Loew salutes Germany supporters

Napoli are closing in on the signing of Verona striker Giovanni Simeone as Luciano Spalletti said the Serie A club are beginning a new cycle following a host of big-name exits.

Spalletti s team threatened a first Scudetto since the Diego Maradona era before tailing off to finish third last season, but have since seen the likes of Kalidou Koulibaly, Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne depart.

Reports have suggested Napoli will combat the losses of Mertens and Insigne – the top two goalscorers in the club s history – by bringing in Verona striker Simeone on an initial loan deal.

Simeone – the son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone – scored 17 Serie A goals last season, a tally bettered only by Ciro Immobile (27), Dusan Vlahovic (24) and Lautaro Martine…

Shkodran Mustafi would most likely have made the bench at best if Germany had a fully fit squad to choose from. Joachim Low might be glad that he didn t.

The Valencia centre-back started his side s Euro 2016 opener against Ukraine and rewarded the coach s faith with the opening goal  his first in 11 appearances for the senior side and an accomplished all-round performance in the 2-0 victory.

It was a moment to savour for the 24-year-old, who could well have expected to be fourth choice behind Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Antonio Rudiger before injuries struck the latter two. Yet for a Germany side blighted by inconsistency ever since their World Cup triumph two years ago, this was another head-scratching display.

Low insisted this week that his side were …

Bayer Leverkusen defender Roberto Hilbert has penned a two-year extension with the Bundesliga club.

Hilbert, who joined from Besiktas in July 2013, has made 42 appearances in his time at the BayArena.

His extension means that Hilbert will now remain at Leverkusen until June 2017.

I m very happy to be able to carry on playing for the Werkself, he said. The past weeks and months have been very positive for the team and me.

Sporting director Rudi Voller added: We re pleased to be able to keep Roberto at the club for another two years. He has been a valuable player for us this season.

…

Manchester United s Javier Hernandez says he is feeling fit after having a proper rest during the summer for the first time since 2010.

Manchester United s Javier Hernandez says he is feeling fit after having a proper rest during the summer for the first time since 2010.

The striker was not considered for Mexcio s Olympic football squad this year, which gave him a rare break during the summer months having played in World Cup 2010 and Gold Cup 2011 in successive years.

He said that the break will have helped his fitness, and the rest will benefit his performances on the pitch saying he hopes to replicate the sensational form of his debut season in Manchester.

My first season (2010-11) was very good for some people and for some people it was okay, Hernan…

Erling Haaland is still recovering from his groin injury, with Pep Guardiola saying a final decision on his fitness for this weekend would be made later on Friday.

Haaland has enjoyed an astonishing first season at Manchester City, scoring 42 goals in all competitions – comfortably the most of any player in Europe s top five leagues.

But his momentum was checked heading into the international break by an injury that kept the forward from linking up with Norway.

City have a huge game against Liverpool on Saturday and are hopeful Haaland will be back, although Guardiola was eager to take his time with that call.

Erling is recovering, the manager said. We have the last training session and we will see how he feels.

Guardiola, who added Phil Foden…

Vivianne Miedema says she has no hopes of featuring for the Netherlands at this year s Women s World Cup.

Miedema underwent surgery after rupturing her ACL during Arsenal s Champions League group-stage game against Lyon in December.

The 26-year-old – who is the Netherlands all-time leading scorer with 95 goals in 115 appearances – joined partner and Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead on the sidelines after the England forward suffered the same injury one month earlier.

Lionesses boss Sarina Wiegman recently said Mead required a miracle to recover before the World Cup begins in July, and Miedema also expects to miss the tournament.

Asked if she had any hope of featuring in Australia and New Zealand by the BBC, Miedema said: No hopes. I m going to miss the Wor…

Croatia international and former Barcelona flop Alen Halilovic’s future looks rather uncertain at the moment.

The HSV-owned midfielder is currently playing on loan at Las Palmas and was expected to sign a permanent deal with the club at the end of the season for a €4 million fee.

The transfer got cancelled however due to the fact La Union Deportivo got relegated from the Spanish top flight and Halilovic is now expected to return to Germany once the 2017/18 season is officially over.

Alen Halilovic has no future at HSV, adding that Bundesliga strugglers are trying to get rid of the 21-year-old as they face relegation themselves.

The only problem is that there are no offers for the former Prva NHL’s youngest ever goal scorer and the younger ever deb…

Paul Pogba is available again for Manchester United after being named on the bench for Sunday s trip to Watford.

France international Pogba has been out since September with a foot injury, with him last featuring for the Red Devils in their 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford nearly three months ago.

During his time on the sidelines media reports had suggested he might have already played his final match for the club, with illness ruling him out recently.

But manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer reaffirmed his desire to keep Pogba despite links with a move to Real Madrid and the talented midfielder could make his return at Vicarage Road.

  team news time! Here s how we ll line up for

— Manchester United (@ManUtd)

Otherwise there are few su…

FIFA s plans for a revamped Club World Cup have been met with scorn by UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin, who believes the players schedules are already busy enough.

Gianni Infantino, Ceferin s counterpart at world football s governing body, is reportedly keen on a 24-team event played every four years, involving the biggest clubs in an attempt to maximise revenue opportunities.

But Ceferin, who was elected UEFA chief in 2016, feels FIFA s plans will only serve the top sides, with little thought given to the remainder.

About the so-called Club World Cup. The players are at the limit. FIFA is behaving strangely here too, he told Kicker.

They are discussing with only a few European clubs. They only invite the clubs that FIFA thinks are the important ones…

Nantes president Waldemar Kita announced head coach Claudio Ranieri will leave the Ligue 1 club at the end of the season.

Ranieri was only appointed in June on a two-year deal but the Italian is set to depart after just one campaign with Nantes 10th in the table heading into the final match of the season.

The 66-year-old, who guided Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016, was linked to the vacant Italy post before Roberto Mancini was named coach on Monday.

We can t hide anything. We had a meeting with the sponsors, he thanked everyone, Kita said.

He has to be thanked for all the work he has done.

It has not always been easy, there are regrets, but this is life and there is no anger.

Nantes were challenging for European qual…