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Leckie's availability could tip World Cup tie in Australia's favour

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Leckie's availability could tip World Cup tie in Australia's favour It’s all to play for in Sydney on Wednesday when Australia welcome Honduras for the second leg of their World Cup playoff. The Socceroos secured a 0-0 draw with their Central American counterparts last week and, to an extent, have the upper hand in the return match-up in Sydney.The availabilit...

Italy spoilt for choice in attack ahead of crunch Sweden meeting

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Italy spoilt for choice in attack ahead of crunch Sweden meeting When Italy and Sweden were drawn against one another last month in the upcoming World Cup play-offs it’s fair to say both managers would have been a little disheartened. Arguably the strongest seeded and unseeded side respectively, the Azzurri will be the favourites but know not to underestima...

Player Focus: Villa Must be Prepared to Receive Concrete Offers for Vlaar

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Player Focus: Villa Must be Prepared to Receive Concrete Offers for Vlaar Netherlands were defensively one of the best teams at the World Cup. Louis van Gaal’s side conceded only 4 goals in 7 games at Brazil 2014, with Bruno Martins Indi, Ron Vlaar and Stefan de Vrij all performing admirably in denying the likes of Lionel Messi and Alexis Sánchez from scoring...

Player Focus: Ricardo the Other Rodriguez Teams Should be Chasing

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Player Focus: Ricardo the Other Rodriguez Teams Should be Chasing Top quality full-backs are at a premium these days. Players in the position are expected to defend and attack in equal measure over the duration of matches, providing an offensive outlet from deep, but have the fitness to return to the defence when on the back foot. In fact, one could go as far to s...

Team Focus: Teams Must Resist Dominating Van Gaal's Manchester United Next Season

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Team Focus: Teams Must Resist Dominating Van Gaal's Manchester United Next Season The first day in a new office can be daunting for even the most steadfast individual. Unfamiliar surroundings, the pressure to make a good first impression - these factors, and more, are enough to unsettle anyone. However, one man who is unlikely to be unnerved by the task ahead of him is Louis van ...

Player Focus: De Vrij's World Cup Displays Will Have Impressed Potential Suitors

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Player Focus: De Vrij's World Cup Displays Will Have Impressed Potential Suitors With the World Cup now over, attention turns to the transfer window and the return of the domestic season across Europe. The Russian Premier League kicks off in just 17 days, while Ligue 1, the Championship and the Eredivisie all begin within a month. The latter league may well be light on a number ...

Team Focus: World Cup 2014 Highest Rated XI

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Team Focus: World Cup 2014 Highest Rated XI Mario Götze’s close-range volley in extra time proved to be the difference between Germany and Argentina in a pulsating World Cup final. A 1-0 win at the Maracanã on Sunday confirmed the Germans as champions and the opinion of the masses was that it was little more than they deserv...

Player Focus: Mascherano Must Overcome Kroos in Sunday's Midfield Battle

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Player Focus: Mascherano Must Overcome Kroos in Sunday's Midfield Battle It is strange to think that in six games at the 2014 World Cup Argentina have scored just 8 goals, 1 of which was a Sead Kolasinac own goal. Boasting Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero and Gonzalo Higuaín - 3 players who netted a combined 292 league goals since the 2010 World Cup - many expecte...

Team Focus: Van Gaal's Stubbornness Hinders Van Persie's World Cup Impact

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Team Focus: Van Gaal's Stubbornness Hinders Van Persie's World Cup Impact ‘SuperVan’ was the nickname given to Robin van Persie after his wonder header against Spain last month. Daley Blind’s perfect cross-field ball was met by the Manchester United striker to draw Netherlands level, setting them on their way to an eventual 5-1 win over the world champio...

Team Focus: Scolari Should Select Willian as Neymar's Replacement

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Team Focus: Scolari Should Select Willian as Neymar's Replacement Despite David Luiz’s thumping free-kick sending Brazil into the semi-final of the World Cup, a sombre mood engulfed the nation following their 2-1 win over Colombia. 20 minutes after the PSG defender had blasted his side into the next round, Juan Zuñiga brought down Neymar with a knee t...