad due to injury

Nemanja Matic on the fringes / Image via skysports.com

It has been a challenging season for the Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic, who struggled to find his pace throughout the campaign.

Not only did he suffer at club level, but the 27-year-old enforcer also saw out a disastrous Euro 2016 qualification process, during which normally quiet and silent Nemanja Matic hit out at his teammates’ commitment and desire.

Change of fortune

Matic was one of Chelsea’s key men during the last season when Blues won the Premier League title, but his sudden demise was to some extent interpreted as one of the key reasons for Chelsea’s struggles during the ongoing campaign.

Jose Mourinho kept picking the out-of-form midfielder hoping that Matic will get back t…

Ben Davies will not feature for Wales in their Euro 2024 qualifier against Turkey.

The Football Association of Wales announced the Tottenham defender has stayed at home for the birth of his first child.

Kieffer Moore is also absent for Rob Page’s side after being sent off during their humiliating 4-2 defeat to Armenia in Cardiff on Friday.

DIWEDDARIAD CARFAN

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Antonio Conte says it is no coincidence that Chelsea s recent defensive troubles have come when Andreas Christensen has been out injured.

After spending two seasons out on loan with Borussia Monchengladbach, Christensen has forced his way into the first team under Conte in 2017-18 in place of David Luiz.

Christensen s most recent start came in the 3-0 reverse to Bournemouth, but the Dane was replaced after 28 minutes due to a hamstring injury.

The score at that point was 0-0 but Chelsea went on the suffer a heavy loss, and followed that up with a 4-1 thrashing at the hands of Watford on Monday.

His absence has not gone unnoticed at Stamford Bridge, Conte admitting Christensen has become a vital member of his backline. 

For sure, he s an importan…

Competition: La Liga

Market: Celta Vigo to beat Eibar

Odds:

La Liga continues this weekend for another round of games that will surely only bring more goals and excitement as the competition continues to heat up. A single win can quite often see a side rise up a number of places in the league and, with this in mind, Celta Vigo host Eibar on Saturday.

Celta Vigo have been in fairly good form this campaign but they are in danger of losing a lot of ground on those above them. After 24 games they have won nine, drawn five and lost 10, scoring 41 goals and conceding 37 times. In their last five they have won twice, lost twice and drawn once, seeing them onto 32 points. Celta are 14 points clear of the relegation zone, meaning they will feel they are …

Realistically, Queens Park Rangers must beat Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday if they hope to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

Harry Redknapp s side have spent the season near the foot of the table and are in 19th position, a worrying seven points from safety with just six games left to be played.

Their recent form has been up and down, with crucial lapses badly affecting their results, such as the first-half performance in a 3-2 loss to Fulham and conceding a late equaliser against Wigan after battling hard to retain their lead despite being reduced to 10 men.

Everton by contrast have won three of their past four league games, with an outstanding 2-0 victory against Manchester City last month the pick of those results.

David Moyes men are in…

Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber is relishing his return to the pitch after 19 months on the sidelines with injury.

Badstuber, 25, has not made an appearance for Bayern since rupturing his cruciate ligament against rivals Borussia Dortmund at Allianz Arena in December 2012.

In that time, Badstuber suffered a setback in his recovery, with the Germany international reinjuring his knee in May last year, as Bayern have gone on to win seven trophies in his absence.

However, the forgotten man in Bavaria is finally ready to make his comeback against amateur team Red Baroons in Bayern s first friendly of their pre-season campaign on Friday.

Obviously I m massively looking forward to it, Badstuber told Bayern s official website.

It s the kind of g…

Schalke are on the lookout for their third head coach of the season after announcing the sacking of Manuel Baum.

Baum was only appointed by Schalke on September 30 following the departure of David Wagner, who lost his job two games into the Bundesliga campaign.

Former Augsburg boss Baum was unable to turn around the club s terrible form, however, overseeing six defeats and four draws in his 10 league matches in charge.

And on the back of Wednesday s 2-0 home loss to Freiburg, which leaves Schalke bottom of the table with four points from a possible 36, the German side have taken action.

Schalke confirmed the news on their official website on Friday and added that board member Huub Stevens will take temporary charge for the remaining two games of 2020, wit…

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed Arsenal s Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday after sustaining a calf injury.

The 31-year-old Gabon international had started all of Arsenal s first 13 top-flight games this season, but he missed the game at Goodison Park with what the north London club described as a tight calf .

Aubameyang has struggled for the Gunners this campaign, although he did end a run of 11 league games without an open-play goal with the equaliser in Wednesday s 1-1 draw against Southampton.

Willian replaced Aubameyang in the starting XI after the Brazil international had been dropped against the Saints.

 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang misses tonight s match with a tight calf

— Arsenal (@Arsenal)

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Eden Hazard says Chelsea played like tigers to earn victory against West Ham in Antonio Conte s first match in charge of the club.

The Belgium international was named man-of-the-match after his penalty and Diego Costa s dramatic late winner either side of James Collins strike secured a 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Hazard endured a miserable 2015-16 season, scoring only four goals in 31 Premier League games – but he was glad start afresh and play a key role in the morale-boosting derby victory.

It is good to be back on the pitch and winning in front of our supporters, the 25-year-old said to Sky Sports.

The first game in the season is always important. We did very well and played like tigers for 90 minutes.

It is not every year …

Lionel Messi has decided to retire from international duty following Argentina s Copa America final defeat by Chile

Argentina suffered yet another final defeat on Sunday night, suffering a Copa America final defeat against Chile on penalties following a 0-0 draw in normal and extra-time.

The failure was one too many for star player Lionel Messi, who revealed after the game that he has decided to retire from international football.

The defeat was compounded by the fact that the Barcelona star missed a penalty kick in the 4-2 spot-kick defeat.

Decided to retire after the defeat

Talking after the game Messi told the media: “It’s tough, it’s not the time for analysis,”

“In the dressing room I thought that this is the end for me with…