With the Selecao set to replace an aging back-line following the World Cup, the towering Cruzeiro stopper has returned to form at the right time

One of great challenges facing Brazil coach Tite since the World Cup is to manage the transition of an almost entirely new backline.

35-year-old Dani Alves missed out only because of injury, while centre-back pairing Miranda and Thiago Silva are now both 34. Left-back Marcelo, meanwhile, will celebrate his own 34th birthday before Qatar 2022 gets underway.

Defences are often that little bit older than the rest of the team, but it’s clear that Tite and his staff are desperate to refresh ahead of next year’s Copa America.

Brazilians tend not to officially retire from international football, but it seems Dani Alves’ long and decorated Brazil career has come to an end. Miranda and Thiago Silva, meanwhile, have each made of one of the two post-World Cup squads. Marcelo was left out in September, then recalled in October only to withdraw through injury. 

All the while, Marquinhos has been the one mainstay, with the 24-year-old having started all four post-Copa matches and now standing as the only guaranteed member of Tite’s preferred back-four.

After two years alongside Miranda as a regular at the heart of the defence, the PSG man lost his place to club-mate Thiago Silva shortly before the World Cup. Marquinhos now appears the long-term future of the Selecao backline and possibly a future captain.

Either side of him, however, big decisions need to be made. In each of the two international dates, new centre-backs were trialled alongside Marquinhos for one match, while the other saw a return of Thiago Silva and then Miranda.

27-year-old Bordeaux defender Pablo partnered Marquinhos against Saudi Arabia, while it was Dede who slotted in during the 5-0 defeat of El Salvador in September.

And had Dede’s Cruziero been eligible for selection in October – Cruzeiro’s participation in the final stages Copa Do Brasil made him unavailable – it is likely the giant former Vasco stopper would have returned.

Because it is Dede who remains the favourite to become Brazil’s second centre-back come next year’s Copa America. The Cruzeiro man is the standout defender in his homeland right now and Tite is a great admirer of his talents.

Many had expected him to have amassed considerably more than his 11 international caps to date. Almost a decade ago, Dede was singled out as the future of the Brazilian back-four with the potential to become one of the very best on the planet.

However, a series of unfortunate and serious injuries cost him momentum and likely a move abroad. He then lost more than three years of his career due to knee injuries following a big money switch to Cruzeiro.

Dede starred in this year’s Libertadores as his side were eventually sent packing by Boca Juniors in the quarter-finals and, while Brazil were seeing off Saudi Arabia and Argentina on the Brasil Global Tour this month, Dede was impressing everyone back home in a stunning display in the Copa do Brasil finals.

At 30, he is back in the sort of form that, six years ago, had a host of Europe’s top clubs ready to splash the cash to bring him over from Rio.

2018 has been a year of redemption of the towering defender, who may not make it all the way to Qatar 2022 but can certainly have a big role to play at a must-win Copa America for hosts Brazil in June.

On Friday, Tite will sit down to name his squad for November’s Brasil Global Tour double-header in what is supposed to be the final chance to experiment before March’s internationals see the proposed Copa America squad assembled.

And it’s likely Dede will return. Tite is still seeking answers in the full-back positions, but he may have already managed the transition taking place at the heart of his defence.

Cristiano Ronaldo has earned praised from Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri, who is urging his team not to let their standards slip.

Massimiliano Allegri has credited Cristiano Ronaldo with elevating the professionalism of a Juventus side setting a sparkling pace in Serie A.

The Italian champions have enjoyed a barnstorming start in all competitions, winning 10 straight matches and racing six points clear in the quest for an eighth straight Scudetto.

Ronaldo, 33, has been instrumental to the dominant run of results, notching four times in eight domestic appearances and figuring prominently in last month’s valuable victory over Napoli.

Allegri, whose team are now on the cusp of becoming the third Serie A side to win each of their opening nine fixtures, is impressed with the ex-Real Madrid man’s influence on the squad.

“Cristiano is very calm and is working well,” the Bianconeri boss said. “He’s been very humble and has brought even more focus and a sense of responsibility to the team.

“Besides scoring goals, which he does best, he’s also great at providing assists.”

Juve will look to maintain their fine form when 11th-placed Genoa visit Allianz Stadium on Saturday.

Paulo Dybala is not certain to feature after picking up a knee problem on Argentina duty, although Douglas Costa, fit after ankle and thigh injuries, is set to return from a four-match suspension for spitting.

Allegri warned his players against buying into the hype that surrounds their current run.

“Everyone says we will win all of the league and Champions League matches from here to June, but it’s not like that,” he said.

“Genoa will be a difficult game. At this moment, you need to return to the league with the right attitude because the game after the break is the most dangerous.

“I told the boys, this is a moment when too much positivity lowers energy. We have to keep a low profile and concentrate on work.”

Allegri confirmed Giorgio Chiellini will be rested for the Genoa clash, while Sami Khedira is expected to return from a thigh issue in the Champions League trip to Manchester United on Tuesday.

The Reds have gone from laughing stock to serious contenders since the £75m Dutchman turned up at Anfield

If the sign of a good team is being able to win when playing poorly, then Liverpool are in business.

Unbeaten in nine Premier League matches this season, the Reds have rarely looked like a side at the peak of its powers. That they sit second in the table, behind Manchester City on goal difference only, is testament to the power of hard work, collective resilience and the ability to make key moments pay.

Jurgen Klopp’s men certainly did that at Huddersfield on Saturday, their 1-0 win coming courtesy of their one true moment of quality in the game, with Mohamed Salah finishing off an incisive move involving Joe Gomez and Xherdan Shaqiri. Salah’s four-game scoring drought is over; the Egyptian moves level with Sadio Mane and Daniel Sturridge as Liverpool’s top scorer this season with four, and took this one in reassuringly confident fashion.

Yet, while it is clear that Klopp is still waiting for his attackers to find their best form, the Reds boss can at least reflect on the fact that, in keeping yet another clean sheet, his team made history.

No Liverpool team has ever started a league season by conceding as few as three goals in nine games. A year ago Klopp was defending his back line after a meltdown at Tottenham, 12 months on he can acknowledge the giant strides they have made in that department.

“We had to improve, and that’s what we did,” he said, though he was honest enough to admit they had enjoyed a few slices of luck at the John Smith’s Stadium.

Jonathan Hogg hit the post, Alex Pritchard had a goal ruled out for offside and Huddersfield had a decent penalty appeal waved away by Michael Oliver, the referee. A more confident striker than Steve Mounie might have made more of a presentable late chance, too.

“You need luck to only concede three goals,” Klopp admitted. “And yes, we have sometimes needed it. But still we will get more confidence and belief in what we can do.

“If you are a team which is not easy to beat, it makes it a little bit easier to win. That’s what we’ve tried to create, that’s where we are now and so let’s keep on going.”

The improvement has been vast. This was the 38th game Liverpool have played since that Spurs debacle, and in that time they have conceded just 25 goals. It is the best record of any Premier League side in the same period.

Suddenly, they are able to cope when Salah – or Sadio Mane or Roberto Firmino – struggles. Suddenly they can feel confident protecting a narrow lead, defending balls into the penalty area or dealing with sides who take the more physical approach. Klopp is right in saying they need luck – see also  Riyad Mahrez’s penalty miss – but there is more to Liverpool’s development than that.

In Virgil van Dijk, they have arguably the Premier League’s best centre-back, a player who not only delivers high-class performances on a regular basis, but who is simultaneously able to raise the levels of those around him. Dejan Lovren, the scapegoat for that Spurs shambles, looks a different player with the Dutchman alongside him, while Gomez looks like being the ideal partner for him in the long-term. Quick, strong and composed, Gomez has played the last two games at right-back, and looks no less assured than he has in the centre.

Quickly, the discussion over Van Dijk’s transfer fee has been forgotten. The £75 million ($98m/€85m) Liverpool paid to Southampton matters little; he’s been worth every penny.

Credit to Klopp, who kept his cool when the Reds’ pursuit of Van Dijk ran into rather public trouble in the summer of 2017. The Reds boss knew he was taking a risk by refusing to sign an alternative, and that every subsequent setback would be amplified by fans and media. When Lovren or Joel Matip struggled, or Ragnar Klavan failed to shine, Klopp would be questioned. The manager trusted his club to smooth the situation. Liverpool waited five months and, after hefty negotiations, got their man.

The same can be said with their other major defensive recruit, goalkeeper Alisson Becker. As with Van Dijk, Klopp was ready to eschew alternative targets had Roma chosen not to lower their asking price for the Brazilian, who could eventually cost the Reds £65m ($85m/€74m).

Alisson already has six clean sheets, and though he has not been infallible – at Huddersfield his handling was significantly better than his footwork, for example – he has quietened the discussion over the goalkeeping position at Anfield, in a way that neither Simon Mignolet nor Loris Karius could.

In any case, those in front of him are ensuring that boredom is his greatest enemy. In their last five league games, Liverpool have given up just 11 shots on target – and that includes fixtures away at Tottenham and Chelsea, as well as at home to the champions. Their schedule has been unforgiving, though the next six weeks or so look a little less daunting on paper.

Huddersfield was the 10th time Liverpool have won 1-0 under Klopp, but the second time already this season. “This is maybe the first period in my life that we are winning average matches,” he remarked.

Is it, he was asked, a good sign that a team can win while below its best? Is it, perhaps, the sign of a title contender?

“We cannot write a book tonight about how to win trophies,” he replied. “There is only one way, and that’s to win football games.”

Liverpool are finding a way to do that right now. And though we can expect improvement from their attacking stars, their Van Dijk-led defence is providing plenty of cause for optimism.

For too long it has been the Reds’ Achilles heel. Suddenly, it looks like it could be their biggest strength. The foundation on which to build a title challenge? Time will tell…

The Spurs boss said he would take the blame for Tottenham’s draw against PSV ahead of his goalkeeper

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was unwilling to blame goalkeeper Hugo Lloris after his team gave up a lead in a 2-2 draw at PSV on Wednesday.

Harry Kane had given Spurs the lead in Eindhoven after Lucas Moura cancelled out Hirving Lozano’s opener in the Group B clash.

But Lloris’ 79th-minute red card gave PSV a chance, and the hosts capitalised through Luuk de Jong’s equaliser.

However, Pochettino said there was no reason to blame Lloris, who brought down Lozano with a rash sliding challenge outside the area.

“I’m not going to blame any player. If someone wants to blame a person, it’s myself to blame because I am responsible for the team. We didn’t win,” he told a news conference.

“If someone wants to blame someone blame me, not the players. The players are there to play and perform in the best way. Sometimes it’s difficult.

“The problem is when you are so, so good, when you play much better, dominate the game and create the best chances and if you can’t kill the game, the game is always open and with some action you can concede a goal or a chance like we conceded, an accident for Hugo and the decision didn’t help us.

“Of course you draw and it puts our qualification for the next stage of the Champions League in a difficult situation.”

Spurs have just one point from three games in Group B, sitting well behind Barcelona (nine) and Inter (six).

Asked if Lloris had apologised for his error, Pochettino said it was unnecessary for the shot-stopper to do so.

“No, no, no, no. One day when I was very young one manager said to me you don’t need to apologise after I made a big mistake, because only the player on the pitch can make a mistake,” he said.

“If I am sitting here, sitting in the dugout, it’s difficult to make a mistake. Football is about making mistakes.

“But in that case it wasn’t a mistake, it was an action that happens a lot in football and is a sending-off.

“Hugo doesn’t need to apologise to myself or the team. It is an action that happens often and sometimes football is like this.”

The former Chelsea star led USL side Phoenix Rising to a playoff win behind a ridiculous goal

Didier Drogba scored a ridiculous 40-yard free kick to lead Phoenix Rising to the club’s first ever playoff win.

Phoenix topped Portland Timbers II 3-0 on Friday night in the first round of the USL postseason.

It was Drogba’s stunning set piece that opened the scoring in the 28th minute, giving Phoenix the first-half advantage at home.

Stationed well away from goal, the former Chelsea star unleashed a rocket of a free kick that smashed off the goalkeeper and in to give Phoenix the 1-0 lead.

Drogba ended up playing 71 minutes before being substituted out of the match for Gladson Awako as Phoenix held on for the victory in what could have been Drogba’s final match with the club.

The World Cup-winning goalkeeper is under contract with Spurs until 2022 but admits that he sees another move in him before hanging up his gloves

Hugo Lloris has revealed that he is not expecting to see out his career as a Tottenham player.

The France international goalkeeper has been with Spurs since 2012 and has taken in more than 250 appearances for the club.

He is tied to a contract through to 2022 and will be 35 by the time that agreement comes to a close.

The World Cup winner believes he will have either moved on by that point or be ready to take on a new challenge, with it not part of his plan to hang up his gloves in north London.

Quizzed during a Q&A sessions with Telefoot as to whether Spurs will be his last club, Lloris said: “I don’t think so.”

He has also admitted that his future with Tottenham will likely be tied to that of his manager Mauricio Pochettino.

Lloris has committed to two contract extensions under the Argentine coach and considers him to be one of the finest in the business.

He added: “My future is tied to Mauricio’s. That is certain.”

Lloris has been heavily linked with moves away from Tottenham in the past, with a standing as one of the finest goalkeepers in world football seeing him attract plenty of attention.

Real Madrid were reported to be weighing up a move amid their struggles to land a new No .1, before they finally lured Thibaut Courtois away from Chelsea.

A switch to Manchester United has also been mooted as the Red Devils have been forced to fend off regular rounds of speculation regarding David de Gea’s future.

Lloris is, however, adamant that he has never received a formal approach.

He told Telefoot that no offers were put to him on the back of captaining his country to global glory on Russian soil over the summer.

Spurs will be delighted to have avoided interest, with Lloris having been a key man throughout a spell which has seen him help to force the club into the Premier League’s top four and title contention.

The godfather of the Brazil superstar’s son believes that the world’s most expensive player is improving all the time

Neymar’s former Santos team-mate Ganso believes that the Brazil international superstar has developed into a better player since moving to Paris Saint-Germain.

The pair may reunite on the field on Saturday, albeit on opposing sides as Neymar’s PSG play host to Amiens, where the playmaker finds himself on loan from Sevilla.

Away from the pitch, they are also very close, as Ganso is godfather to Neymar’s son while Neymar was a witness at the playmaker’s wedding.

Consequently, it is a clash that Ganso is relishing, despite his side going into the game as massive underdogs.

One of the reasons is Neymar’s qualities, which he says have only improved since he departed Brazil for Barcelona and then moved to France.

“Last season, he grew, truly,” Ganso told L’Equipe of his friend’s debut campaign in France, which was ended prematurely by injury. “Now he’s playing more in the centre, I think that every time he’s getting better.”

While Neymar remains at a high technical level, it is mentally that Ganso sees the biggest difference in the 26-year-old.

“He’s matured a lot, primarily,” he replied when asked why Neymar has improved. “Before, he’d primarily be a dribbler, trying to beat players with great skills. He was already scoring a lot, but tactically he didn’t always think what was to be done correctly.”

Neymar was the subject to criticism during the World Cup, partly for his disappointing overall display and partly for his play acting. His friend, however, believes he has recovered from that.

“I didn’t manage to speak to him after the World Cup, but you have to remember he went three months without playing,” he said. “To come back from injury and go right into a World Cup isn’t easy. You lack confidence, you’re afraid of getting hurt.

“But the good thing is that he’s recovered from it and today is excellent.”

Ganso has some pre-match advice for his former team-mate.

“I might text him and suggest that he stays at home and rests – there’s a Champions League game next week!” he joked. “Let him rest, relax at home and think of the Champions League!”

The Ukraine international is set for six months out after injuring his Achilles in West Ham’s defeat to Tottenham

West Ham star Andriy Yarmolenko is set for six months on the sidelines after undergoing surgery on a damaged Achilles tendon.

The Ukraine international, who signed from Borussia Dortmund in July, suffered the injury in Saturday’s 1-0 Premier League derby defeat to Tottenham and had an operation on Monday.

Yarmolenko has scored two goals in nine league appearances for West Ham this season, having also sustained an Achilles injury last term with Dortmund.

Both goals came in a 3-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park, which was West Ham’s first victory of the season. 

With the Hammers confirming an expected six-month lay-off, head of medical services Richard Collinge said: “Andriy’s operation went well and we will now work hard to support him throughout the rehabilitation process.

“His recovery will be planned very carefully and we have every confidence that he will return to full fitness within the scheduled timeframe.”

The injuries come at a bad time for the club as Manuel Pellegrini’s side have hit their second rough patch of the campaign. 

West Ham started the season slowly, losing their opening four Premier League contests, but had seen an improvement, picking up 10 points from a possible 12 in their next four fixtures.

However, the Hammers have not dropped two straight games with the loss to Spurs coming on the heels of a 1-0 defeat to Brighton prior to the international break.

An away date with Leicester City is up next for the Londoners, followed by a midweek rematch with Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. 

The Manchester United manager held up three fingers towards the supporters during his side’s Champions League loss, just like he did at Chelsea

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho responded to chants from Juventus fans during Tuesday night’s Champions League clash by reminding the supporters that he won a treble with Inter in 2010.

The Portuguese steered the Nerazzurri to glory in Serie A, the Coppa Italia and the Champions League, with Inter becoming the first Italian team to achieve that feat.

The Juve fans took the opportunity to dig at Mourinho in the closing stages of their side’s 1-0 win over the Red Devils – a game dominated by the visitors – singing a colourful array of songs.

Mourinho, though, replied in kind, holding up three fingers to remind the supporters that he beat Juve across the board when he was managing in Italy.

“They are not in love with me, the hardest time for them was our treble,” he told reporters afterwards.

“For players and technical staff, [head coach Massimiliano] Allegri and [chairman Andrea] Agnelli, I have total respect: they are super polite and friendly.”

Mourinho also held up three fingers during United’s 2-2 draw with Chelsea in the Premier League at the weekend.

That, of course, was in reference to the league titles Mourinho won during his time in charge at Stamford Bridge.

However, it was somewhat lost among a melee after the final whistle, in which Mourinho reacted to angrily to the actions of a certain member of the Blues’ coaching staff.

Marco Ianni, who is a second assistant to Maurizio Sarri, took great delight in seeing Ross Barkley snatch a 2-2 draw in stoppage-time.

He jumped off his seat upon seeing the ball hit the net and made a point of expressing his delight in front of Mourinho, who remained rooted to his bench.

Ianni swung a clenched fist in front of the Portuguese, who did not take kindly to being provoked at such an emotional moment.

Mourinho took off after his rival and had to be held back as players, staff and stewards all bunched together at the entrance to the Chelsea tunnel.

As a result of the confrontation, Ianni received an FA charge while Mourinho was “reminded of his responsibilities” .