Kane can be as good as Ibra and Ronaldo - Klinsmann

Jurgen Klinsmann has backed Tottenham striker Harry Kane to become as good as Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Germany World Cup winner Klinsmann is a hero at Tottenham having enjoyed two prolific spells at White Hart Lane as a player during the 1990s.

The terrace favourite these days is Kane, who topped the Premier League goalscoring charts with 25 last season as Tottenham fell away from title contention to finish third.

Despite missing out on the top prize, Kane will still grace the Champions League next season and is set to lead the line for England at Euro 2016.

And Klinsmann believes playing in such highly competitive tournaments can only help the 22-year-old improve his game.

"I adore Harry Kane. I love him," United States coach Klinsmann told The Sunday Mirror. "I really like the way he has developed over the last few years, looking at it from the outside, I have constantly said to people that it is really nice to see the younger players stay grounded, staying normal.

"You don't get a sense of any of the players losing sight of where they are which is very important and great to see. You don't want to see them become big headed.

"The opposite really is the case with him and that is very good to see. With Harry he seems to be getting hungrier every day because he wants to win trophies and make a real name for himself.

"Spurs have a wonderful group of players and the manager really has some fantastic options at his disposal.

"His goalscoring record is beautiful and deserves huge compliments," added the World Cup winning German. But the next game is coming up and so too is the next test. 

"That is the beauty of top level football - there is always something coming up. To have Champions League football for Harry is very important for his development as a player. 

"That is a huge challenge as is playing in the Euros this summer. It's a big leap forward but it's fantastic for him to have the opportunity to show what he can do.

"Of course there are fantastic strikers at a tournament like the Euros. Zlatan, Ronaldo and the others. Can he be as good as them? Yeah, only time will tell."

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O'Neill plays down Lafferty and Cathcart injury scares

Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has allayed injury concerns over Kyle Lafferty and Craig Cathcart after both players were substituted in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Slovakia.

Cathcart was withdrawn in the first half, with Aaron Hughes coming on to collect his landmark 100th cap, while Lafferty was replaced early in the second period after collecting a knock.

But O'Neill - who was unimpressed by some of Slovakia's challenges - revealed both players were taken off only as a precaution, as Northern Ireland extended their record unbeaten run to 12 matches.

"They're both fine. It was precautionary," O'Neill said of Lafferty's calf injury and Cathcart's back problem.

"Cathcart got a bad challenge, I thought. Obviously it was let go, like many.

"Kyle just had a little bit of a tight calf from a kick. We had planned to take off Kyle on 60-65 minutes. He wanted to stay on but there was no sense in it, and the same with Craig. If it was the Poland game in that situation and we needed them, they wouldn't have come off.

"They [Slovakia] are playing at home, the stadium's full and off the back of [the 3-1 win over] Germany, I'm sure they wanted to give the supporters a send-off and win the game.

"I felt that some of the challenges under normal circumstances would have been punished with a yellow card but weren't. I thought the referee was lenient in favour of the home side at times. That's understandable."

Slovakia head coach Jan Kozak, meanwhile, was pleased with his side's progress as they prepare to open their maiden European Championship campaign against Wales next Saturday.

"They [Germany and Northern Ireland] were two different matches, obviously," he said.

"We play there in different positions - home and away - in both matches we had to be cautious, especially in the defence.

"Nevertheless, I believe our players are very dominant, they are able to play and I hope they will show this in Euro 2016."

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Messi trains alone ahead of Argentina's Copa America opener

Lionel Messi trained alone on Saturday as Argentina continued their preparations for their Copa America Centenario opener against Chile.

Albiceleste captain Messi had to be substituted after sustaining a knock to his back during his country's friendly against Honduras last week, sparking fears he may not be fit in time for Monday's re-run of the 2015 Copa final in Santa Clara.

Messi is back with Gerardo Martino's squad in California after returning to Barcelona to give evidence in a tax fraud trial against him and his father in midweek, but the Ballon d'Or holder was unable to train with his team-mates.

A statement on the Argentine Football Association's official website read: "Lionel Messi and Lucas Biglia trained separately, while Javier Pastore and Ezequiel Lavezzi participated in the group play with a ball and then practiced apart."

It remains to be seen whether Messi will take part in Sunday's final training session before the Chile match.

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France 3 Scotland 0: Giroud answers critics as Euro 2016 hosts turn on the style

Olivier Giroud went some way to silencing the boo-boys by scoring twice as France rounded off their preparations for Euro 2016 with a classy 3-0 beating of Scotland in Metz.

Arsenal striker Giroud was on the scoresheet in Monday's unconvincing 3-2 win over Cameroon, but was still largely jeered by the Nantes crowd.

But Giroud's impressive international form continued against a poor Scotland team, opening the scoring with a clever flick before following up Dimitri Payet's saved shot to make it seven goals in as many France outings.

Laurent Koscielny's first international goal made it 3-0 before the break and the only surprise was that no more arrived in the second half, although Paul Pogba did strike the post.

Giroud, whose domestic position is seemingly under threat with Arsenal heavily linked with Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, was part of a wider impressive showing from the hosts.

Payet was the driving force in a dangerous attack before being replaced at half-time, while Blaise Matuidi, N'Golo Kante and Pogba were superb in midfield.

Bigger tests lay in wait for France and Giroud, but head coach Didier Deschamps has plenty of cause for optimism ahead of the hosts' Euro 2016 opener versus Romania in Paris on Friday.

A remote-controlled car delivered the ball to the centre circle pre kick-off and France were immediately in the driving seat with Giroud forcing David Marshall into a top-drawer save when he directed Payet's free-kick goalward.

The Arsenal striker had his first goal in the eighth minute, though. Bacary Sagna crossed low from the right and Giroud's clever backheel flick had the beating of the Scotland goalkeeper.

France remained in the ascendancy and Kingsley Coman's 20-yard drive brought the best out of Marshall, but it was deservedly 2-0 in the 35th minute. 

The excellent Payet brilliantly surged through the Scottish defence and, although his edge-of-the-box shot was parried by Marshall, Giroud slid in to prod home the rebound.

Marshall then saved smartly at close range from Matuidi, but from the following corner Koscielny nodded home inside the six-yard box when Payet's delivery was flicked towards the back post by Patrice Evra.

Antoine Griezmann and Anthony Martial replaced Payet and Coman at half-time, the former getting his first Euro 2016 warm-up run out having featured in Atletico Madrid's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid last weekend.

France continued to dominate as Pogba saw a goalbound effort deflected wide and the Juventus midfielder went even closer just after the hour when his 25-yard free-kick cannoned off the left-hand post.

Martial proved a menace for France down the left, while Pogba landed a speculative long-range free-kick on the roof of the net.

Yohan Cabaye and Griezmann went close late on, but the damage had long since been done as an impressive France marched on towards what they hope will be a triumphant tournament on home soil.

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Slovakia 0 Northern Ireland 0: Injury scares for O'Neill's men

Slovakia and Northern Ireland played out a 0-0 draw in Trnava as both sides completed their preparation for Euro 2016, but injuries marred a solid defensive performance by Michael O'Neill's men.

Striker Kyle Lafferty and defender Craig Cathcart went off after picking up knocks, with Jonny Evans and Gareth McAuley also on the receiving end of heavy Slovakia challenges.

Aaron Hughes made history when he became the first outfield player to reach 100 appearances for Northern Ireland after replacing Cathcart.

Slovakia's Vladimir Weiss had the best chances of the game, twice missing the target from good positions, while Michael McGovern saved from Robert Mak and Matus Kozacik denied Conor Washington.

Both teams continue their excellent form thanks to the draw, with Northern Ireland now unbeaten in 12 matches, while Slovakia have not lost any of their last eight international fixtures.

Slovakia take on England, Russia and Wales in Group B at Euro 2016, while Northern Ireland have been drawn in Group C with Ukraine, Poland and world champions Germany.

Lafferty felt he should have had an early penalty when his shot was blocked by Peter Pekarik's arm, but referee Radu Petrescu was unmoved.

Slovakia winger Weiss shot narrowly wide from a good opening after 14 minutes when Dusan Svento robbed Paddy McNair and pulled a low cross back to the edge of the area.

O'Neill was then dealt a blow when Watford defender Cathcart limped off, which allowed Hughes to come on and collect his landmark 100th cap.

Mak should have put Slovakia ahead when he broke through the offside trap, but McGovern was quickly off his line to make a fine save.

Northern Ireland were almost gifted a goal just before half-time when Kozacik spilled Chris Baird's drilled free-kick, but the goalkeeper recovered before Steven Davis could tap in the rebound.

Patrik Hrosovsky carved the Northern Ireland back line open for Weiss shortly after the interval, but he missed again, lifting his shot over the onrushing McGovern and the crossbar.

There was another injury scare for the visitors when Lafferty went off after a picking up a knock, then his replacement Washington, who had scored in two of his three previous caps for Northern Ireland, cut inside and forced a good save from Kozacik.

Juraj Kucka mis-hit a shot wide after 67 minutes, with Jan Kozak's side looking the more likely scorers, then Marek Hamsik just missed Pekarik's excellent right-wing cross.

Slovakia captain Martin Skrtel almost scored a late own goal to hand Northern Ireland victory, but Kozacik made a reaction block to preserve his clean sheet as the match petered out.

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Austria 0 Netherlands 2: Janssen and Wijnaldum silence vociferous Vienna crowd

Goals either side of half-time from Vincent Janssen and Georginio Wijnaldum ensured Austria rounded off their Euro 2016 preparations with a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Netherlands.

The boisterous home fans at Vienna's Ernst-Happel-Stadion did their best to rouse Austria by creating an atmosphere that belied the fact this was only a friendly, but the hosts' defensive frailties let them down.

Marcel Koller's team looked dangerous going forward, but they lacked the ruthlessness of Netherlands - whose performance made further mockery of their inexplicable failure to qualify for the European Championship.

AZ striker Janssen, the Eredivisie's top scorer in 2015-16, headed the visitors in front in the ninth minute after taking advantage of some lax marking from Sebastian Prodl and Aleksandar Dragovic.

Austria pressed for an equaliser before and after the break, but were caught cold in the 66th minute when Wijnaldum rounded off an excellent team move with an inch-perfect finish.

The Newcastle United man's strike took the wind out of the home support's sails, and Koller must now lift his side ahead of their Euro 2016 opener against Hungary on June 14.

Marko Arnautovic fashioned the first attempt on goal out of nothing, the mercurial Stoke City forward producing an outrageous overhead kick that had Jeroen Zoet scrambling to tip wide.

But Janssen silenced the home fans by grabbing the opening goal against the run of play.

The home defence inexplicably froze after a Steven Berghuis cross from the right deflected high into the air, and Netherlands' number nine ghosted in behind a static backline before nodding past Robert Almer from close range.

Austria should have been level three minutes later. Zoet produced a fine reaction save low to his right after David Alaba teed up Zlatko Junuzovic, before Marc Janko sliced his follow-up into the side netting from no more than five yards.

The hosts continued to push forward, but were nearly undone by another deflection 10 minutes before the break when a long-range effort from Wijnaldum struck Dragovic and looped over the helpless Almer, only to be denied by the post.

Janssen could have doubled his tally for the evening early in the second half but he volleyed Berghuis' whipped cross over the bar before Alaba fired off-target at the other end a little more than 60 seconds later.

Netherlands were happy to absorb pressure and counter, and Quincy Promes should have increased their lead on the hour when he scuffed a tame effort wide after good work down the left from Patrick van Aanholt.

Janssen was then withdrawn having seemingly picked up a knock, but his replacement Luuk de Jong had an immediate impact, cushioning Promes' cross into the path of the onrushing Wijnaldum, who curled expertly beyond Almer.

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Croatia 10 San Marino 0: Mandzukic, Kalinic net hat-tricks

Mario Mandzukic and Nikola Kalinic each netted a treble as Croatia demolished San Marino 10-0 in their last friendly before their Euro 2016 opener against Turkey on June 12.

Against weak opposition, Croatia head coach Ante Cacic decided to field his strongest XI, with Luka Modric getting the nod in midfield after his Champions League success with Real Madrid, while Ivan Rakitic, Ivan Perisic and Mandzukic also featured from the start.

Croatia were on top right from the opening whistle, but needed 20 minutes to break the deadlock via Marko Pjaca.

Mandzukic and Darijo Srna then made it 3-0 within four minutes of the opener, before Mandzukic completed his hat-trick and Perisic also added his name to the scoresheet to make it 6-0 at half-time.

Rakitic continued the rout early in the second period after being set up by Srna, before making way for Andrej Kramaric, while Kalinic took Mandzukic's place up front.

Kalinic immediately showed his worth as he make it 8-0 within three minutes of his introduction, then doubled his tally in the 73rd minute before completing his treble with six minutes left.

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2017 AFCON Qualifying Review: Senegal, Egypt qualify

Senegal beat Burundi 2-0 to clinch top spot in Group K and seal their place at next year's Africa Cup of Nations.

Sadio Mane broke the deadlock in the 16th minute, with Mame Biram Diouf doubling the advantage shortly before the half-time whistle.

Elsewhere in the same group, Peter Shalulile scored the only goal of the game to help Namibia to a 1-0 home in over Niger.

Egypt joined Senegal in qualifying for the finals in Gabon following a 2-0 win over Tanzania in Group G.

Mohamed Salah opened the scoring in the dying stages of the first half, before adding a second on the hour mark to put the match to bed.

Mali beat South Sudan 3-0 to remain top in Group C with 13 points from five games, Abdoulay Diaby, Modibo Maiga and Moussa Doumbia finding the net.

Mozambique defeated Rwanda 3-2 to end their opponents' dreams of qualifying for next year's finals while Uganda went top of Group D following a 2-1 away win over Botswana.

Cape Verde beat Sao Tome and Principe 2-1 to remain second in Group F with nine points from five games, Ricardo Gomes and Nuno Rocha on target.

In Group M, South Africa recorded a comfortable 4-0 away win over Gambia.

Thamsanqa Gabuza scored twice in the opening 45 minutes after being set up by Keagan Dolly on both occasions, before Dolly himself added two more goals after the interval.

Guinea-Bissau moved one step closer to qualification by beating Zambia 3-2, and Sierra Leone kept their chances of making it to the finals alive by beating Sudan 1-0 in Group I.

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Schweinsteiger optimistic on Euros fitness

Bastian Schweinsteiger says he is fitter than before the World Cup in 2014 but will be unable to play 90 minutes in Germany's Euro 2016 opener.

The national team captain has not started a match since Manchester United's victory over Sheffield United in the FA Cup on January 9, having spent much of 2016 battling a knee ligament injury.

The 31-year-old made a substitute appearance in Germany's 2-0 friendly win over Hungary in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday.

And while the midfielder is encouraged by his progress, he knows the Group C clash with Ukraine in Lille next weekend is likely to arrive too soon for him to force his way into the starting XI. 

"[To play] 25 to 30 minutes is quite good," Schweinsteiger was quoted as saying by Suddeutsche Zeitung.

"But 90 minutes in the first game is not likely. I'm definitely fitter than I was before the 2014 World Cup, when I could hardly do anything," he added, referring to the tendon problems that threatened his participation in Germany's successful campaign in Brazil two years ago.

Joachim Low acknowledged Schweinsteiger is badly lacking match practice, while the coach calmed fears over holding midfielder Sami Khedira, who was taken off at half-time at Veltins-Arena. 

It remains to be seen if Mats Hummels will recover from a calf tear in time to feature alongside Jerome Boateng at centre-back, with Roma's Antonio Rudiger proving a capable deputy against Hungary.

"Schweinsteiger of course has no rhythm," Low said.

"With Hummels we have to wait and see. The substitution of Sami Khedira was just a precaution.

"It was important to keep a clean sheet, that gives us a good feeling for the next week."

Germany's goal was unbreached for the first time since thrashing Gibraltar 7-0 in June 2015 and Boateng felt the performance was an improvement on the surprise 3-1 loss to Slovakia last time out. 

"We started very well and moved the ball well - [although] perhaps [our passes were] a little bit too long," he said. 

"In the second half we had too many turnovers, but overall it was good. I think we can be satisfied [that] we played better than the last [game]."

Meanwhile, Hungary coach Bernd Storck made no apologies for his team's safety-first approach and revealed they will play the same way in their Group F meeting with Austria in Bordeaux on June 14.

"We tried hard to play from the back," he said.

"Obviously it was tough to play against such a hard opponent. We knew we would be put under pressure. We gave our best and gave a good account of ourselves. Our strengths are our defensive compactness. We will do the same against Austria."

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Gambia 0 South Africa 4: Gabuza and Dolly on target

Keagan Dolly put in a man-of-the-match performance to help South Africa to a 4-0 away win over Gambia in Sunday's 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

The Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder set up both of Thamsanqa Gabuza's goals in the opening 45 minutes, before scoring twice himself after the interval to help his side to a comfortable victory in the Group M encounter.

South Africa remain third in their pool with six points from five games, and face Mauritania - one point clear in second - on matchday six in September.

Ephraim Mashaba's men made a strong start and were unfortunate not to be awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box after Mandla Masango was brought down in a dangerous position, while Gabuza had a shot saved by Gambia goalkeeper Alagie Nyabally.  

Gabuza did find the net on the half-hour mark, though, opening the scoring after some great work from Dolly.  

Gabuza continued to cause the Gambia defence all kinds of trouble in the first half and the Orlando Pirates striker made it 2-0 in the 38th minute, tapping home at the near post after being picked out by Dolly.

Sibusiso Vilakazi, who had replaced the injured Thulani Serero midway through the first half, felt he should have been awarded a penalty shortly before the break, and blasted a shot over the bar soon after.

South Africa kept pushing for more after the interval and were rewarded for their attacking intentions when Dolly netted a stunning strike in the 55th minute.

The superb Dolly poured even more salt in Gambia's wounds in the 79th minute with yet another sublime goal from 25 yards out to help his team to their first win in Group M.

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Blatter: FIFA payments were clean and fair

Disgraced former FIFA president Sepp Blatter has denied allegations that he benefitted improperly from bonus payments over the last five years.

On Friday, lawyers conducting an internal investigation at world football's governing body claimed that Blatter and fellow disgraced former officials Jerome Valcke and Markus Kattner benefitted improperly from bonuses totalling 79million Swiss francs (£55m).

Law firm Quinn Emanuel believe two clauses in contract extensions granted to ex-secretary general Valcke and former deputy secretary general Kattner in April 2011, shortly before Blatter's re-election ahead of Mohammed Bin Hamman, contravened mandatory Swiss Law.

Quinn Emanuel stated that "the evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives."

However, Blatter has denied any wrongdoing regarding the payment, telling DPA: "Everything is clean and fair as my lawyer, Richard Cullen, has said."

On Friday Cullen said: "We look forward to showing FIFA that Mr Blatter's compensation payments were proper, fair and in line with the heads of major professional sports leagues around the world."

Blatter and Valcke are serving respective six and 12-year bans from all football-related activity, administered by FIFA's independent Ethics Committee. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

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Bacca not distracted from Copa by Milan future

AC Milan striker Carlos Bacca is refusing to let rumours about his domestic future distract from his aim of winning the Copa America Centenario with Colombia as he continues to be linked with a move to West Ham.

Bacca only moved to San Siro from Sevilla last July and scored 20 goals in all competitions in a fine debut season in Serie A.

However, Milan failed to qualify for European football for a third consecutive season and Bacca is being linked with an exit, with the player's agent claiming West Ham have already had one offer rejected to bring him to the Premier League.

But Bacca, who started as Colombia beats hosts United States 2-0 in California in the Copa opener on Friday, insists that his domestic future is not a pressing concern.

"For now I do not think about [my club future]," he told Sky Sport Italia.

"I am only focused on the Copa America with Colombia. But I can say that I have a contract with Milan for another four years yet." 

Club-mate Cristian Zapata, who scored the opening goal for Colombia against USA, is hopeful of signing a new deal at Milan with his current contract set to expire at the end of the month.

"We are talking about a renewal," he said. "There is optimism and we hope to reach an agreement as soon as possible."

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Wenger 'revolutionised' Arsenal, says Campbell

Sol Campbell has defended Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and credited the under-fire Frenchman with transforming the club.

Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title for a 12th season running as sections of the Emirates Stadium faithful turned on the club's long-serving boss.

Campbell was part of the last Gunners side to be crowned champions when they went the whole of the 2003-04 top-flight campaign unbeaten.

And he called for Wenger to be given more time, which looks inevitable after the 66-year-old got the backing of chief executive Ivan Gazidis this week.

"Everyone's got to realise how much he's done for Arsenal," Campbell, who played for the London club from 2001 to 2006 and then again briefly in 2010, told The Guardian. "He revolutionised the club.

"Yes, everyone wants to win the Premier League and Champions League. It takes time.

"He's done incredibly well for the amount of money he's spent - look at Man United, who have spent £250 million in two years and have only gone sideways.

"It's not easy at all. Arsenal and Arsene will know when it's time to move on. It'll happen naturally and that's how it should be because he has given so much to the club."

Gazidis told The Telegraph: "The reason we have Arsene as our manager is because our board believes he can deliver success."

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