September 2021 – Page 8 – Football Flame    
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Month: September 2021

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PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United to unleash Cristiano Ronaldo on Newcastle

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United poses after signing for the club on August 31, 2021 in Lisbon, Portugal.Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed Cristiano Ronaldo will make his first Manchester United appearance since his blockbuster move from Juventus when Newcastle visit Old Trafford on Saturday.Portugal superstar Ronaldo returned to United in a shock transfer just before the transfer deadline.The 36-year-old striker, who left United to join Real Madrid in 2009, has been training with his new team-mates for the past few days.United manager Solskjaer confirmed on Friday that Ronaldo would play at least some part in the Premier League clash with Newcastle but it remains to be seen whether the five-time Ballon d’Or winner will start or come off the bench.“He’s been having a good pre-season ...
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NEWS

FIFA backs down on threat to fine Premier League clubs

A FIFA logo sits on display at Education City Stadium on February 02, 2021 in Doha, Qatar. FIFA will allow Premier League players from Brazil, Chile, Mexico and Paraguay to compete this weekend after those countries agreed to waive a five-day travel restriction period, a source with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Friday.Liverpool, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City were among clubs who did not release Brazilian players for the current international break due to them having to travel to COVID-19 “red list” countries.Sources this week said Premier League clubs could face sanctions from FIFA if they played South American players, who were not released for international duty, in this weekend’s games.But after extensive talks over the past 24 hours between FIFA and the...
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LALIGA

Atletico Madrid chief admits Saul Niguez wanted to leave

Saul Niguez poses for a photograph as he signs for Chelsea FC at Chelsea Training Ground on September 01, 2021 in Cobham, England.Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo has confirmed Saul Niguez did want to leave the club this summer.Spanish international Niguez as linked with a move away from the defending La Liga champions ahead of the 2021/22 campaign after slipping down the pecking order for Diego Simeone.Despite initial interest in a permanent exit from the Spanish capital, the 26-year-old eventually joined Premier League giants Chelsea on a season long loan deal.The move was completed in the final minutes of transfer deadline day last month, but despite the apparent last minute nature of the transfer, Cerezo insisted an exit was always on the cards.“Saúl wanted to leave. We accepte...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Michail Antonio wins Premier League Player of the Month award for August

Michail Antonio of West Ham United celebrates after scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Burnley at London Stadium on January 16, 2021 in London, England.West Ham United striker Michail Antonio has won the Premier League's Player of the Month award for August.The 31-year-old has had a bright start to the new campaign, scoring four goals and providing three assists in his opening three league matches for the Hammers.Antonio's brace in West Ham's 4-1 win over Leicester City took the newly-capped Jamaica international onto 49 Premier League goals, two more than club legend Paolo Di Canio, before scoring his 50th in the 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.This is the second time the striker has been named as the Player of the Month, with his fir...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

West Ham United extend partnership with Global Reach

Jesse Lingard of West Ham United celebrates after scoring their side's second goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur at London Stadium on February 21, 2021 in London, England.West Ham United is delighted to announce that the Club is extending its partnership with Global Reach, its Official Payments Partner. Having been partners since 2018, the extension will see Global Reach continue to provide corporate foreign exchange services to the Club, including managing its exposure to foreign currency fluctuations on international player transfers. At the heart of this partnership lies Global Reach’s outstanding foreign exchange and international payments expertise, which have proved to be invaluable to the Club and its wider network. &nbs...
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NEWS

Messi treble breaks Pele record as Argentina rout Bolivia

Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) shoots to score a goal against Bolivia during the South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on September 9, 2021.Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick to overtake Pele as the top international goalscorer in South American football history on Thursday as Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Bolivia in their 2022 World Cup qualifier.Messi pounced for his 77th, 78th and 79th international goals to keep Argentina firmly on course for a place at next year's finals in Qatar against a Bolivia team languishing near the foot of the table.The 34-year-old Paris Saint-Germain forward, making his 153rd appearance for Argentina, drew level with Pele's longstanding mark of 77 goals in the 14th minute, ...
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SERIE A

Zielinski set for return against Juventus

Zielinski of Napoli celebrates after scoring the first goal of Napoli during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Udinese Calcio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on May 11, 2021 in Naples, Italy.Napoli midfielder Piotr Zielinski seems set to make it in time for the home game against Juventus this weekend and will be tested again tomorrow.The Poland international carried out checks today and the midfielder seems set to be available for the big game against the Bianconeri.But the Azzurri star will carry out new tests on Friday, as he’s fine but not in top condition after the stop with a dead leg.Sky Sport Italia reports Napoli expect to have the 27-year-old at their disposal and Zielinski in addition to Victor Osimhen, who had his two-match ban from the opening game against Venezia reduc...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Virgil Van Dijk reassures Jurgen Klopp he is ‘100% fit’

Virgil van Dijk of Holland during the World Cup qualifier match between Norway and the Netherlands at Ullevaal Stadium on September 01, 2021 in Oslo, Norway.Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk has reassured manager Jurgen Klopp he is 100% fit for the trip to Leeds despite an injury scare on international duty.The Holland captain went down holding his ankle after a tackle by Turkey’s Halil Dervisoglu in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier and that immediately set alarm bells ringing.Van Dijk missed the majority of last season after anterior cruciate ligament surgery following a clash with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in October’s Merseyside derby.“With Virgil, that was obviously a scary moment, you can imagine,” Klopp told liverpoolfc.com.“I sent him a message after the game: ‘Are you alrigh...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Report: Mikel Arteta to make sweeping Arsenal changes against Norwich City

Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal looks on after the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal at Molineux on February 02, 2021 in Wolverhampton, England.Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has plans to make several changes to his side against Norwich City on Saturday, according to a report.The Gunners have lost all three matches in the Premier League so far this season, including a 5-0 defeat to Manchester City a fortnight ago.Arteta will be hopeful of getting off the mark this weekend, as visitors Norwich have also failed to pick up a point in their opening three games.According to The Mirror, summer signing Aaron Ramsdale may be in line for his league debut for the club after keeping clean sheets in the EFL Cup tie against West Bromwich Albion and a behind-closed-doors fr...
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UCL

AC Milan handed double injury boost ahead of Liverpool Champions League fixture

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (L) and Franck Kessie of AC Milan attend the Serie A football match between AC Milan and Cagliari Calcio. AC Milan won 4-1 over Cagliari Calcio.AC Milan have received a double injury boost ahead of next week’s Champions League clash with Liverpool.The Reds kick-off their European campaign against the Italian giants at Anfield next Wednesday.A 2-0 win against Crystal Palace on the final day of last season saw Jurgen Klopp’s side secure third and Champions League football for this season.At one stage, that appeared extremely unlikely for the Reds, but a fine sequence of results, accompanied by Leicester City's downturn in form, saw the tide change.The Reds will now start their campaign at home to AC next week before travelling to Portugal to take on FC Porto on Tuesday, Se...
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NEWS

Southgate: Qualification for World Cup takes precedent over rotation

England's coach Gareth Southgate gives an interview prior to the start of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group I football match between Poland and England in Warsaw, on September 8, 2021.England manager Gareth Southgate would like to experiment in next month’s World Cup qualifiers if he can balance the pursuit of progress with sealing their spot in Qatar.Boasting maximum points from March’s Group I triple-header, the Three Lions turned their attention back to making next year’s finals less than two months on from the heartbreaking Euro 2020 final loss to Italy.England showed no sign of an emotional hangover as they secured back-to-back 4-0 victories against Hungary and Andorra, before travelling to Poland for what was always going to be their toughest assignment.Harry Kane’s 3...
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NEWS

Pele ‘recovering well’ following surgery

Brazilian football star Pele displays the FIFA World Cup during its presentation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on February 6, 2010.Brazil legend Pele says he is "recovering well" following surgery to remove a tumour from his colon.The 80-year-old was admitted to hospital after a tumour in his right colon was discovered in tests.He posted on social media on Monday confirming he had had surgery to remove the "suspicious lesion".Before his surgery, the three-time World Cup winner said: "I will face this match with a smile on my face, a lot of optimism and joy for living."Pele has since posted on social media to say he is "recovering well" following the surgery, but dedicated his post to "good friend" and singer Roberto Carlos, who lost his 52-year-old son to cancer on Wednesday.Pele is Brazil's a...
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NEWS

Chelsea pair Rudiger and Werner score in easy Germany win

Germany's players celebrate the 2-0 goal scored by Germany's defender Antonio Ruediger (R) during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification Group J football match between Iceland and Germany in Reykjavik, on September 8, 2021.Chelsea duo Antonio Rudiger and Timo Werner both scored as Germany thrashed Iceland in their qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.Defender Rudiger looped home a header in the first half and forward Werner poked home from Blues team-mate Kai Havertz's pass one minute from time.Bayern Munich pair Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane were also on the scoresheet.Germany top their group and are four points clear of second-placed Armenia, who drew against Liechtenstein.Meanwhile, world number one side Belgium maintained their unbeaten record by edging 1-0 past Belar...
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NEWS

Praet scores for Belgium in a narrow win over Belarus

Belarus' Hleb Shauchenka and Belgium's midfielder Dennis Praet vie for the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification football match between Belarus and Belgium in Kazan on September 8, 2021.Dennis Praet’s first-half goal secured a narrow 1-0 away win for Belgium over Belarus in Kazan on Wednesday to move them closer to World Cup qualification.The midfielder’s 33rd-minute strike maintained Belgium's unbeaten run in Group E as they advanced to 16 points, nine points ahead of the Czech Republic, who have played one game fewer, and Wales, who have two games in hand.Praet steered a snap effort wide of Belarus goalkeeper Sergei Chernik after being teed up by a short pass from Alexis Saelemaekers, two minutes after Michy Batshuayi had the ball in the net but his effort was ruled off...
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NEWS

Fornals and Torres goals give Spain victory in Kosovo

Spain's Ferran Torres (C) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the World Cup 2022 qualifying football match between Kosovo and Spain at Fadil Vokrri stadium in Pristina on September 8, 2021.Goals from Pablo Fornals and Ferran Torres earned Spain a 2-0 victory away to Kosovo in World Cup qualifying Group B on Wednesday and dragged them back into automatic qualification contention.Fornals produced a fine near-post finish from the angle on 32 minutes after smart build-up play from Carlos Soler and Alvaro Morata.Spain dominated the ball for large swathes of the game, but were almost undone on numerous occasions as their high defensive line was exploited by the hosts.They were indebted to profligate finishing, in particular from Vedat Muriqi, who ran clear on goal but put h...
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NEWS

Italy return to winning ways as young guns demolish Lithuania

Moise Kean of Italy celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammates during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Italy and Lithuania at Mapei Stadium - Citta' del Tricolore on September 8, 2021 in Reggio nell'Emilia, Italy.Italy recorded their first win since being crowned European champions as strikers Moise Kean and Giacomo Raspadori inspired a crushing 5-0 win over Lithuania to strengthen their grip on top spot in World Cup qualifying Group C.The two 21-year-olds impressed their manager by lighting up the first half, as Kean netted twice either side of an Edgaras Utkus own goal and Raspadori, making his first start for his country, also scored."Everything is in their heads and their feet. If they are committed and work seriously, they have great futures. But it i...
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PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester United midfielder Fred banned from next two matches under Fifa rules

Fred and Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on September 07, 2021 in Manchester, England.Fred is set to miss the next two Manchester United matches after the Brazilian football federation triggered Fifa rules to impose a 'five-day ban' on the Premier League sides who refused to release players for international duty this month.The Brazilian FA are looking to punish sides who refused to let their players travel to red-list countries over the international break by triggering a clause in Fifa rules which prevents players being selected from the 10th to 14th of September.Under current Fifa legislation Brazil can demand players who had been selected for international duty are ineligible to play in matches for five...
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NEWS

Canadian star Alphonso Davies to miss El Salvador game because of injury

Alphonso Davies of Canada warms up during a training session at BMO Field on September 1, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.Canada will be without Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies for Wednesday’s World Cup qualifying match against El Salvador.Canada Soccer said Tuesday evening that the 20-year-old fullback/winger was injured and flying back to Germany “to continue his recovery.” The three-paragraph release did not detail the injury.Davies looked pained when he left Sunday’s 1-1 tie with the U.S. in the 75th minute and was immediately greeted by trainers when he got to the bench. He seemed to be favouring a leg and was absent from the Canada training session earlier Tuesday.His assist on Cyle Larin’s tying goal in the 62nd minute of the game in Nashville was his record-breaking sixth in 20...
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NEWS

FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: France end winless run and Scotland revive hopes

France's forward Antoine Griezmann (2ndL) is congratulated by France's forward Anthony Martial (L) and France's defender Leo Dubois (2ndR) as he celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group D qualification football match between France and Finland at the Groupama stadium in Decines-Charpieu near Lyon, central eastern France on September 7, 2021.Reigning champions France beat Finland 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier on Tuesday thanks to Antoine Griezmann's double strike to snap a five-game winless streak while Scotland kept their hopes alive with a 1-0 win in Austria.In other action, Portugal and the Netherlands stayed on track to reach the finals in Qatar next year, with Memphis Depay grabbing a hat-trick for the Dutch in a 6-1 demolition of Turkey...
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NEWS

Japan defeats China in FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Japan's forward Yuya Osako (C) celebrates his opening goal during the 2022 Qatar football World Cup Asian Qualifiers match between China and Japan, at the Khalifa International stadium in Doha, on September 7, 2021.Yuya Osako's first-half goal helped Japan beat China 1-0 in the final round of the FIFA World Cup Asian Zone qualifiers here on Tuesday.China came into the game on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Australia, while Japan was stunned by Oman 1-0 in its opener of the final qualifying round. Both teams were eager to get their qualification campaign back on track.Facing Japan, the highest FIFA ranked team in Asia, Chinese head coach Li Tie fielded five defenders in the starting line-up. But they suffered an early setback as veteran center back Zhang Linpeng had to be stretched out just fi...
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