October 2020 – Page 7 – Football Flame

Month: October 2020

No Comments
NEWS

Ireland draw 0-0 with Wales in Nations League clash

James McClean of Republic of Ireland, second right, is shown a red card by referee Tasos Sidiropoulos following a foul on Ethan Ampadu of Wales, right, during the UEFA Nations League B match between Republic of Ireland and Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.The Republic of Ireland have drawn 0-0 with Wales at the Aviva stadium this afternoon in the Nations League.Despite having the majority of the possession during the game, the home side failed to capatilise on the opportunities that they created.Ireland had 60 per cent of the possession on the day, however they did not manage to have any shots on target.The home team had to play the final stages of the game with 10 men after James McClean was sent off after 82 minutes.Even though he was already on a yellow card, McClean was given a str...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Inter Miami unite brothers as Federico joins Gonzalo Higuain

Gonzalo Higuain #9 of the Inter Miami in action against the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena on October 07, 2020 in Harrison, New Jersey. Inter Miami defeated the against the New York Red Bulls 2-1.Gonzalo Higuain will have a familiar figure alongside him at Inter Miami after the MLS franchise signed the Argentine superstar's older brother Federico.They will be the 18th pair of siblings to play together in the league, Inter Miami said, after securing a deal to bring in Federico Higuain from DC United.The 35-year-old only joined DC United in March, taking on a player-coach role after ending an eight-year association with Columbus Crew.Inter Miami brought in 32-year-old former Argentina striker Gonzalo from Juventus in September, and they hope the brothers can bring success to the newly ...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Germany beat Ukraine for first Nations League win, Spain edge Switzerland

Matthias Ginter of Germany celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Ukraine and Germany at NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium on October 10, 2020 in Kyiv, Ukraine.Germany scored once in either half to beat hosts Ukraine 2-1 in the Nations League on Saturday for their first win in four matches and their first ever victory in this competition.Matthias Ginter put them ahead in the 20th minute after good work from Antonio Ruediger and Leon Goretzka pounced on a mistake by Ukraine keeper Georgiy Bushchan to head in the second goal four minutes after the restart.Despite having the rested Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig players back in the line-up, the Germans were far from their best and a 77th minute Ruslan Malinovskyi penalty woke...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Ryan Giggs: ‘Ireland were the better team against Slovakia and got no luck’

Ryan Giggs, Manager of Wales looks on during a Wales Training Session at the Vale Resort on October 07, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales.Ryan Giggs expect Wales to put the painful lessons of Wembley into Nations League practice against Ireland in tomorrow’s clash at the Aviva.Beaten 3-0 by England, the Welsh are seeking to build on their wins over Finland and Bulgaria last month which took them to the top of Nations League Group B4 – five points clear of Ireland.“I was really happy with the way we started against England,” Giggs said.“We showed confidence on the ball and the pressing was good, but you can’t give away soft goals.“The players will learn. You don’t have much time to work on it but we’ve evaluated it and have to make sure we are right and better.”Giggs plans to make changes to his side....
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Southgate desperate for fans to return

Gareth Southgate, Manager of England gives his team instructions during the international friendly match between England and Wales at Wembley Stadium on October 08, 2020 in London, England.Gareth Southgate has revealed his heartache at fans not being able to attend England games and hopes their safe return to stadiums can happen as quickly as possible.Southgate named a new-look England side for Thursday ' s friendly win over Wales , including debuts for Dominic Calvert-Lewin - who scored the opening goal - and Bukayo Saka.But the absence of supporters took away from what was a memorable moment in those players' careers."The other night was a classic example of why we miss it so much," said Southgate."To have so many lads making their England debuts and some of them scoring their first goal...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

West Ham set to double Declan Rice wages in lucrative new deal

Declan Rice of West Ham United during the Premier League match between Leicester City and West Ham United at The King Power Stadium on October 04, 2020 in Leicester, England.West Ham United are ready to double star-midfielder Declan Rice’s wages to an eye-watering £120,000-per week after successfully warning off domestic rivals Chelsea earlier this summer.Rice, 21, joined the Hammers’ youth academy all the way back in 2013 from Chelsea’s with the Englishman since going on to feature in 114 senior first-team matches for West Ham.The young midfielder was reportedly a target for Frank Lampard’s Chelsea who were hopeful they could extend their summer spending spree and land the resolute defensive midfielder, as per The Times.However, despite a summer of flirting, Rice and Chelsea failed to get...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Ronald Koeman lauds Ansu Fati’s performance

Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman has lavishly praised Ansu Fati and is impressed with how the player has performed despite being so young.Barcelona, in the 2020-2021 season of La Liga, have played three matches so far, registering two wins and a draw. The 17-year-old, Fati, scored twice against Villarreal to hand Barcelona a 4-0 win. He netted a goal against Celta Vigo as well, as Barcelona won the match by 3-0. "His performance is of the highest level. We are talking about a player who is only 17 years old. Playing three consecutive games of top-level football at that age means he is very good. He is also a kid who wants to learn; he trains to learn and improve, and we are here to help him," the club's official website quoted Koeman as saying.Koeman also said that he is "happy with the squ...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Christian Eriksen voices Inter Milan frustrations

Christian Eriksen of Denmark Controls the ball during the international friendly match between Denmark and Faroe Islands at MCH Arena on October 7, 2020 in Herning, Denmark.Inter Milan midfielder Christian Eriksen has admitted that he is growing impatient over a lack of game time at San Siro.The former Tottenham Hotspur man made the switch to Antonio Conte's side in January and has chalked up 28 appearances thus far, but Eriksen has only turned out for the full 90 minutes three times for Inter in all competitions.Furthermore, Eriksen was only brought on as a substitute in I Nerrazurri's victory over Benevento at the end of September, and the Denmark international has now sent a clear message to Conte over his situation."I don't want to sit the bench for [Inter] the whole season," he said w...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Edinson Cavani says Ander Herrera helped convince him to join Manchester United

Edinson Cavani has revealed a last-minute conversation with Ander Herrera helped convince him to join Manchester United.Prolific striker Cavani ended protracted speculation about his future by signing for United on transfer deadline day following his summer departure from Paris St Germain.The 33-year-old was linked with a host of different clubs, including Atletico Madrid, Benfica and Leeds, before opting for Old Trafford.He revealed advice from former United midfielder Herrera, who he lined up alongside in Paris, played a crucial role in his final decision.“Yes, I spoke with Ander a lot, as well as other team-mates, like Angel Di Maria,” Cavani told the club website.“It was genuinely getting to the last minute and I called Ander to have a chat.“I have a lot of admiration for Ander, for th...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Firmino brace helps Brazil hammer Bolivia in WC qualifier

Roberto Firmino #20 of Brazil celebrates with teammates after scoring the second goal of his team during a match between Brazil and Bolivia as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Neo Quimica Arena on October 09, 2020 in Sao Paulo, Brazil.Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino scored a brace as Brazil romped to a 5-0 victory over Bolivia in their opening 2022 World Cup qualifier on Friday.Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos also got on the scoresheet while star forward Neymar set up two goals in a totally one-sided encounter that sent Brazil top of the South American qualifying table.In a Corinthians Arena deserted due to COVID-19 restrictions, Bolivia showed almost no ambition as Brazil dominated throughout, with PSG's Neymar startin...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Everton’s Ancelotti and Calvert-Lewin win award double

Manager Carlo Ancelotti of Everton looks on during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Everton at Selhurst Park on September 26, 2020 in London, United Kingdom.Everton's Carlo Ancelotti was named the Premier League Manager of the Month for September, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin made it a clean sweep for the club as the in-form striker won the Player of the Month prize on Friday.Ancelotti is the first Everton boss to win the award since David Moyes in 2013.The Italian claimed the accolade for the fifth time, having won it on four occasions while in charge of Chelsea between 2009 and 2011.Ancelotti has guided Everton to the top of the Premier League after winning their opening four league matches for the first time since Harry Catterick's team in 1969-70.Calvert-Lewin's goals...
Read More
No Comments
SERIE A

Ibrahimovic in doubt for Milan derby after new positive COVID-19 test

Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC MIlan reacts during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Bologna FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 21, 2020 in Milan, Italy.Zlatan Ibrahimovic looks likely to miss the Milan derby this month after his club AC Milan announced Thursday that the veteran Swede had again tested positive for coronavirus.Ibrahimovic, who went into quarantine two weeks ago when he first tested positive, must test negative twice before he can return to the Milan squad, whose next game is the derby against Inter at the San Siro on October 17.Brazilian defender Leo Duarte, whose last test was also negative, is also continuing his quarantine. The rest of the players are all negative, the club said. City rivals Inter have also been hit by COVID-19, with the club announcing on Thu...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Scotland survive Israel shootout as Ireland miss out on Euro 2020

Scott McTominay of Scotland heads the ball during the UEFA EURO 2020 Play-Off semi-finals match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park on October 08, 2020 in Glasgow, Scotland.Scotland won their first ever penalty shootout to beat Israel in the Euro 2020 semi-final playoffs, but there was spot-kick heartbreak for the Republic of Ireland as they lost out to Slovakia.Northern Ireland will host the Slovaks next month for a place at the postponed tournament next summer after they too prevailed on penalties after a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina.Scotland are now one game away from their first major tournament in 22 years when they travel to Serbia on November 12, but were pushed all the way after neither side could find the net in 120 minutes at Hampden."It its another step forwar...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Giroud replaces Platini as France’s second-highest scorer, Ronaldo underwhelms

Olivier Giroud #9 of France celebrate his second goal with team-mates during the international friendly match between France and Ukraine at Stade de France on October 7, 2020 in Paris, France.For Olivier Giroud, there's no better way of celebrating his 100th appearance for France.   On a night filled with unbridled joy and entertaining attacking football, the 34-year-old veteran striker effortlessly netted twice in a 7-1 demolition of Ukraine, becoming the second-highest goalscorer in France's history by overtaking Michel Platini with 42 goals. "I feel a lot of pride; it's a great honor for me, and I'm happy it happened for my 100th cap," beamed an emotional Giroud, who later revealed in his post-game interview that Ukraine's head coach Andriy Shevchenko had been his childho...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Stanislav Lobotka ruled out of Slovakia’s playoff clash with Ireland

Stanislav Lobotka ofSSC Napoli during the Serie A match between Parma Calcio and SSC Napoli at Stadio Ennio Tardini on September 20, 2020 in Parma, Italy.Napoli midfielder Stanislav Lobotka is out of Slovakia’s Euro 2020 playoff semi-final against Ireland after his club was hit by coronavirus.The 25-year-old and his team-mates were placed in quarantine over the weekend after players Piotr Zielinskiand Elif Elmas and staff member Giandomenico Costi tested positive for Covid-19.National boss Pavel Hapal had hoped Lobotka would be allowed to join up with the Slovakia squad ahead of Thursday night’s showdown in Bratislava, but has now had to admit defeat despite three negative tests.Hapal told a press conference on Wednesday afternoon: “We did our best, but then the Italian club stopped commun...
Read More
No Comments
TRANSFERS

Report: Ousmane Dembele already in transfer talks with Juventus

Ousmane Dembele and Gonzalo Verdu during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Elche CF, played at the Camp Nou Stadium, on 19th September 2020, in Barcelona, Spain.Barcelona attacker Ousmane Dembele is reportedly in talks with Juventus over a proposed move to the Italian champions during next summer's transfer window.The France international was strongly linked with Manchester United in the latter stages of the recent market and would have allegedly moved to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side on loan for the 2020-21 campaign if he had agreed to sign a new contract at Camp Nou.The World Cup winner ultimately remained with Ronald Koeman's side, but he has only played 20 minutes of La Liga football this season, and his long-term future at the club is unclear.According to Cataluyna R...
Read More
No Comments
NEWS

Scotland left depleted as Covid cases hit

(L-R) Kieran Tierney, David Marshall, Stuart Armstrong, Jon McLaughlin and Liam Cooper are pictured as Scotland depart for a UEFA Nations League qualifier in Czech Republic, on September 06, 2020, in Edinburgh, Scotland.Scotland midfielder Stuart Armstrong has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the Euro 2020 play-off semi-final against Israel at Hampden Park on Thursday night.Armstrong returned a negative test for on arrival at Oriam on Monday but the supplementary UEFA test returned a positive result on Wednesday morning.The 28-year-old will self-isolate for 10 days from the date of the test - Tuesday, 6 October - and will now be unavailable for the forthcoming international match against Israel and the Nations League matches against Slovakia and the Czech Republic.As a consequence, Ki...
Read More
No Comments
TRANSFERS

Free agent Goetze joins PSV Eindhoven

Mario Gotze of PSV during the Contract singing PSV at the Philips Stadium on October 6, 2020 in Eindhoven Netherlands.German World Cup final hero Mario Goetze, who was a free agent after Borussia Dortmund allowed him to leave, has signed a two-year contract with PSV Eindhoven.Goetze, scorer of the extra-time goal that gave Germany a 1-0 victory over Argentina in Brazil in 2014, made only five Bundesliga starts at Dortmund last season.The club decided not to offer him a new contract and, at 28, he became a free agent, which meant he could sign after the transfer window shut and after reported negotiations with Hertha Berlin went nowhere.The attacking midfielder started his career at Borussia and moved to Bayern Munich in 2013 but was allowed to return to Dortmund after three seasons.He won ...
Read More
No Comments
LALIGA

Ousmane Dembele back in Barcelona training

Ousmane Dembele during the match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC, corresponding to the week 8 of the spanish Liga Santarder, on 06th October 2019, in Barcelona, Spain. Ousmane Dembele was back in training for Barcelona on Tuesday after reportedly missing Monday’s session due to illness. There was huge speculation about Dembele’s future on deadline day with the Frenchman tipped to make a late move to Premier League side Manchester United. Yet Dembele is staying with the club and was back at work at a pretty sparse training ground as most of the first-team squad are away on international duty. ⚽ Tuesday training session with available first team and Barça B players #ForçaBarçapic.  twitter.com/5qYAakHV8k — FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 6, 2020 Barca’s next g...
Read More
No Comments
PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal insist St Etienne at fault for Saliba loan collapse

William Saliba of Arsenal during a training session at London Colney on September 22, 2020 in St Albans, England. Arsenal insist they are not responsible for the breakdown of the deal that would have seen William Saliba rejoin St Etienne on a season-long loan on Deadline Day. The two clubs reached an agreement on Monday for the 19-year-old defender to return to the Ligue 1 club on loan for a second successive season, after he made a permanent switch to the Gunners in a £ 27 m deal last summer. St Etienne claim they agreed a Deadline Day deal for Saliba to return and spend a second successive season on loan but Arsenal could not finalise the paperwork ahead of the deadline. "Long before the transfer window closed, AS Saint-Etienne had reached an agreement with William Saliba and a...
Read More
Blogarama - Blog Directory