September 5, 2024 – Football Flame

Harry Kane impressed with Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Harry Kane impressed with Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany

Bayern Munich start to the 2024/25 Bundesliga season hasn’t been spotless, but two wins in two games is quite hard to nitpick, especially since head coach Vincent Kompany would expect his side to implement his tactics and game plan better as the season progresses. The players seem to have responded well to the change in coaching, too. Count star striker Harry Kane as one of the most enthusiastic. “It was a very good start. I’m really impressed with how much energy he brings. He’s already managed to get all the players to respect him. The coach and we as a team are hungry to have a successful season,” Kane said at a recent press conference following his Golden Shoe 2024 award ceremony (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). Kompany’s rapport with the locker room is a promising early sign — espec...

FC Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen settling into No. 1 gig with Germany

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

NEWS

FC Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen settling into No. 1 gig with Germany

FC Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was the no-brainer selection to take over for Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with the German national team. For Ter Stegen, the promotion was a long time coming. “My aim has always been to be number one. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to achieve that over the past decade. I had a goalkeeper in front of me in Manu who had an incredible career and always stood up to the pressure. Congratulations to him again on his career,” said Ter Stegen (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). Ter Stegen also touched on the frustration he — sometimes — felt in not being able to usurp the position from Neuer. “There are always moments when you think ‘Phew, that was another blow’. In the end, the decision always went in Manu’s favour, but I dealt with it ...

Real Betis considering sale of midfielder after receiving €8m offer from Qatar

5Sep

By Football Flame1 Comment

TRANSFERS

Real Betis considering sale of midfielder after receiving €8m offer from Qatar

Real Betis have been very busy in the transfer window over the past 2-3 months, and despite the summer window having closed in Spain, their business may not be complete yet. Rodri Sanchez was strongly linked with a move away throughout the summer, but by the time that the deadline passed last Friday, he was still at Betis. However, he could now be on his way to Qatar, where an unnamed club has submitted an €8m offer to acquire his services – as reported by El Desmarque (via Marca). Rodri’s representatives were the ones to receive notification of the offer, and it has been passed on to Betis. At this stage, club bosses are considering whether to accept. Betis would probably have accepted straight away if the transfer window was still open. However, taking into account the injury setba...

Son Heung-min earns 128th cap, alone in 4th on all-time S. Korean list

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

NEWS

Son Heung-min earns 128th cap, alone in 4th on all-time S. Korean list

South Korean captain Son Heung-min earned his 128th international cap on Thursday to grab the sole possession of fourth place on the country's all-time list. Son was inserted into the starting lineup against Palestine in the countries' Group B match of the third round in the Asian qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match was to kick off at 8 p.m. at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Son, captain for both South Korea and the Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur, had been tied with Lee Young-pyo, former left back and one-time Tottenham player. Son is now five caps back of former goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae for third place. Son's current national team head coach, Hong Myung-bo, and former striker Cha Bum-kun are tied at the top with 136 caps each. Among active players, only Son and defend...

Tottenham’s midfield transfer plan revealed as president confirms £21m option

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Tottenham’s midfield transfer plan revealed as president confirms £21m option

Tottenham Hotspur have an option to sign Real Betis and USA midfielder Johnny Cardoso for around £21m next year, the president of the Spanish side has confirmed. The two clubs conducted late business in the summer transfer window, as the Lilywhites sent Argentina midfielder Giovani Lo Celso back to his former club on a permanent deal. Betis and Tottenham had previously negotiated Lo Celso's move to North London in 2020, but the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder ultimately failed to make the grade in the Premier League. While discussing the Lo Celso deal, Tottenham and Betis also held talks over USA international Cardoso, whom Tottenham were reported to have struck a peculiar transfer deal for. As confirmed by Betis president Angel Haro - in quotes attributed to The Telegrap...

Roma include new buys in Europa League squad list

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

SERIE A

Roma include new buys in Europa League squad list

Roma have announced their Europa League squad list, including post-deadline day signings Mats Hummels and Mario Hermoso. The tournament has followed the changes in the Champions League and Conference League, using one large table with all results as the teams face eight different opponents. They open their campaign at home to Athletic Club Bilbao on September 26, followed by trips to Elfsborg on October 3 and hosting Dynamo Kyiv on October 24,Roma visit Union Saint-Gilloise on November 7 and Tottenham on November 28, then take on Braga on December 12. They are away to AZ Alkmaar on January 23 and finish at home to Eintracht Frankfurt on January 30.There have to be players who come from the Giallorossi academy, so they can rely on Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicola Zalewski. The four...

I am convinced we can beat Angola – Otto Addo

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

NEWS

I am convinced we can beat Angola – Otto Addo

Ghana will go into Thursday’s home clash with Angola looking to win their third straight competitive game under Otto Addo. The Black Stars are on a good run after back to back victories against Mali and Central African Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in June. The visitors are also on a perfect run, and Otto Addo is expecting a big test again at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday. The Gha Boss faced the media at the Conference room of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Wednesday ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations Group E qualifier on Thursday.

Bayern Munich’s squad market value is rising

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

BUNDESLIGA

Bayern Munich’s squad market value is rising

According to Transfermarkt’s valuation system, Bayern Munich’s team value increased €74 million this summer after the acquisitions of Hiroki Ito, Michael Olise, and João Palhinha. The Bavarians outpaced RB Leipzig (€46 million increase), but aside of those two clubs, values did not rise all that much. There were some steep drops, though.Mainz 05 saw its roster value drop €36 million, while Borussia Mönchengladbach (€23 million) and Bayer Leverkusen (€21 million) took a hit as well: Notable roster losses (player sales, players who left for free, beginning or end of loan assignments) from Mainz, Gladbach, Leverkusen include: Brajan Gruda (Mainz to Brighton & Hove Albion) Leandro Barreiro (Mainz to Benfica)Sepp van den Berg (Mainz to Liverpool FC to Brentford) Manu Koné (Gl...

Liverpool reveal why three stars left out of Champions League squad

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

Champions League

Liverpool reveal why three stars left out of Champions League squad

Liverpool have revealed why three of their first-team stars were omitted from their Champions League squad. The Anfield outfit are finalising preparations for this season's new 36-team league format and new manager Arne Slot has named 25 players in his side.Eight of the squad members must be 'locally trained players' while four of these must be 'club trained' adding further restrictions to the footballers the boss can choose. The Reds are set to come up against AC Milan, Bologna, RB Leipzig, Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid, Girona, Lille and PSV, in the league stage of the competition but some supporters were concerned that a number of snubbed names would not feature in these matches. In particular, many were shocked to see Harvey Elliott, Conor Bradley and Jarell Quansah left off t...

Angel Gomes’ decision to leave Man United has been vindicated

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

PREMIER LEAGUE

Angel Gomes’ decision to leave Man United has been vindicated

England’s new midfield hope Angel Gomes says his decision to leave Manchester United as a teenager has been vindicated by his call-up to Lee Carsley’s first squad. The 24-year-old has earned his reputation in France with Lille and has been included in the England squad for the first time by interim coach Carsley for the forthcoming Nations League games against the Republic of Ireland and Finland. Having left United at the age of 19, Gomes recalled last night: ‘When I left it was for the idea to better myself as a player and person and I knew eventually I could create a pathway to be in this position. ‘But it was difficult, leaving the club I was at from six and heading into the unknown.‘The hardest point was leaving England and going on loan to Portugal. There was a project in min...

Jude Bellingham gets Ballon d’Or nomination, but no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo

5Sep

By Football FlameNo Comments

NEWS

Jude Bellingham gets Ballon d’Or nomination, but no Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo

For the first time since 2003 neither Cristiano Ronaldo nor Lionel Messi have been included in the nominees for the men's Ballon d'Or award, which were announced on Wednesday, with England's Jude Bellingham among the 30 players named. Portugal's Ronaldo, who has won the award five times, also failed to receive a nomination last year, while Messi, who won for a record eighth time in 2023 and has been nominated 16 times, misses out despite Argentina's Copa America win this year. Spain, winners of Euro 2024, have six players nominated including 17-year-old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, along with Nico Williams, Alejandro Grimaldo, Dani Olmo, Rodri and Dani Carvajal who also won the Champions League with Real Madrid. Real have a total of seven players nominated, including Kylian Mbap...