Football news

The Croatia international is desperate for silverware after two disappointing seasons, but feels Juventus are still ahead of them

Mateo Kovacic has admitted that Inter’s lack of success in recent years is starting to frustrate him.

The Croatia international joined the Nerazzurri from Dinamo Zagreb in 2010 and the San Siro side have yet to challenge for any major honours, much to the midfielder’s disappointment.

However, Kovacic nonetheless insists that he remains fully committed to the club – despite ongoing speculation linking him with a move to Liverpool.

“When I joined Inter, I was hoping to win trophies. I arrived here two-and-a-half years ago and I think I have been waiting for quite a while now,” Kovacic told Corriere dello Sport.

“But I am happy at Inter. It feels like home. That’s why I don’t like to talk about a transfer.

“Next season will be important. I am 21 years old now and I want to make an impact.”

Inter will be looking to close the gap on Juventus this season, with the reigning Serie A champions having lost players such as Andrea Pirlo, Arturo Vidal and Carlos Tevez, but Kovacic has stressed they should focus on their own performances.

“They have lost three important players, but we should not be looking at Juventus at this stage,” the playmaker added.

“I feel they are still ahead of at the moment and we have to do everything within our powers to close the gap. We are a strong team and have to do better than in the past two seasons.”

The Selecao will travel to Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 8 to take on Jurgen Klinsmann’s men at the Gillette Stadium

The Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour will resume on September 8 when Brazil will face USA at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

With 10 consecutive Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour victories since his July appointment, Selecao coach Dunga will be desperate to return to winning ways after a disappointing Copa America campaign that saw them exit at the quarter-finals in Chile last month.

The September Fifa dates will be Brazil’s last to experiment prior to the start of Conmebol World Cup qualifying campaign for Russia 2018.

USA will also be keen to get back on track after a shock semi-final defeat to Jamaica in this month’s Concacaf Cold Cup.

Brazil have prevailed in 16 of their 17 clashes with USA, with the most recent matchup between the two ending in a 4-1 victory for the Selecao at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland on May 30, 2012.

The Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, 20 miles south of Boston and home to the New England Patriots and MLS team New England Revolutions, previously hosted the Brasil Global Tour in 2013 in a match which saw Brazil beat Portugal 3-1.

Tickets go on sale to the public Friday, July 31, at 10 a.m. ET through ussoccer.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 and at all Ticketmaster ticket centres throughout the region. Starting Monday, August 3, tickets also become available at the Gillette Stadium ticket office (open Monday-Friday 9am to 5pm.

The International Champions Cup has seen plenty of high-scoring ties thus far, so, when the two of the tournament’s biggest names meet, there should be more goals

It may only be a pre-season tournament, but Barcelona facing Manchester United is a big deal in the United States. These are two of the country’s best supported international teams and the Levi’s Stadium will be packed to capacity for this International Champions Cup encounter.

bet365 make Barcelona the favorites and rightly so, with the reigning European and Spanish champions offered at 11/10 (2.10) for the win, while United can be backed at 21/10 (3.10) and the draw is priced at 12/5 (3.40).

It is worth remembering of course that a good chunk of Barcelona’s first-choice side is missing from this tour with the South American quartet of Lionel Messi, Neymar, Javier Mascherano and Claudio Bravo all still recuperating from their exertions in the Copa America.

The team which started the Blaugrana’s match against LA Galaxy was still highly competitive but with a definite nod towards some fringe and youth members of the squad.

Yet despite those high-profile absentees against the MLS side, Barca could have netted a great deal more than the two goals they managed, with the improvised front three of Luis Suarez, Rafinha and Pedro looking extremely dangerous.

United, meanwhile, overcame the San Jose Earthquakes in their last game 3-1 looking pretty comofortable themselves and it is hard to shake the feeling that this will be a high-scoring game.

Over 2.5 goals tends to pay out in the majority of Barcelona games, friendlies or otherwise, and is offered at 13/20 (1.55) a price which is generally prohibitive, but the odds get more favorable when looking at the over 3.5 goals market, which is offered at 6/4 (2.50).

So far this has been an extremely high-scoring tournament with (at the time of writing) four of the last five matches in the North American section of the International Champions Cup seeing at least four goals.

This should be a competitive game, with Manchester United keen to show they are building a force to be reckoned with once more, and Barcelona intent on showing themselves to be the best team in Europe.

The Brazil international, who spoke out against racism in Russia earlier this week, will now play no part in the proceedings

Zenit striker Hulk will not feature in the preliminary draw for the World Cup in Russia, with Fifa citing the player’s club commitments for his absence.

The Brazil international was set to join the likes of Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro and Samuel Eto’o for the ceremony in Saint Petersburg on Saturday.

However, former Russia international Alexey Smertin will replace Hulk, who is due to feature for Andre Villas-Boas’ side against Ural on Sunday.

The decision has raised eyebrows, however, given that Hulk spoke out earlier this week against racism – an issue that has blighted Russia’s preparations for the competition.

“It [racism] happens at almost every match in Russia, but the world does not hear about it because they try to keep it quiet,” Hulk told reporters on Monday.

Ufa midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong was given a two-match ban last week for gesturing towards Spartak Moscow fans he claimed were abusing him.

After his brother, Andre, signed for Swansea City, the Ghana international striker is also set for the Premier League this summer after the Villans agreed a fee with Lorient

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By Graeme Bailey

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Aston Villa have agreed a deal to sign Ghana international striker Jordan Ayew, Goal understands.

Villa have brokered terms with Lorient that will see them pay up to £12 million (€17m) for the former Marseille man’s services.

The 23-year-old is now due for a medical in the next 24 hours before committing himself to Tim Sherwood’s side.

Ayew will join his brother, Andre, in the Premier League after the elder of the two moved to Swansea City earlier in the summer.

Jordan Ayew has spent just one season with Lorient after leaving Marseille, scoring 12 goals in Ligue 1 for Les Merlus.