Reigning champion and top seed Roger Federer will begin his 20th consecutive Wimbledon campaign on Monday but the Swiss ace says he still feels nervous at the thought of playing the opening match of the tournament on Centre Court.

Federer made his Wimbledon debut in 1999 and is a favourite to win a record-extending ninth title there this year and yet the 36-year-old Swiss said he was not immune to the grandeur of the opening day.

"I think it remains a little bit nerve-racking... It's a big deal. I mean, besides the history and the mythical place that it is, you cannot also practise on it," Federer told reporters. Bet Now on NaijaBet

"When you come out, there's a bit of uncertainty for both players... The entire atmosphere changes at Wimbledon, and you realise the eyes are on you. That naturally makes you a bit nervous.

"Basically the first one on the show court, it's always a lot to..................................................READ MORE





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The Spanish press turned on Julen Lopetegui, the former national coach who was sacked on the eve of the World Cup, after they were knocked out of the tournament on Sunday.

The 2010 winners were eliminated by host nation Russia in a penalty shootout after a match that Spain dominated but failed to make their overwhelming possession count.

"The KO in the last 16 is another dark chapter in our history," said sports daily Marca.

"The match... was a horror. (Spain) played badly, and didn't think it out... by the time the penalty shootout started this was a broken team lacking the desire to confront a challenge which owes a lot to luck but also to courage," the paper said. Place bet on today's tennis games on [url]NaijaBet.COM[/url]

Marca blamed Lopetegui, whose decision to accept the........................................................................READ MORE






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Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has signed a new long-term contract with the club, the Premier League side said on Monday.

Salah had a remarkable first season with Liverpool, scoring 44 goals in all competitions and helping the club reach the Champions League final. He was named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year.

"I think this news can be seen for what it is; rewarding a person who performed and contributed greatly for the team and the club last season," manager Jurgen Klopp told the club's website. Place bet on today's games on [url]NaijaBet.COM[/url]

"It demonstrates two things................................................................................READ MORE





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Spain goalkeeper David de Gea is "working like a bloody animal" and has the full backing of his teammates in the face of stinging criticism from the national media for his World Cup displays, midfielder Thiago Alcantara said on Friday.

De Gea made a high-profile blunder in Spain's 3-3 draw with Portugal by allowing a shot from Cristiano Ronaldo through his hands, which led to his status as No 1 keeper being called into question.

The Manchester United goalkeeper made his first save in the tournament in the 2-2 draw with Morocco in Spain's final group game and although he has not made any more costly errors since the game with Portugal, criticism has persisted. Place bet world cup event on [url]NaijaBet.COM[/url]

"It is the most unfortunate position on the pitch but if you have seen David's games for Manchester United and his other games for Spain you'll be able to tell he is an outstanding goalkeeper," Thiago told a news conference.

"The media also need to take a look at themselves...............................................................READ MORE






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With World Cup group stage matches, NaijaBet must pay my dues.

Argentina and Lionel Messi need to find form fast if they are to go any further in the World Cup on Saturday when they meet a France team who have yet to live up to their billing.

The first last-16 match in Russia promises to be a fascinating clash of two under-achieving sides who are supposedly on different trajectories.

All the flaws of an ageing and unbalanced Argentina team were ruthlessly exposed in the thrashing by Croatia in the group stage.

But, roared on by a pumped-up Diego Maradona, Messi finally opened his account in this tournament before Marcos Rojo volleyed in a stunning winner against Nigeria as the losing 2014 finalists punched their ticket to the knockout stage.

Didier Deschamps' France, meanwhile, among the pre-tournament favourites, have looked sluggish despite easing through the group stage unbeaten. Place bet on Live Matches on [url]NaijaBet.com[/url] 24/7

First-choice striker Antoine Griezmann has been unable to recapture his best form and the creativity has failed to flow from midfield.

Deschamps is adamant that France will get it all right on..................................................READ MORE






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Tunisia failed to reach the knockout stage of the World Cup at the fifth time of asking in Russia and coach Nabil Maaloul says they will continue to struggle on the biggest stage without drastic changes to the game in the country.

While the North Africans won their first World Cup game in 40 years on Thursday, a 2-1 win over new boys Panama, it counted for little after defeats to England and Belgium.

Maaloul said Tunisia and the other Arab countries at the tournament – Egypt, Morocco and Saudi Arabia – were just not equipped for success. Place bet on today's games on [url]NaijaBet.COM[/url]

"We have four Arab teams that are not yet at the required level for the tournament, they still have to work harder and improve their performances," said Maaloul.

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Four weeks on from her run to the last 16 at the French Open, Serena Williams is back at Wimbledon, having missed last year's event as she prepared for the birth of her daughter.

Ranked 183 after just three tournaments back, the seven-time champion will go into Wimbledon as the 25th seed, the seeding committee having deviated from the WTA ranking list, an exception because she is coming back after maternity leave.

Having pulled out before her fourth-round match in Paris with a pectoral injury, Williams did not play a warm-up event on grass. Instead she arrived early at Wimbledon and has been practising hard under the eye of her coach Patrick Mouratoglou.

Such is the aura the American brings with her to south west London, British bookmakers make her second favourite for the title, behind the two-time champion, Petra Kvitova. Bet Now [url]NaijaBet.com[/url]

Three months short of her 37th birthday, it is 16 years since she first won Wimbledon and as she continues to regain full fitness, she knows an eighth title is a big ask.

"Roland Garros was a mountain way steeper than the other mountains I've climbed," she told her documentary, Being Serena, which is being streamed on Eurosport Player.

"And....I can honestly say that I didn't enjoy all the............................................................................READ MORE







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Crisis-hit Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday fired coach Sinisa Mihajlovic just nine days after he was apppointed by former club president Bruno de Carvalho.

"Sporting have decided to end his probationary period and cancel his contract," said Jose Sousa Cintra, the club's new president at a press conference. Play Bet on Virtual  Games on [url]NaijaBet.com[/url] 24/7

"We will quickly seek a new coach, who should be presented by Monday."

Mihajlovic was recruited on a three-year contract by De Carvalho on June 18, five days before his dismissal by a general meeting of club members.

The crisis at the club began when Sporting lost a Europa League game to.............................................READ MORE





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One of sport's old adages is "winning isn't everything, it's the only thing" but not for Belgium coach Roberto Martinez, at least not when his team take on England in their final World Cup round-robin match to decide top spot in Group G.

Normally a battle between European neighbours for first place at a World Cup would bring out the win-at-all-cost cliches but with Belgium already assured a spot in the last 16 along with England, Martinez was looking ahead for bigger scalps in the knockout round.

Martinez's thinking, however, ran counter to that of England coach Gareth Southgate who made it clear that his squad will be out for victory on Thursday to build momentum ahead the knockout phase.

"Tomorrow we want to perform well but the priority is not to win," Martinez told a pre-match press conference on Wednesday. "The reality is we put ourselves in this situation we wanted to qualify and we have done that. Place bet on tennis games on NaijaBet

"There are players with yellow cards and I don't think it.........................................................READ MORE






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Holders Germany sensationally crashed out of the World Cup on Wednesday in one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's history – failing to make it past the opening round for the first time since 1938.

In a stunning reverse by the footballing superpower who have reached either the final or semifinals of every World Cup since 2002, the Germans stumbled to a 2-0 loss to South Korea that left them rooted to the bottom of Group F.

Germany went into the game knowing that a win by two clear goals would have seen them into the last 16. But instead it was Sweden and Mexico who advanced after the Swedes romped to a 3-0 win over the Mexicans in Yekaterinburg. Place bet on today's games on NaijaBet

"The disappointment of us being eliminated is just huge," said Germany coach Joachim Loew, who is now under pressure to quit despite signing a contract extension until 2022 last month.

"It's too soon for me to answer, it will take a few hours to see things clearly, the disappointment is very deep in me," the 58-year said when asked if he would resign.

"It is a really, really bitter evening for us," defender Mats Hummels added. "The situation is very difficult to put into words."

"We had plenty of opportunities, we broke our.....................................................................READ MORE





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Midfielder Naby Keita is eager to help Liverpool build on their impressive run last campaign as the Guinea international prepares to complete his transfer to the Premier League club on Sunday.

Liverpool signed Keita from Leipzig for a club record fee last August, with the teams agreeing that the 23-year-old would move to Anfield ahead of the 2018/19 season.

Manager Jurgen Klopp's side hosted a blistering attack last season, which helped the team finish fourth in the league and reach the Champions League final, where they were defeated by holders Real Madrid in May. Place bet on LIVE matches Now on [url]NaijaBet.COM[/url]

"When you see how they performed last season it makes me want to do the same and to be a part of this team. I would like to be able to achieve a similar kind of season with them next season – but even better," Keita told Liverpool's website .

"When I see how things have progressed here, I think if............................................READ MORE




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Argentina and Lionel Messi scraped into the knockout stages of the World Cup by the skin of their teeth on Tuesday after an 86th minute strike from defender Marcos Rojo gave them a barely deserved 2-1 win over Nigeria, eliminating the African side.

The twice World Cup champions will face France in the last 16 while Croatia, who advance as winners of Group D with the maximum nine points after beating Iceland 2-1, will take on Denmark.

Nigeria were just minutes away from progressing before central defender Rojo superbly volleyed home a Gabriel Mercado cross from the right. Place bet on today's world cup games on NaijaBet

As the drama unfolded in St Petersburg, Iceland were simultaneously fighting with all their Nordic might for a win over the Croats in Rostov-on-Don that could have sent them through. The Argentines, however, had enough on their plate with a feisty Nigeria to worry about results elsewhere.

Messi had put them ahead in the 14th minute, with a fabulously taken goal but the Africans equalised through a Victor Moses penalty in the 51st minute. The South Americans struggled to respond to that.............................................................READ MORE




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A foul on Cristiano Ronaldo during Portugal's Group B clash against Iran on Monday resulted in a record 19th penalty at the World Cup before the knockout rounds.

The Portugal forward was brought down in the box shortly into the second half in Saransk, with the penalty awarded by use of the video assistant referee (VAR).

Although Ronaldo's spot kick was saved by Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, the decision eclipsed the previous record tally of 18 penalties awarded set at the 2002 World Cup hosted by Japan and South Korea.

In Brazil four years ago, there were only 13 penalties in the entire tournament. Place bet on today's games on [url]NaijaBet.com[/url]

The use of the VAR has contributed hugely to ..........................................READ MORE




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Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary is set to become the oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup after the 45-year-old was named in the team to face Saudi Arabia in Volgograd on Monday.

Egypt tweeted their team line-up including El Hadary, who will smash the record set by Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon, who was aged 43 years and three days when he played against Japan in Brazil in 2014.

Liverpool star Mohamed Salah was also named in the starting line-up as Egypt go in search of a first-ever win in their third appearance at the World Cup finals. Place bet on Live Matches 24/7 on [url]NaijaBet.com[/url]

Salah missed the opening 1-0 defeat against Uruguay after injuring his left shoulder in last month's Champions League final. He scored a penalty in the 3-1 defeat to Russia.

El Hadary, who is 45 years and 161 days old and........................................................READ MORE





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Colombia coach Jose Pekerman has tipped Radamel Falcao for more success after the joy of seeing his star striker bag his maiden World Cup goal in a 3-0 win over Poland on Sunday.

"I think this is one of the greatest joys we experienced tonight," Pekerman said when asked how important Falcao's goal was for the team and the country.

Falcao, 32, was cruelly deprived of competing in Brazil four years ago after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Monaco against an amateur side in the French Cup. Place bet on today's world cup games on [url]NaijaBet.COM[/url]

Falcao had to watch on as teammate James Rodriguez emerged as the tournament's top scorer with six goals and the best strike of the tournament as Colombia reached the quarterfinals.

Falcao has dreamed of scoring at the World Cup since.........................................................READ MORE



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Jorge Sampaoli begged for forgiveness from Argentina's fans on Thursday after a 3-0 drubbing by Croatia left Lionel Messi's World Cup dreams hanging by a thread.

Second-half goals from Ante Rebic – the first from a horrendous error by Argentina goalkeeper Willy Caballero – Luka Modric and Ivan Rakitic sealed a deserved victory for the European side and ensured their passage into the last 16.

A contrite Sampaoli said the rout was his fault entirely and apologised to supporters left in tears in the Nizhny Novgorod stadium on the banks of the River Volga. Place bet on today's world cup matches on [url]NaijaBet.COM[/url]

"First and foremost, I would beg for their forgiveness, especially those who................................................READ MORE





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