France head coach Didier Deschamps hopes Paul Pogba s form during the international break can help him at Manchester United.

Amid his struggles with the Premier League giants, Pogba played 90 minutes in France s 4-2 Nations League win over Sweden on Tuesday.

Pogba had the most interceptions (four) of any player on the pitch, and his eight possessions gained were the equal most.

Deschamps lauded Pogba and hopes the midfielder can take a boost from his international form when he returns to United.  

I don t want to criticise anyone but I know him, I know how he is. He has pride, but even more importantly, he has talent, he told a news conference.

When he has to defend, he is able to defend. He can make assists. Paul is a top player. I hope his re…

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Looking to build off of their stunning display from earlier in the week, Tottenham will welcome Burnley to north London on Sunday lunchtime.

Tottenham

Starting with the hosts, putting in a stunning display as they stormed their way to north London bragging rights earlier in the week, the mood in Tottenham s camp will be at a red-hot high. Eventually breezing their way to a 3-0 romp against their bitter local rivals, Antonio Conte s men now have their sights set on making a late charge for the top-four. With a Champions League return firmly at the top of their agenda, the one-time Chelsea boss will know that victory here would see them temporarily leapfrog the Gunners. Also impressing at Anfield last weekend as they played out a 1-1 dra…

Lionel Messi is leaving Barcelona. The 34-year-old superstar was expected to sign a new contract, but financial restrictions mean his 21-year stint at the club is coming to an end.

Messi, who has been a free agent since the end of June, is now set for pastures new, with Paris Saint-Germain seemingly his destination.

But before potentially linking up with Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Sergio Ramos and the rest of Mauricio Pochettino s star-studded squad, Messi held a farewell news conference in Barcelona.

He was in tears as he took to the stage in front of the media, his family, club officials and his Barca team-mates, who all gave the six-time Ballon d Or winner a standing ovation.

Here are the best quotes from Messi s Barca goodbye.

When Messi cries, w…

Derby County strengthened their promotion push with the loan signing of Tom Ince from Hull City.

Hull City winger Tom Ince has joined Derby County on loan until the end of the season.

Ince will add flair and depth to Derby s attacking ranks as they chase a return to the Premier League.

Steve McClaren s side sit second in the Championship and have not played in the top flight since 2008.

The 23-year-old, who was on loan at Nottingham Forest earlier this season, has made seven appearances for Hull since joining from Blackpool in August.

…

Israel and Wales face a pivotal moment in their respective bids to reach Euro 2016 when they meet in a qualifier in Haifa on Saturday.

The teams seeded third and fourth respectively occupy the top two spots in Group B, which also features Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and are yet to taste defeat during the current campaign.

Indeed, Israel have won all three of their fixtures so far, but former Wales manager John Toshack is confident Chris Coleman s men who have picked up two wins and two draws will eventually qualify for a first major tournament since 1958.

I really do feel this is our time, Toshack is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.  I think Chris has been in there long enough and he knows what he s got and he knows how best to go about it.

Israel a…

Chelsea F.C. goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has launched an angry attack on FIFA, insisting the controversial decision to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the summer was crazy.

The former Australia international, 42, has called for FIFA to ban summer football in the Gulf State, but cautioned that one, two, or three people may have to drop dead before the game s governing body acted.

Schwarzer, who was forced to play a World Cup qualifier in Doha in 2009, said: You have to stop playing games at that time of year.

It ll only happen once probably, not one person, but two or three people drop dead. It’s ridiculous. It really is ridiculous to play at that time of year.

I don t even know why there is a debate. They [Fifa] had a committee go o…

What the papers say

Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe is catching the eyes of Premier League rivals. According to the Daily Mirror, Newcastle are keen on the 23-year-old England international.

Manchester City could benefit if Liverpool make a move for their former winger Leroy Sane, 27. A sell-on clause means City will make more than £8 million if the German international makes the mover from Bayern Munich to Anfield.

Eric Dier could be handed a way out of his Tottenham exile in January, according to The Sun. The England defender, 29, has not played under new manager Ange Postecoglou but could head to Roma for a reunion with former boss Jose Mourinho.

Scott McTominay appears to be going nowhere in January. The Manchester United midfielder, 26, came close to a…

Kai Havertz compared himself to Harry Kane as the Germany forward admits I don t understand the discussion around his central role for the Euro 2024 hosts.

Havertz led the line in each of Germany s three Group A games at the tournament, scoring a penalty and providing an assist in their opening 5-1 rout of Scotland on matchday one.

Although, the Arsenal forward failed to add to that tally in the next two games, with Niclas Fullkrug netting twice from the bench including a late equaliser against Switzerland.

Havertz has often drawn criticism suggesting he does not score enough goals while operating as a number nine, but he insists there is more to the role than just finding the net noting England and Bayern Munich forward Kane as an example.

DF…

Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe have all been named on FIFA s FIFPro Men s Team of the Year 26-player shortlist for 2022.

Ronaldo s inclusion was arguably the major surprise after a difficult back half to the year where he was dropped by both Manchester United and Portugal, ultimately parting ways with the Red Devils in November.

The Portuguese star has made the Team of the Year, along with Messi, every year since 2007, but will face stiff competition among the forwards alongside Erling Haaland, Mbappe, Neymar, Robert Lewandowski and reigning Ballon d Or winner Karim Benzema.

Last year, four forwards were named in the final XI; Ronaldo, Haaland, Lewandowski and Messi.

World Cup stars Jude Bellingham and Enzo Fernandez are named in the sh…

Lionel Messi is to stand trial for tax fraud after having an appeal rejected by a Barcelona court.

Barcelona superstar Messi and his father and agent, Jorge Horacio Messi, stand accused of having defrauded authorities of €4.1million between 2007 and 2009.

The Argentina captain s rights are alleged to have been sold by Jorge using companies in Belize and Uruguay to avoid Spanish tax obligations.

Last October it was determined that Messi would have to stand trial as he could have known about the alleged impropriety despite pleas that his father was responsible for the family s finances, a decision he immediately appealed.

Messi and his father have also made a payment of just over €5m to the authorities.

But, after seeing his appeal thrown o…