International Friendly: Montenegro 1 Ghana 0

Dejan Damjanovic s first-minute penalty dealt Ghana s FIFA World Cup preparations an early setback as Montenegro recorded a 1-0 win.

Damjanovic converted the only goal of the game in Podgorica after the hosts were awarded a spot kick for a foul by David Addy on Filip Kasalica after just 15 seconds.

Ghana settled into the game well after that early blow, but they wasted a host of chances to draw level, with Christian Atsu guilty of missing three alone in the first half.

The 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists continued to push for an equaliser in the second half, but even the introduction of Kevin-Prince Boateng and Asamoah Gyan could not get them back into the game.

With the World Cup only 99 days away, the African nation made the worst possible start as Addy gifted…

Liverpool v Stoke City: Klopp ready to unleash Sturridge

Jurgen Klopp is ready to unleash Daniel Sturridge when Liverpool entertain Stoke City in the Premier League on Sunday.

The England striker was controversially left out of the starting XI for the Reds 1-1 draw at Klopp s former club Borussia Dortmund in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final on Thursday.

The decision paid off, with Divock Origi netting Liverpool s away goal as Sturridge only came on for the final six minutes, but the manager thinks his team will see the benefit against Mark Hughes men, while also praising the Belgium international.

We thought it would make sense to start with Divock [against Dortmund] – it s nothing about Daniel, Klopp said to the club s official website.

Daniel played the last few games. It s completely no…

Christian Eriksen messaged Inter´s WhatsApp group, says CEO Marotta

Christian Eriksen has been in contact with his Inter team-mates as he recovers from a worrying collapse in Denmark s Euro 2020 opener against Finland, the club s CEO Giuseppe Marotta has said.

There were troubling scenes when Eriksen slumped to the ground with no one around him just before half-time of the Group B fixture in Copenhagen, with team-mates forming a protective circle around him as medical personnel rushed to his aid.

UEFA initially confirmed the fixture was suspended but a positive update from the Denmark Football Union later confirmed Eriksen was conscious and receiving further treatment in hospital.

The match would later resume, with Finland securing a 1-0 win in their first ever major tournament match, a result that was understandably overshadowed…

Champions League preview: Marseille v Manchester United

Manchester United travel to the Stade Velodrome on Wednesday for a Champions League round-of-16 tie against French champions Marseille.

United have an impressive recent pedigree in European competition.

They won the tournament in 2008 and reached the final the following season before losing to Barcelona.

In 2010, United dispatched Italian giants AC Milan to set-up a quarter-final with Bayern Munich.

They appeared to be cruising towards a fourth successive semi-final berth before losing Wayne Rooney to an ankle injury.

Strikes from Arjen Robben and Ivica Olic helped Bayern dump United out 4-4 on the away goals and without Rooney they stumbled to second place in the English Premier League behind Chelsea.

They lead the league table by fou…

Van Gaal wary of Chile

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal is wary of FIFA World Cup opponents Chile and has revealed he once tried to sign Arturo Vidal.

In a tough Group B, 2010 finalists Netherlands will face reigning champions Spain, Chile and Australia.

Van Gaal s side meet Chile in their final group-stage match on June 23, a game that could prove crucial to both sides hopes of making the last 16.

Chile will be familiar with the surroundings in Brazil and can present the Dutch with a real test according to Van Gaal, who said he has been a long-time admirer of Vidal.

They (Chile) have very dangerous players, Van Gaal said.

For example I wanted always to buy (Arturo) Vidal. He was also a player of Bayer Leverkusen, at that time I wanted to buy him for Bayern Munich but he went to …