Luis Suarez to miss World Cup qualifier with COVID-19

17Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Luis Suarez to miss World Cup qualifier with COVID-19

Luis Suarez of Uruguay celebrates after scoring the second goal of his team during a match between Colombia and Uruguay as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Estadio Metropolitano on November 13, 2020 in Barranquilla, Colombia.Atletico Madrid and Uruguay forward Luis Suarez has tested positive for COVID-19, the Uruguay national team said in a statement on Monday. Uruguay's statement said top scorer Suarez and stand-in goalkeeper Rodrigo Munoz plus a staff member had tested positive. Other members of the squad had all tested negative ahead of Tuesday's World Cup qualifier at home to Brazil. The statement added that all three are "in good health," and said the team had followed protocol and taken the appropriate measures following the results. They join defend...

16Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Haaland’s Dortmund set to defy Norway isolation order

Erling Haaland of Dortmund celebrates his team's second goal during the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Muenchen at Signal Iduna Park on November 07, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany.Dortmund, Leipzig and Hertha Berlin look set to defy a call for 10 days of self-isolation for their Norwegian players, including Dortmund’s Erling Haaland, after a member of the national squad tested positive for Covid-19. Adhering to the request from the Norwegian football federation would prevent Haaland from playing for Dortmund on Saturday, as it would do too for Leipzig striker Alexander Sorloth and Hertha Berlin goalkeeper Rune Jarstein.Norway full-back Omar Elabdellaoui tested positive at the weekend prompting Norway to cancel their trip to Bucharest to play Romania, and UEFA then...

16Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Former Nigeria and Serie A player escapes from suspected armed kidnappers

Christian Obodo (L) of Lecce competes for the ball with Zlatan Ibrahimovic of Milan during the Serie A match between US Lecce and AC Milan at Stadio Via del Mare on October 23, 2011 in Lecce, Italy.Former Nigeria Midfielder Christian Obodo, who spent over a decade in Serie A, including spells with Fiorentina and Udinese, has said that he had escaped from suspected kidnappers in the country’s oil-rich Delta state.Obodo was driving around the southern city of Warri on Sunday when he said two armed men forced themselves inside his car.“They pushed my girlfriend out of the car,” he told AFP by phone, adding that a third gunman drove in a car behind them.“I was praying and trying to hold a conversation with them asking them what have I done, but they barked at me and told me to keep quiet and t...

16Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Mohamed Salah to undergo another Covid-19 test in Egypt on Thursday

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool rues a missed opportunity during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at Etihad Stadium on November 8, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah is set to have another Covid-19 swab test on Thursday, as he continues his period of self-isolation in Egypt.Salah tested positive for the virus while away on international duty, a few days after video emerged of him dancing amid a large crowd at his brother's wedding while not wearing a mask.The Egyptian FA confirmed his positive test last Friday and confirmed a room has been set aside for him to isolate ahead of a second swab test this week.That now looks set to take place on Thursday and if that proves to be a negative test, Salah would be allowed to fly back to the U...

16Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

France boss Didier Deschamps details how Anthony Martial has improved at Man Utd

Anthony Martial of France during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Portugal and France at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on November 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal.France boss Didier Deschamps has detailed how Anthony Martial has improved during his time at Manchester United.Martial has become a regular for France, having started recent Nations League wins over Portugal and Croatia.While the 24-year-old has scored 73 goals in 229 games for United, he hasn't yet found his scoring touch for France, having netted just once in his 19 international appearances so far.But Deschamps is happy with the forward's development at United, who Martial has represented since 2015.The France coach praised Martial's performance in Saturday's 1-0 victory in Portugal, saying he had developed ...

16Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Nations League: Belgium break England hearts, Italy close on finals

Romelu Lukaku of Belgium battles for the ball with Tyrone Mings of England and Eric Dier of England during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Belgium and England at King Power at Den Dreef Stadion on November 15, 2020 in Leuven, Belgium.Belgium ended England's hopes of reaching the Nations League finals with a 2-0 win on Sunday while Italy edged closer to next year's title shake-up.Belgium were just five minutes from joining world champions France at next October's finals when Iceland pulled level at 1-1 with group rivals Denmark in Copenhagen.However, a stoppage time penalty by Christian Eriksen gave the Danes a 2-1 win and kept alive their chances of pipping Belgium to top spot in Group A2.Youri Tielemans and Dries Mertens scored the goals which gave world number one Belgi...

15Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Arsenal told Aston Villa have stolen ‘top goalkeeper’ Emiliano Martinez

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez of Aston Villa during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at Emirates Stadium on November 08, 2020 in London, England.Former Aston Villa striker Alan McInally says he has no idea how the club managed to sign Emiliano Martinez from Arsenal for just £20million.The Argentinian keeper left North London for Villa Park this summer despite a series of impressive displays in the absence of Bernd Leno following a knee injury when football returned from lockdown.Martinez helped the Gunners to lift the FA Cup, beating Manchester City in the semi-final and Chelsea in the final.Despite his run in the side, Martinez could not take the No.1 spot back from Leno on a permanent basis, and decided to leave the club.Sky Sports pundit McInally says that Martine...

15Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Barcelona preferred Dembele over Mbappe, says Bordas

France's forward Kylian Mbappe (L), France's forward Ousmane Dembele and France's forward Florian Thauvin celebrate with their medals after the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, 2018.Former Barcelona director Javier Bordas has said that the club could have signed Kylian Mbappe before the striker moved to Paris Saint-Germain but decided to go for Ousmane Dembele instead.The club brought in Dembele in summer 2017 for €105 million plus add-ons following Neymar’s shock departure to the Ligue 1 side. Bordas has explained Mbappe could have arrived for €100m but technical secretary Robert Fernandez preferred Dembele.“Yes. When we were to sign Dembele, Minguella called me to tell us that Mbappe was within reach. I sp...

15Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Bale enjoying the game again after Spurs switch, says Wales’ Page

Gareth Bale of Wales during the Wales Training Session at The Vale Resort on November 14, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales.Wales assistant manager Robert Page said Gareth Bale is back in love with soccer, having rejoined Tottenham Hotspur following a tough period at Real Madrid, and that could help the forward shine for the national team.Bale left Spurs to join Real seven years ago but returned to the north London club on a season-long loan after falling out with the Spanish club’s manager, Zinedine Zidane, and finding himself marginalised toward the end of last season.The 31-year-old scored his first goal since returning to the Premier League with the winner in this month’s 2-1 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion.“He looks to me like he’s enjoying his football. He loves coming away with Wales. ...

15Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Nations League: France beat Ronaldo’s Portugal to reach finals, Ramos misses two penalties

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal (L) tries to escape N Golo Kante of France (R) during the UEFA Nations League group stage match between Portugal and France at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica on November 14, 2020 in Lisbon, Portugal.World champions France and Germany rode on the influence of their Chelsea stars to rack up Nations League wins on Saturday while Spain's Sergio Ramos missed two penalties on the night he celebrated a record-setting 177th international appearance.Chelsea midfielder N'Golo Kante scored just his second international goal as France defeated European champions Portugal 1-0 in Lisbon to secure a place in next year's Nations League finals.Kante was quickest to react to a rebound as he netted the winner on 53 minutes that clinched France top spot in their group.France l...

14Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

Juventus will be offered the permanent transfer of loanee + €35m to sell star this summer

Paulo Dybala of Juventus FC during the Serie A match between SS Lazio and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy on 8 November 2020.Paulo Dybala has demonstrated that he’s an elite level striker for years now, but he’s always been side-lined by somebody at Juventus and for Argentina.He’s probably reached that point where he needs to be the undisputed star somewhere, and a move to Atletico Madrid could be perfect for him.Atleti have a long tradition of having a world class striker to lead the line so Dybala would play that role perfectly, and Mundo Deportivo have indicated that the Spanish side will make a proper run at signing him this summer.The key to the deal could be Alvaro Morata who’s currently on loan at Juve, so Atleti would allow him to stay on a permanent basis as part of th...

14Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

SERIE A

AC Milan Confirm Manager Stefano Pioli Has Tested Positive for Coronavirus

AC Milan coach Stefano Pioli shows his dejection during the Serie A match between AC Milan and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 8, 2020 in Milan, Italy.Milan have confirmed that manager Stefano Pioli has tested positive for coronavirus.Many of the Rossoneri players are currently away on international duty, with Pioli testing positive following testing at the club's training ground.An official statement from the club read: "AC Milan reports that Stefano Pioli tested positive after a quick swab was carried out this morning."The manager, who does not show symptoms, was promptly placed in home quarantine. All other swabs carried out on the team group were negative. Today's training has been cancelled. Subject to the monitoring required by the federal protocol, the team wi...

14Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

TRANSFERS

Carlo Ancelotti wants Everton to sign Isco in another Real Madrid raid

Isco of Real Madrid in action during the La Liga Santader match between Valencia CF and Real Madrid at Estadio Mestalla on November 8, 2020 in Valencia, Spain.Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly planning an audacious move to make Isco the latest superstar to swap Real Madrid for Goodison Park.The out-of-favour playmaker has steadily fallen further down the pecking order in the Spanish capital, and is used sparingly by manager Zinedine Zidane.Talk is growing surrounding Isco's future and Madrid's need to recoup some finances, and now Everton are reported to be readying a bid.According to French outlet Le10sport, Ancelotti has earmarked Isco as the man he wants in the upcoming January transfer window.It is reported that Ancelotti feels a similar kind of agreement to the one which saw James Rodrigu...

14Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Sancho says Man Utd speculation has not affected his form

Jadon Sancho of England looks on during the international friendly match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium on November 12, 2020 in London, England.England winger Jadon Sancho says his form has dipped slightly this season but dismissed suggestions that it is due to media speculation about his club future.The Borussia Dortmund player emerged as Manchester United’s number one transfer target during the close season, with British media reporting that the Premier League side had bid around 100 million euros ($120 million).Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke ruled out the possibility of Sancho leaving the Bundesliga team in the summer. The 20-year-old is yet to find the net in six league games this season after scoring 17 in the previous campaign.Asked if th...

14Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

LALIGA

Barcelona’s Ansu Fati finally leaves hospital after knee surgery

Ansu Fati during the match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis Balompie, corresponding to the week 9 of the Liga Santander, played at the Camp Nou Stadium, on 07th November 2020, in Barcelona, Spain.Barcelona teenager Ansu Fati finally left hospital on Friday evening after undergoing surgery on a meniscus tear five days ago.The operation was subsequently declared a success with Barca confirming he will miss the next four months of action.It was initially reported Ansu would be sent home the same day but he then spent another night in hospital as a precaution.The youngster’s father Bori Fati was stopped by reporters in the week and offered a brief update: “Ansu is very well, I want to thank all the people who have shown support to us.”There had been no further updates on Ansu until today wh...

14Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Colombia 0-3 Uruguay: Edinson Cavani on target as Manchester United striker scores again

Edinson Cavani of Uruguay fights for the ball with Johan Mojica of Colombia during a match between Colombia and Uruguay as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Estadio Metropolitano on November 13, 2020 in Barranquilla, Colombia.Uruguay's Edinson Cavani scored early and fellow striker Luis Suarez converted a second-half penalty, his fourth in three games for his country, as they beat Colombia 3-0 in Friday's World Cup qualifier.Cavani, who scored for Manchester United against Everton last weekend, got the opener for Uruguay in the fifth minute after Nahitan Nandez had done the hard work in midfield by robbing the ball and setting him up to fire home a low right-foot shot.Suarez then added to the lead nine minutes into the second period when he scored from the spot after Jeis...

13Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Mourinho handed suspended one-match European ban

Jose Mourinho, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur gives his team instructions during the UEFA Europa League Group J stage match between PFC Ludogorets Razgrad and Tottenham Hotspur at Ludogorets Arena on November 05, 2020 in Razgrad, Bulgaria.Jose Mourinho has been handed a suspended one-match European competition ban, UEFA has announced.The Tottenham head coach was deemed to be responsible for the late kick-off of their Europa League match against Royal Antwerp on October 29.Spurs were fined 25,000 euros (£23,000) for the late kick-off by UEFA's control, ethics and disciplinary body (CEDB), as well as a further 3,000 euros for a breach of UEFA's equipment regulations.The CEDB said the ban was "deferred for a probationary period of one year, starting from the date of the present decision".Anothe...

13Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Mohamed Salah tests positive for coronavirus, Egyptian Football Association says

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool warms up before the Premier League match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on November 8, 2020 in Manchester, United Kingdom.Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah has tested positive for coronavirus, the Egyptian Football Association said in a statement on Friday.The news comes the day before Egypt is due to face Togo in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Cairo."The coronavirus test taken by our national team has shown that our international player Mohamed Salah, the star of Liverpool, has been infected with coronavirus after receiving a positive test result, although he is not suffering from any symptoms," the statement, posted by the governing body on social media, read."The rest of the team had negative test results."Our internati...

13Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Grealish and Sancho shine in England’s win over Ireland

Jadon Sancho of England celebrates with his team after scoring his team's second goal during the international friendly match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley Stadium on November 12, 2020 in London, England.England manager Gareth Southgate saw his side ease to victory over the Republic of Ireland.A much-changed Three Lions team secured a comfortable 3-0 win at Wembley as Harry Maguire captained the side and opened the scoring to make amends for his red card against Denmark 29 days ago.Jadon Sancho doubled the lead before a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty wrapped up the victory on a night where Jack Grealish and Bukayo Saka starred for the hosts.England manager Gareth Southgate said: "We were really pleased. We had a good bedrock with the back three who were our most exp...

13Nov

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Euro 2020 line-up set as North Macedonia and Scotland end long exile

Goran Pandev of North Macedonia celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2020 Play-Off Final between Georgia and North Macedonia at Dinamo Arena on November 12, 2020 in Tbilisi, Georgia.North Macedonia will go to a major tournament for the first time in their history after a Goran Pandev goal gave the Balkan nation a 1-0 win away to Georgia, while Scotland's long exile is also over after a penalty shoot-out win over Serbia in Belgrade secured their place at Euro 2020 on Thursday.Hungary and Slovakia also won to secure spots at the tournament which was postponed earlier this year because of the coronavirus pandemic and is now set for June and July of 2021.An extra year's wait will not matter to Scotland, who had gone through 10 failed qualifying campaigns since th...