Rio Ferdinand has said Lukaku is making World Cup competition look like playground football with his power and pace Romelu Lukaku “shouldn’t be allowed to play”, says Rio Ferdinand, with the Manchester United striker making World Cup competition with Belgium look like playground football. The burly frontman headed to Russia this summer on the back of a debut campaign at Old Trafford which delivered 27 goals. With his confidence high, the 25-year-old has proved to be an inspirational presence for the other Red Devils that he represents. Lukaku has netted four goals so far, while it was his surging run…
Author: David Folami
Antonio Conte took charge of Chelsea’s preseason preparations with a double session at Cobham on Monday, sources have said. The Blues players not involved in the World Cup reported to the club’s training base on Saturday and Sunday for fitness tests overseen by one of the club’s sports scientists, but sources told ESPN FC that Conte intended to begin working with those present on Monday unless he was sacked before then. Chelsea’s coaching situation remains uncertain. They have been attempting to extricate Maurizio Sarri from his contractual obligation to Napoli for more than a month without success, while Conte is…
A Brazil elimination in a World Cup is never an ordinary event. With a Selecao exit comes an avalanche of grief, soul-searching and copious amounts of drama. Few other top footballing nations would have a famous commentator ranting on about the political and economical situation of the country — like TV Globo’s Galvao Bueno did after Brazil’s 2-1 defeat to Belgium on Friday night — in the process of analysing what went wrong on the pitch. “Our country is going through serious problems, and a World Cup victory wouldn’t make it better. It’s a sad moment, but no 7-1.” Ah,…
Among the many Manchester United players to have enjoyed a fine World Cup, happiest must be Romelu Lukaku and Paul Pogba, who will be in opposition Tuesday when Belgium and France meet in St. Petersburg in the first semifinal. For England, Ashley Young, Jesse Lingard and Marcus Rashford have all starred. Among the others, while we should pass on David De Gea’s displays for Spain, Victor Lindelof was exceptional for Sweden, Marcos Rojo’s round-of-16-place clinching winner vs. Nigeria was the high point of Argentina’s troubled tournament and Belgium’s Marouane Fellaini has showed why managers like him, even if so many…
Joe Hart was among a handful of big names back at Manchester City for their first day of preseason training on Monday. City boss Pep Guardiola returned to the Etihad Campus without the vast majority of his senior players due to their World Cup commitments. Hart, who has spent the last two seasons on loan, firstly at Italian side Torino and last year with West Ham, was back at City after being left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad. The 31-year-old has 12 months remaining on his contract and sources have said that he is seeking a permanent move away…
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has hailed Sweden’s World Cup campaign, writing on Twitter that “every player should get a Golden Ball in Sweden.” Sweden’s run ended when they were beaten 2-0 by England in the quarterfinals on Saturday, but former captain Ibrahimovic said Janne Andersson’s side had enjoyed a memorable tournament. “Every player should get a Golden Ball in Sweden,” he wrote.”What they did will be remembered forever. Thank you for the show.” Sweden’s defeat meant Ibrahimovic lost a bet with David Beckham, meaning he must watch an England game at Wembley with him. Beckham had said he would buy Ibrahimovic whatever…
For two reasons, Jorge Sampaoli was a strange choice to take over as Argentina coach a year ago. The first one has been made all too clear by results over the past few months, and especially the past two weeks. There is a glaring incompatibility between his basic idea and the resources available to him. Sampaoli has always favoured a furious high press, squeezing the opponents in their half of the field, creating two-against-one situations down the flanks, throwing men forward. It is a bold approach, which carries plenty of risks — too many risks in the absence of any…
German Football Association general manager Oliver Bierhoff has admitted it could have been a mistake to take Mesut Ozil to the World Cup amid the controversy involving Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The day before the announcement of Germany’s preliminary squad, Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan had their picture taken with Erdogan during the president’s visit to London, sparking a barrage of criticism. But while Gundogan published a statement on social media committing himself to “German values,” Ozil remained quiet throughout and became a topic of debate, and Bierhoff told Die Welt that as a result the federation should have handled…
Manchester United will raise the curtain on the new 2018-19 Premier League season when they take on Leicester City at Old Trafford on Friday, Aug. 10. The game was confirmed to kick off 24 hours ahead of previously scheduled when U.K. television broadcast rights holders Sky Sports and BT Sport revealed their selections for the first two months of the campaign. It is the second season in a row that Leicester, shock champions in 2015-16, have been chosen for the opening game. They were involved in a thrilling 4-3 defeat at Arsenal last term, with the Gunners scoring twice in…
Diego Maradona has claimed Colombia were victims of a “monumental robbery” in their World Cup round-of-16 defeat to England on Tuesday. Colombia lost 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw, with Maradona echoing Colombia captain Radamel Falcao in accusing American referee Mark Geiger of favouring Gareth Southgate’s side. “The penalty was not a penalty — it was a foul by Kane,” Maradona told Venezuelan TV station Telesur. “Why didn’t he use VAR? “I’m reeling because when I spoke to [FIFA president Gianni] Infantino the first time, everything had changed at FIFA: the thieves had left, the fixes, everything. “And today…
Gernot Rohr turned 65 on Thursday, two days after his Super Eagles team suffered a gut-punch style elimination from the World Cup at the hands of perennial nemeses Argentina. What a perfect birthday present it would have been for the German if his team had managed to keep the Argentines at bay for a few minutes longer to seal a place in the World Cup round of 16. Instead, they were left ruing missed opportunities and packing their bags to head home, and Rohr was left to reflect on a somber day, as most of his players dispersed to various…
The gods of football are powerful entities. In Kazan on Friday, they recalled what happened the previous time that Brazil met Belgium in a World Cup. Back in 2002, in a round-of-16 game, Belgium appeared to have a perfectly good goal disallowed at 0-0. They went behind after a vicious deflection, and were probably the better side in a 2-0 defeat. And so the gods of football evened it up. In a splendid game that could have gone either way, Belgium got the breaks; the balls bouncing around their penalty area that just failed to find a Brazilian foot, the…
Jack Wilshere is in advanced talks with West Ham United over a move to the London Stadium, sources have said. Wilshere is a free agent after leaving Arsenal last month following the expiration of his contract at the Emirates Stadium. Fenerbahce are among several clubs to have expressed an interest in signing Wilshere, but sources have said that Wilshere would prefer to stay in the Premier League. The 26-year-old has held talks with West Ham officials who are confident about agreeing a three-year deal. There have been concerns over Wilshere’s fitness after a number of injuries during his time at…
Harry Kane has said Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain the benchmark for the world’s leading players, despite both being unable to inspire their countries to World Cup glory in Russia. England captain Kane, who leads the race for the World Cup Golden Boot with six goals, insists that Messi and Ronaldo are still the best in the business. “You can never write off Ronaldo or Messi,” Kane said. “They’ve probably not had the tournaments they set out to have, but they’re still two of the best players in the world. “For me and the other young players coming through,…
Sweden can beat England in Saturday’s quarterfinal and eventually win the World Cup in Russia if they can handle the pressure, former captain and record goalscorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said. He said the stakes are getting higher in the knockout stages, but his nation stand a good chance after seeing off Switzerland in the round-of-16. “Now it’s not just about how good you are. Now there are a lot of emotions in the picture, because it’s about quarterfinals,” he said. “The team that can handle their feelings best will have an advantage. “Yes, I think Sweden can become world champion,…
Gianluigi Buffon has begun his new adventure with Paris Saint-Germain following 17 years with Juventus. Buffon, 40, signed a one-year contract with an option for an additional seasons, just weeks after he was expected to retire from football. Instead, he will resume his career outside of Serie A for the first time and be tasked with adding his significant experience to PSG as they continue to pursue Champions League success. “It is with a great feeling of happiness that I join Paris Saint-Germain,” Buffon said. “For the first time in my career, I am leaving my country and only a…
Dr Bukola Saraki has reiterated his confidence in the judiciary and its ability to do justice to all manner of men and in all circumstances. Saraki expressed gratitude to all Nigerians who supported him since the case commenced three years ago. “At the end of a tortuous journey of 1,018 days, counting from Sept. 22, 2015, when the case began at the Tribunal, I am happy that I have been vindicated. “The Supreme Court has affirmed that there is no evidence of false declaration of assets. “The court also observed that certain agents took over the responsibility of the Code…
Alhaji Ali Ndume has cautioned the media and the religious against making comments and publishing reports capable of heating up the polity. He said that some religious leaders, who ought to be promoters of peace of unity in the country, made inflammatory statements, and described it as disheartening. “It is of concern that people open their mouths and talk anyhow. “In Nigeria, people just talk to heat up the polity and they get away with it,” he said. The lawmaker accused the media of publishing reports that were capable of causing crisis. He blamed the development on influx of non-professionals…
Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to fish out and punish politicians he claims are behind some of the violence going on in the country. The president said the disgruntled politicians who have been fueling insecurity in the country will be punished according to the country’s laws. He said, “Our nation is safe again, thanks to the efforts of our security agencies. This does not mean there are no challenges. “There are pockets of violence in several states, some deliberately instigated by disgruntled politicians who have lost all arguments and are desperate to cause mayhem as a way of seeking relevance. “We…
Yemi Osinbajo has said that Federal Government had realised the need to fast track the implementation of all transport treaties and conventions it signed for economic growth. “We have also as a country realised the need to fast track the implementation of all the transport related treaties, conventions, protocol and agreements that were signed. “We are working with United Nations agencies and our transport, environment and petroleum ministries to promote clean air and fuel emission from vehicles. Osinbajo, however, commended the SSATP countries for selecting three states – Lagos, FCT and Calabar – for the pioneer urban mobility development. He…