Archive for June 2018

Argentina do not play like Messi's Barcelona, says Umtiti

June 28, 2018 Add Comment
Argentina do not play like Messi's Barcelona, says Umtiti
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Argentina do not play like Messi's Barcelona, says Umtiti
Argentina do not play like Messi's Barcelona, says Umtiti
Lionel Messi cannot be expected to recreate his Barcelona performances in a very different set-up with Argentina, according to club team-mate Samuel Umtiti. Argentina scraped through Group D at the World Cup and, prior to the final pool match against Nigeria, in which he scored a brilliant opener, Messi's performances drew criticism. But Umtiti, like many others, has pointed out that Messi cannot singlehandedly inspire a misfiring team, while he believes Argentina's style of play crucially differs from Barca's. The two Camp Nou stars will go head to head on Saturday when Argentina face France in the last 16. "[Messi] is different, he can't play the same way with Argentina and Barcelona," Umtiti told reporters. "He doesn't have the same players, even though in Argentina they have very good players. "It's completely different with Barcelona, it's a different playing style. 100 - Lionel Messi has scored the 100th goal at the 2018 World Cup. Permanent.#NGAARG #ARG #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/TjaQJSWkmO — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 26, 2018 "I still think he saved them some times. When they were very close to losing, he often was there. This is when you must worry about Leo. "The Argentinians are tough with him. I understand because of all his qualities, but he can't do everything on his own." Umtiti was surprised by Messi's mindset upon arriving at Camp Nou, immediately recognising that the Argentina man is constantly striving for more. "I really feel that he doesn't live football like others do - in the way he sees it, in the choices he makes and in the goals he scores," Umtiti said. "He just keeps scoring goals after goals. He has it in him. He doesn't like losing. He always wants to win games and titles. I didn't expect that from him because he already won everything. It's his state of mind."

Transfer news live updates: Man Utd’s Pogba and Verratti swap, plus Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City updates

June 26, 2018 Add Comment
Transfer news live updates: Man Utdโ€™s Pogba and Verratti swap, plus Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City updates
Football news - transfers, fixtures, scores, pictures | The Sun
Transfer news live updates: Man Utd’s Pogba and Verratti swap, plus Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham and Man City updates

IT is that time of year again!

The transfer window is back up and running again.

What will happen with wantaway Neymar? And what does Paul Pogba’s future hold?

Follow all of the twists and turns with our live blog right here ๐Ÿ‘‡

Egypt World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide

June 25, 2018 Add Comment
Egypt World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide
News – World Soccer
Egypt World Cup Fixtures, Squad, Group, Guide

Egypt needed a last ditch penalty by Mohammed Salah to ensure their place in the 2018 World Cup.

Egypt World Cup FixturesEgypt lose their opening match against Uruguay, without Mohamed Salah (Getty Images) Egypt needed a last ditch penalty by Mohammed Salah to ensure their place in the 2018 World Cup.

2018 FIFA World Cup Live Tracker: Day 11

June 24, 2018 Add Comment
2018 FIFA World Cup Live Tracker: Day 11
Sportsnet.ca
2018 FIFA World Cup Live Tracker: Day 11
2018 FIFA World Cup Live Tracker: Day 11

Day 11 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup features interesting matchups from both Group G and Group H.

Sunday gets underway with England vs Panama in Nizhny in Group G, and is followed by an intriguing clash between Japan vs. Senegal in Group H from Yekaterinburg. The day caps off with another Group H battle between Poland vs. Colombia in Kazan.

Follow along for all the latest from Russia:

Liverpool made right decision to let Emre Can join Juventus - he will thrive there

June 23, 2018 Add Comment
Liverpool made right decision to let Emre Can join Juventus - he will thrive there
ESPN FC News
Liverpool made right decision to let Emre Can join Juventus - he will thrive there
Gab Marcotti and the ESPN FC crew discuss how far along Liverpool are in their contract negotiations with Roma's Alisson. Emre Can will thrive at Juventus. After four underwhelming years at Liverpool, the 24-year-old will play in Serie A next season and Italy is a better stage for him than the Premier League ever was. The midfielder arrived on Merseyside at a time of great optimism at Anfield. Liverpool, under Brendan Rodgers, had run Manchester City close in the title race the previous spring. The upbeat mood was soured a little by the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona after the World Cup in Brazil but the club's...

Russia will stop Salah - Cherchesov

June 18, 2018 Add Comment
Russia will stop Salah - Cherchesov
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Russia will stop Salah - Cherchesov
Russia will stop Salah - Cherchesov
Russia head coach Stanislav Cherchesov has pledged to leave Mohamed Salah shackled when the World Cup hosts take on Egypt in St Petersburg on Tuesday. Talk of Salah dominated Cherchesov's pre-match media briefing at Krestovsky Stadium, with the Liverpool star having been declared fit to return from the shoulder injury he sustained during last month's 3-1 Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid. The Egyptian Football Association similarly declared Salah was ready to take on Uruguay in their opening 1-0 Group A defeat but experienced boss Hector Cuper opted not to risk his prized asset. Salah, 26, tore Premier League and Champions League defences apart during a stunning debut season at Anfield that yielded 44 goals, but Stanislav is confident he has the remedy as his team look to build upon an emphatic 5-0 win over Saudi Arabia. "What can I say? I trust in my team," he said. "I believe in my players and I will give you a simple answer. "We are ready to do this and we will do this." Cherchesov dismissed the notion that roughhouse tactics would come into play and defended Madrid captain Sergio Ramos against an accusation that he purposely caused Salah's injury. "Is someone going to behave as Ramos behaved? I don't understand the question," he replied. "I saw that he was holding the cup of the Champions League and tomorrow there will be no cup. "I believe that Ramos did not do this on purpose. This is a contact sport and, as I understand, no one injures people from other teams on purpose." 9 - Liverpool mustered nine shots in the first-half with Mohamed Salah on the pitch, and none after he was subbed off. Setback. #RMALIV pic.twitter.com/v0DOIhHCBQ — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) May 26, 2018 The man charged with thwarting Salah as Russia's last line of defence is goalkeeper and captain Igor Akinfeev. The CSKA Moscow man bristled at persistent references to Salah as he sat alongside his coach. "First of all I will tell you about my team," he said. "I believe we should pay more attention to the Russian team. We have our own tasks, our own missions and so on. "We know there will not be mannequins against us. These will be living beings. It is not only Mo Salah who will be playing against us. They have another 20-plus players. We will see what will happen." Asked whether he was looking forward to playing against Salah, Akinfeev snapped back: "I don't even know how to start preparing how to respond to your question, frankly. "I would prefer that my team win tomorrow, that's my response." The winning feeling deserted Russia during their preparations – something a comparatively jovial Cherchesov made light of when their dismal run of friendly form was brought up. "Hey - no, no! We're not talking about the seven games [without a win]," he said. "We have won one game already here at the World Cup, so what is the next question?" Soon enough, it will be Salah posing them.

2018 FIFA World Cup Live: Day 4

June 17, 2018 Add Comment
2018 FIFA World Cup Live: Day 4
Sportsnet.ca
2018 FIFA World Cup Live: Day 4
2018 FIFA World Cup Live: Day 4

Day 4 of the 2018 FIFA World Cup includes two of the tournament’s favourites.

Sunday kicks off with Costa Rica vs. Serbia from Group E, followed by Group G clash Germany vs. Mexico and wraps up with Brazil vs. Switzerland, another Group E match.

Follow along here for all the latest from Russia.

Is Julen Lopetegui the man Real Madrid thought they were getting?

June 15, 2018 Add Comment
Is Julen Lopetegui the man Real Madrid thought they were getting?
ESPN FC News
Is Julen Lopetegui the man Real Madrid thought they were getting?
As the manager of Real Madrid, Zinedine Zidane had a terrific knack for making sure he was never the main event. Even when he was the decisive character, it was typically others who made headlines while he made history. He managed to disappear like a gust of wind once he made his mind up that his time at Real Madrid was finished. And the club have been on a mission to replace their former manager with someone as close to the Frenchman in terms of temperament as possible. It was all very regrettable...

TFC comes from behind twice in wild draw vs. D.C. United

June 14, 2018 Add Comment
TFC comes from behind twice in wild draw vs. D.C. United
Sportsnet.ca
TFC comes from behind twice in wild draw vs. D.C. United
TFC comes from behind twice in wild draw vs. D.C. United
• D.C. United 4 (Asad 12’ and 90’, Arriola 17’, Mattocks 45’), Toronto FC 4 (Osorio 56’, Vazquez 64’, Hagglund 86’ and 90’ + 2’)
• Michael Bradley: “These are games that we should win”
• TFC players booed off pitch after dreadful 1st half

TORONTO – What a crazy game.

Toronto FC came from behind on two occasions to earn a 4-4 draw against D.C. United on Wednesday night before 23,011 spectators in one of the wildest games ever played at BMO Field.

Down 3-0 after an absolutely dreadful opening half, TFC fought back to score three consecutive goals in the second half, with the equalizer coming from Nick Hagglund in the 86th minute. D.C. retook the lead just four minutes later, only for Hagglund to bail out the Reds a second time by scoring another equalizer in injury time.

Moral victories are fine, but TFC could use the genuine kind right about now, as they fell to 4-7-3 on the season and dropped one spot in the standings, into second-last place in the Eastern Conference.

As great as this comeback was it doesn’t disguise the fact that the Reds couldn’t beat the last-place team in the East, and the second-worst side in MLS. Furthermore, Toronto squandered a golden opportunity to close the gap to two points on Orlando City, who hold down the sixth and final playoff spot in the East. Toronto did make up ground on Orlando, who lost to Montreal on Wednesday night, but all things considered, this felt like a loss, rather than a draw.

Toronto coach Greg Vanney offered a different view.

“A wild game, but given the way it started, we can’t be too picky about [only] taking a point from this one,” Vanney told reporters after the game.

Returning left fullback Justin Morrow saw both sides of it, acknowledging that D.C. is a team Toronto should beat, but also feeling the Reds showed a lot of character in coming back after such a disastrous start.

“You have to take both the negatives and the positives in this one. They’re both learning points, because we can’t go down like that in the first half,” Morrow said.

Captain Michael Bradley laid the truth bare, though, admitting, “These are games that we should win.”

He later added: “We need to win games, right? We all know that. … We take this [result] for what it is, and we have to recharge mentally and physically, and come back ready to look at ourselves in a real honest way, and make sure that as we move [forward] in the second half of the season that we rediscover a little bit of life and energy and enthusiasm.”

Defender Eriq Zavaleta was in TFC’s starting 11 on Wednesday night, making his first appearance since May 18 after being sidelined with a quad issue. Bothered by a problem calf, Morrow entered the game as second-half substitute for his first MLS appearance since the first day of the season. Notable absences for the Reds were defenders Drew Moor and Chris Mavinga, midfielder Marky Delgado and forward Jozy Altidore.

Toronto started strong out of the gate, with Victor Vazquez and Nico Hasler carving out early scoring chances. But as the game wore on, the hosts looked slow and laboured, and were routinely burned by D.C.’s quick counterattack.

D.C. opened the scoring against the run of play, putting together a pretty, multi-pass sequence that ended with Yamil Asad beating goalkeeper Alex Bono from close range in the middle of the box off a feed from Luciano Acosta.

The visitors doubled their advantage minutes later when Zoltรกn Stieber was allowed to gallop down the left flank before floating a perfect cross into the box where Paul Arriola connected on a gorgeous, diving header that sailed past Bono. D.C. added a third just before halftime, with Darren Mattocks slotting his shot past Bono after Zavaleta was caught in possession inside his penalty area.

Vanney bemoaned his team’s inability to play out from the back and stretch D.C. on the attack in the first half. He also felt his team was too slow to clear balls, played too many back passes and made some poor choices.

TFC was loudly booed off the pitch as they made their way down the player tunnel for the break. It was more than justified – fans at BMO Field witnessed one of the worst 45-minute periods from the Reds in recent memory.

“It was tough,” Morrow said of the boos.

Maybe the players got the message from the fans. TFC looked like a completely different team after the restart, playing with pace and urgency, forcing the issue in the final third of the pitch, and putting D.C. under sustained pressure.

It also helped matters that Vanney changed the team’s shape, and asked Gregory van der Wiel and Auro Jr. to start building the attack, rather than relying on Hagglund and Zavaleta to make the first pass out from the back. The introduction of Morrow also bolstered the team’s fortunes going forward.

“It was an aggressive, relentless second half,” Vanney said.

Toronto pulled a goal back when Vazquez released Ryan Telfer down the left, and the youngster centred a pass for fellow Canadian Jonathan Osorio, who hammered a powerful shot home from the middle of the box. It was Osorio’s team-leading fifth goal of the campaign.

Vazquez made it a one-goal game shortly after, scoring on a rebound when he hit a sweet one-timer off a Sebastian Giovinco attempt that came off the post.

The Reds completed the comeback late in regulation when Hagglund connected on a header off a cross supplied by Morrow.

Asad scored into an empty net in the 90th minute after a defensive breakdown, giving D.C. a 4-3 lead and stunning the BMO Field crowd into silence. But the game took yet another turn when Hagglund tied things up for Toronto in injury time off a setup from Osorio.

“Five minutes left in the game, and Greg says abandon centre back and head forward. I just got in the box and waited for some great balls,” Hagglund said of his pair of late goals.

NOTES: D.C. leads the all-time series against Toronto, with 13 wins and six draws in 29 meetings… TFC returns to action on June 24 against New York City at Yankee Stadium.

The Tribal Tribune: World Cup prep, indepth analysis & Croatian expertise

June 08, 2018 Add Comment
The Tribal Tribune: World Cup prep, indepth analysis & Croatian expertise
Tribal Football - Football News, Soccer News, Transfers & Rumours
The Tribal Tribune: World Cup prep, indepth analysis & Croatian expertise
The Tribal Tribune: World Cup prep, indepth analysis & Croatian expertise

Welcome to the first edition of the Tribal Tribune - where we're going to lift the lid on what has happened at Tribalfootball and what is in the works.

Basically, we'll be breaking the fourth wall and giving you a better insight on what we're planning, whose involved and how it all gets done.

Read more on Tribal Football

Neymar makes spectacular return as Brazil beats Croatia, 2-0

June 04, 2018 Add Comment
Neymar makes spectacular return as Brazil beats Croatia, 2-0
Football – Inquirer Sports
Neymar makes spectacular return as Brazil beats Croatia, 2-0
Neymar makes spectacular return as Brazil beats Croatia, 2-0

LIVERPOOL, England — Only three months ago, Brazil striker Neymar was on an operating table and in danger of missing the World Cup in Russia. Those fears largely disappeared Sunday when Neymar returned to action with smart dribbling, fluent passing and an impressive individual goal, which he celebrated with his surgeon. Playing for the first […]

The post Neymar makes spectacular return as Brazil beats Croatia, 2-0 appeared first on Inquirer Sports.

No one seems to know why Ireland v USA kicks off at such a random time

June 02, 2018 Add Comment
No one seems to know why Ireland v USA kicks off at such a random time
Dream Team FC
No one seems to know why Ireland v USA kicks off at such a random time

We know we’re meant to be the ones informing you.

But we can’t, for the life of us, work out why Ireland are kicking off their game against USA at 20:08.

Yep, while the rest of the world kick off at conventional times, like your classic 19:45 or fans’ favourite 20:00, Ireland v USA kicks off at eight minutes past the hour.

DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to sign up for this summer’s brilliant game Your guess is as good as ours

We’ve checked multiple platforms and can confirm that it’s not a typo.

So now for the theories.

The most popular explanation is that the eight minute delay is to satisfy the advertising needs of the US broadcasters.

Ireland recently voted to repeal the eighth amendment of the country’s constitution, recognising the equal right to life of both mother and unborn child.

While it would be a lovely touch from the FAI to mark the historic vote, there would likely have been an accompanying statement explaining the later kick off time.

So it seems the symbiosis between the number eights is juts coincidence.

Fifty shades of John O’SheaPA:Press Association

What is for certain is that Ireland will use the game to support LGBT rights, with all of Martin O’Neill’s side wearing rainbow numbers.

John O’Shea will also be making his final appearance for Ireland, bowing out with 118 caps to his name.

Thanks for the memories, John. We watch you nutmegging Luis Figo on a weekly basis.

The back of tomorrow’s match kit. Not just a number, this is a statement. Ireland, supporting #LGBT rights. ๐Ÿณ️‍๐ŸŒˆ๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช #EqualGame #COYBIG #COYGIG #IRLUSA pic.twitter.com/Becg6ki0VW

— FAIreland ⚽๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ช (@FAIreland) June 1, 2018

Dream Team World Cup has landed!

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That’s because the Dream Team World Cup game is now live ahead of this summer’s tournament.

Dream Team World Cup

Completely free to enter £50m budget and 20 transfers throughout the tournament £175k total prizepot (for UK players only) SIGN UP FOR DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP NOW
Can Messi finally achieve glory internationally?

Messi? Ronaldo? Jordan Henderson? Take your pick, they’re all available for you to select at your mercy.

It’s absolutely free to enter, there’s a mouthwatering £175k prizepot and you can even play outside the UK.

So what are you waiting for? Sign up here!

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FIFA lifts ban on Guatemala ahead of 2026 World Cup vote

June 01, 2018 Add Comment
FIFA lifts ban on Guatemala ahead of 2026 World Cup vote
Football – Inquirer Sports
FIFA lifts ban on Guatemala ahead of 2026 World Cup vote

ZURICH — FIFA has lifted its suspension of the Guatemala football federation, clearing the Central American country to vote in the 2026 World Cup hosting contest on June 13. FIFA says its ruling council must ratify the decision on June 10 in Moscow. That same FIFA Council meeting must also approve the 2026 candidates, Morocco […]

The post FIFA lifts ban on Guatemala ahead of 2026 World Cup vote appeared first on Inquirer Sports.

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