Guingamp coach Jocelyn Gourvennec hailed his side s display as perfect following their 2-0 win over Rennes in the Coupe de France final.
Gourvennec s men produced an excellent performance at the Stade de France on Saturday to earn a comfortable success against their Brittany rivals, securing glory in France s oldest domestic competition.
Jonathan Martins Pereira put Guingamp ahead in the 37th minute and Mustapha Yatabare ensured victory with a goal almost immediately after the break.
The triumph marked the second time that Guingamp have beaten Rennes in the final of the tournament, repeating a feat they achieved in the 2009 showpiece.
And Gourvennec was quick to pay tribute to the efforts of his players.
We played the perfect match, Gourvennec told France 2…
Uruguay wrapped up preparations for the FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 win against Slovenia in a friendly at the Estadio Centenario on Wednesday.
Edinson Cavani and substitute Christian Stuani were on target in each half in Montevideo as Uruguay extended their unbeaten streak on home soil.
Cavani opened the scoring in the 37th minute, glancing his header into the back of the net his seventh goal in 10 competitive games for the national team.
And Stuani, who netted the winning goal against Northern Ireland on Saturday, come off the bench to put the result beyond doubt 13 minutes from time.
Uruguay have not lost at home since their 1-0 defeat to Argentina in a World Cup qualifier back in 2009, while Slovenia slumped to back-to-back defeats following March s 2-0 loss to …
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is not ruling out further departures from Manchester United before the January transfer window closes.
Defender Timothy Fosu-Mensah joined Bayer Leverkusen on a permanent deal earlier this week and striker Odion Ighalo s loan deal is set to expire at the end of the month.
A number of other fringe players have been linked with the Old Trafford exit, meanwhile, with the likes of Jesse Lingard, Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo all in need of minutes – the Argentinian pair have been told they can leave.
Daniel James, Brandon Williams and Dean Henderson are others reportedly seeking loan moves to further their development.
And Solskjaer is prepared to sanction more exits in the coming weeks as he attempts to trim his squad.
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Critics of the Nations League were handed healthy helpings of humble pie after England and Croatia served up a thriller in their Group 4 decider, Harry Kane s late winner booking the Three Lions a place in the Finals.
The last 15 minutes at a raucous Wembley on Sunday matched anything international football has to offer with Kane knocking in his first goal since the World Cup where his side lost to Croatia in the semi-finals in extra-time to send Gareth Southgate s side through and the visitors down into League B.
Andrej Kramaric appeared to have kept Croatia on top in this new-found rivalry after his fine solo goal sparked delirious celebrations and put the Russia 2018 runners-up on track to stamp their ticket for the end-of-season tournament.
But substit…
After all the flashpoints and controversies, the trophies won and red cards, the impassioned defences and public rows, Roberto Mancini wore a weary and rueful expression.
Speaking to BBC Match of the Day following Manchester City s frustrating 0-0 draw at Queens Park Rangers in January 2013 – a result that pushed a hard-earned Premier League title further back in the direction of Manchester United – the Italian confirmed his compatriot Mario Balotelli would join AC Milan on an initial loan.
I think that this is a good chance for Mario to come back in Italy. I am very sorry because we love him as a guy and a player, Mancini said.
We are so sad in this moment. I think he will miss me… not only me, but all the journalists. For you he was very important.
…
Derby County manager Phillip Cocu is aiming to utilise captain Wayne Rooney s knowledge of Manchester United when the two teams meet in the FA Cup fifth round on Thursday.
Rooney spent a hugely successful 13 years at Old Trafford, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer before returning to Everton in 2017.
The former England skipper left Goodison Park to join MLS franchise DC United the following year, spending two seasons in the United States prior to linking up with Derby as a player-coach in January.
While it is three years since Rooney was at United, Cocu says Rooney’s long stay at United can only help the Rams as they target an upset at Pride Park.
Of course, Wayne is very important, and maybe even more so in this game because he knows Manch…
Simon Mignolet will hold talks with manager Jürgen Klopp to discuss the options for the future, have reported.
The Belgian arrived to Liverpool from Sunderland in 2013 as Brendan Rodgers, the Reds manager at the time, looked to replace Pepe Reina between the posts. He spent most of his stint at the club as the first-choice goalkeeper but his inconsistencies in form have gotten him to drop to the bench a few times. He started this season as the starter in the Premier League while Loris Karius held the spot in the Champions League. However, he dropped out of the picture completely at the turn of the year and has been acting as an understudy to the German ever since.
Liverpool have been linked with a host of goalkeepers this summer, but they still haven t signed one. Sh…
Olympiacos still have a slim chance of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League knockout phase on Tuesday.
Destiny is out of Olympiacos hands, with the Greek champions sitting third in Group A heading into their final matchday fixture against Malmo.
Olympiacos (six points, -5) are six points adrift of group leaders Atletico Madrid (12 points, +11) and three behind Juventus (nine points, +3) after last month s 4-0 drubbing in Madrid.
However, there is still hope for the Greek giants.
A win against Swedish outfit Malmo at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium and a Juve loss to Atletico would see Olympiacos through to the last 16 due to their superior head-to-head record.
Olympiacos beat Juve 1-0 in Athens in October, while the Italians were 3-2 victors …
He recounted Colombia defender Juan Zuniga s challenge that left Neymar with a fractured bone in his back, ruling him out of the 2014 World Cup semi-finals, and added of the most recent global showpiece in Russia: A stomp on his ankle [from Mexico s Miguel Layun] when he was out of the game.
It was said that there was nothing and that, on the contrary, he simulated. He had VAR, he had the whole world watching, but anyway, he was considered guilty .
Neymar Santos Sr also cited the Strasbourg incident to strengthen his case and said whenever his son falls, he is considered a diver and met with harsh treatment.
He added: Can we not dribble? We do not have the right to have talent? He gets carried away!
He believes that some in the press pu…
Antoine Griezmann is determined to add the Champions League to his impressive list of honours as Atletico Madrid prepare to kick-off their latest bid for glory at Monaco on Tuesday.
Griezmann inspired Atleti to Europa League success last season, hitting a brace in the 3-0 final victory over Marseille, before starring in France s triumphant 2018 World Cup run.
Atletico were only in the Europa League after a Champions League group-stage exit in 2017 – quite a turn up for the 2014 and 2016 beaten finalists, and their attacking talisman takes his share of the blame
Griezmann, who committed his future to Atleti during the close season by penning a long-term contract until 2023, told AS: When I see the Champions League trophy, I think, The next one s mine . We didn t…