Dzeko picked it up for her on a work trip to Spain. We have a new top team in Shaka Hislop's Power Rankings this week!

Thomas Suddendorf, a psychologist at the University of Queensland, describes this as the gap — the cognitive gulf that separates us from animals. Dominic Solanke to Liverpool Young Chelsea striker Solanke will make the switch to Liverpool this summer, The Sun is reporting. But more so because of Mauricio Pochettino's personal history.

- The lighter styles fare better with smoked salmon and sushi, while medium-bodied whiskies work with smoked fish such as mackerel. Full Blog Post BLOG - TRANSFER TALKTRANSFERS BY NICK MILLER ShareTweet 1 day ago Berahino and Pulis stoke the fires in West Brom and Stoke's gripping rivalry Stoke boss Mark Hughes discusses the leak regarding Saido Berahino's ban.

Transport minister Chris Grayling will announce the plans in a speech to the Conservative think tank Policy Exchange on Tuesday, according to The Daily Telegraph. The Government hopes this shift of control will incentivise train companies to carry out repairs more quickly and possibly bring in cheaper fares,. READ MORE Train fares set to rise by average of 2. Mr Grayling has spoken previously of his lack of confidence in the railway system and his desire to give train operators more control. Since his election last month, they have struggled to understand who is advising Donald Trump on Asia and what his China policy will look like. This move will turn concern into alarm and anger. Beijing sees Taiwan as a province. Denying it any of the trappings of an independent state is one of the key priorities of Chinese foreign policy. Read more from Carrie: The Trump phone call that will stun Beijing Mild reaction - Cindy Sui, BBC, Taipei China's reaction is relatively mild. It doesn't want to get off on the wrong foot with Mr Trump. And it sees Mr Trump as an inexperienced politician, so for now it's willing to forgive him and not play this up. It may also be somewhat reassured by statements from the US that its policy on China and Taiwan has not changed. This move by Taiwan's President Tsai will further infuriate Beijing and make it distrust her even more and see her as favouring Taiwan's formal independence from China. World-changing ideas summit With our powers of reasoning, rich memories and the ability to imagine what the future might hold, human intelligence is unequalled in the animal kingdom. Our closest relatives, chimpanzees, are adept problem solvers, making their own tools to reach food, for example. They use sophisticated gestures and facial expressions to communicate. Yet, they fall a long way short of our own ability to think and plan for the future. Thomas Suddendorf, a psychologist at the University of Queensland, describes this as the gap — the cognitive gulf that separates us from animals. But it was not always so wide, he says in the video above. Our species once shared the planet with other hominins with intelligence that may have rivaled our own. Their extinction was at least partly due to the actions of our own ancestors, according to many anthropologists. We need to be careful not to make the same mistakes again and widen the gap between the species even further in our pursuit of progress, warns Suddendorf, who spoke to BBC Future at the World-Changing Ideas Summit in Sydney on 15 November. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital, Travel and Autos, delivered to your inbox every Friday. The minibus crosses the vast plateau on a newly paved road. Cracked fields stretch away towards the Moroccan desert to the south. Yet the barren landscape is no longer quite as desolate as it once was. Welcome to Future Now Your essential guide to a world in flux Change happens quickly these days and it can be hard to keep up. We will be publishing regular stories from all over the world about technology, energy, economics, society and much more — you can find them here. We hope you will join us as we explore the changes that matter. Hundreds of curved mirrors, each as big as a bus, are ranked in rows covering 1,400,000 sq m 15m sq ft of desert, an area the size of 200 football fields. The massive complex sits on a sun-blasted site at the foot of the High Atlas mountains, 10km 6 miles from Ouarzazate — a city nicknamed the door to the desert. As well as meeting domestic needs, Morocco hopes one day to export solar energy to Europe. Credit: Getty Images Hundreds of curved mirrors, each as big as a bus, are ranked in rows covering 1,400,000 square metres of desert, an area the size of 200 football fields Credit: Getty Images Of course, on the day I visit the sky is covered in clouds. An occasional off day is not a concern, however. After many years of false starts, solar power is coming of age as countries in the sun finally embrace their most abundant source of clean energy. The Moroccan site is one of several across Africa and similar plants are being built in the Middle East — in Jordan, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The falling cost of solar power has made it a viable alternative to oil even in the most oil-rich parts of the world. As well as meeting domestic needs, Morocco hopes one day to export solar energy to Europe. Noor 1, the first phase of the Moroccan plant, has already surpassed expectations in terms of the amount of energy it has produced. Credit: Sandrine Ceurstemont With around 330 days of sunshine a year, the region around Ouarzazate - a city nicknamed the door to the desert - is an ideal location Credit: Sandrine Ceurstemont The country plans to generate 14% of its energy from solar by 2020 and by adding other renewable sources like wind and water into the mix, it is aiming to produce 52% of its own energy by 2030. This puts Morocco more or less in line with countries like the UK, which wants to generate 30% of its electricity from renewables by the end of the decade, and the US, where President Obama set a target of 20% by 2030. Trump has threatened to dump renewables, but his actions may not have a huge impact. Many policies are controlled by individual states and big companies have already started to switch to cleaner and cheaper alternatives. Due to the lack sun on the day I visit, the hundreds of mirrors stand still and silent. The team keeps a close eye on weather forecasts to predict output for the following day, allowing other sources of energy to take over when it is overcast. The reflectors can be heard as they move together to follow the sun like a giant field of sunflowers But normally the reflectors can be heard as they move together to follow the Sun like a giant field of sunflowers. Reaching temperatures up to 350C 662F , the hot oil is used to produce high-pressure water vapour that drives a turbine-powered generator. The plant keeps generating energy after sunset, when electricity demands peak. In the next phase of the plant, production will continue for up to eight hours after sunset. Not a good idea! Whisky is gaining in popularity as the ideal partner for a range of dishes, from light starters to desserts. The many flavour descriptions vary from light to full-bodied; from a touch of sweetness and fruit, to more complex and bold with strong peat, earthy and smoky notes. Whisky is a great match for seafood, cheese, smoked and roasted meats, and desserts. The lighter styles fare better with smoked salmon and sushi, while medium-bodied whiskies work with smoked fish such as mackerel. Very few of us can claim to never tell a lie, but what if there was a way of spotting a liar without a lie-detector test? James Mattis led troops in Afghanistan in 2001, won laurels for leadership in one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq War and most recently headed US Central Command, perhaps the military's most complicated and challenging post. Now, Mattis faces an entirely different kind of fight. As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to formally nominate the former four-star to head the Pentagon, some Democrats are signaling his confirmation might not be entirely easy. Some observers question whether Mattis' battlefield experience prepares him for the very different task of running an enormous bureaucracy, while senior lawmakers worry about what the 66-year-old's nomination means for maintaining civilian control of the military. Republicans issued glowing testimonials to Mattis and his career. If he's approved, Mattis would be the highest-ranking former officer to serve as defense secretary. The Washington State native and history major led troops through the conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. From 2010 to 2013, he led Central Command, which oversees the Middle East and Southeast Asia, until the Obama administration let him go over disagreements on Iran. Indeed, Mattis has not been known to mince words. On the news of his nomination, many of those sayings instantly became memes on Twitter. David Petraeus for the State Department, Gen. John Kelly to head Homeland Security and Adm. Mike Rogers as the director of national intelligence. Erin Simpson, a national security consultant and senior editor at WarontheRocks. The silver lining, she adds, is that many military and security professionals wary of Trump may be convinced to serve under Mattis. In contrast, 21 per cent of us try to live our lives without lying. Is your computer painfully slow? Have you considered buying a new 'faster' computer but the price of even a basic one makes you cringe? Do you wish there was a cheaper, more affordable way to get a new computer? Hint: there is — keep reading. It's incredibly frustrating when computers slow down or stop working for seemingly no reason at all. And even after all the diagnostics, upgrades, and money spent, the amount of time waiting for that spinning wheel or hourglass to disappear never seems to get any shorter. Your once new, lightning-fast, computer just keeps getting slower as each day passes. Well, fortunately, there's a new device that has recently hit the market and it's literally giving old, slow computers lightning fast speed again. And to say it's extremely affordable is grossly understated! It's called Xtra-PC and if you have an old, slow computer, it is exactly what you've been waiting for. Xtra-PC is a small thumb drive you simply plug into your computer's USB port and it instantly transforms your old computer to like new. It works with any computer Mac or Windows laptop, desktop, and netbooks made in 2004 or later. No more staring at spinning wheels or hourglasses ever again! How Does it Work? In fact, it's so easy that it's like snapping your fingers and watching your old computer magically turn into the new, super-fast computer you want it to be. All you have to do is... Plug it in — Simply plug Xtra-PC into a USB port while your computer is turned off. Turn Your Computer On — Select 'Boot from USB' and bingo, you're good to go. Enjoy New PC — In less than 15 minutes you'll be shocked at the difference in the performance of your computer. You only have to setup Xtra-PC once and you can even use it on multiple computers! Watch This Video For A Closer Look At How Xtra-PC Works! Amazingly, Xtra-PC even works on computers with no hard drives. Broken, damaged, or just plain missing — Xtra-PC will have your computer running like new again even without a hard drive! What Can I Do With My Like-New Computer? With Xtra-PC, there's simply no need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new computer — only to have it peter out on you in another year or two. It makes no sense. But getting Xtra-PC does which is why the big computer companies are so against this incredibly powerful little device. With Xtra-PC you'll be able to do the things you normally do... Heck, you can even add other programs to your computer if you wanted to. Want to download Skype? No problem, with Xtra-PC, you can. How Much Is This Going To Cost Me? This is not a joke. That's right — ONLY 25 bucks! And they offer a 30-Day money back guarantee. There honestly is no good reason not to try Xtra-PC. You can get Xtra-PC direct from the company's website here. Make sure to buy it from the official site as there are many knockoffs on the market today. Want to win at job-hunting and being a student? It can be done. Get advice from a range of people Different people — parents, friends, lecturers, employers — will have different perspectives on the world of work, according to Tom Staunton, careers consultant at the University of Derby. To help you filter all that information, he suggests seeing a professional careers adviser. That might be a careers workshop, a volunteering opportunity at the union or an event hosted by an employer. Look out for employability awards, too. Tap your uni's alumni network as well. Fifteen months into his reign as manager of the Championship outfit, a famous old club bracketed alongside Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United as one of only four English teams to win three successive top flight titles, the German-born former U. Full Blog Post ENGLISH FA CUPHUDDERSFIELD TOWN BY DOUG MCINTYRE ShareTweetabout an hour ago Next wave of U. The United States under-20 men's national team kicks off qualifying for this spring's FIFA U20 World Cup at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship on Saturday, and while the Americans hope to make the main event in South Korea without too much trouble, there are plenty of reasons why domestic fans should care. For one, the U. Only three countries -- including Brazil and Spain -- have more U-20 World Cup appearances than the Americans' 14. Yet rather amazingly, the... Full Blog Post UNITED STATES BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweetabout an hour ago Trending: Wenger will manage next season, Ibra puts three past St Etienne The FC crew share their thoughts on Arsene Wenger's situation at Arsenal and discuss if he will be their manager next season. Here are the latest stories for Friday. Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEMANCHESTER UNITEDARSENALUEFA EUROPA LEAGUE BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweetabout an hour ago 'How to be more like Zlatan': Ibrahimovic reveals keys to success Zlatan Ibrahimovic is flying on all cylinders at United, but for just how much longer can he maintain this high level? Everyone wants to be like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, right? Or at least the Manchester United striker thinks so. Why do it more than normal? Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEMANCHESTER UNITEDENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC BY JAMES HORNCASTLE ShareTweet3 hours ago Dzeko's reversal of form has Roma among favourites for Europa League Preview the latest Serie A action, as Radja Nainggolan continues to heat up for AS Roma. When Edin Dzeko's daughter Una woke up on Friday morning, there was a gift waiting from her papa. Dzeko picked it up for her on a work trip to Spain. It was an adidas capitano, the official match ball of the Europa League, and he wanted her to have it. Not for the first time this season, Dzeko scored a hat trick in the Europa League. The surprise was that it came here. Full Blog Post AS ROMAUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEITALIAN SERIE AEDIN DZEKO BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet 3 hours ago David Luiz knocks Chelsea TV reporter flying at Chelsea training Obviously gunning for a post-football career in professional wrestling, David Luiz laid the smack down as Chelsea's players made their way out for training on Friday. Spotting Chelsea TV's Lee Parker recording a segment, the Brazilian defender hurtled into shot and sent the presenter tumbling with a textbook flying takedown. Thankfully, Nathaniel Chalobah was on hand to count the three. Espanyol Get up to date with all of the happenings from around La Liga ahead of week 23. After the hype of a promising performance in the 3-1 Champions League round-of-16 win against Napoli, La Liga is set to return to the Santiago Bernabeu. On Saturday, Real Madrid host Espanyol in the first of three very important matches in the title fight next week. After Espanyol, Zinedine Zidane's team travels to Valencia on Wednesday -- one of the two games they still have in hand -- and Villarreal on Sunday. Both away fixtures look like tough but winnable outings if the squad are as focused... Full Blog Post REAL MADRIDSPANISH PRIMERA DIVISIÓN BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweet5 hours ago Treble 17 - Zlatan Ibrahimovic adds to his career hat tricks with Man United Zlatan Ibrahimovic is flying on all cylinders at United, but for just how much longer can he maintain this high level? Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a small piece of personal history at Old Trafford on Thursday when he scored his first hat trick for Manchester United. But the veteran striker is no stranger to trebles -- his haul vs. St Etienne, in United's 3-0 Europa League round-of-32 first-leg win, marked the 17th time in his career that he has scored three or more goals in a match. Here, we list all of Ibrahimovic's hat tricks and ESPN FC correspondents pick five of the best from the 35-year-old's illustrious career. Full Blog Post BLOG - ESPN FC UNITEDMANCHESTER UNITEDJUVENTUSAC MILANPARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SWEDENZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC BY NAYIB MORAN ShareTweet5 hours ago Clasico Nacional fever returns, Pumas defend home record in electric Week 7 In the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional, Herculez Gomez pinpoints a few key factors surrounding the match. After a year that saw Club America and Chivas face off in two consecutive Liguillas, the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional puts the rivals back in the spotlight on Saturday night 10 p. Here's what to watch for in Liga MX's Week 7: Clasico Nacional fever returns All eyes will be on Guadalajara's Estadio Chivas on Saturday for what promises to be an electric Super Clasico. Las Aguilas are desperate to get their winning spirits back, and what better place to do... Full Blog Post MEXICAN LIGA MX BY GRAHAM PARKER ShareTweet6 hours ago Chicago Fire under pressure to deliver in 2017 following painful rebuild The FC crew discuss the manner in which the Red Bulls went about trading Dax McCarty to the Chicago Fire. We have nothing to lose this year, and I'm so confident that we'll do great things. After two years in which his individual play drew praise but not enough points for a losing Chicago team, Accam has noted the offseason influx of players like Dax McCarty, Nemanja Nikolic and Juninho, and is looking forward to finally enjoying a positive... Full Blog Post CHICAGO FIREMAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER BY IAIN MACINTOSH ShareTweet6 hours ago Non-league Sutton a fun reminder of why clubs were established in England Sebastian Salazar and Craig Burley go toe-to-toe in predicting the FA Cup's enticing 5th round fixtures. At Sutton, people are doing something you don't readily associate with football at the highest level. They are having fun. SUTTON, England -- From the glittering Allianz Arena to Gander Green Lane. Rarely has an Arsenal manager ever had to prepare for two so-very-different away trips in the same week. Bayern Munich are, as they so painfully proved on Wednesday, one of the finest club sides in the world. Sutton United, on the other hand, are part-timers who were only promoted to the fifth flight of English football last May and are struggling to stay there. How best to encapsulate the differences between these two football... Full Blog Post ENGLISH FA CUPSUTTON UNITED BY PHIL LYTHELL ShareTweet7 hours ago Chelsea cannot afford complacency as Wolves target another FA Cup shock Antonio Conte was left disappointed as Chelsea were held by Burnley last time out. An FA Cup tie between the runaway leaders of the Premier League and a team struggling in the Championship should be a foregone conclusion. But in a straight knockout competition -- excepting replays, of course -- nothing should be taken for granted when Chelsea travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. If Antonio Conte and his team required any reminding of the unpredictable nature of cup football they need only to look back at the last round. In what was a famous day for one of the Football... Full Blog Post CHELSEAENGLISH FA CUP BY SID LOWE ShareTweet7 hours ago Criticism of Luis Enrique is not new but reflects Barcelona's identity issues Sid Lowe suggests that Barcelona have been gradually losing their identity far before their UCL thumbing by PSG. The media closed in, and so did the Barcelona directors: they were looking for someone to take his place. There was tension between players and coach; no way could he last beyond the season's end. The president and his board were worried that they might not last, either, their own culpability cowering behind the coach even as their credibility was bound up in him. Everything was falling apart. An ultimatum was delivered, crisis gripped. Full Blog Post BARCELONASPANISH PRIMERA DIVISIÓN BY ANDY MITTEN ShareTweet7 hours ago Martial and Rashford exemplify United promise as Mourinho chases cups Shaka Hislop breaks down Anthony Martial's status in the Manchester United squad and maintains he's a star in the making. Thursday's entertaining 3-0 Europa League victory for Manchester United over St Etienne was another occasion where we saw more evidence of a brighter future for Jose Mourinho's side. United are still a work in progress and in transition under a new manager. Few will have sympathy for such an expensively assembled bunch, but they're better going toe to toe with St Etienne rather than Paris Saint-Germain at this stage, with more opportunity to impress and improve. Prematch headlines focused on the... Full Blog Post MANCHESTER UNITEDUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEMARCUS RASHFORDANTHONY MARTIALEFL CUP BY JOHN BREWIN ShareTweet8 hours ago Sad indictment of FA Cup as Premier League elite learn to live without it Arsene Wenger suggests that removing him as manager won't solve all of Arsenal's problems. Another round of the FA Cup, another lament on the commitment shown to the competition by English football's leading clubs. This time it's Gary Lineker, speaking as lead host of television live rights-holding BBC. Full Blog Post ENGLISH FA CUPBLOG - ESPN FC UNITED BY DAVID FAITELSON ShareTweet 9 hours ago Chivas can send strong message of title intent with Clasico Nacional win In the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional, Herculez Gomez pinpoints a few key factors surrounding the match. Most of the time, when it comes to the Clasico Nacional, not everything is at it seems... Today, for example, it is assumed that all of the pressure is piled on Club America. Full Blog Post MEXICAN LIGA MXGUADALAJARAAMÉRICA BY DAVE USHER ShareTweet9 hours ago Henderson is no Gerrard but Liverpool captain still leads Klopp's men Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about Liverpool's progress under Jurgen Klopp. Full Blog Post LIVERPOOLENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEJORDAN HENDERSON BY MARK OGDEN, SENIOR FOOTBALL WRITER ShareTweet9 hours ago Jose Mourinho's 'tough love' policy at Man United yet to work on Luke Shaw Jose Mourinho says Man United's dressing room was too relaxed before their win over St Etienne, and it showed early on. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has endured the same treatment from Mourinho this season and come through the other side, while Anthony Martial is also beginning to show signs of making the same positive transition as the Armenia midfielder. But Shaw seems to be... Full Blog Post MANCHESTER UNITEDENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUELUKE SHAW BY JAMES MCNICHOLAS ShareTweet10 hours ago Arsene Wenger clever over exit talk, but Arsenal fans sense change is needed The ESPN FC crew discuss whether Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal at the end of the season. It's an unfortunate fact of the last decade that Arsene Wenger has become rather proficient at dealing with difficult news conferences. He has, after all, had plenty of experience. Nevertheless, the manner in which the embattled Arsenal boss dealt with his latest one was particularly impressive. By declaring his intention to continuing coaching next season, he has temporarily shifted the focus onto the fans and his employers. London Colney was busier than usual, with plenty of journalists... Full Blog Post ARSENALENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweet11 hours ago Arsene Wenger to Real Madrid? Arsenal boss' options if he quits The ESPN FC crew discuss whether Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal at the end of the season. The 67-year-old will not be short of offers if he decides to end his 21-year association with Arsenal.... Full Blog Post ARSENALENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUESPANISH PRIMERA DIVISIÓNITALIAN SERIE A BY BEN PEARCE ShareTweet 11 hours ago Tottenham struggling with injuries and Pochettino's tactical tweaks ESPN FC's Steve Nicol says Tottenham rely on Dele Alli and Harry Kane too much. There was a time when Mauricio Pochettino was criticised for not having a Plan B; for being too tactically inflexible. Now it has become unclear what Plan A is -- if anything there has been too much tinkering. Spurs started the season using his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation but after a spell with a 4-1-4-1 system and an unsuccessful trial of a 4-4-2 midfield diamond, he moved to 3-4-2-1. The catalyst was the limp 1-0 defeat at Manchester United in December, when Kyle Walker and Danny Rose were neutralised.... Full Blog Post TOTTENHAM HOTSPURENGLISH FA CUP BY DAVID MOONEY ShareTweet12 hours ago FA Cup could be Guardiola's best chance of debut silverware at Man City The ESPN FC crew discuss the impact of Gabriel Jesus' injury at Manchester City. It's been more than two years since Manchester City faced a team from outside of the top flight in the FA Cup. It was a shock result, too, as then-Championship Middlesbrough took a 2-0 victory away from Manuel Pellegrini's team at the Etihad in January 2015. The fans haven't had an away trip to a lower league side in the competition for even longer -- it was a 1-1 draw at Blackburn in Pellegrini's debut campaign, back in January 2014. To get a win when playing away at a team from outside the top... Full Blog Post MANCHESTER CITYENGLISH FA CUP BY DANNY LEE, FOOTBALLWHISPERS ShareTweet12 hours ago Transfer Rater: Arda Turan to Chelsea, Santi Cazorla to Fenerbahce The latest transfer rumours from around the world. The latest transfer rumours from around the world. Things change in the blink of an eye in football. The Football Whispers Index takes the latest transfer rumours and gives them a score out of five; the higher the score, the more realistic and reliable the whisper. Here are today's top five emerging whispers for the summer. And keep an eye on Transfer Talk for the latest gossip. Dominic Solanke to Liverpool Young Chelsea striker Solanke will make the switch to Liverpool this summer, The Sun is reporting. Full Blog Post BLOG - TRANSFER TALKTRANSFERSARDA TURANCHELSEASANTI CAZORLAARSENALFENERBAHCE BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet12 hours ago Chilean fans' campaign to coax Alexis Sanchez into leaving Arsenal Thousands of Chilean football fans have organised a campaign to coax Alexis Sanchez into leaving Arsenal. With speculation rife over Sanchez's immediate future, a Facebook page has been set up to announce that over 5,000 of his fellow compatriots are planning to march through Santiago in protest over the lack of support the 28-year-old forward is currently receiving. The march was apparently sparked by Arsenal's dismal 5-1 trouncing at the hands of Bayern Munich, in which Sanchez cut an isolated... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEARSENALCHILE BY JOHN DUERDEN ShareTweet13 hours ago Mark Clattenburg to Saudi Arabia: Top ref faces big challenges ESPN FC's Shaka Hislop has backed Mark Clattenburg's move to Saudi Arabia. With the news that one of Europe's leading referees, Mark Clattenburg, has swapped the Premier League and the Champions League for Saudi Arabia, ESPN FC lists five things the high-profile official can expect in his new home. He will be the biggest international name in the league There have been times when the big Saudi clubs were not short of money but increasingly, when the most famous international stars head to the Middle East, they go to Qatar or the United Arab Emirates. Full Blog Post BLOG - FOOTBALL ASIA BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet 13 hours ago Nice guy Claudio Ranieri's handshakes for press before FA Cup clash Even with his Leicester City side currently fighting relegation after winning the title last season, it's nice to know that Claudio Ranieri remains a resolutely affable gentleman. Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEENGLISH FA CUPLEICESTER CITY BY ADAM HURREY ShareTweet14 hours ago Identikit stadiums consigning 'tough place to go' grounds to the distant past Sutton United manager Paul Doswell explains what Arsenal can expect when they visit the non-league side in the FA Cup. Could it be that part of the pre and postmatch interview cliche furniture is being consigned to the past? Last weekend and this will see examples of this oft-uttered expression but it is applicable ever less often. Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEBLOG - ESPN FC UNITEDENGLISH FA CUPSUTTON UNITED BY CHRIS ATKINS ShareTweet14 hours ago CSL champions Guangzhou Evergrande pursuing all Chinese dream PJ Roberts and John Wilkinson examine the new quota on foreign players in the CSL and its potential impact. Since Guangzhou FC fell into the hands of the Evergrande Group in 2010, the club's course has been set to a firmly upward bearing. After an immediate return to the Super League in their first year of ownership, Evergrande have claimed six consecutive CSL titles and are two-time champions of Asia. It is a remarkable story of success. Evergrande's rise is, of course, no football fairytale. Owner Xu Jiaxin's decision to invest in football was undoubtedly politically motivated and the team's success... Full Blog Post CHINESE SUPER LEAGUEBLOG - FOOTBALL ASIAGUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE BY IAN DARKE ShareTweet14 hours ago Arsene Wenger deserves to leave Arsenal with dignity and acclaim Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes Arsene Wenger may be on his way out. Then the 5-1 hammering at Bayern Munich happened. Arsenal's embarrassing Champions League loss does indeed look like the beginning of the end for a great man and manager. After 21 years, three titles and six FA Cups, Wenger... Full Blog Post ARSENALENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BY RICHARD JOLLY ShareTweet14 hours ago Mauricio Pochettino must win silverware to back up his reputation Steve Nicol is critical of Spurs' inability to make up for the current struggles of Harry Kane and Dele Alli. If history is a guide, Tottenham will exit the FA Cup on Sunday. Not because of Spurs' record against Fulham, which shows eight wins in their past 10 meetings. Or, indeed, their past in the FA Cup, which only Arsenal and Manchester United have lifted more often. Nor, even, a recent record showing a mere two defeats and nine victories in 13 matches over all competitions. But more so because of Mauricio Pochettino's personal history. The Argentine has forged a reputation as a manager who takes teams... Full Blog Post TOTTENHAM HOTSPURUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEENGLISH FA CUP BY MINA RZOUKI ShareTweet 20 hours ago Pjaca should learn from Mandzukic that hard work can trump technique Massimiliano Allegri says securing a sixth straight league title would turn his Juventus side into legends. Juventus is hosting Palermo on Friday evening, but all anyone can think of is how Juve will fare in the Champions League against Porto on Wednesday. The recent midweek fixtures produced a few surprises, and while certain score lines grabbed the headlines, most would agree that no team has consistently proved to be brilliant. Paris Saint-Germain looked convincing, but certain mediocre performances in the group stage and in the league have caused many to wonder if manager Unai Emery's team can keep... Full Blog Post JUVENTUSITALIAN SERIE AMARKO PJACA BY MICHAEL WADE ShareTweet21 hours ago Lindelof and Kessie top Man United's shopping list; Bayern in for Belotti Steve Nicol believes Man United were deserving winners against St Etienne, lauding the efforts of hat-trick hero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Transfer deadline day has come and gone, but Transfer Talk is already monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out all the latest deals here. Kessie, Lindelof top United target list Jose Mourinho is looking to recruit Victor Lindelof and Franck Kessie -- two of the brightest talents in world football -- for Manchester United this summer. Paris Saint-Germain and Roma have joined the race to sign 22-year-old defender Lindelof from Benfica but, according to Calcio Mercato, United... Full Blog Post BLOG - TRANSFER TALKTRANSFERSMANCHESTER UNITEDVICTOR LINDELOFFRANCK KESSIÉ BY ROB TRAIN ShareTweet23 hours ago Real Madrid's congested fixture list should give Morata, Asensio a chance The FC panel quickly share their thoughts on who will advance in the Real Madrid v Napoli UCL Round of 16 clash. Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid took a huge step towards the Champions League quarterfinal with a 3-1 win over Napoli at the Bernabeu, a good sign as they seek to become the first side to successfully defend Europe's highest club honour since AC Milan in 1990. The margin of victory is enough to make Madrid clear favourites to advance. Conceding an away goal was not ideal but there's sufficient reason for optimism in the Real camp going into the match at the San Paolo on March 7: there has not been... Full Blog Post UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEREAL MADRID BY TERRY DALEY ShareTweet1 day ago Edin Dzeko, Mohamed Salah lift Roma to big win vs. Villarreal Dzeko and Salah were superb as Roma pulled away from Villarreal in the second half. Edin Dzeko was once again Roma's hero, bashing a second half hat-trick past La Liga's tightest defence as the Giallorossi all but booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a thumping 4-0 win at Villarreal. They became the first team to score four goals at the Madrigal since Barcelona in May 2010, while the Bosnian now has an astonishing 28 goals for the season. Emerson Palmieri also shone and set the away side up with a corking long-range opener just after the half-hour mark,... Full Blog Post AS ROMAUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEEDIN DZEKO BY MUSA OKWONGA ShareTweet1 day ago Zlatan's hat trick, Martial's movement lead United to rout of St Etienne Manchester United virtually booked their progress to the next round against a St Etienne side whose approach play was very good but whose finishing was woeful. The visitors could well have departed with a 1-1 draw, but they were punished for their failures by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who claimed all three of the game's goals. Manchester UnitedManchester United St EtienneSt Etienne 3 0 FT Leg 1 Game Details GameCast Lineups and Stats Positives Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly all shone, though Ibrahimovic will inevitably take the headlines. Ander Herrera was as busily... Full Blog Post MANCHESTER UNITEDUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEZLATAN IBRAHIMOVICANTHONY MARTIALCHRIS SMALLINGERIC BAILLYSERGIO ROMEROJUAN MATADALEY BLINDANTONIO VALENCIAANDER HERRERAPAUL POGBAMAROUANE FELLAINIJESSE LINGARDASHLEY YOUNGMARCUS RASHFORD BY RICHARD JOLLY ShareTweet1 day ago Man United take comfortable first-leg win vs. Etienne via Zlatan hat trick MANCHESTER, England -- Three quick thoughts from Manchester United's 3-0 Europa League win over St. Etienne at Old Trafford on Thursday. Man United take comfortable lead to France It may be an exaggeration to say everyone else in the Europa League is quaking in their boots, but Manchester United illustrated why they have been billed as one of the favourites to win the competition. A place in the round of 16 is theirs for the taking. Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw off St. Etienne with his first... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE MATCHUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEMANCHESTER UNITEDST ETIENNE BY SHAKA HISLOP ShareTweet1 day ago Power Rankings: Juventus surge to No. We have a new top team in Shaka Hislop's Power Rankings this week! Chelsea has slipped down the charts, but they're in first place where it matters... Juventus +1 Business as usual in Turin, then! Max Allegri's side are humming in high gear, winning six straight in all competitions and eight of their last nine. A pair of Gonzalo Higuain goals were enough to defeat Cagliari last weekend, and SPI gives them an 81 percent chance of breezing through to the Champions League quarterfinal.... Full Blog Post BLOG - ESPN FC UNITEDJUVENTUS BY JOHN CRACE ShareTweet1 day ago Dele Alli fades as unrecognisable Tottenham lack confidence at Gent A goal just before the hour mark after sloppy defending by Tottenham was enough to give Gent the advantage going into next week's Europa League round-of-32 return leg at Wembley Stadium. Mauricio Pochettino had fielded a near full-strength team, hoping to get a reaction after last Saturday's defeat in the Premier League to Liverpool at Anfield, but Spurs started sluggishly and only managed one decent shot on target in the first half. Tottenham improved briefly at the start of the second half and... Full Blog Post TOTTENHAM HOTSPURUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEDELE ALLI BY DAN KILPATRICK, TOTTENHAM CORRESPONDENT ShareTweet1 day ago At full strength, Spurs' European struggles continue in defeat at Gent GHENT, Belgium -- Three conclusions from Tottenham's 1-0 defeat at KAA Gent on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32. Spurs players not up for the cup If Tottenham want to win the Europa League -- and their manager and captain are adamant that they do -- this was not the way to show it. Spurs' hopes of winning a first trophy since 2008 were dealt a significant blow with a 1-0 defeat to Belgian minnows KAA Gent, the lowlight of a dismal season in Europe. Some Spurs fans didn't... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE MATCHUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEKAA GENTTOTTENHAM HOTSPURMOUSSA SISSOKOHARRY KANEDELE ALLIHARRY WINKS BY RAPHAEL HONIGSTEIN ShareTweet1 day ago Ancelotti allays fears that Bayern Munich have grown too comfortable The FC crew question just how good Bayern Munich can be and if their big win over Arsenal has made them UCL favourites. MUNICH -- Some stories get told so often they become a mantra, a sacred utterance believed to have spiritual powers. Full Blog Post BAYERN MUNICHUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweet 1 day ago Trending: Mark Clattenburg to Saudi Arabia, Arsenal won't rush Wenger Arsene Wenger searches for the cause of what unraveled Arsenal so comprehensively against Bayern. Here are the latest stories for Thursday. PREMIER LEAGUE: Mark Clattenburg is to quit his job as Premier League referee to move to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. ARSENAL: Arsenal will not rush Arsene Wenger into making a decision about his future following Wednesday's 5-1 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich, a club source has told ESPN FC. Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEARSENAL BY TOM MARSHALL ShareTweet1 day ago Everything you need to know about Chivas vs. America in Clasico Nacional In the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional, Herculez Gomez pinpoints a few key factors surrounding the match. CHIVAS AMERICA GuadalajaraGuadalajara AméricaAmérica 3:06 AM UTC Game Details GameCast Lineups and Stats The Clasico Nacional... On one side, Guadalajara is Mexico's second biggest city and the capital of Jalisco, the most Mexican of states -- home of tequila, mariachi and charreria. Chivas themselves are a patriotic symbol due to their unique tradition of fielding only Mexican players, too. Then, there is Club America. Full Blog Post MEXICAN LIGA MXGUADALAJARAAMÉRICA BY JAMES TYLER ShareTweet1 day ago Is it time for Arsene Wenger to leave Arsenal? Vote: stay or go ESPN FC's Julien Laurens assesses the reasons Arsene Wenger might want to stay at Arsenal. Doesn't it feel like deja vu to be here discussing Arsene Wenger's future at Arsenal? Well, the 5-1 shellacking at Bayern Munich is a repeat of 2015's defeat and as such, the mercurial manager's job looks as shaky as the back four without Laurent Koscielny. So, should this be the time at which the club and the coach part ways? After Arsenal's latest big defeat, should Arsene Wenger leave? YES: TIME FOR SOMEONE NEWNO: BE PATIENT! SUBMIT Mark Ogden suggested that Wenger should leave and the club should be ruthless if they're to remain within reach of the top clubs. Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEARSENALBLOG - ESPN FC UNITED BY JOHN BREWIN ShareTweet1 day ago Aguero gets reprieve but Guardiola's clashes with Ibra, Eto'o a warning The ESPN FC crew discuss Gabriel Jesus' injury and its impact at Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus is in Barcelona as he undergoes treatment on his fractured metatarsal from Dr. Ramon Cugat, rated by Pep Guardiola as the best in the business. With Manchester City's best-case scenario being a two-month absence, wrapped in the caveat that rushing the teenager back could be damaging in the long term, Sergio Aguero will once again be his club's frontline striker. Full Blog Post MANCHESTER CITYENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweet1 day ago Keys to Clasico Nacional: La Volpe's last stand, William's A game vs. Chivas In the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional, Herculez Gomez pinpoints a few key factors surrounding the match. The Clasico Nacional between Chivas and Club America takes center stage in the Liga MX 2017 Clausura on Saturday. What about this particular edition of Mexico's biggest rivalry -- which will be broadcast through Facebook Live -- should you be following? Our experts Tom Marshall, Nayib Moran, Cesar Hernandez and Eric Gomez lay it all out below! CHIVASCLUB AMERICADRAW SUBMIT Chivas to thrive or wilt as favorites? Club America may arrive at Saturday's game in less than tip-top condition and with pressure on coach Ricardo La Volpe,... Full Blog Post MEXICAN LIGA MXGUADALAJARAAMÉRICA BY JEFF CARLISLE ShareTweet 1 day ago San Jose Earthquakes' barren spell has clock ticking on coach Dominic Kinnear Herculez Gomez says Chris Wondolowski is being underutilised with the Earthquakes under coach Dominic Kinnear. The pictures adorning the wall and desk in his office belong to the previous occupant, Dave Kaval. While remaining the Quakes' team president, Kaval has moved up the 880 freeway to Oakland, where he's taken on the same role with the Oakland A's of Major League Baseball. The state of Fioranelli's office -- which he's occupied a... Full Blog Post SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKESMAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER BY SUMEET PAUL ShareTweet1 day ago Vincenzo Montella keeps AC Milan in Serie A contention amid difficulties Vincenzo Montella has had to deal with uncertainty over AC Milan's proposed takeover. In truth, AC Milan were fortunate to take anything away from the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night in their 1-1 draw with Lazio. Similarly to how the nine-man Rossoneri snatched a win at Bologna in their previous outing, they are admirably finding a way to keep themselves in the race for Europe. While it may not be particularly pretty, it is testament to Vincenzo Montella and the players that they continue to battle on with possible excuses there for them to easily exploit. Whether it's injuries or... Full Blog Post AC MILANITALIAN SERIE A BY MATTIAS KAREN, ARSENAL CORRESPONDENT ShareTweet1 day ago Arsenal and Wenger repeating history in Champions League knockouts Don Hutchison loses a bet to Layla Anna-Lee. The 5-1 loss in Munich on Wednesday night felt all too familiar to Gunners fans who have watched Wenger's side self-destruct in six consecutive round-of-16 ties before this season. Barring a miracle at the Emirates, this will be the seventh season in a row that Arsenal fail... Full Blog Post ARSENALENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEMESUT ÖZIL BY ANDREW MANGAN ShareTweet1 day ago An Arsene Wenger exit wouldn't solve all the problems at rudderless Arsenal The ESPN FC crew discuss Arsene Wenger's desperate situation at Arsenal. In the wake of Arsenal's humiliating 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night, further questions have been raised about Arsene Wenger's future. The Frenchman's contract will expire in June, and although there's a two-year extension waiting to be signed, it would be less and less surprising if he decided not to renew. That Wenger is the one who will decide speaks to an incredible imbalance within the football club from a board that has long absolved itself of the responsibility.... Full Blog Post ARSENALUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet1 day ago Ryan Christie scores stunning goal as Aberdeen thrash Motherwell There may be several months of the season left to play, but it looks like the Scottish Premiership goal of the season competition has already been sewn up. The goal in question came during Aberdeen's 7-2 trouncing of Motherwell on Wednesday evening, with 21-year-old Dons midfielder Ryan Christie taking the honours. Following a slick three-pass interchange from a corner, it was Christie who applied a fitting finishing touch -- clipping a delicate lob over the keeper with the outside of his foot from... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEABERDEEN BY STEVEN KELLY ShareTweet 1 day ago Coincidences between Houllier's and Klopp's reigns as Liverpool rebuild Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about Liverpool's progress under Jurgen Klopp. Jurgen Klopp has taken his Liverpool squad to a training camp in La Manga. Since he sometimes complains about England's lack of a winter break, being knocked out of the FA Cup early gives his team a chance to belatedly regroup and revitalise. It means a 16-day gap between league fixtures. Unusual, but it's not the record for Liverpool this century as they went 20 days without a game in February 2000. It's just one of a number of coincidences between Klopp's reign and that of Liverpool's... Full Blog Post LIVERPOOLENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY MARK GLEESON ShareTweet1 day ago African Super Cup: Will anyone watch Sundowns vs. CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe will be out to surprise a few teams at the Club World Cup. TP Mazembe Englebert won the CAF Confederation Cup. The annual Super Cup seems as pointless a game as ever there was. It engenders little enthusiasm from the fans, no passion from the players and runs contrary to the principles of good competition. A single match to determine a trophy makes a mockery of the commitment, effort and sacrifice needed to lift silverware. Yet this Saturday marks the 25th time that Africa is hosting its annual meeting between the winner of the previous year's Champions League and African Confederation Cup, the continent's... Full Blog Post BLOG - FOOTBALL AFRICA BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet1 day ago Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney stars alongside Wolverine We've already seen mascots painted blue and Ashley Young fending off swarms of alien invaders, and now Manchester United's corporate partnership with 20th Century Fox has coughed up another cinematic gem. This time we're treated to Wayne Rooney in the cameo role, with the United striker appearing alongside Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in the new trailer for the Logan movie. Nobody is born a legend. You fight to become one. Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEMANCHESTER UNITEDWAYNE ROONEY BY GLENN PRICE, LIVERPOOL CORRESPONDENT ShareTweet1 day ago Liverpool training camp in La Manga: Five players who must impress Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about Liverpool's progress under Jurgen Klopp. Jurgen Klopp is making the most of Liverpool's absence from the FA Cup. Double training sessions are on the agenda as Klopp looks to get his Liverpool side in fine shape for the back end of the Premier League campaign. ESPN FC takes a look at five players with a point to prove... Full Blog Post LIVERPOOLENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY DANNY LEE, FOOTBALLWHISPERS ShareTweet1 day ago Transfer Rater: Riyad Mahrez to Tottenham, Arturo Vidal to Chelsea Shaka Hislop gauges the latest rumours surrounding Riyad Mahrez, Arturo Vidal and more. The latest transfer rumours from around the world. The latest transfer rumours from around the world. Things change in the blink of an eye in football. The Football Whispers Index takes the latest transfer rumours and gives them a score out of five; the higher the score, the more realistic and reliable the whisper. Here are today's top five emerging whispers for the summer. And keep an eye on Transfer Talk for the latest gossip. Martin Caceres to Southampton Premier League side Southampton are still in pole position to sign former Juventus defender Caceres on a free transfer, despite... Full Blog Post BLOG - TRANSFER TALKTRANSFERS BY NICK MILLER ShareTweet 1 day ago Berahino and Pulis stoke the fires in West Brom and Stoke's gripping rivalry Stoke boss Mark Hughes discusses the leak regarding Saido Berahino's ban. The most compelling storyline in the Premier League at the moment is not the title race. It's not the relegation battle, with teams that looked dead showing life and some that seemed safe now circling the drain. It's not even whoever Jose Mourinho is arguing with this week. The most interesting -- funniest, least dignified, most entertaining, whatever you like -- tale in English football is the squabble between West Brom and Stoke. Usually, clubs prefer to keep their spats relatively... Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEWEST BROMWICH ALBIONSTOKE CITY BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet1 day ago Arsenal annihilated: The best fallout from Bayern Munich hammering The ESPN FC crew discuss Arsenal's Champions League embarrassment. As you may have heard, Arsenal lost an important football match on Wednesday night -- and fairly heavily too. In the wake of Bayern Munich's unceremonious 5-1 evisceration of the Gunners, the social media fallout was very close to nuclear, as fans and neutrals alike came together to scorn Arsene Wenger, his sub-par players and their risible performance. Inevitably, longtime Wenger-baiter Piers Morgan was typically measured and positive about the whole thing. For God's sake, Arsene, it's over.... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEARSENAL BY MATTIAS KAREN, ARSENAL CORRESPONDENT ShareTweet1 day ago Arsenal collapse at Bayern Munich in UCL is 'same old story' - media reaction The verdict on Arsenal's humbling 5-1 defeat at Bayern Munich was blasted across the back pages of Britain's newspapers on Thursday. Arsenal collapsed in the second half in Munich on Wednesday evening to all but ensure that they'll exit the Champions League in the round of 16 for the seventh year running. Full Blog Post UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEARSENAL BY DEREK BILTON ShareTweet1 day ago Tottenham's tough trip to Fulham, Man United to cruise, Leicester woe Tottenham survived a scare in the fourth round as they came from 2-0 down to beat Wycombe 4-3. Tottenham to be troubled at Fulham If the fourth round of the FA Cup taught us anything, it was that top teams who fail to show the competition the respect it deserves could end up embarrassed. Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds United were high profile casualties after fielding weakened teams to supposedly inferior opposition and this weekend Tottenham could be the next team to fall. Spurs' first choice starting XI is one of the strongest in the country but the squad generally lacks depth and they... James Mattis led troops in Afghanistan in 2001, won laurels for leadership in one of the bloodiest battles of the Iraq War and most recently headed US Central Command, perhaps the military's most complicated and challenging post. Now, Mattis faces an entirely different kind of fight. As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to formally nominate the former four-star to head the Pentagon, some Democrats are signaling his confirmation might not be entirely easy. Some observers question whether Mattis' battlefield experience prepares him for the very different task of running an enormous bureaucracy, while senior lawmakers worry about what the 66-year-old's nomination means for maintaining civilian control of the military. Republicans issued glowing testimonials to Mattis and his career. If he's approved, Mattis would be the highest-ranking former officer to serve as defense secretary. The Washington State native and history major led troops through the conflicts in the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan and Iraq. From 2010 to 2013, he led Central Command, which oversees the Middle East and Southeast Asia, until the Obama administration let him go over disagreements on Iran. Indeed, Mattis has not been known to mince words. On the news of his nomination, many of those sayings instantly became memes on Twitter. David Petraeus for the State Department, Gen. John Kelly to head Homeland Security and Adm. Mike Rogers as the director of national intelligence. Erin Simpson, a national security consultant and senior editor at WarontheRocks. The silver lining, she adds, is that many military and security professionals wary of Trump may be convinced to serve under Mattis. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province. US policy set in 1979 cut formal relations with Taiwan. The US is Taiwan's most important ally and provides Taiwan with sufficient weaponry to defend itself. Mr Trump tweeted on Friday that Ms Tsai had called him to congratulate him on winning the US election. His team said that the US president-elect had also congratulated Ms Tsai on becoming the president of Taiwan last January. No US president or president-elect has spoken directly to a Taiwanese leader for decades. US media reported that the White House learned of the call only after it had happened. Read more: What's behind the China-Taiwan divide? What is the problem? The KMT held China's seat on the UN Security Council and was, for a while, recognised by many Western nations as the only Chinese government. But in 1971, the UN switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing. Only a handful of countries now recognise Taiwan's government. But despite the cut, the US remains, by far, Taiwan's most important friend, and its only ally. The Taiwan Relations Act promises to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons. China has hundreds of missiles pointing towards Taiwan, and has threatened to use force if it formally declares independence. President Tsai, Taiwan's first female leader, led the Democratic Progressive Party DPP to a landslide victory in the January 2016 election. The DPP has traditionally leaned towards independence from China. Read more: Tsai Ing-wen, Taiwan's shy but steely leader From concern to alarm and anger - Carrie Gracie, BBC China editor, Beijing TaiwanImage copyrightREUTERS Image caption In an image released by her office, Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen is seen speaking on the phone to Mr Trump Mr Trump's decision to turn his back on four decades of US protocol on Taiwan and speak directly to a president of Taiwan has stunned policymakers in Beijing. Since his election last month, they have struggled to understand who is advising Donald Trump on Asia and what his China policy will look like. This move will turn concern into alarm and anger. Beijing sees Taiwan as a province. Denying it any of the trappings of an independent state is one of the key priorities of Chinese foreign policy. Read more from Carrie: The Trump phone call that will stun Beijing Mild reaction - Cindy Sui, BBC, Taipei China's reaction is relatively mild. It doesn't want to get off on the wrong foot with Mr Trump. And it sees Mr Trump as an inexperienced politician, so for now it's willing to forgive him and not play this up. It may also be somewhat reassured by statements from the US that its policy on China and Taiwan has not changed. This move by Taiwan's President Tsai will further infuriate Beijing and make it distrust her even more and see her as favouring Taiwan's formal independence from China. World-changing ideas summit With our powers of reasoning, rich memories and the ability to imagine what the future might hold, human intelligence is unequalled in the animal kingdom. Our closest relatives, chimpanzees, are adept problem solvers, making their own tools to reach food, for example. They use sophisticated gestures and facial expressions to communicate. Yet, they fall a long way short of our own ability to think and plan for the future. Thomas Suddendorf, a psychologist at the University of Queensland, describes this as the gap — the cognitive gulf that separates us from animals. But it was not always so wide, he says in the video above. Our species once shared the planet with other hominins with intelligence that may have rivaled our own. Their extinction was at least partly due to the actions of our own ancestors, according to many anthropologists. We need to be careful not to make the same mistakes again and widen the gap between the species even further in our pursuit of progress, warns Suddendorf, who spoke to BBC Future at the World-Changing Ideas Summit in Sydney on 15 November. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Earth, Culture, Capital, Travel and Autos, delivered to your inbox every Friday. The minibus crosses the vast plateau on a newly paved road. Cracked fields stretch away towards the Moroccan desert to the south. Yet the barren landscape is no longer quite as desolate as it once was. Welcome to Future Now Your essential guide to a world in flux Change happens quickly these days and it can be hard to keep up. We will be publishing regular stories from all over the world about technology, energy, economics, society and much more — you can find them here. We hope you will join us as we explore the changes that matter. Hundreds of curved mirrors, each as big as a bus, are ranked in rows covering 1,400,000 sq m 15m sq ft of desert, an area the size of 200 football fields. The massive complex sits on a sun-blasted site at the foot of the High Atlas mountains, 10km 6 miles from Ouarzazate — a city nicknamed the door to the desert. As well as meeting domestic needs, Morocco hopes one day to export solar energy to Europe. Credit: Getty Images Hundreds of curved mirrors, each as big as a bus, are ranked in rows covering 1,400,000 square metres of desert, an area the size of 200 football fields Credit: Getty Images Of course, on the day I visit the sky is covered in clouds. An occasional off day is not a concern, however. After many years of false starts, solar power is coming of age as countries in the sun finally embrace their most abundant source of clean energy. The Moroccan site is one of several across Africa and similar plants are being built in the Middle East — in Jordan, Dubai and Saudi Arabia. The falling cost of solar power has made it a viable alternative to oil even in the most oil-rich parts of the world. As well as meeting domestic needs, Morocco hopes one day to export solar energy to Europe. Noor 1, the first phase of the Moroccan plant, has already surpassed expectations in terms of the amount of energy it has produced. Credit: Sandrine Ceurstemont With around 330 days of sunshine a year, the region around Ouarzazate - a city nicknamed the door to the desert - is an ideal location Credit: Sandrine Ceurstemont The country plans to generate 14% of its energy from solar by 2020 and by adding other renewable sources like wind and water into the mix, it is aiming to produce 52% of its own energy by 2030. This puts Morocco more or less in line with countries like the UK, which wants to generate 30% of its electricity from renewables by the end of the decade, and the US, where President Obama set a target of 20% by 2030. Trump has threatened to dump renewables, but his actions may not have a huge impact. Many policies are controlled by individual states and big companies have already started to switch to cleaner and cheaper alternatives. Due to the lack sun on the day I visit, the hundreds of mirrors stand still and silent. The team keeps a close eye on weather forecasts to predict output for the following day, allowing other sources of energy to take over when it is overcast. The reflectors can be heard as they move together to follow the sun like a giant field of sunflowers But normally the reflectors can be heard as they move together to follow the Sun like a giant field of sunflowers. Reaching temperatures up to 350C 662F , the hot oil is used to produce high-pressure water vapour that drives a turbine-powered generator. The plant keeps generating energy after sunset, when electricity demands peak. In the next phase of the plant, production will continue for up to eight hours after sunset. Around 2,000 workers were hired during the initial two years of construction, many of them Moroccan. Roads built to provide access to the plant have also connected nearby villages, helping children get to school. Water brought in for the site has been piped beyond the complex, hooking up 33 villages to the water grid. Water brought in for the site has been piped beyond the complex, hooking up 33 villages to the water grid Masen has also helped farmers in the area by teaching them sustainable practices. Heading towards the mountains, I visit the Berber village of Asseghmou, 30 miles 48 kilometres north of Ouarzazate, where a small farm has now changed the way it raises ewes. Most farmers here rely on their intuition alone but they are being introduced to more reliable techniques -such as simply separating animals in their pens — which are improving yields. Masen also provided 25 farms with sheep for breeding purposes. And his almond tree is thriving thanks to cultivation tips. Even so, some locals have concerns. Abdellatif, who lives in the city of Zagora about 75 miles 120 kilometres further south, where there are high rates of unemployment, thinks that the plant should focus on creating permanent jobs. He has friends who were hired to work there but they were only on contract for a few months. Once fully operational, the station will only require about 50 to 100 employees so the job boom may end. Credit: Sandrine Ceurstemont The solar plant draws a massive amount of water from the local El Mansour Eddahbi dam. Water scarcity has been a problem in the semi-desert region Credit: Sandrine Ceurstemont A bigger issue is that the solar plant draws a massive amount of water for cleaning and cooling from the local El Mansour Eddahbi dam. In recent years, water scarcity has been a problem in the semi-desert region and there are water cuts. Agricultural land further south in the Draa valley depends on water from the dam, which is occasionally released into the otherwise-dry river. But Mustapha Sellam, the site manager, claims that the water used by the complex amounts to 0. So the plant is making improvements to reduce the amount of water it uses. Instead of relying on water to clean the mirrors, pressurised air is used. And whereas Noor 1 uses water to cool the steam produced by the generators, so that it can be turned back into water and reused to produce more electricity, a dry cooling system that uses air will be installed. The success of plants in places like Morocco and South Africa will encourage other African countries to turn to solar power These new sections of the plant are currently being built. Noor 2 will be similar to the first phase, but Noor 3 will experiment with a different design. Molten salts filling the interior of the tower will capture and store heat directly, doing away with the need for hot oil. Next year construction will begin at two sites in the south-west, near Laayoune and Boujdour, with plants near Tata and Midelt to follow. The success of these plants in Morocco — and those in South Africa - may encourage other African countries to turn to solar power. Large plants are being planned for Ghana and Uganda. Sellam has high hopes for Noor. Imagine recharging your electric car in Berlin with electricity produced in Morocco. With the clouds set to lift in Ouarzazate, Africa is busy planning for a sunny day. Fifteen months into his reign as manager of the Championship outfit, a famous old club bracketed alongside Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United as one of only four English teams to win three successive top flight titles, the German-born former U. Full Blog Post ENGLISH FA CUPHUDDERSFIELD TOWN BY DOUG MCINTYRE ShareTweetabout an hour ago Next wave of U. The United States under-20 men's national team kicks off qualifying for this spring's FIFA U20 World Cup at the CONCACAF U-20 Championship on Saturday, and while the Americans hope to make the main event in South Korea without too much trouble, there are plenty of reasons why domestic fans should care. For one, the U. Only three countries -- including Brazil and Spain -- have more U-20 World Cup appearances than the Americans' 14. Yet rather amazingly, the... Full Blog Post UNITED STATES BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweetabout an hour ago Trending: Wenger will manage next season, Ibra puts three past St Etienne The FC crew share their thoughts on Arsene Wenger's situation at Arsenal and discuss if he will be their manager next season. Here are the latest stories for Friday. Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEMANCHESTER UNITEDARSENALUEFA EUROPA LEAGUE BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweetabout an hour ago 'How to be more like Zlatan': Ibrahimovic reveals keys to success Zlatan Ibrahimovic is flying on all cylinders at United, but for just how much longer can he maintain this high level? Everyone wants to be like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, right? Or at least the Manchester United striker thinks so. Why do it more than normal? Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEMANCHESTER UNITEDENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC BY JAMES HORNCASTLE ShareTweet3 hours ago Dzeko's reversal of form has Roma among favourites for Europa League Preview the latest Serie A action, as Radja Nainggolan continues to heat up for AS Roma. When Edin Dzeko's daughter Una woke up on Friday morning, there was a gift waiting from her papa. Dzeko picked it up for her on a work trip to Spain. It was an adidas capitano, the official match ball of the Europa League, and he wanted her to have it. Not for the first time this season, Dzeko scored a hat trick in the Europa League. The surprise was that it came here. Full Blog Post AS ROMAUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEITALIAN SERIE AEDIN DZEKO BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet 3 hours ago David Luiz knocks Chelsea TV reporter flying at Chelsea training Obviously gunning for a post-football career in professional wrestling, David Luiz laid the smack down as Chelsea's players made their way out for training on Friday. Spotting Chelsea TV's Lee Parker recording a segment, the Brazilian defender hurtled into shot and sent the presenter tumbling with a textbook flying takedown. Thankfully, Nathaniel Chalobah was on hand to count the three. Espanyol Get up to date with all of the happenings from around La Liga ahead of week 23. After the hype of a promising performance in the 3-1 Champions League round-of-16 win against Napoli, La Liga is set to return to the Santiago Bernabeu. On Saturday, Real Madrid host Espanyol in the first of three very important matches in the title fight next week. After Espanyol, Zinedine Zidane's team travels to Valencia on Wednesday -- one of the two games they still have in hand -- and Villarreal on Sunday. Both away fixtures look like tough but winnable outings if the squad are as focused... Full Blog Post REAL MADRIDSPANISH PRIMERA DIVISIÓN BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweet5 hours ago Treble 17 - Zlatan Ibrahimovic adds to his career hat tricks with Man United Zlatan Ibrahimovic is flying on all cylinders at United, but for just how much longer can he maintain this high level? Zlatan Ibrahimovic made a small piece of personal history at Old Trafford on Thursday when he scored his first hat trick for Manchester United. But the veteran striker is no stranger to trebles -- his haul vs. St Etienne, in United's 3-0 Europa League round-of-32 first-leg win, marked the 17th time in his career that he has scored three or more goals in a match. Here, we list all of Ibrahimovic's hat tricks and ESPN FC correspondents pick five of the best from the 35-year-old's illustrious career. Full Blog Post BLOG - ESPN FC UNITEDMANCHESTER UNITEDJUVENTUSAC MILANPARIS SAINT-GERMAIN SWEDENZLATAN IBRAHIMOVIC BY NAYIB MORAN ShareTweet5 hours ago Clasico Nacional fever returns, Pumas defend home record in electric Week 7 In the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional, Herculez Gomez pinpoints a few key factors surrounding the match. After a year that saw Club America and Chivas face off in two consecutive Liguillas, the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional puts the rivals back in the spotlight on Saturday night 10 p. Here's what to watch for in Liga MX's Week 7: Clasico Nacional fever returns All eyes will be on Guadalajara's Estadio Chivas on Saturday for what promises to be an electric Super Clasico. Las Aguilas are desperate to get their winning spirits back, and what better place to do... Full Blog Post MEXICAN LIGA MX BY GRAHAM PARKER ShareTweet6 hours ago Chicago Fire under pressure to deliver in 2017 following painful rebuild The FC crew discuss the manner in which the Red Bulls went about trading Dax McCarty to the Chicago Fire. We have nothing to lose this year, and I'm so confident that we'll do great things. After two years in which his individual play drew praise but not enough points for a losing Chicago team, Accam has noted the offseason influx of players like Dax McCarty, Nemanja Nikolic and Juninho, and is looking forward to finally enjoying a positive... Full Blog Post CHICAGO FIREMAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER BY IAIN MACINTOSH ShareTweet6 hours ago Non-league Sutton a fun reminder of why clubs were established in England Sebastian Salazar and Craig Burley go toe-to-toe in predicting the FA Cup's enticing 5th round fixtures. At Sutton, people are doing something you don't readily associate with football at the highest level. They are having fun. SUTTON, England -- From the glittering Allianz Arena to Gander Green Lane. Rarely has an Arsenal manager ever had to prepare for two so-very-different away trips in the same week. Bayern Munich are, as they so painfully proved on Wednesday, one of the finest club sides in the world. Sutton United, on the other hand, are part-timers who were only promoted to the fifth flight of English football last May and are struggling to stay there. How best to encapsulate the differences between these two football... Full Blog Post ENGLISH FA CUPSUTTON UNITED BY PHIL LYTHELL ShareTweet7 hours ago Chelsea cannot afford complacency as Wolves target another FA Cup shock Antonio Conte was left disappointed as Chelsea were held by Burnley last time out. An FA Cup tie between the runaway leaders of the Premier League and a team struggling in the Championship should be a foregone conclusion. But in a straight knockout competition -- excepting replays, of course -- nothing should be taken for granted when Chelsea travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday. If Antonio Conte and his team required any reminding of the unpredictable nature of cup football they need only to look back at the last round. In what was a famous day for one of the Football... Full Blog Post CHELSEAENGLISH FA CUP BY SID LOWE ShareTweet7 hours ago Criticism of Luis Enrique is not new but reflects Barcelona's identity issues Sid Lowe suggests that Barcelona have been gradually losing their identity far before their UCL thumbing by PSG. The media closed in, and so did the Barcelona directors: they were looking for someone to take his place. There was tension between players and coach; no way could he last beyond the season's end. The president and his board were worried that they might not last, either, their own culpability cowering behind the coach even as their credibility was bound up in him. Everything was falling apart. An ultimatum was delivered, crisis gripped. Full Blog Post BARCELONASPANISH PRIMERA DIVISIÓN BY ANDY MITTEN ShareTweet7 hours ago Martial and Rashford exemplify United promise as Mourinho chases cups Shaka Hislop breaks down Anthony Martial's status in the Manchester United squad and maintains he's a star in the making. Thursday's entertaining 3-0 Europa League victory for Manchester United over St Etienne was another occasion where we saw more evidence of a brighter future for Jose Mourinho's side. United are still a work in progress and in transition under a new manager. Few will have sympathy for such an expensively assembled bunch, but they're better going toe to toe with St Etienne rather than Paris Saint-Germain at this stage, with more opportunity to impress and improve. Prematch headlines focused on the... Full Blog Post MANCHESTER UNITEDUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEMARCUS RASHFORDANTHONY MARTIALEFL CUP BY JOHN BREWIN ShareTweet8 hours ago Sad indictment of FA Cup as Premier League elite learn to live without it Arsene Wenger suggests that removing him as manager won't solve all of Arsenal's problems. Another round of the FA Cup, another lament on the commitment shown to the competition by English football's leading clubs. This time it's Gary Lineker, speaking as lead host of television live rights-holding BBC. Full Blog Post ENGLISH FA CUPBLOG - ESPN FC UNITED BY DAVID FAITELSON ShareTweet 9 hours ago Chivas can send strong message of title intent with Clasico Nacional win In the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional, Herculez Gomez pinpoints a few key factors surrounding the match. Most of the time, when it comes to the Clasico Nacional, not everything is at it seems... Today, for example, it is assumed that all of the pressure is piled on Club America. Full Blog Post MEXICAN LIGA MXGUADALAJARAAMÉRICA BY DAVE USHER ShareTweet9 hours ago Henderson is no Gerrard but Liverpool captain still leads Klopp's men Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about Liverpool's progress under Jurgen Klopp. Full Blog Post LIVERPOOLENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEJORDAN HENDERSON BY MARK OGDEN, SENIOR FOOTBALL WRITER ShareTweet9 hours ago Jose Mourinho's 'tough love' policy at Man United yet to work on Luke Shaw Jose Mourinho says Man United's dressing room was too relaxed before their win over St Etienne, and it showed early on. Henrikh Mkhitaryan has endured the same treatment from Mourinho this season and come through the other side, while Anthony Martial is also beginning to show signs of making the same positive transition as the Armenia midfielder. But Shaw seems to be... Full Blog Post MANCHESTER UNITEDENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUELUKE SHAW BY JAMES MCNICHOLAS ShareTweet10 hours ago Arsene Wenger clever over exit talk, but Arsenal fans sense change is needed The ESPN FC crew discuss whether Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal at the end of the season. It's an unfortunate fact of the last decade that Arsene Wenger has become rather proficient at dealing with difficult news conferences. He has, after all, had plenty of experience. Nevertheless, the manner in which the embattled Arsenal boss dealt with his latest one was particularly impressive. By declaring his intention to continuing coaching next season, he has temporarily shifted the focus onto the fans and his employers. London Colney was busier than usual, with plenty of journalists... Full Blog Post ARSENALENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweet11 hours ago Arsene Wenger to Real Madrid? Arsenal boss' options if he quits The ESPN FC crew discuss whether Arsene Wenger will leave Arsenal at the end of the season. The 67-year-old will not be short of offers if he decides to end his 21-year association with Arsenal.... Full Blog Post ARSENALENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUESPANISH PRIMERA DIVISIÓNITALIAN SERIE A BY BEN PEARCE ShareTweet 11 hours ago Tottenham struggling with injuries and Pochettino's tactical tweaks ESPN FC's Steve Nicol says Tottenham rely on Dele Alli and Harry Kane too much. There was a time when Mauricio Pochettino was criticised for not having a Plan B; for being too tactically inflexible. Now it has become unclear what Plan A is -- if anything there has been too much tinkering. Spurs started the season using his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation but after a spell with a 4-1-4-1 system and an unsuccessful trial of a 4-4-2 midfield diamond, he moved to 3-4-2-1. The catalyst was the limp 1-0 defeat at Manchester United in December, when Kyle Walker and Danny Rose were neutralised.... Full Blog Post TOTTENHAM HOTSPURENGLISH FA CUP BY DAVID MOONEY ShareTweet12 hours ago FA Cup could be Guardiola's best chance of debut silverware at Man City The ESPN FC crew discuss the impact of Gabriel Jesus' injury at Manchester City. It's been more than two years since Manchester City faced a team from outside of the top flight in the FA Cup. It was a shock result, too, as then-Championship Middlesbrough took a 2-0 victory away from Manuel Pellegrini's team at the Etihad in January 2015. The fans haven't had an away trip to a lower league side in the competition for even longer -- it was a 1-1 draw at Blackburn in Pellegrini's debut campaign, back in January 2014. To get a win when playing away at a team from outside the top... Full Blog Post MANCHESTER CITYENGLISH FA CUP BY DANNY LEE, FOOTBALLWHISPERS ShareTweet12 hours ago Transfer Rater: Arda Turan to Chelsea, Santi Cazorla to Fenerbahce The latest transfer rumours from around the world. The latest transfer rumours from around the world. Things change in the blink of an eye in football. The Football Whispers Index takes the latest transfer rumours and gives them a score out of five; the higher the score, the more realistic and reliable the whisper. Here are today's top five emerging whispers for the summer. And keep an eye on Transfer Talk for the latest gossip. Dominic Solanke to Liverpool Young Chelsea striker Solanke will make the switch to Liverpool this summer, The Sun is reporting. Full Blog Post BLOG - TRANSFER TALKTRANSFERSARDA TURANCHELSEASANTI CAZORLAARSENALFENERBAHCE BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet12 hours ago Chilean fans' campaign to coax Alexis Sanchez into leaving Arsenal Thousands of Chilean football fans have organised a campaign to coax Alexis Sanchez into leaving Arsenal. With speculation rife over Sanchez's immediate future, a Facebook page has been set up to announce that over 5,000 of his fellow compatriots are planning to march through Santiago in protest over the lack of support the 28-year-old forward is currently receiving. The march was apparently sparked by Arsenal's dismal 5-1 trouncing at the hands of Bayern Munich, in which Sanchez cut an isolated... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEARSENALCHILE BY JOHN DUERDEN ShareTweet13 hours ago Mark Clattenburg to Saudi Arabia: Top ref faces big challenges ESPN FC's Shaka Hislop has backed Mark Clattenburg's move to Saudi Arabia. With the news that one of Europe's leading referees, Mark Clattenburg, has swapped the Premier League and the Champions League for Saudi Arabia, ESPN FC lists five things the high-profile official can expect in his new home. He will be the biggest international name in the league There have been times when the big Saudi clubs were not short of money but increasingly, when the most famous international stars head to the Middle East, they go to Qatar or the United Arab Emirates. Full Blog Post BLOG - FOOTBALL ASIA BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet 13 hours ago Nice guy Claudio Ranieri's handshakes for press before FA Cup clash Even with his Leicester City side currently fighting relegation after winning the title last season, it's nice to know that Claudio Ranieri remains a resolutely affable gentleman. Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEENGLISH FA CUPLEICESTER CITY BY ADAM HURREY ShareTweet14 hours ago Identikit stadiums consigning 'tough place to go' grounds to the distant past Sutton United manager Paul Doswell explains what Arsenal can expect when they visit the non-league side in the FA Cup. Could it be that part of the pre and postmatch interview cliche furniture is being consigned to the past? Last weekend and this will see examples of this oft-uttered expression but it is applicable ever less often. Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEBLOG - ESPN FC UNITEDENGLISH FA CUPSUTTON UNITED BY CHRIS ATKINS ShareTweet14 hours ago CSL champions Guangzhou Evergrande pursuing all Chinese dream PJ Roberts and John Wilkinson examine the new quota on foreign players in the CSL and its potential impact. Since Guangzhou FC fell into the hands of the Evergrande Group in 2010, the club's course has been set to a firmly upward bearing. After an immediate return to the Super League in their first year of ownership, Evergrande have claimed six consecutive CSL titles and are two-time champions of Asia. It is a remarkable story of success. Evergrande's rise is, of course, no football fairytale. Owner Xu Jiaxin's decision to invest in football was undoubtedly politically motivated and the team's success... Full Blog Post CHINESE SUPER LEAGUEBLOG - FOOTBALL ASIAGUANGZHOU EVERGRANDE BY IAN DARKE ShareTweet14 hours ago Arsene Wenger deserves to leave Arsenal with dignity and acclaim Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson believes Arsene Wenger may be on his way out. Then the 5-1 hammering at Bayern Munich happened. Arsenal's embarrassing Champions League loss does indeed look like the beginning of the end for a great man and manager. After 21 years, three titles and six FA Cups, Wenger... Full Blog Post ARSENALENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BY RICHARD JOLLY ShareTweet14 hours ago Mauricio Pochettino must win silverware to back up his reputation Steve Nicol is critical of Spurs' inability to make up for the current struggles of Harry Kane and Dele Alli. If history is a guide, Tottenham will exit the FA Cup on Sunday. Not because of Spurs' record against Fulham, which shows eight wins in their past 10 meetings. Or, indeed, their past in the FA Cup, which only Arsenal and Manchester United have lifted more often. Nor, even, a recent record showing a mere two defeats and nine victories in 13 matches over all competitions. But more so because of Mauricio Pochettino's personal history. The Argentine has forged a reputation as a manager who takes teams... Full Blog Post TOTTENHAM HOTSPURUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEENGLISH FA CUP BY MINA RZOUKI ShareTweet 20 hours ago Pjaca should learn from Mandzukic that hard work can trump technique Massimiliano Allegri says securing a sixth straight league title would turn his Juventus side into legends. Juventus is hosting Palermo on Friday evening, but all anyone can think of is how Juve will fare in the Champions League against Porto on Wednesday. The recent midweek fixtures produced a few surprises, and while certain score lines grabbed the headlines, most would agree that no team has consistently proved to be brilliant. Paris Saint-Germain looked convincing, but certain mediocre performances in the group stage and in the league have caused many to wonder if manager Unai Emery's team can keep... Full Blog Post JUVENTUSITALIAN SERIE AMARKO PJACA BY MICHAEL WADE ShareTweet21 hours ago Lindelof and Kessie top Man United's shopping list; Bayern in for Belotti Steve Nicol believes Man United were deserving winners against St Etienne, lauding the efforts of hat-trick hero, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Transfer deadline day has come and gone, but Transfer Talk is already monitoring the whispers ahead of all the summer moves. Check out all the latest deals here. Kessie, Lindelof top United target list Jose Mourinho is looking to recruit Victor Lindelof and Franck Kessie -- two of the brightest talents in world football -- for Manchester United this summer. Paris Saint-Germain and Roma have joined the race to sign 22-year-old defender Lindelof from Benfica but, according to Calcio Mercato, United... Full Blog Post BLOG - TRANSFER TALKTRANSFERSMANCHESTER UNITEDVICTOR LINDELOFFRANCK KESSIÉ BY ROB TRAIN ShareTweet23 hours ago Real Madrid's congested fixture list should give Morata, Asensio a chance The FC panel quickly share their thoughts on who will advance in the Real Madrid v Napoli UCL Round of 16 clash. Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid took a huge step towards the Champions League quarterfinal with a 3-1 win over Napoli at the Bernabeu, a good sign as they seek to become the first side to successfully defend Europe's highest club honour since AC Milan in 1990. The margin of victory is enough to make Madrid clear favourites to advance. Conceding an away goal was not ideal but there's sufficient reason for optimism in the Real camp going into the match at the San Paolo on March 7: there has not been... Full Blog Post UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEREAL MADRID BY TERRY DALEY ShareTweet1 day ago Edin Dzeko, Mohamed Salah lift Roma to big win vs. Villarreal Dzeko and Salah were superb as Roma pulled away from Villarreal in the second half. Edin Dzeko was once again Roma's hero, bashing a second half hat-trick past La Liga's tightest defence as the Giallorossi all but booked their place in the last 16 of the Europa League with a thumping 4-0 win at Villarreal. They became the first team to score four goals at the Madrigal since Barcelona in May 2010, while the Bosnian now has an astonishing 28 goals for the season. Emerson Palmieri also shone and set the away side up with a corking long-range opener just after the half-hour mark,... Full Blog Post AS ROMAUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEEDIN DZEKO BY MUSA OKWONGA ShareTweet1 day ago Zlatan's hat trick, Martial's movement lead United to rout of St Etienne Manchester United virtually booked their progress to the next round against a St Etienne side whose approach play was very good but whose finishing was woeful. The visitors could well have departed with a 1-1 draw, but they were punished for their failures by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who claimed all three of the game's goals. Manchester UnitedManchester United St EtienneSt Etienne 3 0 FT Leg 1 Game Details GameCast Lineups and Stats Positives Juan Mata, Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford, Paul Pogba and Eric Bailly all shone, though Ibrahimovic will inevitably take the headlines. Ander Herrera was as busily... Full Blog Post MANCHESTER UNITEDUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEZLATAN IBRAHIMOVICANTHONY MARTIALCHRIS SMALLINGERIC BAILLYSERGIO ROMEROJUAN MATADALEY BLINDANTONIO VALENCIAANDER HERRERAPAUL POGBAMAROUANE FELLAINIJESSE LINGARDASHLEY YOUNGMARCUS RASHFORD BY RICHARD JOLLY ShareTweet1 day ago Man United take comfortable first-leg win vs. Etienne via Zlatan hat trick MANCHESTER, England -- Three quick thoughts from Manchester United's 3-0 Europa League win over St. Etienne at Old Trafford on Thursday. Man United take comfortable lead to France It may be an exaggeration to say everyone else in the Europa League is quaking in their boots, but Manchester United illustrated why they have been billed as one of the favourites to win the competition. A place in the round of 16 is theirs for the taking. Zlatan Ibrahimovic saw off St. Etienne with his first... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE MATCHUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEMANCHESTER UNITEDST ETIENNE BY SHAKA HISLOP ShareTweet1 day ago Power Rankings: Juventus surge to No. We have a new top team in Shaka Hislop's Power Rankings this week! Chelsea has slipped down the charts, but they're in first place where it matters... Juventus +1 Business as usual in Turin, then! Max Allegri's side are humming in high gear, winning six straight in all competitions and eight of their last nine. A pair of Gonzalo Higuain goals were enough to defeat Cagliari last weekend, and SPI gives them an 81 percent chance of breezing through to the Champions League quarterfinal.... Full Blog Post BLOG - ESPN FC UNITEDJUVENTUS BY JOHN CRACE ShareTweet1 day ago Dele Alli fades as unrecognisable Tottenham lack confidence at Gent A goal just before the hour mark after sloppy defending by Tottenham was enough to give Gent the advantage going into next week's Europa League round-of-32 return leg at Wembley Stadium. Mauricio Pochettino had fielded a near full-strength team, hoping to get a reaction after last Saturday's defeat in the Premier League to Liverpool at Anfield, but Spurs started sluggishly and only managed one decent shot on target in the first half. Tottenham improved briefly at the start of the second half and... Full Blog Post TOTTENHAM HOTSPURUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEDELE ALLI BY DAN KILPATRICK, TOTTENHAM CORRESPONDENT ShareTweet1 day ago At full strength, Spurs' European struggles continue in defeat at Gent GHENT, Belgium -- Three conclusions from Tottenham's 1-0 defeat at KAA Gent on Thursday in the first leg of the Europa League round of 32. Spurs players not up for the cup If Tottenham want to win the Europa League -- and their manager and captain are adamant that they do -- this was not the way to show it. Spurs' hopes of winning a first trophy since 2008 were dealt a significant blow with a 1-0 defeat to Belgian minnows KAA Gent, the lowlight of a dismal season in Europe. Some Spurs fans didn't... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE MATCHUEFA EUROPA LEAGUEKAA GENTTOTTENHAM HOTSPURMOUSSA SISSOKOHARRY KANEDELE ALLIHARRY WINKS BY RAPHAEL HONIGSTEIN ShareTweet1 day ago Ancelotti allays fears that Bayern Munich have grown too comfortable The FC crew question just how good Bayern Munich can be and if their big win over Arsenal has made them UCL favourites. MUNICH -- Some stories get told so often they become a mantra, a sacred utterance believed to have spiritual powers. Full Blog Post BAYERN MUNICHUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweet 1 day ago Trending: Mark Clattenburg to Saudi Arabia, Arsenal won't rush Wenger Arsene Wenger searches for the cause of what unraveled Arsenal so comprehensively against Bayern. Here are the latest stories for Thursday. PREMIER LEAGUE: Mark Clattenburg is to quit his job as Premier League referee to move to the Saudi Arabian Football Federation. ARSENAL: Arsenal will not rush Arsene Wenger into making a decision about his future following Wednesday's 5-1 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich, a club source has told ESPN FC. Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEARSENAL BY TOM MARSHALL ShareTweet1 day ago Everything you need to know about Chivas vs. America in Clasico Nacional In the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional, Herculez Gomez pinpoints a few key factors surrounding the match. CHIVAS AMERICA GuadalajaraGuadalajara AméricaAmérica 3:06 AM UTC Game Details GameCast Lineups and Stats The Clasico Nacional... On one side, Guadalajara is Mexico's second biggest city and the capital of Jalisco, the most Mexican of states -- home of tequila, mariachi and charreria. Chivas themselves are a patriotic symbol due to their unique tradition of fielding only Mexican players, too. Then, there is Club America. Full Blog Post MEXICAN LIGA MXGUADALAJARAAMÉRICA BY JAMES TYLER ShareTweet1 day ago Is it time for Arsene Wenger to leave Arsenal? Vote: stay or go ESPN FC's Julien Laurens assesses the reasons Arsene Wenger might want to stay at Arsenal. Doesn't it feel like deja vu to be here discussing Arsene Wenger's future at Arsenal? Well, the 5-1 shellacking at Bayern Munich is a repeat of 2015's defeat and as such, the mercurial manager's job looks as shaky as the back four without Laurent Koscielny. So, should this be the time at which the club and the coach part ways? After Arsenal's latest big defeat, should Arsene Wenger leave? YES: TIME FOR SOMEONE NEWNO: BE PATIENT! SUBMIT Mark Ogden suggested that Wenger should leave and the club should be ruthless if they're to remain within reach of the top clubs. Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEARSENALBLOG - ESPN FC UNITED BY JOHN BREWIN ShareTweet1 day ago Aguero gets reprieve but Guardiola's clashes with Ibra, Eto'o a warning The ESPN FC crew discuss Gabriel Jesus' injury and its impact at Manchester City. Gabriel Jesus is in Barcelona as he undergoes treatment on his fractured metatarsal from Dr. Ramon Cugat, rated by Pep Guardiola as the best in the business. With Manchester City's best-case scenario being a two-month absence, wrapped in the caveat that rushing the teenager back could be damaging in the long term, Sergio Aguero will once again be his club's frontline striker. Full Blog Post MANCHESTER CITYENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY ESPN STAFF ShareTweet1 day ago Keys to Clasico Nacional: La Volpe's last stand, William's A game vs. Chivas In the 227th edition of the Clasico Nacional, Herculez Gomez pinpoints a few key factors surrounding the match. The Clasico Nacional between Chivas and Club America takes center stage in the Liga MX 2017 Clausura on Saturday. What about this particular edition of Mexico's biggest rivalry -- which will be broadcast through Facebook Live -- should you be following? Our experts Tom Marshall, Nayib Moran, Cesar Hernandez and Eric Gomez lay it all out below! CHIVASCLUB AMERICADRAW SUBMIT Chivas to thrive or wilt as favorites? Club America may arrive at Saturday's game in less than tip-top condition and with pressure on coach Ricardo La Volpe,... Full Blog Post MEXICAN LIGA MXGUADALAJARAAMÉRICA BY JEFF CARLISLE ShareTweet 1 day ago San Jose Earthquakes' barren spell has clock ticking on coach Dominic Kinnear Herculez Gomez says Chris Wondolowski is being underutilised with the Earthquakes under coach Dominic Kinnear. The pictures adorning the wall and desk in his office belong to the previous occupant, Dave Kaval. While remaining the Quakes' team president, Kaval has moved up the 880 freeway to Oakland, where he's taken on the same role with the Oakland A's of Major League Baseball. The state of Fioranelli's office -- which he's occupied a... Full Blog Post SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKESMAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER BY SUMEET PAUL ShareTweet1 day ago Vincenzo Montella keeps AC Milan in Serie A contention amid difficulties Vincenzo Montella has had to deal with uncertainty over AC Milan's proposed takeover. In truth, AC Milan were fortunate to take anything away from the Stadio Olimpico on Monday night in their 1-1 draw with Lazio. Similarly to how the nine-man Rossoneri snatched a win at Bologna in their previous outing, they are admirably finding a way to keep themselves in the race for Europe. While it may not be particularly pretty, it is testament to Vincenzo Montella and the players that they continue to battle on with possible excuses there for them to easily exploit. Whether it's injuries or... Full Blog Post AC MILANITALIAN SERIE A BY MATTIAS KAREN, ARSENAL CORRESPONDENT ShareTweet1 day ago Arsenal and Wenger repeating history in Champions League knockouts Don Hutchison loses a bet to Layla Anna-Lee. The 5-1 loss in Munich on Wednesday night felt all too familiar to Gunners fans who have watched Wenger's side self-destruct in six consecutive round-of-16 ties before this season. Barring a miracle at the Emirates, this will be the seventh season in a row that Arsenal fail... Full Blog Post ARSENALENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEMESUT ÖZIL BY ANDREW MANGAN ShareTweet1 day ago An Arsene Wenger exit wouldn't solve all the problems at rudderless Arsenal The ESPN FC crew discuss Arsene Wenger's desperate situation at Arsenal. In the wake of Arsenal's humiliating 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night, further questions have been raised about Arsene Wenger's future. The Frenchman's contract will expire in June, and although there's a two-year extension waiting to be signed, it would be less and less surprising if he decided not to renew. That Wenger is the one who will decide speaks to an incredible imbalance within the football club from a board that has long absolved itself of the responsibility.... Full Blog Post ARSENALUEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet1 day ago Ryan Christie scores stunning goal as Aberdeen thrash Motherwell There may be several months of the season left to play, but it looks like the Scottish Premiership goal of the season competition has already been sewn up. The goal in question came during Aberdeen's 7-2 trouncing of Motherwell on Wednesday evening, with 21-year-old Dons midfielder Ryan Christie taking the honours. Following a slick three-pass interchange from a corner, it was Christie who applied a fitting finishing touch -- clipping a delicate lob over the keeper with the outside of his foot from... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEABERDEEN BY STEVEN KELLY ShareTweet 1 day ago Coincidences between Houllier's and Klopp's reigns as Liverpool rebuild Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about Liverpool's progress under Jurgen Klopp. Jurgen Klopp has taken his Liverpool squad to a training camp in La Manga. Since he sometimes complains about England's lack of a winter break, being knocked out of the FA Cup early gives his team a chance to belatedly regroup and revitalise. It means a 16-day gap between league fixtures. Unusual, but it's not the record for Liverpool this century as they went 20 days without a game in February 2000. It's just one of a number of coincidences between Klopp's reign and that of Liverpool's... Full Blog Post LIVERPOOLENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY MARK GLEESON ShareTweet1 day ago African Super Cup: Will anyone watch Sundowns vs. CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe will be out to surprise a few teams at the Club World Cup. TP Mazembe Englebert won the CAF Confederation Cup. The annual Super Cup seems as pointless a game as ever there was. It engenders little enthusiasm from the fans, no passion from the players and runs contrary to the principles of good competition. A single match to determine a trophy makes a mockery of the commitment, effort and sacrifice needed to lift silverware. Yet this Saturday marks the 25th time that Africa is hosting its annual meeting between the winner of the previous year's Champions League and African Confederation Cup, the continent's... Full Blog Post BLOG - FOOTBALL AFRICA BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet1 day ago Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney stars alongside Wolverine We've already seen mascots painted blue and Ashley Young fending off swarms of alien invaders, and now Manchester United's corporate partnership with 20th Century Fox has coughed up another cinematic gem. This time we're treated to Wayne Rooney in the cameo role, with the United striker appearing alongside Hugh Jackman's Wolverine in the new trailer for the Logan movie. Nobody is born a legend. You fight to become one. Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEMANCHESTER UNITEDWAYNE ROONEY BY GLENN PRICE, LIVERPOOL CORRESPONDENT ShareTweet1 day ago Liverpool training camp in La Manga: Five players who must impress Former Liverpool midfielder Steve McManaman speaks exclusively to ESPN FC about Liverpool's progress under Jurgen Klopp. Jurgen Klopp is making the most of Liverpool's absence from the FA Cup. Double training sessions are on the agenda as Klopp looks to get his Liverpool side in fine shape for the back end of the Premier League campaign. ESPN FC takes a look at five players with a point to prove... Full Blog Post LIVERPOOLENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE BY DANNY LEE, FOOTBALLWHISPERS ShareTweet1 day ago Transfer Rater: Riyad Mahrez to Tottenham, Arturo Vidal to Chelsea Shaka Hislop gauges the latest rumours surrounding Riyad Mahrez, Arturo Vidal and more. The latest transfer rumours from around the world. The latest transfer rumours from around the world. Things change in the blink of an eye in football. The Football Whispers Index takes the latest transfer rumours and gives them a score out of five; the higher the score, the more realistic and reliable the whisper. Here are today's top five emerging whispers for the summer. And keep an eye on Transfer Talk for the latest gossip. Martin Caceres to Southampton Premier League side Southampton are still in pole position to sign former Juventus defender Caceres on a free transfer, despite... Full Blog Post BLOG - TRANSFER TALKTRANSFERS BY NICK MILLER ShareTweet 1 day ago Berahino and Pulis stoke the fires in West Brom and Stoke's gripping rivalry Stoke boss Mark Hughes discusses the leak regarding Saido Berahino's ban. The most compelling storyline in the Premier League at the moment is not the title race. It's not the relegation battle, with teams that looked dead showing life and some that seemed safe now circling the drain. It's not even whoever Jose Mourinho is arguing with this week. The most interesting -- funniest, least dignified, most entertaining, whatever you like -- tale in English football is the squabble between West Brom and Stoke. Usually, clubs prefer to keep their spats relatively... Full Blog Post ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEWEST BROMWICH ALBIONSTOKE CITY BY CHRIS WRIGHT ShareTweet1 day ago Arsenal annihilated: The best fallout from Bayern Munich hammering The ESPN FC crew discuss Arsenal's Champions League embarrassment. As you may have heard, Arsenal lost an important football match on Wednesday night -- and fairly heavily too. In the wake of Bayern Munich's unceremonious 5-1 evisceration of the Gunners, the social media fallout was very close to nuclear, as fans and neutrals alike came together to scorn Arsene Wenger, his sub-par players and their risible performance. Inevitably, longtime Wenger-baiter Piers Morgan was typically measured and positive about the whole thing. For God's sake, Arsene, it's over.... Full Blog Post BLOG - THE TOE POKEARSENAL BY MATTIAS KAREN, ARSENAL CORRESPONDENT ShareTweet1 day ago Arsenal collapse at Bayern Munich in UCL is 'same old story' - media reaction The verdict on Arsenal's humbling 5-1 defeat at Bayern Munich was blasted across the back pages of Britain's newspapers on Thursday. Arsenal collapsed in the second half in Munich on Wednesday evening to all but ensure that they'll exit the Champions League in the round of 16 for the seventh year running. Full Blog Post UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEARSENAL BY DEREK BILTON ShareTweet1 day ago Tottenham's tough trip to Fulham, Man United to cruise, Leicester woe Tottenham survived a scare in the fourth round as they came from 2-0 down to beat Wycombe 4-3. Tottenham to be troubled at Fulham If the fourth round of the FA Cup taught us anything, it was that top teams who fail to show the competition the respect it deserves could end up embarrassed. Liverpool, Newcastle and Leeds United were high profile casualties after fielding weakened teams to supposedly inferior opposition and this weekend Tottenham could be the next team to fall. Spurs' first choice starting XI is one of the strongest in the country but the squad generally lacks depth and they...

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