The German Football Association (DFB) should ask Philipp Lahm to help solve the problems brought about by a miserable World Cup showing, says Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

Germany suffered a humiliating group-stage exit in Russia after defeats to Mexico and South Korea, becoming the third defending champions in a row to suffer such a fate after Italy in 2010 and Spain in 2014.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Rummenigge, who won 95 caps in a 10-year career with the national team said: The DFB is really only full of amateurs.

I am not convinced that there are the right approaches in place [to deal with crisis], but it does not surprise me either.

I think Philipp Lahm is a perfect match for the DFB. It might be an interesting solution to install Philipp Lahm as …

Pep Guardiola conceded he is surprised by the gap between Manchester City and Manchester United since he took charge at the Etihad Stadium.

City and United – who meet in this season s first Manchester derby on Saturday finished fourth and fifth respectively in 2015-16, separated only by goal difference after amassing 66 points apiece.

Guardiola s arrival at the same time as Jose Mourinho took charge at Old Trafford for the subsequent campaign was expected to herald an unforgettable new chapter in a century-old local squabble, while adding to the enmity the two elite tacticians built up when at Barcelona and Real Madrid.

It did not quite pan out that way, with Mourinho s EFL Cup and Europa League triumphs in 2016-17 proving to be a false dawn at United.

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Alexis Sanchez says leaving Manchester United for Inter has allowed him to fall in love with football again.

Sanchez scored only three Premier League goals in 32 appearances after signing for United from Arsenal in 2018.

The Chile international saw his unhappy spell at Old Trafford come to an end when he was allowed to join Inter on a season-long loan.

He made his first start for the club in Saturday s 3-1 Serie A win at Sampdoria, scoring his maiden Nerazzurri goal before being dismissed for two quickfire bookings before half-time.

Sanchez has reunited with ex-United striker Romelu Lukaku at San Siro and he feels coach Antonio Conte s desire has helped him to settle in Milan.

It was a bit like falling in love with football again, Sanchez told UE…

Market: Ross County win

Odds: 1/2 @

Looking to extend on their League Cup romp in midweek, Ross County will travel to the Meadowbank Stadium on Wednesday night when they meet Edinburgh City.

Starting with the hosts, eventually left disappointed last season as they missed out on a top-four finish, Edinburgh certainly signed off the 2022/23 campaign in the midst of a real struggle. Including a 4-1 drumming at the hands of Airdrieonians on the final weekend, the Citizens remarkably recorded just a single win from any of their last nine straight League One appearances. Really gaining a reputation for their defensive issues, Alan Maybury’s men have also failed to find any kind of stability this summer. Including an action-packed 4-2 defeat against Hibernian in a fr…

Challenging for the Premier League title may bring back painful memories for Liverpool after their failed attempts in 2009 and 2014, but Jurgen Klopp wants the Reds to embrace the battle this season.

Liverpool s most recent attempts to claim the crown for the first time since 1990 have both ended in disappointment, as they finished runners-up behind Manchester United and City respectively.

As the current campaign enters the second half, the Reds sit level with Tottenham in second place, seven points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

But rather than being worried about another missed opportunity, Klopp wants his side to relish the challenge and enjoy the remainder of the season.

The only thing I want is that, as a club, we really enjoy this situation because…

Watching many of Europe’s elite domestic leagues open up the 2023/24 campaigns this weekend, Sunday promises another stacked schedule from across the continent.

So, for those of you looking to stick on a Sunday flutter, we have found a pair of eye-catching affairs that can offer a great return for your weekend bet.

13:30 AZ Alkmaar vs Go Ahead Eagles

Once again gaining a string of plaudits last season as they secured an immediate top-four finish, AZ Alkmaar have certainly cemented their spot as a Dutch powerhouse over the past few years. Reaching the Europa Conference League semi-finals last season before falling to eventual winners West Ham, Sunday’s hosts should find the mood in their camp at a continued high.

Enjoying a hugely impressive summer …

Wolves have been dealt a blow ahead of the upcoming Premier League season after star striker Raul Jimenez was ruled out for a number of weeks with knee and adductor injuries.

Jimenez, who returned to first-team football 12 months ago after a fractured skull saw him sit out the majority of the 2020-21 campaign, is reportedly likely to miss at least a month of action after limping out of a 3-0 friendly win over Besiktas.

Raul came off in the game against Besiktas after he stretched for the ball and felt something in his knee and his groin,  an update on the club s official website revealed. 

Scans reveal that he has suffered a medial collateral ligament injury to his knee and a minor strain of his adductor. Neither injury is very serious but he is expected to…

Joelinton scored the only goal as 10-man Newcastle United got off to a winning start in the Premier League with a 1-0 victory over newly promoted Southampton at St James Park.

The Magpies midfielder s decisive strike came just before half-time for Eddie Howe s side, who claimed all three points despite having Fabian Schar dismissed for violent conduct earlier on.

Southampton enjoyed large periods of possession on their Premier League return.

Jack Stephens strike was denied by the offside flag in the 10th minute, before they were handed a numerical advantage 18 minutes later when Fabian Schar was shown a straight red card after squaring up to Ben Brereton Diaz.

But it was Newcastle who broke the deadlock in the final minute of the first half, when Alex Mc…

Market: Lille win

Odds: 4/5 @

Hoping to extend their stay in the top-four this weekend, Lille will travel to the Stade Gabriel-Montpied on Sunday afternoon when they meet Clermont.

Starting with the hosts, although Clermont might have shocked everyone across Ligue 1 last season as they claimed a famous top-half finish, Les Lanciers have come crashing back down to earth this time around. At the heart of what has been a public struggle and now facing a real uphill battle to keep hold of their top-flight status, Pascal Gastien’s side have collected just 10 points from their first 14 Ligue 1 appearances this year. With it looking like their is mounting pressure on the former Niort boss, Clermont will certainly face another tricky test here. Last seen putting in an…

Paris Saint-Germain striker Arnaud Kalimuendo has joined Rennes in a reported €25million transfer, penning a five-year deal with the Ligue 1 side.

Kalimuendo, a France Under-21 international who signed his first professional contract with PSG as a 17-year-old in 2019, had been strongly linked with Premier League side Leeds United after they missed out on Belgian forward Charles De Ketelaere to Milan.

The pacey forward has spent each of the last two seasons on loan at Lens, scoring 12 league goals in the 2021-22 campaign as they recorded an impressive seventh-placed finish.

Only nine players, including PSG stars Kylian Mbappe (28) and Neymar (13), outscored Kalimuendo last term, earning the 20-year-old a big-money move to Europa League qualifiers Rennes.