(GSM) Schalke 04 striker Kevin Kurany will not be part of Germany s World Cup squad.

The German football federation says Kuranyi will not be in the provisional World Cup squad that is announced Thursday.

Kuranyi had been banned from the Germany national team after walking out of a World Cup qualifier in 2008 after being dropped from the squad.

The announcement comes on the same day that Kuranyi’s agent confirmed the 28-year-old striker will leave Schalke as a free agent at the end of the season.

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Juventus are nicknamed ‘The Old Lady’ and at the moment they are living up to their nickname. The club are currently crawling along, the players are forgetting who their teammates are and the fans are in pain due to the team’s performances.

Drop

Juve have had a nightmare few months and currently find themselves in sixth place of the Serie A table four points off the last Champions League spot.

Their aim is now to clinch that lucrative Champions League spot, whereas a few short months ago they were talking about challenging Inter for the Scudetto. It’s safe to say that Jose Mourinho and co. are not shaking in their boots.

Inexperienced

Last week Juventus decided to sack head coach Ciro Ferrara. Ferrara is many things, a Juventus legend and…

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has nothing but praise for Mesut Ozil following his fine performances this season and has revealed he could hardly believe it when the club signed the Germany international from Real Madrid.

Ozil moved to the Premier League in September 2013 after he was deemed surplus to requirements at the Santiago Bernabeu and has since developed into one of Arsenal s undisputed star players.

After attracting criticism last season for a number of indifferent displays, Ozil has been in inspired form in 2015-16 and tops the Premier League assist charts with 13 in 15 games, while also finding the net twice himself.

I think we knew what sort of player Mesut was. His history as a player and the clubs he has played for, to bring him in to pla…

Arsene Wenger has warned Arsenal not to let their focus slip when they face out-of-form Southampton in the Premier League on Boxing Day.

Wenger s side travel to St Mary s looking for a fourth successive league victory on Saturday as they look to keep pace with leaders Leicester City.

Arsenal trail Claudio Ranieri s men by two points, while also enjoying a four-point cushion to third-placed Manchester City.

They will hope to at least maintain that points difference against Ronald Koeman s side, who come into the clash with just one point from their last five games courtesy of a 1-1 home draw with bottom club Aston Villa.

I believe for us the most important thing is to focus on ourselves, and not to speculate too much on any weakness of Southampton, Wen…

Bayern Munich brushed off the disappointment of a midweek Champions League exit to stretch their lead at the top of the Bundesliga with a 3-2 win against Wolfsburg.

Two first-half goals from Jamal Musiala which came either side of an Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting tap-in  put Hansi Flick s side in control at the Volkswagen Arena.

Despite Wout Weghorst and Maximilian Philipp getting on the scoresheet for the hosts, Bayern were able to see out the win.

It extends their advantage over second-placed RB Leipzig in the title race to seven points, with five rounds of games remaining.

6 – Jamal (18y 50d) became the youngest player to score 6 goals in history. Starlet.

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz)

The two sides here traded early chances in an e…

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Liverpool are set to welcome Newcastle United to Anfield on Saturday in the 33rd round of the 2020-21 Premier League roller coaster. The importance of this clash is rather big for both teams.

Liverpool

There has been plenty of talk about the downfallen project called the European Super League , with Liverpool among the dirty dozen , the 12 clubs which were supposed to be the founders of the competition, and one of those who cancelled their involvement as its demise became imminent. Despite the withdrawal and the apology the FSG principal owner John W Henry sent to the players, staff and supporters of the club, taking the full responsibility onto himself, the trust between the supporters and the owners has been severely shaken. It rema…

After pulverising Argentina 4-0 in their World Cup quarter-final, Germany will be forced into at least one change for Wednesday s semi-final due to Thomas Mueller s suspension.

A yellow card for handball means the 20-year-old Bayern Munich star, who has scored four goals at the event, will miss the biggest match of his career.

Coach Joachim Loew insists the Germans have enough depth to cover his absence but even so it will require rejigging his game plan against Spain in Durban next Wednesday.

It s clear it s a blow for us he has shown himself to be dangerous in front of goal. But we have players who can replace him, insists Loew.

Until now, when Mueller has made way in the closing stages it has been for Hamburg attacking midfielder Piotr Trochowski, a …

There was bitter disappointment for Dutch captain Gionvanni van Bronckhorst on Sunday as he ended his 14-year Oranje career after the 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final.

The injury-time goal by Spain s Andres Iniesta in the 116th-minute was enough to give Vicente del Bosque s side their first World Cup title in their first final.

But it was heartbreak for van Bronckhorst s Holland as the Netherlands have now added defeat at the South Africa 2010 final to losing both the 74 and 78 World Cup finals.

The 35-year-old earned his 106th cap on Sunday at the same stadium he won his second cap and the former Arsenal and Barcelona star will now study for his coaching badge before becoming assistant coach to the Dutch Under-21 side.

Having netted arguably t…

Sevilla coach Unai Emery is confident goalkeeper Sergio Rico will rise to the occasion of his Champions League debut against Borussia Monchengladbach.

The 22-year-old played 37 times in all competitions last season but began this term as understudy to Portuguese Beto.

Rico will nevertheless be thrust into action for the Group D opener against the Bundesliga outfit after Beto sustained a knee injury in last Friday s draw with Levante, ruling him out for six weeks.

Sergio Rico is ready to play,  Emery said.  He matured last year in important matches and this type of match will help him. We trust on Sergio.

Sevilla qualified for the Champions League by virtue of continuing their dominance of the Europa League last term, securing their second consecut…

Manchester City s Premier League title destiny is back in their own hands following a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Manuel Pellegrini s men sit third in the top flight, three points behind leaders Liverpool, but triumphs in their three remaining fixtures would almost certainly be enough to secure glory after the Anfield outfit lost to Chelsea earlier in the day.

The 2011-12 champions, who hold a game in hand over Liverpool and a significantly superior goal difference, wasted no time in making the Merseysiders pay for their earlier slip-up – Edin Dzeko heading City in front at Selhurst Park with the game less than four minutes old.

The remainder of the first half passed by largely without incident, until Yaya Toure making his return from injury curled home a wo…