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'Stronger, more confident, more ruthless' - Henderson says Liverpool have earned their success

The Ligue 1 side have admitted that the prospect of keeping hold of two of their top stars is slim

Lille head coach Christophe Galtier has admitted that he is resigned to losing striker Victor Osimhen and centre-back Gabriel over the course of the summer transfer window.

The side from the north east of France narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification next season after finishing fourth in a prematurely ended Ligue 1 campaign, and given their already awkward financial position are likely to be forced into numerous sales over the summer months.

Osimhen and Gabriel have both attracted many suitors over recent months, with both players hotly linked with a switch to Napoli, while the Brazilian defender has also been associated with Everton.

Galtier, who explained that Osimhen has not been training with the club following the loss of his father, does not expect either to be in the team that takes to the field in mid-August when Ligue 1 will open up the 2020-21 campaign.

“I can confirm that both Gabriel and Victor are likely to depart. I’ve expected it for a long time,” he said. “They are working very seriously and we’re working currently with the players who are currently here who are likely to replace them and obviously on future players who will come to us to replace them in their posts.

“We’ve not talked much about the transfer window. Players have been or are being contacted. There will be a delayed transfer window. I believe it will run until October 5. That shows how complex the start of the season will be. I don’t know exactly when the windows will be open abroad.”

Previously, Lille president Gerard Lopez indicated that he hopes to raise as much as €80 million (£72.5m/$90m) from the sale of Osimhen – matching the deal that took Nicolas Pepe to Arsenal last season.

“People didn’t believe that we had such big offers for Pepe,” he told the Daily Mail. “Let me tell you that with Osimhen, it’s the same thing.”

Meanwhile, Galtier reported some positive news for Lille in terms of the players who were running out of contract, with former Chelsea striker Loic Remy closing in on a new deal along with ex-Southampton man Jeremy Pied, who was a bit-part player last term.

“There’s a very good chance they will stay with us,” he confirmed. “They want it and we want it. We’re close to an agreement, but it’s not done yet.”

Original author: Robin Bairner
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Why Odegaard leaving is an indictment of Real Madrid

16' A hopeful long ball over the top from Valery is eventually gathered by Krul after some confusion with his centre-backs. 

15' Norwich try to play out from the back at every opportunity but Southampton are pressing and win a throw in high up the pitch. 

12' Norwich have enjoyed 72% of the ball so far and will be looking to capitalise on that possession. They have looked confident on the ball. 

10' It's an injury as Aarons appears to have taken a knock on the head. He is up on his feet and the medical staff briefly take him off the pitch but he quickly comes back on to play. 

7' That's a really nice fluid attacking move from Norwich as they move up the pitch quickly before Drmic spends too much time on the ball and has his shot blocked inside the Southampton box. 

6' Chance! McLean finds himself in space just outside the box and strikes the ball cleanly but it just dips wide of the post.

4' Southampton clear Norwich's corner but struggle to get out as Norwich play the ball around their box. 

3' Buendia's first corner is headed out by a Southampton defender and he steps up to take another. 

2' Buendia whips in a good free-kick from the left-hand side and Norwich force a corner. 

1' And we're underway! Just before kicking off the players and officials all took a knee in recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement.

A silence is observed by the players in recognition of the lives lost from COVID-19 as well as the efforts of key workers during the crisis.

The players are emerging from the tunnel and kick off is just seconds away!

When these two teams met back in December Southampton won 2-1. Danny Ings scored in that fixture and has already secured 15 league goals this season. His manager Ralph Hasenhuttl will be hoping the Southampton striker can continue his fine form today.

Southampton make three changes from their most recent 1-0 loss to Newcastle with Armstrong, Obafemi, and Redmond all coming into the side. They replace Djenepo who is out with a suspension as well as Long and Boufal, who is on the bench. Long is left out of the matchday squad with an injury. 

The big news for Norwich is that skipper Hanley is out with an injured hamstring. He is replaced by Klose who makes his first league start since January 2019. Trybull and Drmic replace Tetty and Duda who are both on the bench.   

SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Jannik Vestergaard, Che Adams, Oriol Romeu, Sofiane Boufal, Kyle Walker-Peters, Will Smallbone, Angus Gunn, Kevin Danso, Nathan Tella.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Alex McCarthy; Yan Valery, Jack Stephens, Jan Bednarek, Ryan Bertrand; Nathan Redmond, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, James Ward-Prowse, Stuart Armstrong; Michael Obafemi, Danny Ings.

NORWICH CITY SUBS: Lukas Rupp, Mario Vrancic, Moritz Leitner, Onel Hernandez, Ondrej Duda, Alexander Tettey,  Michael McGovern, Adam Idah, Josh Martin.

NORWICH CITY (4-4-2): Tim Krul; Max Aarons, Timm Klose, Ben Godfrey, Jamal Lewis; Emiliano Buendia, Kenny McLean, Tom Trybull, Todd Cantwell; Josip Drmic, Teemu Pukki.

Norwich come into this game five points adrift at the bottom of the table and in need of precious points to keep their survival hopes alive. Meanwhile Southampton are 7 points above the relegation zone in 14th place and a win today would boost the club’s chances of playing Premier League football next season. A massive game for both sides.

Hello everyone and welcome to live text coverage of the Premier League, as Norwich City and Southampton go head to head. It is a big moment for both clubs as they play their first competitive match in over 100 days after the COVID-19 enforced break.

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Real Sociedad confident Odegaard loan from Real Madrid will be extended

The New England Revolution manager says that he finds it "awkward" amid ongoing debates and protests throughout the country

Former U.S. men's national team head coach and current New England Revolution boss Bruce Arena says that he finds it "inappropriate" to play the Star-Spangled Banner before club soccer matches amid ongoing debate on the anthem's place in sports.

The national anthem has become a talking point in the wake of ongoing protests across the U.S. following the death of George Floyd.

Those protests have called back to those led by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who caused controversy when he opted to kneel during the national anthem in an effort to protest racism and police brutality.

After U.S. women's national team star Megan Rapinoe joined Kaepernick's protests by kneeling before several matches, U.S. Soccer put a policy in place to prevent displays during the national anthem.

That policy has since been repealed, much to the frustration of U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he would no longer be watching games if players were to kneel.

Former USMNT boss Arena, who managed the national team from 1998 to 2006 and then again from 2016 to 2017, says he sees no reason to play the national anthem before sporting events in the first place.

"I think it puts people in awkward positions," Arena told ESPN. "We don't use national anthem in movie theatres or on Broadway, or for other events in the United States.

"I don't think it is appropriate to have a national anthem before a baseball game or an MLS game. Having said that I want it understood that I am very patriotic, but I think it is inappropriate."

He added: "Think about it. In MLS, most of the players that are standing on the field during the national anthem are international players. They are not even Americans. So why are we playing the national anthem? With all due respect, I live in the greatest country in the world but I think it is inappropriate."

MLS has a total of 722 players on rosters this season, with 422 of those players not born in the United States.

The league is set to return on July 8 for the MLS is Back Tournament in Orlando, making it the first men's sports league to return in the United States.

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‘We get on very well’ - Choupo-Moting on his relationship with Mbappe and Neymar

The match will see the visiting side travel with a squad of teenagers and without their regular coaching staff

Rostov are set to play a Russian Premier League fixture on Friday with what effectively amounts to a youth team after six of their players tested positive for coronavirus.

With the news that the infection was so spread throughout their team, the entire first team and the coaching staff had to be quarantined.

However, an appeal to have the match postponed to a later date failed after Sochi turned down their request for a delayed fixture. As such, the team will play with a group of players born between 2001 and 2004.

The oldest member of their squad will be 19-year-old midfielder Nikita Kolotievsky, while the youngest will be Maxim Stavtsev, who only turned 16 in January.

Speaking to the media, Rostov president Artashes Arutyunyants said: “We do not want to comment and evaluate the decision of FC Sochi. Let it be on their conscious. For us, the health of our players and our opponents is more important than three points.”

Rostov currently lie fourth in the 16-team RPL, with their target a place in the Champions League for next season. To attain that, they will need to finish in the top three and currently they are only three points behind Lokomotiv Moscow and Krasnodar, who are in second and third respectively.

Sochi, meanwhile, are engulfed in a relegation battle and though they lie 12th in the standings on 24 points, they are only four points clear of bottom placed Akhmat Grozny.

Given their opponents’ selection concerns, they will hope to take their seventh victory of the season and move away from the drop zone.

The fixture between the two clubs marks the return to professional football in Russia after an unscheduled three-month break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Sochi’s fight for survival had already previously been boosted by the news that because of the stoppage, the relegation playoffs that the clubs in 13th and 14th would usually have taken part in have been cancelled, thereby pushing them closer to safety. 

The season, which is 30 matches long and sees each team play each other on a home and away basis, has eight rounds remaining.

Original author: Robin Bairner
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Norwich predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace - Premier League

The Togolese Federation have paid a poignant tribute to the international forward, who passed away on Thursday

The Togolese Football Federation have paid tribute to ASC Kara striker Kossi Edem Koudagba following his death at the age of 24 on Thursday.

The striker, who netted against Nigeria at the 2019 Wafu Cup of Nations, died in his hometown of Davie following a short illness.

“In these painful circumstances, the Executive Committee of the FTF wish to salute the memory of the player, whose qualities on and off the field are known to all,” a communique from the federation began.

“The FTF Executive Committee would like, on behalf of Togolese football, to express our deepest condolences and express our feelings of sympathy to the family of the deceased, loved ones, the ASCK club, as well as the staff and players of the Togo national team.”

Koudagba’s death was announced on Thursday, with the young forward having returned to his family home earlier in the week.

The striker was named in Claude Le Roy’s senior national side for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria in 2018, and was a key figure of the home-based national side.

He was one of their key figures at the Wafu Cup, opening the scoring against Nigeria in the Sparrowhawks’ 2-1 victory, but was unable to prevent Togo’s quarter-final elimination at the hands of the Ivory Coast.

Togo were eliminated on penalties following a 0-0 draw.

The striker had also represented the West Africans in the African Nations Championship qualifying double-head against Nigeria, which Togo won to book their ticket to the Chan tournament in Cameroon.

Ultimately, Les Eperviers weren’t able to take part in the tournament—originally scheduled to take place in April—due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2018 Togo top scorer was twice a Togolese champion with Club Sportive des Chauffeurs de la Kozak, and was part of the team that were defeated by Enugu Rangers in the Caf Confederation Cup earlier this year.

ASCK were recently awarded this year’s Togolese title again, following the domestic top flight’s suspension and subsequent cancellation in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

While there has been speculation on social media that Covid-19 was the cause of Koudagba’s passing, the virus has not been named as the reason for his death by either his family or his club.

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How to watch Premier League fixtures on TV this week

The India U-16 coach head coach praised chief scout Vikram Nanivadekar and credited India's scouting system for the success of youth teams..

India U-16 head coach Bibiano Fernandes has lavished praises on the All India Football Federation's (AIFF) scouting program for playing a huge role in the success of India's youth teams in recent times.

India U16 team has qualified for the AFC U16 Championship three times in a row from 2016 now and the India U19 and U20 teams have achieved some brilliant results in the recent past.

The Goan coach was quick to hail chief scout Vikram Nanivadekar and suggested that a proper scouting process has led to the development of the Indian national teams at the youth level.

During a Live chat with Indian Football team’s official Instagram page, Fernandes said, “Our scouting system is in good hands. It is headed by Vikram Nanivadekar who is doing a great job. Sometimes I also go out and help scout for players. The scouting has been really good and it is becoming better and better. It is difficult to cover the whole country but since the system is in place, we are trying to reach as many places as possible.”

Elaborating on the scouting process, the U-16 coach said, “We target the Subroto Cup and other national tournaments. At the zonal level, we have identified the age-group tournaments. Whenever I am free, I attend the national youth competitions. We also have coaches on call who send us information about talented players from any corner in India. We exchange details, see videos and then select.”

The former Sporting Clube de Goa coach also mentioned that there has been a huge improvement in the standard of coaching in the country and praised Savio Medeira who is currently AIFF's head of coaching education.

He said, “Another point is the change in coaching education. It has brought changes in the coaches. Whether they are state level or school level coaches. Savio is doing a great job. When we do scouting properly we get very good players. It is improving constantly.”

Original author: Goal
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Brentford predicted lineup vs Man City - Premier League

After Saudi Arabia was found to be guilty of breaching international piracy laws, calls have been made to prevent the deal going through

Angus MacNeil, chair of the International Trade Select Committee and Member of Partliament for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, has written to trade secretary Liz Truss to raise his concerns over the Saudi Arabia-led takeover of Premier League side Newcastle.

If a deal is completed, Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund would own 80 per cent of the club, with Amanda Staveley's PCP Capital Partners and British businessmen the Reuben brothers sharing the remaining 20% equally.

Previously this week, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) found Saudi Arabia guilty of breaching international piracy laws by broadcasting various professional sports, including the Premier League.

It is not the first time that the takeover has hit the headlines for the wrong headlines, with the £300 million ($375m) purchase of the club controversial because of the country’s human rights record.

In his letter to Truss, which has been seen by the BBC, MacNeil writes: “As you would have seen, the WTO has made a landmark ruling on the protection of sports rights, which is one of the UK's most valuable and treasured exports.

“In its ruling, the WTO held that the government of Saudi Arabia has, from the beginning, been actively supporting the 'beoutQ' piracy operation that has stolen the commercial rights of UK sports bodies for three years.

“This is an insult to the UK government, affront to the Premier League, and abuse of UK sport - and should not be tolerated.

“This is relevant today, right now, because the very entity that has been stealing premium UK sports and entertainment content is attempting to buy a major UK sporting institution - Newcastle United Football Club.

“The UK government must now play its part in protecting our creative industry exports by investigating the launch, promotion and operation of the beoutQ service. Quite simply, if Saudi Arabia is unwilling to play by the rules of international law, then it should have no role in the future of UK sport.”

Lawyers for the Premier League have been examining the deal for two months, and though the UK government had previously indicated that it would not intervene in the deal, earlier this week, foreign secretary Dominic Raab said: “I think it's right that that legal due process is followed and we have this debate about takeovers in this country. I think we should follow the rule of law.”

Original author: Goal
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Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool set for action during packed weekend

SuperSport are showing the best action from Europe’s major leagues this weekend, with some of the Premier League's big names in action

Football fans will be treated to a packed weekend of action from the world’s biggest clubs this weekend, with the Premier League returning in midweek and Serie A also set to resume after a break due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Couple this with another week of pulsating La Liga action – both Barcelona and Real Madrid are set to take to the field – and SuperSport fans have every reason to be excited ahead of a weekend of live sport.

Perhaps the pick of the action comes in the Premier League, where England’s biggest sides return to action in some heavyweight fixtures.

On Friday, Champions League hopefuls Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United meet in a match that could prove decisive as the duo seek a top-five finish.

Spurs head into the match four points behind the Red Devils, and should they lose, would surely find a seven-point gap with eight games to play too much to overhaul.

There will be a major incentive for Jose Mourinho too, as he comes up against his previous employers, and he’ll be desperate to show that Spurs are more resilient and durable than they were before the league’s suspension.

It will be fascinating to see how much game time Odion Ighalo gets for the Red Devils, having extended his loan deal at Old Trafford, and Nigeria fans will be hotly anticipating his return to action.

On Saturday, Brighton & Hove Albion host Arsenal, who will be looking forward to maintaining the momentum they’d begun to enjoy following Mikel Arteta’s arrival.

The weekend concludes with two high-profile bouts on Sunday, as relegation-threatened Aston Villa host Chelsea, who will themselves be looking to consolidate their place in the UCL qualification berths.

Also on Sunday, Everton and Liverpool collide in the Merseyside derby, as the champions-elect look to resume their campaign with a victory.

It’s a bitter shame for the Reds that their historic campaign was paused midway through, particularly when they enjoyed a record 25-point advantage over their nearest challengers Manchester City.

However, the resumption in competition means they have the opportunity to finally get over the line, get their hands on the title, and flex their muscles once again with a victory over their fierce local neighbours at Goodison Park.

Will Jurgen Klopp’s side pick up where they left off, or could the Toffees rain on their parade?

Thursday 18 June – Real Madrid vs Valencia (LaLiga)

Friday 19 June – Sevilla vs Barcelona (LaLiga)

Friday 19 June – Spurs vs Manchester United

Saturday 20 June – Brighton vs Arsenal (Premier League)

Sunday 21 June – Aston Villa vs Chelsea (Premier League)

Sunday 21 June – Everton vs Liverpool (Premier League)

Sunday 21 June – Inter Milan vs Sampdoria (Serie A)

Sunday 21 June – Real Sociedad vs Real Madrid (LaLiga)

Across the rest of Europe there are other high-profile clashes, notably in Spain, where Real Madrid have two matches in the space of four days.

First up, for Zinedine Zidane’s side, they host Valencia in a stern test for their title credentials on Thursday evening, having dispatched troubled Eibar in their last fixture.

Seventh-placed Valencia will be desperate to make amends after letting two points slip in their first match back, conceding in the 98th minute against ten-men Levante at home in a result that dented their Champions League hopes.

Valencia took a point from Real in this season’s first match between the pair, but can they repeat the trick this time around?

On Sunday, Los Merengues must travel away to Real Sociedad, who returned to action with a 1-1 draw against Osasuna on Sunday.

In action on Friday, Barcelona travel away to Sevilla.

This will be a much tougher test for the Catalan giants than their midweek victory over struggling Leganes, and they’ll have to be at their best to maintain their winning run against Los Nervionenses.

It’s one of the trickiest matches Barca have ahead of them as they close in on the title, and Quique Setien may have to shuffle his pack to keep his players fresh, with some experienced heads coming back into the side.

However, expect Ansu Fati to retain his spot in the team after netting a fine goal in the victory over Leganes.

Finally, Serie A also returns this weekend, and SuperSport are delighted to invite fans to watch the bout between Internazionale and Sampdoria.

The Nerazzurri have impressed in stages this term, although Antonio Conte will know that they need Juventus to stumble if they’re to keep their faint title challenge alive.

They lost ground on their rivals before the pandemic necessitated a pause in football with back-to-back fixtures, and a victory on Sunday evening is imperative if they’re to breathe life into the remaining weeks of the season.

They do have a game in hand on Juve and Lazio, and a favourable run of fixtures, so all isn’t yet lost.

Original author: Ed Dove
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Arsenal boss: Inconsistent tech use hurts UWCL

The state of France's top flight remains in limbo after clubs voted to maintain the current format with 20 clubs

The French League (LFP) has rejected a motion to extend Ligue 1 to 22 teams next season following a ruling by France’s Council of State that the relegations of Amiens and Toulouse were to be suspended.

Le Championnat was concluded early due to the coronavirus pandemic and became the only one of Europe’s big five leagues to abandon its season in April when the virus struck.

While Paris Saint-Germain were announced as champions – and their legitimacy has not fallen into question – Amiens and Toulouse were relegated to the second tier as they finished in the bottom two spots of the top division.

Both clubs have vehemently fought against such an outcome and earlier in June won a battle at the Council of State that nullified their relegation, the legality of which was "seriously doubted".

However, the LFP voted upon and rejected a proposal that would have seen Ligue 1 extended to 22 teams – and thereby reintegrate both clubs into its fold – for next season. 

In a press release, it noted: “The board of directors voted unanimously for a resolution proposing to the General Assembly to maintain the format of Ligue 1 at 20 clubs for the 2020-21 season.

“This resolution was voted upon after an in-depth examination of the challenges of a Ligue 1 of 20, 21 or 22 clubs on the 2020-2021 competition calendar after having obtained the opinion of the joint scheduling committee for the LFP and FFF (French FA), and consequences on the players' health. 

“This study also focused on the financial impacts, the distribution of audio-visual rights as well as on the contractual repercussions with Ligue 1 broadcasters.”

A further meeting between the LFP’s board of directors will take place on Tuesday, June 23, in which the resolution will be examined and the format of Ligue 1 season for the 2020-21 season will be decided.

Amiens, however, have already indicated that they will continue to fight the decision.

President Bernard Joannin described the decision as “unjust, incoherent and unfounded”, while he added that “as long as the authorities remain deaf to the legitimacy of our claim, we’ll exercise all the necessary means before the courts so that the future format of Ligue 1 is examined in accordance with the injunction of the Council of State”.

Original author: Robin Bairner
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Brazil left searching for a spark while Argentina celebrates

Franck Kessie has called on the AC Milan squad to give "everything" they have as they return to Serie A action against Lecce on Monday evening.

The Italian top-flight was suspended after Matchday 26 in March because of the coronavirus pandemic which hit Italy very hard, with more than 200,000 people affected of which 34,000 have died and more than 180,000 have recovered.

The reduction in cases and deaths has resulted in the green light for football to resume behind closed doors, which Kessie has been anticipating.

"There is a great desire to start again because we had a bad time. It was not easy for us to stay indoors and therefore we now all want to go back to playing," the Ivorian midfielder told Milan TV.

"It is not easy to get used to it [playing behind closed doors], but it is a matter of safety and therefore it is right to play like this until there is no longer the risk of getting sick."

Milan are presently seventh on the log, three points shy of Napoli who occupy the final Europa League qualification spot, and this is where the hard work comes in for the 18-time Italian champions.

"We are all close in the standings, we must work and do our best to try to score points in all the games," Kessie continued.

"We have to go even faster in these last few games that are missing. We have to give everything to reach our goal."

Milan lost a shot at an European spot by losing on away goals to Juventus in the Coppa Italia semi-finals last week. On Monday night's game at Lecce, Kessie says it will be "very complicated".

"It will be a very complicated game, we play away from home and they are very busy," the 23-year-old explained.

"It will be a complicated game, we will have to give more than what we gave in Turin.

"Training is very important, if you train well during the week you can see it in games. We have to work hard to be ready on Saturday or Sunday."

Kessie went on to congratulate former Milan player and manager Gennaro Gattuso on winning the Coppa Italia via penalties against Juve in Rome on Wednesday.

The ex-Italy midfielder dedicated his first managerial title to his sister, who died earlier this month.

"I am very happy for him [Gattuso], even for the sad moment he is going through," Kessie said.

"Fortunately he is now feeling a little joy for winning the cup. I am happy for him."

Kessie has played 2,033 minutes of competitive football this season, scoring a goal and providing an assist.

He has made a total of 122 appearances for Milan since joining from Atlanta in 2017 on a two-year loan before it was made permanent last summer.

Original author: Kunle Fayiga
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Msakni ‘motivated’ to lead Tunisia to Qatar 2022 World Cup

The U-16 head coach suggested that the team is looking to play high-quality opponents in Goa in preparation for the AFC U16 Championship...

India have been drawn alongside Asian giants South Korea, Australia and Uzbekistan in the upcoming AFC U-16 Championship which is scheduled to happen between November 25 and December 12 later this year in Bahrain.

The official draw for the tournament was held at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday. But even though India are clubbed in a very tough group alongside the giants of the continent, the U16 team's head coach Bibiano Fernandes is confident of his team giving a good account of themselves at the tournament.

During an Instagram Live chat with the Indian football team's official page, Fernades revealed that he was not concerned about whom they would be drawn against.

“Before the draw, I had no expectations or any preference of opposition. I was relaxed. When I saw Australia, Korea Republic and Uzbekistan in our group, I thought of my team who have already given an account of them and done well in the qualifiers. I believe in my boys they can compete with any team at any level. I am sure our boys will make us proud.”

The preparations of the India colts were hampered due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting nationwide lockdown but the Goan coach explained that they have been regularly in touch with the players during the lockdown and are focusing on conditioning.

“It has been difficult for us and all over the world but everyone is finding ways to work with the boys. I know some countries have already started training. What we started doing is we had online sessions with the boys thrice a week were we conducted strength sessions, goalkeeping sessions and ball mastering sessions. I know it is not enough but we are keeping in touch with the players. We also used to watch matches of other U16 teams and analyse their games.”

The coach also suggested that even if they cannot play preparatory matches against international oppositions, the team will try to play quality opponents in Goa.

“We are aware of that and we are working on that. It is not in anybody’s hand. Hope the pandemic gets over as soon as possible. The plan is to play matches locally but higher level opponents. We will try to play international matches but if it does not happen, we will play matches in Goa. We can play against the lower ranked pro league teams.”

The former Sporting Clube de Goa player suggested that the standard of youth teams in India is improving with every batch and he is hopeful that in the next few years India will be among the top five teams in Asia.

“If we look at the matches we played the gap is not very big. Last time we lost by just one goal in the quarterfinal. We played against Turkmenistan and Bahrain this time and the gap is not too much. Just a little bit of work on the ground and we will be there. It is just a matter of time before we will be among the top 5 teams in Asia.”

Original author: Goal
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Championship play-offs 2020: Fixtures, dates & teams in the race to the Premier League

England's second tier contains some of the country's best supported clubs and they will be pushing for a place in the top division this June and July

The Championship play-offs represent some of the most exciting and potentially lucrative matches in world football, with a place in the Premier League on offer.

Four teams battle it out for the coveted promotion prize and the tension can be unbearable as fans live in hope that their team can reach the promised land of English football. 

The coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic forced a postponement to matters, but the league resumes in June after three months of no games.

Goal brings you everything you need to know about the competition phase, when the games are, how to watch and more.

Contents

What are the Championship play-offs? Which teams qualified for the Championship play-offs in 2020? When are the Championship 2020 play-offs? When & where is the 2020 Championship play-off final? Championship play-offs TV channel & live stream Who won last year's Championship play-offs?

What are the Championship play-offs?

The Championship play-offs in England are a series of knock-out games which take place at the end of the Championship season in order to determine which team earns the final promotion to the Premier League.

While the top two teams in the division earn automatic promotion, the teams which finish third, fourth, fifth and sixth qualify for the play-offs.

A merit-based system is in place to pair the semi-final opponents, with third place playing sixth place in one semi-final and fourth place playing fifth place in the other semi-final.

The Championship semi-finals are two-legged affairs, but the away goals rule does not apply. The semi-final winners progress to the play-off final.

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Which teams qualified for the Championship play-offs in 2020?

A number of teams are in with a good chance of qualifying for the Championship play-offs this season, but things could easily change when matches resume.

Leeds United and West Brom - who were involved in last season's edition - are the division's pace-setters at the summit. They will be aiming for automatic promotion.

Beneath those two there is a collection of teams fighting it out, including Brentford, Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Preston North End, with the likes of Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers also in the mix.

Championship table 2019-20

Pos Team MP W D L GD Pts
1 Leeds United 37 21 8 8 +26 71
2 West Brom 37 19 13 5 +27 70
3 Fulham 37 18 10 9 +14 64
4 Brentford 37 17 9 11 +31 60
5 Nottingham Forest 37 16 12 9 +10 60
6 Preston North End 37 16 8 13 +5 56
7 Bristol City 37 15 10 12 -2 55
8 Millwall 37 13 15 9 4 54

Last updated: Games played on March 8, 2020 | Key: (P) - secured promotion | (Q) - qualified for play-offs

It is a tight division and very little stands between most of the teams, so a few results could easily alter the complexion of the table.

Other sides such as Swansea City, Millwall and Cardiff City will feel capable of mounting a play-off push.

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When are the Championship 2020 play-offs?

Championship play-off final

Date Team Result Team Kick off time (BST)
August 4 TBC - TBC 7:45pm

The 2020 Championship play-offs will be played in July, with the final scheduled for Tuesday August 4.

It was originally scheduled for Monday May 25, meaning there has been a delay of two months.

Championship play-off semi-finals

Team Agg. Team 1st Leg 2nd Leg
TBC - TBC July 26 July 29
TBC - TBC July 27 July 30

With the Championship returning at the end of June, the play-off semi-finals will now be played at the end of July. First legs will be played on July 26 and 27 with the second legs taking place on July 29 and 30.

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When & where is the 2020 Championship play-off final?

The 2020 Championship play-off final is scheduled for Tuesday August 4. It had originally been booked for Monday, May 25.

Since the game is being played in mid-week, it will kick off at 7:45pm rather than the usual afternoon kick-off time associated with weekend play-off finals.

Wembley Stadium in London is the traditional venue for the match. Wembley is used for all EFL play-off finals with those for League One and League Two also taking place at the venue.

Affectionately known as 'The Home of Football' in England, Wembley is one of the biggest stadiums in the world and Championship play-off finals regularly attract bumper crowds.

The 2019 Championship play-off final between Aston Villa and Derby County, for example, drew an audience of 85,826.

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Championship play-offs TV channel & live stream

Sky Sports has exclusive broadcasting rights for the Championship in the UK and the play-offs will be shown live on Sky Sports Football. Sky Go is the channel's online streaming service.

In the US, the ESPN network and its online streaming platform  ESPN+ will be the sole outlets broadcasting the Championship play-offs.

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Who won last year's Championship play-offs?

Aston Villa won the 2019 Championship play-offs after a 2-1 victory over Derby County.

Goals from Anwar El Ghazi and John McGinn either side of half-time were enough to see Villa to victory over the Rams, who threatened a comeback late in the second half when Jack Marriott found the net.

Villa overcame West Brom in the semi-final to book their place in the final of the play-offs, while Derby defeated Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United - a team that had been fancied to win the division.

It was the Birmingham club's second successive appearance in the play-off final, having lost the 2018 edition 1-0 to Fulham.

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Original author: Goal
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Language barrier cost me at Levante - Nantes' Simon

The Nigeria international discloses that he could not justify his move to the Frogs from KAA Gent over linguistic matters

Nantes star Moses Simon reveals that he failed to shine at Levante due to his struggles to overcome the language barrier in Spain.

After four seasons at Genk - where he won the Belgian Pro League and Belgian Super Cup titles, the Nigeria international joined the Spanish elite division side on a five-year contract.

However, he failed to reignite his spark for Paco Lopez’s team - scoring just once in 19 league games which led to his loan move to Stade de la Beaujoire.

He explained to Goal that it was difficult to get along at Estadi Ciutat de Valencia because of language difficulties, but feels it is easier in France where he could communicate effectively.

“It is the language barrier because my coach [Paco Lopez] doesn’t speak English,” Simon told Goal.

“All he speaks is Spanish and that made it very difficult for me to communicate effectively with him and that I feel affected my performance.

“But here in France, I understand their language and most of my teammates speak English as well. That makes me very free and I am also able to understand whatever my coaches say.”

The ex-Trencin man scored nine goals and contributed eight assists in 30 appearances across all competitions - a feat which earned him the Canaries’ Player of the Season prize.

He was also handed a four-year contract that will see him remain with Christian Gourcuff’s men until 2024. Simon explains the motivation behind his new deal and what he hopes to achieve with Nantes.

“I decided to remain with Nantes because the love for me here is more than what is obtainable in Spain,” he continued.

“My teammates and the fans here appreciate my efforts and that alone made me want to stay. 

“Personally, I will keep doing my best for the team and hopefully, we can get a ticket to play in the Uefa Champions League or the Europa League. That is one of my goals.”

The league organisers elected to call time on Ligue 1at the end of April owing to the coronavirus pandemic, with Paris Saint-Germain crowned as champions.

Nantes finished in 13th place while Amiens and Toulouse were relegated to Ligue 2 after being adrift at the bottom of the log.

Original author: Shina Oludare
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Europa League 2020 tournament: Where & when will matches take place?

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic meant that football was called to a halt, but tournaments are resuming again after three months

UEFA has confirmed the 2019-20 Europa League and Champions League competitions will be completed this summer after a three-month suspension as the world dealt with the coronavirus pandemic.

However, calendar constraints and the need to kick off the 2020-21 season means that they will occur under vastly different circumstances.

While the Champions League knockout tournament will be held in Portugal, Germany has been chosen to stage the Europa League knockout tournament.

Here's how it will happen...

Contents

What is the Europa League 2020 tournament? Where will the Europa League 2020 tournament be held? When will the Europa League 2020 tournament take place? Which teams will be involved in the Europa League 2020 tournament?

What is the Europa League 2020 tournament?

The Europa League 2020 'final eight' tournament will condense the knockout stage into single-leg deciders from the quarter-final stage on.

Once the last-16 round has been completed - there are six second-leg games to play, while two ties will change to single-leg games - the final eight tournament will commence in Germany.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be straight knockout matches as opposed to the usual two-legged affairs in order to streamline things.

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Where will the Europa League 2020 tournament be held?

The Europa League 'final eight' tournament will be played at four venues across Germany. They are: Dussedorf, Cologne, Duisburg and Gelsenkirchen.

The stadiums being used for the tournament are Schalke's Arena AufSchalke, Koln's RheinEnergieStadion, the MSV-Arena in Duisburg and the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf.

A decision will be made on whether the remaining last-16 matches will be played at teams' respective home venues or in venues in Germany.

Gdansk was originally scheduled to host the 2020 Europa League final, but it will now be held in Cologne at the RheinEnergieStadion, with the 2021 final taking place in Gdansk.

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When will the Europa League 2020 tournament take place?

Competition stage Date(s) Venue(s)
Last 16 August 5/6 TBC
Quarter-finals August 10/11 Arena AufSchalke / RheinEnergieStadion / MSV-Arena / Merkur Spiel-Arena
Semi-finals August 16/17 Arena AufSchalke / RheinEnergieStadion / MSV-Arena / Merkur Spiel-Arena
Final August 21 RheinEnergieStadion

The 2019-20 Europa League knockout stage will now take place from August 5 and conclude on August 21. 

Last-16 matches will take place on August 5/6, with the quarter-finals set to take place on August 10/11.

Semi-finals will be played on August 16/17, while the final, which will be held at Koln's RheinEnergieStadion, is scheduled for Friday August 21.

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Which teams will be involved in the Europa League 2020 tournament?

None of the Europa League last-16 ties have been resolved yet, so we don't yet know who exactly will play in the 'final eight' tournament.

The winners of the following ties will play in the 'final eight' stage:

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Original author: Ryan Kelly
  343 Hits

Kimera: Kyetume president optimistic of better season after securing Melbet sponsorship

The team will line-up in a 3-4-3 formation with fans voting position by position
  108 Hits

Southampton boss Hasenhuttl addresses links with Manchester United hot seat

The 32-year-old has left the Team of Choice and will now wait for his contract at the Brazilians to expire before officially becoming a free agent

Maritzburg United chairman Farouk Kadodia has confirmed the departure of Jeremy Brockie.

Brockie was on loan at the Team of Choice from Mamelodi Sundowns until the end of the season. 

However, with the suspended season set to be extended due to the coronavirus outbreak, Maritzburg United felt Brockie wasn't going to add value to the team and decided to part ways with him. 

According to Kadodia, Brockie wasn't guaranteed game time in the remaining five league games. 

"We've got only five games left, we are not going to assure him game time. That's the reason why (we let him go early) because he is a loan player. We had to make a decision if we were going to give him game time," Kadodia told IOL

Brockie will become a free agent at the end of June after his parent club, Sundowns, indicated that they won't exercise the option they have on his current contract. 

Kadodia said Brockie stayed in Pietermaritzburg for the past three months of the coronavirus lockdown and confirmed the marksman will join his family abroad now that he's left the club. 

"He stayed here the whole lockdown. He stayed here without his family who had already gone. He is looking forward to meeting his family," he said. 

"He has already left. I'm not too sure where he has gone to. Whether he is got a flight or not [I'm not too sure].

"No, he won't be [part of the team that will finish the season]."

The 32-year-old marksman had a difficult season with Maritzburg United - scoring just once and contributed a single assist in 15 appearances across all competitions. 

His struggle for form started when he left SuperSport United for Sundowns in 2018. 

Brockie scored just two goals in 32 matches for Sundowns before falling down the pecking order under the stewardship of Pitso Mosimane.  

Reports suggest that SuperSport United will re-sign Brockie ahead of next season as the lanky striker looks to revive his career. 

This is because Matsatsantsa could lose a few of their key players, including Bradley Grobler, who is wanted by both Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

 

Original author: Ernest Makhaya
  111 Hits

Burnley 0-0 West Ham: Player ratings from bore draw at Turf Moor

The Ghanaian full-back will not be part of the travelling Eagles contingent to the Vitality Stadium on Saturday

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson announced that Jeffrey Schlupp will be unavailable for the Premier League game against Bournemouth on Saturday after getting injured in training on Thursday.

The Ghana international had been out with a hip injury since December 2019 and made a return after he was named on the bench in a 1-0 win over Watford on March 7 before the league was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

He has however suffered a setback and will not be part of the squad along with his teammates James Tomkins and Martin Kelly.

Schlupp has scored two goals and provided two assists in the Premier League this season, both happening on back-to-back occasions.

His assists first game in a shock 2-1 victory at Manchester United and then a home win against Aston Villa, while his goals came in an away win at Burnley followed by the sole goal in the reverse fixture against Bournemouth at Selhurst Park.

"James Tomkins hasn’t recovered, we hoped he would but he hasn’t. Jeff Schlupp picked up an injury during our training sessions early on and he's still out with that injury and now Martin Kelly has picked up a calf injury to add to the thigh injury that he had and suffered from," Hodgson told me media.

"It’s a bit disappointing, especially with regards to James Tomkins and Martin Kelly, who were injured basically when we stopped and I was rather hoping they’d recover. But they’ve picked up fresh injuries."

The former Liverpool manager went to assert he has very little concerns about the fitness level of his team.

"I haven’t had general concerns over our fitness level. But it’s fitness levels over 90 minutes of intense football," he said.

"The fitness level you need to deal with that is always going to be an unknown until you’ve got a few games behind you."

Prior to the Premier League suspension, Crystal Palace won three games in a row all by a 1-0 scoreline with Ghana forward Jordan Ayew scoring in two of them.

The 28-year old is the South London outfit's top scorer in the league with eight goals, which is an English top-flight best for him.

Palace sit in 11th spot on the standings, 12 points clear of 18th-placed Bournemouth.

Original author: Kunle Fayiga
  105 Hits

Coventry edge Boro to reach Champ playoff final

The Reds boss was full of praise for the Manchester United forward after his persistence led to a £120m initiative to support vulnerable children

Jurgen Klopp has hailed Marcus Rashford after the Manchester United star helped force a crucial government U-turn on free school meals for children.

Rashford launched a campaign to force Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his cabinet to reverse its decision not to award free-meal vouchers to more than one million children in England outside of term time.

The England international wrote an open letter to MPs, and detailed his own experience growing up using food banks and receiving free school meals.

His lobbying forced a change in government policy, with the establishment of a £120 million ($149m) Covid Summer Food Fund confirmed earlier this week.

Speaking at a virtual press conference ahead of Liverpool’s return to Premier League action this weekend, Klopp praised Rashford’s campaign, and insisted football must continue to do all it can to affect social and political change where possible.

Klopp said: “What Marcus Rashford did, I could not respect more. It’s unbelievable. It’s a little bit of a shame that he had to do it, because things like this should be just natural. 

“But there was something to do and he did the job in an incredible manner. What he did during lockdown was absolutely fantastic.”

Klopp also praised his own players who, led by captain Jordan Henderson, made significant contributions to local charitable causes during lockdown, and who were heavily involved in the creation of the #PlayersTogether initiative which will see crucial funds distributed to NHS charities across the UK.

“What Hendo and the players did during lockdown, I am proud but not surprised,” Klopp added. “They do a lot of things without talking about it, and that makes me proud.

“The players were ready to immediately help during this difficult time.”

Discussing the Black Lives Matter movement, meanwhile, Klopp insisted that football should not ignore political issues and should instead do all it can to make a difference.

“If football is a role model for anything in life it is for equality,” he said. “Wherever you are from, whatever country you are from, whichever colour you are, you are the same. 

“I know it’s easy to say that, but it’s just completely natural for us in football. That’s how it should be everywhere. Judge people only because of who they are, nothing else.

“It is so dumb not to be like this, I cannot understand it but it is like this, so we have to stand up. We will do what we have to do to sort this situation, for now and for the future. We can’t change the past but we can change the future so we should all try.”

Original author: Neil Jones
  104 Hits

Bernardo Silva reveals key to Man City's demolition of Real Madrid

Video: Arteta backs David Luiz to bounce back from City nightmare | Goal.com

Premier League

14:26 BST 19/06/2020

David Luiz sad Arsenal 2020

Arteta believes David Luiz will bounce back from a poor performance against Manchester City

Original author: Goal
  103 Hits

Man City are already the world's best team, but UCL win would make them legends

The key trio only have a year left on their contracts, but talks have been ongoing regarding extensions at the Allianz Arena

Thiago Alcantara, David Alaba and Jerome Boateng are yet to sign new contracts that will keep them at Bayern Munich beyond next year, but Hansi Flick wants them all to remain.

Speculation has swirled around numerous key Bayern players in recent times, with several having contracts that expire at the end of the 2020-21 season.

Reports have suggested Thiago has been in talks with the club regarding a new deal, but that Bayern are growing frustrated by the Spaniard's prolonged silence.

That has led to suggestions Thiago might be looking for a way out, and if his desire is to leave, Bayern will have to offload him in the coming months or risk losing him on a free transfer next year.

As for Boateng, the experienced central defender also has a season left on his current terms, and despite enjoying an impressive resurgence under Flick, Paris Saint-Germain and Hertha Berlin – his first club – have been mooted as potential destinations.

Alaba finds himself in a similar position with his contract, but Flick reiterated a preference for the trio to stay with the Bundesliga champions.

"Thiago is an exceptional player, an excellent football player," he told reporters on Friday. "He brings every team a great level of play and is very intelligent.

"I would like him to stay here. He and the club know that. I want him and Alaba to help us next year.

"We are in good spirits that it can work out, but in sport you never know how it will turn out. Both players are top, top players.

"David and Jerome are doing very well, he [Boateng] is in a very good shape. That is the basis that we are defensively so good.

"It is clear that you want to have such experienced players in your own ranks. I cannot say what thoughts Jerome has. He's at a certain age, maybe he wants another challenge by switching. He has another year of contract. If he stays, I'm not sad."

Flick also wants Bayern's loan players, such as Ivan Perisic and Philippe Coutinho, to remain at least until the end of the latter stages of the Champions League, which will take place in August.

But he accepts both could have to return to their parent clubs, Inter and Barcelona, respectively.

"We are in an exchange, but it is still too early to talk about departures," he said. "We have three games left, then there is a short break, then there is the Champions League.

"We want to play the Champions League as we started the season and have finished. I want the loan players to stay there, but the clubs have to negotiate."

Original author: Ryan Benson
  102 Hits

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