NEWS – Page 82 – Football Flame

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Wayne Rooney names his only concern for Man City vs Real Madrid

Head Coach Josep Guardiola of Manchester City and Head Coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid gesture prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Bernabeu on February 26, 2020 in Madrid, Spain. Former Manchester United player Wayne Rooney says Manchester City 'may never have a better chance to win the Champions League' and said his only concern for the Blues against Real Madrid is over their defence. Pep Guardiola's men are 2-1 up against Madrid going into the last-16 second leg game at the Etihad on Friday night. "City may never have a better chance to win the Champions League," Rooney says in his Sunday Times column. “Sergio Ramos is suspended which is a huge loss to the Real defence and I think City will score. Whether t...
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Aubameyang at the double as Arsenal turn tables on Chelsea to win FA Cup

Arsenal's Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (C) holds the winner's trophy as the team celebrates victory after the English FA Cup final football match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium in London, on August 1, 2020. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was Arsenal’s two-goal hero as his club claimed a record 14th FA Cup by beating Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley. The Gabonese forward, who scored a penalty in the first half and the 67th-minute winner capped a win for the Gunners as their manager, Mikel Arteta, became the second man to win the Cup with Arsenal as player and manager, repeating George Graham’s feat.  Frank Lampard, his team wracked by injuries and a second-half red card for Matteo Kovacic, failed to achieve a similar double with Chelsea. Christian Pulisic had p...
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PSG beat Lyonnais to win French League Cup

Paris Saint-Germain's French forward Kylian Mbappe (2ndR) and Paris Saint-Germain's Brazilian forward Neymar (2ndL) jokes with their trophies past teammates as they celebrate their victory at the end of the French League Cup final football match between Paris Saint-Germain vs Olympique Lyonnais at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on July 31, 2020. Paris St Germain beat Olympique Lyonnais 6-5 on penalties to lift the French League Cup on Friday with the match ending in a 0-0 stalemate after regular and extra time. Second-half substitute Pablo Sarabia scored PSG's final penalty in the shootout after goalkeeper Keylor Navas had saved Bertrand Traore's spot kick to give the Ligue 1 champions and French Cup winners their ninth League Cup trophy. It was the last roar for the competition...
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Arteta: Arsenal FA Cup win would help convince Aubameyang to stay

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. Mikel Arteta believes Saturday’s FA Cup final will not be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s last game for Arsenal and lifting the trophy could help convince him to sign a new contract. Aubameyang will captain Arsenal at Wembley Stadium against Chelsea, but he is yet to pen fresh terms on a new deal. The forward’s current contract is due to expire in under a year’s time and he is attracting interest from Barcelona and Inter Milan. But Arteta, who himself won the FA Cup as captain of Arsenal back in 2014, believes defeating Chelsea and lifting the trophy could help convince Aubam...
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Community Shield confirmed for August 29

Raheem Sterling of Manchester City celebrates with the FA Community Shield following his team's victory in the FA Community Shield match at Wembley Stadium on August 04, 2019 in London, England. The Community Shield will take place at Wembley on Saturday August 29, the FA has confirmed. The traditional curtain-raiser for the new season will see Premier League champions Liverpool play either Arsenal or Chelsea, who meet in this Saturday's FA Cup final. The kick-off time for the game will be announced at a later date. It has been reported that the match could welcome a restricted number of supporters into Wembley as part of plans for supporters to make a socially-distanced return to sports venues more widely from October 1. The match will be immediately followed by an internatio...
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PSG star Kylian Mbappe in tears and on crutches after horror tackle in French Cup final sparks mass scuffle

Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain reacts with Neymar Jr after his injury during the French Cup Final match between Paris Saint Germain (PSG) and Saint Etienne (ASSE) at Stade de France on July 24, 2020 in Paris, France. Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel admitted "everyone is worried" after Kylian Mbappe hobbled off out of their French Cup final victory with an ankle injury. Mbappe received lengthy treatment after his right ankle was caught in a dreadful challenge from Saint Etienne captain Loic Perrin that resulted in a red card for the centre-back. "Everyone is worried. Everyone who saw the foul is worried. Of course I'm worried," said Tuchel after his team's 1-0 win. A tearful Mbappe was replaced by Pablo Sarabia but the greater concern for PSG will be the severity of ...
NEWS

Chelsea beat Man United 3-1 to reach FA Cup Final

Olivier Giroud of Chelsea celebrates with his team after scoring his sides first goal during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on July 19, 2020 in London, England. Chelsea’s quest to end the season with a trophy continues after Frank Lampard’s side booked a place in the FA Cup final for the 14th time with a deserved victory over Manchester United at Wembley. Goals either side of the half-time break from Olivier Giroud and Mason Mount settled this semi-final and sets up a London derby final against Arsenal.  It also means Chelsea will compete for the famous old trophy in this 50th anniversary year since our first triumph in the competition back in 1970. Lampard will feel his side were good value for their victory having contr...
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Arsenal beat Man City 2-0 to reach record 21st FA Cup final

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal scores his team's second goal during the FA Cup Semi Final match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on July 18, 2020 in London, England. Mikel Arteta hailed Arsenal's "great chemistry" as the secret to their shock 2-0 win over Manchester City as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang fired his club to a record 21st FA Cup final. Gunners boss Arteta outwitted City manager Pep Guardiola with an astute counter-attacking scheme and Aubameyang struck in each half as Arsenal executed the plan to perfection. Arsenal will face Chelsea or Manchester United, who meet in the other semi-final on Sunday, in the final at Wembley on August 1. Arteta captained Arsenal to FA Cup triumph six years ago and, in his first season in charge of the north Londo...
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David Dunn appointed as new Barrow manager

David Dunn Barrow have appointed David Dunn as their new manager ahead of the club's return to the English Football League. The 40-year-old has left his job as Blackpool assistant head coach to replace Ian Evatt on a two-year deal. Evatt departed the Bluebirds at the beginning of the month to take charge of League One club Bolton Wanderers. Barrow were promoted back to the EFL after a gap of 48 years as champions when the National League season was ended in June by coronavirus. Chairman Paul Hornby said: "As soon as we knew David was available and wanted the position we made him our number one target. "He is an extremely talented coach and ticked all the boxes with the owners." Dunn had a spell as Oldham manager during the 2015-16 season, but lasted only 20 games, the la...
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Napoli beats Juventus on Penalties to win Coppa Italia title

Napoli's Italian head coach Gennaro Gattuso (C with trophy) celebrates with his staff after Napoli won the TIM Italian Cup (Coppa Italia) final football match Napoli vs Juventus on June 17, 2020 at the Olympic stadium in Rome, played behind closed doors as the country gradually eases the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus. Napoli claimed their sixth Coppa Italia title after beating Juventus on penalties 4-2 after the two sides played to a 0-0 draw behind closed doors on Wednesday. Paulo Dybala and Danilo missed the goal in the first two attempts of Juventus, while Napoli converted all of their attempts to give coach Gennaro Gattuso the first major trophy of his coaching career. Napoli nearly won it in stoppage time but wer...
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Highest court in France suspends Ligue 1 relegation

Logos of clubs during the Ligue 1 match between Saint-Etienne and Bordeaux at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on March 8, 2020 in Saint-Etienne, France. France's highest administrative court has confirmed the Ligue 1 season will end early as planned - but suspended the relegation of Amiens and Toulouse. The league was cancelled in April on a points-per-game basis, with Paris St-Germain named champions and Ligue 2 sides Lorient and Lens promoted. However, Amiens and Toulouse - the French top-flight's bottom two clubs - could still be demoted because the State Council ruled that the French Football League (LFP) must re-examine its structure of the top two divisions. Tuesday's ruling could potentially lead to a 22-team Ligue 1 for the 2020-21 season, an increase of two sides. The appea...
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Monaco star Keita Balde helping homeless in Catalonia

Keita BALDE of Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between Monaco and Montpellier at Stade Louis II on February 14, 2020 in Monaco, Monaco. Monaco's Keita Balde has said he will pay rent for 200 seasonal workers who have been sleeping rough in the city of Lleida, claiming racism has seen local hotels refuse to help. Balde, 25, was born in Catalonia but plays for Senegal, the country of origin for many of those who pick fruit in the Lleida region. "They've been sleeping in the street, without food, without anything," he said on Instagram on Monday. "They work 12 hours a day, they haven't even stopped because of coronavirus. Most of them are Senegalese, and I wanted to help, to do what I can. I'm not looking for conflict... "I just want to find solutions. I've helped with food, accom...
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Roger Federer beats Lionel Messi to top of sport’s rich list

Roger Federer is the world’s highest-paid athlete for 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic knocked football’s Lionel Messi off top spot, according to the annual Forbes list. The Swiss tennis great, owner of a men’s record 20 Grand Slam singles titles, earned $106.3million in the last 12 months, including $100m via endorsements, to move up four places and become the first player from his sport to top the list. Footballers Cristiano Ronaldo($105m), Messi ($104m) and Neymar ($95.5m) and basketball player LeBron James ($88.2m) rounded out the top five. “The coronavirus pandemic triggered salary cuts for soccer stars Messi and Ronaldo, clearing the way for a tennis player to rank as the world’s highest-paid athlete for the first time,” said Kurt Badenhausen, senior editor at Forbes. ...
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West Brom names James Morrison as new Assistant Coach

James Morrison of West Bromwich Albion arrives at the stadium on the team bus during the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Semi Final Second Leg match between West Bromwich Albion and Aston Villa at The Hawthorns on May 14, 2019 in West Bromwich, England. West Bromwich Albion have appointed James Morrison as assistant manager of the U23 side. Morrison, 34, announced his retirement from playing in October of last year. He’d spent 12 consecutive seasons with the club – only three of which in the Championship – making 341 appearances in total, and scoring 39 goals. The club initially offered Morrison a voluntary role working in the youth set-up, but now he’s been offered a full-time role with the U23 squad. Speaking on the appointment, academy boss Richard Stevens explained how Morris...
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Ligue 1: Marseille confirm Villas-Boas to stay on as head coach

Andre Villas-Boas, head coach of Marseille, heads to the bench before the start of the Nimes V Marseille, French Ligue 1, regular season match at Stade des Costieres on February 28th 2020, Nimes, France. Andre Villas-Boas will return as Marseille coach for next season, the club announced on Monday, despite widespread reports the Portuguese was set to leave after just one year in charge.  "After several discussions in recent days with Frank McCourt and Jacques-Henri Eyraud, Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed that he wants to continue working with OM next season," the club told AFP.  Last week, Marseille offered Villas-Boas -- whose existing deal runs until the end of next season -- a two-year contract extension as doubts persisted over his future at the club following the de...
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Former Inter Milan Manager Luigi Simoni Passes Away

Former FC Internazionale coach Luigi Simoni looks on during a press conference to present his biography 'Simoni si nasce. Tre vite per il calcio' prior to the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on November 28, 2016 in Milan, Italy. Luigi Simoni, a former Inter Milan coach who led the Italian team to the UEFA Cup title in 1998, died Friday. He was 81. Simoni had been hospitalized since suffering a stroke last July, but was moved home in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. Simoni was taken back to Pisa hospital on Thursday when his condition deteriorated. Simoni won the UEFA Cup with Inter in 1998 in his only full season in charge of the club. He also led the team to a second-place finish in Serie A and won the Panchina d´Oro ...
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Belgium manager Roberto Martinez extends contract until 2022

Belgium manager Roberto Martinez arriving during the UEFA Nations League 2020/21 draw at the Beurs van Berlage Conference Centre, Amsterdam.  Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez has extended his contract to remain in charge until after the 2022 World Cup. The Spanish former Everton, Wigan and Swansea manager took over in 2016 and his existing deal was set to run out this summer after Euro 2020. The tournament has been moved to 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic, with the next World Cup taking place in Qatar in November and December 2022. Belgium finished third at the 2018 World Cup in Russia under Martinez, 46. The Red Devils are top of the current Fifa world rankings and won all 10 of their games in qualifying for Euro 2020. They have been drawn in Group B for...
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FIFA to select 2023 Women’s World Cup host on June 25

The FIFA Women World Cup 2023 Winner's Trophy is on display during the FIFA Football Conference - Analysis on the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup at Palazzo Del Ghiaccio on September 22, 2019 in Milan, Italy. FIFA has announced that it will select the host country for the 2023 Women's World Cup at an online meeting of the global governing body's council on June 25. The four finalists to host the event include a joint bid from Australia and New Zealand, as well as bids from Brazil, Colombia and Japan in "the most competitive bidding process in the history of the Women's World Cup," according to a FIFA statement. "This is part of our overall commitment to women's football that, among other things, will see FIFA invest one billion U.S. dollars in women's football during the current cycle,"...
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UEFA President Ceferin believe Ligue 1 Cancellation was Premature

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin looks on during the 44th UEFA Congress at Beur van Berlage on March 03, 2020 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin believes Ligue 1's decision to cancel their season "was premature" as "things can improve a lot". The French competition became the first of Europe's top five leagues to take the extreme measure amid the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities have settled on final league standings which ensures qualification for European competitions are honoured. The Bundesliga returns this weekend while Premier League continues with its own plans to restart which were given the green light by the government. And while Ceferin concedes the decision in France was enforced by their government, he feels as if they may have acted to...
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Tottenham Striker Harry Kane agrees to Sponsor Shirt of Former Club Leyton Orient

Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane during a training session at the Tottenham Hotspur Training Ground, Enfield. Leyton Orient have announced that Harry Kane will take on the club's shirt sponsorship for the 2020-21 season. The club confirmed in a statement on Thursday that Kane's sponsorship meant that three different charities would be advertised on their jersey over the season. Kane chose a thank you message for the frontline heroes, Haven House Children's Hospice and the mental health charity Mind. "I was born and brought up only at a couple of miles from the stadium and I am really happy to have the opportunity to give back to the club that gave me my first professional start," Kane said in a statement. "This also gives me a platform to be able to say a big thank you to the ...
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