Team GB opened their Olympics campaign on Thursday with an unconvincing 1-1 draw against African side Senegal.

Craig Bellamy gave Stuart Pearce’s men a perfect start when he opened the scoring on 20 minutes, but Moussa Konate denied the hosts all three points with a strike eight minutes from time.

Pearce admitted that not seeing the game out was a cause for frustration.

“The fact we got our noses in front and didn’t nail the game – and if we had moved the ball quicker we might have done – is a frustration,” Pearce told reporters after the game.

“It would have been nice to win and now we have to deal with the disappointment of conceding a late goal.

“As I know from my own experience as a player, the first game is always a nervous affair. There were a few nervous faces in the dressing room beforehand.

“There are big expectations on the host nation but it was fantastic to be applauded out by all the staff,” he concluded.

Team GB take on UAE on Sunday in their next game.

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By Gareth McKnight

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Fulham midfielder Moussa Dembele has confirmed that Real Madrid have made an enquiry about him.

The Spanish champions are in the market for a creative midfielder this summer, with Tottenham playmaker Luka Modric the number one choice.

However, with the north London club standing firm on their valuation of the Croatia international, negotiations have been ongoing but a deal is yet to be agreed.

As such Jose Mourinho is thought to be weighing up other options, with rumours that Dembele could well be an alternative.

The Belgium international has blossomed at Craven Cottage and is being monitored by a number of leading Premier League clubs, but Dembele has revealed that Los Blancos have been in touch.

“I do not know if I will leave,” he told the Belgian newspaper Het Nieuwsblad, translated to English by The Guardian.

“Actually I can say nothing about it.

“There was contact between Real and my agent. They wanted information, but that was it. Everything is still.”

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By Gareth McKnight

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With the departure of Robin Van Persie to Manchester United, it looks like Arsenal are on the verge of losing another key man as Barcelona line-up a move for midfielder Alex Song.

According to the Evening Standard, Barcelona’s vice president Josep Maria Bartomeu was in London for the last few days to hold formal talks over a potential deal to bring Song to the Camp Nou. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has publicly stated he will not allow a sale to happen – but it is rumoured that, although happy at the Emirates, Song will not sign an extension to his current contract, which expires in three years.

Worried over a repeat of the Samir Nasri situation, where Arsenal’s negotiating position was severely weakened by the Frenchman having only 12 months left on his contract, the club may consider cashing in on 24-year old Song now.

The Gunners are keen to hold out for their £18m valuation of the Cameroon international, a price-tag that Barcelona are yet to match. The lure of joining the Catalans is tangible, and their interest in Song is thought to be because of his versatility – as he is comfortable playing as a holding midfielder or as a centre-back.

Barcelona begin their La Liga campaign with a match at the Camp Nou against Real Sociedad on Sunday evening.

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Manchester City have denied reports that they were set to sign Stevan Jovetic from Fiorentina, only for the Montenegrin to turn down the move. ESPN reports.

Jovetic claimed City were interested in him, but he turned down a move to the Premier League champions as they reportedly took too long to deliberate over a deal.

The 22-year-old scored 14 goals for the Florence side last season and was also a target for Juventus.

But a club source dismissed the claims: “It sounds very much like the player’s agent working hard to pull off a deal somewhere, so why not mention City? Best to ignore it!” the source told ESPN.

“We were pretty busy signing quite a few players on transfer deadline day, but this one was not on the list.”

City had already signed one player from Fiorentina, by bringing in Matija Nastasic for £12million in a late spending frenzy, which also included the arrivals of Scott Sinclair, Jack Rodwell Javi Garcia and Maicon.

Manchester United goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard has warned his side that they must guard themselves against errors in this season’s Champions League campaign, and must do better than last term.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s men were eliminated in the group stages disappointingly in 2011-12, and start their campaign this time round against Galatasaray on Wednesday.

The Danish stopper has stated that his side must cut out silly errors and ensure that they are clinical in the competition in 2012-13.

“We have to do better. Anything else will be very disappointing as it was last season when we went out after the group stage,” The Guardian quote Lindegaard as saying.

“I think we got too careless. In a couple of games, especially against Basel at home [drawing 3-3], it was very annoying for us. That was the tendency last season. We had the game in our hands and we threw it away. For whatever reason that was, we cannot afford to do that again this season.

“We have to win everything. That is how it is to play for Manchester United. I don’t think it is bad for us to have a so-called easier group. But I’m not sure it is very good either.

“No matter who you play against in the Champions League, it is a special kind of football, the team you are playing are the champions or among the top three in their respective countries and we have to take every assignment very seriously. We can’t afford to make light of anything.

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“I don’t know if we were complacent last season but the fact is we didn’t go through and we were very disappointed, and we have to make it right,” he concluded.

By Gareth McKnight

Gary Neville has stressed the importance of graasroots coaching to football in England.

Neville, was speaking ahead of today’s opening of the FA’s new national football complex.

The centre of excellence, St George’s Park in Staffordshire, which is 330 acres and cost £105 million, was opened today by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and will have facilities for all of the England football teams. It also aims to nurture more managers and coaches of better quality.

The Manchester United legend has said to BBC Radio 5 Live that grassroot coaches “are everything.” He said: “If we can get more quality, a higher quality, a better quantity of coaching in this country, we will produce better footballers – that is a fact.”

Additionally, the FA is making changes to youth football and creating “youth modules” in order to help the development of youngsters. Neville, who has had a hugely successful career including winning the Champions League, believes it is vital to connect with young, aspiring footballers, saying: “The information passed to six to 14 year-olds is absoloutely critical. I was so lucky I was given the right information. I had good coaches, my parents put the right principles into me.”

Gary Neville joined the coaching team of Roy Hodgson’s England squad this summer.

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Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits that he has not considered recalling Andy Carroll from West Ham to help out the striker shortage at Anfield.

The Reds have got just the one recognised fit striker at the club, after Fabio Borini picked up an injury whilst on international duty, and many had expected the Liverpool boss to recall the on-loan Carroll from West Ham.

Rodgers admits the thought has not entered his mind.

“It isn’t something I have considered, to be honest. Andy has obviously gone out to get games. We have people watching when he plays and they report back how he is doing.  But with Fabio’s injury just coming up we will assess it from here,” Rodgers told Talk Sport.

Luis Suarez will have to shoulder more of the striking responsibilities during the current injury crisis and Rodgers admits he is disappointed that he will not be able to rest the Uruguayan.

“I’ve rested him a couple of times knowing the squad we have, and the games we have, looking to prioritise, but like most footballers he want to p lay every minute of every game.

“It is something I need to assess. The most important thing is winning games-that is what we need to do and in order to do that as often as we can I need the best players on the field.

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“Luis will absolutely love playing three times in a week but I need to try and nurture him because there are still many games to play between now and January.

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Former Everton midfielder Ian Snodin has said that the club can still beat Liverpool despite losing Steven Pienaar.

The South African midfielder was unlucky to get shown a second yellow car with replays showing it was a harsh decision from referee, Jon Moss.

Losing Pienaar for the Merseyside derby is a massive blow to the club and could well decide the clash on Sunday.

Snodin admits that as soon as referee John Moss showed the red card, his thoughts immediately turned to the big derby.

“It’s a massive blow ahead of the Liverpool game to be without a player like Steven,” Snodin told the Liverpool Echo.

“We can’t afford to feel sorry for ourselves or fall into the mindset of making excuses already, there is time to plan for the game without him and pretty quickly after I got over my frustration on Sunday I realised I still believe Everton can beat Liverpool.

“We have got the players who can come in and provide the bite and controlled aggression you need to win the key battles in a derby.”

Heading into Sunday’s Premier League tie, Everton are 12 places above their rivals, and are hoping to continue to build on the gap between the two sides.

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“When it comes to winning on Sunday it will be about blood and thunder – who is prepared to put their body on the line, and hopefully we’ll have Marouane Fellaini for the game because he was a big loss in West London,” Snodin added.

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Luis Suarez earned Liverpool a deserved point at home to Newcastle, who had Fabricio Coloccini sent off with seven minutes remaining.

The Uruguayans second half equaliser, which canceled out a spectacular Yohan Cabaye opening goal, ensured it was another winless trip to the red half of Merseyside for the Magpies.

Alan Pardew’s men last won at Anfield in April 1994 under the stewardship of Kevin Keegan and looked certain to continue that the trend as the home side broke out of the traps with venom.

But for all their pressure Brendan Rodger’s side couldn’t fashion out a clear goalscoring opportunity, with Suarez going closest with a free kick that skimmed the top of Tim Krul’s net.

As the first half wore on the visitors gradually grew into the game and took the lead in spectacular style through Cabaye’s sublime volley just three minutes before half time.

Hatem Ben Arfa was instrumental in the build up, beating former Toon defender Jose Enrique down the right before picking out his French compatriot at the back post, who controlled and smashed the ball past Brad Jones in one fluid movement.

That seemed to fire Liverpool up and they fully warranted their equaliser in the 67th minute and it was Suarez who did the damage, controlling Enrique’s long punt on his chest before rounding Krul and slotting the ball home.

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Both teams pressed hard to find a winner with Ben Arfa having a shot saved by Jones and Papiss Cisse volleying wide, while Jonjo Shelvey and Raheem Sterling both wasted chances for the hosts.

However , the game was to end on a decidedly low note as the usually placid Coloccini was shown a straight red card by referee Anthony Taylor following an ugly late challenge on Suarez.

Tottenham Hotspur star man Gareth Bale has claimed that if the right club came in, he would consider a move away from England.

Bale captained Spurs for the first time in midweek and despite his meteoric rise over the past few seasons, the Welshman is keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

“I never really think about being famous,” Bale told the Daily Mirror.

“As long as you don’t get too carried away, you are usually okay. You just go along with what is going along. You never really take too much notice.

“As soon as you realise how big you are, that is when you lose yourself.

“I just try to keep going. You just have to take the attention in your stride. The main thing is to concentrate on my football.

“My agent (Jonathan Barnett) has been great, we have been very close. And my family help me keep my feet on the ground. I have got a great group around me which helps me a great deal.

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“If the time comes and a team that is right comes in for me, then I will look at it seriously. I will see what happens.”