NEWS – Page 66 – Football Flame

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Demba Ba announces retirement

Axel Tuanzebe of Manchester United in action with Demba Ba of Istanbul Basaksehir during the UEFA Champions League Group H stage match between Istanbul Basaksehir and Manchester United at Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadyumu on November 04, 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey.Former Chelsea, Newcastle United and West Ham striker Demba Ba has called time on his 16-year playing career.He won the Turkish Super Lig title twice in recent seasons, with Besiktas in 2016/17 and Istanbul Basaksehir in 2019/20.Ba, who had two spells in China with Shanghai Shenhua and won 22 caps for Senegal, was without a club after leaving Swiss side FC Lugano in August."It is with a heart filled with gratefulness that I announce the end of my playing career," Ba tweeted.THE START... pic.twitter.com/oldRru5v4z— Demba Ba (@dembabaf...
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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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Netherlands 6-1 Turkey: Turkish delight for hat-trick hero Depay

Memphis Depay of Holland scores the second goal to make it 2-0 during the World Cup Qualifier match between Holland v Turkey at the Johan Cruijff Arena on September 7, 2021 in Amsterdam Netherlands.Memphis Depay scored a hat-trick as the Netherlands swept aside Turkey in Amsterdam to move to the top of their World Cup qualifying group. Oranje took an early lead when Davy Klaassen completed a neat one-two in the box with Depay with less than a minute on the clock, and Louis van Gaal’s side never looked back. Klaassen and Depay linked up again after 15 minutes as the Ajax midfielder hooked the ball over his shoulder to set up a simple finish. The Barcelona man added his second from the penalty spot eight minutes before half-time and completed his hat-trick after 54 minutes whe...
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Keita returning to Liverpool after Guinea coup

Naby Keita of Liverpool during a training session at AXA Training Centre on February 15, 2021 in Kirkby, England.Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita has flown out of Guinea after a military coup in the country.The 26-year-old had been representing his country against Morocco in a World Cup qualifier on Monday, when the overthrowing of President Alpha Conde by the military led to the closure of Guinea's borders.The Guinea squad was left stranded.Keita has managed to safely board a flight on Tuesday ahead of returning to Merseyside.The Morocco squad, which included Wolves defender Romain Saiss, QPR striker Ilias Chair and Watford duo Adam Masina and Imran Louza, were given an escort to leave Guinea on Monday following embassy-level negotiations.Liverpool had been in "constant contact" with Keita...
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Bernardo Silva & Jota score as Portugal beat Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan's midfielder Gara Garayev and Portugal's forward Diogo Jota vie for the ball during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualification football match between Azerbaijan and Portugal in Baku on September 7, 2021.A comfortable victory over Azerbaijan moved Portugal to the top of Group A - but automatic World Cup qualification remains in the balance.Manchester City's Bernardo Silva produced a stunning finish then, after Diogo Jota mis-controlled a Bruno Fernandes cross, Andre Silva tapped in.Liverpool's Jota headed in the third to secure the win and leave Azerbaijan on one point at the bottom of the group.Serbia, who were joint top, face Republic of Ireland later on Tuesday.The two sides started Tuesday level on 10 points at the top of Group A, with Serbia ahead on goal difference, before...
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Former players meet Wenger to discuss international calendar change

Arsene Wenger looks on during day four of the 2021 French Open at Roland Garros on June 02, 2021 in Paris, France.John Terry and Michael Owen are among a number of high-profile former players talking to Fifa's chief of global football development, Arsene Wenger, about major changes to the international match calendar.Ex-Arsenal boss Wenger is leading a consultation on holding men's and women's World Cups every two years.That follows May's proposal from the Saudi Arabian football federation.But Fifa and Uefa both say that too much football is being played.However, the two governing bodies have different views about how to address the situation.Wenger said in May that he wanted to see the World Cup and European Championship played every two years and have Fifa "kick all the rest out", includ...
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Neymar pockets eye-watering £430,000-a-month bonus due to unusual PSG contract clause

Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between FC Lorient and Paris Saint-Germain at the Stade Yves-Allainmat stadium, in Lorient, western France, on January 31, 2021.Neymar reportedly takes home an eye-watering £430,000-a-month bonus thanks to a very peculiar clause in his contract at Paris Saint-Germain.Brazil trickster Neymar penned a new five-year deal with PSG back in May, committing his long-term future to the Ligue 1 giants.However, on top of his astronomical wages that will see him pocket €50.6 million from next year, it appears that he also earns bucket loads of cash from a bizarre clause.Spanish outlet El Mundo have leaked some of the finer details of his new contract in a truly hair-raising report.In ord...
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Uefa rejects idea of World Cup every two years

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin speaks during the 45th Ordinary UEFA Congress at 2m2c Montreux Music & Convention Centre on April 20, 2021, in Montreux, Switzerland.Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin has rejected the idea of holding the World Cup every two years, saying it would "dilute" the tournament.Fifa is holding a feasibility study into a biennial men's and women's World Cup following a proposal from the Saudi Arabian football federation in May.The consultation process is being led by former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger."The jewel of the World Cup had value precisely because of its rarity," said Ceferin.Speaking in person in front of 160 club representatives at the General Assembly of the European Clubs' Association in Geneva, he added: "Holding it every two years will lead to mor...
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Former France defender Jean-Pierre Adams dies 39 years after falling into coma

Jean-Pierre Adams (L) from France and Baptista Tamagnini Nene during a friendly international match between France and Portugal.The former France defender Jean-Pierre Adams has died at the age of 73, almost 40 years after falling into a coma as a result of a medical error, his former clubs, Paris St-Germain and Nîmes, said on Monday.In 1982, Adams was administered a near fatal dose of anaesthetic before a routine knee operation, which caused brain damage.The Dakar-born Adams won 22 caps for Les Bleus in the 1970s, forming with Marius Tresor what was known as ‘the Black Guard’. He played for Nîmes from 1970-73 and for PSG from 1977-79 after joining from Nice.Since the accident, Adams has been cared for by his wife, Bernadette.As reported by the Blizzard, a knee problem suffered on a coachin...
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Messi fury as Brazil vs Argentina is abandoned over quarantine row

Argentina's Lionel Messi (L) and Brazil's Neymar are seen after employees of the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) entered to the field during the South American qualification football match for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Brazil and Argentina at the Neo Quimica Arena, also known as Corinthians Arena, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 5, 2021.Lionel Messi voiced his anger as his side’s World Cup qualifier with Brazil was abandoned amid farcical scenes in Sao Paulo after health officials invaded the pitch in an attempt to deport Argentina players who were accused of breaking coronavirus restrictions.Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso, and Aston Villa’s goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez were part of the Argentina XI when officials from Brazil’s health regulator...
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