Arsenal fan Prince Harry´s wedding day to clash with FA Cup final

It s the only trophy Arsenal have won since 2004, but Gunners fan Prince Harry won t be at Wembley on May 19, even if Arsene Wenger s holders reach another FA Cup final.

The north London side upset Premier League champions Chelsea 2-1 at the national stadium last term to capture a record 13th FA Cup and their third in the last four seasons.

Arsenal will face Nottingham Forest in the third round next month, and supporters can harbour realistic ambitions of watching their team, who have also progressed to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, attempt to reach another decider next year in one of world football s oldest competitions.

Harry, though, will not be in attendance, regardless of which teams are involved.

And the Football Association could also be hard …

Prediction: Croatia vs Sweden

Prediction: Croatia win

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Another international break is upon us and yet despite the apathy that tends to create from domestic football fans, there are some important steps to be taken on the Road to UEFA Euro 2021. Still, while there are playoff games to be settled, the UEFA Nations League is still taking place as teams across the continent attempt to build some momentum prior to the aforementioned showpiece next year. Today, we ll be taking a look at what is bound to be an interesting clash between Croatia and Sweden this weekend.

Croatia

It s been two years since Croatia shocked the masses to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup final only to come up short against the dominant French. It s hard to analyse how much they ve improved s…

Xavi urges Ribery to make Qatar switch

Former Barcelona midfielder Xavi has urged Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery to join him at Al Sadd in Qatar.

Ribery s contract with the Bundesliga giants expires at the end of the season and discussions over a new deal are yet to begin.

Executive board chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in December that Bayern who are currently in Qatar for a training camp  will talk to both Ribery and Arjen Robben about their respective futures in 2018, but gave no assurances that either will get an extension.

Ribery, 35 in April, is in the twilight of his career and, should Bayern not look to renew his terms, could look for one final big financial move.

And Xavi, who made the switch to Qatar at the end of the 2014-15 LaLiga season, thinks Ribery could do a lot wor…

Real Madrid 2-0 Inter: Wonderstrikes secure top spot for Ancelotti´s side

Real Madrid secured top spot in Group D of the Champions League with a 2-0 win over Inter.

Toni Kroos gave the hosts a first-half lead at the Santiago Bernabeu with a wonderful effort from 25 yards.

And substitute Marco Asensio sealed the points with a beautiful strike to match 11 minutes from time.

Inter were forced to play the final 26 minutes with 10 men after Nicolo Barella was dismissed for violent conduct.

 OF THE GROUP!

— Real Madrid C.F.  (@realmadriden)

Needing a win to snatch top spot in Group D, the Nerazzurri made a bright start.

Marcelo Brozovic s dipping volley went just over, while Ivan Perisic saw an effort blocked in the box.

But Madrid took the lead against the run of play; Kroos receiving the ball …

Klopp hails Bruno Fernandes ´wow´ factor as Liverpool brace for Man United test

Jurgen Klopp revealed he had already been wowed by Bruno Fernandes before Manchester United signed the man who has driven them to the top of the Premier League.

The deal to take Fernandes from Sporting CP to Old Trafford last January could eventually go down as one of the best pieces of business by an English club.

His arrival transformed United and sparked a surge into the Champions League places, and this season the playmaker is inspiring a title challenge. Klopp quipped that Fernandes was unfortunately proving a shrewd signing.

Since Fernandes Premier League debut on February 1 last year, United have won more points than any other team in the top flight (68) – Manchester City and Liverpool have earned six fewer.

During that time frame the Portugal in…

Hayes concedes title race is over as Chelsea suffer dramatic Liverpool defeat

It has been a difficult week for Chelsea and their boss Emma Hayes.

After seeing their Champions League dreams dashed by holders Barcelona on Saturday, they had no margin for error when they travelled to Liverpool in the Women s Super League on Wednesday.

Six points behind Manchester City with two games in hand but an inferior goal difference, the Blues needed three points to stop Hayes final season in charge from totalling unravelling.

But there was to be no respite for the Blues, who were at one point tipped for a quadruple but have been stuck in a downward spiral since losing Sam Kerr to an anterior cruciate ligament injury during the winter break.

Matt Beard s Liverpool put on a tremendous display to win 4-3, with Gemma Bonner scoring a stoppage-time…

Where could Manchester City be looking to strengthen over the summer transfer window?

While might have relinquished their maiden Champions League crown last month, the Sky Blues still have their sights firmly set on making more domestic history this season.

With a fourth consecutive Premier League crown at the top of their agenda, Pep Guardiola’s men appear to be already putting together their summer plans.

Although it might have been heavily speculated that could be set for a move away from the Etihad at the end of the season, City are once again expected to break the bank.

Ahead of what looks set to be a frantic summer behind the scenes in the blue half of Manchester, we have taken a look at some of the European stars that are topping Guardiola’s wishlist.

Lucas Paqueta West Ham

Although might have eventually stayed put in east …

Palermo sign Salvatore Aronica

Palermo have announced on their official website that they have signed defender Salvatore Aronica from Napoli.

The experienced defender has signed a contract until June 2015 and will be officially presented to the press on 2nd January.

Aronica, 34, is club’s first signing of the January transfer window, with at least few more players likely to follow as the Rosanero battle to avoid relegation to Serie B.

The highly rated defender had just six months left on his deal with the Azzurri and arrived at Renzo Barbera for a nominal fee.

After making his Serie A debut at Juventus in 1997, Aronica played for Reggina, Crotone, Ascoli and Messina before joining Napoli in the summer of 2008.

He made a total of 111 league appearances for the Azzurri, but fa…

Schelotto happy with Inter transfer

Atalanta winger Ezequiel Schelotto says he is delighted with his imminent transfer to Inter, with both sides close to reaching an agreement.

The Nerazzurri have earmarked the 23-year-old as a valuable addition to their roster, and are expected to complete his signing shortly.

I do not want to get ahead of myself because the deal is not yet official. However, I am very happy that negotiations seem to be reaching a conclusion, the Atalanta star told Sportitalia.

Schelotto came through the ranks of the Banfield youth academy, but left the Argentine side for Cesena in 2008, before eventually joining Atalanta two years later.

He has since developed into a key player at the Bergamo outfit, and now seems set to make the step up to Inter.

The Italy inte…

Nesta: Milan must shake Berlusconi bad habit

AC Milan have been blighted by reliance on president Silvio Berlusconi s bad habits in recent years, according to Alessandro Nesta.

The seven-time European champions have fallen well off the pace in Serie A since winning the title in 2011, having finished 10th last season and eighth in 2013-14, after a distinct lack of investment in the playing squad.

Under new head coach Sinisa Mihajlovic this term and following an increase in pre-season spending, Milan have begun to threaten the top three once again, but Nesta who won both the league and the Champions League twice with the club believes they have been damaged by Berlusconi s refusal to loosen the purse strings and has urged them to change mentality going forward.

AC Milan got a bad habit from a very rich presi…