The obvious talking point today is the World Cup final and Germany’s win over Argentina in extra-time. Mario Goetze scored a brilliant winning goal with just seven minutes left before the 120 were up to win Germany’s fourth World Cup.
Although he didn’t play the final because of the final, Sami Khedira picked up a winners’ medal and becomes the third Real Madrid player ever and just the 10th player in history to have lifted the Champions League and World Cup in the same season.
In Real Madrid news, the 11 players in the squad not involved in the World Cup are back at the training ground for pre-season training this evening. They will report for duty at 5pm and undergo a range of fitness tests. Ten of them will take part in training along with members of the Real Madrid Castillas squad, now managed by Zinedine Zidane, while Jese Rodriguez will continue his fitness work separately as he overcomes his knee injury.
Meanwhile AS has quotes from David Beckham talking about James Rodriguez. The 22-year-old Colombian had a sensational World Cup and was the top scorer with six goals. He has been linked with a big-money move to the Spanish capital from Monaco, and according to Beckham, he is the sort of player Real Madrid needs.
Speaking at an adidas event in Brasil, Beckham said: “He has all the qualities to succeed in Madrid. He has talent and personality, and he can produce magic with his left foot.”
