Felix Sanchez has sought to ensure Qatar focus on their football amid the controversy around the nation s hosting of the World Cup ahead of Sunday s opener against Ecuador.

But the Qatar coach is also realistic about his side s ambitions at their first finals, considering Ecuador clear favourites and suggesting Group A rivals may have already written the hosts off.

Sanchez was the first coach to hold a pre-match news conference on Saturday, with FIFA president Gianni Infantino s extraordinary opening address still prominent in the thoughts of many.

Infantino had defended Qatar following criticisms of human rights issues, its treatment of migrant workers and the illegality of homosexuality.

The topic of workers rights was put to Sanchez, who replied: A lot…

Ousmane Dembele is much better than former Barcelona star Neymar, according to president Josep Maria Bartomeu.

Neymar left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record €222 million transfer in 2017 and Dembele arrived as his €105m replacement from Borussia Dortmund.

Dembele has scored 11 La Liga goals and 18 in all competitions since moving to Camp Nou and Bartomeu heaped praise on the 21-year-old France winger.

It s not possible for Neymar to come to Barcelona as we have another sporting project with Dembele and [Philippe] Coutinho, Bartomeu told TVE ahead of Tuesday s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Manchester United.

We are happy with what we have, as Dembele is better than Neymar and he is a good professional play…

Erik Ten Hag insisted he was not embarrassed but admitted Manchester United “got away with it” after edging past Championship Coventry on penalties in their FA Cup semi-final.

The Premier League outfit were given an almighty scare at Wembley on Sunday as the second-tier side fought back from 3-0 down and then had a late extra-time winner disallowed for a marginal offside.

A thrilling contest ended 3-3 after 120 minutes and it was United who ultimately prevailed, 4-2 on spot-kicks, to set up a repeat of last year’s final against rivals Manchester City.

It was another highly unconvincing performance by United – which may have increased the pressure on under-fire manager Ten Hag – but the Dutchman tried to highlight the positives.

Ten Hag said: “…

Flamengo and Internacional served up a six-goal thriller at the Estadio Olimpico Joao Havelange in Brazil Serie A action on Saturday.

Airton s ninth-minute opener and Ronaldinho s 17th-minute penalty saw Flamengo take a 2-0 lead before 22-year-old striker Gilberto hit back for the visitors on 34 minutes.

Former CSKA Moscow marksman Vagner Love restored the 2009 champions two-goal advantage three minutes into the second half.

However, Internacional managed to score two goals in the last 20 minutes through Fabricio and ex-Espanyol midfielder Jesus Datolo to earn a 3-3 draw.

Flamengo are unbeaten in the past four encounters between the two clubs, with Internacional last tasting victory in July 2010.

Also on Saturday, four-time champions Vasco da Gam…

Tottenham Hotspur have signed Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen for a fee possibly rising to 12 million euros.

Both clubs had long been in talks over the possibility of the Belgium defender moving to White Hart Lane, and the deal is now set to be completed.

Vertonghen will ink a long-term contract with Spurs upon completion of his medical.

I m very happy that the saga s finally over. I don t have to worry about anything anymore, and can focus on other things again, the 25-year-old told the Ajax website.

It s great that I can start at Spurs during pre-season. That was very important for me. I m looking forward to a great time. I ve heard a lot of beautiful stories about Tottenham.

Vertonghen came through the ranks of the Ajax youth academy, and has …

Southampton have no intention of selling Victor Wanyama to Tottenham Hotspur, .

The South Coast club have so far rebuffed the North London club’s advances, with Mauricio Pochettino keen to be reunited with the Kenya international who he signed for Saints in the summer of 2013.

Since arriving at St Mary’s, Wanyama has racked up sixty-five appearances in all competitions, scoring three times.

Prior to his move to England, he spent two seasons in Scotland with Celtic, having begun his career in Belgium with Beerschot.

Internationally he has been capped thirty-one times, with his one and only goal for his country so far coming in World Cup Qualifying victory over Seychelles in November 2011.

Southampton were held to a goalless draw at Wat…

Tottenham s Giovani dos Santos could be set to move to Inter Milan as part of a swap deal for goalkeeper Julio Cesar, his agent has revealed.

The Mexican, who recently won a gold medal for his country at the Olympics, has failed to cement a place in the first team at White Hart Lane since joining from Barcelona in 2008, and has had loan spells at a number of clubs including Ipswich Town and Galatasaray.

However, the 23-year-old looks set to leave the Premier League after his representative Vicente Montes confirmed a swap deal to bring Cesar to Spurs and take Dos Santos to the San Siro could be in the offing.

Montes told calciomercato.com: The truth is that Gio has always wanted to play in La Liga or Serie A so that s what we re aiming for.

A swap deal w…

Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to win the Ballon d Or as he has claimed the top silverware for club and country in 2016, Portugal team-mate Nani has said.

The Real Madrid forward is one of the favourites for the prize he won last year after another exceptional 12 months, in which he lifted both the Champions League and Euro 2016 trophies.

Given that he also scored 35 goals in 36 LaLiga matches as Madrid narrowly lost out to Barcelona in the title race, Nani has no doubt that his old Manchester United colleague would be a worthy winner.

Ronaldo won the most important trophies, the Champions League and Euro 2016, and also had an excellent league campaign, the Valencia winger said, as quoted by Marca. He deserves the Ballon d Or.

Ronaldo signed a new contract …

Lille have been ordered to pay €300,000 compensation to Belgian club Genk over the signing of forward Divock Origi.

Belgium international Origi joined Lille in 2010 after playing for Genk s youth academy. He joined Premier League Liverpool in July last year before being loaned back to the Ligue 1 club for the 2014-15 season.

FIFA ruled in Februrary 2014 that Genk were not entitled to compensation for training Origi as they did not offer him a contract.

However, they appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration of Sport (CAS), who have accepted Genk s justification for not trying to sign Origi to a deal.

Genk argued the club would have been punishable under Belgian law by offering a contract to Origi, who was 15 when he left for Lille.

…

Jurgen Locadia s debut goal helped Brighton and Hove Albion ease past Coventry City 3-1 and into the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

A club-record signing in January, Locadia opened his account in the 15th minute at the Amex Stadium as the Seagulls made light work of fourth-tier opposition with a Premier League scalp to their name this season after beating Stoke City.

Connor Goldson headed in prior to half-time before Leonardo Ulloa put the seal on victory with the first goal of his second spell at the club.

Jonson Clarke-Harris snatched a late consolation for the League Two side but they never truly threatened to deny Chris Hughton s men a fourth match unbeaten in all competitions.

The lowest-ranked club in the fifth round, Coventry received an early …