July 2023 – Page 2 – Football Flame

Month: July 2023

SERIE A

UEFA bans Juventus next season, Chelsea fined 10 million euros

 General view of the Allianz Stadium during the Serie A match between Juventus and US Cremonese at Allianz Stadium on May 14, 2023 in Turin, Italy. Juventus will not play in Europe next season after being banned over breaches of UEFA’s Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play rules, while Premier League side Chelsea will pay 10 million euros for submitting incomplete financial information, Europe’s football governing body the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) said on Friday. “Juventus violated UEFA’s regulatory framework…and it was decided to exclude Juventus from the 2023/24 UEFA men’s club competition,” said a UEFA statement. UEFA said the 10-million-euro additional fine will only be applied if the 2023, 2024 and 2025 financial years do not meet their accounting requ...
TRANSFERS

Man Utd reject £20m West Ham bid for Maguire

Harry Maguire of Manchester United reacts during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Real Madrid and Manchester United at NRG Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Houston, Texas.Manchester United have rejected a £20m bid from West Ham for England defender Harry Maguire. Hammers boss David Moyes is keen on Maguire and has funds to spend following the £100m sale of England midfielder Declan Rice. Maguire’s Old Trafford future is uncertain after he was stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag earlier this month. The Dutchman has said the move could help the 30-year-old regain his form. United would be prepared to listen to offers that matched their valuation – if Maguire indicated a willingness to leave. However, the centre-back is believed to currently be earning £200,000-a-week at Old Trafford, w...
NEWS

Knee injury fears over England midfielder Walsh

 Keira Walsh of England receives medical treatment after an injury during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group D match between England and Denmark at Sydney Football Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Sydney / Gadigal, Australia.England midfielder Keira Walsh was taken off the pitch on a stretcher in the 38th minute during the World Cup match against Denmark in Sydney. The Barcelona player, 26, appeared to hurt her knee and looked in distress before signalling to the bench that she could not carry on. She was comforted by team-mates and appeared to mouth: “I’ve done my knee.” Manager Sarina Wiegman said afterwards: “Of course I’m concerned because she couldn’t walk off the pitch.” She added: “But we don’t know yet so we can’t make any assumptions. Let’s wait unti...
TRANSFERS

Paris St-Germain bid for Man Utd target Hojlund

 Rasmus Hojlund in action during the Serie A football match between FC Internazionale and Atalanta BC at Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milano, Italy, on May 27 2023.Paris St-Germain have made a take-it-or-leave-it bid of 50m euros (£42.8m) for Atalanta forward and Manchester United target Rasmus Hojlund. The Denmark striker is top of the Red Devils’ wanted list this summer. Manager Erik ten Hag is desperate to conclude a deal, with United convinced they can sign the 20-year-old before their Premier League opener against Wolves at Old Trafford on 14 August. However, PSG have now made their interest known. Their move is not thought to be connected to the uncertainty around Kylian Mbappe. PSG officials are convinced Mbappe has no intention of leaving the club during the current transfer win...
NEWS

Superb Argentina comeback earns South Africa draw

 Tiisetso Makhubela of South Africa (L) fights for the ball with Romina Nunez of Argentina (R) during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group G match between Argentina and South Africa at Dunedin Stadium on July 28, 2023 in Dunedin, New Zealand.Argentina manager German Portanova told his team to “play with the love that optimises our football” before they produced a stunning comeback from two goals down to draw with South Africa. South Africa were on course to pick up a first ever Women’s World Cup victory in a pulsating encounter in Dunedin but in the end they had to settle for their first point after Argentina scored twice within five second-half minutes. Knowing defeat would take Argentina to the brink of elimination, they threw everything at Desiree Ellis...
TRANSFERS

Kylian Mbappe ‘Refuses to talk’ to Al Hilal over 300-million-euro move

 Kylian Mbappé (L) of Paris Saint-Germain during a gym session at the PSG training center on July 17, 2023 in Poissy, France.Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappe has refused to meet officials from Al Hilal, dealing a potentially fatal blow to the Saudis’ ambitious hopes of completing a world record 300-million-euro ($333 million) swoop. The French star has refused “any discussion with the representatives of the Al-Hilal club, present in Paris this Wednesday,” reported L’Equipe sports daily. According to the report, a delegation from the Saudi club came to Paris to finalise the transfer of Brazilian Malcom from Zenit Saint Petersburg. They also wanted to present their project to Mbappe while in the French capital. “This approach will not succeed,” added L’Equipe because the entou...
NEWS

Horan denies Netherlands famous World Cup win

Lindsey Horan of USA (L) fights for the ball with Jill Roord of Netherlands (R) during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group E match between USA and Netherlands at Wellington Regional Stadium on July 27, 2023 in Wellington, New Zealand. Captain Lindsey Horan came to the rescue of defending champions the United States after the Netherlands had threatened an upset at the Women’s World Cup. New Manchester City signing Jill Roord put the Dutch on course for a famous win after a clinical finish from the edge of the box. The Stars and Stripes have been a superpower on the world stage, winning their previous 13 matches spanning three tournaments, but they struggled to breakdown a resolute Netherlands defence until Horan equalised with a header from a corner. In a ...
NEWS

Canada knock Republic of Ireland out of World Cup

Jayde Riviere of Canada and Katie McCabe of Republic of Ireland compete for the ball during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group B match between Canada and Ireland at Perth Rectangular Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Perth, Australia. Canada fought back from a goal down to beat the Republic of Ireland 2-1 and knock the debutants out of the Women’s World Cup. Irish captain Katie McCabe scored the Republic’s first World Cup goal when her superb corner flew into the net after just four minutes. The Irish had chances to add a second against the Olympic champions, but they were undone in first-half injury time as Julia Grosso’s cross took a touch off defender Megan Connolly and nestled in the bottom corner in torrential conditions. Adriana Leon poked Canada into th...
NEWS

Spain progress to knockouts after win over Zambia

 Jennifer Hermoso of Spain (L) dribbles Margaret Belemu of Zambia (R) during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Spain and Zambia at Eden Park on July 26, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand.Jenni Hermoso and Alba Redondo scored twice as Spain underlined their credentials as potential Fifa Women’s World Cup winners by thrashing Zambia to progress to the last 16 with a game to spare. The Spanish opened their Group C campaign with a comfortable 3-0 win against Costa Rica last week, having a total of 46 shots on goal. They picked up where they left off against Zambia, racing into a ninth-minute lead when Teresa Abelleira drove in a stunning strike from distance. Hermoso doubled the lead just four minutes later, heading home a cross on her 100th app...
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Japan on brink of last 16 after beating Costa Rica

 JULY 26: Naomoto Hikaru #8 of Japan celebrates her goal during the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group C match between Japan and Costa Rica at Dunedin Stadium on July 26, 2023 in Dunedin / Ōtepoti, New Zealand. Japan are on the verge of qualifying for the Fifa Women’s World Cup round of 16 after a routine win over Costa Rica. Hikaru Naomoto and Aoba Fujino both scored in the space of three first-half minutes to ease the 2011 champions to three points. Japan will be the first side to secure their place in knockout stages, if Spain earn at least a point against Zambia later. Costa Rica will be eliminated from the World Cup if Spain avoid defeat. Since stunning the football world by beating the United States in the 2011 final, Japan have underwhelmed on th...