Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has received a caution about his recent coaching appointments at Old Trafford. Ruud van Nistelrooy and Rene Hake are poised to join United’s backroom staff as part of Ten Hag’s team, having agreed to a two-year deal as his assistants. Former Dutch footballer Johan Derksen has issued a warning to Ten Hag, expressing concerns about his choices. Speaking to Voetbal, Derksen remarked, “He (Ten Hag) is taking a risk. I understand it all. It seems the English staff doesn’t appeal to him, hence his preference for Dutch personnel.” Derksen continued, casting doubt on the…
Author: Oluwaseun samuel
England midfielder Phil Foden has denied rumors suggesting he avoided taking a penalty during their shootout victory over Switzerland in the Euro 2024 quarter-final. The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, with Bukayo Saka equalizing Breel Embolo’s goal. In the shootout, all five England players successfully converted their penalties, while Jordan Pickford saved Manuel Akanji’s attempt. Following the game, speculation on social media arose that Foden declined to take a penalty, prompting his substitution in extra time for Trent Alexander-Arnold. Alexander-Arnold himself hinted that a teammate had hesitated to take a spot-kick. Speaking to talkSPORT, Foden clarified, “I would have…
Nigeria-born mixed martial arts fighter Israel Adesanya is the favored contender in the upcoming August 18 showdown against middleweight champion Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 305 in Perth, Australia. Despite losing his title to Sean Strickland at UFC 293 in September 2023, Adesanya is expected to reclaim his belt, with odds set at -125 compared to Du Plessis’ +102. This translates to a $100,000 bet on Adesanya returning $80,000, while the same bet on Du Plessis would yield $102,000 due to his underdog status. Du Plessis is defending his title for the first time since a split-decision win over Sean…
UEFA has finalized their decision regarding the referee for England’s Euro 2024 semi-final against the Netherlands, following controversy over appointing a referee with a history of match-fixing. According to reports, Felix Zwayer will officiate the Three Lions’ match in Dortmund. Zwayer previously served a six-month ban for accepting a bribe in a scandal involving fellow referee Robert Hoyzer in 2005. Despite concerns raised, UEFA has upheld its choice of Zwayer for Wednesday’s game, standing by their initial appointment.
Fenerbahce manager Jose Mourinho has spoken out for the first time since Portugal’s elimination from Euro 2024. Mourinho, who had considered Portugal among the favorites to win the tournament, observed that Roberto Martinez’s team topped Group F and overcame Slovenia in a penalty shootout in the round of 16. However, their journey ended in the quarter-finals against France, also decided by penalties. Reflecting on Portugal’s campaign, Mourinho highlighted concerns dating back to their 2-1 loss to Croatia before the Euros. “Portugal wasn’t fantastic despite reaching the quarter-finals. We expected more,” he remarked, recalling his attendance at the National Stadium during…
Manchester United are eyeing a significant transfer coup by targeting a high-profile signing from Chelsea to strengthen their squad. Following a challenging season, the Red Devils are focused on regrouping and planning for the future, emphasizing the acquisition of young talent capable of making an immediate impact. Inspired by the success of Mason Mount’s signing last summer, despite his injury setbacks, United are optimistic about replicating their past transfer successes. This time, they aim to recruit players who can contribute immediately and provide substantial returns on investment. Jim Ratcliffe, the club’s new part-owner, is spearheading this strategic shift, advocating for…
According to a report, Real Madrid are facing new competition from Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad in their pursuit to re-sign goalkeeper Kepa Arrizalabaga. Last season, the Spanish goalkeeper was on loan at the Santiago Bernabeu due to Thibaut Courtois’ long-term injury. However, he was eventually displaced by Andriy Lunin, who became a fan favorite for his crucial performances during Real Madrid’s La Liga and Champions League double-winning campaign. Initially, Madrid did not plan to bring Kepa back for the 2024/25 season but have since reconsidered, especially considering Lunin’s future at the club. However, MARCA now reports that Kepa…
Toni Kroos has released his final farewell message following his official retirement from football after Germany’s elimination from Euro 2024. Germany suffered a 2-1 defeat in extra-time against Spain in the quarter-finals, ending their hopes of European success and marking a significant day for the Real Madrid legend. Kroos had announced his retirement plans in May, culminating with the conclusion of Germany’s campaign. During his illustrious career, the midfielder amassed 34 trophies for club and country but fell short of his goal to lift European silverware. Despite this, Kroos remains resolute in his decision to retire and expressed gratitude to…
Didier Deschamps has come to the defense of Kylian Mbappe following criticism of the France forward’s performances at Euro 2024. Despite recently joining Real Madrid, Mbappe has only scored once during France’s Euro campaign, netting a penalty against Poland. He sustained a broken nose in a 1-0 victory over Austria and has since played wearing a protective mask. Despite criticism for his goal-scoring record, Mbappe remains the sole Frenchman to have scored in the tournament thus far. Deschamps, in defense of Mbappe, responded to critics during a French television show Telefoot, stating, “Don’t you think he has already made enough…
Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists the club is financially strong enough to pursue Nico Williams from Athletic Club, despite contrary reports. Williams had an impressive 2023/24 season at club level and has continued his form into Spain’s successful Euro 2024 campaign, playing a pivotal role in their journey to the semi-finals. There has been speculation in the Catalan media about a potential transfer to Barcelona this summer, with Spain teammate Lamine Yamal even discussing the prospect of playing alongside Williams in La Liga. Despite Barcelona’s well-documented financial challenges in recent years, including suggestions that they may need to sell key…
Enzo Maresca expressed his belief that Chelsea’s squad is brimming with talent and cited his admiration for the club’s Italian connections as key factors influencing his decision to join. Recently appointed as head coach, Maresca signed a four-year contract to succeed Mauricio Pochettino at Stamford Bridge. In his inaugural interview with Chelsea’s official channels since moving from Leicester City, Maresca highlighted his eagerness to work with the new squad, emphasizing the importance of fostering the right team culture for the upcoming season. He emphasized his philosophy that improving individual players is fundamental to enhancing the overall team performance, setting a…
Ahead of the Copa America semi-final fixtures on Wednesday and Thursday, here are the leading goal scorers in the tournament: Argentina is set to face Canada in the semi-finals, while Uruguay will take on Colombia. Leading the goal-scoring chart is Argentina’s Lautaro Martinez, who has scored four goals so far. Following closely behind is Venezuela’s Salomon Rondon with three goals. Top Scorers of Copa America 2024 before the semi-final matches: – Lautaro Martinez (Argentina) – 4 goals – Salomon Rondon (Venezuela) – 3 goals – Several players with 2 goals each: Araujo, Balogun, Bello, Jose Fajardo, Cordoba, Vinicius, Darwin Nunez,…
Former England striker Gary Lineker has revealed he was moved emotionally when Bukayo Saka took a penalty during England’s shootout victory over Switzerland at Euro 2024. Saka had previously scored to equalize during normal time, and the match was eventually decided by penalties. Lineker recalled how the moment brought back memories of Stuart Pearce’s redemption after missing a penalty in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany. Pearce later converted a penalty in England’s shootout victory against Spain in the Euro 96 quarter-finals. Reflecting on Saka’s penalty, Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast, “I did actually, watching…
Tens of thousands of fans have signed a petition calling on UEFA to order a replay of the Euro 2024 quarter-final between Germany and Spain. In last Friday’s match, Spain secured a 2-1 victory in extra time with Mikel Merino scoring the winning goal in the 119th minute. Dani Olmo opened the scoring in the second half, countered by Florian Wirtz’s dramatic 89th-minute equalizer for Germany. Controversy arose in the 23rd minute of extra time when Spanish left-back Marc Cucurella’s hand allegedly blocked a shot from Jamal Musiala inside the penalty area. German fans and players argued vehemently for a…
England manager Gareth Southgate has implemented a ban on his players discussing penalties to safeguard their shootout strategies during Euro 2024. The Three Lions advanced to the tournament’s semi-finals following a shootout victory over Switzerland, with all five takers successfully converting their kicks and goalkeeper Jordan Pickford making a crucial save against Manuel Akanji. Southgate has employed various methods to enhance England’s penalty record, including utilizing a psychologist, analysts, and rigorous practice sessions. Additionally, he has prohibited players such as Jordan Pickford, Marc Guehi, and Ezri Konsa from addressing questions related to penalties during this competition, aiming to prevent excessive…
Bay FC of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) celebrated Asisat Oshoala as she was selected by Nigeria for the 2024 Olympic Games. Oshoala, named in the 18-player squad by Super Falcons head coach Randy Waldrum last week, was honored with a bouquet of flowers by Bay FC alongside her teammates. Rachael Kundananji and Lysianne Proulx, who will represent Zambia and Canada respectively at the Olympics, also joined in the celebration. Oshoala is expected to lead the Super Falcons’ attack in Paris, where the nine-time African champions are placed in Group C alongside Spain, Japan, and Brazil.
According to the Evening Standard, Bruno Fernandes’ future at Old Trafford has become uncertain despite his continued importance to Manchester United. TEAMtalk reports that the club has allowed the Portuguese midfielder to explore a potential move to Saudi Arabia, where lucrative offers are said to be available. This development is surprising given Fernandes’ integral role under Erik ten Hag’s management. Since joining in 2020, he has been a consistent performer and a leader both on and off the field for United. However, the substantial financial incentives from Saudi Arabia could prove enticing. Fernandes’ potential departure would be a significant setback…
Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek’s next club has been revealed. According to Fabrizio Romano, the Dutchman will complete his transfer to Spanish club Girona “early next week.” The initial fee for the 27-year-old is just under €1 million (£850,000), with Manchester United potentially receiving up to €4-5 million (£3.4m-4.2m) based on appearances and other add-ons. Van de Beek joined Manchester United from Ajax in 2020 and had loan spells at Everton in 2022 and Frankfurt in 2024.
Nigerian winger Ahmed Musa clarified his stance on retirement from the Nigeria national team. The 31-year-old, who has been a free agent since February after parting ways with Turkish Super Lig side Sivasspor, has not been called up to the Super Eagles squad since the 2023 AFCON in Côte d’Ivoire. Despite rumors suggesting his retirement, Musa dismissed them, stating that he had only taken a brief hiatus from international duty rather than permanently leaving the team. “I just took a short break from the national team. I didn’t retire,” Musa told reporters following a charity match.
Egyptian football mourns the loss of star player Ahmed Refaat, who tragically passed away due to a heart attack. Refaat collapsed on the pitch during a match in March in the Egyptian Premier League and underwent intensive care for a month before being discharged. Modern Future, his club, announced his death with a statement on social media, expressing deep sadness and faith in Allah’s will.