The Swiss will hope to build on their draw with Brazil when they take on Serbia in Kaliningrad on Friday

Vladimir Petkovic has shrugged off concerns about the distance his Switzerland side have had to travel for their clash with Serbia on Friday, claiming “it’s better not to complain, that’s for losers”.

The Swiss have embarked on a 2000-kilometre journey from their training base in Samara to Kaliningrad for their second Group E encounter having gained an impressive draw against Brazil in their opener.

Serbia’s camp is in nearby Svetlogorsk but Petkovic does not see it as an issue, even though there is also a two-hour time difference from Samara to contend with.

He said: “It’s better not to complain, that’s for losers and we don’t want to be losers.

“We want to be strong against every opponent and we want to show on Friday that we are at a very good level and that we can beat any side.”

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Petkovic has a couple of players carrying injuries, one being midfielder Valon Behrami, and said he would only know about their availability following Thursday’s training session.

He also played down talk of Switzerland being favourites against a side he rates highly.

He added: “I think if you want to be the favourite you have to show it on the pitch.

“We have to be confident but full of respect for we are playing against a good team with high-quality individuals.

“I will speak with the players and tell them we’ve had a great match against Brazil but we must now focus on Serbia.”

Xherdan Shaqiri, arguably Switzerland’s star man, gave a solid performance against Brazil but Petkovic says the Stoke winger always thinks he can do better.

“I always expect more from him and everyone else in the team,” he said. “But he’s very positive. He’s never satisfied with what he’s achieved, he always wants more. There’s always 10 per cent more you can give and you need to push yourself to constantly improve.”

Switzerland goalkeeper Yann Sommer says morale in the camp remains strong and therefore did not need bolstering despite the positive result against Brazil.

He said: “We didn’t need a match to improve the team spirit but a match like that does provide confidence, it was a good first step.

“But that is it. It was an important match but we are now looking forward to the second game.

“Even if we’d lost we would still be in good spirits.”

The former England captain says that ideally he would have had longer to get his fitness up before his debut against the Vancouver Whitecaps

Wayne Rooney believes the physicality of MLS will suit him after he joined DC United on a three-and-a-half-year deal.

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Rooney spent a single season back with first club Everton before ending his career-long stay in the Premier League, where he scored 208 top-flight goals across 16 seasons for his boyhood side and Manchester United.

And Rooney – who could make his league debut on July 14 pending receipt of his international transfer certificate – thinks the bruising nature of the MLS is perfect for his combative style of play.

“I think the league has certainly improved over the last five years,” he told Fox.

“I know it’s a physical league, which I believe will suit me.

“There are some really top players in the league at the minute and it’ll be tough. I know it’ll be tough and I’m going to be ready for it.

“I have to work hard in training now and get myself ready for that first game. I’m excited, I’m looking forward to it and I can’t wait to get my boots on and play on the 14th.”

Rooney’s last match was on April 28 against Huddersfield Town, but the 32-year-old has dismissed suggestions that he will not be fit enough for his proposed first game against Vancouver Whitecaps.

“I’ve been on vacation and I’ve been training while I’ve been away,” he added.

“I’ve known for maybe six weeks now that this move was going to happen so I’ve been keeping myself in shape the last few weeks, training in the gym and stuff.

“But it’s different when you’re on the pitch training – it’s a lot tougher.

“It’ll be an intense week, 10 days that’s for sure, to get myself ready.

“Ideally it would’ve been nice to have a bit more time but it’s something I have to deal with and try to be in the best shape for the game.”

The Manchester United star believes supporters are expecting too much from Les Bleus, with jeers having greeted last-16 progress at World Cup 2018

Paul Pogba has questioned France fans whistling at players during a World Cup 2018 campaign, with the Manchester United star left wondering whether Les Bleus are expected to win every game 10-0.

Didier Deschamps’ side have yet to produce the form which had them sat among the favourites heading to Russia this summer, but they are still through to the last 16.

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Seven points from three Group C fixtures carried a star-studded squad safely into the knockout stages, with a heavyweight meeting with Lionel Messi and Argentina next up on Saturday.

Expectations will once again be high heading into that encounter, but Pogba is hoping that demanding supporters will realise that success cannot always be achieved with style.

He told reporters in the wake of a dour 0-0 draw with Denmark which did little to inspire those in the stands: “I don’t know what people expect, that we win 10-0 or 5-0? The most important was the qualification, and we did it.

“We need everyone with us. Our fans are the 12th man. We need fans, not spectators.

“I don’t know if the boos only came from the French fans, people wanted more spectacle.

“Our objective was to finish top of the group. It should be the objective of everyone.”

While Pogba clearly felt that the terrace taunts were being directed at the players, France colleague N’Golo Kante believes the jeers were merely a show of frustration from those hoping to witness a more exciting encounter.

The Chelsea midfielder said: “I think the quality of the game sometimes depends on the opposition.

“We all knew it was a special game because we knew all we needed was a draw.

“The tempo was slow, that’s why we played this kind of game. But I think we can do better, we will improve in the next game.

“On the pitch I didn’t feel the booing was for us. It was just for the slow tempo of the game at the end.

“We can understand that some supporters want to see goals and spectacle but sometimes both teams are focused on what they need and we can be happy to be first in the group.”

Germany’s World Cup demise held no special significance for Sweden boss Janne Andersson despite the sides’ tempestuous encounter in Sochi.

Sweden head coach Janne Andersson insists there was no gloating on the part of his team over Germany’s World Cup elimination.

Toni Kroos netted a free-kick deep into stoppage time to snatch a dramatic group-stage win over Sweden in Sochi, with the alleged goading celebrations of Germany’s backroom team drawing anger from Andersson’s bench.

But it was Sweden who had the last laugh, beating Mexico 3-0 to seal top spot in Group F as the reigning champions crashed out after a remarkable 2-0 loss against South Korea.

“I think it’s unfortunate for Germany that they were eliminated,” Andersson said at a news conference to preview his team’s last-16 clash with Switzerland in St Petersburg on Tuesday.

“As far as we’re concerned, we don’t worry about how other teams were doing. We focus on our own matches, I’ve been very clear on that point.

“There was absolutely no gloating whatsoever in terms of Germany or any team. There is no joy in somebody else’s loss.”

Captain Andreas Granqvist, who scored penalties in the group wins over South Korea and Mexico, agreed with his coach’s assessment.

“We were very surprised, of course that Germany were eliminated,” he said.

“We have every respect for them as the former champions and they were one of my favourites to win it.

“It’s unfortunate for them but that happens in tournaments. Some big teams have been eliminated, not just Germany.

“We didn’t gloat over that in any way. We are very pleased that we qualified for the knockout stage ourselves.”

Spain were the latest big name to join Germany on the Russia 2018 casualty list as they went down to a penalty shoot-out loss against the hosts in Moscow, while Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have seen their respective bids for glory with Argentina and Portugal extinguished.

“It is fascinating to see some of the results, I have to say,” Andersson said, with Sweden residing in the seemingly wide-open half of the draw.

“It really shows that the greatest, biggest nations won’t win all the time. That, to me, is a source of inspiration if anything.

“But in concrete terms, none of what is happening [elsewhere] is impacting on what we do in any way.”

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England manager Gareth Southgate has been defiant over his desire to beat the Red Devils in Group G but his opposite number sounded a different tone

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Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez does not believe beating England in Thursday’s concluding Group G match is a priority for his team.

The Red Devils and the Three Lions have arrived in Kaliningrad with six points out of six and passage to the last 16 already secured.

Results elsewhere and the way the knockout draw has fallen so far have led to widespread suggestions the runner up out of England and Belgium would be in a better position to blaze a trail into the latter stages.

It could make for a surreal contest on Thursday, with both bosses expected to ring the changes and protect players from potential suspensions.

England manager Gareth Southgate once again reiterated his desire to win the game and continue a fine run of form but at his own pre-match news conference, Martinez stated three points were only part of the equation.

“At the moment we are qualified and I think that was the priority that we were chasing for,” he said.

“Now we need to look into our individual players. Tomorrow we want to perform well but the priority is not to win.

“There are players on yellow cards. I don’t think it would be professional for us to risk those players missing a knockout game.

“It’s very important for us to protect and give every player the best possible programme to be in the best condition for the knockout games.

“I believe in every player in this squad so it would be quite stupid for me not to believe in these players tomorrow.

“Tomorrow is a good opportunity for us to grow. I want a group of players who have a good performance and a group of players who have a better opportunity to contribute to the team

“If we can win great, but I think the priority is another one than just winning tomorrow.”

The last time England and Belgium met at a World Cup, David Platt volleyed a famous extra-time winner to send Bobby Robson’s side into the quarter-finals if Italia 90.

Although that contest still lingers in the memories of supporters from both countries, Martinez feels the state of play in the group and the fact that 12 of his own squad are British based will lend a very different feel to proceedings

“It brought a lot of pain to Belgium people and fans. This is a different game – a celebration game. At that point it was one or the other,” the ex-Wigan Athletic and Everton manager added.

“It would have been very different if Harry Kane had not scored in the last minute against Tunisia [England’s opening 2-1 win] – then Platt’s goal might have been a bit more of a memory for everyone.”

The Uruguay international becomes the club’s fourth signing of the summer and will reinforce Unai Emery’s midfield at the Emirates Stadium

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of midfielder Lucas Torreira from Sampdoria.

The Uruguay international has completed his move to the Premier League club following the end of his involvement at the 2018 World Cup, where his country reached the quarter-finals.

Goal understands that the Gunners have paid £26 million (€30m/$34m) for the 22-year-old, who becomes the club’s fourth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Bernd Leno and Stephan Lichtsteiner.

Head coach Unai Emery told the club’s official website: “In Lucas Torreira, we have signed a young player who is a very bright talent in the game. A midfielder with great quality, I have enjoyed watching his performances for Sampdoria in the past two seasons, and we all saw him do very well for Uruguay in the World Cup.

“He is a young player already with good experience, but who wants to keep on growing.

“We welcome Lucas to Arsenal and look forward to him joining us soon for pre-season.”

Torreira, who has only won eight caps for his country, featured in every game as Oscar Tabarez’s side reached the quarter-finals, where they were beaten 2-0 by semi-finalists France.

The midfielder made a total of 74 appearances for the Serie A side, scoring four goals.

He will wear the No.11 shirt in north London, and will link up with his new team-mates following a post-World Cup break.

Torreira is unlikely to be the Gunners’ final signing of the summer, with the club also pursuing a deal for Lorient’s Matteo Guendouzi.

Guendouzi is able to play in a defensive midfield role and made 18 appearances in Ligue 2 last season, while the fee is likely to surpass €8m (£7m/$9.4m) plus bonuses.

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The Bundesliga side’s sterling record with young talents has swayed the teenager and his family, who will soon be moving to Germany

Borussia Dortmund have won the race to sign Nantes’ teenage wonderkid Kamal Bafounta,  Goal  understands. 

Bafounta,16, is considered one of the finest young talents to come out of France in recent years. 

An imposing 1.93m, he has already won comparisons to a young Paul Pogba for his accomplished midfield play in Lyon and Nantes’ youth divisions. 

And while the likes of Everton, Sevilla, Inter and Manchester United had all been linked to the prospect, it is Dortmund that have finally won the race. 

The Bundesliga side impressed Bafounta with their impeccable track record with young players, having also promised not to rush him into first-team action. 

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Dortmund also helped hone countryman Ousmane Demble during his single season in Germany, before selling the forward to Barcelona at the start of the 2017-18 season. 

Speaking to Goal  back in April, Bafounta’s former coach Johan Renard praised his maturity at such a young age . 

“The first time I had him at Under-15 level Kamal was 13. We were playing against Bourg-Peronnas and 30 minutes in he picked up the ball in our half, dribbled past four or five players and scored,” Renard recalled. 

“That move has stayed in my mind because it shows why Kamal has progressed so much. He was much bigger than the rest, his physical and technical talent gave him a huge advantage.

“What is certain is that he is less extravagant than Pogba. It’s not quite the same style of play either but I’m sure he has the ability to do as well as him. 

“He is a very intelligent boy, polite, educated and very calm, I can’t even remember him getting angry.”

Bafounta will sign a three-year deal with BVB. 

The 20-year-old striker has reached the end of his contract with the French giants and is currently weighing up his options at a career crossroads

Paris Saint-Germain striker Samuel Essende is attracting interest from Anderlecht and Brighton after reaching the end of his contract.

The 20-year-old striker is a product of a famed academy system at the Ligue 1 giants, but is yet to commit to professional terms.

PSG have been pushing to get him tied down, with one offer on the table.

Essende has, however, opted against putting pen to paper in the French capital and saw his youth deal expire on June 30.

Now free to dictate his own future, several options are being considered by the promising forward.

Goal understands that several offers have been put forward by Anderlecht, with talks having been held regarding a possible move to Belgium.

They are considered to be the side in pole position to secure a much sought-after signature, but no agreement has been reached as yet.

That is leaving the door open for others to make a move, with interest in Essende having built across Europe.

Premier League side Brighton are among the interested parties, with the Seagulls boasting the financial muscle required to squeeze out their rivals.

Norwich City are also keen on taking the youngster to England and offering him Championship football at this stage of his development.

If he does not fancy life in the second tier, then top level competition could also be found in Italy.

Serie A outfit Genoa are keeping a close eye on the situation, with information having been requested requiring Essende’s possible availability.

PSG, though, are refusing to give up the fight just yet and are planning to hold further talks before a final decision is made.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s expected departure from the Santiago Bernabeu to Juventus has seen rumours of interest in a Liverpool forward resurface

Sadio Mane has acknowledged Real Madrid as a “great team” while maintaining he has had no contact with the club about a prospective transfer from Liverpool.

Madrid could well be in the market for attacking reinforcements with Cristiano Ronaldo heavily linked with a sensational switch to Juventus, who responded to the rumours on Friday by releasing a statement revealing they are “evaluating several opportunities”.

Senegal international Mane and Chelsea star Eden Hazard have been touted as potential targets for the La Liga giants should Ronaldo depart for Turin.

Mane, however, claims he has held no discussions with the club he scored against in last season’s Champions League final.

“These are just rumours. I am not aware of anything and haven’t been contacted,” he told reporters on a visit to his hometown of Bambali.

“I remain a Liverpool player and I will join my team-mates in the United States for the pre-season tour.

“Real are a great team, but I am focused on my team, Liverpool.”

Mane scored once for Senegal at the World Cup in Russia as his nation suffered a group stage exit.

He has spent the past two seasons with Liverpool, netting 33 goals in all competitions.

The veteran manager’s arrival at the club has delighted the defender, who is determined to get off to a fast start under his new boss.

Napoli defender Raul Albiol has expressed excitement at working with Carlo Ancelotti, praising the head coach’s “winning mentality”.

The three-time Champions League winner has arrived in Naples ahead of the new season, with the popular Maurizio Sarri set to be confirmed as the new manager of one of Ancelotti’s former clubs, Chelsea.

Ancelotti was appointed Sarri’s successor after a disappointing second season as the manager of Bayern Munich, which saw him sacked early in the campaign after a slow start in both the Champions League and Bundesliga.

Running afoul with many of the club’s top players, Ancelotti leading Bayern to their fifth straight Bundesliga title in the previous season proved not enough to save his job.

However, after the first four days of pre-season training, Albiol has been impressed by the new man in charge.

He told Radio Kiss Kiss: “Ancelotti is a winning coach and he is transferring his mentality and his ideas.

“We are working with one of the greatest tacticians in the world and this is a great opportunity for us, we have to follow his instructions and assimilate his way of playing football.

“It’s normal that having such an important manager gives us motivation and a great desire to do well right from the start.

“We are assimilating his ideas even if it is still early, and the group trains with enthusiasm because we want to be ready to face a great season.”

Ancelotti will look to build upon Sarri’s final season in charge of the club, which saw them fall four points short of snapping Juventus’ streak of Serie A titles. 

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