Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Mesut Ozil faces around six weeks out with a knee ligament injury, a problem that was only discovered when he joined up with the Germany squad for duty last week.
Ozil, 26, first felt pain in the knee during Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on October 5 but Wenger said the German did not reveal the gravity of the issue at the time.
“I didn’t even know about it. At half-time, just before we went out, the physio told me he had a little pain in his knee but it’s not bad and he wanted to go on,” he said.
“I told him ‘if you don’t feel well tell me and I will take you off straight away’ but he never did in the whole game and I left him on because we needed to find a goal.”
French defender Gallas retires at 37
Former France defender William Gallas has announced his retirement, bringing to an end a decorated 19-year professional career, he said yesterday.
“You tell yourself you can always continue but I think that today I can’t,” the 37-year-old said.
Gallas, who started his professional career at Caen in 1995, won 84 caps for France and scored five goals, including the controversial strike in Les Bleus’s 2-1 play-off win against Ireland that earned the side a 2010 World Cup berth.
He also played the 2006 World Cup final which France lost on penalties to Italy.
Algeria, Cape Verde book Africa Cup slot
The tiny Cape Verde Islands became the first country to book a place at next year’s African Nations Cup finals and were joined by Algeria after Wednesday’s round of qualifiers across the continent.
A 75th-minute goal from Heldon gave Cape Verde a 1-0 home win over Mozambique in Praia for their third victory in four games and a guaranteed top-two finish in Group F while Algeria overcame Malawi 3-0 in Blida to keep up their 100 per cent record in Group B.
Yacine Brahimi scored after only two minutes for Algeria and Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani added two more in a comfortable triumph that ensures their place at next January’s finals in Morocco.
Monk: ‘Sigurdsson is a top-six player’
In-form Iceland striker Gylfi Sigurdsson could play for any of the top six clubs in England, according to Swansea City manager Gary Monk, who brought him back to south Wales this summer.
Sigurdsson, who returned to Swansea after two years at Tottenham as part of a deal that took Ben Davies in the opposite direction, has been instrumental for both club and country so far this season.
“Gylfi is a top-six player without a doubt, but he wanted to come and get regular football and be somewhere where he is comfortable and he enjoys his football,” Monk said. “We allow him to express himself here.”
Inter fans must trust us says Thohir
Inter president Erik Thohir has called on the fans to be patient, as he hopes to turn the Nerazzurri into one of the 10 biggest clubs in the world.
“The fans must have faith in us, because everything we do is for the good of the club,” Thohir said.
“The goal is to return Inter to being one of the top 10 clubs in the world. I’m not seeking personal glory, it’s more about how can I work hard, along with my new team. With a lot of support and the same vision we can do it.
“When we decide to sign a player, we involve everyone at the club, keeping in mind the technical, commercial and financial implications of the signing.
“It’s the model we use at MLS side DC United, it’s a sustainable model, and it’s the correct one.”
Martinez cautious over Barkley
Everton midfielder Ross Barkley is close to a return from injury but manager Roberto Martinez has sounded a note of caution to England U-21 boss Gareth Southgate over his availability next summer.
The 20-year-old, who has yet to feature after sustaining knee ligament damage on the eve of the campaign, is already being touted for a recall to the U-21s to bolster their squad for the 2015 European Championships.
It is not an idea Martinez appears that keen on.
“Ross is coming back from an injury so he hasn’t played much football,” the Everton boss said.
“If the tournament was now it would be a good opportunity for Ross to get some playing time but if it is at the end of a season where he has played consistently for 10 months then he needs to have a break.”
Keshi sacked as Nigeria coach
Stephen Keshi has been removed as head coach of Nigeria and replaced by a “consortium” of coaches for the final two Nations Cup qualifiers next month.
The Nigeria Federation (NFF) confirmed the move yesterday, despite Keshi leading the Super Eagles to a 3-1 victory over Sudan in Abuja this week, a result that got their qualifying campaign back on track.
The consortium will be led by Shaibu Amodu, who returns to the helm for a fifth time.
Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Aloysius Agu are the other coaches involved.