Sunderland winger Adam Johnson believes his form warranted inclusion in England s FIFA World Cup squad.

Johnson s form in the second half of last season was a major factor behind Sunderland managing to avoid relegation, with the 26-year-old even being awarded the Premier League player of the month prize for January.

The former Manchester City man has 12 international caps to his name, but has not played for his country since August 2012.

Johnson was a regular part of England squads under previous manager Fabio Capello, but has failed to force his way into the national team set-up under the Italian s successor Roy Hodgson, with the likes of Adam Lallana and Raheem Sterling jumping ahead of him in the pecking order.

However, Johnson feels his performances after the…

Neymar scored an inspired hat-trick as Paris Saint-Germain defeated Istanbul Basaksehir 5-1 to clinch top spot in Champions League Group H in a resumed fixture that saw both sets of players make strong anti-racism messages.

The fixture at Parc des Princes was suspended after 13 minutes on Tuesday after it was alleged fourth official Sebastian Coltescu had exposed Basaksehir assistant Pierre Webo to racist language.

UEFA consequently launched an investigation and, after players for both teams united to make a stand against discrimination, Neymar ran the show, netting twice in a superb first-half showing and completing his hat-trick early in the second.

Kylian Mbappe ended a year-long wait for a Champions League goal before the break and scored a second following M…

Jose Mourinho believes Giovani Lo Celso has shown he is back to his best after Tottenham s 2-0 win over Royal Antwerp.

Lo Celso scored his fourth goal of the Europa League campaign as Spurs secured top spot in Group J on Thursday.

The Argentina international also had more key passes (four), shots (four), passes in the opposition half (34), touches (72), tackles (three) and possessions gained (12) than any of his team-mates.

Lo Celso has dealt with injuries to begin the season, but Spurs head coach Mourinho said the midfielder was back to his best.

It is not about me, it is about them. Gio, last season he reached an incredible level. Then he had an injury and this season, the pre-season was non-existent for him, he told a news conference.

I said …

Real Madrid are chasing European title number 11 when they face Atletico Madrid at San Siro on Saturday.

A campaign that started with a 4-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk will end with a repeat of the 2014 final, when Carlo Ancelotti s Madrid claimed the fabled Decima against their city rivals.

Zinedine Zidane has replaced Rafael Benitez since they romped through this season s group stage, overseeing dominant victories and more than one nervy moment en route to Milan.

Here, we take a look at how Madrid reached the final.

Group Stage

Madrid made a reasonably tough-looking group including Paris Saint-Germain, Shakhtar and Malmo look supremely straightforward.

Five wins, one draw, 19 goals scored and just three conceded tells the stor…

Manchester City F.C. forward Stevan Jovetic has criticised manager Manuel Pellegrini’s decision to drop him from the club s UEFA Champions League squad.

The Montenegro international, who joined City from Fiorentina for £22 million in the summer of 2013, was dropped from City s European squad following the January arrival of Wilfried Bony.

Pellegrini s decision has not gone down too well with Jovetic, and understandably so.

I deserve to play in the Champions League, I know that, Jovetic told the Sunday Mirror.

The manager has killed me with this decision. I feel I deserve my place and other people have told me the same. People have told me I am a great player but it is clear that the manager does not think the same way.

I …

Liverpool have signed Italian striker Fabio Borini from Roma for a fee of about 11 million pounds.

The move sees the former Parma man link up with Brendan Rodgers for a third time after he worked under the Northern Irishman at Chelsea and Swansea.

Borini has only been with Roma for a season, after joining on a free transfer from Chelsea in the summer of 2011, and managed nine goals in 20 starts after joining them on loan from Parma at the beginning of the 2011-12 campaign.

The 21-year-old made his international debut for Italy in their 1-0 home defeat to the United States in February and was selected for the Euro 2012 squad although he did not play in the tournament.

Borini is Rodgers first signing since his arrival on Merseyside, after he replaced Kenny…

Arsenal couldn t shake off the scars from their battering at Stoke as Arsene Wenger s side were forced to settle for a frustrating 0-0 draw against Fenerbahce in the Champions League on Wednesday.

After that chastening defeat against Stoke last weekend, the Gunners desperately needed a win in the Group G clash at the Emirates Stadium to get back on track.

But, although Arsenal dominated for long periods, the pyschological damage inflicted by Stoke had clearly left its mark. The hosts were unable to find the cutting edge needed to kill off dogged opposition and a series of poor finishes left Wenger s team without a win in three matches.

While Arsenal should still qualify for the second round with a win over Dynamo Kiev later this month, Wenger must be concerne…

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner has made it clear he is unfazed by reports linking him with a big club move at the end of the season.

The Germany starlet is one of Europe’s most sought-after forwards at the moment and he is believed to be on the radar of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Atletico Madrid, among other clubs.

While RB Leipzig are bracing for big money offers in the summer, Werner seems happy to remain at the club for the time being.

“I have a contract until 2020 and I feel good in Leipzig,” Werner told reporters after the Bundesliga clash with Stuttgart.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season last term as he scored 21 league goals before netting three times at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.

Werner has so far managed 10 Bu…

Javi Gracia recalled painful memories in comparing Mohamed Salah to Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi after his Watford side were torn apart by Liverpool.

Salah s sensational 2017-18 continued with a four-goal haul as Jurgen Klopp s side romped to a 5-0 success at Anfield on Saturday, the Egypt international taking his tally to 36 goals across all competitions this season.

Four years ago, Gracia s Osasuna were thumped 7-0 at Camp Nou by Barca with Messi scoring a hat-trick and the Spaniard said even the best-laid plans can be ripped to shreds by players like Salah and the Argentina superstar.

Many times it is not so important what your plan is, no matter how hard you work on it, because a player like that can change it in an instant, he said.

I remember…

Arsenal stormed to a comprehensive 3-0 Community Shield triumph over a lacklustre Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger s team ended a nine-year trophy drought by beating Hull City in the FA Cup final in May and the north London club returned to the national stadium to produce an emphatic display in the traditional season curtain-raiser.

Injuries and late returns from World Cup commitments combined to leave City without seven of the XI that sealed a second Premier League title in three seasons with a final-day win over West Ham in May, but Arsenal were also missing Per Mertesacker, Mesut Ozil and Lukas Podolski, who helped Germany triumph in Brazil.

It was Arsenal who acquitted themselves to far greater effect in the first half, as showpiece new si…