Spain will face Germany in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, while Qatar were given a tough draw as the hosts will come up against Netherlands and Senegal.

Spain will face Germany in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup, while Qatar were given a tough draw as the hosts will come up against the Netherlands and Senegal.

Luis Enrique's Spain and their fellow European heavyweights Germany will do battle in Group E along with Japan, while the winner of a play-off between Costa Rica or New Zealand will be their other opponents.

Qatar will take on Ecuador in the opening game of the tournament at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor on November 21 before coming up against African champions Senegal and the Oranje in Group A.

The ceremony in Doha on Friday saw holders France drawn to lock horns with Denmark, Tunisia and either Peru, Australia or the United Arab Emirates in Group D.

Five-time champions Brazil, the top-ranked side in the world, will fight it out with Switzerland, Serbia and Cameroon in Group G.

England, semi-finalists in Russia four years ago, could face neighbours and fierce rivals Wales or Scotland in Group B, although Ukraine are also in contention to qualify via the play-offs. 

Gareth Southgate's side will definitely take on the United States and Iran in Group B.

Copa America champions Argentina, captained by the mercurial Lionel Messi, will be expected to advance from a Group C that will see them face Mexico, Poland and Saudi Arabia.

The 2018 runners-up Croatia and Belgium were drawn in Group F along with Morocco and Canada, who qualified for a World Cup for the first time since 1986.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, Uruguay, South Korea and Ghana will be in Group H.

Hideki Matsuyama's defence of his Masters title has been left in doubt after a neck injury forced the 30-year-old to withdraw from the Valero Texas Open.

Matsuyama became the first male Japanese golfer to win a major championship with last year's success at Augusta National, edging out American trio Will Zalatoris, Xander Schauffele, and Jordan Spieth in the final round for a one-stroke victory.

However, with less than a week remaining until the 2022 edition of the Masters begins on April 7, Matsuyama withdrew nine holes into his second round in San Antonio, citing a neck injury. 

Reports have suggested that the 30-year-old has suffered a recurrence of the same injury which kept him out of The Players Championship last month, eventually won by Australia's Cameron Smith.

Matsuyama's most recent result saw him tie for 20th position at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and he has won two PGA titles since last year's Augusta triumph, winning the Zozo Championship on home soil last October before lifting Hawaii's Sony Open in a play-off in January.

Matsuyama sits 12th in the world rankings, and has made the top 10 in four of the 10 PGA events at which he has featured in the 2022 season.

Tottenham boss Antonio Conte claims that achieving a top-four finish in the Premier League will require a "miracle" as he prepares for Sunday's clash with Newcastle United.

Spurs have won four of their last five Premier League games, having lost four of their previous five. They have also scored at least two goals in each of their last five matches, last doing so in more consecutive league games between February and April 2017 (a run of seven games).

Ahead of welcoming Newcastle to north London, Spurs trail fourth-placed Arsenal by just three points, but Conte was keen to highlight that his team are not favourites to finish in the Champions League places.

"It's right to underline that this target is very, very difficult," Conte said of Spurs' Champions League ambitions.

"We are not the only team that wants to try to do this miracle. There's also Arsenal, that in this moment has an advantage, and then there is United.

"United is the team that in this season are struggling a lot. Last season, it was Liverpool. 

"This season it depends on United. At the moment, we are among the teams that have to try to stay very close and exploit if someone fails this season.

"If you ask me about the past, about our possibility to reach a place in the Champions League, I would say it would be very, very, very difficult.

"Now, after five months, I'm seeing great improvement of my team, and we have to fight until the end. 

"We have the possibility to reach this target, and it's important to have this type of ambition and put pressure on ourselves for this target. To play Champions League next season is important for me, the club, the players, the fans, everybody."

Conte, however, was keen to focus on his own team's progress, though he did admit that a victory would put "pressure" on the Gunners.

"First of all, we have to win for us," he added. "Not look at others. This way you build a winning mentality. You have to look at yourself and not think what happens elsewhere. 

"For sure, if you get three points and get continuity, you show you're a stable team and the table becomes very interesting. 

"But we have to win for us, for our fans and the work we're doing at the club. But for sure, if you win you put pressure on the others."

Erik ten Hag said it would be "normal" if he has already held talks about becoming Manchester United's next manager.

The Ajax boss did not confirm whether discussions have taken place, and stressed he would wait until the end of the season before declaring his intentions.

But the 52-year-old appeared to give a strong hint his future could lie at Old Trafford, and said he hoped Ajax would understand if he elects to leave a year ahead of his contract expiring.

In an interview with Germany's Sport1, Ten Hag was asked about reports he has already spoken to United about the vacancy that will materialise when interim manager Ralf Rangnick steps aside.

"Everyone knows each other in the industry. There are always talks with representatives from other clubs, that's normal," Ten Hag said.

"Manchester United is a great club with great fans. But I can only repeat myself: My full focus is completely on Ajax. We are already planning for the new season."

Ten Hag has stuck by the line that his immediate attention must be on the present, with Ajax in a battle with PSV for Dutch league and cup glory.

"But in football you never know," he said. "I don't want to rule anything out."

He said outside interest would be "a distraction", adding: "If at some point I should decide to take the next step, I hope that people here will understand."

Ajax will hope to retain the coach who joined in December 2017 and helped the team reach the 2019 Champions League semi-finals, landing the Eredivisie league title in the same year and also in the 2020-21 campaign.

"I've sat down with Ajax after every season so far," Ten Hag said. "That will also be the case this time. I can say that Ajax and Erik ten Hag are very happy with each other at the moment."

Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino is reported to be the other main contender for the United job, with the incoming boss set to take charge of a team that last won silverware in the 2016-17 season, when they landed the EFL Cup and Europa League titles.

United sit sixth in the Premier League heading into the weekend, four points behind fourth-placed Arsenal who have played one fewer game, and a major squad overhaul likely awaits the next manager.

Ten Hag's Ajax are top by two points from PSV in the Eredivisie, and the title rivals also meet in the final of the KNVB-Beker on April 17.

Simon Harmer titled the first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh in the Proteas' favour on day two in Durban.

South Africa ended day one on 233-4 with Temba Bavuma on 53.

Bavuma added 40 to his overnight score, falling seven runs shy of a century, but Harmer led South Africa's lower-order resistance with an unbeaten 38.

After the hosts were bowled out for 367, Harmer - returning after over six years away from the longest format - did significant damage with the ball, claiming all four wickets, including the scalp of captain Mominul Haque for a duck as the tourists reached stumps on 98-4.

Khaled Ahmed got Bangladesh into the lower order by removing Kyle Verreynne and Wiaan Mulder with successive deliveries, only for the tourists to then be frustrated by a partnership of 53 between Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj (19).

That stand was broken when Bavuma was undone by some sharp turn from Mehidy Hasan, who struck leg stump before Ebadot Hossain snuck the next delivery through the gap to dislodge Maharaj. 

Harmer counter-attacked in style, hitting four fours and a six, and then continued to torment Bangladesh with ball in hand.

Shadman Islam went for nine as Harmer got one to keep low and clatter into middle stump and then exploited the turn to bowl Najmul Hossain Shanto for 38 with a ball that beat the outside edge.

Keegan Petersen's one-handed diving catch gave Harmer his third and the crucial wicket of Mominul and he then had Mushifqur Rahim caught behind for seven. Mahmudul Hasan Joy represents Bangladesh's best hope of a fightback, having reached stumps unbeaten on 44.

Harmer makes belated Test impact

Making his first Test appearance since 2015, Harmer, who curtailed his international career to sign a Kolpak deal with Essex in 2017, produced an high-quality demonstration of his quality. Thirty-eight represented a highest score with the bat in this his sixth Test, while he is on course to easily surpass his previous best innings figures of 4-61.

Harmer had claimed 4-42 at the close of play, bowling seven maidens in his 20 overs.

More misery for Mominul

Mominul's exit, though the product of a superb piece of fielding, meant he went for a duck in a second successive Test, having done so in the first innings against New Zealand in Christchurch in January.

The Bangladesh skipper has now produced a single-figure score in six of his nine innings in the longest format.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone believes Barcelona president Joan Laporta merely demonstrated his intelligence and good taste by expressing interest in Joao Felix.

The Portuguese attacker has recorded six goal involvements in his last five games in LaLiga – four goals and two assists – which is as many as he managed in his previous 30 games in the competition, when he tallied just three goals and three assists.

Joao Felix is helping his side to a strong run of form as they chase Champions League qualification for another season, impressing not only Simeone.

Earlier this week, Barcelona chief Laporta confirmed an admiration for the 22-year-old, revealing he attempted to engineer a swap for the forward when Antoine Griezmann agreed to leave Camp Nou for Atleti early in the season.

Joao Felix's six league goals this season put him third in Atletico's goalscoring charts behind Angel Correa (11) and Luis Suarez (nine) for the season.

"I live from day to day, from game to game," Simeone told a news conference ahead of Atletico's clash with Alaves.

"[But] it doesn't seem surprising to me that a president as intelligent as Laporta speaks perfectly about Joao. It doesn't surprise me at all.

"He is in a great moment. He feels good, strong, committed to what the team needs, and we always look for that, he is performing and that is why he is playing."

The Atletico boss also confirmed the former Benfica prospect is "fine" and showing "no discomfort" after making two substitute appearances for Portugal during the international break.

Simeone's team are chasing Champions League qualification after winning five consecutive league games, having won just one of their previous 10. They could win six successive games in LaLiga for the first time in over a year – they won eight in a row on a run which ended in January 2021 – when they host Alaves.

Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City could slip up before the season ends and still claim the Premier League title.

With Liverpool chasing hard, there appears to be little wriggle room for leaders City, who have nine games remaining in their trophy defence.

Liverpool visit City on April 10 in a fixture that could go a long way to determining the destiny of the title, given its proximity to the end of the campaign.

Former Barcelona boss Guardiola can see a scenario, though, where City do not have everything go their own way between now and the final-day clash with Aston Villa on May 22, yet still end up as champions.

"We can do mistakes and win the title, so nobody knows," manager Guardiola told a news conference ahead of City's game at Burnley.

"Whatever happens in this game or the next one or the next one, it's not going to be champion. We're going to fight until the end, that's for sure."

City could drop down to second place by the time they tackle Burnley on Saturday afternoon. Liverpool, who are a point adrift, have an earlier game against Watford.

But Guardiola says his players would feel no psychological effect should they be knocked from their perch by Jurgen Klopp's team.

"Nothing. Zero. Why [would it]?" Guardiola said. "At the end of the weekend we'll know the position we are. But even going a point in front or a point backward, we have to do our job, nothing changes."

This is the time of the season when both Liverpool and City risk being stretched, despite their player pool resources.

Both are chasing titles in England and Europe, with Guardiola wary his side will be playing midweek and weekend games throughout April if they maintain their Champions League push by seeing off Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.

"It's not the first time we've done it," he said. "That means so far we have done incredibly well. Now it is game by game, and the first is Burnley."

City won 2-0 at the Etihad Stadium when they met Burnley in October, and that was also the outcome when these sides went head-to-head at Turf Moor last sesson.

Saturday's game promises to be a clash of cultures, with City having had 685 open play sequences of 10-plus passes in the Premier League this season, at least 187 more than any other side. Burnley have managed just 66 such sequences, making them the only side yet to have reached triple figures for that metric.

This is a fixture that might slip off the Premier League schedule next season, with Burnley second-bottom and in danger of relegation.

Guardiola expressed his admiration for Burnley boss Sean Dyche, but these are worrying times for the Clarets chief, whose team have lost their last three Premier League games by an aggregate score of 8-0, despite being level at half-time in all three. They last lost four consecutive league games without scoring a single goal back in May 2015.

City have won 24 of their last 26 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the relegation zone.

After Burnley away, City head into the first leg with Atletico on Tuesday, before Liverpool head to Manchester. After that game, there will be just seven rounds of Premier League games remaining.

"We have still nine games to play," Guardiola said on Friday. "Game by game, we'll see what happens.

"We know what we have to do, we have to win games, that's all. We're going to try."

It wasn't so long ago that voicing the idea of Juventus challenging for the Scudetto this season would have seen you laughed out of the room.

Yet, remarkably, they could potentially end the weekend just four points off the summit, and a victory over defending champions Inter would be a decent barometer of just how emphatic their late push is going to be.

Serie A's standout match this week is undoubtedly the Derby d'Italia between Juve and Inter in Turin, with Italy's top flight essentially establishing a pretty firm top four ahead of the international break.

But Massimiliano Allegri's Juve surely won't be content with just settling for fourth spot, and a win on Sunday will show they mean business.

A bedrock for improvement

Even if Juve do end up winning Serie A, Allegri will still have to contend with plenty of critics given their shock Champions League exit to Villarreal.

However, there's little doubt he has presided over a significant improvement since Andrea Pirlo's exit, even if the Old Lady remains more functional than fun.

The most notable aspect of their improved form is Juve's unbeaten streak. They have not lost any of their previous 16 league games, making them only one of two teams across the big five leagues to not suffer a domestic defeat in the past four months, the other being Sevilla in LaLiga.

The omens are good for Inter's visit as well: the Nerazzurri have won just once in 15 trips to Juve and that came way back in November 2012.
 

Timely break

Simone Inzaghi must have been concerned about Inter's form prior to the international break, which seemingly came at a good time for them.

Over their previous nine Serie A matches, Inter have gained just 11 points and won only two matches – sure, victory on Sunday and another in their game in hand will put them within three points of the summit, but that previous run is hardly a hallmark of champions.

By comparison, Juve have hit the accelerator at arguably the perfect time. Over the same period, Allegri's men have taken 21 points.

The Bianconeri have rocketed into contention by finding consistency when, for the most part, the top three have wobbled, and if they continue their run, Juventus will be hard to ignore in the title race.

Juve, beware!

For all of their recent woes, Inter of course remain a dangerous opponent with a particularly threatening tail.

That's to say Inter do have a habit of finishing strong and not knowing when they're beaten.

In Serie A this season, Inter's 19 points won from losing positions is more than any other team, while they have scored 22 times in the final 30 minutes of games – that's a joint-high with Atalanta, Lazio and Hellas Verona.

Juve ought to heed such a warning – don't get complacent with a slender lead in the latter stages.
 

A tight affair?

While Inter are the league's top scorers with 62 goals, there's reason to suggest this won't be an unrelenting goalfest… *cue eight-goal thriller*.

These are two of the league's best three defences, while no team has kept more clean sheets than Juve's 13 this term.

On top of that, Juve have proven rather miserly when it comes to allowing goalscoring situations, with their average of 3.1 shots on target concede per 90 minutes being bettered only by Torino.

Inter aren't much worse in that respect, with their average at 3.6 – that's the sixth best in Serie A. Of course, a clinical display in that regard could still lead to plenty of goals, but clearly if there's any area both of these sides have excelled in domestically this term, it's defensively.

Thomas Tuchel says it is "good news" that Cesar Azpilicueta's contract extension has been triggered at Chelsea, and hopes the Blues captain will stay at least another year at Stamford Bridge.

The Spain defender's deal was due to come to a close at the end of the current campaign, but has automatically renewed for a further season after he hit a number of games this term.

It comes amid what is effectively a transfer embargo on the club due to outgoing owner Roman Abramovich's sanctions in relation to the Ukraine-Russia crisis.

With Azpilicueta able to walk as a free agent at the end of the campaign, Tuchel admitted he was happy to tie his captain down, though he could still leave if restrictions are lifted before next season.

"I knew it was going to happen because I knew the amount of games before it was going to happen," he stated. "It was so close.

"It’s a good thing, we were aware of it. It's good news for us. We have a contract, he's our captain, it's a very high possibility he will stay."

The same concerns linger for other out-of-contract players however, with defender Antonio Rudiger one of the biggest names linked with an exit.

Amid reports the Germany international's brother and agent met with Barcelona - who have also reportedly pursued Azpilicueta in recent weeks - Tuchel acknowledged he too would chase the former if he was available.

"I would try to meet him [Rudiger] if I were any other club," he added. "Still, he's our player and I still think we have a good chance he stays our player once things are solved for us.

"The situation is the situation at the moment. Our hands are tied, we cannot speak to him and offer him or negotiate or renegotiate with his agents.

"So it is fair enough if he listens to other offers. That is the way things go, but I'm still confident."

Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani will miss a "couple of weeks" with the injury he suffered on Uruguay duty, Ralf Rangnick has confirmed.

Cavani was substituted during a 2-0 win over Chile during the international break, as Uruguay cemented third place in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers after a run of four successive wins.

In a pre-match media conference looking ahead to Saturday's Premier League clash with Leicester City, Rangnick confirmed the news while discussing the various positions in which Paul Pogba has been deployed in recent weeks.

"Since the game against West Ham on January 22, we have lost three strikers," the interim Red Devils boss said.

"Anthony Martial, Mason Greenwood and even Edinson Cavani, who is injured again, unfortunately, and will be out for the next couple of weeks."

Cavani has managed just two Premier League goals during a frustrating campaign, seeing 614 minutes of league action all season.

Manchester United have lost two of their last three games in all competitions (winning the other). They had lost just one of their previous 20 following Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's November dismissal, recording 10 wins and nine draws in that time.