Thomas Muller struck twice as world champions Germany started their bid to reach Euro 2016 with a 2-1 Group D win over a plucky Scotland.

A 4-2 friendly defeat to Argentina on Wednesday raised alarms in the Germany camp and, although Joachim Low s men were far from their best in Dortmund, an improved performance earned the hosts three points.

Muller headed Germany in front in the 18th minute of a first half that they dominated, but Scotland greatly improved after the interval and levelled through Ikechi Anya.

The visitors joy lasted just four minutes, though, as Muller s scrappy second – bundled home from five yards after Scotland failed to clear a corner – proved enough to see off Gordon Strachan s brave side, who had Charlie Mulgrew sent off for a second ye…

that Atletico Madrid are ready to return for Wolfsburg midfielder Diego Ribas da Cunha.

The Brazilian playmaker had been made one of club s top targets this summer, but the club officials opted to shelve talks for Diego while they were looking to sign a perfect replacement for Radamel Falcao.

Having signed David Villa from Barcelona at a cut-back price, los Colchoneros are now ready to resume negotiations for their former player.

Diego is eager to return to Vicente Calderon after spending the 2011/2012 season there, but his €5 million yearly wage could prove to be obstacle to any deal.

Nevertheless, Atletico Madrid chiefs are hoping the appeal of Champions League football will prove enough for the player to accept a pay cut and facilitate a move to Ma…

RSC Anderlecht began their Belgian season in a better way than rivals Standard, earning a 0-2 win at Kortrijk on Saturday.

A day after Standard de Liege s 2-2 draw with Sint-Truiden, Anderlecht were more successful in their away match with Kortrijk.

Mbar Boussoufa put the 2008-09 runners-up ahead after seven minutes and Marcin Wasilewski headed home from a Boussoufa free kick in the 69th for a 0-2 victory.

Racing Genk crashed to a 1-2 defeat by Moeskroen. Jaycee Okwunwanne scored twice for the visitors and the only home goal came from Joao Carlos in the dying minutes.

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Exiled Adelaide United striker Sergio van Dijk is hoping a transfer out of the A-League club can be organised before the month is out.

Van Dijk found himself on the outer at Hindmarsh Stadium since openly admitting last year his want to be closer to his family in the Netherlands, after they failed to adjust to life in Adelaide.

The Dutchman has featured just three times for the Reds domestically this season, and has consequently developed a frosty relationship with coach John Kosmina.

With fellow striker Bruce Djite set to spend time on the sidelines after injuring his groin in the 3-2 win over Perth last Friday, van Dijk is in line to make his first appearance this week since the 2-1 loss to league leaders Central Coast in December.

But while van Dijk i…

Paulo Dybala and Neymar can dominate world football in the same way Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have, according the Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Messi and Ronaldo have won eight out of the last 10 Ballons d Or among them and Ancelotti thinks Dybala and Neymar have what it takes to make a similar impact in the years to come.

Since joining Juve in 2015, Dybala has scored 27 goals in 57 appearances in all competitions, helping the Bianconeri to a league and cup double last season.

Dybala can make history at Juventus over the next 10 years, Ancelotti told Tuttosport.

He is unique, you cannot compare him to any other player.

Dybala and Neymar can become the heirs of Messi and Ronaldo.

Twenty two-year-old Dybala has netted fou…

Barcelona coach Xavi is overjoyed by Robert Lewandowski s start at the club, referring to him as insatiable after terrorising Viktoria Plzen.

The 34-year-old was in ruthless form on Wednesday, scoring a hat-trick as Barca thrashed their visitors 5-1 at Camp Nou.

Playing his first Champions League game for Barca, Lewandowski netted two sumptuous 20-yard strikes either side of a stooping header, with the hosts comfortable throughout.

Wednesday s treble ensured Lewandowski became the first player to net a Champions League hat-trick for three clubs, having scored four for Bayern Munich and one with Borussia Dortmund.

But Lewandowski s display was not a real shock given his strong start to life in LaLiga, and everything about his first few weeks at Barca has l…

David Villa says Barcelona are desperate to make it to the Champions League final at the expense of Bayern Munich.

Barca defeated Paris Saint-Germain on away goals in the quarter-finals, booking a showdown with the newly crowned Bundesliga champions.

They are now aiming for a second Wembley final in the past three seasons, having previously won the competition at the expense of Manchester United in 2010/11.

It would be Barca s third European Cup final at the London venue after they also captured the trophy there for the first time in their history in 1991/92.

We desperately want to return to Wembley again, Villa told El Mundo Deportivo.

The Spain international striker played a key role in his side s Champions League win two seasons ago and he has…

Africa Cup of Nations hero Boubacar Barry said his heroics to help Ivory Coast win the title on Sunday saw him defy his critics.

Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry said he defied his shortcomings, to help deliver a second Africa Cup of Nations title to the nation.

Barry was the centre of attention in the decisive penalty shoot-out in Bata, one the Ivorians claimed 9-8 to down Ghana and lift the continental trophy.

The custodian watched on as team-mates Wilfried Bony and Gadji Tallo missed the target in Ivory Coast s first two spot kicks.

But Barry saved Ghana s third pen taken by Afriyie Acquah and when Frank Acheampong put the Ghanaians fourth penalty wide, it allowed Ivory Coast to draw level and send it to sudden death.

Barry added to the dr…

Timo Werner is open to a move to the Premier League or LaLiga when the time comes for him to leave RB Leipzig.

Germany international Werner was expected to join Bayern Munich ahead of the 2019-20 as he entered the final year of his contract, but a switch did not materialise and he instead signed a new four-year deal with Leipzig.

The 23-year-old continues to be linked with English giants Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea as well as Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Werner has scored 25 goals in 28 games in all competitions for Leipzig this season and is happy with how things are going at the Red Bull Arena.

However, the striker is not ruling out testing himself overseas in the future.

I can imagine playing abroad at some point, but there s no sp…

Mainz have agreed a deal to sign Japanese forward Shinji Okazaki from Stuttgart for an undisclosed fee.

Okazaki, who scored two goals for Japan in the FIFA Confederations Cup, moves to Thomas Tuchel s side on a three-year-contract.

The 27-year-old joined Stuttgart joined from Shimizu S-Pulse in 2010.

Okazaki has been prolific for Japan in recent times, scoring 35 goals in 66 appearances, however he has failed to replicate that form for Stuttgart despite becoming a first-team regular at the Mercedes-Benz Arena.

Tuchel, however, believes Okazaki will be an important player for the Coface Arena outfit.

We are very pleased that Shinji Okazaki has decided to switch to us, Tuchel told the club s official website.

He is a player with skills that are very imp…