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Gareth Southgate is a "brilliant man-manager", according to Jack Grealish, who has insisted that he has a "great relationship" with the England boss.

Grealish has played a key role in England's run to the Euro 2020 quarter-finals, with his latest appearance from the bench inspiring Southgate's side to a 2-0 victory over Germany in the Round of 16.

The Aston Villa star is now pushing for a start against Ukraine in Rome on Saturday, and has talked up Southgate's managerial credentials ahead of that huge last-eight encounter.

What's been said?

Grealish has featured in three of England's four fixtures at the European Championships, but only has one start to his name at the moment, with it suggested that Southgate doesn't completely trust the midfielder to stick to a more disciplined role.

However, the 25-year-old says his international coach is doing a fantastic job of keeping the whole squad motivated amid strong competition for places in the final third.

Asked how Southgate shows love to his players, Grealish said in his latest pre-match interview: “Plenty of cuddles. Nah, he’s been perfect with me.

"I see some stuff sometimes about me and Gareth but we have a great relationship. He does with all the players. He’s a brilliant man-manager.

“You have got six players that play either side of Harry [Kane] that, in reality, could play for most clubs in the world. Myself, Jadon [Sancho], Marcus [Rashford], Raheem, Phil Foden and Bukayo [Saka]. It’s scary how good us six are. That’s not being big-headed or nothing. That is just the truth.

“He can’t play all six of us but one thing he’s done really well is make people think that they are still involved. He still speaks to everyone on a daily basis.”

Grealish on dealing with pressure

Grealish went on to insist that he doesn't get affected by the pressure that comes with being in the spotlight with England at a major international tournament.

"I’ve been a footballer my whole life. If it’s a bigger game or more people are watching … I don’t really change anything I do," he said.

"I just do it as though it’s an under-18 match or a Villa game.”

Who could England play in the semi-finals?

Should England get the better of Ukraine this weekend, they will set up a semi-final outing against either Denmark or the Czech Republic - who they beat 1-0 in the group stage.

Southgate's men would return to Wembley for the last four and potentially for the final on July 11, where any one of Italy, Spain, Belgium or Switzerland could be lying in wait.

Further reading 

U.S. men's national team boss Gregg Berhalter says that Julian Araujo was left off the team's Gold Cup squad because he is "not fully ready to commit" his international future to the U.S.

The LA Galaxy fullback is also eligible for Mexico and, despite joining the U.S. for friendlies, playing in the Gold Cup would have officially cap-tied him to the USMNT.

With heavy competition at right-back a factor, Berhalter says the door remains open for Araujo if and when he decides he's ready to officially solidify his international future.

What did Berhalter say?

"In terms of Julian, it's a case of him being a dual national and not fully ready to commit to the team," Berhalter said on Thursday. "He knew that the Gold Cup would lock him in permanently and he wasn't ready to make that step.

“I don’t want to speak for him, but I can imagine when he looks at the depth of the right-back position, he sees a logjam there, and he doesn’t maybe fully see his pathway to being a starter in the next World Cup.

"What I can tell you is that we really value Julian and we think he's an outstanding player and we think he can make a run at being a starter on this team. A lot of that is going to be up to his form and his development, but he's a young talented player and we think he has a future for this team, but for the Gold Cup, he's not going to be taking part."

A loaded position

As Berhalter said, the right-back position is one of the USMNT's strongest at the moment with there being plenty of competition for Araujo.

Sergino Dest is the likely starter, although he may also be used on the left. Reggie Cannon, who looks set to leave Portuguese side Boavista, is certainly in contention to start, with DeAndre Yedlin and Bryan Reynolds also in the mix.

Cannon is included on the Gold Cup roster, with Shaq Moore an option on the right with George Bello and Sam Vines on the left.

Another dual national battle

Araujo isn't the only LA Galaxy player who has been drawn into a tug-of-war between the U.S. and Mexico, with El Tri recently seemingly winning a big one.

Efrain Alvarez was named in Mexico's Gold Cup squad, which would cap-tie him to El Tri.

"Efrain is 100 per cent committed to Mexico," Mexico boss Gerardo 'Tata' Martino said earlier this week. "There is no doubt about that anymore. Alvarez is a footballer that I have been watching for a long time and that is why he already made his debut in a friendly and he will be seeing more minutes in the next games.

"He is among the young players that are the future of the Mexican national team."

Further reading

Axel Witsel has admitted that Belgium "stopped playing" in the final twenty minutes against Portugal, and says they will have to be braver to beat Italy in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.

Belgium reached the last eight of the summer tournament after earning a 1-0 win in their Round of 16 tie with Portugal, with a stunning first-half strike from Thorgan Hazard ultimately proving to be the difference between the two sides.

The Red Devils were a touch fortunate to come out on top, however, having spent most of the second 45 minutes camped in their own half, and Witsel has warned that they cannot afford to take their foot off the gas in the same way when they meet Italy.

Witsel's rallying cry

Asked to assess Belgium's chances against Italy, who recorded a 2-1 win over Austria after extra time to qualify for the quarter-finals, the Borussia Dortmund midfielder told a pre-match press conference: "I think we have more players who can make the difference individually, they have a very strong unit especially.

"It will be a battle and I think we will have to be brave. Not like in the last twenty minutes against Portugal, when we stopped playing football a bit.

"We only defended then. We must not make the same mistake again."

Witsel sat out Belgium's opening group game against Russia as he continued his recovery from a serious Achilles injury, but has featured all three of their subsequent fixtures at the Euros.

"I am very happy that I have been able to play three matches already," the 32-year-old added on his current condition. "Of course it was tough, because I was physically behind.

"The second day after the first match was tough, but I recovered well. I feel ready for Italy."

Who could Belgium play in the semi-finals?

If Belgium make it past Italy, they will be rewarded with a last-four tie against either Croatia's conquerors Spain or Switzerland, who knocked reigning world champions France out on penalties in the last round.

Martinez's side would then be on course to meet one of the four teams on the other side of the draw in the final at Wembley, with England set to face Ukraine and Denmark scheduled to battle the Czech Republic in the remaining quarter-final ties.

What else did Witsel say?

Witsel also opened up on his club career journey, which has also seen him take in spells at Standard Liege, Benfica, Zenit Saint Petersburg and Chinese outfit Tianjin Quanjian.

The experienced playmaker was touted for a switch to Italian giants Juventus at one stage, but insists he wouldn't change anything about the path he has taken through the professional ranks.

"I had the chance to sign there [for Juve] a few times, but I chose another destination," said Witsel. "I certainly don't regret that. I would take every decision I made again."

Further reading 

Kuwaiti Premier League club Al Kuwait SC have announced the signing of John Obi Mikel from Championship side Stoke City.

The Brigadiers announced that the former Chelsea and Trabzonspor star has penned a one-year contract that will keep him at the club for the 2021-22 season.

Mikel's signing comes as reinforcement for the Al Kuwait who finished in the Premier League last season behind Al-Qadsia and leaders Al-Arabi.

Meanwhile, Stoke City recently activated the option to keep the Super Eagles captain following his impressive performances in the English second division last term.

The 34-year-old was one of the standout players in Michael O'Neill's team in the 2020-21 season with 39 league appearances as they finished 14th in the table.

More to follow...

Toronto FC forward Ayo Akinola has snubbed Nigeria and the United States of America to commit his international future to Canada.

Akinola was eligible to play for the Super Eagles through his father's origin and USA which was his place of birth.

He was approached by the Nigeria Football Federation a few years ago, but he was invited to the United States national team last year and he made a goalscoring debut in their 6-0 thrashing of El Salvador in December 2020.

The 21-year-old’s change of nationality was approved on Wednesday and he is set to play for Canada at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup later this month.

“I’m really excited to represent Canada at the international level,”Akinola told the Canadian FA website. “It’s a very exciting time for the country with all the quality that’s on the roster.

“Canada has been my home for almost all my life and I’m excited to give back. I’m ready to give my best for Canada soccer’s men’s national team in these crucial months coming up.”

Akinola previously played for the United States youth teams before his only outing with their senior national team last December.

However, he is set for a quick reunion with his former country as Canada and the Yanks are placed in Group B in this year’s Concacaf Gold Cup.

Both countries will battle each other at the Children's Mercy Park on July 18.

Meanwhile, Canada coach John Herdman is thrilled by the quality Akinola who is Toronto’s second-highest goalscorer this season will add to his team. He is also expected to boost their attacking options as they target qualification for the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.

“It’s great news, we’ve been working for the last 18 months to bring Ayo home to play for Canada,” Herdman said.

“He’s excited to get going and I’m looking forward to immersing him into the men’s national team environment.”

Akinola has scored two goals so far in nine games for the Reds who sit 13th in the Major League Soccer table.

The Michigan-born star has spent his professional career at Toronto FC after developing through the club's youth academy as a teenager.

Luke Shaw has described England's Euro 2020 journey so far as an "amazing experience", admitting that he hasn't "felt this happy in a long-time" ahead of the quarter-finals.

England are being billed as favourites to win the European Championships for the first time in their history after knocking Germany out of the competition at the Round of 16 stage.

The Three Lions' 2-0 win at Wembley on Tuesday was their first against Die Mannschaft in a major tournament for 55 years, and Shaw says the mood of positivity in the camp is now at an all-time high.

What's been said?

“Everything about the last day or two has been so good and I haven’t felt this happy in a long time," the Manchester United defender said while appearing on Lions’ Den connected by EE. "I’m hoping that all the fans feel the same way. 

"The experience has been amazing, and the spirit and togetherness of the squad is something I’ve not experienced before.

"You can see how close everyone is and the way they’ve made SGP is unbelievable too. 

"It’s gone so fast as well but we’ve been here for nearly a month, so time is flying but we’re enjoying it.”

How did England see off Germany?

Gareth Southgate executed the perfect gameplan against the Germans as England held their old rivals at 0-0 for 70 minutes before the introduction of talismanic midfielder Jack Grealish.

The Aston Villa star injected fresh life into the Three Lions attack and had a hand in the opening goal, playing the ball out wide for Shaw to cross towards the onrushing Raheem Sterling in the centre of the box, and the Manchester City winger finished with aplomb.

Grealish then provided the assist for Harry Kane to head home the crucial second for the hosts, with Shaw delighted to be a part of such a memorable occasion.

“The game speaks for itself really," he added. "We tried not to big the occasion up but everyone knew how big the occasion was of course. It meant so much to us as players and the celebrations and joy that we brought to the fans was honestly brilliant. 

"I saw all the videos from the World Cup and I thought ‘I want to be a part of that’ and to put smiles on people’s faces - I think that game will go down in history. It’s always a great feeling to keep a clean sheet and I think we defended really well.

"But then when you have that extra feeling of being involved in a goal - especially in a game like that - how crucial it was, it kind of felt like I’d scored to be honest.”

What's next?

England are now set to face Ukraine for a place in the last four, and will be expected to win the quarter-final tie comfortably in Rome on Saturday to set up a clash with either Denmark or the Czech Republic.

However, Shaw has warned the Three Lions that they cannot afford to take their next opponents lightly as they prepare to travel away from Wembley for the first time in the tournament.

“They changed their formation in the last game [against Sweden] so we need to be a bit wary of that," he said. "We will have unit meetings to know what to expect but it’s about us and we need to make sure we go into this game in the right manner and turn up on the day. 

"We’ve been really lucky to play all our games at Wembley which has been unbelievable so this will be a different test but a test that we’re ready for. We solely focus on this game now because if we don’t get a result, the result against Germany doesn’t count for anything. 

"We’ve always had the belief that we can go the whole way but especially with the result we got against Germany that gives us extra confidence.”

Further reading 

On June 28, in Copenhagen, Denmark, there was an explosion of drama from the Euro 2020 Round of 16 match between Croatia and Spain.

Trailing 3-1 until the 85th minute, Croatia superbly scored two goals at the end of the game and leveled the score 3-3 in regulation time.

Even though they ended up being eliminated after conceding two goals in extra time, Croatia's persistence deserves thumbs up, especially former K League player Mislav Orsic who delivered an extraordinary performance.

Coming off the bench midway through the second half, Orsic scored Croatia's second goal of the game before setting up the assist for Mario Articleic's stoppage-time equaliser. In short, Orsic played a crucial role in Vatreni's revival.

Mislav Orsic, more familiarly known as 'Orsha' to K League fans, first tasted the atmosphere of South Korean football in 2015 - when he joined Jeonnam Dragons FC, initially on loan before being made permanent, after struggling to establish himself in Europe.

Orsic bagged nine goals in additional to the seven assists in his debut season in the K League before leaving for a stint with Changchun Yatai in the Chinese Super League (ISL), only to return to Korea wherein he joined Ulsan Hyundai in 2017.

He then spent four seasons in the K League, making a total of 101 appearances with 28 goals and 15 assists. While in uniform with Jeonnam and Ulsan, Orsic has always been the mainstay at both teams.

His most memorable performance was in the 2017 season of where Orsic successfully lifted the Korean FA Cup trophy, a special achievement for himself and the club.

Orsic's brilliant action made Dinamo Zagreb, the Croatian giant club, captivated. They brought Orsic back to the country of his birth three years ago and he has maintained his good form.

In the 2020/21 season, Orsic scored a hat-trick against Tottenham Hotspur in the second leg of the Europa League last 16 and led Dinamo to dramatically advance to the quarter-finals, having lost the reverse fixture 2-0.

The 28-year-old who can play both a winger and an attacking midfielder made his international debut for Croatia in September 2019 in the Euro 2020 qualifiers.

The consistency that he displayed in his game at a high level was enough for Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic call Orsic to the Euro 2020 finals, and that trust was not let down. Orsic made Spain nervous, even though, in the end Croatia had to admit the superiority of the Matador Team.

Orsic's brilliance at Euro 2020 helped make Korean fans proud because he was a star formed in the K League, proving that the Ginseng Country's elite league could be a new option for European players.

Netherlands-born Ghana international Edwin Gyasi has advised Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi to follow his heart in deciding his international future.

Hudson-Odoi is at the centre of an international tug-of-war between England, where he was born, and Ghana, where his parents hail from.

He has already featured for the European nation's senior side on three occasions but remains eligible to switch his allegiance to the Black Stars.

"I will advise him [Hudson-Odoi] to follow his heart rather than bowing to public pressure at this critical moment in his career," Gyasi, who decided to play for Ghana in 2017 despite being eligible to represent the Netherlands, told Kasapa FM.

Following his England snub for the ongoing Euro 2020 championship, Hudson-Odoi left the door open for a switch to Ghana when asked about the possibility.

“I think obviously when you’re young, you have the opportunity to play for England throughout all the years, from under 15 to under 16 all the way up,” the 20-year-old said last month while on holiday in Ghana.

“When they obviously gave me the opportunity to come, I was in the country already. It’s something that I already had in my mind, set on already playing for England.

"So it was the obvious thing, choosing Ghana or England, and at the end of the day, I said I always had the right people around me who always advise me – what’s right, what’s wrong. England came and I said 'Yeah, let me go and play for my country'.

“But I said Ghana is my home as well, so we’ll see, we’ll see. You’ll never know."

Ghana are giving everything to land the Champions League winner.

Shortly after his arrival in the country for holiday last month, he met Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo who urged the player to consider an international future with the Black Stars.

He then followed up with another meeting with Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku and Ghana Sports minister Mustapha Ussif.

Ghana’s targets also include Brighton & Hove Albion defender Tariq Lamptey, Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah and Watford winger Kwadwo Baah.

Ghana defender Nicholas is set to spend a long time in the treatment room after sustaining an injury on his return to pre-season training with club side Amiens.

The centre-back was diagnosed with a cruciate ligament rapture of the knee in France on Tuesday.

He will miss the start of the season, amid reports he will only return to action after the turn of the New Year.

"He's a boy who went into [national duty] when he was already not in very good health, [he went] with an injured knee," Amiens manager Philippe Hinschberger told Le 11 Amienois.

"At least things are clear now, I think he aggravated the injury here too considering his situation.

"We have not in any way anticipated having to do a good part of the season without him."

Opoku's absence will be a massive blow for Amiens who are hoping to make another attempt to earn a return to the elite division.

Last term, the 23-year-old made 27 appearances in Ligue 2, starting in all the matches.

In the upcoming 2021-22 campaign, Amiens are billed to begin their promotion quest with a home clash with Auxerre later this month.

"I do not yet know enough about the level of players such as [Nathan] Monzango and [Valentin] Gendrey in playing a pivotal role in Ligue 2," Hinschberger added.

"But the club also has plans. In any case, there is a possibility that we will sign a defender.

"In the meantime, the problem is that we continue the preparation without [a lot of our defenders] since Emmanuel Lomotey also returned with a knock to the ischios, our right-back [Mickael Alphonse] is absent and we still do not have a left-back."

Opoku, who was recently on international duty as Ghana faced Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire in a double-header of friendlies, will likely be absent when the Black Stars assemble again for the start of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

In September, Ghana are set to take on Ethiopia and South Africa in back-to-back games on the road to Qatar 2022.

Should the defender remain in treatment until next year as highly speculated, he will likely miss the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Cameroon.

On Wednesday, Premier League side Leicester City confirmed the acquisition of 22-year-old striker Patson Daka from RB Salzburg on a four-year contract.

It is a signing that, in many ways, makes a great deal of sense, for both club and player, and that's how it has been received: the Foxes once again demonstrating their dexterity in the transfer market, moving fast to address a need before it became urgent.

However, there is another way in which the move can be interpreted, and that is in terms of simple availability.

Daka is only the third Zambian player ever to grace the Premier League; crucially, the Chipolopolo have not qualified for next year's Africa Cup of Nations.

Had they made it through to the tournament in Cameroon, it is likely Leicester might have been a little less prompt in pulling the trigger, and might have explored their interest in Celtic’s French striker Odsonne Edouard instead.

The timing of the Afcon is a wrinkle that was already addressed by Caf's initial decision to stage the competition in the summer, starting from the 2019 edition.

However, the combination of the outbreak of Covid and "unfavourable climactic conditions" saw the 2021 edition moved back to its traditional January slot, and that has reanimated the discussion surrounding its troubled relationship with Europe's major leagues.

More specifically, how does a January Afcon affect the thinking and planning of clubs in the transfer market?

There is the very real prospect of interested clubs considering a willingness to attend the Afcon a deal-breaker during negotiations, and even using it as a tool to whittle down transfer targets.

Even in situations where the African player is superior, he may get bumped down simply for the sake of availability.

Back in 2011, former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson suggested his title rivals having so many African players in their ranks was a distinct disadvantage he did not share, and for years baulked at the idea of signing players from the continent.

His spotty record when he did dip his toes in didn't exactly help, but there clearly was little enthusiasm to begin with.

Viewed in that light, and one can understand why sides fighting for the biggest honours might be reticent.

Those that are willing to take the plunge regardless may find themselves a little less accommodating when the time does come around.

How will Paris Saint-Germain, for example, who have apparently secured wing-back Achraf Hakimi to address a long-term problem position, react to losing him in January, especially in a season where re-asserting their domestic dominance is crucial?

If they find themselves behind in the Ligue 1 title race at the midway point of the season, losing all that thrust from out wide might not appear such an agreeable proposition.

Is the value a player like Youssef En-Nesyri, who took a giant leap forward in his development last season, can command in the transfer market not significantly dented by his needing to represent Morocco at the Afcon?

What about Paul Onuachu, who has realistically done all he can in Belgium and is being linked to a number of Premier League clubs – would needing to join up with Nigeria halfway through his debut season not only affect his allure in the eyes of suitors, but also potentially impact his adaptation negatively in the event one of his suitors was willing to take the plunge regardless?

Clubs that have African players already on the books have a headache to resolve as well.

Liverpool, for instance, will be severely hit by the absences of Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Naby Keita; to lose one would be bearable, but to lose three would surely require them to dip into the market in positions where they might have previously felt secure, thereby affecting their ability to recruit in other areas.

There is also the effect it can have on the players themselves.

The famous example of Joel Matip, who elected to retire from international football with Cameroon, is a poignant one. These players take on a significant risk in honouring the Afcon, and while the likes of Mane and Salah are in strong enough positions that it would not affect their standing, the same cannot be said for others.

Going to the Afcon can sometimes mean losing their place with their club.

This makes for a difficult decision. After all, without impressing for their clubs, there would be no national team call-ups anyway.

So, which comes first: chicken or egg? It is that existential.

What effect would leaving for a month have on Kelechi Iheanacho, who has done tremendously to play himself into indispensability at Leicester? Would it not simply make it easy for Brendan Rodgers to revert to a lone striker set-up, thereby returning the Nigeria international to his former anonymous estate?

The Afcon may be Africa's showpiece, and the rationalizations about the weather in Cameroon are worthy of consideration, but in truth it is a cruel monarch, exacting a huge tribute for fealty. It is a price that too often has penalized its subjects, and may do so yet again in 2022.

Tusker FC coach Robert Matano has now set his sights on going all the way to claim the FKF Premier League title in the ongoing season.

The veteran tactician helped the Brewers secure the 2020/21 Caf Champions League title after finishing top of the table by June 30 as the Federation had initially stated.

On Wednesday, the 11-time champions defeated Ulinzi Stars 4-1 to secure the right to represent Kenya in the annual competition. 

Boniface Onyango scored Ulinzi's opener before the Brewers launched a comeback and found the back of the net courtesy of Brian Birgen's own goal and strikes from Brian Marita, Chris Onyango, and Kepha Okoth.

What did Matano say?

"The work is not yet done. We have to keep on fighting to win the league. We still have more than 10 matches to play and we need to keep the focus and concentration. We have jumped one hurdle and an even bigger one is coming on our way. We will continue working hard," the veteran tactician told BetKing Kenya.

"I am very happy because of the work we have done as a team. After losing twice in a row, we had to come back and work harder because everyone knew that we wanted to do something special and come out with good results. 

"This is a good achievement for the team and has been our ambition since we started the [FKF] Premier League; to play in the Caf Champions League. Through the commitment and effort of the players, we have made it, and this is something special for us."

What did the players say?

"As a team, we are really happy. We are excited at achieving this target for the team and it is something huge for us. The players and technical bench have put in the work and the results are here for all to see," Ugandan Hashim Sempala uttered.

"I feel happy and thankful for this. We worked as a team though it was tough on Wednesday. Now we need to continue fighting to get good results at the end of the league," Chris Ochieng stated. 

Nigeria have handed a late invitation to CF Montreal striker Ibrahim Sunusi for their international friendly match against Mexico on Sunday.

The former Nasarawa United star is now expected to join the Nigeria Professional Football League players led by NFF technical director Austin Eguavoen in Los Angeles.

Sunusi finished as the top scorer in the 2019 NPFL season with 10 goals in 22 matches and he moved to Major League Soccer from 36 Lion FC in January.

So far this season in the American top-flight, the Nigeria youth striker has played six matches for Wilfried Nancy's side but he is yet to open his goal account.

“CF Montreal forward Sunusi Ibrahim has been selected by Nigeria to take part in a friendly against Mexico, this Saturday, at the Memorial Coliseum, in Los Angeles,” read a statement from the club.

“The Super Eagles will continue their preparation for the 2022 African Nations Championship, while Mexico is completing their preparation for the Concacaf Gold Cup, which begins on July 10, in the United States.

“In 2019, Ibrahim played three U23 Africa Cup of Nations matches with Nigeria, tallying one assist in 193 minutes of play.”

The 18-year-old will link up with Enyimba's Anayo Iwuala, Kwara United's Stephen Jude, Rangers' Ibrahim Olawoyin, Akwa United's Charles Ashimene, Kano Pillars' Auwalu Ali Malam, Plateau United's Nenrot Emmanuel and Kastsina United’s Abdulmutalif Sanusi for a chance to lead the Super Eagles’ frontline at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

Unfortunately, Heartland goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa was dropped from the traveling squad after stand-in coach Eguavoen confirmed he has a swollen ankle.

His absence leaves the Super Eagles with just two goalkeepers – Enyimba’s John Noble and Lobi Stars’ Nwabali Stanley Bobo.

Nigeria and Mexico have previously played each other five times with their last three encounters ending in draws.

The Super Eagles are yet to win any of their meetings with El Tri and their last defeat came at the 1995 Fifa Confederation Cup in Riyadh. The North Americans won 5-4 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra-time.

Italy have "great respect" for Romelu Lukaku, according to Giorgio Chiellini, who says the Azzurri are braced for a tough test against the Belgium striker.

Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena will play host to a heavyweight Euro 2020 clash between Italy and Belgium on Friday night, where both teams will be defending 100 per cent records.

Lukaku has played a key role in the Red Devils' run to the last eight, and Chiellini is well aware of the threat the forward will pose the Azzurri after seeing him fire Inter to their first Serie A crown in 11 years last season.

What's been said?

However, Chiellini, who has just become a free agent after the expiration of his contract at Juventus, has warned that Lukaku is not the only player in Belgium's ranks that Italy will have to keep quiet in order to set up a semi-final tie with either Spain or Switzerland.

"From all of us there is great respect for Lukaku, for his extraordinary season at Inter," the 36-year-old told a pre-match press conference. "To limit Belgium to Lukaku is offensive to his teammates, they are all really great players.

"We will prepare it as we always have. We'll both sleep well tonight, me and Romelu."

Italy & Belgium's Euro 2020 journeys so far

Italy were drawn in Group A at this summer's European Championships alongside Turkey, Switzerland and Wales, all of whom proved to be light opponents for Roberto Mancini's side.

The Azzurri beat both the Turks and the Swiss by a 3-0 scoreline to book their place in the Round of 16 before rounding off their pool campaign with a comfortable 1-0 victory against Wales.

Mancini's men were rewarded with a first knockout stage tie against Austria, who they managed to overcome 2-1 after extra-time thanks to goals from Federico Chiesa and Matteo Pessina.

Belgium, meanwhile, reached the last 16 after finishing top of Group B, opening with a 3-0 win over Russia before beating Denmark 2-1 and Finland 2-0.

Roberto Martinez's side were then pitted against 2016 winners Portugal, and got the better of the Cristiano Ronaldo-led outfit thanks to a fierce strike from Thorgan Hazard.

Chiellini on his future 

After finishing his duties with Italy at the Euros, Chiellini will turn his attention to sorting out where he will be playing his club football next season.

The towering centre-back has spent the last 16 years of his career in Turin, and it has been reported that Juventus are planning to re-sign him for one more year.

Chiellini is technically without a club at this moment in time, but he has compared his situation to that of Lionel Messi at Barcelona, with the Argentine also expected to commit to fresh terms with his current employers despite becoming a free agent.

"Me out of contract like Messi? We also have being left-handed in common!" he said when quizzed on his future. "The dynamics of a strange year. ..I don't think about it, I'm calm."

Further reading 

Former Bidvest Wits goalkeeper Darren Keet has confirmed Soweto giants Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs made contact with him seeking his services.

After his short-term contract with National First Division side Cape Umoya expired at the end of last season, Keet became a free agent.

But he says he and his handlers are not in a hurry for his next move despite inquiries from Pirates and Chiefs. 

He was recently reported to have signed for Cape Town City following the departure of Peter Leeuwenburgh. 

“Not at all [signing for City]. I’ve spoken to many people before, including them. I’ve spoken to coach Gavin [Hunt] while he was still with Chiefs and said he was interested in me,” Keet told Sowetan Live. 

“But nothing has happened since then. Pirates also inquired about me, but we never heard anything from them since. But, I’m not in a rush. 

“We are not in a rush to decide my future. I have spoken to a lot of people, but nothing concrete at the moment. 

“We will make a final decision when the time is right. There is still a long way to go in the transfer window. Now I’m just enjoying my holiday here in Cape Town.” 

With Pirates veteran goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands said to be considering retirement, it would not be surprising seeing the Buccaneers continuing their pursuit of Keet. 

But Chiefs are likely to keep their three top goalkeepers Itumeleng Khune, Bruce Bvuma and Daniel Akpeyi. 

Between being close to his family in Cape Town and opting for a big-money move in Gauteng are some of the factors which will influence Keet’s decision. 

“We’ve to decide whether we go for money in Gauteng or should we stay here in Cape Town, close to my family,” said Keet. 

“But we are not rushing and we are not under pressure. I know Gauteng teams pay more money than other teams outside that province. So this is the decision that we have to make.” 

Keet has previously been based in Gauteng in two stints with Bidvest Wits. 

The goalkeeper has never played in the Premier Soccer League for any other club except Wits but has had spells in Belgium with Kortrijk and OH Leuven.

Nigeria landed in the United States of America on Thursday evening ahead of Saturday’s international friendly against Mexico.

The Super Eagles – dominated by players in the Nigeria Professional Football League, will take on Gerardo Martino’s El Tri at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

The three-time African champions’ delegation included 22 players, some officials as well as Nigeria Football Federation’s General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi.

Meanwhile, the organisers of the blockbuster friendly expect a full house at the 77,500 capacity Coliseum – the most-attended game globally since the restrictions caused by Covid-19 was lifted.

Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa suffered an ankle injury during a training session and he will miss the fixture against the North Americans.

As a result of that, Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, Joshua Oluwayemi has been invited to beef up the goalkeeping department that has Enyimba FC’s John Noble and Lobi Stars’ Stanley Nwabali.

The last meeting between the two countries was in a friendly match en route to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

After 90 minutes of entertaining action, the Super Eagles and El Tri settled for a 0-0 draw at the Georgia Dome, with goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa making a couple of fine saves to deny the late Stephen Keshi’s men.

The two teams will be meeting for the sixth time ever with four of their previous encounters ending on a no winner, no vanquished note. The only win in the series belongs to Mexico, who defeated Nigeria in a US Gold Cup fixture in Texas.

Despite taking the lead through Jonathan Akpoborie inside the Cotton Bowl Stadium, the Mexicans clawed back to record a 2-1 victory courtesy of goals from Alberto Garcia Aspe and Ignacio Ambriz.

For Mexico, who are the most successful team in the Concacaf Gold Cup with eight titles, this game is part of their MexTour series. 

NIGERIA SQUAD IN AMERICA

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabili (Lobi Stars); John Noble (Enyimba FC)

Defenders: Olisa Ndah (Akwa United); Adekunle Adeleke (Abia Warriors); Tope Olusesi (Rangers International); Enyinnaya Kazie (Rivers United); Imoh Obot (Enyimba FC); Tebo Franklin Degaulle (Nasarawa United); Lawal Oriyomi Murtala (Kwara United)

Midfielders: Anthony Shimaga (Rangers International); Seth Mayi (Akwa United); Uche Onwuasonaya (Plateau United); Ibrahim Olawoyin (Rangers International); Anayo Iwuala (Enyimba FC)

Forwards: Stephen Jude (Kwara United); Charles Ashimene (Akwa United), Chinonso Ezekwe (Rangers International); Auwalu Ali Malam (Kano Pillars); Neurot Emmanuel (Plateau United); Abdulmutalif Sanusi (Katsina United); Mohammed Zulkifilu (Plateau United); Sunday Adetunji (Rivers United)

Brentford have signed Arsenal U23 star Daniel Oyegoke on a three-year contract with the option of a further year.

The permanent move brings an end to Oyegoke's four-year spell with the Gunners, having joined the club's academy at the age of 14.

The 18-year-old is expected to prove his qualities in the Brentford youth team in the 2021-22 season after he made 11 appearances for Arsenal’s U23 side in the last campaign.

Brentford B team coach Neil MacFarlane described the Anglo-Nigerian as a ‘modern full-back’ and he is looking forward to work with him in his selection.

Oyegoke started his football career as a forward at Arsenal before he transitioned to the defence where he has established his play.

“I think Daniel is a fantastic signing for the B Team,” MacFarlane told the club's website. “He’s been at Arsenal for a number of years, and we’ve seen him do particularly well for England recently.

“We want to keep improving the B Team every year, and a signing like Daniel can definitely help us to do that.

“Daniel is a modern full-back who likes to get forward and he has the ability to create for the team. He’s a fantastic character and will be a very good addition to the group.”

Although he has played for England U16, U17 and U18 teams, Oyegoke is still eligible to play for Nigeria on the international scene through his father’s origin.

Arsenal, meanwhile, have wished their Academy graduate the best in his future endeavours, starting with his stint at the Brentford Community Stadium.

“Daniel, who transitioned from a forward to a defender during his time in our Academy, was a regular with our under-18s in recent seasons and also stepped up to the under-23s, making 10 appearances in last season’s PL2,” read a statement on the club’s website.

"Daniel is an England youth international, having represented England up to under-18 level. Everyone at the club wishes Daniel the best for his future.”

Ghanaian forward Bernard Morrison has been awarded the Simba SC June player of the month award.

The winger was selected ahead of John Bocco and Luis Miquissone who were nominated to vie for the monthly award that is sponsored by Emirate Aluminium. The winner of the award is elected by fans through the club's online platforms and on its website.

One of the outstanding moments for Morrison came against Azam FC as his brilliant move and an assist saw Simba SC beat the Ice-cream Makers 1-0 in the Federation Cup semi-final on June 26.

The forward will go home with Tsh1,000,000 after he garnered 6,697 votes, which is equivalent to 72%, while Miquissone got 1978 votes that is equal to 21% of the votes cast. Bocco, who has had to fight for the starting position with Meddie Kagere and Chris Mugalu, emerged third after getting 681 votes, equivalent to 7%.

Morisson's award comes a few days before Simba and Yanga SC clash in the Kariakoo Derby on July 3. The meeting at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium will come at a time when Morisson's transfer saga has not been fully settled. 

After Tanzania's Football Federation Players' Status Committee ruled he was a free agent and was allowed to join a club of his own, Yanga protested and reported the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sports.

If Wekundu wa Msimbazi beat the Mainland Premier League record champions, they would have defended the title for the fourth straight time. The club's Chief Executive Officer, Barbara Gonzalez, stated they are ready to beat the Kariakoo rivals and be declared champions.

"The players and the technical bench have done a commendable job. Our target was to lift every title this season and I am sure we are going to do it," the official told Mwanaspoti.

In a recent interview, Simba's spokesperson Haji Manara exuded confidence they are going to beat Yanga: "If the referees do their job well on Saturday, Simba will beat Yanga by more than three goals, that is a fact," Manara said.

"Forget about those saying derbies can go either way, those things have been overtaken by events, do you expect Simba with their current form to lose against Yanga? Just forget about that and wake up, Simba will never lose to Yanga."

The fixture had to be rescheduled after the clubs failed to play on May 8.

Newly-promoted Super Lig club Adana Demirspor have announced the signing of Younes Belhanda on a three-year deal.

Belhanda completed a free transfer to the New Adana Stadium on Thursday after he was released by Galatasaray in May because he criticised the club in an interview.

After three months without competitive football, the Morocco star is set to revive his career in Adana and in a league where he has been playing in since 2017.

The 31-year-old's addition comes as a boost for the Blue Lightnings as they prepare to compete in the Super Lig for the first time in 26 years - their last outing in the top-flight was in the 1994-95 campaign.

Samet Aybaba's side earned automatic promotion to the Turkish top-flight last season after they finished the 2020-21 campaign as champions of the second division.

Prior to the termination of his contract in Istanbul, Belhanda contributed three assists and six goals in 22 league matches for Fatih Terim's side last term.

Back in March, the 2012 Marc-Vivien Foe prize winner accused Galatasaray management for not taking care of the Turk Telekom Arena and he was consequently fired.

"It's not easy to come back on a ground like this. We are Galatasaray. Under normal circumstances, Galatasaray managers have to find a solution here... They know we play football here. They shouldn't look at what's written on Instagram on Twitter or in the press. They have to take care of the stadium. They have to find a solution," Belhanda said in the interview.

"We're the ones playing on the field, and they've got to work to the end to make sure we play here on the weekend in the best conditions... Even Florya is better than here. Is that normal? It's not."

The Atlas Lions midfielder has won two Super Lig titles, a Turkish Cup and one Super Cup since he moved to Turkey from Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv in 2017.

He started his professional career at Montpellier where he spent four years and he also had stints at Schalke 04 and Nice.

On the international scene, Belhanda left France for Morocco in 2010 and he was part of the Atlas Lions' squad to the 2018 Fifa World Cup in Russia. He has a tally of five goals in 56 international appearances so far.