Joachim Low has promised to keep faith with Mario Gotze because of his rare gift for unlocking defences at the highest level.
Gotze has already secured a place in German football history, having come off the bench to score the extra-time winner in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina.
That moment of glory aside, the playmaker has struggled to hit the heights he enjoyed early in his Borussia Dortmund career, failing to impress at Bayern Munich and battling for form and fitness upon his return to Signal Iduna Park in July.
Gotze has started only nine Bundesliga matches this season, but Germany coach Low continues to value the 24-year-old highly.
Mario can make the difference, he is not the classic striker, but a locksmith, he told Kicker.
Swansea City defender Jordi Amat has agreed a new one-year contract with the Premier League club.
Amat arrived from Espanyol on a four-year deal in 2013 and has made 48 appearances for Swansea, agreeing an extension to 2018 in March last year.
The Spaniard has once again extended his stay by a year despite recent managerial changes at the Welsh club following Francesco Guidolin s appointment as head coach for the remainder of 2015-16.
The Italian took over from interim boss Alan Curtis this month following Garry Monk s departure in December.
Chievo striker Alberto Paloschi arrived on Friday as Guidolin s first senior signing, while 21-year-old forward Kenji Gorre has been recalled from his season-long loan spell with Eredivisie side ADO Den Haag.
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On Wednesday afternoon, Arsenal drew 1-1 with Vitoria Guimaraes in the Europa League. The disappointing draw means that the Gunners have won just one of their last six games in all competitions.
The team from North London have now also drawn their last three games over 90 minutes. The teams recent run and form, in general, this season has led to major question marks about head coach Unai Emery’s ability to move the team forward.
Not much has changed since Arsene Wenger
There were many Arsenal fans who believed veteran boss Arsene Wenger held the team back from progressing. When the French left in the summer of 2018, his exit was greeted with excitement, as the fans believed they were set for a fresh start, which could lead to success.
Unfortunately for everyb…
Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt are said to be negotiating a permanent deal for Benfica striker Luka Jovic who has impressed during his loan spell in Germany of late.
The 20-year-old Serbian forward joined Eintracht Frankfurt at the beginning of the 2017/18 season and went on to score eight goals in 22 Bundesliga appearances under Niko Kovac.
Having played a key role in helping Eintracht grab a place in Europa League, Luka Jovic has continued his fine form into the new season as well and has thus far bagged four goals in six appearances in all competitions.
The talented forward scored a goal in his last three games for the club and Eintracht Frankfurt are now seriously considering an option to turn his loan move into a permanent deal.
Portuguese medi…
Atletico Madrid missed the chance to leapfrog Real Madrid and finish second in LaLiga on the final day of the season, as Jorge Pascual scored Villarreal s last-gasp equaliser in a 2-2 draw.
Antoine Griezmann laid on two goals for Angel Correa after Nicolas Jackson put Villarreal ahead early on, but Axel Witsel s red card saw Diego Simeone s side come under mounting pressure, which told when Pascual converted two minutes into stoppage time.
That meant Atleti finished the season one point adrift of their city rivals in third, despite Los Blancos labouring to a 1-1 draw with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Pablo Barrios error was punished as Villarreal went ahead after nine minutes, the teenager s miscued header teeing up Jackson for a powerful finish across goal.
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Neymar said losing is part of the sport as the tearful Paris Saint-Germain star congratulated Bayern Munich on being crowned Champions League winners.
PSG were unable to cap their first Champions League final appearance with silverware following a 1-0 defeat to Bayern in Lisbon on Sunday.
Neymar cut an emotional figure post-match after PSG failed to add a maiden European crown to their domestic sweep of 2019-20 titles in France.
Afterwards, Neymar wrote via Twitter: Losing is part of the sport, we try everything, we fight until the end.
Thanks for the support and affection from everyone. Congratulations Bayer [sic].
Perder faz parte do esporte, tentamos de tudo, lutamos até o final. Obrigado pelo apoio e carinho de cada um de vocês e PARABÉ…
Paris Saint-Germain and Marseille take centre stage for France s biggest fixture in what is set to be a fascinating weekend in Ligue 1.
The rivalry between leaders PSG and UEFA Champions League hopefuls Marseille, known in France as Le Classique , had long been dominated by the Provencal club, but it is the capital outfit who ha
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ve begun to dictate matters over recent years.
And Laurent Blanc s men will look to underline their superiority at the Parc des Princes on Sunday as PSG seek a first league double over Marseille since 2003 following victory at the Stade Velodrome back in October.
PSG will need no extra motivation to beat their bitter rivals who themselves will be looking to keep pace in the race for a top-three spot but could have the added incentive…
Inter host Atalanta on Sunday in a game that forward Rodrigo Palacio has dubbed a must-win clash in their quest for European football.
Walter Mazzarri s men head into the game unbeaten in six Serie A matches and still retain slim hope of gaining qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Inter are 11 points behind Napoli, who currently occupy the final Champions League qualification berth and welcome fourth-placed Fiorentina to Stadio San Paolo this weekend.
A place in next season s UEFA Europa League, courtesy of finishing fourth or fifth, appears a much more realistic aim for Inter.
And with sixth-placed Parma only one point behind the 18-time Italian champions, Palacio knows it is vital his side claim three points against an Atalanta outfit seeking a fourth …
Marco Verratti insists he wants to stay at Paris Saint-Germain and is close to agreeing a new contract with the French champions.
The Italy international has established himself as one of Europe s finest young midfielders since joining from Pescara in 2012 and has been linked with a potential big-money move away from the Parc des Princes.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have been credited with an interest, while former Barcelona captain Xavi has backed the Champions League holders to make a move for the 23-year-old.
Verratti s agent said earlier this month that a new deal with PSG was in the offing, however, the player himself has now stressed that his future is with Laurent Blanc s side.
It ll be an important year, both for PSG because we want to do …
Bayern Munich defender Juan Bernat is eagerly anticipating the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie against Benfica, but expects a tough test in Lisbon.
The Bundesliga leaders recorded a 1-0 win in the first game courtesy of an early Arturo Vidal strike and will be looking to book their ticket for the final four on Wednesday.
Bernat is well aware that it will not be straightforward for Bayern, though, and hopes they can get an early goal at the Estadio da Luz to make things easier.
The game against Benfica will be like a war, Bernat told TZ.
Benfica will be hugely motivated and try to take advantage of the home advantage. It will be a great game, I have no doubt about that.
I hope that we can score an important away goal. That…