Les Bleus will be without the Arsenal defender in Russia after he suffered an Achilles injury on Thursday France defender Laurent Koscielny has been ruled out of the World Cup, the French Football Federation (FFF) has confirmed. Koscielny went down injured in the opening stages of Arsenal’s Europa League semi-final defeat to Atletico Madrid on Thursday, with Arsene Wenger suggesting he had ruptured his Achilles. While the FFF did not confirm the specifics of the centre-back’s problem, it was announced he will be unable to travel to Russia to represent his country. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already played his final game for Inter…

The top two in Group F face off in Spain in what should be a key fixture in the battle to qualify for the knockout rounds of the Europa League Group F is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in this season’s Europa League; with Real Betis, AC Milan and Olympiakos all battling to qualify for the next round. The top two spots in the group are currently occupied by Betis and Milan but, with Olympiakos taking on minnows Dudelange, Thursday’s game in Spain could be very important. Betis came out on top the last time these two sides met when winning 2-1 at San Siro a fortnight…

The Glasgow club have had a bright start to the European campaign and take on a side going through a difficult phase Rangers welcome Spartak Moscow to Ibrox on Thursday looking to hold on to first place in their Europa League group. With four points from two games, Steven Gerrard’s men have been a surprise package, but still have a lot to do if they are to progress to the next round. Spartak, meanwhile, have just one point so far and need a win to stay in the fight for the top two spots, but have been unsettled by coach Massimo Carrera’s sacking, leaving fitness coach Raul Riancho in charge.…

The Chelsea captain watched on as his team-mate stole the show at Stamford Bridge against BATE and believes there is a bright future ahead of him Gary Cahill formed part of Chelsea’s back line in a 3-1 victory over BATE in the Europa League on Thursday night, with that contest seeing Ruben Loftus-Cheek record a first professional hat-trick. The 22-year-old’s goal-scoring exploits had Stamford Bridge on its feet as Blues supporters saluted the efforts of a home-grown product who stole the headlines in front of Frank Lampard and Jody Morris. Two ex-Chelsea stars were on a scouting mission in west London as they prepare to lead Derby County into a Carabao Cup fourth round clash with…

The midfielder was substituted during his side’s 4-2 Europa League win over Vorskla, with his status for the weekend in doubt Arsenal head coach Unai Emery will assess midfielder Lucas Torreira after he hobbled out of the 4-2 Europa League win over Vorskla. Torreira is yet to start a Premier League game for the Gunners, but has impressed in his substitute cameos and was in similarly sharp form at Emirates Stadium on Thursday. However, a typically combative showing from the Uruguay international took its toll and he made way for Matteo Guendouzi shortly before the hour. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already played…

Ahead of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League clash with Apollon, Goal caught up with a man who suffered as a consequence of a big-money takeover Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder Gelson Fernandes has revealed that it was his preference to stay in the Premier League in 2009 but Manchester City refused to sell him to a domestic competitor. Fernandes, who scored three goals in 43 appearances for City, looks back fondly on his time with the current champions, but rues the fact that he didn’t get to spend more time in England. With the Etihad side having been bought over by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, City suddenly had copious amounts of…

Steven Gerrard’s side travel to eastern Croatia hoping to secure a positive away result before travelling back home for the second leg at Ibrox Rangers continue their quest to qualify for the 2018-19 Europa League with a trip to Croatia to take on Osijek. Steven Gerrard’s side will be hoping for an improvement on their last away performance, being held to a scoreless draw by Macedonian side Shkupi. Luckily a 2-0 win at Ibrox in the first leg was enough to see them progress to the second qualifying round. Osijek also entered the competition at the same stage, facing Romania’s Petrocub Hincesti. They also scraped into the next round, drawing…

The 30-year-old could make his first appearance for Steven Gerrard’s team in the first leg of their Europa League game against Ufa on Thursday Rangers have signed Kyle Lafferty from Hearts, bringing the striker back to Ibrox on a two-year contract. The 30-year-old spent four years at the Gers before he departed for Sion in 2012 and went on to play in Italy, Turkey and England before returning to Scotland with Hearts last year. Lafferty scored 10 goals in 30 Premiership games for the Edinburgh club in 2017-18 and featured heavily for them this season until his departure was announced on Wednesday. Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled…

The Scottish champions will hope to redeem themselves by making no mistakes in their attempts to remain involved in European competition Celtic will hope to salvage some pride and take a step towards securing their place in the Europa League group stage when they take on Suduva Marijampole in the first leg of their play-off tie. Brendan Rodgers’ men dropped into UEFA’s second-tier club competition following their elimination from the Champions League qualifiers at the hands of AEK Athens last week, when they lost 3-2 on aggregate. The defeat is a major blow to the Scottish champions, who had been rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite at the continent’s top table…

The French player broke new ground with a brilliantly opportunistic brace in Lyon, as his countrymen had no answer to a well-drilled Atleti Atletico Madrid forward Antoine Griezmann achieved a unique first as the Frenchman downed compatriots Marseille with a Europa League final double.  The former Real Sociedad forward scored in each half to put Atletico Madrid ahead in Lyon on Wednesday.  His first came after a period of sustained Marseille pressure to capitalise on a defensive error, before he doubled the lead after the break.  Article continues below Editors' Picks Juve on alert: Exiled Icardi may have already played his final game for Inter Sarri vindicated for dropping Kepa as…