When asked about Argentina’s plans for the upcoming World Cup, Diego Maradona cried: “It’s ridiculous. That’s how teams used to play in in the 1930s.”
This is the same Maradona who lined up with five attackers- Angel Di Maria, Maxi Rodriguez, Gonzalo Higuain, Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez- against Germany in the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals.
His side were torn apart on the counter-attack by a mobile, balance Germany side. The 4-0 scoreline was flattering.
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to pre-register for this summer’s brilliant gameSomeone call David Attenborough. We’ve got two goats interactingTimes Newspapers Ltd
So what’s got Diego so riled up? The answer can be found in Jorge Sampaoli’s tactics.
To call Sampaoli attack-minded would be doing the 58-year-old a disservice.
He seeks to crush the opposition with relentless waves of frantic attacks that would leave the Duracell Bunny feeling lethargic.
We’re not talking 4-3-3 with limited defensive responsibilities for the front three. We’re talking a 2-3-3-2 formation.
Yep, Sampaoli is throwing caution to the wind, and then some, in his quest to make up for Argentina’s 2014 final heartbreak.
There is some method to the madness. This is, after all, a nation with enough attacking talent to leave Mauro Icardi at home.
This is also a nation whose defensive options are so minimal that Everton’s Ramiro Funes Mori nearly snuck into the squad.
So, rather than wrestle his top heavy squad into an awkward shape, Sampaoli has worked with it.
Looks legit
The problem for Argentina managers has always been getting the best out of Lionel Messi and the wealth of attacking options available.
In a 2-3-3-2 formation Sampaoli doesn’t have to sacrifice one of Gonzalo Higuain or Sergio Aguero to free Messi.
It’ll also mean a return to defensive midfield for Javier Mascherano, whom so many of us have become accustomed to seeing play in the centre of defence.
Nicolas Otamendi and Federico Fazio, who looked like Bambi on Ice during his time at Spurs, are nailed on to start as the back two, which seems ominous.
The rest is very much up to interpretation.
Whoever plays, it’ll be exciting.
Sampaoli’s tactics with Chile took Spain by surprise at the 2014 World Cup, but this time he’ll have to cope with being the favourites in a group alongside Nigeria, Croatia and Iceland.
Bring. It. On.
Dream Team World Cup has landed!The greatest show on Earth just got that bit more exciting.
That’s because the Dream Team World Cup game is coming ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Getty Images - Getty Can Messi finally achieve glory internationally?[/caption]
The game officially launches on June 1 – but you can pre-register for the game now.
If you’re an existing Dream Team customer the World Cup game now appears in the app or you can enter here, but if you’re not follow these simple steps:
Download the Dream Team app Create an account Click on the World Cup banner below in the app and follow the pre-registration instructionsFrom Russia with a whole lot of love.
Less than 48 hours after a crushing defeat in the Champions League final, Liverpool have gone some way to soften the blow.
The aftermath from Kyiv has been dominated by the Loris Karius’ narrative after the German goalkeeper’s horror show.
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to pre-register for this summer’s brilliant gameKarius visibly heartbroken after the final whistleGetty
But Jurgen Klopp is a proactive manager – and his first summer signing, while not reeking of glam and glitter, might well be their most important in years.
Within the space of a couple of hours reports of a move for Fabinho suddenly materialised into a completed £40m deal.
Liverpool’s new number sixReuters
Signed, sealed and delivered.
In the lanky, athletic Brazilian Liverpool finally have a concrete defensive midfielder who can not only break up play, but dictate it too.
It means, with the imminent arrival of the ludicrously exciting Naby Keita, the Reds’ midfield is set for an almost complete overhaul this summer.
We’ve been blown away all season by the exploits of their front three, with Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane plundering 91 goals between them.
91 goals in one pictureREUTERS
But there’s been a feeling, never more obvious than against the levels displayed by Luka Modric and Toni Kroos on Saturday, that their midfield has its limitations.
Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum have all hustled and harried as unsung heroes throughout their Champions League campaign.
AFP or licensors Henderson’s game time may be reduced as a result[/caption]
But against Real Liverpool were crying out for a midfielder to put their foot on the ball and impose some authority.
In Fabinho and Keita they have found their solution before the dust from Kyiv has even settled.
Fabinho has won 100+ tackles and been directly involved in 10 goals in each of the last three league seasons:
15/16: 108 tackles; 6 goals, 4 assists
16/17: 113 tackles; 9 goals, 1 assist
17/18: 114 tackles; 7 goals, 3 assists
Added value. 
pic.twitter.com/qSBIzmUIoo
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) May 28, 2018
And given the inevitable grief from Man United supporters for Saturday’s defeat, Liverpool fans might take a semblance of revenge from the deal.
Oh b*******PA:Press Association
Fabinho, after all, has been one of United’s main targets for the last two seasons and he is represented by none other than Jose Mourinho’s agent Jorge Mendes.
That might put a smile back on Reds’ fans faces.
Dream Team World Cup has landed!The greatest show on Earth just got that bit more exciting.
That’s because the Dream Team World Cup game is coming ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Getty Images - Getty Can Messi finally achieve glory internationally?[/caption]
The game officially launches on June 1 – but you can pre-register for the game now.
If you’re an existing Dream Team customer the World Cup game now appears in the app or you can enter here, but if you’re not follow these simple steps:
Download the Dream Team app Create an account Click on the World Cup banner below in the app and follow the pre-registration instructionsFrom Russia with a whole lot of love.
Ceres Negros went on a three-goal flurry in seven minutes as it fought back to subdue Stallion Laguna, 3-2, on Saturday to firm up its hold of top spot in the Philippines Football League (PFL) at Biñan Football Stadium in Laguna.
The post Ceres-Negros stays on top appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
SERGIO RAMOS denied setting out to hurt Mo Salah after being accused of “wrestling” by Jurgen Klopp.
Liverpool talisman Salah, 25, could miss the World Cup with a shoulder injury after being hauled down by Ramos during last night’s Champions League final defeat in Kiev.
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to pre-register for this summer’s brilliant gameSergio Ramos has denied setting out to injure Mo Salah in the Champions League finalAlamy Live News
Real Madrid captain Ramos, who won his fourth European title, tweeted: “Sometimes football shows you it’s good side and other times the bad. Above all, we are fellow pros #GetWellSoon @MoSalah”
Spain defender Ramos, 32, locked arms with Salah and brought him tumbling down to the floor, landing awkwardly on his shoulder.
He tried to continue but was replaced by Adam Lallana just 30 minutes into the match.
Klopp feared the worst for his winger as he left Kiev in a sling but the Egyptian FA are confident he will be fit to make the World Cup.
Sergio Ramos checks on Mo Salah after hauling him to the groundAlamy Live News
Jurgen Klopp accused Sergio Ramos of ‘wrestling’ Mo SalahGetty - Contributor
The German said: “Of course it was a big moment in the game.
“I know if you say something like that after a game you lost, it sounds like you are a little bit a bad loser but it was, for me, kind of a harsh challenge.
“It’s like wrestling a little bit and it’s unlucky then that Mo fell on his shoulder.”
Ex-Egypt and Middlesbrough striker Mido blasted: “Anyone that understands football would know that Ramos injured Salah intentionally.
He added: “Any player in the world would’ve released his arm but Ramos held onto his arm and spun with it.”
German television unearthed footage of Ramos appearing to elbow calamity keeper Loris Karius just moments before his first howler.
He cleared out the stopper long after the ball had gone and looked to have smacked him in the head.
Two minutes later, Karius incredibly rolled the ball straight at Karim Benzema for him to open the scoring.
Dream Team World Cup has landed!The greatest show on Earth just got that bit more exciting.
That’s because the Dream Team World Cup game is coming ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Getty Images - Getty Can Messi finally achieve glory internationally?[/caption]
The game officially launches on June 1 – but you can pre-register for the game now.
If you’re an existing Dream Team customer the World Cup game now appears in the app or you can enter here, but if you’re not follow these simple steps:
Download the Dream Team app Create an account Click on the World Cup banner below in the app and follow the pre-registration instructionsFrom Russia with a whole lot of love.
We’re all finished with the Premier League and fantasy football for another season.
But turn that frown upside down, because the summer awaits – which means it’s time to get stuck into the Dream Team World Cup game.
Sounds good, right? So make sure you pre-register ahead of the official launch on June 1.
In the mean time, we’ve been taking a good look back at some of the best signings that graced the Premier League last summer.
Using our Dream Team metrics and WhoScored’s rating system, we’ve established the top five best bargain buys you could’ve snapped up this season.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets have this brilliant offer when you sign up and bet a fiver 5 Pascal Gross – £3.6m
Getty Images - Getty It’s been a season to remember for Brighton’s midfield dynamo[/caption]
There’s been nothing gross about Brighton’s first season back in the top-flight, with Chris Hughton’s side going against the odds to stave off relegation.
And a big thanks goes to their midfield wizard Gross, who finished the season with 112 points and a tasty WhoScored rating of 6.81.
Seven goals, eight assists and three Star Man awards to his name, we can’t think of many other midfielders who were this consistent at such a low price.
4 Marcus Rashford – £2.6m
AFP or licensors What can we expect from Marcus Rashford at the World Cup this summer?[/caption]
It’s been a bit of a hit and miss season for Man United’s boy wonder, but he’s proven to be a hit on Dream Team.
In fact, his points total of 150 is by-far the best of anyone else valued below £3.0m on the game.
3 Luka Milivojevic – £5.1m
Reuters If Palace had a penalty, then this guy would usually step up to score[/caption]
Milivojevic has become a bit of a cult hero among Dream Team managers.
Having started the season priced at a measly £2.5m, the Serbian’s price soared as he became a consistent source of points.
He’s not bad from 12-yards out either, netting seven goals from the penalty spot this season.
2 Cesc Fabregas – £3.0m
PA:Press Association Cesc Fabregas has had a surprisingly good season[/caption]
He may have been left out of Spain’s World Cup squad, but Cesc still has a special place in our hearts.
Finishing up with a decent haul of 123 points – more than the likes of N’Golo Kante, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Emre Can – the Spaniard has also spent much of the season priced below the £3.0m grade.
A true bargain.
1 James Tarkowski – £3.8m
REUTERS We’ve loved James Tarkowski on fantasy football this season[/caption]
Several Burnley stars have been on our radar this season, with Nick Pope proving to be one of the best goalkeepers on Dream Team and Robbie Brady getting into everyone’s team before his season-ending injury.
But we’ve picked out Tarkowski, who became stalwart in our Dream Team line-up after a succession of standout performances in the Clarets back-line.
Ending up with a total of 118 points, we’re genuinely disappointed he didn’t get into Gareth Southgate’s final World Cup squad.
READ MORE:
Who were the best Premier League signings this season? We look back at the best fantasy football players from the 2014 World Cup QUIZ: How well do you actually remember the 2014 World Cup? DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to pre-register for this summer’s brilliant game Dream Team World Cup has landed!The greatest show on Earth just got that bit more exciting.
That’s because the Dream Team World Cup game is coming ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Can Messi finally achieve glory internationally?
The game officially launches on June 1 – but you can pre-register for the game now.
If you’re an existing Dream Team customer the World Cup game now appears in the app or you can enter here, but if you’re not follow these simple steps:
Download the Dream Team app Create an account Click on the World Cup banner below in the app and follow the pre-registration instructionsFrom Russia with a whole lot of love.
MANUEL PELLEGRINI is set to make a blistering start to life as West Ham boss with the capture of one of the Championship’s brightest talents.
The Hammers have reportedly bid £1.2million for Derby County midfielder Luke Thomas.
Luke Thomas may be swapping the Championship U23s for the Premier League with a move to West HamRex Features
According to Guardian reporter Jacob Steinberg the Premier League side are “closing in” on the 19-year-old who is yet to make a first-team start for the Rams.
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to pre-register for this summer’s brilliant gameHe has appeared off the bench in their failed promotion-chase, playing just six minutes of football.
However, he has starred for the U23 side this season, making 17 appearances and scoring six goals from an attacking midfield position.
With Derby currently without a manager after Gary Rowett left to join Stoke, it appears West Ham are keen to take advantage of the insecurity.
Manuel Pellegrini could be set to ring the changes in the West Ham squad this summerAFP
Hammers are expected to bag Luke Thomas from Derby in a £1.2mRex Features
And the signing of Thomas will provide some youtful exuberance to what on paper is an ageing squad.
Many mainstays of last season’s starting XI – including the likes of Pablo Zabaleta, Mark Noble and Angelo Ogbonna are over 30.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets have this brilliant offer when you sign up and bet a fiverThe £1.2m Pellegrini is likely to part with to purchase Thomas will be seen as small fry considering he has been given a £75m warchest this summer.
SunSport reported that the new boss said: “Bringing in maybe another four or five players, we are going to have a strong team.”
Pell, 64, was unveiled as Hammers chief yesterday and is the club’s highest-paid manager in history.
The Chilean signed a deal worth £18.5million over three years, plus add-ons for a top-seven Premier League finish.
Pellegrini won the 2013-14 title and League Cup with Manchester City and replaces axed David Moyes at West Ham — concluding talks with joint-chairman David Sullivan on Monday night.
Dream Team World Cup has landed!The greatest show on Earth just got that bit more exciting.
That’s because the Dream Team World Cup game is coming ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Getty Images - Getty Can Messi finally achieve glory internationally?[/caption]
The game officially launches on June 1 – but you can pre-register for the game now.
If you’re an existing Dream Team customer the World Cup game now appears in the app or you can enter here, but if you’re not follow these simple steps:
Download the Dream Team app Create an account Click on the World Cup banner below in the app and follow the pre-registration instructionsFrom Russia with a whole lot of love.
Barely a week has surpassed since the end of the Premier League season and we’re already looking ahead to next season.
So yeah, sorry about that.
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to pre-register for this summer’s brilliant gameBring on August 11AFP
But there’s no harm whatsoever in hypothesising about a campaign which is already taking shape quite nicely.
Here’s hoping it’s the most open Premier League campaign to date dominated, we predict, by these seven stars.
Naby Keita
Anfield boundAFP - Getty
Liverpool fans have had plenty to shout about this season but, without wanting to sound like a broken record, next year really could be their year.
That’s because the imminent arrival of Naby Keita provides the Reds with the midfield linchpin they’ve sorely missed since Steven Gerrard’s retirement.
After two fantastic years, we say goodbye to our midfield maestro 
Sit back and enjoy the very best of B̶a̶b̶y̶ ̶K̶e̶i̶t̶h̶ Naby #Keïta 
pic.twitter.com/eXVD6rRgcZ
— RB Leipzig English (@RBLeipzig_EN) May 14, 2018
Keita is Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante rolled into one player, a stunning combination of creativity and dynamism.
In tandem with Liverpool’s fearsome front three Keita could take Liverpool to the next step.
Benjamin Mendy
Mendy’s season pretty much ended in SeptemberReuters
Mendy was cruelly denied the opportunity to stamp his authority on the field this season by a horrible knee injury last Autumn.
Sure he made an impact off the field with his regular hilarity on social media but Man City sorely missed his relentless buccaneering runs from left back.
In fact it’s scary to think how much better the runaway champions could have been with Mendy fully fit.
Ademola Lookman
Proving that Brits can thrive abroadGetty - Contributor
Ronald Koeman and Sam Allardyce royally fudged any chances of attacking intent at Everton this season, so you’d hope a new manager would bring a new lease of life.
The Toffees have the forward options at their disposal and in Lookman have a man returning from a loan spell in the Bundesliga with his tail up.
The winger registered five goals and four assists in just 11 Leipzig appearances and surely has to be unleashed at Goodison Park next season.
Tiemoue Bakayoko
REUTERS Bakayoko has shown real promise in recent weeks[/caption]
Bakayoko arrived at Chelsea off the back of a commanding season at Monaco but he really struggled to settle.
The Frenchman was in and out of Antonio Conte’s side more often than you can say ‘Ashley Barnes to Chelsea’ and was regularly scapegoated for some inconsistent performances.
But there were signs in recent weeks of a return to form and, with a proper pre-season, he could be a real force in 2018/19.
Harry Winks
Running the show at the BernabeuRex Features
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to pre-register for this summer’s brilliant game
Winks was meant to be the answer to England’s midfield problems at the World Cup this summer but an ankle injury just before Christmas changed everything.
Instead he will watch the tournament from home as fitness issues continued to plague him for the rest of the season.
But, with a number of Spurs midfielders’ futures in doubts, Winks could be central to Mauricio Pochettino’s plans as his pivot in the centre.
He’s a very different player to Mousa Dembele but, if he can keep fit, can be just as effective.
Alexandre Lacazette
Between them Laca and Auba can cause some serious damageReuters
Arsenal fans will be hoping their new manager – whoever he turns out to be – can find a way to get their two goal machines playing and scoring together.
Pierre-Emerick Aubmeyang’s arrival in January marginalised Lacazette a bit but he still managed 14 goals in his debut season in England.
It’s no secret that players look better with good players around them and Aubameyang and Lacazette can certainly benefit each other next season.
If defences are distracted by one it creates space for the other.
Ruben Neves
Neves has been incredible for WolvesPA:Press Association
What happens when you put a Champions League player in the Championship?
Well, surprise surprise, it was all rather easy for Neves who orchestrated Wolves’ easy promotion back to the big time of the Premier League.
Neves has the maturity of a seasoned professional and whether he’s still at Wolves or elsewhere he really is one to watch next season.
Dream Team World Cup has landedThe greatest show on Earth just got that bit more exciting.
That’s because the Dream Team World Cup game is coming ahead of this summer’s tournament.
Getty Images - Getty Can Messi finally achieve glory internationally?[/caption]
The game officially launches on June 1 – but you can pre-register for the game now.
If you’re an existing Dream Team customer the World Cup game now appears in the app or you can enter here, but if you’re not follow these simple steps:
Download the Dream Team app Create an account Click on the World Cup banner below in the app and follow the pre-registration instructionsFrom Russia with a whole lot of love.
