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Brazil head coach Tite has refused to pass judgement on rape allegations that “indispensable” Neymar strenuously denied ahead of Copa America. “First of all, I know the importance of the subject, the real extent of it,” Tite told a press conference on Monday. “The subject is a personal one and there will be time for people to judge the facts. For now, I won't allow myself to judge. “What I can say is that, in three years together, in our discussions about personal subjects, he was always loyal and truthful." “I cannot comment or cross any lines – I have a lot of energy to spend on what is essential and important, on preparing the team." “If I keep searching and making assumptions it will consume energy and take me away from what I should be focusing on. I want to focus on my work. I had tw...

Neymar resumed Brazil training on Friday, easing fears over the star forward's knee injury. The Paris Saint-Germain forward, 27, limped out of training earlier in the week, but returned to action in a boost for the South American giants. Brazil face Qatar in a friendly on Wednesday before taking on Honduras in their final game before the Copa America. Neymar's fitness is crucial for Brazil, who are hosting the Copa America and meet Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru in Group A. Brazil are searching for their first Copa America title since 2007, with Chile the reigning champions after successfully defending their title in 2016. The forward is third in the nation's all-time goal-scoring list with 60, behind only Pele (77) and Ronaldo (62).

Argentina star Lionel Messi has admitted that he is unsure if he will be able to play at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Messi will be 34 when the tournament kicks off, with Argentina still in search of their first World Cup title since Diego Maradona led them to glory in 1986. The Barcelona star has won all there is to win at the individual and club level in his career, but is still chasing an elusive major senior trophy with his country. The 31-year-old will have another chance to finally win a major trophy with his country this summer when the Copa America takes place in Brazil. Messi has said that he still hopes to win a first major trophy with the Albiceleste. "I want to finish my career having won something with the Argentine national team, or if not having tried as many times as possib...

It’s perhaps not a surprise that Norway’s Erling Braut Haland is excelling at the Under-20 World Cup. He has the genetics – his father is former Man City and Leeds player Alf-Inge Haland – and the size – at 6ft 3in he towers over many of the other players at the tournament.But few would have predicted he would score nine goals in a single match, as he did against Honduras on Thursday.Norway’s 12-0 win was the largest in Under-20 World Cup history and his nine goals were the most ever in a single match by one player in the tournament. Only once in the history of the U-20 World Cup has a player scored more than nine in an entire tournament. Honduras played some of the match with nine players after two red cards.Manchester United, Juventus and Borussia Dortmund have all been linked with Halan...