NEWS

18Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

UEFA Europa League group stage to kick off

The UEFA Europa League group stage will kick off on Thursday with a bevy of 24 matches.Three Turkish clubs -- Besiktas, Trabzonspor, and Istanbul Basaksehir -- will play their first matches away.In Bratislava, Besiktas will play Slovakia's Slovan Bratislava in Group K, while Istanbul Basaksehir will take on Italian club Roma at Stadio Olimpico in Group J. Both matches will start at 22:00 CET (1900GMT).In their match at Coliseum Alfonso Perez, Trabzonspor will face Spanish team Getafe at 19:55 CET (1655GMT).The first two teams from 12 groups will reach the last 32 round of the Europa League.The final will be held in Gdansk, Poland on May 27.First-week fixtures of the Europa League as follows:Matches kicking off at 1655 GMTGroup AApoel Nicosia (Greek Cypriot side) vs F91 Dudelange (LUX)FK Qa...

7Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Euro 2020 Round-up : Belgium Ease Past San Marino

Belgium moved closer to reaching Euro 2020 with a routine 4-0 win in San Marino to move eight points clear of third place in Group I.Belgium kept up their perfect start to the group but had to wait until the 43rd minute to make the breakthrough, when Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi scored from the spot.After half-time, Dries Mertens doubled their advantage, before ex-Spurs and West Brom winger Nacer Chadli added a third and an injury-time fourth from Batshuayi rounded off the scoring.Russia stayed three points behind them in Group I with a 2-1 win in Scotland, while Kazakhstan's faint home of qualifying remained alive as they held Cyprus to a 1-1 draw.Germany missed the chance to displace Northern Ireland at the top of Group C as Netherlands scored four times in 32 second-half minutes to s...

5Sep

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Bale: “I kept my head down and worked hard”

Real Madrid attacker Gareth Bale talked to the press in Wales for the first time this summer and explained his feelings after being on his way out of the club for most of the transfer window.“What happened this summer did not affect me much, I had some great holidays. I kept my head down and worked hard and while it’s true that many things were said, I just kept working. Things that happened will remain private, if you want answers maybe you need to ask Real Madrid about it,” said Bale.The Welshman ended up staying in Madrid and it looks like he will be a relevant player for coach Zinedine Zidane, given that he’s started in all three games played by the team this season.“It obviously wasn’t my best summer but it wasn’t the worst either. I remember I didn’t play for one full season with Har...

19Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Ligue 1: Still no Neymar as PSG loses at Rennes

French champions Paris St-Germain fell to a surprise defeat as they threw away a goal lead and were beaten by Rennes.Edinson Cavani, who had earlier hit the post, gave PSG the lead when he was gifted the ball by Rennes captain Damien da Silva's misplaced backpass.PSG, again without Neymar, had a chance to make it 2-0 but Kylian Mbappe also hit the woodwork.Mbaye Niang's curled finish made it 1-1 before Romain del Castillo headed in a cross from Eduardo Camavinga, 16.Rennes had a chance to grab a third goal but Jeremy Gelin's header hit the post, with Mbappe and Cavani both missing late chances to make it 2-2.PSG only lost five Ligue 1 matches in 2018-19 as they won the title by 16 points, while Rennes, who came 10th last season, denied PSG a league and cup double as they beat them on penal...

17Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

FIFA bans former Nigeria coach Samson Siasia over match fixing

Former Nigeria national team coach Samson Siasia has been banned by FIFA for life following a match-fixing probe.FIFA, in a statement on Friday, said that the adjudicatory chamber of their independent Ethics Committee found that Siasia was guilty of having accepted bribes in relation to the manipulation of matches in violation of the FIFA Code of Ethics.The former international played 51 times as a striker for the Nigerian national team and later coached various national youth sides.According to FIFA, the formal ethics proceedings against Siasia were initiated on 11 February, 2019 and stem from an extensive investigation into matches that Wilson Raj Perumal attempted to manipulate for betting purposes.In its decision, the adjudicatory chamber found that Mr Siasia had breached art. 11 (Brib...

15Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Van Dijk, Messi, Ronaldo Lead UEFA player of the year nomination

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk have been named as the finalists for the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award.Messi scored 36 goals and assisted 13 in La Liga as Barcelona won the title but they were beaten in the Copa del Rey final and knocked out of the Champions League at the semifinal stage by Van Dijk's Liverpool.In his first full season at Anfield, Van Dijk helped Liverpool win the Champions League and finish as Premier League runners-up, ending one point behind Manchester City after losing only once all season.Ronaldo won Serie A with Juventus but only reached the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia and Champions League.The award will be presented at the Champions League group stage draw ceremony which takes place in Monaco on Aug. 29.The three were selected by a ju...

14Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Klopp hoping for more Istanbul glory as Lampard eyes overdue Super Cup win

Jurgen Klopp hopes to recreate special memories in Istanbul when Liverpool face Chelsea in the UEFA Super Cup final.Besiktas Park will witness the first all-English clash in the competition’s history tonight, when the Reds will attempt to secure more continental glory in this Turkish metropolis.Istanbul will always have a special place in the hearts of Liverpool supporters after the Champions League final in 2005, when Rafael Benitez’s side came from three goals down to secure a 3-3 draw with AC Milan before winning on penalties.“I know about the special importance of Istanbul and what a special place it is for every Liverpool supporter,” Klopp said on the eve of the game.“It was 2005 in Istanbul and no one will ever forget that, which is good.“But we are different people. Unfortunately, w...

11Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Joao Felix sparkles as Atletico thrash Juventus

Record signing Joao Felix scored two first-half goals for Atletico Madrid as they secured a 2-1 win over Juventus in the International Champions Cup at the Friends Arena on Saturday.Although the vast majority of fans in the crowd seemed to be more interested in seeing his fellow Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, Felix opened the scoring by squeezing a first-time finish through two defenders and into the back of the net midway through the first half.Sami Khedira equalised for the Italian champions in the 29th minute but Felix, who joined Atletico from Benfica for a reported €126 million in July, netted his second four minutes later.The Spanish side open their La Liga campaign at home to Getafe next Sunday, while Juventus travel to Parma on August 24 to begin their Serie A season.Juventus forwar...

10Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Cesc Fabregas sent off as Monaco lose to Lyon

Monaco suffered a disastrous start to the new Ligue 1 season against Lyon.After their narrow brush with relegation last term, Les Monegasques will hope for much better this time around but this 3-0 defeat was an inauspicious beginning.Monaco found themselves behind in only the fifth minute when Bertrand Traore's cross was headed in by Moussa Dembele.Worse was to follow on the half-hour mark when Cesc Fabregas was sent off.The midfielder had originally been shown a yellow card for a foul on Leo Dubois but the decision was referred to VAR.Replays showed Fabregas had raked his studs down the back of Dubois' leg and the card was upgraded to red.Six minutes later more calamity befell the hosts, this time goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, making his debut after signing from Montpellier, letting a lon...

7Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Dani Alves eyes 2022 World Cup in return to Brazil

The former Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves said the move aims to keep him in shape for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when he will be 39 years old.The captain of Brazil’s title-winning Copa America team signed a contract that runs to December 2022. He left PSG on a free transfer after his contract expired in July.Alves has lifted 40 trophies in his professional career and is looking for more.“I have the dream of playing the next World Cup and I need a team that believes in me, in my history in soccer,” Alves said. “I am coming to Sao Paulo to bring results, I don’t want anyone thinking I have come to end my career. I still have many goals.”Alves did not play in last year’s World Cup because of a knee injury. He was on Brazil’s squad for the 2010 and 2014 editi...

3Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Messi banned from Internationals for three months after ‘corruption’ outburst

Argentina's Lionel Messi has been banned from international duty for three months and fined $50,000 after levelling accusations of “corruption” at South American soccer chiefs during the Copa America.Messi was sent off against in the Copa America third-place play-off and afterwards alleged that the tournament had been fixed in favour of hosts Brazil, who beat Argentina in a controversial semi-final on their way to the title.The Argentina captain called the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) “corrupt” and did not attend the ceremony to pick up his medal. He was handed a one-match ban and a $1,500 fine for his sending off last month. CONMEBOL had said that the Barcelona forward's comments were “unacceptable”.“The player is suspended to play official and friendly matches with hi...

2Aug

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Mbappe: I don't want Neymar to leave PSG

Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe has said he wants teammate Neymar stay at the Parc des Princes despite speculation over a summer return to former club Barcelona.The Brazil international joined from Barca for a world-record €222 million in 2017 but has not taken part in any preseason action with PSG hopeful Barca would make an acceptable offer.But that has not happened and speaking ahead of Saturday's Trophee des Champions clash with Rennes, Mbappe said his wish is that Neymar stays put."Everybody knows about his situation," Mbappe said at a news conference in Shenzhen. "I do not want him to leave. He knows what I think of him and his situation."Coach Thomas Tuchel added that Neymar has trained well since returning for preseason and was involved in a group session ahead of the Ren...

30Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Neymar Rape Case Dropped Over Lack of Evidence

Police investigating rape allegations against Brazilian football player Neymar say they have closed the case.The Sao Paulo attorney general's office said the case was suspended due to a lack of evidence, but will be sent to prosecutors for a final decision.The investigation was opened after Brazilian model Najila Trindade alleged the footballer attacked her in a hotel in Paris, France, in May.Neymar has denied the accusations, saying he is being extorted.A spokesman for Neymar said that he was not able to comment on the police decision.The case has gripped Brazil, where it has dominated newspaper headlines.

25Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

Friendly : Liverpool and Sporting Play Out 2-2 Draw

Bruno Fernandes, who has been linked with Manchester United, excelled with a goal and an assist as Liverpool ended their US tour with a 2-2 draw with Sporting.The Portuguese midfielder scored a fortuitous opener inside five minutes at Yankee Stadium when his routine effort from 25 yards was misjudged by Simon Mignolet and deflected in.Liverpool responded well and Divock Origi poked in when Jordan Henderson's header was saved (20) and they took a half-time lead when Georginio Wijnaldum's effort struck Luis Neto on its way past Renan Ribeiro a minute before the break.Sporting got back on level terms nine minutes into the second half when Fernandes sold Trent Alexander-Arnold with a lovely turn before feeding Wendel to slot in the equaliser.Despite forcing a number of saves out of Mignolet as...

25Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

ICC : Juventus Edge Inter on Penalties

Matthijs de Ligt scored an own goal on his first Juventus start but Gianluigi Buffon proved the hero for Maurizio Sarri's side as they beat Serie A rivals Inter 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the International Champions Cup.Having come on in Juve's defeat to Tottenham, big-money signing De Ligt was handed a full debut for the Derby d'Italia encounter in China, but the occasion was marred when he diverted Stefano Sensi's 10th-minute corner beyond Samir Handanovic.De Ligt's unfortunate opener was cancelled out midway through the second half - Cristiano Ronaldo making it two goals from two games with a deflected free-kick that looped in to restore parity midway through the second half.Daniele Padelli brilliantly denied Ronaldo a second as penalties were required to settle the contest, b...

24Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

CONMEBOL Fines Messi for Copa America Comments

CONMEBOL have handed Lionel Messi a $1500 fine for his inflammatory comments about the federation’s “corruption” during this summer’s Copa America.Additionally, the Argentina star will serve a one-game suspension for the red card he received against Chile in the competition’s third-place match.Messi went off on the South American federation earlier this month, but they have responded with a negligible fine and no further suspension beyond the automatic one-game punishment for a red card.After being sent off against Chile, Messi skipped the Copa America medal ceremony, clearly still upset about his red card in the third-place game and what transpired in his nation’s semi-final defeat to host country Brazil.CONMEBOL responded to Messi’s comments with a withering statement of their own, accus...

24Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

ICC : Bayern Edge AC Milan

Leon Goretzka scored the only goal of the match as Marco Giampaolo's first game in charge of AC Milan resulted in a 1-0 loss to Bayern Munich at the International Champions Cup.Giampaolo arrived from Serie A rivals Sampdoria after Gennaro Gattuso stepped down as head coach of Milan at the end of the 2018-19 season.New signing Theo Hernandez made his debut for Milan following his transfer from Real Madrid, while Paolo Maldini's son – Daniel – was also in the starting XI for the Rossoneri.And Giampaolo oversaw defeat in Milan's pre-season opener as Goretzka's well-taken 48th-minute goal guided Bayern to their second ICC victory.

24Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

ICC : Bale Stars as Real Beat Arsenal on Penalties

Gareth Bale sent a message to Zinedine Zidane after coming off the bench to score and inspire Real Madrid's comeback against Arsenal at the International Champions Cup.Bale – tipped for an imminent Madrid exit after sitting out last week's loss to Bayern Munich – was surprisingly introduced by Zidane at half-time and the Los Blancos outcast helped erase a two-goal deficit in a 2-2 draw before the LaLiga giants won on penalties on Tuesday.Arsenal – who had Sokratis Papastathopoulos sent off prior to half-time after Nacho Fernandez was dismissed for a handball – were in control thanks to Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, until Bale entered the fray.Bale pulled a goal back with a simple finish in the 56th minute before fellow substitute Marco Asensio restored parity three min...

21Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

ICC : Nketiah Shines for Arsenal

Eddie Nketiah continued his fine form to lead Arsenal to a 3-0 win over Fiorentina at the International Champions Cup on Saturday.Nketiah, who scored a late winner against Bayern Munich on Wednesday, netted a brace at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.The 20-year-old forward led Arsenal to another pre-season victory, scoring once in each half for the Premier League outfit before Joe Willock sealed the win.Arsenal opened the scoring after 15 minutes thanks to Nketiah, who made it goals in back-to-back games.Arsenal doubled their lead in the 65th minute as Nketiah continued his goalscoring form.Henrikh Mkhitaryan's cutback from the right found Lacazette, who passed to Nketiah for a simple finish.Lacazette again kept his composure before playing in Willock, who finished...

21Jul

By Silver EmmanuelNo Comments

NEWS

PSG Insist No Concrete Offers In for Neymar

Paris Saint-Germain have not received a "concrete offer" for Neymar, the club's sporting director Leonardo said.The Brazilian forward has been heavily linked with a move away from the Ligue 1 champions during the close season, with his former club Barcelona looking the most likely destination.He caused controversy earlier in the off-season when he failed to report for training with the rest of the squad on July 8.Leonardo has previously said the 27-year-old can leave for the right price, but he told reporters after the game in Germany that no offers have been tabled for him."Honestly, there is nothing different from the last time we talked," he said, according to Le Parisien. "Nothing at all."It has not moved. There is no concrete offer for Neymar, he is with us. He is a player for Paris S...