November 2020 – Page 2 – Football Flame

Month: November 2020

PREMIER LEAGUE

Man City’s De Bruyne frustrated by handball rule changes

Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City reacts during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 21, 2020 in London, England.Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said constant changes to the handball rule in recent years have left players on the pitch confused when decisions go against them.City were frustrated after Aymeric Laporte’s first half equaliser against Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s 2-0 loss was disallowed after the pitch-side monitor showed a Gabriel Jesus handball in the buildup.“I don’t know the rules anymore, honestly. I thought if it was above the arm here it’s not handball anymore with the law changes,” City skipper De Bruyne told Sky Sports while pointing at his sleeve.“What can we say, I’ve been playi...
BUNDESLIGA

Haaland scores four as Dortmund beats Hertha

Youssoufa Moukoko of Borussia Dortmund and Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund celebrate after winning during the Bundesliga match between Hertha BSC and Borussia Dortmund at Olympiastadion on November 21, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.Erling Haaland scored four goals and Youssoufa Moukoko became the youngest player in Bundesliga history as Borussia Dortmund beat Hertha Berlin 5-2 to move second on Saturday.The buildup had been all about Moukoko, who was eligible for his debut after turning 16 on Friday. But Haaland stole the show on a cold night in Berlin before making way for the youngster’s debut in the 85th minute.“I think he's the biggest talent in the world right now. 16 years and one day, that's quite amazing. He has a big career ahead of him,” Haaland said about Moukoko to ESPN. “I'm ove...
LALIGA

Stalemate at La Ceramica as Villarreal draw with Real Madrid

Nacho Fernandez of Real Madrid and Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal CF during the La Liga match between Villarreal CF and Real Madrid played at La Cerámica Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Villarreal, Spain.Real Madrid earned an away point at Villarreal on Saturday afternoon at La Ceramica, drawing 1-1.Zinedine Zidane‘s Los Blancos sat fourth in the league table before kick-off while their hosts were in second, two points ahead, albeit with a game extra played.The Yellow Submarine hired Unai Emery in the close-season and recruited well in the transfer market, and alongside league leaders Real Sociedad look to be strong outfits this season.To make things more difficult for Madrid, they came into the clash with a slew of injuries and illnesses in the camp.They managed, however, to get things of...
LALIGA

The reasons behind Isco’s decision to leave Real Madrid

Isco controls the ball during a training session at Valdebebas training ground on November 19, 2020 in Madrid, Spain.Isco has asked to leave Real Madrid due to the little prominence afforded to him in recent times by coach Zinedine Zidane. The midfielder is looking to leave in January if it’s possibly to find a deal that suits both parties.Madrid are open to the move given that they’re trying to reduce their wage bill and free up funds for a move for Kylian Mbappe next summer, while Isco needs game-time should he wish to be in contention for the Spain squad for Euro 2020.Isco is said to receive between €6m and €7m net per-season, and this relief, coupled with a transfer fee, would benefit the coffers at the Santiago Bernabeu significantly. There is, however, myriad reasons for the deal acc...
NEWS

Ligue 1: Monaco defeat PSG after 2-0 down

Kylian MBAPPE of PSG score his goal during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between AS Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain at Stade Louis II on November 20, 2020 in Monaco, Monaco.Leaders Paris St Germain wasted a two-goal halftime lead as they lost 3-2 at Monaco in Ligue 1 on Friday ahead of a crucial Champions League game against RB Leipzig.Kylian Mbappe's double was cancelled out by two goals from Kevin Volland before Cesc Fabregas gave the hosts all three points with a penalty six minutes from time.Monaco are now second in the standings with 20 points from 11 games, four behind PSG, who host Leipzig in Group H on Tuesday trailing the German side and Manchester United by three points.Centre back Abdou Diallo, who fouled Volland for Monaco's penalty, was sent off.Mbappe, back with PSG since p...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Mourinho questions Sterling’s withdrawal from England games

Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Tottenham Hotspur during the Tottenham Hotspur training session at Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre on November 19, 2020 in Enfield, England.Jose Mourinho called on England boss Gareth Southgate to name the managers pressurising their players to pull out of international duty as he suspects Manchester City's Raheem Sterling will be fit to start against Tottenham on Saturday.Southgate hinted several times during the recent international break that some players faced pressure from their clubs to withdraw from his squad.Sterling withdrew from the squad with an injury niggle which Southgate would not elaborate on, while Spurs striker Harry Kane played all-but 14 minutes of the Three Lions' two Nations League fixtures."Gareth Southgate, I read, supposedly told that...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Liverpool injury update as Klopp confirms Leicester absentees and returning duo

Jurgen Klopp manager of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on November 17, 2020 in Kirkby, England.Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has ruled Jordan Henderson and Trent Alexander-Arnold out of contention for the upcoming Premier League game against Leicester but revealed that Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho could return.Alexander-Arnold has been struggling with a calf problem, which forced him to be substituted in the 1-1 draw with Manchester City.Captain Henderson picked up an injury of his own while on international duty with England, getting taken off at half-time against Belgium as a precaution.Defender Joe Gomez also suffered a serious knee injury while with England and he will be out of action for much of the season after having surgery.Despite the bad news, Liverp...
LALIGA

Lionel Messi and Antoine Griezmann ‘spat’ latest episode in ongoing Barcelona soap opera

Lionel Messi of Argentina gestures during a match between Peru and Argentina as part of South American Qualifiers for World Cup FIFA Qatar 2022 at Estadio Nacional de Lima on November 17, 2020 in Lima, Peru.Lionel Messi made a bumpy touchdown in Barcelona on his return from international assignments. Customs officials met his private jet at El Prat airport and routine checks on paperwork caused an hour’s delay.Then came the football-related interrogations. Reporters were waiting. What did Messi make of some peppery remarks, published while the Barcelona captain was away with Argentina, from a member of Barca striker’s Antoine Griezmann’s entourage? Eric Olhats, Griezmann’s former mentor and ex-agent, had called Messi an “emperor” who rules his club “with a reign of terror”, and had been a ...
LALIGA

Real Madrid blow as Ramos misses three games with hamstring injury

Sergio Ramos of Spain looks on during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Spain and Germany at Estadio de La Cartuja on November 17, 2020 in Seville, Spain.Sergio Ramos is likely to miss three games after Real Madrid confirmed on Thursday the defender has sustained a hamstring injury.Ramos came off towards the end of the first half of Spain's 6-0 victory over Germany in the Nations League on Tuesday.He is expected to be out for 10 days, which would mean Madrid being without their captain for their Champions League group game away at Inter Milan, as well as La Liga matches against Villarreal on Saturday and Alaves.It represents a significant blow for Madrid, who could also be without Raphael Varane away at Villarreal this weekend.The club have confirmed Varane is struggling wi...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Lampard wants Premier League’s early kick offs scrapped

Frank Lampard of Chelsea during a press conference at Chelsea Training Ground on November 19, 2020 in Cobham, United Kingdom.Frank Lampard has called for the Premier League's Saturday morning fixtures to be scrapped as Chelsea's tired players prepare to face Newcastle in that slot after a draining international break.Lampard believes it is madness for the Premier League and television broadcasters to insist on one match being held at 1230 GMT on Saturdays as it places undue stress on over-worked players.The issue is especially alarming for Chelsea boss Lampard when several of his stars were only just arriving back in England on Thursday after jetting around the world to play for their countries.They will have barely any time to rest or train before the trip to St James' Park on Saturday an...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Everton star Richarlison injury update after x-rated tackle from Manchester United rival

Richarlison of Brazil celebrates after scoring the second goal of his team during a match between Uruguay and Brazil as part of South American Qualifiers for World Cup FIFA Qatar 2022 at Centenario Stadium on November 17, 2020 in Montevideo, Uruguay.Richarlison is confident he will be fit to face Fulham and make a first Everton appearance in over a month.The 23-year-old was the subject of an x-rated challenge from Manchester United striker Edison Cavani on Tuesday night.A VAR review decided Cavani should be sent off for the stamp on Richarlison's ankle as Brazil took on Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier in Montevideo.Richarlison expects to be fit for the trip to Craven Cottage on Sunday, despite the challenge.The forward has missed Everton's last three matches because of suspension but was ...
NEWS

Belgium, Italy into Nations League finals as Foden stars in England win

Youri Tielemans of Belgium celebrates with Romelu Lukaku of Belgium after scoring the 1-0 goal during the UEFA Nations League match between Belgium and Denmark at the King Power at den dreef Stadion on November 18, 2020 in Heverlee, Belgium.Romelu Lukaku helped fire Belgium into the UEFA Nations League finals by scoring twice in a 4-2 win over Denmark on Wednesday, while Italy also secured a place in the last four with victory away to Bosnia and Herzegovina.The world's number one-ranked side, Belgium only required a draw from their last League A, Group 2 game at home to Denmark behind closed doors in Leuven and took an early lead through Youri Tielemans.Jonas Wind equalised for Denmark, but Lukaku got a second-half double and Kevin De Bruyne made sure of the victory for Roberto Martinez's ...
PREMIER LEAGUE

Kolasinac tests positive for Covid-19

Sead Kolasinac of Arsenal looks on during the UEFA Europa League Group B stage match between Arsenal FC and Molde FK at Emirates Stadium on November 05, 2020 in London, England.Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac has tested positive for Covid-19 while on international duty, the Bosnia-Herzegovina Football Federation has announced.Kolasinac will now miss Wednesday's Nations League match with Italy.The 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes of Bosnia-Herzegovina's defeat to the Netherlands on Sunday.He is the second Arsenal player to test positive this week, after Egypt midfielder Mohamed Elneny.It means Kolasinac could now miss Arsenal’s Premier League game at Leeds on Sunday (16:30 GMT) and a Europa League tie in Norway against Molde on 26 November (17:55).Depending on when he is cleared follo...
LALIGA

Barca’s Busquets out of trip to Atletico

Sergio Busquets of Spain Looks on during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Switzerland and Spain at St. Jakob-Park on November 14, 2020 in Basel, Switzerland.Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets has been ruled out of Saturday’s La Liga clash away to Atletico Madrid due to a knee injury sustained on international duty with Spain.Barca confirmed on Wednesday that Busquets had strained knee ligaments in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Switzerland but did not state how long he would be out for.Spanish media reports said Busquets would be sidelined for around two weeks, also missing the Champions League trip to Dynamo Kyiv and their home league game against Osasuna.The Catalans are already without teenage sensation Ansu Fati for the trip to Atletico, who are third in the standings...
NEWS

Italy on the brink of Nations League finals despite coronavirus chaos

Roberto Mancini head coach of Italy issues instructions to Jorginho and Ciro Immobile of Italy during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Italy and Netherlands at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia on October 14, 2020 in Bergamo, Italy.International football in a time of pandemic sets many problems and Italy right now could provide a list of most of them.The Azzurri are on the verge of making the Uefa Nations League finals, but this has been no ordinary lead-in. They face Bosnia-Herzegovina on Wednesday, a win guaranteeing progress, with neither of their regular captains, no manager on the premises and without 20 players who had been called up.Roberto Mancini, the coach, has been self-isolating, having contracted coronavirus. He had hoped a negative test would allow him to return...
NEWS

Nations League: Spain hammer Germany 6-0, Sweden relegated by France

Alvaro Morata of Spain, Robin Koch of Germany during the UEFA Nations league match between Spain v Germany at the la Cartuja Stadium on November 17, 2020 in Sevilla Spain.Spain dealt Germany their worst defeat in 89 years on Tuesday as a stunning 6-0 victory in Seville sent them through to the Nations League semifinals. Germany have not been beaten so heavily since losing to Austria by the same scoreline in a friendly in 1931. Spain's forward Ferran Torres scored a brilliant hat-trick to justify his reputation as one of football's most exciting prospects. Alvaro Morata, Ferran and Rodri gave Luis Enrique's side a 3-0 halftime lead, while Ferran struck again early in the second half and completed his treble with a classy finish. Substitute Mikel Oyarzabal tapped in the s...
NEWS

Fifa Club World Cup moved to February because of Covid-19 restrictions

Liverpool's English midfielder Jordan Henderson (C) lifts the trophy after winning the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup Final football match between England's Liverpool and Brazil's Flamengo at the Khalifa International Stadium in the Qatari capital Doha on December 21, 2019.Fifa has moved this season's Club World Cup from December to February 2021 because of Covid-19 restrictions.European representatives Bayern Munich won the Champions League in August, but the pandemic affected the conclusion of other continental championships.The tournament will still be played in Qatar, from 1-11 February."The Club World Cup Qatar 2020 has been subject to the disruptive effect on the confederations' continental club championships," said Fifa."The introduction of strict return-to-play protocols have facilitated...
NEWS

Nations League game called off hours before kick-off as Ukraine’s entire squad placed in quarantine

Andriy Shevchenko head coach of Ukraine during the international friendly match between Poland and Ukraine at Silesian Stadium on November 11, 2020 in Chorzow, Poland.Tonight’s Nations League match between Switzerland and Ukraine has been called off after six of its players tested positive for the coronavirus.The Ukrainian football association said in a statement that it was informed by Uefa the match “cannot take place” after Swiss health authorities made the decision “to quarantine the entire delegation of the national team of Ukraine.”The decision on the future of the match, which had been scheduled to take place in Lucerne at 7.45pm (Irish time), will be made by Uefa, the association said.Earlier on Tuesday, Ukrainian football’s governing body said a total of six national team players ...
TRANSFERS

Arsenal could land ideal Mesut Ozil replacement in smart swap transfer

Christian Eriksen of Denmark Looks on during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Denmark and Iceland at Parken Stadium on November 15, 2020 in Copenhagen, Denmark.Arsenal could reportedly clinch the transfer of Christian Eriksen in a surprise swap deal.The Gunners are being linked with a move to rescue Eriksen from his nightmare spell at Inter Milan in an exchange that could see Granit Xhaka move to the San Siro, according to the print edition of Corriere dello Sport, as reported by Calcionews24.Eriksen only left Tottenham for Inter last January, but has struggled to show his best form in his time in Serie A so far, so a return to the Premier League could be a tempting move for him.It would no doubt be controversial, however, if the Denmark international moved back to join Sp...
NEWS

England’s Henderson, Sterling to miss Iceland game

England Team Shoot Back Row:- Michael Keane, Declan Rice, Harry Maguire, Jordan Pickford, Jordan Henderson and Ross Barkley of England. Front Row:- Danny Rose, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Raheem Sterling and Marcus Rashford of England.England midfielder Jordan Henderson and winger Raheem Sterling will miss Wednesday's Nations League game against Iceland through injuries, the Football Association (FA) said on Monday.Henderson was withdrawn at halftime in Sunday's 2-0 defeat away to Belgium due to tightness in his leg, while Manchester City star Sterling missed the game with a calf injury."The pair have now returned to their respective clubs for further assessment," the FA said in a statement.England, third in Group A2 with seven points from five games, cannot qualify for the Nations League...
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