Paul Pogba insisted he will not be retiring from football despite his four-year doping ban.
The Frenchman tested positive for doping twice, including for DHEA in September last year, and was handed the sanction in February.
The ruling means he will not be able to play football until August 2027, when he will be 34, but he is awaiting a date for his hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) to see if his suspension will be reduced.
"There's still a chance to fight this injustice, which is what I believe it is," he told Sky Italia while attending France's last-16 tie against Belgium at Euro 2024 on Monday.
"Let’s see. Things are hopefully going to get better. I am always positive, but let's see.
"I have never said I am finished, that Paul Pogba doesn't exist anymore. Because Pogba is still here. Today I'm here. I am Pogba. You have never seen me say that I'm finished.
"I still feel like a footballer, I'm still training, and these are now moments where I have to be positive. I'm with my family, spending a lot of time with them, watching my kids grow up."
The rules of Pogba's ban prevent him from playing football professionally or training with Juventus, though the midfielder has continued individual training with coaches.
Asked if the suspension will affect his position at the club, Pogba added: "The latest news is I'm still a Juventus player. So, you need to speak to them.
"I am still contracted to them. I haven't had the chance to speak to them, the sporting director or the coach. I don’t know much, there's a bit of silence. Maybe they're waiting for the appeal to see what happens, but the rest you have to ask them."
Real Salt Lake v Atlanta United: Five Stripes looking to regain clinical edge
Atlanta United interim head coach Rob Valentino is hoping his side can find their end product when they face a tough road test at Real Salt Lake in MLS.
The Five Stripes' four-game unbeaten streak was snapped with a 2-1 midweek defeat to the New England Revolution as they stay ninth in the Eastern Conference.
They were also unbeaten in their last four road games before travelling to the Revs, and Valentino has urged his team to improve their play in the final third to get back to winning ways.
"There were chances [against New England], but the expected goals and chances don't mean anything to me unless they end up in the back of the net," the head coach said.
"The team were persistent. They were putting in different deliveries and different movements to get into the area, but we need the goals to actually go in.
"The group have shown they are capable of winning games. The tactics will change from game to game along with roles and responsibilities, and we will adapt in-game as well in an attempt to win."
Meanwhile, Salt Lake are back up to second in the Western Conference after a comeback win over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday.
A 1-0 defeat to LA Galaxy at the end of June snapped a 15-game unbeaten streak for RSL, but they bounced back to leapfrog the Galaxy in the table, and now sit just three points behind leaders Los Angeles FC.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Real Salt Lake – Braian Ojeda
Braiain Ojeda scored his first goal for RSL in MLS, netting what turned out to be the winner against Houston Dynamo in midweek in what was his 63rd appearance for the club.
Atlanta United – Daniel Rios
Daniel Rios has been involved in three goals in his last three games for Atlanta. The Mexican has scored two and assisted one, including their lone goal in the defeat to New England Revolution last time out.
MATCH PREDICTION: REAL SALT LAKE WIN
With LAFC not playing until Sunday, RSL could go level on points with them in the table if they can get a second consecutive win.
Their 15-game unbeaten run in MLS set a new club record for the longest single-season streak in their history – they scored in all but one of those matches, only failing to find a way past CF Montreal in a 0-0 draw.
While current form is in Salt Lake's favour, they have only won one of their previous four meetings with Atlanta, with the Five Stripes winning the other three.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Real Salt Lake – 54.6%
Draw – 23.3%
Atlanta United – 22%
Colombia v Panama: Copa America's surprise package down to more than just luck – Christensen
Thomas Christiansen is challenging Panama to keep springing surprises at the Copa America when they face off against Colombia in the quarter-finals.
After losing their opening game of the tournament 3-1 to free-scoring Uruguay, Panama dug in to cause an upset for host nation United States, coming from behind to win 2-1.
A comfortable 3-1 victory over Bolivia followed secured second place in Group C as Panama booked their place in the knockout round of the Copa America for the very first time.
Former Leeds United boss Christiansen challenged his team to be the surprise package, but says this result is years in the making.
"When we were going to leave for the United States, I said I would like to be the surprise [of the tournament], like Morocco in the [2022] World Cup [who made it to the semi-finals]," he told reporters.
"Well, now we're through to the next round. I am happy. Super happy.
"It's constant, really, what we have been doing, what we have been reaping in these almost four years.
"[Is it a] coincidence? I don't believe in coincidences. You have to work. You have to fight for it. Luck alone isn't enough."
Colombia were the winners of Group D, beating Brazil to top spot.
Wins over Paraguay and Costa Rica put Colombia in the driving seat before they held Dorival Junior's side to a 1-1 draw in the final match.
While that may be a surprising outcome on the face of it, Colombia are the form team in South America and are on a 26-game unbeaten streak.
Integral to their success has been James Rodriguez, who is often their talisman at major tournaments, having first come into the spotlight in the 2014 World Cup.
"I feel comfortable, there is still a long way to go, we still have to play on Saturday, but I felt good," the ex-Real Madrid star said.
"I am going through a good phase here; we are going step by step. Panama will be difficult, but we will play with a lot of quality."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Colombia – James Rodriguez
James has been a driving force for Colombia at the tournament, having already recorded three assists.
Colombia had the best crossing accuracy at the Copa America group stage, completing 41% of their crosses (20/49). James was responsible for 11 of their successful crosses – the most of any player in the tournament.
Panama – Jose Fajardo
Out of players who attempted more than five shots in the Copa America group stage, Jose Fajardo boasts the second-highest shot conversion rate.
He scored with 29% of his attempts (2/7), bettered only by Argentina's Lautaro Martinez (44%), who is the tournament's leading scorer.
MATCH PREDICTION: COLOMBIA WIN
Colombia stretched their unbeaten run in all competitions to 26 matches with their draw against Brazil, and the Opta computer has backed them to continue that here.
Colombia are playing in their sixth consecutive Copa America quarter-final, with each of their last four going to penalties. Los Cafeteros have won twice (against Peru in 2016 and Uruguay in 2021) and lost twice (against Argentina in 2015 and Chile in 2019).
Panama have won four of their seven competitive matches in the 21st century against opponents from CONMEBOL (losing the other three).
Two of those victories were against Colombia when they faced each other in the group stage (1-0) and the semifinals (3-2) of the 2005 Concacaf Gold Cup.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Colombia – 61.6%
Draw – 19.6%
Panama – 18.8%
Belgium stalwart Vertonghen retires after Red Devils' Euro 2024 exit
Jan Vertonghen has confirmed his retirement from international football.
The 37-year-old ends his Belgium career as the nation's most-capped player.
Vertonghen, who made his Belgium debut in 2007, made 157 appearances for his country.
He helped the Red Devils reach the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, a quarter-final at Euro 2020, and also played at the World Cup in Qatar.
The former Tottenham defender's final four appearances came at Euro 2024, as Belgium reached the last 16 – they were knocked out by France on Monday.
Vertonghen is a free agent ahead of the 2024-25 season, with his contract at Anderlecht having expired.
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