Football Rss
Jets 2018 Draft Report Card: Grading every pick
It's time to take out our red pen and pick apart the Jets 2018 draft class.
Monday, April 30, 2018
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Iniesta exit deprives Barca of humble star who kept winning
Football – Inquirer Sports
Iniesta exit deprives Barca of humble star who kept winning
BARCELONA, Spain — Andres Iniesta means so much more to Barcelona than the 30-plus titles he helped add to its trophy case. The Spaniard, who is leaving the club at the end of the season, was pure elegance with the ball, and a popular player off the field. As Barcelona president Josep Bartomeu put it, […]
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Saturday, April 28, 2018
PSG coach Unai Emery leaving at end of season
Football – Inquirer Sports
PSG coach Unai Emery leaving at end of season
PARIS — Paris Saint-Germain coach Unai Emery is leaving the club at the end of the season, the latest to pay the price for failing to lead the team to the European glory its owners crave so much. Emery joined PSG from Sevilla two years ago on a two-year contract, which will not be extended. […]
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Friday, April 27, 2018
Carvajal hopeful over injury tests
Soccerway.com
Carvajal hopeful over injury tests
Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal is a doubt for their upcoming games due to a thigh problem, but he is not getting worried just yet.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Is Mohamed Salah the single most influential player in Champions League history?
The Independent - Football
Is Mohamed Salah the single most influential player in Champions League history?
He might not be Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo yet but he is proving even more transformational for Liverpool
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Jamie Jones defeats former champion Shaun Murphy in World Snooker Championship
Sport: : BreakingNews.ie
Jamie Jones defeats former champion Shaun Murphy in World Snooker Championship
World number 51 Jamie Jones stunned former champion Shaun Murphy with a 10-9 victory at the Crucible last night.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Barcelona easily wins historic 4th straight Copa del Rey
Football – Inquirer Sports
Barcelona easily wins historic 4th straight Copa del Rey
MADRID — If it was a farewell, Andres Iniesta went out in style. The veteran midfielder is expected to soon confirm he’s leaving Barcelona at the end of the season. He couldn’t have asked for a better way to say goodbye. Iniesta scored amid a brilliant performance as Barcelona crushed Sevilla 5-0 in the Copa […]
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Sunday, April 22, 2018
Jose Mourinho says Premier League remains Manchester United's priority as Mauricio Pochettino questions mentality
The Independent - Football
Jose Mourinho says Premier League remains Manchester United's priority as Mauricio Pochettino questions mentality
United reached the FA Cup final with a 2-1 victory over Spurs
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Atletico defeat leaves Barcelona on brink of title
Football – Inquirer Sports
Atletico defeat leaves Barcelona on brink of title
MADRID — Atletico Madrid lost 3-0 at Real Sociedad on Thursday, leaving Barcelona one victory away from clinching the Spanish league title. Barcelona, which drew 2-2 at Celta Vigo on Tuesday without most of its regular starters, can secure its 25th crown at Deportivo La Coruna on April 29. The Catalan club faces Sevilla in […]
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Friday, April 20, 2018
Giants release veteran receiver Brandon Marshall
Football Rss
Giants release veteran receiver Brandon Marshall
The Giants have released Brandon Marshall.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots TE, buys stake in horse named after him
Football Rss
Rob Gronkowski, Patriots TE, buys stake in horse named after him
Rob Gronkowski really has to stop horsing around.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
European leagues oppose FIFA plan for 48-team 2022 World Cup
Football – Inquirer Sports
European leagues oppose FIFA plan for 48-team 2022 World Cup
GENEVA — Top European leagues are set to oppose FIFA plans for adding more teams and playing days at the 2022 World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino wants to study a 48-team tournament plan that would add 16 teams, 16 extra games and at least four days to the scheduled 28-day event kicking off in […]
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Monday, April 16, 2018
Kyle Walker admits Manchester City's three straight defeats 'felt like a relegation battle' after winning the title
The Independent - Football
Kyle Walker admits Manchester City's three straight defeats 'felt like a relegation battle' after winning the title
Two losses by Liverpool and the Manchester derby defeat saw City hit a rough patch that Walker says was the 'toughest period' he's had with the club
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Welbeck backed for World Cup spot by Wenger
Soccerway.com
Welbeck backed for World Cup spot by Wenger
Danny Welbeck's recent form for Arsenal has prompted Arsene Wenger to encourage England to take him to the World Cup.
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Neymar ‘about a month’ away from comeback after operation
Football – Inquirer Sports
Neymar ‘about a month’ away from comeback after operation
Neymar has told Brazilian television he still needs around a month to recover from a foot operation, as the Paris Saint-Germain superstar targets a return to full fitness in time for the World Cup. “I need about a month, but it is healing well. Everything is happening normally,” Neymar, who has not played since breaking […]
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Friday, April 13, 2018
Gunners showed no complacency in win over CSKA Moscow, Wenger says
Sport: : BreakingNews.ie
Gunners showed no complacency in win over CSKA Moscow, Wenger says
Arsene Wenger suggested his Arsenal side showed a hint of complacency as they were made to fight for their place in the Europa League semi-finals having fallen two goals behind at CSKA Moscow.
Thursday, April 12, 2018
Poll: Oliver right to award Madrid penalty and send off Buffon
Soccerway.com
Poll: Oliver right to award Madrid penalty and send off Buffon
Graham Poll hailed the performance of referee Michael Oliver, who awarded a stoppage-time penalty and red carded Gianluigi Buffon.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Tuesday, April 10, 2018
Monday, April 9, 2018
Report: Japan to fire coach Halilhodzic ahead of World Cup
Sportsnet.ca
Report: Japan to fire coach Halilhodzic ahead of World Cup
TOKYO — Vahid Halilhodzic has reportedly been dismissed as Japan’s head coach following two disappointing international friendly matches and with the World Cup opening in just over two months.
Japan’s Kyodo news agency cites football association president Kozo Tashima in announcing the move on Monday. The JFA was expected to hold a news conference to announce its plans.
Kyodo says a likely successor could be JFA technical director Akira Nishino, a former coach at J-League club Gamba Osaka.
Japan salvaged a 1-1 draw on the last kick of the game in a friendly last month against Mali, and days later lost 2-1 to Ukraine. The Japanese will face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in group play in the World Cup.
Halilhodzic was hired in March 2015 after leading Algeria to the knockout stage of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Japan, South Korea and Australia — traditionally, Asia’s most powerful teams — struggled in World Cup qualifying before advancing.
South Korea fired coach Uli Stielike last year and replaced him with Shin Tae-yong. Ange Postecoglou quit almost immediately after Australia secured qualification for Russia and has been replaced by Bert van Marwijk.
Asia’s dominant teams have tended to struggle at the World Cup when the top teams from Europe and Latin America are peaking.
South Korea’s run to the semifinals in 2002, when it was co-hosting the tournament with Japan, remains the best run by an Asian team at the World Cup.
Japan has never advanced beyond the second round, and will be making its sixth straight appearance in the upcoming World Cup.
Halilhodzic guided Algeria to the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup, where they lost to Germany in extra time. And the JFA had been hoping Halilhodzic could create a similar breakthrough for Japan.
But recent pressure appears to have weighed down the team.
None of Asia’s four representatives won a match at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, all failing to advance beyond the group stage. Japan, South Korea and Iran each had one draw and two losses and Australia lost all three matches in a group containing Netherlands, Chile and Spain.
Sunday, April 8, 2018
The return of the Oz
Sport – The Standard
The return of the Oz
WITH Highlanders struggling against Herentals in the second match of the Premier Soccer league season on March 25, Bosso coach Madinda Ndlovu pulled out Newman Sianchali for Ozias Zibande in […]
The post The return of the Oz appeared first on The Standard.
Saturday, April 7, 2018
Paul Pogba's tweet raises a few eyebrows after Pep Guardiola's claim ahead of Manchester derby
Sport: : BreakingNews.ie
Paul Pogba's tweet raises a few eyebrows after Pep Guardiola's claim ahead of Manchester derby
Pep Guardiola has fanned the flames ahead of today's Manchester derby by claiming Paul Pogba was offered to Manchester City by his agent in January.
Friday, April 6, 2018
PFL: Ceres Negros slips past Kaya Iloilo
Football – Inquirer Sports
PFL: Ceres Negros slips past Kaya Iloilo
Brothers Manny and Mike Ott struck in the second half as Ceres Negros opened its Philippines Football League title defense with a thrilling 2-1 victory over Kaya Iloilo last Wednesday night at Panaad Stadium in Bacolod City.
The post PFL: Ceres Negros slips past Kaya Iloilo appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Ronaldo scores stunner as Madrid blanks Juventus in Champions League
Football – Inquirer Sports
Ronaldo scores stunner as Madrid blanks Juventus in Champions League
TURIN, Italy — Cristiano Ronaldo latest masterpiece was so good even the opposing fans had to stand up and applaud. Ronaldo pulled off a spectacular overhead kick to score his second goal of the night on Tuesday as his Real Madrid beat Juventus 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal. Even by […]
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Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Counterattack tactics key for TFC’s chances against Club America
Sportsnet.ca
Counterattack tactics key for TFC’s chances against Club America
TORONTO — Playing through the pressure, and exploiting pockets of spaces.
Success could come down to those two key tactical points for Toronto FC when it hosts Mexican team Club America in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League semifinals on Tuesday night.
Club America is an aggressive side that routinely uses its front five or six attacking players to put pressure on the ball in an attempt to force their opponents into making turnovers and shorten up the field.
But, as TFC coach Greg Vanney pointed out, if you can overcome that pressure, then there tends to be a lot of space between Club America’s attackers and its defenders. The key to exploiting that space for Toronto is being smart on the counterattack.
There’s no need to rush it and be overly aggressive, Vanney said. You have to pick your moments.
“In transition, the first thing is can we get beyond that pressure, so that we’re not trying to play and break down 10 [opposing players] every single time we have the ball,” Vanney explained.
“Second, it’s about moving the ball quickly. When teams start to press or extend themselves, if you can move the ball quick and shift the angle, then you can find entry passes in behind those [opposing] players and into some of the pockets [of space] that might be available.”
Club America is a stingy team — they’ve conceded just 10 goals in 13 Mexican league matches this season. But they are by no means a defensive side. They don’t sit back. Instead, they try to force the issue, and that’s what Vanney expects they’ll do on Tuesday.
“My anticipation is they’ll come and they’ll try to play and they’ll try to still create turnovers in advantageous positions and try to play on the transition. They’ll still look for their moments to really try to be aggressive,” TFC’s coach stated.
Under Vanney, TFC has been transformed over the last two years into a team that focuses on quick and efficient ball movement. He doesn’t want players dawdling in possession — take one or two touches, and move the ball along to the next person.
The Reds can’t stray from that philosophy on Tuesday.
WHO IS CLUB AMERICA?
Based in Mexico City, Club America is one of the biggest and most successful clubs in Mexico, and is regarded as one best sides in the entire CONCACAF region.
Nicknamed Las Aguilas (The Eagles), Club America’s current roster boasts international players and a number of Mexican national team members. Mexican forward Henry Martin and Paraguayan winger Cecilio Dominguez lead this year’s Champions League in scoring with three goals apiece.
Club America has won the Mexican league title a record 12 times (tied with Club Deportivo Guadalajara). It has also won a pair of CONCACAF Champions League titles (2015 and 2016), and it won the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup (the forerunner to the Champions League) on five occasions.
Club America currently sits fourth in Mexico’s Liga MX standings, and is coming off of a 3-1 home win over Cruz Azul on Saturday.
HAGGLUND OUT SIX WEEKS WITH HAMSTRING STRAINVanney confirmed Monday that defender Nick Hagglund has been ruled out for the next six weeks with a serious hamstring strain.
Hagglund, 25, suffered the injury late last week on the practice field.
“It’s a reasonably significant hamstring strain,” Vanney said of Hagglund.
He later added: “It was an awkward situation where he wasn’t running. He got himself and his body in an awkward situation, caught up in the ground. Something had to give, and it was his hamstring.”
Hagglund has made one appearance in MLS this season. He also played in all four Champions League games to this point, making two starts against the Colorado Rapids in the round of 16. The native of Cincinnati missed most of the 2017 MLS season due to knee injuries.
WAIT AND SEE ON MAVINGA, MORROW AND VAZQUEZVanney is taking a wait and see approach on three injured starters — defender Chris Mavinga (lower body), full-back Justin Morrow (calf) and midfielder Victor Vazquez (back) — ahead of the first leg vs. Club America.
All three completed Monday’s training session, but Vanney said he’ll see how they progress over the next 24 hours before deciding on whether they can play Tuesday.
Vazquez has been troubled by his back since being subbed out of Toronto’s season-opening loss to Columbus on March 3. Mavinga and Morrow picked up their injuries in the second leg of TFC’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal against Tigres on March 7.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR TFC?TFC has a bye this week in MLS. It was originally scheduled to host D.C. United on Saturday, but the league rescheduled the game for June 13 so the Reds can concentrate on the return match against Club America.
The second leg of the Champions League semifinal is scheduled for April 10 at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. Vanney told Sportsnet that the team plans to fly down to Mexico on Thursday so that it can spend a few days there to acclimate to the conditions.
The winner of this series advances to the final where they will take on the winner of the other semifinal between the New York Red Bulls and Mexican side Club Deportivo Guadalajara.
Monday, April 2, 2018
Atletico beats Deportivo, cuts Barcelona’s lead to 9 points
Sportsnet.ca
Atletico beats Deportivo, cuts Barcelona’s lead to 9 points
MADRID — Atletico Madrid took advantage of Barcelona’s stumble to keep alive its title hopes in the Spanish league.
Kevin Gameiro converted a first-half penalty kick as Atletico defeated Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 on Sunday to move within nine points of leader Barcelona with eight matches remaining.
Barcelona lost points in a 2-2 draw at Sevilla on Saturday when it needed two very late goals by Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi to remain the league’s only unbeaten team this season.
“We will keep doing our part and then we will see what happens,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone said.
Gameiro scored the winner from the penalty spot in the 34th minute after forward Saul Niguez had his jersey pulled inside the area.
Deportivo La Coruna stayed winless in eight matches under coach Clarence Seedorf. The team is second-to-last in the standings and hasn’t won in 15 matches.
“I’m proud of how our team played,” Seedorf said. “We played a great match against a great opponent. We need to start scoring goals to be able to win matches.”
Deportivo has lost five of its eight games with the former Dutch midfielder, having scored only two goals and conceded 10.
Atletico’s next league game is at third-place Real Madrid on Sunday.
——
VALENCIA THRIVESValencia defeated Leganes 1-0 to extend its impressive run and stay close to Real Madrid in the fight for third place.
Striker Rodrigo scored a second-half winner to give Valencia its seventh win in eight matches. It’s one point behind Madrid, which on Saturday won 3-0 at Las Palmas. Valencia is five points behind second-place Atletico Madrid.
Valencia opened a comfortable 15-point lead over fifth-place Villarreal — 62 to 47 — practically guaranteeing the last Champions League spot for next season with eight matches left.
“We know we are very close to this fourth spot, but it’s not secured yet,” Valencia coach Marcelino Garcia Toral said. “We should be able to earn it, but this is football and anything can happen.”
Valencia is unbeaten in its last eight matches, with the only setback a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao four rounds ago. Its recent run follows a streak of six consecutive losses in all competitions.
Leganes is on 36 points with Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol.
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MALAGA WINS AGAINLast-place Malaga ended its 14-match winless streak by defeating fifth-place Villarreal, thanks to a first-half penalty kick converted by midfielder Chory Castro.
Malaga, which had lost 11 of its last 14 matches, is 11 points behind Levante, the first team outside the relegation zone.
Villarreal, which was coming off a win over second-place Atletico Madrid, is one point ahead of Sevilla and three in front of seventh-place Girona, the last team securing a Europa League spot next season.
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DERBY DRAWReal Sociedad could not manage more than a 0-0 draw at Basque Country rival Eibar in the debut of coach Imanol Alguacil.
Sociedad, which has won only one of its last seven matches, remains near the bottom of the table in 15th place, while Eibar is 10th.
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LACKLUSTER DRAWAlaves halted a three-match losing streak by holding Espanyol to a 0-0 draw at RCDE Stadium in Barcelona.
The result kept Alaves in 16th place, 11 points from the relegation zone.
Espanyol is four points in front of Alaves.
Sunday, April 1, 2018
MLS Review: Ibrahimovic scores 40-yard stunner in Galaxy bow
Soccerway.com
MLS Review: Ibrahimovic scores 40-yard stunner in Galaxy bow
A 40-yard stunner and a 91st-minute winner were on the script as Zlatan Ibrahimovic came off the bench to lift LA Galaxy past LAFC 4-3.