France earned a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria in their final warm-up game ahead of Euro 2020 but face a nervous wait on Karim Benzema after his withdrawal through injury.

Antoine Griezmann s deflected overhead kick gave the world champions the lead just before the half-hour mark and substitute Olivier Giroud wrapped things up with two close-range finishes late on.

But it is the first-half loss of Benzema to what appeared to be a thigh problem that will dominate manager Didier Deschamps thoughts in the aftermath.

Recently recalled after a six-year exile from the national team, the Real Madrid forward looked lively prior to his early departure, setting up Kylian Mbappe for a powerful shot that was well saved by Daniel Naumov.

Unfortunately for the Bulgaria go…

Italy have been dealt a blow on the eve of Euro 2020, with Lorenzo Pellegrini set to missing out after sustaining an injury in training.

The Roma midfielder, who has been linked with Barcelona and Liverpool in recent weeks, was due to play in his first international tournament after being included in Roberto Mancini s squad.

He featured three times in qualifying, with Marco Verratti, Jorginho and Nicolo Barella the only central midfielders to play more games than him.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a solid season for the Giallorossi, his 13 goal involvements (seven scored, six assists) bettered by only eight midfielders – though among them were individuals who play in more advanced roles, such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Josip Ilicic.

Although he would ordinaril…

Shakhtar Donetsk will be looking to continue their record-breaking run in the Champions League when they take on Roma in the last 16.

This season marks the first time that Donetsk have made it to the knockout stages of Europe s premier club competition, just 18 months after they won the 2009 UEFA Cup.

Former Inter Milan manager Mircea Lucescu has transformed the club since taking over in 2004, and now he intends to send a message by guiding Shakhtar into the quarter-finals for the first time.

We wanted to get to the knockout stage for the first time and, after missing out before, we finally managed it this season and deservedly so, Lucescu said.

The Ukrainians finished on top of Group H with five wins from their six games, including a 2-1 victory over E…

Defender Phil Jagielka has agreed a one-year contract extension with English Premier League club Everton.

The new deal contracts Jagielka to Everton until 2015.

Able to play in central defence or at fullback, the 28-year-old joined Everton from Sheffield United in 2007 and has since been capped six times by England at full international level.

Phil Jagielka has signed a new four-year contract at Everton, the club said in a statement.

The deal keeps the central defender at Goodison Park until 2015.

Jagielka has made 119 appearances for the club, despite suffering a serious knee injury in 2009.

Premier League title contenders Arsenal reportedly had an offer for Jagielka rejected in the close season, but the defender said he was happy t…

Melbourne City defender Alex Wilkinson is desperate to make his debut against rivals Melbourne Victory in the upcoming derby.

Wilkinson, 31, was unveiled as a City player on Tuesday, just days out from Saturday s A-League showdown with Victory at AAMI Park.

Third-placed City and defending champions Victory are level on 28 points.

And the 16-time Australia international back in the A-League for the first time since leaving Central Coast Mariners in 2012 is hoping to make an immediate impression this weekend, if given the opportunity.

I m very excited to be down here and I have my short term future sorted so the sooner the better for me, Wilkinson told reporters. I want to be involved straight away.

I ve watched a lot of the derbies on TV. I ve ne…

Dutch full-back Gregory van der Wiel appears to be nearing closer to Parc des Princes exit, according to France Football.

The highly rated footballer has found it hard to secure regular playing time at Paris Saint-Germain, and he is clearly unhappy by the current status at the squad.

Van der Wiel has received a major boost as his rival for a starting berth on the right Serge Aurier was suspended by the club, but that does not appear to has changed his situation.

The Netherlands international will be out of contract in the summer and with the club showing lack of interest in meeting his demands, a summer exit appears on the cards.

Gregory van der Wiel joined the Saints from Ajax in August 2012 and has since managed 4 goals in 83 league appearances.

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Real Madrid beat bitter rivals Atletico Madrid at the Wanda Metropolitano for the first time, as Gareth Bale s 100th goal for the club helped secure a 3-1 win to move them up to second in LaLiga.

Los Blancos claimed a morale-boosting 1-1 draw at Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-final first leg on Wednesday and they produced another resilient display to beat Diego Simeone s men on their own turf for the first time since their meeting at the Vicente Calderon in November 2016.

Atletico conceded twice in a first half at the Wanda for the first time, as Sergio Ramos penalty added to Casemiro s spectacular opener after Antoine Griezmann had equalised, with a little thanks to VAR.

Madrid looked in control at the back under pressure in the second half and finished off …

Monaco defender Ricardo Carvalho has made it clear that he will not be returning to FC Porto this summer.

The 38-year-old has been linked with a move back to Estadio do Dragao as his contract with the Principality club is set to expire in June, but it looks as though the Dragons have missed their chance.

Carvalho went on to reveal that he had wanted to return to FC Porto after his spell with Real Madrid came to an end, but with the Dragons failing to make a move then, the move back to Estadio do Dragao is no longer an option.

“A chance to return to Porto? I would have liked it,” Carvalho . “I think the right time would have been after Madrid.

”At the time, the invitation did not exist and now the right moment has passed.”

Despite his ad…

These six years [at Barca] have been wonderful [for Suarez]. His colleagues have received him with enthusiasm we hope he adapts as soon as possible.

We all know him – he s a great reference for the team. Given the option that Alvaro had of being able to leave, the best way to continue improving was to look for someone who could improve on Alvaro s scoring contribution, and when the option of Suarez appeared, what was I going to say? His numbers speak for themselves.

We were lucky that when we had a very good [Radamel] Falcao, a very good [Diego] Costa or a very good [Antoine] Griezmann, we came close to fighting for everything. Let s hope that with Luis Suarez it will be like that and we can overcome what we did last season.

Atletico finished third in LaL…