Depay ends Netherlands´ free-kick drought

Departing Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is adamant under-fire playmaker Mesut Ozil will prove a good investment after the club made a significant financial outlay in convincing him to sign a new contract.

Ozil had been the subject of significant speculation after entering the final 12 months of his deal and had reportedly been targeted by several big clubs.

But, following Alexis Sanchez s departure to Manchester United, Arsenal managed to tie Ozil down as he signed fresh terms at the start of February.

Nevertheless, the German is still a regular target for criticism from fans and pundits, with former Arsenal defender Martin Keown blasting his performance in the Europa League semi-final second leg against Atletico Madrid.

Wenger has no concerns about hi…

James Milner has warned England not to underestimate San Marino ahead of Thursday s Euro 2016 qualifier at Wembley.

Roy Hodgson s men are back in Group E action and will be confident of building on their 2-0 win over Switzerland in Basle last time out against the lowest ranked team in the world.

Following a dismal World Cup showing, which saw England exit at the group stage with just one point from their three games, Hodgson s side bounced back with a friendly win over Norway and their impressive victory against the Swiss.

Danny Welbeck s brace at St Jakob-Park handed England the early initiative in Group E, and another six points is expected in this international break as they travel to Estonia after hosting minnows San Marino.

But while Milner is well…

that Liverpool could move to sign Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla when the transfer window reopens, with a deal for Victor Valdes seeming increasingly unlikely.

Reds boss Brendan Rodgers is keen to bring in competition for current first choice Simon Mignolet, who only moved to Anfield last summer but conceded fifty league goals last season.

Ex-Barcelona man Valdes has been linked with a move to Merseyside for some time, though the deal is on the verge of collapse leaving Rodgers needing to look elsewhere.

Casilla, who spent time with Real Madrid before turning professional, has been Espanyol’s number one since December 2012 and has been capped once for Spain’s U21s and four times for Catalonia.

Having been runners-up last time around, Liverpo…

German international defender Philipp Lahm is free to leave Bavarian giants Bayern Munich after the club announced on Tuesday that talks over his contract extension have broken down.

Talks between Bayern and Philipp Lahm over the extension of his contract which expires on June 30, 2009 have been inconclusive, the club said.

As a result, Bayern have withdrawn the offer of a contract extension.

The 24-year-old had indicated recently he would remain with the club and that it was only a matter of days before the deal was done.

But he told the weekly news magazine Stern on Tuesday that it was possible that he would leave the Bavarian club this summer.

I ve played for two years with Stuttgart, I m finishing my third year at Bayern, the top German…

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri reiterated the aim for this season is for the Premier League champions to avoid relegation.

As funny as it may sound to some, that is the goal for Ranieri and his side, almost three months on from their Premier League triumph one of the greatest achievements in sporting history.

Leicester emerged from the clutches of relegation in 2014-15 to the summit of England s top flight in the space of 12 months, having been ranked 5000-1 outsiders for the title last term, but Ranieri insisted that is firmly in the past following Saturday s season-opening 2-1 defeat at newly-promoted Hull City.

When I say 40 points , a lot of people are laughing but it is true, Ranieri said.

I think we forget champions or not champions, we…

Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin says winning the Champions League is a priority for his side this season.

Diego Simeone s side lost the 2015-16 final in May to city rivals Real Madrid in a penalty shootout, following a 1-1 draw after extra-time at San Siro.

The bitter defeat prompted the Atletico boss to consider his future at the club, given that it came just two years on from a 4-1 extra-time loss to Madrid in the final in Lisbon, although he ultimately decided to stay on.

Atleti secured their place in the last 16 of this season s competition with Tuesday s 2-1 home win over Rostov, and Godin is determined to push for the trophy once more in order to pay back their supporters for those defeats.

Of course it would be the best prize for all the fans…

Lionel Messi will be made to wait for his Paris Saint-Germain debut after being left out of Mauricio Pochettino s 22-man squad for Saturday s Ligue 1 clash with Strasbourg.

The Argentina international completed a shock move from to PSG on Tuesday, having left Barcelona, but has not played since the Copa America final on July 10 and has only trained twice with his new team-mates.

Pochettino suggested on the eve of the game with Strasbourg that he would not take any risks regarding Messi s fitness and it has now been confirmed the six-time Ballon d Or winner will play no part at the Parc des Princes.

Neymar is also not included in the squad as he builds up his fitness following his own participation at the Copa America with beaten finalists Brazil, while Gianluigi …

Constantine Hatzidakis will return to action on Saturday in the Championship after being cleared over his dramatic clash with Liverpool defender Andy Robertson.

The assistant referee was investigated by the Football Association over an incident during the Reds Premier League game with Arsenal earlier this month.

Television footage appeared to show that Hatzidakis elbow made contact with Robertson s chin at the end of the first half, for which the official has said he has apologised.

He will feature in the second tier for his return as an assistant referee in the Championship game between Preston North End and Blackburn Rovers at Deepdale.

Hatzidakis will then be back in the Premier League next Tuesday when he is on VAR duty for Leeds United against Leices…

Former Liverpool and England striker Robbie Fowler has signed a two-year deal with new Australian A-League side North Queensland Fury, according to the club.

The 33-year-old forward, whose goal-scoring exploits once saw him idolised on the red half of Merseyside, will be the Fury s marquee player as the club makes its debut in the A-League this season.

Fury officals described the signing as a major coup, which showed the club, based in Townsville, was intent on making a successful start.

Robbie is a legitimate international superstar of the game and there s no doubt he will give us every chance of winning, Fury chairman Don Matheson said.

It s taken a lot of work to make this happen, but it was worth it because I really believe having him playing for N…

German international goalkeeper Robert Enke has been killed after being hit by a train at a level crossing, police said on Tuesday.

Police said that the death could be a suicide.

The 32-year-old Germany and Hannover 96 goalkeeper had been suffering from a mystery ailment recently.

He pulled out of the Germany squad two days ahead of their 4-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Azerbaijan in early September.

We re in shock. I don t know what to say, said national manager Oliver Bierhoff.

Enke doubled for first-team keeper Jens Lehmann during the 2008 European championships and had been in line to fill his boots before being taken ill in September and October.

During that time his rival Rene Adler increased his chances of taking over the ro…