Gianni Infantino awarded the inaugural edition of the 24-team Club World Cup to China after a meeting in Shanghai at the FIFA Council. FIFA president Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that FIFA had awarded the inaugural edition of the 24-team World Cup to China in what he called a "historic decision". The move underscores China's growing influence on football and could be a pioneer for the eventual World Cup hosts. Infantino made the remarks after meeting in Shanghai for the FIFA Board, the decision-making unit of the World Football Board. This means that many of the biggest football clubs, a variety of stars, will descend to China in two years. Infantino stressed that China is the only country discussed "It's a historic decision for football," he said. "It will be a competition that all people, all children and all who love football expect." The FIFA President said in June that the new Club World Cup could generate commercial revenues of up to $ 50 billion, although he did not say how many issues he would cover. A source told AFP the figure was "unbelievable". The current Club World Cup has seven teams, including Champions League holders. Qatar will host the competition this year and 2020. The two countries will use the tournaments as logistic tests for stadiums and infrastructure ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup , FIFA's leading international competition. Infantino said FIFA would also double the funds allocated to women's football to $ 1 billion over the next four years. "The Council decided to allocate 500 million in addition to the 500 million already included in the budget." The plan to renew 24 teams from the Club World Cup from June to July 2021 was approved at a FIFA Council meeting in Miami in March despite opposition from the UEFA and the strong European League Association. Infantino said on Thursday the tournament would include eight teams from Europe. The tournament is held every four years and replaces the Confederations Cup, an international competition that served as a test for the hosts of the World Cup. The next World Cup? China, the world's second-largest economy, became increasingly influential in football under President Xi Jinping, a well-known fan of the game. Xi and his communist government have made sport a national priority and his stated goal is to host the country of 1.4 billion people. Commitment to the 2030 World Cup has been discussed for a long time. Mark Dreyer, an industry expert in Beijing, said the country has a proven track record in organizing major sporting events and believes the World Cup is the ultimate goal. But Dreyer, founder of China Sports Insider, added: "I am concerned from the perspective of China if other competitive offers (by 2030) will use this (Club World Cup) against China and say they already have some who have rewarded FIFA for their financial support. , So give someone else a World Cup. " When asked about questions about China's human rights record as a result of the FIFA Club World Cup decision, Infantino went ahead. He was also asked whether the players coming to China should watch themselves, after the NBA. A Chinese reaction was influenced by comments from a Houston Rockets executive who expressed support for Hong Kong protesters who resist Chinese control. "Everyone can say what they want," he said. "As far as we are concerned, we are trying to use football as an incentive for positive, not negative." Read More: Graeme Smith elected MCC Honorary Life Member
Copa del Rey has Real Sociedad, Athletic Bilbao, Granada, and second-division club Mirandes as its four semi-finalists, after both Real Madrid and Barcelona failed to make it to the last four in a decade.The new edition of the Copa del Rey claimed the largest number of casualties on Thursday, and Real Madrid and Barcelona were eliminated in the last eight.Real Madrid lost 4-3 to Real Sociedad at home, before Barcelona scored a late goal to lose 1-0 against Athletic Bilbao on the most surprising night in a competition filled with surprises.Valencia also lost the defending champions on Tuesday and Villarreal were excluded on Wednesday. Sevilla and Atletico Madrid had already been sent off in previous rounds.The semifinals will only be played in two stages this season, giving smaller clubs more chances to beat larger teams.The last four surprises will also include Granada and the second division club Mirandes. This is the first time in ten years that neither Madrid nor Barcelona have reached the last four cup games, as at least one of the Spanish powers reached the final each year since the 2009-10 season when Seville won the title. Barcelona reached the final in the past six years in a row."This is the new Copa," said Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets. "We are playing a game, away from home, and in one play you are eliminated."Real Sociedad finished a series of unbeaten matches in Madrid 21 by beating Santiago Bernabeu to reach the semi-finals for the first time in six years.Athletic beat Barcelona thanks to the winner of Inaki Williams three minutes after the end of the second half, adding to the difficulties faced by the club since coach Ernesto Valverde expelled him and replaced him with Kick Sitan.Barcelona has not yet been affected by the new coach, and the players and managers of the club have disagreed recently."I think we have taken a step forward. We are playing better than our opponent," Setien said. "Everything went well, except for the result."Barcelona dominated during the second half and was on the verge of breaking the deadlock with clear potentials for Antoine Griezmann and Lionel Messi. But it was Athletic who found the late winner when Williams threw a header in the far corner after the Ibai Gomez crossing.Athletic, the second most successful club in the cup with 23 championships, behind Barcelona, needed a penalty shootout to advance against second division clubs in the previous two rounds.Messi appeared in its seventy-fifth session in the Cup, in keeping with Joseph Samiter's record in Barcelona since 1932.Real Sociedad's victory stopped a series of eight wins in Madrid and gave the club its first defeat in all competitions since October.He also ended Madrid's hopes of winning the cup competition for the first time since 2014.Real Sociedad, semi-finals in 2014, will seek to win the third Copa del Rey Cup, the first since 1987."Our fans deserve a prize like this," said Real Sociedad coach Imanol Alguacil. "This victory means a lot, it comes in full Bernabeu, against a team like Real Madrid, with our team playing well." You can imagine how we feel now. "Visitors dominated most of the match, but Madrid was about to return after scoring goals in the second half."We did everything we had in the end, but it was too late," said Madrid defender Marcelo. "It is difficult to come back after receiving four goals at home. It is disappointing, but we still have other competitions."Madrid was partly dominant thanks to their strong defense, having only received 13 goals in 22 Spanish league matches.The young Norwegian playmaker Martin Odegaard, who played for Real Sociedad on loan from Madrid, did not celebrate after he opened the scoring in the 22nd minute of the match after being saved by Madrid goalkeeper Alphonse Areola.Young Swedish striker Alexander Issac joined the lead two minutes into the second half, a shot in the 54th and a shot in the top corner in the 56thIsaac, 20 years old, has scored in five consecutive games, already scored an offside goal after reviewing the video just a few minutes after the break.Marcelo approached Madrid with a low shot from inside the area in 59th, but Mikel Merino again increased the advantage for visitors at close range in 69th.Rodrygo scored second in Madrid in 81st, two minutes after Vinicius Jr.'s goal was canceled by the video review. The third came through ahead from Nacho Ramos three minutes after the time of detention.Real Sociedad defender, Andoni Gorosabel, was sent off before the final whistle.
Series A will be the fourth largest five national leagues in Europe to resume after the German League, which resumed on May 16, the Spanish League, and the Premier League, which will also be launched in June.Italian Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Thursday that the Serie A club has received approval to resume on June 20 after the new corona strike.He added that there was a possibility that the resumption of the season, which was suspended on March 9, would precede the Italian Cup matches a week ago. Series B coach said that Layer 2 also hopes to restart on June 20."Italy has started again and it is true that football can continue as well," Spadafora told reporters after a conference call with the Italian Football Federation.Series A will be the fourth largest five national leagues in Europe to resume after the German League, which resumed on May 16, the Spanish League and the Premier League, which will also be launched in June.The French League ended last season in Paris St-Germain, who holds the French first division title with 10 games remaining.Spadafora said the Italian government has agreed to the health and safety measures proposed by FIGC in addition to a backup plan in case the league stops again. "In light of this, we can say that the tournament can start again on June 20," he said.The decision ended with two winding months of negotiations during which emotions rushed with Spadafora in one stage complaining about the millionaire wages paid to players and says that first-class clubs live in a bubble."An exceptional period full of obstacles and pressures has passed, with steadiness, determination and spirit of service," said Paolo Dal Pino, President of the Serie A."For the Italian league, the future must mean a return to being the most beautiful championship in the world."Article Source: https://indianexpress.comRead More: World TeamTennis to Allow up to 500 Fans at Matches
The revised Italian Serie A calendar is expected to be announced Monday night There are 124 games remaining, to be played in 43 days, starting June 20.Italian soccer is considering allowing fans to enter stadiums next month.The Italian Federation issued a 40-page document on Monday outlining strict new rules for the resumption of Series A on June 20.The document specifies that teams must enter and leave the stadium at different times and limit the number of people on stadiums to 300, including players, staff,and journalists.However, Italian media have reported that the Football Association may discuss in its next meeting a very small number of fans who are allowed to attend."It is something that I really want with all my heart," said union president Gabriele Gravina. "It cannot be thought that in a stadium that can accommodate 60,000 spectators, there is no room for a small percentage of fans with the necessary precautions."The revised Italian league schedule is expected to be announced Monday evening. It was decided last week to resume the four-game deferred games when Italian sports were closed in March due to the Coronavirus.There are 124 games in Serie A, which will take place in 43 days. Most of it will be held at night, the first of which will start at 5:15 pm due to the heat in the country, especially in July and August.Juventus, bidding on the ninth consecutive record for the title, has a point ahead of Lazio. Inter Milan are third, nine points behind the leader, with a postponed match.The Italian Cup will be finished a week before the Serie A resumes. The first stages of the semi-finals have already been played: Milan tied Juventus 1-1 and Napoli beat Inter Milan 1-0.A strict medical protocol that includes a controversial and potentially problematic regulation was developed that if a person were in a club, player or team positive test of COVID-19, the entire group should go to a 14-day training camp.The federation hopes to shorten this if the number of new cases in Italy continues to decline."Football has never asked for shortcuts," said Gravina. There are clear rules that allow you to continue the activity, isolate an athlete or employee, and continue the training."We hope the reassessment will take place soon, a week before the tournaments start. We will send a new offer, hoping to find room in the grammar review, which today creates anxiety and anxiety in our sport."Article Source: https://indianexpress.com/Read More: Serie A gets green light for June 20 restart
MADRID: The Spanish health ministry said on Tuesday that the Spanish Health Ministry is considering whether to allow fans to return to soccer fields when the season resumes later in June after a three-month pause due to the new Coronavirus pandemic. Health Emergency Coordinator, Fernando Simon said on Tuesday.Simon explained that the areas that have gone through the third phase of the de-escalation process could be allowed to hold matches with spectators, but added that it could be prevented from doing so for sporting fairness.The top flight will start again on June 11, with the Segunda Division resuming a day later, and the LEGA organizer said that all matches should be played without follow-up to avoid a second wave of coronavirus outbreaks.Read More: Premier League to restart on June 17But second-tie Las Palmas began a discussion about the return of the fans after their boss, Miguel Angel Ramirez, said he hoped fans could attend his first match against Girona.Simon said the issue was discussed on Tuesday in an online meeting between Health Minister Salvador Illa and Sports Minister Irene Lozano and four La Liga players, including Gerard Pique from Barcelona and Coke from Atletico Madrid.He added that the players and the sports department do not want supporters at the matches until each club is allowed to take them back."The Sports Department agreed with this matter with the players," said Simon. "This decision was not made by the Ministry of Health because it is not something we take into account when assessing the risks.""We did not give a firm answer as it is clear that we are not yet in a position to do so, but it is true that the Minister of Health has promised to assess the risks. If the region is in the third stage (the fans who attend the matches) they will." It is evaluated. "Spain, one of the countries most affected by the virus in Europe, imposed a strict lockdown in March but eased restrictions according to the progress made in each region.Most of the provinces are expected to move to the third stage starting June 8, with the exception of the Madrid region, Barcelona province, and some of Castille Leon provinces.La Liga president Javier Tebas said the organization plans to return the fans to the stadiums in the next season, which will start on September 12, as long as they receive the green light from the health authorities.Read More: Italian Football Federation considers allowing fans into stadiums in JulyArticle Source: newsbrig.com
The rule change is uneven because 'Big Six' - Liverpool, City, Chelsea, United, Arsenal, and Spurs - have high-quality bench power and can carry peer-to-peer alternatives.IFAB approved the FIFA proposal last month.As the Premier League prepares to restart on June 17, the authorities allowed five substitutions per match, instead of three, in the remaining nine rounds. However, there is a school of thought that changes will work for the great.Is the change in the mid-competition rule legal?Completely legal. Last month, the (IFAB) International Football Association Board approved the FIFA proposal and allowed for a temporary change to the remaining matches of the 2019-20 season. "IFAB agreed to make a temporary amendment to the laws of the game on the basis of a proposal received from FIFA seeking to protect the welfare of players," said the FIFA. Teams will have three chances to make these five replacements and will also be allowed to have nine players on the bench instead of seven. Some Bundesliga clubs used five substitutes after restarting.Why did FIFA suggest the change?FIFA has suggested this keeping in mind managing the player's workload during football after COVID-19. The three-month layoff period affects players' fitness. In addition, a tight schedule increases the risk of infection and there is a risk of excluding players if they become infected with the coronavirus. "The concern in this regard is that the frequency of matches is higher than normal, which may increase the risk of potential injury due to the player's overload," FIFA said in a statement.In the context of the Premier League, why is change so uneven?Simply because "Big Six" - Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur - have high classic bench strength and can withstand similar substitutes. Minor clubs, in terms of money, have no extra wealth. As reported by Telegraph Sport, Wolverhampton Wanderers only used 20 players in this period. Wolves are sixth on the table with 43 points and the change appears to be giving a clear advantage to their four main rivals such as United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Spurs. Leicester City, currently third with 53 points, has used 21 players so far. United, on the other hand, used 25 in the Premier League, while Chelsea used 24.Has any club opposed change?Yes, Aston Villa, Bournemouth and West Ham United have reportedly voted against change. They are all caught in downhill scrap. For example, on July 1, West Ham is scheduled to play against Chelsea. Now, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has the option of resorting to players such as Antonio Rudiger, Ross Barkley, Callum Hudson-Odoi, or Olivier Giroud if he wants to spin his players. On the other hand, Hammers manager David Moyes may have to resort to someone like Ben Johnson who has not yet played a minute in the Premier League this season.How did the change work in Bundesliga?The German Bundesliga has benefited from this in terms of workload management and intensity maintenance. "You can see in the first games that after 60 or 70 minutes, the players were really tired because there were no preparations or friendly matches." It was a really good thing. "We have avoided injuries," Simon Rolfs, sports director of Bayer Leverkusen, was quoted by the Telegraph Sport newspaper as saying.article source: indianexpressimg source: usa today postAlso Read: Premier League allows 5 substitutes when season restarts
The NFL (National Football League) could reduce the preseason from four games to two this year.This year NFL preseason will be reduced from four games once the new collective bargaining agreement is concluded, but the Association of Players and league are in talks to shorten the NFL preseason matches a year earlier, for the upcoming 2020 preseason. From the NFL network's Tom Pelissero, several team executives have been told that they could play two preseason games instead of the four set for this year.The shorter NFL preseason will allow for a longer "acceleration" period for the teams, even if the players show up for their training camps a week or two before the usual date. With an additional two weeks to develop game day protocols and testing amid the coronavirus, the league will benefit from a reduced preseason.CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones reported earlier this week that the Hall of Fame Game was still scheduled for August 6 in the presence of fans. 20,000 tickets were sold for the game. Of course, if the league is shortened in the preseason, they might push the match Pro Football Hall of Fame ceremony back a few weeks.The NFL preseason will be shortened in 2021 as a result of the league adding the seventeenth match to the regular season. Teams will play three games in the preseason instead of four, and the fourth week will be a bye. The league could catch a glimpse of a shorter NFL preseason in 2020 if both sides agree to cut games.The league created new training camp protocols as soon as players return to team facilities in mid-July. The National Football League is not planning to start its regular season on time, but whether fans attend the second weekend in September is still in the air.Fans will discover whether the NFL preseason is a success, whether shortened or not.img source: essentiallysportsAlso Read: LaLiga Virtual Stand | LaLiga will use "virtual stand" and fans sound for broadcasting
FSU Football News: FSU football coaches continue to work hard to rate players in the 2022 recruitment cycle. Their latest offer from Maryland is in great shape.FSU football has gained a lot of ground on the 2022 Recruitment Council, with the training team offering over 170 recruits so far making it big in FSU football news.It is one positive because of the epidemic that has closed recruitment visits, as it gives coaches time to evaluate more tapes as they begin to form the necessary relationships with aspiring players.Their latest offer goes on the ball's defensive side to four-star Jaishawn Barham from Hyattville, Maryland."I am blessed to receive an offer from Florida State University," said Jaishawn Barham on twitter.ThoughtsHe is registered with 6'3 ″ and 230 lbs and is considered the 40th nationally and the No. 3 outside linebacker and the No. 2 player in Maryland according to 247 Sports.Barham does not have a composite rating at this time but has 19 offers from FSU, Florida, Arizona State, Maryland, Michigan, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Penn State, South Carolina, Texas A&M, Virginia and Virginia Tech, among others. This is the most popular thing in FSU football news.He has offers from almost every senior officer, especially the big shows that enlist the Maryland area apart from Alabama. Maybe this offer will come sometime.Barham has a good physique and is physically ready to play college football. The crazy thing is that I wouldn't be surprised if he'd grown defensively because he has stil left with two more years of high school.He's meet FSU's soccer need, whether he stays back or becomes a defensive end, so this is a good deal. There are no 247 predictions for Crystal Ball for him right now, and Penn State is the only school he has visited at this time.Noles offer comes a little late considering that some of these schools offered him in January 2019. However, they do have time to make an impression, and as with everything about employment, we will have to see if they can get him on campus.img source: tomahawknationarticle source: chopchatAlso Read: NFL Preseason: NFL discusses shortening preseason, according to report
NFL Preseason Games: The National Football League faces the potential of two games this year, a radical departure from the four-season schedule they are used to.Last week, Tom Pelissero reported that NFL and NFL players are discussing the shortening of the 2020 season. A halving of the season will allow for a longer acceleration period, giving players time to prepare physically to participate in a training camp and games coming from an unusually reduced period because of the epidemic of COVID-19.Two-game preseason raises questions like: How many teams should you start in the first place? Should player Joe Burrow take some preseason snapshots? How about Tom Brady, who will be 43 in August? How do teams like Chicago hold a quarter-finals contest?This is where the NFL (National Football League) preseason games can learn a lot from the Canadian Football League, which has played a two-game season for years. I recently spoke to two former NFL coaches who also have extensive CFL experience on how NFL teams deal with this change, provided the League and NFLPA come to an agreement. Here is what I collected:Pre-season will favor the experienced teams. With the massive elimination of pre-season game events, call cards can be limited early in an attempt to avoid mysterious skilled players and new players in low-exposure plans. Organizations with new players in skill positions, especially midfielders, are more likely to focus on playing run games and screens early in the regular season, allowing the game to evolve over time, while teams with strong continuity starting in 2019, They would be better off to post their full game plans earlier.How might practices be? Practices are likely to involve more situational strategies, stealing time for individual and basic periods. Expect less live climbs, with more rounds during 11 to 11 sessions and more mock drill exercises.How will teams deal with playing time in the season? One of the sources said that their starters didn't play in the CFL season, except for the offensive streak, which was getting used to playing together. Maintaining the health of your best players in the opening game of this season was more important than getting them to take a few replays. It is not unlikely that a seasoned midfielder will play in the one-quarter of the game in CFL preseason, but it is doubtful how much really helps. For junior midfielders such as Bengals' Burrow, if they know enough about the system, they can play to cope with the speed of the NFL preseason games.Mid-fielders development and competitions. There is limited time to evaluate backups, which you see most of the time played in the NFL preseason games. Removing two valuable action matches on the field may harm teams with small QBs. Look at Dwayne Haskins in Washington. He had eight quarters of NFL pre-season action last year to learn as a beginner before finally taking up the initial job in the middle of the regular season. Imagine how hard things Haskins would have faced had he played in just four quarters in the NFL preseason games, giving him less time to develop before being pushed into action in the regular season. Or consider Aaron Rodgers, who had three years of four NFL preseason games to prepare before replacing Brett Favre as Green Bay's QB1. He was well trained and had time to develop.Quarterback competitions will be determined by what coaches see in practice and in NFL pre-season games. This will not change. The most important QBs are likely to divide playing time in both games NFL preseason games, as each QB gets the same starting. Beyond that, what will ultimately help determine who gets the starting job will be more competitive situations (including in full scrimmages and simulated games) that will be recorded in practice.Also Read: NFL Preseason: NFL discusses shortening preseason, according to report
1 min read’Noles staying active on the trail.FSU Football News: Tayon Holloway is a 5'11 long back corner weighing 170 lbs from Virginia Beach, Virginia.Attending 2022 class prospects at Green Run High School and has 90 (4 stars) rating from 247 Sports. They consider him the 182nd best player in America (22nd best CB player and 9th Virginia best player).Also Read: FSU Football News: Jaishawn Barham offered by Florida StateHolloway got offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, NC State, Olly Mess, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and others.On Tuesday afternoon, Florida State University offered him making it big in FSU Football News:Blessed to receive an offer from Florida State University. @FSUFootball @Coach_MWoodson #DBU pic.twitter.com/WLCptz0BFv— Tayon Holloway (Tay) (@TayonHolloway) June 23, 2020
Liverpool crowned the Premier League champion after Manchester City lost their match against Chelsea.Liverpool crowned the Premier League champions without kicking the ball on Thursday when Chelsea's 2-1 victory over Manchester City ended their 30-year wait to win the English title. Jurgen Klopp's men concluded the 19th league title in the club with seven games to play after second place city's defeat leaving them with 23 points. Liverpool moved into two points from the title with Crystal Palace 4-0 demolished in Anfield on Wednesday.Their twenty-eighth victory in 31 league games this season led Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah to the announcement "It is our time to win the league" and 24 hours later his wish was granted.Liverpool got the benefit they wanted from Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.Willian's 78th-minute penalty, awarded by Fernandinho's handball, ended the city's reign which was for two years as champions after Kevin de Bruyne canceled the first match of Christian Polisic.Liverpool won the title before any other Premier League champion, breaking the previous record of five games left by City and Manchester United.It was a painful wait for Liverpool fans around the world, as the coronavirus gap forced them to put the champion on ice after the Premier League suspension in March with the Club team winning two titles.The delay of three months was the last hurdle on the road to Liverpool's long journey to the summit of English football.Liverpool spent years with rivals Manchester United during the Alex Ferguson era before falling behind due to the massive spending from Manchester City and Chelsea.Then, managed by Brendan Rodgers, they missed a notorious golden opportunity to win the title in 2014 when Reds captain Stephen Gerrard made a costly slip in losing the late-season against Chelsea.But the Klopp's team deserved the heroes after an amazing campaign that could end in record style.Klopp's men can break the record for the highest winning margin, which City scored when they finished 19 clear points at the top in the same season.They are also within walking distance of most Premier League wins: 32 by city in 2017/18 and 2018/19.We can play wellKlopp, the first German coach to win the Premier League, has been the architect of the Liverpool Renaissance since the former Borussia Dortmund head arrived at Anfield in 2015.Influenced by his players' belief in "heavy metal" soccer and his "fast-paced" plan, the magical Klopp took its place alongside Liverpool's iconic managers Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, and Kenny Dalglish.When Dalglish brought Liverpool to the title in 1990, the award Shankly once described as "bread and butter" for the club.After years of poor performance, Klopp returned in his unique style and brought trophies to Liverpool.They won the Champions League last season when they beat Tottenham in the final, 12 months after losing to Real Madrid in the same stage of the competition.It was fitting for Liverpool to save one of its most striking offers for the week in which it won the title.After the palace was destroyed, Klopp said: "Imagine if the stadium were full and people would have experienced it live. It would have been amazing."Article source: ndtvAlso Read: FSU Football News: Tayon Holloway offered by Florida State
Iowa Football: The Iowa Athletics Department announced on Tuesday budget cuts of about $ 15 million for the next fiscal year as a result of a coronavirus, and many Hawkeyes coaches and senior managers will take voluntary future pay cuts in a year.In a press release, Iowa officials said that the Athletics Department budget for the previous fiscal year was $ 124.8 million and the projected budget for the period 2020-21 was $ 127.5 million. It decreased to $ 112.5 million after it was cut to $ 13 million in operating expenses and about $ 2 million in compensation.Gary Barta, Iowa's director of sports, said that women's basketball coaches Lisa Bluder, American football coach Kirk Ferentz, men's basketball coach Fran McCaffrey and wrestling coach Tom Brands voluntarily agreed to cut the 15% of the basic salary for one year.Barta will cut his total compensation by more than 30%, and AD Barbara Burke has agreed to cut wage by 25%."None of this is easy for our coaches and staff," Barta said in a statement. "I appreciate your continued understanding in these unstable times. We have been dealing with the epidemic in such a financial situation that requires difficult decisions. It is our responsibility to maintain a financially responsible process while providing the highest level of service to our student athletes."Iowa officials said compensation cuts would be implemented throughout the athletic division on a sliding scale based on annual salary.“I’m concerned about our employees and realize that lowering wages will have a major impact on many families across the department. I want to thank all of our employees for their support and understanding because we worked during this process,” said Barta. "We are trying to balance the necessary financial cuts by spreading the sacrifice carefully."Barta said the announced budget and cuts were based on assumptions that upcoming football and basketball seasons would be played in the presence of the fans. If not, the Hawkeyes may have to make more significant cuts."These are tough times with a lot of uncertainty," said Berta.Article source: espnAlso Read: FSU Football News: Tayon Holloway offered by Florida State
NFL's Mike Garafolo, Tom Pelissero, and NFL Network informer Ian Rapoport reported that the NFL Players Association told its players on Tuesday that there will be no games Preseason games in 2020.The union leadership shared this information with its players during a group call one day after the league proposed a list for one match for the federation, then followed it later in the day with a narrow bid that included no pre-season matches. NFL and NFLPA were previously divided on the list of pre-season, and the league maintained the desire to play half of the typical four-season schedule before agreeing this week.The NFL also told its members that it still pays longer for players to physically adapt to the requirements of a professional soccer field, and lists are expected to be 80 players per team. The National Football Association is still signing a list of 80 men for a training camp, according to Pelissero, and although there is debate about giving teams an option to split the list (i.e. 80 workers and 10 pending), the association has told players that it wants all teams to follow a rule.The federation said it has a general agreement with the league on high-risk prospects and the possibility of withdrawal, and another general agreement on compensation in matches lost due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. The main economy still needs to be divided between the two sides, and details of general agreements must also be finalized, but the two sides have agreed on the concept.Players flocked to social media over the weekend to publicly press the NFL to take their desires seriously in health and safety protocol discussions, which included the desire to complete August without any preseason games. While ensuring this appears to be almost guaranteed, both sides can move on to the next set of issues as they aim to lay the groundwork for operations at this unprecedented time.Also Read: NFL Preseason: Texas DE J.J. Watt "on the fence" about eradicating the NFL's preseason forever
Willian joined Chelsea from Angie Makhachkala in 2013 and has played more than 300 games for the club, winning two Premier League titles. The 32-year-old is linked to a move to Arsenal in town.Brazilian midfielder Willian has confirmed he will leave Chelsea after seven "wonderful" years at Stamford Bridge.The 32-year-old, linked with a move to Arsenal across town, posted a farewell message to the club's fans on Twitter.It is time to move forward. I would definitely miss my team-mates, ”he said.“ I go with my head held high, making sure that I won titles here and always did my best in a Chelsea shirt. ”Willian, who started his football career with Corinthians in Sao Paulo, joined Chelsea from Angie Makhachkala in 2013 and has played more than 300 matches for the club and won two Premier League titles.His contract expired this summer and he failed to reach a long-term deal with the club.He said, "In August 2013, when I received an offer from Chelsea, I was convinced that this was where I should be playing.""Today I'm sure it was the better decision. There were a lot of happy moments, some sad moments, and there were titles and they were always intense."Spanish midfielder Pedro also announced that he would leave the club on Sunday after five years.Also Read: Barcelona players rebel against Lionel Messi before Napoli Clash? Claiming reports in Spanish
Barcelona decided to split from coach Quique Setien after ending the 2019/20 season without titles. Barcelona announced the sacking of its coach, Quique Setien, on Monday, three days after losing to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals.Setien, 61, was named in January after the two-time league winners Ernesto Valverde were sent off despite his team leading the La Liga standings on goal difference.Under his leadership, Barcelona finished the 2019/20 La Liga season in second place, five points behind champions Real Madrid. They also lost to Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals.Barcelona ended their season without a title on Friday after being knocked out of the UEFA Champions League, thanks to a disgraceful 8-2 loss to Bayern Munich."This is the first decision within a broader restructuring of the first team to be agreed upon between the current technical secretary and the new manager, which will be announced in the coming days," the club's statement said.According to The Guardian, current Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman will be appointed as the manager at the Camp Nou next week.The statement, released more than nine hours after President Josep Maria Bartomeu and the directors kicked off the board meeting, also said that the club's hierarchy had decided not to call for an impending election in the wake of the Bayern Munich defeat."The directive understands that an immediate call for elections is not possible, given that the league season will start at the end of the week on September 12, 2020, and the situation resulting from the COVID-19 crisis is economic and social," he added.Accordingly, the club will continue to implement the plan to reverse the sporting and economic situation, based on profound changes in the first team, in addition to resetting the budget to confront the new situation caused by COVID-19, before the end of the current term.As in the case of Real Madrid, Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna, Barcelona presidents are elected by the club's members.Bartomeu won the last elections, which were held in 2015, but was barred from running in the next round of elections because he had already served two consecutive terms, having been named president in 2014 after Sandro Roussel resigned.Victor Font is the favorite in the election, while former President Joan Laporta has announced his intention to run.Also Read: Time to move forward: Willian confirms departure from Chelsea after seven years
Football events continue during the weekdays in Indian Super League (ISL) as ATK Mohun Bagan faces Odisha FC at Goa Fatorda Stadium. The games are being held behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 situation in the country.ATK Mohun Bagan previewATK Mohun Pagan is in high spirits after scoring two successive victories with his final victory over fierce rivals SC East Bengal. ATKMB striker Roy Krishna was in great shape after scoring twice in two matches.Mohun Pagan, the ATK defense, kept a straight clean sheet with seasoned activists Sandesh Jingan, Terry and Pritam Kotal serving as a three-man baseline. Midfielders Javi Hernandez and Carl McHugh were ordered to play from midfield.Coach Antonio Habas has several options in the midfield with players like Edo Garcia, Jaish Rani, Subhashish Boss and Prabber Das to increase the creativity behind the attack.Odisha FC PreviewOdisha FC hasn't scored any wins in the competition yet. After starting to lose to Hyderabad FC in their first game in ISL 2020-21, they drew 2-2 against Jamshedpur FC. His confidence will be boosted after returning with two goals against the Red Miners.Striker Diego Mauricio scored twice in the last fifteen minutes of the match when they scored their first point in the ISL season. The duo of Marcelinho and Nandha Kumar Sekar's midfielders were Odisha FC's creative paths in both matches.Coach Stuart Baxter hopes his main striker Manuel Ono can make big strides before facing ATK Mohun Pagan. The defense will also aim to rise after conceding three goals in two matches.ATK Mohun Pagan signs against OdishaThis is ISL's first season for ATK Mohun Bagan and they will face Odisha FC in Fatorda for the first time.ATK Mohun Bagan has a winning streak with two wins, but Odisha FC will be cheered by his performance against Jamshedpur FC. This creates an interesting clash for Indian football fans.Predictor: ATK Mohun Bagan 2--1 Odisha FC
Odisha FC is looking forward to their first win in the current Indian Super League (ISL) when they host the Bengaluru soccer team on Thursday at the Goa Medical College Stadium in Bambolim, Goa.Odisha FC started their campaign in the 2020-21 season of the Indian Super League (ISL) with a 0-1 loss to Hyderabad FC. They secured a 2--2 draw with Jamshedpur FC after losing 0-2, thanks to a late attack from Diego Mauricio. Stuart Baxter's team failed to capitalize on that momentum and has now undergone three straight losses against ATK Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City, and FC Goa.The Bengaluru football team tied in its first two games in Indian Super League (ISL) 2020-21 2-2 and 0-0 with FC Goa and Hyderabad FC, respectively. They had their first victory over Chennaiyin FC with a slim 1--0 scores, before playing an interesting 2-2 draw with NorthEast United FC. Carles Cudarat's men showed their quality when they faced Kerala Blasters in their final match in Indian Super League (ISL), winning 4-2.Bengaluru FC has a chance to jump into second place in the standings with a win, while Odisha FC is looking to reach ninth in the table with any number of points possible.ISL Live Odisha FC vs Bengaluru FC head-to-headOdisha FC has only faced Bengaluru FC on two occasions in the 2019-20 Indian Super League (ISL) season since their inception in 2019. The Juggernauts replaced Delhi Dynamos FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). The Blues came out on top in both the fixtures.Odisha FC 0-1 Bengaluru FC (4 December 2019)Bengaluru FC 3-0 Odisha FC (22 January 2020)Odisha FC form guide: L-D-L-L-LBengaluru FC form guide: D-D-W-D-WISL Live Odisha FC vs Bengaluru FC team newsOdisha FC gave a gritty performance against FC Goa in Indian Super League (ISL) and he can play with the same starting line-up. Marcelinho is expected to remain out of the squad as the Brazilian showed a lack of competence and discipline in the match.The Bengaluru FC team is also expected to remain unchanged. Rahul Bheke could replace Pratik Chaudhari, depending on his fitness woes.ISL live Odisha FC vs Bengaluru FC predicted XIsOdisha FCPredicted XI (4-3-3): Arshdeep Singh (GK), Hendry Antony, Steven Taylor (C), Cole Alexander, Vinit Rai, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Gaurav Bora, Shubham Sarangi, Jacob Tratt, Diego Mauricio, Manuel Onwu.Bengaluru FCPredicted XI (4-3-3): Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Suresh Wangjam, Kristian Opseth, Sunil Chhetri (C), Ashique Kuruniyan, Pratik Chaudhari, Juanan, Erik Paartalu, Harmanjot Khabra, Dimas Delgado, Cleiton Silva.ISL Live Odisha FC vs Bengaluru FC predictionOdisha FC has not won a match yet this season. They couldn't calm down after 5 games and the situation was relatively bleak for Stuart Baxter. Bengaluru Football Club appears to be back on track after a shaky start to the season. They beat Kerala Blasters FC 4-2 in their previous match and are expected to easily knock out against Odisha FC as well.ISL Live Prediction: Odisha FC 0-2 Bengaluru FCAlso Read: ISL Live 2020-21, ATK Mohun Bagan vs FC Goa, ISL Live Prediction, ISL Live Head to Head
Odisha will face Northeast United in ISL 2020-21 match 37 at GMC Stadium in Bambolim, on Tuesday Stuart Baxter's team are at the bottom of the score table with just one point out of 6 games. Meanwhile, Highlanders are fourth with 10 points from 7 matches.Odisha FC started their campaign with a 1-0 loss to Hyderabad FC and then fell to Jamshedpur FC 2-2. However, they lost their next four matches in a row to ATK Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, and Bengaluru FC. The Kalinga Warriors scored only three goals in the tournament and conceded nine times.Meanwhile, Northeast United began their campaign with a 1-0 win over current Mumbai City FC. They then shared the spoils with Kerala Blasters and FC Goa before beating SC East Bengal. They later faced Bengaluru FC and Chennai FC, before suffering their first loss to Jamshedpur.ISL Live Odisha FC vs NorthEast United FC head to headAfter changing the name Delhi Dynamos to Odisha FC, the two teams have met only twice. The two sides scored one victory each.In the last meeting between the two clubs, Manuel Ono and Martin Perez Geddes scored for Odisha after Northeast United took the lead. The match ended with Odisha winning 2-1.Odisha FC wins: 1Northeast United win: 1Draw: 0ISL Live Odisha FC vs NorthEast United FC team newsOdisha goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh suffered a concussion in front of Mumbai City FC and is still on the mend. His head coach, Stuart Baxter, hinted at the pre-match press conference that Marcellinho had not fully recovered.Diwando Diani is another foreign player that Bhubaneswar could lose due to injury. On the other hand, NorthEast United has a completely compact unit.ISL Live Odisha FC vs NorthEast United FC Predicted XIsOdisha FC: Arshdeep Singh (GK), Shubham Sarangi, Jacob Tratt, Steven Taylor, Hendry Antonay, Vinit Rai, Cole Alexander, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Diego Mauricio, Nandhakumar Sekar, Manuel OnwuNorthEast United FC: Gurmeet Singh (GK), Provat Lakra, Benjamin Lambot, Dylan Fox, Gurjinder Kumar, Lalengmawia, Khassa Camara, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Kwesi Appiah, VP Suhair, Idrissa SyllaISL Live Predict Odisha FC vs NorthEast United FCNorthEast United FC plays very defensive football, keeping their lines in check. In the meantime, Odisha FC is trying to play from behind but hasn't had much success yet. Given the shape of the two teams, one can expect a monotonous match ending in a goalless draw.Prediction: Odisha FC 0-0 NorthEast United FC
Hyderabad will face FC Goa in a thrilling showdown on Wednesday in the Indian Super League (ISL).Hyderabad manager Manolo Marquez faced a difficult task early in the season. Injuries to major foreign players such as Fran Sandaza, Louis Suster, and Joel Chianese put the system at a disadvantage. However, the team did very well, collecting nine points from seven matches.Young Indians grabbed everyone's attention, but the team still missed serving the foreigners. Two consecutive defeats put Hyderabad in eighth place. A victory over FC Goa will be decisive in their search for the top four.FC Goa is one of the strongest teams in this Indian Super League (ISL). As Marquez said before the match, Gaurs "is definitely one of the favorites to finish the season in the top four".FC Goa is currently sixth in the standings with 11 points from eight matches as per the ISL Fixtures. They come to this clash with a victory. The team has relied a lot on Igor Angolo this Indian Super League (ISL). They need other players to step up if they want to stay in the competition for first place in the Indian Super League (ISL).ISL Fixtures of Hyderabad FC vs FC Goa head to headHyderabad FC has a forgotten record against FC Goa at Indian Super League (ISL). Last Indian Super League (ISL) season, FC Goa completed the double on System. The last time these two teams met, Hyderabad FC lost 1-4 to FC Goa as per the ISL Fixtures.Hyderabad FC vs FC Goa ISL Fixtures team newsAfter facing Fran Sandaza against the Kerala Blasters, Manolo Marquez revealed that Luis Suster and Joel Chianese would also be returning to the team.With FC Goa with no notable exceptions from the end, the match promises to be exciting as per the ISL Fixtures.ISL Fixtures Hyderabad FC vs FC Goa Predicted XIsHyderabad FC (4-2-3-1): Subrata Pal, Asish Rai, Odei Onaindia, Chinglensana Singh, Akash Mishra, Joao Victor, Lluis Sastre, Liston Colaco, Joel Chianese, Halicharan Narzary, Aridane SantanaFC Goa (4-2-3-1): Mohammad Nawaz, Seriton Fernandes, James Donachie, Ivan Gonzalez, Saviour Gama, Lenny Rodrigues, Edu Bedia, Jorge Ortiz, Brandon Fernandes, Alexander Jesuraj, Igor AnguloPrediction of Hyderabad vs. FC GoaWith Hyderabad FC's attack boosting the return of the aliens, and FC Goa also playing, the match should be entertaining. We expect the scoreboard to be flat at the end of full time.Predictions: Hyderabad FC 2-2 FC GoaAlso Read: KL RAHUL: SUPERB LOOKING TATTOOS AND THEIR MEANING
The Indian women's hockey team left the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi for Argentina on Sunday. This will be the first round of the national team in almost a year. India Hockey Company also selected the 25-member Indian Hockey Team for the tour. The Indian team is scheduled to play two games against Argentina (Junior) on January 17 and 19, two games against Argentina B on January 22 and 24, and four matches against Argentina on January 26, 28, 30, and 31. Indian hockey and the host national league have created a biological bubble in Argentina for both the Argentina women's team and the Indian women's team. The Indian women hockey team will be staying in a hotel where separate team rooms have been provided for all meals, team meetings, sessions, etc.“It feels great to be on the road again. We have worked hard on our game for the past few months and it is time to put our skills to live in an international match. Playing in international matches will be a bit different at this point.” Indian women's hockey team captain Rani Rampal said in at Statement: "We will be in a biological bubble, and the team is excited to return to the field in the best possible way at this time."The entire Indian group underwent a Covid-19 RT-PCR test 72 hours before leaving New Delhi. Although there are no quarantine requirements upon arrival in Argentina, the team will continue to comply with all health and safety measures recommended by the governments of India and Argentina, according to Hockey India in an official statement.The deputy captain and goalkeeper of the Indian women's hockey team, Savita, thanked Hockey India and SAI for organizing the tour of Argentina.We desperately need to return to a competitive situation where there is not much time left for the Olympics. We have been doing well in the training sessions, but the international match is always the real test for any athlete. Therefore, we would like to thank Savita: “India Hockey and SAI for their efforts. In organizing a tour for us. We are looking forward to a great game and we hope to start playing with all our energy from the first match. "The 25-member Indian Women's Hockey squad: Rani (Captain), Savita (Vice-Captain), Rajani Etimarpu, Bichu Devi Kharibam, Gurjit Kaur, Deep Grace Ekka, Rashmita Minz, Manpreet Kaur, Reena Khokhar, Monika, Nikki Pradhan, Vandana Katariya, Navneet Kaur, Navjot Kaur, Jyoti, Udita, Rajwinder Kaur, Salima Tete, Nisha, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lilima Minz, Neha Goyal, Namita Toppo, Lalremsiami, Sharmila Devi.Also Read: THE 47TH FIH STATUTORY CONGRESS WILL HAPPEN IN DELHI
Star forward Neymar set up Lucas Paqueta to score the solitary objective as hosts Brazil beat Peru 1-0 on Monday to meet all requirements for the Copa America last. The semi-last was a rehash of the last, two years prior, when a Brazil group shorn of the harmed Neymar likewise prevailed on home soil. The Selecao will play either Lionel Messi's Argentina or Colombia, who meet in Brasilia on Wednesday, in Saturday's last at Rio de Janeiro's famous Maracana arena. "I need Argentina. I'm supporting Argentina since I have companions there and Brazil will win the last," said Neymar. "Paqueta is an incredible player, he's improving in each game and in each game with the public group," he said about the 23-year-old match victor, who plays his club football for Lyon in France. "He's simply had an extraordinary season with his club and is showing that he can be a vital player for the Brazilian public group." Gallese obstructs Brazil.Brazil completely ruled the main half at the void Nilton Santos arena in Rio yet needed to endure some apprehensive minutes after the break prior to getting a spot in the last. They opened up Peru on eight minutes as Paqueta's pass sent Richarlison in behind the guard, however subsequent to beating goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to the ball, the forward attempted to pull it back to Neymar who blasted high and wide under tension. Gallese spilled a wild Casemiro free-kick from distance however assembled the free ball before winger Everton could turn in the bounce back. Brazil were turning the screw and Everton cut in off the right flank yet took shots directly at Gallese. Read More: Euro Cup 2020: France Eye Quarterfinal Berth As Luka Modric Plots Spain DownfallThe Peruvian shot-plug was the most active player on the contribute the main quarter and subsequent to saving another Casemiro piledriver from distance he made an unbelievable twofold point clear save from Neymar and afterward Richarlison. Furthermore, when Gallese endured a surge of blood to the head and charged out of his space just to be beaten to the ball by Richarlison, Brazil couldn't underwrite as Peru's safeguards hurled themselves before Everton's shot. Peru were non-existant as an assaulting power and when they figured out how to win a corner soon after the half hour, they wound up playing the ball right back to Gallese. Brazil deservedly started to lead the pack 10 minutes before halftime after Peru parted with the ball in midfield for the umpteenth time. Neymar's sparkling toes got him liberated from three safeguards in the container and he teed up Paqueta to fire home from 12 yards. Self-conservation:Peru at long last had their first endeavor at objective on the counter assault four minutes after halftime, however goalkeeper Ederson easily parried Gianluca Lapadula's amazing drive. Before long, Raziel Garcia shot wide twice with hardly a pause in between as Peru displayed far more prominent aspiration than during the principal time frame. Peru were presently on top with Garcia at the core of their assault and his shot on the hour mark was parried by Ederson. Brazil began to wrestle back control and Everton took shots directly at Gallese before Neymar blasted above and beyond the bar. Peru ought to have been level a little ways from time when Yoshimar Yotun terminated a free-kick into the case and Alexander Callens beat Ederson to the ball yet headed wide from only six yards out. It would demonstrate their last possibility and mentor Ricardo Gareca regretted their lethargic beginning. "We paid for being delayed to subside into the game," he said. Read More: Football (Soccer) Rules & Regulation - Pitch High"The group responded well in the subsequent half and it was even." However, he conceded the 4-0 gathering stage pounding Brazil gave Peru before in the competition, and a 4-2 home loss in World Cup qualifying in October, had influenced their methodology. "We need to concede that we needed to ensure ourselves somewhat given we've surrendered a great deal of objectives against Brazil."Picture Credit: EUROSPORTS
Britain arrived at its first significant global competition last following a hole of 55 years as the three lions enlisted a success against Denmark in the second semi-last of Euro 2020 at the Wembley Stadium, London. Britain will conflict Italy in the last of the European Championship on twelfth July at 12:30 AM IST at the Wembley Stadium. Euro 2020 second elimination round: England versus Denmark FINAL SCORE Britain win 2-1 104 moment (First 50% of additional time): Harry Kane scores from the spot to give England the lead SECOND HALF: England 1 | 1 Denmark 19 minutes left in second half HALF TIME: England 1 | 1 Denmark 39th moment: Kjaer own objective assists England with scoring the equalizer 30th moment: Denmark starts to lead the pack as Demsgaard changes over the free-kick.Also Read: Copa America: Lucas Paqueta Sends Brazil Past Peru Into FinalsDenmark has made it's anything but, an approach to make it! The Sampdoria forward strides up and side-foots a twisting strike that clears the divider from about 22 meters away and just to one side of objective. As it flies into the net's rooftop, the flying Pickford can just deal with the smallest of contacts to the endeavor. Without precedent for the opposition, England surrenders to the principal objective scored straightforwardly from a free-kick at UEFA EURO 2020. Britain versus Denmark straight on Britain has won 13 out of 23 matches played between the two groups while Denmark won five. Britain versus Denmark past gathering in global football Eriksen's 35th-minute punishment acquired a 1-0 accomplishment at Wembley in the Nation's League on October 14, 2020. In this game, England's Harry Maguire was shipped off only preceding Denmark's objective while debutant Recce James after the last whistle. Eriksen and Kjaer both won their 100th cap for Denmark in this game.Also Read: Five Awsome Android Game Like COD Mobile With pVp Multiplayer Modes
Hotshot Lionel Messi won his first prize with his public group as Angel Di Maria's objective gave Argentina a 1-0 success over has Brazil in the Copa America last on Saturday. The triumph at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana arena finished Argentina's 28-year hang tight for a significant prize and finished Brazil's unbeaten home record that extended back over 2,500 days. Argentina had last tasted accomplishment at a significant competition in 1993 when the incomparable Gabriel Batistuta's support gave them a 2-1 success over Mexico in the Copa last in Ecuador. Promoting: "It's an extraordinary title, particularly for our kin. The fans support the group genuinely. I figure they can relate to this group that never yields," said Argentina mentor Lionel Scaloni. It was the first run through in quite a while playing at home that Brazil had neglected to lift the prize. And keeping in mind that 34-year-old Messi's odyssey has concluded, Brazil's Neymar, five years his lesser, is still without a significant title at the global level having missed the Selecao's success on home soil two years prior through injury. Argentina edged a fierce and peevish undertaking on account of Di Maria's objective on 22 minutes. The 33-year-old winger ran onto Rodrigo De Paul's luxurious through ball to hurl Brazil goalkeeper Ederson with a first-time finish. Also Read: Euro 2020 England Beat Denmark 2-1 In Extra An Ideal Opportunity To Set Up Last Against Italy At Wembley"We missed the mark so often, we envisioned such a great amount about this, contended energetically," said Di Maria, who was named man of the match. "Numerous individuals said we wouldn't oversee it, we were scrutinized a ton. Be that as it may, we continued thumping at the entryway and continued going until now we wrecked it and entered." Messi might have wrapped up the success as a short way from time yet slipped when clean through with just Ederson to beat. Di Maria the victimized: In a berserk beginning, Argentina's husky master Nicolas Otamendi was rapidly in with his first foul while Brazilian midfielder Fred got the main booking after only three minutes for studs up jump at Gonzalo Montiel. Brazil was unaltered from their semi-last success over Peru while Scaloni made five changes, remarkably getting Di Maria - who made a vivacious and conclusive section off the seat against Colombia the last break. The last was the primary match of the competition, which was initiated because of occurring last year, to permit in fans as 7,800 - a 10th of the Maracana limit - sat down after specialists halfway lifted pandemic limitations. The primary clear possibility went ahead 13 minutes as Richarlison headed down Marquinhos' long ball into the way of Neymar however the Brazilian star was packed out by a couple of safeguards. The fierce idea of the early difficulties could be seen on the players' packs, with Neymar brandishing torn shorts and Lucas Paqueta being left with an opening in his sock following mediation by Otamendi. Argentina played with hostility and responsibility, however no absence of value with Di Maria torturing Brazil's left-back Renan Lodi, who likely ought to have removed De Paul's pass for the winger's objective. Di Maria had a shot from 20 yards impeded while Messi discharged simply wide after a 40-yard run. Brazil attempted to make anything of note and in any event, when they had a free-kick from shooting range, Neymar couldn't beat the divider. At the point when the hosts did, at last, keep up with some pressing factor late in the principal a large portion of, Everton's diverted strike bobbled however to goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. Bad-tempered, niggly Brazil mentor Tite rushed to act, presenting on Roberto Firmino for cautious midfielder Fred at half-time. Richarlison had the ball in the net before long however he was hailed offside. Furthermore, minutes after the fact Neymar teed up Richarlison yet Martinez parried his close to post exertion. Progressively it's anything but a peevish, niggly undertaking with minimal liquid play among fouls and plenty of showy behaviours and touchy squabbling. It was wandering right into whatever Argentina might have had planned as they hoped to run down the clock and clutch their slim lead. Brazil figured out how to up the pressing factor again toward the finish of the half yet they came up short on an amazing touch against some full-blooded shielding - Montiel even completed the game with his white sock absorbed blood. Also Read: Copa America Lucas Paqueta Sends Brazil Past Peru Into FinalsAt the point when Brazil substitute Gabriel Barbosa terminated a volley on track, Martinez was equivalent to it. Messi slipped embarrassingly late on with an opportunity to secure triumph yet it made a difference little as minutes after the fact his colleagues were throwing him noticeable all around to praise their success.
Odisha FC is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Malaysian football club Johor Dar Al-Tazim on a loan contract for midfielder Liridon Krasniqi, who will now represent Bhubaneswar in the upcoming 8th edition of the Indian Super Cup. League (Hero ISL). The 29-year-old attacking midfielder started his career in European and made his professional debut for FK Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic in 2011 before joining Turkish club Ankaraspor. He was loaned out to another club in Turkey: Fethiyespor. Liridon moved to Malaysia in 2015 and played for Kedah Darul Aman Football Club. He also won the 2016 Malaysian Cup and the 2017 Malaysian Cup for Kedah before signing with Málaga United in 2019. In the previous season, Laridon had a contract with reigning Malaysian Premier League champion Johor Darul Ta'zim, and later represented the Newcastle Jets of Australia in the A-League on loan in early 2021. Liridon had the unique feat of representing three national teams. Having played for the Albanian Under-21 side and the Kosovo senior team, he made his debut for the Malaysian senior national team earlier this year. After joining the club, he said: "I am very happy to join Odisha FC and I am looking forward to starting a great journey in India. I hope to have a great season in the future with coach Kiko Ramirez. I can't wait for it to start and meet my teammates at OFC. We will try to bring Joy to all Odisha fans in the next [Hero] ISL." OFC coach Kiko Ramírez explained: "Liridon will give us character, attitude and strength. He is a player with great physical ability and good technique. He is a midfielder who can help us in attack and in defense and will give us energy that the team needs to fight for the full 90 minutes. " Odisha Club President Mr. Raj Athwal said: "We are delighted to welcome Malaysia international Liridon Krasniqi to Odisha Football Club. He is an accomplished midfielder in defense, adding more depth and quality to the team."Also Read- India's Shaili Singh wins silver in women's long jump at U20 World Athletics Championships in Nairobi
French and Spanish media reported on Tuesday that Real Madrid made an offer of 160 million euros ($ 188.11 million) to buy Paris Saint-Germain France forward Kylian Mbappe.There were no immediate comments from either club and the France daily L'Equipe said that Paris Saint-Germain's position remained unchanged, Ligue 1 club decided to keep Mbappe until at least the end of his contract in June next year even though he could leave for nothing. Marca from Spain said the move was a first by Real Madrid, who had always its sights on the 22-year-old World Cup champion who scored 42 goals in all competitions for PSG last season and said he wanted to move to Spain. The As.com website quoted actual sources as saying that the fact money was not an issue for wealthy Qatar-owned Paris Saint-Germain was an obstacle for Real Madrid. Any sale of Mbappé would allow Paris Saint-Germain to recoup some of Lionel Messi's salary package after they signing the Argentine forward and six-time Ballon d'Or winner from Barcelona earlier this month. Paris Saint-Germain finished last season with just one major title, the French cup, after losing the league title by one point to Lille and losing in the semi-finals of the Champions League. Real, now managed by Italian Carlo Ancelotti were runners-up at the domestic level last season against Atletico. Mbappe joined Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco in 2017, initially on loan and then permanently a year later with a 180 million euros contract.Also Read- India interested in hosting 2036, 2040 Olympics: IOC President Thomas Bach
Fanoos Basir a former Afghan soccer player fled her country after the Taliban dramatically capturing the capital city Kabul in August 2021. Despite promises by Taliban representatives that the Women would have more freedom than the last time the Taliban ruled the country, the women of the country were skeptical and unsure of their future. Fanoos Basir, said that she does not believe in the Taliban and that the Islamist movement will not change its attitude towards women. The Taliban were toppled in the US-led invasion in 2001, but 20 years later they regained power again and were forced out a foreign military mission, prompting the evacuation of tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghans. The last flights departed on Monday. In 2010, Basir joined a fledgling national soccer team that trained in a dilapidated stadium and began participating in tournaments abroad. However, the national team was disbanded and a large group of players and current staff were evacuated in an Australian military plane. Khaleda Popal, a former captain of the women's national soccer team who now resides outside Denmark, had urged soccer players on the women's team to burn their certificates, jerseys and medals for fear of attack by the Taliban, who had prohibited sports for women during her previous regime. Fanoos Basir not only did this, but tried to flee the country with her ailing parents as many as 3 days after the Taliban captured Kabul that on August 15. After several unsuccessful attempts, Basir, with the help of the French embassy, escaped to France. "Of course, we didn't know the Taliban would come as quickly as they did. Everyone knows what they did 30 years ago. They consider women like zero. They say that everything will change, we will allow women to work but I believe these are all fake face of the Taliban that they are showing to the world. They will never change. They have the same mentality towards women," said Basir.Also Read- Afghan national team footballer Zaki Anwari dies in fall from US plane at Kabul airport"So personally, I thought I would never work as part of their NGO government because working with them means supporting them. I will never support them. I will never trust them." "They still kill people. They have the same ideas and the same attitude towards women. Even if they let us work, we should be accompanied by our brother or father. So, it's impossible." “I was working as a civil engineer and I worked with a lot of guys, so this is impossible for me. "They are fake and they are showing off to the world that they are good and have changed. But they never change." ‘Who are they to forgive us?’ "They talked about resuming all sports activities. But women's sport was not mentioned. How can they change? They say they are going to forgive us. Who are they to forgive us? They have killed so many people, it should be the other way around." She added. 'I don't want to talk to a woman' Recalling the horrible experience when she tried to flee the country from the Kabul airport, Fanoos Basir said that a representative for Taliban did not even speak to her when she asked for clarification. Basir said she saw people being shot when the Taliban warned people not to flee the country in chaotic days at the airport. "We tried a lot for 2 or 3 days (to escape). My mother was sick. I went to the airport, there was a big crowd and they were shooting a lot of people. I saw them shoot people in the head and legs. They were bleeding and they hit them with sticks. ”I covered my face with a burqa. When I approached them, I wanted to ask them a question, but a Taliban pushed me and said." No, I don't want to talk to a woman. He told me to leave to home ". she said Fanoos Basir blamed the United States for the return of the Taliban to Afghanistan. "If the United States wants to kick them out, they can do it in an hour or two. They don't want to do it. They have drones, they have satellites. How is it possible that they are fighting against the Taliban for 20 years and did nothing?" she said.Also Read- Neeraj Chopra vs Sumit Antil: Can two gold medallists clash at Paris Olympics 2024?
Jorginho missed a penalty when Italy draw 0-0 with Switzerland in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday September 5, a result that meant Roberto Mancini's side equaled the world record for consecutive undefeated international matches in a row. Italy is now undefeated in 36 consecutive games, equaling Brazil's record set between 1993 and 1996. The result could have been more positive if Jorginho had converted from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after a foul by Domenico Berardi, but the Chelsea midfielder was thwarted by goalkeeper Yan Sommer. Italy had other opportunities to snatch the victory from them, but had to settle for a draw, which means they remain top of qualification Group C on 11 points from five games, four ahead of the second-placed Swiss, who have two matches in hand on the Azzurri.Also Read- Cristiano Ronaldo becomes all-time highest goalscorer in international football with brace against Ireland Mancini's team entered the game after a disappointing 1-1 draw with Bulgaria on Thursday, in their first match becoming European champions two months ago. But the visiting team did much better in the first half in Basel and should have taken the lead through good chances for Berardi and Lorenzo Insigne, both of whom were denied by Sommer. The best chance of the night came seven minutes of the second half after Ricardo Rodriguez trying to atone for being caught in possession, lunged in on Berardi to award a penalty. Jorginho, who missed his spot kick in in Italy's penalty shootout victory over England in the Euro 2020 final, stepped up but put his effort far to close to Sommer, who made an easy save. European champions Italy set a new world record of 36 international matches unbeaten with their draw in Switzerland Congratulations @Azzurri_En pic.twitter.com/VxL9CERn8D— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) September 6, 2021Sommer proved impossible to breach as he denied Insigne again to leave Italy heading home having been frustrated for the second successive qualifier.Also Read- Tokyo Paralympics: Avani Lekhara becomes first Indian woman to win 2 medals at single Games edition
Lionel Messi broke Brazil great Pele's South American goal scoring record with a hat-trick that helped Argentina beat Bolivia 3-0 in the World Cup qualifiers on Thursday. Messi became the best scorer in South American football history The 34-year-old scored 79 goals for Argentina, overtaking Pele's tally of 77. The Argentine captain opened the way for his team at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires in front of 20,000 lucky fans in the 14th minute. He moved the ball between the legs of a Bolivian defender and shot from outside the penalty area to the right of the goalkeeper Carlos Lampe. Once again he showed his technique to score the second in the 64th minute. Messi and forward Lautaro Martinez exchanged four quick passes to put the six-time Ballon D'Or winner in a magnificent position. He still had time to dribble past one defender before scoring. Messi completed his hat-trick in the 88th minute from close range after getting a rebound from Lampe. Also Read- LaLiga will not be weakened by Lionel Messi's exit, says ex-Real Madrid player Fernando MorientesArgentina now have 18 points in second place. Bolivia remains in ninth place with six. Brazil and Argentina will have one less competitive match after this international window since the Super Classic was suspended on Sunday. FIFA has yet to decide what will happen will the match, as it was stopped in a shocking way after Brazilian health officials tried to remove four Argentinian players for allegedly providing false information to authorities. The top four teams from the South American qualifiers earn direct spots in the World Cup finals in Qatar next year, and the fifth-place team will go into an intercontinental playoff. Previously, Uruguay beat Ecuador by 1-0 to move to third place in the table. Uruguay managed to get a last-minute home win against Ecuador, which was key to their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup. The header by Gaston Pereiro in stoppage time allowed Uruguay to add 15 points and take Ecuador third on the table. The Ecuadorians still with 13 points, are in fourth place and they are also well positioned to go to Qatar next year. Colombia also clinched an important 3-1 home win over Chile in a magnificent performance from forward Miguel Borja. He scored the first from the spot in the 19th minute and added another one minute later. Chile reduced the gap in the 56th minute with Jean Menezes, but Luis Diaz added Colombia's last goal in the 74th minute. Also on Thursday, Paraguay beat Venezuela 2-1. The hosts scored with David Martínez and Alejandro Romero in the 7th and 46th minutes. The visitors scored their only goal in the 90th minute with John Chancellor. He posted on social media after the game: "I dreamed a lot about this day and thank God it came. "I have no words to thank you for all the love received. What a beautiful night, I really enjoyed it. Unforgettable."View this post on InstagramA post shared by Leo Messi (@leomessi)Also Read- Lionel Messi signs two-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain after leaving BarcelonaAlso Read- Cristiano Ronaldo becomes all-time highest goalscorer in international football with brace against Ireland
Lionel Messi failed to provide Paris St Germain with any sparkle as the Ligue 1 team's potent attacking trio lacked inspiration in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Club Brugge in their Champions League opener on Wednesday.In his debut with the French team, the Argentine forward managed to surpass him, but he was far from his brilliant best next to the disappointing Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, who set up Ander Herrera for PSG's first-half opener before being replaced injured after the break.Brugge, who levelled before halftime through Hans Vanaken, were more powerful and had the best chances against a PSG that lacks quality and defensive focus.The result left Paris Saint-Germain and Bruges two points behind Group A leaders Manchester City after the Premier League champions crushed RB Leipzig 6-3."We didn't play a fantastic game but to be fair we did enough to win, we deserved to win," said Herrera."Maybe they had opportunities at the beginning of the second half but I think we controlled the match, we had a lot of chances."Also Read- Lionel Messi surpasses Pele's goalscoring record, leads Argentina to win in World Cup qualifiersBrugge keeper Simon Mignolet disagreed."I didn't have a lot of work, I just pulled a couple of saves. We played as a compact side, it was the right approach," the Belgian said.With Messi, Neymar and Mbappe together on the pitch for the first time, PSG made a confident start but Brugge responded well.FULL-TIME: Club Brugge 1-1 @PSG_English The points are shared on Matchday 1 of the @ChampionsLeague. #UCL | #CLUPSG pic.twitter.com/P3EVbjqQxP— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) September 15, 2021Mbappe broke the left flank and his low cross was met by Herrera, and opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a low shot to score his fourth goal this season-his third goal in the last two games.Messi set up Mbappe, who went close in the 23rd minute with an angled shot that was deflected by Mignolet but PSG were lulled into a false sense of security.Also Read- LaLiga will not be weakened by Lionel Messi's exit, says ex-Real Madrid player Fernando Morientes
Paris Saint-Germain head coach Mauricio Pochettino admitted that his star-studded squad is still under construction, on the eve of hosting Manchester City in their Group A match in Paris on Tuesday.Pochettino remained evasive about who is PSG first-choice goalkeeper and whether Keylor Navas or new signing Gianluigi Donnarumma will start against City.Up front, Pochettino expects Lionel Messi to return in attack as the Argentine shakes off a minor knee injury that sidelined him for two games. Messi's last Champions League goal for Barcelona came against Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes in last season's last-16. He had a penalty saved in that game by Navas.Paris Saint-Germain opened their Champions League campaign with a disappointing 1-1 draw with Club Brugge two weeks ago.Also Read- Virat Kohli to quit RCB captaincy after the end of IPL 2021 season
Lionel Messi scored his first Paris Saint-German goal in the French club's 2-0 win over visiting Manchester City while Luxembourg midfielder Sébastien Thill struck late for Sheriff to stun 13-time champion Real Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday. Messi, who joined PSG on a two-year contract after leaving Barcelona, found the top corner superbly in the second half to add to Idrissa Gueye's early first-half opener and put the capital club top of Group A on four points. Luis Suárez also struck late as his injury-time penalty gave Atlético Madrid a 2-1 win at 10-man AC Milan. Club Brügge and Liverpool also claimed away wins at Leipzig and Porto, respectively.Messi scores maiden goal for PSG After two games, City are third on three points after their first defeat in a group stage game since 2018 ended an 18-match unbeaten run, a point behind PSG and Club Brugge, who won 2-1 at RB Leipzig. Real Madrid slumped to a 2-1 defeat by Moldovan side Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League on Tuesday as the visitors pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the competition's history with a stunning 89th-minute strike from Sebastien Thill. Spanish champion Atlético were second best for long periods at Group B rival Milan. Luis Suarez's stoppage-time penalty and Antoine Griezmann's first goal since returning to Atletico Madrid earned the Spanish side a 2-1 victory over 10-man AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday. On the other hand, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino both struck twice and Sadio Mane once in a 5-1 drubbing of the Portuguese champions to seize control of Champions' League Group B.Also Read- Messi may return for PSG against Manchester City in UCL
Ferran Torres put Spain into the Nations League final on Wednesday with a brace in a 2-1 win that ended Italy's world record unbeaten run at 37 matches in front of their own fans. Torres struck twice in the first half to make sure that Luis Enrique's Spain won the Final Four clash at the San Siro in Milan, where they will face either France or Belgium in Sunday's final. Lorenzo Pellegrini pulled a goal back with seven minutes left but the European champions failed to complete what would have been a memorable comeback after a spirited second-half performance with 10 men. Italy, who beat Spain in the Euro 2020 semi-finals, had to play over half the match with one man fewer after Leonardo Bonucci was sent off in the 42nd minute for picking up a second yellow card for elbowing Sergio Busquets in the face during an aerial challenge. "The first half could have easily finished 1-1... It's a shame because we would have stayed with 11 men were it not for an error which you can't commit at this level," Italy coach Roberto Mancini told RAI. The match took place in a strange atmosphere, as AC Milan fans on the field provoked Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma during his return to the San Siro following his move to Paris Saint-Germain. Donnarumma, who is considered one of the world's best goalkeepers and won the Player of the Tournament award at the Euro, left Milan as a free agent in the summer and his departure left a bad taste in the mouth of supporters who loudly booed and whistled his every touch of the ball.Also Read- Harmanpreet Singh, Gurjit Kaur win best player awards as India sweep international hockey honours "It upset us, because it was Italy playing, it wasn't a club match. They could have put it to one side for one match," Mancini told reporters later. "Italy is Italy and I think it should come above everything else."Fans attack DonnarummaDonnarumma was barracked by the home fans both when he came out for the pre-match warm-up and when the teams were read out, with the boos and whistles loud enough to drown out the announcements over the stadium's speakers. He was even whistled by some home supporters on his first touch of the ball in the fourth minute although by that point others in the crowd had started to applaud him in an attempt to cover up the criticism. However boos persisted every time he got the ball and in one bizarre moment Bonucci took a goal kick, only to roll the ball a couple of metres to Donnarumma, who again had to try to block out a wave of anger from the stands. They clearly started to have an effect on his performance, first reacting sluggishly to Torres' flick which put Spain one goal ahead in the 17th minute. Only two minutes later, Donnarumma then fumbled an innocuous shot from Marcos Alonso onto the post and had to thank Bonucci for getting back in time to clear the ball off the line. After a period of Spain dominance, Italy responded and should have at least been level 10 minutes before the break, Federico Bernadeschi having a 34th-minute shot pushed onto the post before Lorenzo Insigne fluffed the easiest chance of the half. Emerson Palmieri was sent charging behind the right side of the Spanish defence and rolled a perfect low cross to the unmarked Insigne, who sliced wide a side-footed finish. However, the hosts' task was made much harder just before the break when Bonucci was sent off and Torres all but killed off their hopes of extending their record with his deft header from another Mikel Oyarzabal cross. Down to 10, Italy gave a good account of themselves and Pellegrini cut the deficit with seven minutes remaining largely thanks to Federico Chiesa. Juventus forward Chiesa nicked the ball after a Spanish corner was cleared and charged down the field unopposed before laying on the Roma midfielder to tap into an open goal which briefly gave Italy fans hope. World champions France takes on Belgium at Juventus' Allianz Stadium in Turin on Thursday.Also Read- Anshu Malik becomes first Indian woman to reach wrestling World Championships final
India on Wednesday confirmed their place in the final match against Nepal after 3-1 victory over Maldives at the National Football Stadium in Male, Maldives. Manvir Singh’s opener was cancelled by Ali Ashfaq in the first half before Sunil Chhetri scored a brace in the second half to confirm the spot for the Blue Tigers. Sunil Chhetri broke legendary football player Pele's record during the match against the Maldives in the ongoing 2021 SAFF Championship Pele had scored 77 goals for Brazil and Chhetri went past the Brazilian superstar when he scored a goal in the 62nd minute in the match against the Maldives. Chhetri further bettered his tally as he scored another one to have 79 international goals under his belt. The Indian captain is now the third-highest active international goalscorer. Lionel Messi (80) and Cristiano Ronaldo (115) are the two footballers who are ahead of Chhetri in the list of active international goalscorers. The Indian captain has also become the joint sixth-highest goalscorer in the world.123 Internationals 79 Goals @chetrisunil11 becomes the joint 6th highest goalscorer in the world! #INDMDV #SAFFChampionship2021 #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/Tg4UCTPAAE— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 13, 2021Although his team is going through a long lean phase, Chhetri's scoring prowess remains as good as ever, which is a testament to his consistency and dedication.A Wonderful Gesture Skipper @chetrisunil11 handed over his Man of the Match award to @apuiaralte45 for his brilliant performance today! #INDMDV #SAFFChampionship2021 #BackTheBlue #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/povTme0mZI— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) October 13, 2021Throughout his glorious journey, the deadly poacher from Delhi has played alongside former stars such as Bhaichung Bhutia and Renedy Singh in the national team, besides well-known international players in the ISL and I-League. Notwithstanding the occasional chatter around his age and his longevity, the Indian captain had said that he wanted to keep playing in top-flight and has not given his future any thought. India is undefeated in this edition, having drawn with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and then beating Nepal. The side will now look for its eight SAFF Championship title when it takes on first-time finalist Nepal in the final.Also Read- BCCI unveils Team India's new jersey ahead of T20 World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo headed in an 81st-minute winner as Manchester United came from two goals down to beat Atalanta 3-2 in a pulsating Champions League Group F match at Old Trafford on Wednesday. After a poor performance in the first half, with Atalanta leading 2-0 in at the break, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team turned the game and possibly their season around with a thunderous performance. The pressure was on Solskjaer after Saturday's 4-2 Premier League loss to Leicester Cit and he opted to drop Paul Pogba to the bench but there was little sign of improvement from that switch. Manchester United were disjointed and dispirited in the opening 45 minutes but raised their tempo and the volume from the Stretford End with a relentless push to victory that culminated in the Champions League's record scorer demonstrating his brilliance in front of goal yet again. Mario Pasalic put Atalanta ahead in the 15th minute, turning in Davide Zappacosta's low ball from close range and United, with just one win in their last five games in all competitions, looked drained of belief. It was no great surprise when the Italian team doubled their lead in the 29th minute with Merih Demiral rising at the near post to glance in an angled header from a Teun Koopmeiners corner. Fred and Marcus Rashford missed good chances for United before the break but the home side returned to the game in the 53rd minute. A clever ball from Bruno Fernandes allowed Rashford to cut in from the left and he picked his spot with a shot into the far corner. Scott McTominay struck the post after connecting with Christian Ronaldo cross but although United were pushing for a leveller, the Italians were still a threat and the hosts were thankful to keeper David De Gea for a superb double save to keep out a drive from Duvan Zapata and follow-up from Ruslan Malinovskyi. Cristiano Ronaldo in one word?#UCL pic.twitter.com/APwQcItPuh— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 20, 2021However, the pressure paid off for United when they drew level with Harry Maguire drilling the ball home at the back post after the static Atalanta defence failed to intercept a Fernandes ball across the box. Then came the winner as Luke Shaw whipped in a superb cross from the left and Ronaldo rose superbly, timing his jump and his header perfectly to power the ball past Musso. "I was right behind him. His leap, his timing, it was perfect right in the corner," Maguire said. "We see it day in, day out in training and in the goals he has scored throughout his career. He has come up with a massive goal for us again in the Champions League," he added. "We got the goals we needed and deserved and I think we deserved the win in the end. Yes, we made it difficult but it is a tremendous victory in the end." United leads the group after three games on six points with Atalanta and Villarreal two points behind.Also Read- Australia pacer James Pattinson retires from international cricket
October 2021 was a busy month in international football, with qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, friendlies, and the final rounds of the UEFA Nations League all on the agenda. A total of 160 fixtures were played, the impact of which can be seen on the FIFA Rankings. Though their lead is now under threat, Belgium remains on top despite UEFA Nations League defeats to France (3rd, 1) and Italy (4th, 1). Among the top five, only Les Bleus and Gli Azzurri have improved their positions. India has also moved one spot ahead to the 106th position after the Sunil Chhetri-led side won the SAFF Championship. The Blue Tigers had defeated Nepal in the summit clash. Brazil remains in second place but are breathing down the neck of Belgium, just 12 points behind. England, meanwhile, dropped two places to fifth."A little further down, Spain's (7th, 1) progress at the expense of Portugal (8th, -1) is also noteworthy, as is that of Germany (12th, 2), who leapfrog USA (13th). Uruguay lost most ground among the top 20 by dropping three places to 15th," read an official FIFA statement. It is after that, however, where we find some of the most significant movers on this edition. Morocco (29th, 4), Russia (33rd, 4), Egypt (44th, 4), Saudi Arabia (49th, 7) and South Africa (66th, 7) all made strides on the back of two wins from two this month in Qatar 2022 qualifying. Two nations in the second half of the table fared even better, with New Zealand (111, 10) and Indonesia (165, 10) the joint-biggest movers this month, ahead of Central African Republic (115, 9) and Cambodia (170, 8).Also Read- IPL 2022: Ranveer Singh And Deepika Padukone To Bid For Two New IPL Teams- Reports
Paris Saint-Germain forward Lionel Messi has confirmed that he will return to Barcelona with his family once his spell at Paris Saint-Germain ends, and he wants to help the LaLiga club in the role of technical director. The star admitted that he "misses everything" about the Catalan capital where he spent more than two decades. Messi ended a two-decade stay at the cash-strapped Spanish club, where he is their record scorer with 672 goals, in the off-season and messi transfer to psg on a two-year deal. "I don't know if that'll happen when my PSG contract is up. What's almost confirmed and certain is that we'll return to Barcelona to live and our lives will be there," Messi told Spanish outlet SPORT. "That's what my wife and I want. I don't know what'll happen when my PSG contract ends, but we'll go back to live in Barcelona."I've always said I'd love to be able to help the club do well in any way that I can be useful. I'd love to be a technical director at some point. "I don't know if that'll be at Barcelona or if it might work out differently. "If the option is there, I'd love to contribute again in any way that I can because it's the club that I love and I'd love it to keep doing well, growing and remain one of the best in the world." Messi was injured in Paris St Germain's 2-1 win over champion Lille on Friday, but coach Mauricio Pochettino is hopeful he will be available for this week's psg in champions league game at RB Leipzig.Also Read- T20 World Cup: How can India still hope to qualify for the semi final
Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have produced some unforgettable moments on the football pitch and surprisingly they have been doing that consistently for more than 15 years now. The duo have won a combined total of 11 Ballon d'Or's, which is an award of high prestige, while numerous star footballers have missed out on the prestigious award because of the domination from Messi and Ronaldo. Interestingly, year 2021 has proved out to be full of surprises for both the footballing greats. Lionel Messi has left FC Barcelona and now plays for Paris Saint-Germain due to Barcelona's financial problems. The 33-year-old Argentine is currently struggling in his new club with injuries coming into play and a change of role in terms of positioning. No one deserved the 2021 Ballon d'Or more than Lionel Messi pic.twitter.com/1ZGJGsbVg0— Ishan (@LionelFutbol) November 5, 2021However, 2021 is not that bad season for Lionel Messi as before joining PSG, the little magician won Copa America with Argentina and scored 30 goals in 35 matches in La Liga for his former club FC Barcelona. However, Messi is yet to score a league goal for PSG, but has scored 3 goals for the French club in the Champions League. Messi won 34 club career trophies with FC Barcelona, including 10 La Liga titles and 4 Champions League titles. In addition, he has won the Ballon d'Or for a record six times which is the most by any player ever to play football. On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo once again impressed with his return to Manchester United new now, as the striker has time and again saved the Red Devils' blushes by scoring crucial goals. Cristiano Ronaldo ~ The Most Clutch Player this sport has ever witnessed pic.twitter.com/EYaSks49N4— Paarth (@paarthblanco) November 2, 2021Ronaldo took no time to get off the mark and after returning to England, the 36-year-old has so far scored 9 goals from the 11 matches he has played. In the process, he even became the top scorer in three different big leagues England, Spain and Italy, thus creating a new record. Christian Ronaldo scored 29 goals for Juventus in Serie A and also become Portugal's top scorer with 111 goals for his country in 2021. The rivalry between these two can define a whole era and decade of football. Who's better? It's an endless debate with too many opinions from too many people but one thing is for sure that Ronaldo and Messi will go down as two of the greatest footballers that the world has ever witnessed.Also Read- Rohit Sharma named India T20I captain for New Zealand series
Brazil have struggled in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and presently occupy sixth place in the South American tableEdinho, the son of Pele, expressed to AFP in an interview that Pele "would have been saddened" by the current state of the Brazilian national team, just days before the first anniversary of Pele's death on Friday. Brazil is facing challenges in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup, currently holding the sixth position in the South American table, which is the last spot for direct qualification. The Selecao has encountered difficulties, especially in the absence of their prominent current star, Neymar, who has been sidelined with a long-term injury due to torn knee ligaments."This crisis didn't emerge suddenly; there are significant and intricate issues," remarked Edinho, 53, one of Pele's seven children."We are witnessing a decline... while we still have excellent players, in the past, we had a greater number of high-caliber players than we do today."Edinho, who was raised by his mother after Pele and she separated shortly after moving to New York when he signed for New York Cosmos in 1975 but grew closer to him in later life, added, "There is no doubt that if (Pele) had been here this year, he would have been very saddened."Santos, the Brazilian club where Pele spent the majority of his career, is currently facing a challenging period as they were relegated to the second division for the first time in their 111-year history.The club is grappling with financial problems and internal disputes within the board."Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise. Anyone who has followed the daily affairs of the club could have anticipated such a scenario, and it has indeed happened," remarked Edinho, who served as Santos' goalkeeper for several seasons.The commemorations to observe the first anniversary of Pele's passing from cancer at the age of 82, expected to be low-key, are scheduled for Friday.Also Read: European Court of Justice rules FIFA, UEFA breached EU Law over Super League ban
Chelseaboss Mauricio Pochettino bemoaned a familiar lack of cutting edge after his team lost the first leg of their League Cup semi-final 1-0 to Championship side Middlesbrough.Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino bemoaned a familiar lack of cutting edge after his team lost the first leg of their League Cup semi-final 1-0 to Championship side Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Tuesday. Hayden Hackney scored the only goal on 38 minutes as Pochettino's expensively assembled array of stars again failed to perform away from home. Chelsea have lost five of their last six away games and 21 times on the road since the beginning of last season -- the most of any Premier League team. The Blues must turn the tie around when the sides meet again at Stamford Bridge on January 23 to avoid heaping more pressure on Pochettino's position during a disappointing first season in charge for the Argentine."If we assess the performance overall we were the better side, had clear chances, but we didn't score and weren't clinical," said Pochettino. "It happened a lot this season."Boro boss Michael Carrick could have been forgiven for cursing his luck after losing top scorer Emmanuel Latte Lath to injury after just three minutes.Carrick was also forced to withdraw Alex Bangura inside 20 minutes but the second-tier side were not fazed."It's very special," said the former Manchester United midfielder. "I know it's a two-legged affair and there is still all to play for, but for what we've had to go through, the injuries, the setbacks we've had, to beat a team of Chelsea's quality is unbelievable."Middlesbrough had not scored against Chelsea for over 17 years. The Blues had won the past nine meetings by an aggregate score of 21-0.However, the home side ended that drought eight minutes before half-time.The pace of Isaiah Jones down the right caused Chelsea's makeshift left-back Levi Colwill problems all night and his low cross was turned in by Hackney from close range.Chelsea, though, should have at least been level at the break had Cole Palmer maintained his fine scoring form in front of goal.The former Manchester City academy graduate has been one of Chelsea's few big money signings to hit the ground running under Pochettino.However, Palmer twice failed to hit the target with glorious first-half chances.Firstly, he pulled his shot wide from the edge of the area after pouncing on an errant pass from Jonny Howson, and then he fired over the rebound after Tom Glover fumbled Enzo Fernandez's effort.Palmer then fired too close to Glover with another big chance just before the break.The flow of the second half was a different story as Chelsea pegged the home side back in search of an equaliser.But there was a familiarity to the visitors' inability to find a way through.Despite the club spending over £1 billion ($1.3 billion) on players in the last three transfer windows, Pochettino suggested last month he would need to look to strengthen once more in order to address the lack of a goal threat.Noni Madueke looked the most likely spark to Chelsea's attack, but he was sacrificed as Pochettino threw on Mykhailo Mudryk and Armando Broja.Raheem Sterling should have been more alive to meet one dangerous low cross from Broja, but that was all Chelsea's vast amount of possession in the final 20 minutes amounted to.Middlesbrough conceded late to lose 1-0 to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round on Saturday.But this time the team that sit 12th in the Championship held out to keep their dreams of a Wembley final against either Liverpool or Fulham very much alive heading into the second leg.Also Read: Argentina set to retire Lionel Messis No.10 jersey once he hangs up boots: Reports
Picking a player as the greatest of all time, in any sport, is a very subjective task with various unquantifiable facets coming into the picture. However, with the number of goals he has scored and having won every possible trophy he could, Lionel Messi is considered the greatest football player of all time. He finally attained the undisputed GOAT status after Argentina won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after a frantic final against France. The fact that Messi won the Golden Ball by scoring seven goals and assisting three more in the competition, adds to his argument as the greatest footballer ever.Top 5 football players of all timeRank PlayerGoals Trophies1Lionel Messi802422Pele767263Diego Maradona353124Cristiano Ronaldo819345Johan Cruyff433226Zinedine Zidane156157Gerd Muller 718168Ronaldo Nazario414199Alfredo di Stefano5092710Michel Platini 35312Lionel Messi (Argentina) - 802 goals, 42 trophiesEmerging from Barcelona’s academy La Masia, Lionel Messi quickly became one of the best players in football, winning his first Ballon d’Or in 2009 at the age of 22. He went on to win seven of them. He won the coveted treble twice with Barcelona and finally ended his wait for a major international trophy with the Copa America 2021 and then added the FIFA World Cup 2022 trophy to his haul, which also includes an Olympic gold medal from Beijing 2008. He is also the only player in history to win two Golden Balls in World Cups (2014 and 2022).Now in the twilight of his career, the Argentinian legend is now playing in the United States with Inter Miami. In his short time in Miami, he has made an impact by helping the franchise win the Leagues Cup which is the first ever in the history of the franchise.While the Miami outfit is yet to establish itself as a powerhouse in the MLS, many fans of the team and neutrals alike are confident that it is only a matter of time until the team starts competing for the MLS title with the addition of Messi to the squad.The belief is so widespread in Miami that many fans are already touring them as a contender next term. A lot of fans are not stopping at tagging them as possible champions in the next couple of years, many are backing their claim by betting on the team to become champions next term.Of course, the odds are quite good and it guarantees a handsome reward if it pays off. However, there are other incentives like betting bonuses for signing up and placing a bet on a betting site.It is a common practice for Sportsbook to reward new customers with a betting bonus when they sign up and make a deposit.Football Legends and Their Remarkable AchievementsPele (Brazil) - 767 goals, 26 trophiesPele, a three-time World Cup winner, made a sensational debut on the global stage with six goals in the 1958 World Cup. Known as the "Black Pearl," Pele scored over 700 goals for club and country, achieving numerous titles with the Brazilian club Santos. He is celebrated as the first modern football superstar.Diego Maradona (Argentina) - 353 goals, 12 trophiesDiego Maradona is regarded as one of the greatest attacking players in football history. His incredible ball control and skill inspired generations. Maradona led Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup, scoring twice in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals. He also drove Napoli to their only two league titles.Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) - 819 goals, 34 trophiesCristiano Ronaldo is the highest goal-scorer in football history, winning league titles in England, Spain, and Italy. He has five Champions League titles, four of which were won with Real Madrid. A five-time Ballon d'Or winner, Ronaldo also scored four goals in Portugal’s first major trophy win at UEFA Euro 2012.Johan Cruyff (Netherlands) - 433 goals, 22 trophiesJohan Cruyff, the pioneer of "Total Football," is considered one of the most influential figures in football. He won three consecutive European Cup titles with Ajax and three Ballon d'Or awards. Cruyff also led the Netherlands to the World Cup finals in 1974 and 1978.Zinedine Zidane (France) - 156 goals, 16 trophiesZinedine Zidane is one of football's all-time greats, known for his exceptional control and technique. Starting his career with Cannes, he gained fame at Bordeaux and later won multiple titles with Juventus and Real Madrid. Zidane helped France win the 1998 World Cup and reached the finals again in 2006. He was named the best player in the world in 1998, 2000, and 2003.Also Read: TOP 5 RICHEST FOOTBALLERS IN THE WORLD 2024: NET WORTH, CAREER, SALARY AND MORE
