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Germany Shakes Up Squad Before Euro 2024 with 6 New Faces

14 March 2024, Hesse, Frankfurt: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann presents the DFB team's new official European Championship jersey at a press conference. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa
14 March 2024, Hesse, Frankfurt: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann presents the DFB team's new official European Championship jersey at a press conference. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa
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Germany Shakes Up Squad Before Euro 2024 with 6 New Faces

14 March 2024, Hesse, Frankfurt: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann presents the DFB team's new official European Championship jersey at a press conference. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa
14 March 2024, Hesse, Frankfurt: Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann presents the DFB team's new official European Championship jersey at a press conference. Photo: Boris Roessler/dpa

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has shaken up the squad before the home European Championship by gathering six new players for warmups against France and the Netherlands.
Nagelsmann also included the 34-year-old Toni Kroos in his 26-man squad on Thursday, confirming the Real Madrid star’s return from international retirement nearly three years since he last played for the country.
“I’m extremely happy I could persuade him to do it again,” Nagelsmann said. He had “many conversations” with Kroos, he added.
“He could have relaxed by the sea in the summer and just watched the games, and then play for Real Madrid for another year or not, whatever he decides at the time. I’m very happy he’s there and that he will play an important role for us.”
The coach also called up Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlović for the first time, ending the 19-year-old midfielder’s interest in playing for Serbia. Stuttgart players Waldemar Anton, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Deniz Undav are among the debutants. Stuttgart is flying high in third place in the Bundesliga.
Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier and Heidenheim free kick specialist Jan-Niklas Beste complete the new faces after impressing for their teams in the Bundesliga.
Nagelsmann’s latest — and potentially last — bid to rejuvenate the team comes after several failed attempts by his predecessors.
Germany has disappointed since an early 2018 World Cup exit as defending champion under Joachim Löw, who oversaw another flop at the coronavirus-postponed Euro 2020 in 2021 before Hansi Flick took over.
Flick oversaw another group stage exit at the 2022 World Cup and was eventually fired last year, when the 36-year-old Nagelsmann took over.
Nagelsmann’s team stated with a win over the United States, then drew with Mexico, followed by successive defeats to Turkey and Austria last November which laid out all of the team’s insecurities.
Midfielder İlkay Gündoğan complained there was a lack of “positive energy” in the team.
Leroy Sané, who was sent off for shoving an opponent, is suspended for the games against France in Lyon on March 23, and the Netherlands in Frankfurt three days later.
Germany’s new Euro 2024 jerseys were also unveiled on Thursday, with a pink and purple away shirt seemingly designed to divert attention from the players’ lackluster performances.
“I like it. The fact that so many people are already talking about it shows it was the right decision, that there’s life in it,” The Associated Press quoted Nagelsmann as saying. “It’s good, I would wear it. I’m not allowed to wear anything on the sidelines ... but I think it’s nice.”
Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielder Jamal Musiala return after missing the November defeats, as does Stuttgart’s Chris Führich, Eintracht Frankfurt’s Robin Koch, and Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
There was no place for Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka, nor for Borussia Dortmund players Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle, Emre Can and Julian Brandt.
“The players know from the conversations what I demand and what’s lacking in order to be perhaps nominated for the European Championship," Nagelsmann said. “And if they implement it well, the door is not closed.”
Germany hosts the Euros from June 14-July 14.
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Germany:
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Bernd Leno (Fulham), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Jan-Niklas Beste (Heidenheim), Benjamin Henrichs (Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart), David Raum (Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Führich (Stuttgart), Pascal Groß (Brighton), İlkay Gündoğan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Füllkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)

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Man City Go Top With 2-1 Win at Forest After Cherki Heroics

27 December 2025, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Manchester City's Rayan Cherki (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Erling Haaland during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the City Ground. (Barrington Coombs/PA Wire/dpa_
27 December 2025, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Manchester City's Rayan Cherki (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Erling Haaland during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the City Ground. (Barrington Coombs/PA Wire/dpa_
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Man City Go Top With 2-1 Win at Forest After Cherki Heroics

27 December 2025, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Manchester City's Rayan Cherki (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Erling Haaland during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the City Ground. (Barrington Coombs/PA Wire/dpa_
27 December 2025, United Kingdom, Nottingham: Manchester City's Rayan Cherki (L) celebrates scoring his side's second goal with teammate Erling Haaland during the English Premier League soccer match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester City at the City Ground. (Barrington Coombs/PA Wire/dpa_

Manchester City beat Nottingham Forest 2-1 to move provisionally to the top of the Premier League table after Rayan Cherki grabbed a goal and assist away at The City Ground on Saturday.

The French midfielder first threaded the pass for City's opener before striking an 83rd-minute winner from a set-piece to secure their eighth straight victory across all competitions.

The result moved City to 40 points, one ahead of Arsenal who face Brighton & Hove Albion later on Saturday. Forest remain in 17th place, nervously looking over their shoulder at a five-point gap between them and the relegation zone.

"When the games come we need just one thing: to win. We take the points because the championship is so long and so hard, so today is a big win," Cherki told TNT Sports.

"It's good for the team because the game was not simple."

City dominated ‌possession in a ‌goalless first half but struggled to break down Forest's compact defensive ‌shape, ⁠with striker Erling ‌Haaland largely isolated up front.

Forest's best chance fell to Morgan Gibbs-White, who failed to convert Callum Hudson-Odoi's cross in behind the defense early in the game.

CHERKI AND REIJNDERS FIND CITY BREAKTHROUGH

The breakthrough came within three minutes of the restart when Cherki slipped the ball through for Tijjani Reijnders and the Dutchman fired home from an angle to make it 1-0.

"Cherki knows how to find those passes and I could finish that one. He is very good, he finds spaces and when he gets the ball ⁠you have to be ready and in position," Reijnders said.

But City's lead lasted only six minutes as Forest launched a swift counter-attack ‌that ended with Igor Jesus crossing for Omari Hutchinson, who ‍took his shot first-time and beat Gianluigi ‍Donnarumma to score his first goal for the club.

Forest sensed victory but squandered chances when Jesus ‍and Nicolo Savona both shot over, while at the other end Phil Foden's effort was well saved by goalkeeper John Victor.

City's sustained pressure finally paid off when Josko Gvardiol headed down a corner kick for Cherki, who took it on the half-volley and sent a low drive from the edge of the box into the back of the net to restore their lead.

"All the kilos I won (gained) over Christmas time in weight, today I lost it. I am fit again. ⁠What a team Sean Dyche has made again. That's a really, really big three points," Guardiola said.

Forest's loss also extended Sean Dyche's winless record against Pep Guardiola to 17 Premier League games, the longest winless streak for a manager against another in the league.

DYCHE UNHAPPY WITH MATCH OFFICIALS

But Dyche blamed the match officials for the defeat, describing their performance as "unacceptable" after he felt decisions did not go their way.

Dyche complained that Gibbs-White was pushed to the ground for the second goal and could not get back up in time to block Cherki's shot.

"Unfortunately, the officials had a huge part of the game today and that's very unfortunate," Dyche said.

"We don't want that, but scratching my head now, I can't believe it. Just look back at some of the incidents, I just can't believe what I'm watching.

"There's ‌plenty of people here, there's TV cameras here, but everyone can see the performance today. But it's unacceptable, in my opinion, because it affects the game massively."

Sports

Salah Steers Egypt into Africa Cup Knockout Stages After VAR Denies South Africa Late Penalty

Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah shoots from the penalty spot to score the team's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group B football match between Egypt and South Africa at Adrar Stadium in Agadir on December 26, 2025. (AFP)
Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah shoots from the penalty spot to score the team's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group B football match between Egypt and South Africa at Adrar Stadium in Agadir on December 26, 2025. (AFP)
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Salah Steers Egypt into Africa Cup Knockout Stages After VAR Denies South Africa Late Penalty

Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah shoots from the penalty spot to score the team's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group B football match between Egypt and South Africa at Adrar Stadium in Agadir on December 26, 2025. (AFP)
Egypt's forward #10 Mohamed Salah shoots from the penalty spot to score the team's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) Group B football match between Egypt and South Africa at Adrar Stadium in Agadir on December 26, 2025. (AFP)

Mohamed Salah scored again on Friday as Egypt's 10 men held on to beat South Africa 1-0 to reach the knockout stages of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah, who secured the Pharaohs’ opening win with a stoppage-time strike against Zimbabwe on Monday, did it again in Agadir and his penalty before the break secured progression from Group B.

But South Africa should arguably have been given a penalty in stoppage time when Yasser Ibrahim blocked a shot with his arm. After a long delay, the referee decided against awarding the spot kick after consulting video replays and Ibrahim sank to the ground in relief.

“We didn’t have much luck. We also had several refereeing decisions go against us,” South Africa coach Hugo Broos said.

Salah converted his penalty after he was struck in the face by the hand of the retreating South Africa forward Lyle Foster. Salah showed no ill effects from the blow and sent his shot straight down the middle while goalkeeper Ronwen Williams dived to his right.

There was still time before the break for Egypt defender Mohamed Hany to get sent off, after receiving a second yellow card for a foul on Teboho Mokoena.

Goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy was Egypt’s key player in the second half.

“We gave our all in this match right until the end, and we also hope for the best for what comes next,” the 37-year-old El Shenawy said.

Earlier, Angola and Zimbabwe drew 1-1 in the other group game, a result that suited neither side after opening losses.

Egypt leads with 6 points from two games followed by South Africa on 3. Angola and Zimbabwe have a point each. The top two progress from each group, along with the best third-place finishers.

Zambia drew 1-1 with Comoros in the early Group A fixture after both lost their opening games, meaning the winner of the late match could be sure of progressing.

Sports

Draper to Miss Australian Open Due to Injury

Jack Draper, of Great Britain, reacts after defeating Federico Agustin Gomez, of Argentina, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, reacts after defeating Federico Agustin Gomez, of Argentina, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP)
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Draper to Miss Australian Open Due to Injury

Jack Draper, of Great Britain, reacts after defeating Federico Agustin Gomez, of Argentina, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP)
Jack Draper, of Great Britain, reacts after defeating Federico Agustin Gomez, of Argentina, during the first round of the US Open tennis championships, Aug. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP)

Briton Jack Draper said on Friday he will not compete in next month's Australian Open, citing ongoing recovery from an injury.

Draper, 10th in the world rankings, was forced to withdraw from the second round of ‌the US Open ‌in August ‌due ⁠to bone ‌bruising in his left arm.

"Unfortunately, me and my team have decided not to head out to Australia this year. It's a really, ⁠really tough decision," the British ‌number one said in ‍a video ‍posted on X.

The 24-year-old ‍is targeting a February return alongside preparation for the defense of his Indian Wells title in March.

"This injury has been the most difficult ⁠and complex of my career," Draper added. "It's weird, it always seems to make me more resilient. I'm looking forward to getting back out there in 2026 and competing."

The Australian Open begins on January 18 in ‌Melbourne.