March 2021 – Football Flame

30Mar

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England’s Mount doubt to face Poland

Mason Mount of England reacts during a training session ahead of an upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifier against Poland at Pennyhill Park on March 29, 2021 in Bagshot, England.Mason Mount is a doubt for England's World Cup qualifier against Poland after sitting out training on Tuesday.Midfielder Mount, 22, has started seven straight matches for his country and scored in Sunday's 2-0 win in Albania.Poland's Grzegorz Krychowiak and Kamil Piatkowski tested positive for Covid-19 in the latest round of testing before Wednesday's match at Wembley.Robert Lewandowski is injured, while Mateusz Klich and Lukasz Skorupski previously tested positive for Covid. The #ThreeLions are out at training this morning with 23 players involved, while @masonmount_10 is working indoors with the medical and...

29Mar

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LALIGA

Eden Hazard says he can be ‘as good as Ronaldo but not Messi’

Eden Hazard of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Elche at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano on March 13, 2021 in Madrid Spain.In an interview with The Athletic, former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has revealed how Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard confided in him about his ceiling during their time together as teammates at Chelsea.Mikel, a legendary figure at Chelsea, spoke in detail about his time as a player and shared many interesting anecdotes in the interview. He revealed a fair bit about Eden Hazard’s mentality as well as his immense footballing ability.The Belgian reportedly told Mikel that he could eclipse Cristiano Ronaldo if he wanted to, however he could not touch Lionel Messi’s level since he was far too good. Ever since signing for Real Madrid, Haz...

27Mar

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UCL

UEFA to make Champions League reforms decision on Wednesday: European Leagues

UEFA Ambassador Ian Rush with the Champions League Trophy in Cardiff ahead of the Men's final on Saturday.UEFA will decide next week on a revised format for the Champions League which will likely overhaul Europe's top football competition from 2024, European Leagues revealed on Friday.Lars-Christer Olsson, the president of a body which brings together professional leagues and club associations from 30 European nations, told reporters that UEFA would make its decision "during its executive committee on (Wednesday) 31 March".Olsson said the meeting will be preceded the previous day by a "club competitions commission" charged with defining the details of the reforms.Among the potential changes are an increase of participating clubs from 32 to 36 and the end of the current group stage, in whic...

27Mar

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Jordan Henderson injury update as Liverpool dealt blow

Jordan Henderson of Liverpool warms up during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Everton at Anfield on February 20, 2021 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. England manager Gareth Southgate says he will have to make a last-minute decision over whether Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson can make the Three Lions squad for the European Championships.Southgate has explained that Henderson's injury means the midfielder will face a fitness race that would go "close to the end of the season" - casting doubt on how many times he will be able to play for Liverpool again this campaign."In terms of promises, we can only say that Hendo himself is very optimistic about how the operation went and the prognosis that the specialist has given him as to what is possible," Southgate said."We are c...

26Mar

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Government approves Everton’s plan for stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock

Everton’s planning application for their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock has received Government approval.Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, had been reviewing the club’s plans since last month and has now given the green light.Liverpool City Council unanimously approved the plans on 23 February and the Toffees can now press ahead with turning the project into a reality.An Everton statement read: “The decision to approve a new 52,888-capacity waterfront arena allows the club to complete its agreed acquisition of the site from Peel L&P and the funding solution for the project, ensuring the club can begin to make the plans a reality. BREAKING NEWS⁰Our plans to develop a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock in the north of Liverpool can pr...

25Mar

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BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich midfielder hails Xavi Hernandez as his idol

Joshua Kimmich of FC Bayern München looks on during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match between Bayern München and SS Lazio at Allianz Arena on March 17, 2021 in Munich, Germany.Joshua Kimmich, the Bayern midfielder who is considered one of the bests midfielders in the world at the moment, spoke in an interview with Sportbild. The German international explained the admiration he has for Barca’s legend Xavi Hernandez. “My role model was always Xavi Hernandez from Barcelona,”said Kimmich.Kimmich told that he learns a lot from the way the Spanish maestro played and spoke at length about different abilities on the field.“He was never the biggest [in terms of size and popularity] but had an eye for the game, passing, technique. He was always trying to put others in the limelight,” said ...

25Mar

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NEWS

Fans to be allowed into matches in Copenhagen at Euro 2020

In this photo illustration the UEFA Euro 2020 logo seen displayed on a smartphone.COPENHAGEN -- At least 11,000 fans will be allowed into soccer matches staged in Copenhagen during this year's European Championship, the Danish government said Thursday.The country's culture ministry said more fans will be allowed inside Parke Stadium "if health conditions allow'' amid the coronavirus pandemic.Copenhagen is scheduled to host four matches in June, three in the group stage and another in the round of 16."The European Football Championship is a unique and historic event in Denmark,'' Culture Minister Joy Mogensen said in a statement. "The government has therefore decided to allow at least 11,000-12,000 spectators for the four matches held in the Park.''Mogensen said an "expert group'' has been ...

24Mar

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BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich’s football star Davies appointed UN refugee ambassador

Alphonso Davies of FC Bayern walks off the pitch after the Bundesliga match between SV Werder Bremen and FC Bayern München at Wohninvest Weserstadion on March 13, 2021 in Bremen, Germany.Alphonso Davies has come a long way from a refugee camp in Ghana to playing for Bayern Munich. Now, the 20-year-old football pro has been named "goodwill ambassador" by UN refugee agency UNHCR.Alphonso Davies, one of the rising stars on the squad of FC Bayern Munich football club, joins the likes of Ben Stiller, Cate Blanchett and Yusra Mardini: On Wednesday (March 24), the 20-year-old became the latest special envoy of the UN refugee agency UNHCR.The defender of Germany's most successful soccer club is the first professional soccer player worldwide to take on this role. "I'm honoured to become a Goodwill ...

23Mar

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TRANSFERS

Man City’s Eric Garcia: “It would be special to play with Messi”

Eric Garcia of Manchester City in action during a training session at Manchester City Football Academy on March 15, 2021 in Manchester, England.With just over three months until the summer transfer window, it is unsurprising that Barcelona transfer news is being ramped up.It could potentially be another busy summer of comings and goings at the Camp Nou as the club look to balance their books and continue rejuvenating their squad.The most prominent player to be linked to the Blaugrana is Manchester City defender Eric Garcia, who left the Catalan giants four years ago to move to England.However, Garcia is out of contract this summer and Barca have been strongly linked with a move for the central defender.Now, the Spain international has spoken out of the possibility of playing alongside Lion...

21Mar

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NEWS

Chelsea made to battle against Sheff Utd but move into FA Cup semis

(L-R) Christian Pulisic, Ben Chilwell and Emerson of Chelsea celebrate their sides first goal, an own goal by Oliver Norwood of Sheffield United during the Emirates FA Cup Quarter Final match between Chelsea FC and Sheffield Untied at Stamford Bridge on March 21, 2021 in London, England.Eight-time winners Chelsea moved into the FA Cup semi-finals with a hard-fought home win against Sheffield United.The Blues, beaten finalists last season, went ahead in fortunate circumstances as Ben Chilwell's low cross was steered into his own net by Blades midfielder Oliver Norwood. And that's full-time, we're off to the semi-final!#CHESHU @EmiratesFACup pic.twitter.com/RPqQyqOzfC— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) March 21, 2021 Christian Pulisic was twice denied by away goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale and Callum Huds...