Wellington Phoenix sign former Premier League striker Gary Hooper

Crack striker Didier Drogba could return to action for Ivory Coast Wednesday when they play Guinea near Paris in a friendly international.

A knee injury forced the dreadlocked Chelsea star to miss an Ivorian tour of Japan last May and four 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifiers the following month.

Drogba, who had knee surgery last year, was included in a 23-strong squad for the fixture at Chantilly and fit-again Barcelona enforcer Yaya Toure is another Elephants star to be recalled by Vahid Halilhodzic.

The Serbian coach sprung a surprise by selecting Spain-based Felix Djah, who won the last of three caps seven years ago, and Aruna Dindane, Arouna Kone and Bakary Kone are also back in the squad.

Ivory Coast have fond memories of Guinea, crush…

Joaquin Caparros hopes Vicente Del Bosque continues as Spain coach despite the nation s round of 16 exit from the Euros. 

Double-defending champions Spain suffered a 2-0 loss to Italy on Monday, sealing an early elimination in France for the European giants. 

Speculation has surrounded the future of Del Bosque, who hinted Euro 2016 could be his last hurrah as Spain coach, with the 65-year-old set to hold talks with Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) chief Angel Maria Villar.

One of the potential candidates to replace Del Bosque is Caparros, but the 60-year-old would not be upset if the coaching set-up stays the way it is.

I would love if Del Bosque continued and led the team to the [2018] World Cup in Russia, former Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao boss C…

It was November 18, 2015 when then Castilla boss Zinedine Zidane described Toni Kroos as perfect for Real Madrid .

Kroos was in his second season at the Santiago Bernabeu after joining from Bayern Munich – reportedly against the wishes of Bayern boss Pep Guardiola – and starting to put his stamp on the team.

Zidane added: Kroos has changed his game since he got here. Spanish style is about beauty, especially here at Real Madrid. But he immediately adapted to this style.

The Frenchman, who became Madrid boss two months later, was right to a certain extent; Kroos had changed his style but it was a change forced upon him.

A more offensive midfielder at Bayern, Kroos had been shunted into a defensive role at Madrid with Zidane s predecessor Rafael Benite…

Portuguese newspaper that Norwich have agreed to sign Sporting Lisbon striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

It is believed that the Canaries will pay around €10 million for the highly rated forward, with the Netherlands international set to join the club in the summer transfer window.

Van Wolfswinkel was followed by a number of England’s top sides, including Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle, but Norwich seem to have won the race for the player’s signature.

Being in a very difficult financial situation, Sporting Lisbon had no choice but to cash in on their prized asset.

The 24-year-old joined the Lions from Utrecht in the summer of 2011, and really shone in his first season at the club.

After scoring 14 goals in 25 league games last term…

Thiago Silva believes his former club AC Milan have taught football a lesson in how to topple Barcelona.

The Brazilian s Paris Saint-Germain side are clear underdogs against the runaway La Liga leaders in Tuesday s Champions League quarter-final first leg.

But Thiago insists Tito Vilanova s team are far from unbeatable and Milan s successful strategy in the 2-0 home leg of their last-16 clash gives PSG genuine hope of an upset.

Everybody knows what Barcelona are capable of. They have been an amazing side in the last few years, he told Goal.com.

The group is full of quality players and their philosophy is admirable. But in football there is no such thing as an unbeatable side.

They had to work hard to overcome Milan and I think that they showed …

Market: Both teams to score

Odds: 2/3 @

Two sides who find themselves seeking some stability, Atlanta will welcome away day strugglers New York Red Bulls to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday night.

Starting with the hosts, left stunned by Philadelphia s last-gasp comeback last weekend, Atlanta really failed to impress on their travels earlier in the week. Failing to bounce back and hit with a deserved defeat away at New York City, the former MLS champions have failed to win any of their last four matchups and have gained a reputation for their issues at the back on either side of the international break. Managing to muster just a single point from their last nine straight contests, a run that stems back to a 3-1 win against a struggling Chicago on April 25th, …

Robert Lewandowski scored his 250th Bundesliga goal as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Wolfsburg 2-1 and keep the pressure on Bayer Leverkusen.

Maximilian Philipp had put Wolfsburg ahead at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday with a clinical finish after a mistake by Leroy Sane.

But Lewandowski headed in just before the break to reach the milestone and then added a decisive second early in the second half with a controlled finish.

Visitors Wolfsburg were unbeaten so far this season but saw that record ended as Bayern survived a late onslaught to remain a point behind leaders Leverkusen, 4-0 winners at Cologne.

Wolfsburg took the lead when Sane tried to control in the box rather than clear his lines, allowing Kevin Mbabu to cross for Philipp, who hooke…

Former Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bosnich expects the Premier League strugglers to avoid relegation thanks to new boss Tim Sherwood.

Villa have won two of their last three top-flight games to move into the relative safety of 16th and three points above the drop zone, while also reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.

And Bosnich, who made over 200 appearances for Villa and won two League Cup titles before joining Manchester United in 1999, claimed that not only should Villa avoid the drop  they should be challenging for top-six honours.

Of course they can [avoid relegation]. The bottom line is Paul Lambert did the right thing [by resigning before Sherwood s arrival last month] because they were going nowhere, the ex-Australia keeper told Perform.

They ar…

Sporting Lisbon have criticised the father and representative of Eric Dier for forcing through a move to Premier League side Tottenham.

Tottenham confirmed on Thursday that a deal had been agreed with the England Under-21 international defender, with the move set to be sealed upon the completion of a medical.

Primeira Liga outfit Sporting have subsequently revealed that Dier was offered the chance to stay, but the club were forced to accept a €5million offer from Tottenham as it met a release clause put in place by previous owners.

Sporting Clube de Portugal announces that during [July] the club started negotiations with Eric Dier over the renewal of his contract, read a statement on Sporting s official website.

Unexpectedly, Sporting, SAD was confron…

Tottenham Hotspur are about to sign a deal with Sunderland defender Pascal Chimbonda, according to media reports.

Spurs continue to look for ways to gain strength in England s top flight and Chimbonda s return could well make a positive change at White Hart Lane. The Frenchman played for Tottenham from 2006 to 2008 but left London for Sunderland at the start of the current season.

Reportedly, Sunderland and Tottenham agreed on a 3 million Pound transfer fee.

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