NEWS – Page 88 – Football Flame

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PSG 2-0 Nantes: Kylian Mbappe scores an audacious backheel while Neymar nets from the spot

NEYMAR JR of PSG and Kylian MBAPPE of PSG during the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint-Germain and FC Nantes at Parc des Princes.A superb Kylian Mbappe goal and a Neymar penalty helped Paris St Germain restore a five-point lead atop the Ligue 1 standings with a 2-0 home win over Nantes on Wednesday.France striker Mbappe found the back of the net with a jaw-dropping backheel finish early in the second half and Neymar doubled the tally in the closing stages to put PSG on 36 points from 15 games.Second-placed Marseille, who have played one game more, had narrowed the gap to two points with a 2-0 victory at Angers on Tuesday.Elsewhere, St Etienne climbed up to fifth on 25 points with a 4-1 home win over Nice.
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Lionel Messi wins Ballon d'Or for sixth time

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi reacts after winning the Ballon d'Or France Football 2019 trophy at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris.Lionel Messi won a record sixth men's Ballon d'Or award at a ceremony in Paris on Monday, beating Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk to take the honours.Now aged 32, it is Messi's first Ballon d'Or since 2015 and his sixth overall as he moves one ahead of his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who finished third in the voting.Messi, who attended the ceremony at the Chatelet Theatre in the French capital with his wife and children, succeeds Luka Modric, the Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder who won the prize last year.The Barcelona number 10 previously won the award in 2009, 2010, 2011 and in 2012 before claiming his fifth Ballon d'Or in 2015.This latest ...
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Ligue 1: PSG cruise to Lille win

Neymar made his comeback from injury as Paris Saint-Germain enjoyed a 2-0 home win over Lille to move a provisional 11 points clear at the top of Ligue 1.First-half goals from Mauro Icardi and Angel Di Maria put the hosts ahead and Lille never seriously threatened a comeback.Neymar had not featured for the champions since October 5 due to a hamstring problem but returned to the starting line-up to help his side ease to victory at the Parc des Princes and declared himself fit for the midweek Champions League trip to Real Madrid.Second-placed Marseille visit second-bottom Toulouse on Sunday.
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Serge Gnabry scores hat-trick as Northern Ireland crash to Germany loss in final Euro 2020 Qualifier

Germany secured top spot in Group C of UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying with a 6-1 victory over Northern Ireland in Frankfurt on Tuesday.Michael Smith opened the scoring early for the visitors, but Serge Gnabry equalised soon after and Leon Goretzka put Germany ahead just before the break .Gnabry put the game out of sight as he completed his hat-trick with two second-half goals before Goretzka's second and Julian Brandt's late strike confirmed Germany topped the pool despite the Netherlands' comfortable win over Estonia. Northern Ireland's hopes of qualifying via Group C were ended by Saturday's 0-0 draw with the Dutch. But Michael O'Neill's side will have another chance in March's play-offs.Smith gave Northern Ireland a dream start when he found the bottom corner with a brilliant right-foot...
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Spain thrash Romania in final Euro 2020 Qualifier

Spain finished its qualifying campaign for the 2020 European Championship with a 5-0 win over Romania.Gerard Moreno scored twice for the hosts, who had already secured a spot in the tournament but needed the victory to be among the top-seeded teams in the draw this month.It was in control from the start on Monday, with Romania threatening only a few times in front of a crowd of 36,198 at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, including many Romanians.Ruiz opened the scoring from close range in the eighth minute, and Moreno added his goals with a header in the 33rd and strike from the six-yard line in the 43rd.It was the second Spain match at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium, the other a 6-1 rout of Argentina ahead of last year’s World Cup.
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Euro 2020 Qualifier: Italy beats Armenia 9-1 for biggest win since 1948

Italy achieved its biggest win in more than 70 years when it beat Armenia 9-1 in its last qualifier for the 2020 European Championship on Monday.Italy’s biggest win since a 9-0 result against the United States in 1948 featured three Italians scoring their first international goals.Nicolo Zaniolo, debutant Riccardo Orsolini, and Federico Chiesa all got off the mark to help Italy to a record-extending 11th successive victory.Chiesa hit the woodwork twice before finishing off the scoring for Italy nine minutes from time.Italy, which had already qualified for Euro 2020 as Group J winner, ensured it progressed with a perfect record of 10 wins in 10 matches. It also beat the United States in a friendly last year.“You don’t score nine goals in an international match by chance,” Italy coach Robert...
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AFCON 2021 Qualifiers: Kessie on the spot to seal Ivory Coast win over Niger

AC Milan midfielder Franck Kessie scored a second-half penalty as Ivory Coast laboured to a 1-0 victory over Niger in their opening 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Group K qualifier in Abidjan on Saturday.It was the second spot-kick of the game for the home side, after Max Gradel missed a first-half chance from 12 yards having argued furiously with Arsenal forward Nicolas Pepe over who would take the kick.Pepe won the first penalty when he was felled in the box and wanted to take it, but had the ball snatched from him by Gradel, who then saw his effort saved by Niger goalkeeper Kassaly Daouda.Madagascar also made a winning start in the group when they defeated Ethiopia 1-0 in Antananarivo.Troyes midfielder Rayan Raveloson also scored his first international goal in the opening half to seal the ...
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Germany, Netherlands seal spots at Euro 2020

Germany, Netherlands, Croatia and Austria have sealed their qualification for Euro 2020.Three-time European Championship winners Germany thrashed Belarus 4-0 in Monchengladbach, with Toni Kroos striking twice, to book their progress from Group C.Netherlands qualified for their first major tournament since 2014 after a nervy 0-0 draw in Northern Ireland, whom they will now stay ahead of irrespective of the result of the final group games.World Cup 2018 runners-up Croatia came from behind to beat 10-man Slovakia 3-1 in Rijeka to qualify as Group E winners.Austria's 2-1 win over North Macedonia ensured they progress from Group G.Toni Kroos scored twice for Joachim Loew's dominant Germany after goals from Mattias Ginter and Leon Goretzka."I am very satisfied. It was a good game by the team," L...
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England boss Southgate hails the Maturity of his players after Euro 2020 Qualification

England manager Gareth Southgate has hailed his young side for not letting the pressure of reaching a major tournament get to them as they look to wrap up their Euro 2020 qualifying campaign in positive style in Kosovo.The Three Lions sealed their place at next summer’s tournament with an emphatic 7-0 win over Montenegro at Wembley on Thursday night.At a press conference in Pristina on Saturday evening, Southgate said: “Now we have qualified, we still have desire to win the game because seedings for the finals could be important.“What has pleased me most looking back is we have qualified comfortably and played some incredible attacking football.“People will obviously look at the quality of some of the opponents, but I think over the years we have had players where the shirt has hung heavy ...
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Euro 2020 Qualifier: Russia lose out at home to Belgium

Belgium ran out 4-1 winners at the Gazprom Arena.Russia's consolation goal came from Georgi Dzhikiya on 79 minutes.Belgium's goals came from Thorgan Hazard on 19, Eden Hazard scored two on 33 and 40 and Romelu Lukaku scored the fourth on 72.Four Zenit players took part in the match, Artem Dzyuba started the match as did Yuri Zhirkov and Magomed Ozdoev. Daler Kuzyaev appeared on the pitch on 62 minutes.Russia have already qualified for Euro 2020 and are in second place in Group I with one final qualifying match to be played on 19 November away to San Marino.
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Ligue 1: Dimitri Payet scores 2 as Marseille beats Lyon to move into 2nd spot

Dimitri Payet inspired 10-man Marseille to a 2-1 victory in the Choc des Olympiques against Lyon at the Stade Velodrome.The midfielder's first-half brace proved enough for Les Phoceens despite playing the last 26 minutes with 10 men after centre-back Alvaro Gonzalez was sent off.Moussa Dembele had pulled one back for Lyon five minutes before Gonzalez's dismissal but Marseille held onto the three points which lifted them up to second in Ligue 1.A frantic start saw both teams have early chances with Marseille striker Dario Benedetto heading over inside the first minute before Maxwel Cornet fired straight at Steve Mandanda at the other end.However, the home side had a golden chance to take the lead, but not without a lengthy delay before Payet stepped up to take a penalty after Thiago Mendes ...
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Lionel Messi back in Argentina squad after three-month ban

Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina's squad for friendlies against Brazil and Uruguay next month, after his three-month international football ban ended.The Barcelona forward, 32, was sent-off in Argentina's Copa America third-place play-off win over Chile on 6 July.He was later banned after claiming the Copa America was "corrupt".Messi, who has scored five goals for Barcelona this season, missed four matches for Argentina during his ban.Argentina face Brazil in Saudi Arabia on 15 November and Uruguay in Israel on 18 November.Full squadGoalkeepers: Agustin Marchesin, Juan Musso, Emiliano Martinez, Esteban AndradaDefenders: Juan Foyth , Renzo Saravia, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Marcos Rojo, Walter Kannemann, Nicolas Taglafico, Nehuen Perez, Guido RodriguezMidfielders: Giovan...
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Sadio Mane, Sergio Aguero and Hugo Lloris have been nominated for the 2019 Ballon d'Or

Six Liverpool players were among the first 20 names revealed on the Ballon d'Or shortlist by France Football on Monday evening.Sadio Mane was one of the nominees announced early in the prolonged process, and was soon joined by Champions League-winning team-mates Alisson Becker and Georginio Wijnaldum.There was further recognition for the Anfield club too when Virgil Van Dijk and Roberto Firmino were added to the list, and they were soon joined by Trent Alexander-Arnold.There was further Premier League representation in the form of Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva, Tottenham pair Hugo Lloris and Son Heung-min, and Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.Five-times winner Cristiano Ronaldo was also included on what will eventually be a 30-man list, as was his former Rea...
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Wales held by Group leaders Croatia in UEFA EURO Qualifiers

Gareth Bale and Wales hosted Luka Modric and Croatia in a group E clash which saw both sides share the points in Cardiff.Nikola Vlasic provided the go-ahead goal for Croatia, just ten minutes into the the match. The young CSKA midfielder is one of the emerging talents for Croatia and he did well to win possession in midfield, offload the ball, and then make a late arriving run on the edge of the area, and drove his shot off the post and into the net.It would be Gareth Bale who would bring Wales back into the game with a crucial goal just before half. Ben Davies worked his way through the Croatian lines and fed Bale with a threaded ball eight yards from goal that Bale clinically finished into the bottom corner with his left foot. Wales had been sitting deep looking to absorb pressure f...
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Ronaldo nears 700 goals as England lose to Czechs in Euro qualifiers

Cristiano Ronaldo is six goals away from the 100th mark playing for Portugal team and one strike away from his 700th career goal, after he scored in a 3-0 win over Luxembourg on Friday which kept the defending champions on course for the Euro 2020 finals.The veteran star hit his 94th goal for the Portuguese and took his overall career tally to 699 when he found the target in the second half after Bernardo Silva had opened the scoring in the first period.The three points kept Portugal in second place in Group B, five points behind Ukraine who defeated Lithuania 2-0."In the first 25 minutes we were very good, very dynamic and created chances," said Fernando Santos who was marking his fifth anniversary as Portugal coach."Then we lost depth, Luxembourg became more comfortable but never created...
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Germany 2-2 Argentina: Visitors fight back from two goal down to draw

An experimental Germany team leaked two second-half goals Wednesday as a weakened Argentina side, minus superstar Lionel Messi, earned a 2-2 draw in a friendly in Dortmund.Germany flew into a 2-0 lead thanks to first-half goals by Serge Gnabry and Kai Havertz, but Lucas Alario turned the game in the second-half when he came on for Argentina.The Leverkusen striker pulled a goal back, then set up Lucas Ocampos for the late equaliser against a German team which included four debutants.Freiburg pair, defender Robin Koch, a late call-up on Monday who was thrust into a makeshift back three at the last-minute, and striker Luca Waldschmidt started.Leverkusen forward Nadiem Amiri and Schalke midfielder Suat Serdar came on to make their second-half debuts.The Germans had already been forced into a h...
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Bastian Schweinsteiger announces retirement from football

Former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has announced his retirement from football aged 35.Schweinsteiger came through the academy at Bayern Munich, and made over 500 appearances for the Bavarian club, winning eight Bundesliga titles, seven German Cups and the Champions League before moving to Manchester United in 2015 where he won the FA Cup under Louis Van Gaal.The decorated German has been plying his trade with Chicago Fire since 2017 and will now hang up his boots at the end of the current MLS season.Schweinsteiger retires with 121 caps for the German national team, having played an instrumental role in the teams 2014 World Cup triumph.In a letter posted on his twitter page, the 35 year-old said: “Dear Fans, the time has now come, and I will be fini...
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Marc -Andre Ter Stegen to play for Germany against Argentina

Germany coach Joachim Low has confirmed that Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will play for the national side in their friendly against Argentina.The 27-year-old has been in superb form again for Barcelona this season and has spoken of his disappointment at being left on the bench for the national side.Low says that Manuel Neuer remains Germany’s first-choice stopper but confirmed Ter Stegen will get the chance to impress on Wednesday in Dortmund.“Together with [goalkeeper coach] Andreas Kopke, we’ve decided that Marc will play in Dortmund and Manu in Tallinn. We’ve discussed it with both players,” he said.“I have confirmed numerous times that Manuel Neuer is our captain and our No.1 regarding the European Championship – so long as nothing extraordinary happens.” ...
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Chelsea duo Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori named in England squad for Euro 2020 qualifiers

Chelsea youngsters Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori have both been named in the England squad for the upcoming UEFA 2020 European Championship qualifiers against Czech Republic and Bulgaria.The 25-man squad was confirmed by the Three Lions on Thursday.The call-ups for Abraham and Tomori come off the back of impressive starts to the season for Chelsea, having been integrated into the first-team setup under manager Frank Lampard.Abraham has played for England previously, picking up two caps in 2017. However, he will return to the squad a much more rounded player and has excelled in the top flight for the Blues in 2019-20.On Wednesday, Abraham was on the scoresheet once again, as he helped Chelsea beat Lille 2-1 in the UEFA Champions League.Tomori's rise has been more understated, although it'...
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Europa League: Man Utd, Arsenal and Rangers win, Wolves lose

Arsenal teenager Bukayo Saka scored his first goal for the club as they beat 10-man Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0, while Manchester United’s 17-year-old Mason Greenwood secured a 1-0 win over FC Astana as the Europa League group stage began on Thursday.Joe Willock put Arsenal ahead in the first half with a deflected shot that flew in off the underside of the crossbar, but Frankfurt battled gamely until midfielder Dominik Kohr was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in the second half.Londoner Saka, 18, added a second with a superb curling shot in the 85th minute and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang slotted home a third to secure all three points for the Premier League side in the Group F clash in Germany.It was Frankfurt’s first loss in Europe in 16 games stretching back to 2006, and the win put A...
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