European Leagues

Walker, Maguire withdraw from England squad ahead Belgium clash

England trio Kyle Walker, Harry Maguire and Sam Johnstone have all withdrawn from the Three Lions’ squad ahead of Tuesday’s friendly with Belgium, while James Trafford and Rico Lewis have been called up to the senior squad.

Walker and Maguire were both named in the starting lineup for Saturday’s clash with Brazil, where Endrick condemned England to their first Wembley defeat since October 2020.

The former’s race was run with just 19 minutes on the clock, though, as he tried to play through the pain of an apparent hamstring problem before coming off for debutant Ezri Konsa.

Head coach Gareth Southgate was in the dark about the severity of Walker’s issue immediately after the game, although the Manchester City man was hopeful that he had not sustained anything major.

However, ahead of Manchester City’s pivotal Premier League clash with title rivals Arsenal on March 31, Walker has now pulled out of the squad and will play no part in the Three Lions’ upcoming battle with Belgium.

England confirmed that Walker would continue to receive assessment upon his return to Manchester, but his participation in the showdown with Arsenal on Easter Sunday has now been plunged into even more doubt.

The 33-year-old is one of three players to leave the camp owing to recent injuries, a list which also includes Manchester United’s Maguire, who took the captain’s armband from Walker upon his teammate’s exit on Saturday.

Maguire was substituted with 67 minutes on the clock against Brazil, and while there was no mention of an injury to the 31-year-old on Saturday, he has also picked up an unexplained problem which will require a once-over.

In Maguire’s absence, Everton’s Jarrad Branthwaite could now come into contention for his senior England debut on Tuesday evening, where Crystal Palace stopper Johnstone will not be present either.

With a spot opening up in the goalkeeping ranks behind Jordan Pickford and Aaron Ramsdale, Southgate has promoted Burnley shot-stopper Trafford to the senior ranks for the very first time.

The 21-year-old played every minute for England’s Under-21s during their run to Euro 2023 glory and began the 2023-24 Premier League season as Burnley’s number one following their promotion from the Championship.

However, Trafford only kept two clean sheets in his first 28 appearances in England’s top flight and was dropped for Arijanet Muric for the Clarets’ most recent clash with Brentford, which ended in a 2-1 win for Vincent Kompany’s side.

Nevertheless, Trafford – who started for Lee Carsley’s Young Lions in their 5-1 thrashing of Azerbaijan on Thursday – has been deemed worthy of promotion to the senior setup, as has Manchester City’s Lewis.

The 19-year-old – stepping in for his injured clubmate Walker – also made the first XI in that midweek win over Azerbaijan and already has one senior cap to his name, playing the full 90 in November’s final Euro 2024 qualifying draw with North Macedonia at left-back.

Southgate has already confirmed that Harry Kane will not be fit to face Belgium either, while Cole Palmer and Jordan Henderson will require late fitness tests.

Premier League

Guardiola Hints At Shock Premier League Return For Rodri

Rodri could be back in action before the end of the Premier League season, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has revealed.

The Ballon d’Or-winning midfielder, who has initially ruled out for the remainder of the campaign after suffering anterior cruciate ligament damage in September, returned to individual training this week.

While Rodri himself had previously spoken optimistically of playing again this term, Guardiola had been far more cautious, suggesting it was not worth the risk even if possible.

Now it seems, however, that Rodri’s progress has exceeded expectations and he could feature again before the end of the domestic season and play a part at the Club World Cup in the summer.

Guardiola said: “The fans must know they are not the only ones who are excited.

“But one step at a time, we don’t have to make stupid decisions to come back weeks earlier and (suffer) steps back. It’s good but still he’s not close to coming back, I would say.

“But he’s touching the ball and he was in the locker room making touches with the players. He feels confident, he feels more happy.

“I could not expect before (him to return) but maybe before the end of the season – not even the (Club) World Cup – in the Premier League, maybe, it’s going to happen.”

On the downside for City, defender Nathan Ake looks set for another lay-off after being forced off at half-time in Saturday’s 3-1 victory over Plymouth in the FA Cup fifth round.

The Dutchman would join a casualty list that also includes fellow centre-backs John Stones and Manuel Akanji, both of whom are set to miss most of the rest of the season.

Guardiola said: “We’ll do the test but he struggles sometimes with the foot, with the bone, probably.

“It’s been like this the whole season, unfortunately, for the central defenders.

“Hopefully the young ones can sustain it and help us until the end.”

City moved into the FA Cup quarter-finals as they came from behind to see off Championship side Plymouth with a brace from teenager Nico O’Reilly and a further strike from Kevin De Bruyne.

The competition provides an opportunity for City to salvage something from a frustrating campaign in which they have fallen out of Premier League contention early and already exited the Champions League.

Guardiola, however, is not happy with the characteristics of the balls being used in the cup, feeling they behave differently from those used in other elite events.

He said: “The ball is not proper. I’m sorry. For many years it’s happened in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

“I know it’s a business and they come to agreements, but the ball is not (good). You know how many shots went over the post? Not just Erling’s (Haaland) – look at other games.

“I’ve said it for many years. It’s the truth. The Champions League ball is exceptional, the Premier League is exceptional, this one is not good.”

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Mbappe Hat-Trick Dismantles Man City As Real Madrid Hit Last 16

Real Madrid have booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League after a convincing 3-0 over Manchester City in the second leg of their play-off round tie at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the final aggregate score being 6-2.

A stunning comeback in Manchester last week ensured that Real Madrid only needed to avoid defeat in the second leg in order to be confirmed in the next round. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s side were never going to settle for this, and they extended their aggregate lead inside the opening four minutes in the Spanish capital. A long ball over the top from Raul Asencio went into the path of Kylian Mbappe, who lobbed over the onrushing Ederson and into the back of the net.

Just beyond the half hour mark, Mbappe got his and Real Madrid’s second of the evening. A wonderful team move ended with Rodrygo Goes playing in the French attacker, and he showed great feet to take the ball away from a couple of Man City defenders before blasting in from close range.

That goal put the tie beyond any doubt, but Real Madrid and Mbappe did not stop there. The 26-year-old would finish off for his second hat-trick of the season on 61 minutes after he curled the ball into the far corner to complete a sensational evening for him and his teammates.

However, it was not a perfect match for Ancelotti’s side as they conceded in the final minute after former Barcelona midfielder Nico Gonzalez scored from close range after Omar Marmoush’s free-kick came back off the crossbar.

The result means that Real Madrid are into the next round, and they will face either Atletico Madrid or Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 stage of the Champions League. The draw for that round is set to take place later this week.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

UCL: PSG Whitewash Brest To Set Up Clash With Liverpool or Barcelona

UCL: PSG Whitewash Brest To Stroll Into Last 16

Paris St-Germain roared into the last 16 of the Champions League with a thumping victory over Brest.

Luis Enrique’s side will now face Liverpool or Barcelona with the draw due to take place on Friday, 21 February at 11:00 GMT, in Nyon Switzerland.

Already leading 3-0 from the first leg of their knockout play-off, the hosts again exhibited their superiority over a fellow French side they have now defeated four times this season – scoring 18 times in the process.

Bradley Barcola extended their advantage with a neat near-post effort and his fellow winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia tapped in PSG’s second of the evening before the break.

Portugal international Joao Neves also hit the crossbar for the hosts, before his compatriot and midfield partner Vitinha curled a low shot into the right corner from 18 yards just before the hour mark.

From there PSG moved through the gears.

Goncalo Ramos teed up fellow substitute Desire Doue for their fourth, the impressive Nuno Mendes slid in Achraf Hakimi’s teasing ball for a fifth, Ramos’ deft finish brought a sixth and teenager Senny Mayulu rounded off the scoring with four minutes left.

It ensured a miserable night in the French capital for Brest, who only threatened sporadically when Mathias Pereira Lage’s placed effort was cleared off the line by PSG captain Marquinhos and Pierre Lees-Melou hit the post with a curling effort.

BBC