Spain coach Fernando Hierro and playmaker Isco agreed their team needed some serious “self-criticism” after La Roja qualified for the last 16 in a 2-2 draw with Morocco on Monday night. A mistake between Andres Iniesta and Sergio Ramos allowed Morocco’s Khalid Boutaib to open the scoring on 14 minutes, with Iniesta making amends by teeing up Isco for an equaliser just five minutes later. La Roja continued to mix some superb passing with sloppy defending, and substitute Youssef En-Nesyri headed Morocco ahead with nine minutes remaining, only for Spain replacement Iago Aspas to make it 2-2 in added time…
Author: David Folami
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain believes his positive mentality has been key to dealing with the devastating knee injury he sustained last campaign, which ruled him out of contention for England’s World Cup squad. The 24-year-old scored five goals and provided eight assists for Liverpool in his debut campaign at the club before sustaining a season-ending cruciate ligament rupture in the Champions League semifinal win over AS Roma. The injury meant that Oxlade-Chamberlain missed his third major international tournament for England through injury, after the midfielder was ruled out of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 European Championships. “It’s obviously been really…
Robert Lewandowski has again said he does not want to end his career with Bayern Munich. Lewandowski signed for Bayern on a free transfer from Borussia Dortmund, where he played for four seasons under Jurgen Klopp, in 2014. “I am now 29 years old and think that I can still play for many years yet if I don’t get injured,” Lewandowski told Players Tribune. “We will see. I know that I have been in Germany for eight years and I remember saying a few years ago that I will not stay my whole career in one league, that’s for sure.”…
John Obi Mikel was left confused and frustrated after Marcos Rojo was not whistled for “a clear handball” late in the Super Eagles World Cup-ending 2-1 loss to Argentina. With the match tied 1-1 and Nigeria finding space between the Argentina backline, Rojo went for a headed clearance that deflected off his hand and led to a video review. Nigeria’s players were adamant it was a penalty, but Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir — who awarded Nigeria a penalty early in the second half that Victor Moses converted — used VAR and stood by his initial decision not to award a…
Jorge Sampaoli called his team “true rebels” and lauded their mental strength after defeating Nigeria 2-1 to secure passage to the knockout stages of the 2018 World Cup. Argentina appeared to be on their way to victory when Lionel Messi put the Albiceleste up 1-0 in the 14th minute, but Nigeria’s Victor Moses equalised from the spot early in the second half. With Argentina needing to win to advance out of the group stage, it pushed forward. This left them exposed on the counterattack and Nigeria had several opportunities to go ahead, but couldn’t convert. It also survived a shout…
Gareth Southgate called the decision over whether Harry Kane will feature in their Group G finale on Thursday against Belgium a “complex balance.” The Three Lions have two wins from two matches — beating Tunisia 2-1 in their opener before thrashing Panama 6-1 — with captain Kane scoring five times so far. However, with passage to the round of 16 alongside Belgium already guaranteed, Southgate has to decide what changes to make to his XI in an effort to rest some player and give others from the bench a chance. Speaking to TalkSport, Southgate said: “As a manager you’ve got…
Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio urged action against repetitive fouling after his team was on the receiving end of 24 fouls in their 2-1 win over South Korea at the World Cup on Saturday. South Korea received four yellow cards while committing the highest number of fouls in a game of any team so far in Russia. They were also whistled for 23 fouls in their first game against Sweden, tied for the second-most with Morocco’s 23 against Portugal. “Usually, I don’t like to talk about referees but there was something I didn’t like and that was that there were…
Roberto Martinez has said he would field a much-changed side against England in their final World Cup Group G clash, resting a starting 11 who have all but qualified after scoring eight goals in two games. “It will be major changes against England,” Martinez told reporters after Saturday’s 5-2 thumping of Tunisia in Moscow that means the Belgians will be sure of reaching the last 16 if Panama, whom they beat 3-0, fail to beat England on Sunday. Injuries to striker Romelu Lukaku and his two forward support men did not seem to trouble the Spaniard, but given a lack…
Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez was delighted after netting his 50th international goal on Saturday in the 2-1 victory over South Korea, but he still wants more from El Tri at the World Cup. Leading Group F on six points from two games, Mexico only need a draw in their next game against Sweden to reach the next stage as group winners. “There are no words to express all this we are going through,” Hernandez said. “For me, [the 50 goals] are very special. We will try to achieve a lot more. We have to imagine amazing things. “We have to channel…
Radja Nainggolan has confirmed that he will be leaving Roma for Inter Milan, although he insists it was not his choice. The Belgian midfielder is set to join the Nerazzurri for a fee of €24 million with Davide Santon and Nicolo Zaniolo both heading in the opposite direction. He has repeatedly turned down the opportunity to leave Roma, rejecting advances from Chelsea and Chinese clubs in the past, but he has told Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport that he has practically been shown the door by the club this summer. “I will always carry every moment I spent with the…
Manchester United have confirmed the signing of Brazil international midfielder Fred from Shakhtar Donetsk. Fred, 25, has agreed a five-year contract at Old Trafford club and becomes their second first-team signing of the summer. “Fred will complement our other midfielders’ qualities, which we need; his creative brain and passing vision will give us another dimension to our game,” United manager Jose Mourinho told the club’s website. “I am very happy he is joining our club and I believe our players know how important he can be in our team.” Fred, with the Brazil squad at the World Cup in Russia,…
Douglas Costa will miss Brazil’s World Cup game against Serbia on Wednesday with a thigh injury, team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar said. Costa injured the thigh in Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Costa Rica on Friday and, after scans, was ruled out for the Group E game in Moscow. “Yesterday, at the end of the game, Douglas Costa complained of pain in the back of his right thigh, only remembering that he was injured, but in the left thigh,” Lasmar said on Saturday. “It’s been diagnosed as a small muscle injury, so he will not travel with us. He will stay in…
Janne Andersson hit out at the German bench for “rubbing in” their victory as they celebrated Toni Kroos’ stoppage-time winner in Germany’s 2-1 World Cup Group F triumph on Saturday. There was a confrontation between members of both teams on the sideline at midfield and the two groups had to be separated. “Some of the German leaders of the team celebrated by running in our direction and rubbing in to our faces by making gestures, and that really got me annoyed and angry,” said the Sweden coach, whose team had led 1-0 at half-time. “There were many people on our…
Toni Kroos has said his dramatic late winning goal against Sweden will upset many of Germany’s critics at home whom he believes were rooting for die Mannschaft to be eliminated from the World Cup. After falling behind early on Saturday, Germany were staring at their first-ever group-stage exit at a World Cup, but Marco Reus got a goal back just after half-time and Kroos made their task of advancing much easier when he curled a shot home from a set piece in the 95th minute to seal a 2-1 win. Germany had been inundated with criticism after losing to Mexico…
Dele Alli won’t feature for England against Panama because of a thigh injury, Gareth Southgate confirmed, but the manager did let his team know who would be starting in their second Group G match at the World Cup on Sunday. Alli, 22, picked up the knock in England’s 2-1 opener against Tunisia on Monday and missed training the following day to undergo a scan. He is likely to be replaced by Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who came on for the Tottenham attacker in the 80th minute and played well. Southgate said: “This morning he followed the exact programme we had planned. He…
Romelu Lukaku is optimistic that he will be able to play against England on Thursday in Kaliningrad despite injuring his ankle during Belgium’s impressive 5-2 win against Tunisia on Saturday. The Manchester United striker limped off just before the hour mark but reassured fans when asked about his injury after the game. “I am a quick healer,” he said. “I will see how I feel tonight and tomorrow with the medical staff. I am not too worried. I am just relaxed about the England game. “It is going to be nice to see a couple of my club teammates on…
Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the government and people of Bauchi State, following one of the country’s worst windstorms in Bauchi and the subsequent fire at Azare market in the state. The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja on Monday, said President Buhari’s condolence was delivered through Gov. Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State. President Buhari, the government and people of Nigeria stand with the people of the state as they struggle to manage the fallout of the double tragedy. He also extended sympathies to the victims and families of devastating…
Muhammadu Buhari has sent vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, to Plateau State in the wake of the gruesome killing of at least 86 people in the state on Saturday, June 25, 2018. Yakubu Dati said the vice president will arrive in the state later on Monday, June 25, 2018. He is expected to arrive at the Hiapang airport in Jos, the state capital, and meet with relevant stakeholders over the killings. Dati also disclosed that Governor Simon Lalong will make a radio and television broadcast as part of measures to put an end to the escalating violence in the state. Even…
Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has said that Kayode Fayemi’s defeat in the July 14, 2018 governorship election will be his congratulatory gift to the newly elected All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. Fayose said this while reacting to a statement made by Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang. According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Enang said the APC convention will serve as a quit notice signal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State. He said “President Muhammadu Buhari, who initially was being deceived with the fake…
Atiku Abubakar, has blamed the recent mass murder in Plateau State on the failure of leadership resulting from the hypocrisy of Nigeria’s ruling elite. Atiku took to his Twitter account (@atiku) on Monday, June 25, to accuse the federal government of failing to secure lives and properties of Nigerians as it should. He said the situation is a result of an abysmal failure by the ruling elite who can protect themselves but not the people who voted them into positions of power. He said it’s time to put an end to the wanton violence going on in the country and…