Sami Khedira lamented Germany’s “unnecessary, stupid defeat” to England, with teammate Mario Gomez conceding it was a “somewhat inexcusable” result. The world champions were given a shock in Berlin on Saturday night as Roy Hodgson’s men rallied rather than wilted after failing two goals behind. Toni Kroos’ fine strike from distance was followed by a lovely Gomez header in the second half, but England returned fire through Harry Kane’s impressive strike and an exceptional Jamie Vardy flick. Eric Dier’s stoppage-time header completed a famous 3-2 win at the Olympiastadion, leaving the hosts stunned. “It was an unnecessary, stupid defeat,” Germany…
Author: David Folami
Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels says his side are desperate to beat former manager Jurgen Klopp when they face Liverpool in the Europa League. Klopp, who arrived at Anfield to replace Brendan Rodgers in October, was handed a return to Dortmund — where he won two Bundesliga titles and reached the 2013 Champions League final — for the quarterfinals of the competition. Hummels, however, says there will be no room for sentiment once the game gets going. “The tie with Liverpool is one where we are simply desperate to beat Klopp. We have to beat him,” Hummels told ZDF. “Of…
Thierry Henry has said England coach Roy Hodgson faces a challenge to accommodate both Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane in his England team for Euro 2016. Henry, writing in the Sun on Sunday, said Hodgson may have to use Rooney in a No. 10 role if both he and Tottenham star Kane were to start in France. Kane scored an outstanding goal to put England back into Saturday’s friendly against Germany in Berlin, with further strikes from substitute Jamie Vardy and Eric Dier completing a stunning revival from 2-0 down. “The problem for Roy Hodgson is how he gets both…
Manchester United forward Anthony Martial said that he is shouted at by the club’s manager Louis van Gaal — but it makes him laugh. Martial, 20, knows that being told off is for his own benefit, which is why he does not take it to heart. The Frenchman revealed that he was also warned by his national team manager, Didier Deschamps, about not fulfilling his potential back in the autumn. Martial has impressed this season, including seven goals in 24 Premier League appearances, since joining from Monaco on September 1. He told RTL: “He [Van Gaal] yells at me. It…
Barcelona star Lionel Messi says that he does not want to be compared to Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, or anyone else. Messi, 28, is the world’s best player having picked up the 2015 Ballon d’Or ahead of Ronaldo and his Barcelona teammate Neymar. However, the Argentine is not keen to get involved in the debate over who is the best, and insisted that he prefers to focus on his own game. “The press looks to compare among other things. All I want is to help my team to grow each season,” Messi told Egyptian TV station MBC, in quotes reported…
England striker Harry Kane says his Cruyff turn in Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 win over Germany may have been a subconscious tribute the late Johan Cruyff. Cruyff, who lent his name to the move he made famous died following a battle with lung cancer on Thursday, prompting an outpouring of emotion across the football world. Roy Hodgson’s men came from two goals down to beat the world champions in Berlin, with Kane netting their first after setting himself up with a wonderful turn on the edge of the box. “Was it a dedication to Cruyff? Maybe!” he is quoted as saying…
England manager Roy Hodgson says his players “were never out of the game” as they fought back from two goals down to beat world champions Germany 3-2 in Berlin. Goals from Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez had given Joachim Low’s side a cushion, with the former’s strike coming as goalkeeper Jack Butland – subsequently replaced by Fraser Forster – struggled with an injury. But England showed tremendous spirit to turn things around. Harry Kane set the ball rolling before Jamie Vardy enjoyed a moment of magic as he flicked a Nathaniel Clyne cross beyond Manuel Neuer to restore parity with…
Germany’s head coach Joachim Loew admitted he was annoyed to see the world champions squander a two-goal lead in their 3-2 defeat at home to England in Berlin. Toni Kroos and Mario Gomez had put the World Cup holders 2-0 up at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday with an hour gone before the Three Lions roared back. Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy netted for England before Eric Dier headed the winner a minute into stoppage time as Germany were punished for a sloppy defending and failing to create chances in attack. “It’s annoying as a coach when we lose after…
Egypt’s Pharaohs have intensified preparations to beat Nigeria in Tuesday’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifier in Alexandria. The Pharaohs arrived in Borj El Arab (an industrial city and resort in Alexandria, Egypt) on Saturday following Friday’s 1-1 draw with Nigeria in Kaduna. The team immediately swung into action with their first training session overseen by Argentinean tactician, Hector Cuper. The session at the Borg El Arab stadium lasted for an hour and a half under heavy rains according to a report on the Egyptian Football Federation’s official website, www.efa.com.ng. Players who took part in Friday’s game against the…
Pep Guardiola has said that Barcelona will no longer have the firepower they currently have once star forward Lionel Messi leaves the club. The five-time World Player of the Year has been crucial to his team’s success from the moment he made his professional debut, and his leadership has never been more obvious than it is this season. The Argentina star has scored 22 goals and set up 10 more in 25 league appearances this season to help the Blaugrana take a nine-point lead at the top of La Liga standings. “When Leo Messi quits football there will probably be…
Uruguay striker Luis Suarez says he was emotional after scoring to help his side come back from 2-0 down to save a 2-2 draw against Brazil in Friday’s World Cup qualifier. Suarez, 29, made his first competitive start for Uruguay since being handed a nine-match suspension for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the 2014 World Cup. The Barcelona striker bagged the equaliser, after Edinson Cavani had got one back following early goals from Douglas Costa and Renato Augusto, and insisted that Uruguay showed their fighting spirit in Recife. “The first goal surprised us because they get us after a…
Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha says that young striker Anthony Martial has as much quality as France and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry did at the same age, Martial, 20, has netted 12 goals from 39 appearances since joining United from Monaco for £36 million in the summer. Henry is considered one of the best strikers ever to have played the game, having bagged 228 goals from 377 games for the Gunners, while also picking up the European Championship and World Cup in 123 caps for France. Saha, who played with Henry during his 20 international caps and also scored…
Romelu Lukaku’s father has urged the striker to leave Everton for Manchester United or Bayern Munich at the end of the season. The Belgium international has scored 25 goals for Roberto Martinez’s side this term and speculation has grown that the former Chelsea man could join a European giant in the next transfer window. Lukaku said this month that he did not wish to leave Goodison Park “in a fight” but would not be drawn on whether his long-term future might lie away from Merseyside. And his father, Roger – himself a former footballer – has told him to seriously…
Germany defender Mats Hummels has acknowledged Bastian Schweinsteiger’s knee injury as a real blow and hopes the Manchester United midfielder will be fit in time to take part in Euro 2016. The Germany captain suffered a partial ligament tear in his right knee following a challenge at the end of training on Tuesday and will consequently miss the friendlies against England and Italy. Some reports have suggested Schweinsteiger could also miss the upcoming showpiece in France given the damage he sustained to the same knee earlier this season, but Hummels is hopeful the influential midfielder will make it. “Of course,…
The Super Eagles of Nigeria were held to a 1-1 draw by the Pharaohs of Egypt in a 2017 African Cup of Nations played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. Nigeria took the lead early in the second through Etebo Oghenekaro while Egypt grabbed a late equaliser though star forward Mohamed Salah. The Super Eagles started te game the brighter side and had most of the ball. It was the Egyptians however that had the first chance on goal with Super Eagles goalkeeper Carl Ikeme needing to make a save from a a swift counter attack by the Pharoahs…
Former Manchester United midfielder Nani said Portuguese countryman Cristiano Ronaldo played a key role in helping him settle into life in England. The 29-year-old, who is now playing in Turkey for Fenerbahce, joined United from Sporting Lisbon for a fee of around €25million in July 2007. And Ronaldo, who had already been at the club for four years, welcomed the new recruit into the house he shared with another big-money, Portuguese-speaking import – Anderson. “I lived in his house to begin with – me, Ronaldo and Anderson,” said Nani. “That was very important for us, because we were so young…
Roy Hodgson has told his England players that how they perform in the games against Germany and Netherlands will have a big bearing on their chances of selection for Euro 2016. England are in Berlin to play the world champions on Saturday, before the Dutch visit Wembley on Tuesday in the second match of the friendly double-header. Hodgson insisted that while the two games are not the final chance for his players to impress prior to the tournament in France, this international break would be a crucial period for him in assessing the performances of his key options. “I think…
Pep Guardiola believes Johan Cruyff’s legacy at Barcelona and across the wider football world is incomparable. Former Ajax, Barca and Netherlands great Cruyff died on Thursday at the age of 68, following a battle with lung cancer. Viewed by many as the finest European player of all time, Cruyff went on to coach Barcelona to a previously unprecedented level of success between 1988 and 1996. The club won four consecutive Liga titles between 1990-91 and 1993-94, along with a maiden European Cup, while establishing a footballing identity retained to this day at Camp Nou. Guardiola played under Cruyff for the…
Lionel Messi insists he would be proud to meet the family of US president Barack Obama should the opportunity arise. During a visit to Buenos Aires, Obama revealed that his daughters had asked him to arrange a meeting with the Barcelona star but that he had been unable to orchestrate it. Messi revealed his surprise when asked for his views on Obama’s frustration and said he would be happily spend time with the president’s family. “Obviously, I was surprised that he said that, but on the contrary, for me it would be completely the opposite,” Messi told TyC Sports. “For…
Roy Hodgson has never had it so good in his time as England boss – and he knows it. After winning all 10 of their Euro 2016 qualifiers, England’s preparations for the tournament in France continue against Germany and Netherlands with an array of attacking options at the manager’s disposal. “It’s always nice to announce a squad when you have got some riches in front of you,” said Hodgson after announcing his squad. “We have a lot of possibilities – some very good and different strikers – but we need to produce on the pitch.” Captain and record goalscorer Wayne…