Martin O’Neill has admitted he needs to bring in several quality players before the transfer window closes on August 31 – just for Aston Villa to “stand still” after last season’s achievements.

Sweden coach Lars Lagerback has a message for Argentina ahead of their quarter-final meeting with World Cup hosts Germany in Berlin on Friday; hit top form or pack your bags and head home.

Sweden coaches Tommy Soderberg and Lars Lagerback still have work to do following the bust-up between Fredrik Ljungberg and Olaf Mellberg, according to former Sweden international Glenn Stromberg.

Fulham and Aston Villa have drawn 19 league games between them this season, and the total rose quietly to 20 this afternoon on an afternoon when the finishing was as poor as the weather.