Glory ready for South Africa camp

Josef Hickersberger announced his retirement as Austrian coach in an interview to be published on Tuesday which will appear on the day that the Austrian federation were to decide on his future.

The 60-year-old tells daily newspaper Der Standard that he feels exhausted after coaching co-hosts Austria at Euro 2008 where they bowed out in the first round with just one point and having scored one goal.

I am stopping I feel empty and tired, I need to take a break and recharge the batteries, said Hickersberger, who was in his second spell as coach after leading them to the 1990 World Cup finals but resigning later that year after a Euro 92 qualifier defeat by the Faroe Islands.

The chapter is closed. My mission has been accomplished. I have reflected long and hard.…

Oliver Bierhoff, whose golden goal won Euro 96, says Germany must approach Sunday s Euro 2008 final against Spain without fear as the Germans bid to win a fourth European title.

The 40-year-old Germany manager scored the winner in extra-time against the Czech Republic at Wembley in 1996 and the ex-AC Milan striker expects the Germans to attack Luis Aragones s Spain in Vienna.

Defender Philipp Lahm put Germany in the final with a 90th-minute winner to see off Turkey 3-2 in Basel s semi-final on Wednesday, but his side had to come from behind after a lack-lustre first half.

Only in their 3-2 quarter-final win over Portugal have Germany impressed and Bierhoff expects his side must be less tense in the final than in their shock group stage defeat to Croatia or th…

Los Angeles FC momentarily opened up a four-point gap atop the Western Conference in the MLS, defeating Sporting KC 2-0 on Saturday.

Gareth Bale came off the bench to score his first goal in the MLS and seal the three points for LAFC, after Cristian Arango s well-taken opener.

With Giorgio Chiellini also starting, Steve Cherundolo s side absorbed pressure after Arango scored in the 56th minute, firing past Tim Melia at his near post with a confident finish on the run.

Bale was able to settle the result in transition for LAFC in the 83rd minute, driving low into the corner after creating separation from Nicolas Isimat-Mirin.

The win puts LAFC four points ahead of second-placed Austin FC in the West, who are still to face New York RB on Sunday, while Nashv…

Luiz Felipe Scolari has warned Chelsea s rivals that he won t pull any punches in the Premier League title fight.

Scolari has never been afraid to deliver a knockout blow on or off the pitch and the Brazilian was quick to emphasise his street-fighting credentials as he set his sights on English football s heavy-weights.

The 59-year-old is a shrewd operator who knows exactly what buttons to push to get the best out of his players. But he also has a fiery temperament that occasionally flares in spectacular fashion.

Scolari s most famous eruption came during his time as Portugal coach when he punched Serbia s Ivica Dragutinovic following a touchline clash in a Euro 2008 qualifier.

As a newcomer in the Premier League, Scolari could have opted to keep a l…

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas would prefer to sell Tanguy Ndombele to Juventus rather than Manchester United, Manchester City or Paris Saint-Germain.

Powerful midfielder Ndombele has been in impressive form for the Ligue 1 side this season, making 45 appearances across all competitions and scoring two goals in the Champions League.

His displays are reported to have drawn interest from a number of Europe s biggest clubs, with Aulas confirming Juve, PSG and the two Manchester giants have all declared a liking for the 22-year-old.

And Aulas believes a move to Serie A champions Juve where Ndombele could play alongside former Lyon playmaker Miralem Pjanic would suit the France international.

It s true that Juve are after Ndombele, he told Tuttosport.

…

Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Paulinho were on target as Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 home win against Levante on Sunday which saw LaLiga s leaders stretch their advantage over Atletico Madrid back to nine points.

Barcelona ended 2017 with a crushing Clasico win at Real Madrid who are now 17 points off the pace, albeit with two games in hand and they continued the club-record start to a season with ease, although there was no sign of Philippe Coutinho.

A deal worth a reported £142million was announced by Barca on Saturday, but Ernesto Valverde s men had more than enough to beat Levante prior to the Brazil international s formal arrival at Camp Nou.

Coutinho s predecessor as Barca s record signing, Ousmane Dembele, made his first start since September after recover…

Real Madrid defender Raphael Varane insists he is fully focused on the FIFA World Cup amid interest from Premier League club Chelsea.

The French central defender is being tipped to reunite with former Real manager Jose Mourinho at Chelsea after David Luiz agreed to depart Stamford Bridge for Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Varane was an ever-present during Mourinho s final season in charge of the Madrid club, who eventually finished second behind Barcelona in 2012-13.

But the 21-year-old is not thinking about his club future as Didier Deschamps France prepare to face Switzerland, Ecuador and Honduras in Group E at the World Cup in Brazil.

Right now, I m not thinking about (the interest from Chelsea), we have the World Cup ahead of us, Varane told French fo…

Verona are willing to sell Juan Manuel Iturbe, but only if they receive the right offer for the Argentine forward.

Iturbe enjoyed a fine season with the Serie A side last season, scoring eight goals as Verona comfortably avoided a return to Serie B following promotion in 2012-13.

The 21-year-old initially joined on loan from Porto, but his move to the Italian outfit was made permanent in May when Verona parted with €15million to secure his services.

Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been credited with an interest in Iturbe.

However, Verona sporting director Sean Sogliano is adamant that a fair price will be need to paid in order for them to part with their star player.

Even though all the focus is on him, he is calm and aware that he …

Juventus legend Giampiero Boniperti, the club s honorary president, has died aged 92.

The Bianconeri announced his passing on Friday.

Boniperti represented Juve for 15 years as a player, winning five Scudetti between 1946 and 1961.

He retired having scored 179 goals for the Turin club, a record that stood for almost 40 years before it was passed by Alessandro Del Piero.

Boniperti s 443 Serie A appearances also set a Juve benchmark, again topped by Del Piero.

The club great became Juve president in 1971, overseeing 16 trophy wins, and was later given his honorary title.

Winning is not important, but it is the only thing that matters, he was famously quoted.

Se un bambino mi chiedesse chi è Gianpiero Boniperti risponderei che sempl…

Erling Haaland is undergoing his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury in Qatar, Borussia Dortmund s sporting director Michael Zorc has confirmed.

Haaland was left out of Dortmund s squad for their Champions League encounter with Lazio on December 2, with the club subsequently revealing the Norway sensation had suffered a hamstring injury in training.

His absence was felt as Dortmund were held to 1-1 draws by both Lazio and Eintracht Frankfurt, though Lucien Favre s side did then beat Zenit to finish top of their Champions League group.

Favre put Haaland s injury down to an accumulation of games, with the 20-year-old having featured 14 times for Dortmund prior to his injury.

Zorc has now confirmed the striker is recovering in Qatar after requesting pe…