NEWS – Page 64 – Football Flame

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Dykes gives Scotland goals and more

Scotland's Lyndon Dykes celebrates making it 1-0 during a FIFA World Cup Qualifier between Faroe Islands and Scotland at Torsvollur, on October 12, 2021, in Torshavn, Faroe Islands. Steve Clarke is delighted Lyndon Dykes opted to represent Scotland after the Australian-born striker scored a crucial late World Cup qualifying winner against the Faroe Islands.It had been a struggle for the Scots in Torshavn until the QPR forward, born on the Gold Coast to Scottish parents who pledged his allegiance to the dark blue, scored in the 86th minute from a Nathan Patterson cross to take the Scots to within three points of a World Cup play-off spot.Dykes became the first player to score in four successive international games for Scotland since Colin Stein in 1969 and the first Scotland player to score...
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Cristiano Ronaldo scores hat-trick for Portugal

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal is tackled by Moris of Luxembourg during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Portugal and Luxembourg at Estadio Algarve on October 12, 2021 in Loule, Portugal. Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Portugal recorded an emphatic World Cup qualifying win over Luxembourg at the Estadio Algarve.The victory leaves Portugal second in Group A, a point behind Serbia who they host in their final game.Ronaldo knocked in two penalties and rounded off the scoring with a header as he recorded his 58th hat-trick for club and country.Bruno Fernandes and Joao Palhinha added the other goals.Bruno Fernandes of Portugal celebrates with teammate Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring a goal during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Portugal and Luxembourg at E...
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Italy preparing Euro 2028 hosting bid

UEFA Euro 2024 (2024 UEFA European Football Championship) logo is seen on a smartphone. UEFA have published the procedure to apply for hosting duties of the 2028 European Championship and Italy are expected to propose their candidacy.EURO 2024 will be staged in Germany, their second major tournament in recent years after the 2006 World Cup.Today the requirements for the EURO 2028 bidding process were confirmed, with the decision to be made in September 2023.This in itself could cause some tension, seeing as FIFA are trying to push through the proposal of a World Cup every two years, which would clash with this competition.UEFA Euro 2024 (2024 UEFA European Football Championship) logo is seen on a smartphone and a pc screen.There will be 51 matches involving 24 teams and any nation – or nat...
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Germany qualify for Qatar 2022 but Belgium made to wait

Timo Werner of Germany celebrates with Thomas Muller after scoring their team's second goal during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between North Macedonia and Germany at National Arena Todor Proeski on October 11, 2021 in Skopje, Macedonia. A Timo Werner double on Monday helped Germany stamp their ticket for the 2022 World Cup with a 4-0 win over North Macedonia, but Belgium will have to wait until next month after Wales carved out a narrow win in Estonia.Hansi Flick's men avenged a shock 2-1 home loss to the Macedonians earlier this year to claim their seventh win in eight qualifiers and take an unassailable eight-point lead at the top of Group J, with two matches remaining."We now have five wins from five this season," Germany coach Hansi Flick told RTL. "You have to compliment t...
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Courtois: Players not robots, we need rest

Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santader match between RCD Espanyol and Real Madrid at RCD Stadium on October 03, 2021 in Barcelona. Belgium and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has launched a scathing criticism of UEFA and FIFA for scheduling more and more matches at the expense of player welfare.Courtois hit out at the growing football calendar after his side's 2-1 defeat by Italy in the UEFA Nations' League third-place play-off on Sunday, labelling the match, in which both teams rotated their squads, a "money game"."We are not robots. It's just more and more games and less rest for us and nobody cares about us. When will we get a rest? Never," Courtois said.The football calendar has been squeezed in the last 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Cham...
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Messi’s Argentina thrash Uruguay, Brazil lose 100% qualifying record

Lionel Messi of Argentina fights for the ball with Federico Valverde of Uruguay during a match between Argentina and Uruguay as part of South American Qualifiers for Qatar 2022 at Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on October 10, 2021 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Lionel Messi opened the scoring as Argentina thumped neighbors Uruguay 3-0 in an entertaining World Cup qualifier on Sunday.Goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez rounded off a successful night for Lionel Scaloni's team in Buenos Aires as they maintained their unbeaten start to the qualification campaign and closed the gap at the top of the single South American table to six points behind Brazil, who drew 0-0 with Colombia."We played a great match, I think we're improving a lot," said Messi. "It was a tough match ...
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Karim Benzema delights as France triumph in Nations League final

Karim Benzema of France celebrates the victory following the UEFA Nations League 2021 Final match between Spain and France at Stadio San Siro stadium aka Stadio Giuseppe Meazza stadium on October 10, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Didier Deschamps heaped praise on Karim Benzema after the once-exiled forward played a key role in France's Nations League triumph.Benzema scored France's equaliser in a 2-1 win over Spain which handed the world champions the trophy, and Deschamps was delighted with his striker."Karim is a crucial player and he has proved over two matches that he has very obvious talent, it's there for all to see," said the coach."He has improved in different areas, he's clinical, he plays his part in the build up."Real Madrid forward Benzema had been banished from the national team for m...
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Mbappe strikes late as France best Spain to win Nations League

Antoine Griezmann of France lifts The UEFA Nations League Trophy following their team's victory in the UEFA Nations League 2021 Final match between Spain and France at San Siro Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Milan, Italy. Kylian Mbappe fired a contentious winner as France came from behind to beat Spain and become the second team to win the Nations League.Kylian Mbappe of France Jordan Veretout of France celebrating the victory during the UEFA Nations league match between Spain v France at the San Siro on October 10, 2021 in Milan Italy.Mbappe was adjudged to be onside when he slid the ball under Unai Simon after Karim Benzema's stunning equaliser at Milan's San Siro. Spain had taken the lead through Mikel Oyarzabal, who shrugged off defender Dayot Upamecano to beat Hugo Lloris.Lloris deni...
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Barella brace secures third for Italy in Nations League

Nicolo Barella of Italy celebrates with team-mates after scoring the opening goal during the UEFA Nations League 2021 Third Place Match between Italy and Belgium at Juventus Stadium on October 10, 2021 in Turin, Italy. Nicolo Barella's thunderous strike and a penalty converted by Domenico Berardi earned hosts Italy a 2-1 victory over Belgium on Sunday and third place in this year’s Nations League.It offered some consolation for the European champions, whose semi-final loss to Spain in Milan on Wednesday ended their record 37-match unbeaten run.They returned to winning ways as Barella volleyed a poor corner clearance into the net one minute into the second half and Berardi added the second from the spot in the 65th minute, after Timothy Castagne had brought down the tricky Federico Chiesa.B...
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Mike Ashley interested in immediate return to football – and has new club in sights

Former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley during the FA Cup Fourth Round Replay match between Oxford United and Newcastle United at Kassam Stadium on February 4, 2020 in Oxford, England.Mike Ashley is already eyeing his next move in football, fresh from selling Newcastle United for £300m to Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.Chaired by the crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Magpies have become the wealthiest club in the world overnight.It comes after a long battle with the Premier League to authenticate a sale with piracy issues at the centre of the saga.But after Saudi Arabia allowed beIN Sports to broadcast in their country, that red tape was cut and a deal went through surprisingly swiftly.And now, according to the Mirror, Ashley is looking to snap up Derby County, who are current...
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Portugal manager insists Man Utd have been using Cristiano Ronaldo incorrectly

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and Portugal celebrates after scoring a goal during the International Friendly match between Portugal and Qatar at Estadio Algarve on October 9, 2021 in Loule, Portugal.Portugal manager Fernando Santos has insisted that Manchester United and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have been using Cristiano Ronaldo incorrectly.The 36-year-old forward was benched for last weekend's Premier League clash with Everton at Old Trafford, despite scoring a stoppage time winner against Villarreal just days earlier.Solskjaer's gamble failed to pay off as United were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by the Toffees, with Ronaldo introduced in the second half as the Red Devils' laboured to a point.Now Ronaldo's national team boss has questioned the decision as he revealed prior to toni...
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England cruise to victory over Andorra to move closer to World Cup qualification

England's defender Ben Chilwell (C) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a goal during the World Cup 2022 qualifier football match between Andorra and England at Estadi Nacional stadium in Andorra la Vella, on October 9, 2021.England took another step towards confirming qualification for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with a predictably easy victory in Andorra.Gareth Southgate's side dropped their first points in qualifying when they drew in Poland in their last game but there was no threat of anything other than a very comfortable win against the country ranked 156th in the Fifa rankings.England rested big guns such as captain Harry Kane but, with Phil Foden outstanding, they had far too much for Andorra and quickly established their superiority.Foden played in Jadon Sancho to set up ...
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Lukaku & Hazard have ‘muscle overloads’

Belgium's forward Romelu Lukaku (L) chats with Belgium's forward Eden Hazard during a training session in Tubize on October 5, 2021 in preparations of their UEFA Nations League semifinal football match against France.Belgium pair Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard will miss the Nations League third-placed play-off with Italy because of "muscle overloads".Chelsea striker Lukaku will go back to Belgium, rather than London, first from Italy and boss Roberto Martinez does not know when he will be fit.Lukaku played all of Thursday's 3-2 semi-final defeat by France and scored."They're not in best conditions to play," said Martinez of Lukaku and Real Madrid's Eden Hazard."They're leaving the national team camp due to these problems - I don't know how long it will take for them to recover."Belgium's Ro...
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McTominay’s stoppage-time winner gives Scotland crucial World Cup qualifying victory

Scotland's midfielder Scott McTominay (C) celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group F qualification football match between Scotland and Israel at Hampden Park in Glasgow on october 9, 2021.Scott McTominay sparked bedlam at Hampden as his stoppage-time winner against Israel kept Scotland on course for the World Cup qualifying play-offs.The Manchester United midfielder bundled in his first Scotland goal after Eran Zahavi's brilliant free-kick and a Munas Dabbur finish twice had the visitors ahead in a thrilling contest.John McGinn briefly levelled with a superb strike before Lyndon Dykes - having had a weak penalty saved - volleyed an equaliser belatedly awarded after a VAR check after the break.Scotland's concerted pressure looked set to fall short ...
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Messi says still lost in France but joining PSG was no mistake

Lionel Messi controls the ball during an Argentina training session at Julio H. Grondona Training Camp on October 06, 2021 in Ezeiza, Argentina.Lionel Messi has admitted he still feels a little lost in France but also insists that he made no mistake by joining Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in a stunning summer transfer.The 34-year-old added that having to leave Barcelona came as a shock but familiar faces have helped him to settle at PSG.Messi, who started his professional career with Barca and is their record scorer with 672 goals, joined PSG on a two-year deal in the summer transfer window after being told by the Catalan club they could not afford to keep him.“I came back to Barcelona [from the Copa America in July] to prepare for the season, after taking advantage of the extra days of vacat...
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Ballon d’Or: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski nominated

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid poses for photos with his FIFA Ballon Dor Trophies during the La Liga 2017-18 match between Real Madrid and Sevilla FC at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on 09 December 2017 in Madrid, Spain.The Premier League dominates the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or as no fewer than 14 stars from England's top flight vie for football's most prestigious prize, according to a leak.  The award - given to the year's best footballer - was cancelled last year owing to the coronavirus pandemic.Paris Saint-Germain's Lionel Messi won the men's award in 2019, seeing off Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo to the prize, the sixth time he has won the Ballon d'Or. Premier League: Cesar Azpilicueta, Kevin de Bruyne, Cristiano ...
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France Complete Incredible Comeback Against Belgium To Reach UEFA Nations League Final

Theo HERNANDEZ of France celebrates with Karim BENZEMA of France during the UEFA Nations League Semi-Final match between Belgium and France at Allianz Stadium on October 7, 2021 in Turin, Italy. Theo Hernandez completed the turnaround as France went from 2-0 down to beat Belgium 3-2 in a thriller, so Les Bleus face Spain in the Nations League Final and Italy take on Romelu Lukaku for third place.Milan’s Theo Hernandez was in the starting XI with Lucas, the first brothers to start for France in over 90 years.Just four minutes in, Hugo Lloris had to make a truly extraordinary reaction save on Kevin De Bruyne’s deflected strike from nine yards.After a few dangerous Kylian Mbappé counter-attacks, Belgium began to take control and Yannick Carrasco saw his low drive take a slight deflection...
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Harder luck for Wolfsburg as Chelsea snatch draw

Pernille Harder of Chelsea celebrates scoring her teams third goal during the UEFA Women's Champions League group A match between Chelsea FC Women and VfL Wolfsburg at Kingsmeadow on October 06, 2021 in Kingston upon Thames, England.Chelsea Women's former Wolfsburg striker Pernille Harder snatched an added-time equaliser against her old side after a catalogue of errors had threatened to derail their start to the Champions League.Emma Hayes' side looked like being architects of their own downfall as three defensive mistakes handed the advantage to the visitors only to rescue a 3-3 draw in the second minute of additional time.It was far from the ideal opening to the Champions League group stage the Londoners wanted after their chastening 4-0 defeat to Barcelona in the final in May but their ...
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Spain end Italy’s unbeaten run to reach Nations League final

Ferran Torres of Spain celebrates 0-2 with Mikel Oyarzabal of Spain during the UEFA Nations league match between Italy v Spain at the San Siro on October 6, 2021 in Milan ItalyItaly's world-record 37-game unbeaten run came to an end as Spain beat them in an enthralling encounter at the San Siro to reach the Nations League final.Albeit in Uefa's secondary tournament, Spain got a measure of revenge for their Euro 2020 semi-final penalty shootout defeat by eventual winners Italy at Wembley.Manchester City's Ferran Torres scored Spain's goals in Milan from two Mikel Oyarzabal crosses to send Luis Enrique's side to Sunday's final against either Belgium or France.Italy were already second best, and 1-0 down, when captain Leonardo Bonucci was sent off for two bookings, the second for an elbow on ...
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Oshoala inspires Barcelona past Arsenal in Champions League opener

Asisat Oshoala of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Jennifer Beattie of Arsenal WFC during the UEFA Women's Champions League group C match between FC Barcelona and Arsenal WFC at Estadi Johan Cruyff on October 05, 2021 in Barcelona, SpainArsenal were put to the sword as an outstanding Barcelona side romped to a 4-1 win in their Women’s Champions League Group C opener.Last season’s champions were in imperious form, with Mariona Caldentey, Alexia Putellas, Asisat Oshoala and Lieke Martens scoring the goals.Frida Maanum grabbed a consolation for the Gunners, but only the performance of goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger stopped it from being a really embarrassing evening as she made a host of saves, including from Putellas’ stoppage-time penalty.The keeper had to face 37 shots as Barca showe...
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