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Harry Maguire's recovery from an ankle ligament problem is "further ahead than we might have dared to hope", says Gareth Southgate, as England prepare to face Scotland in their second match of Euro 2020.

The Manchester United defender, a mainstay of the Three Lions' backline under Southgate since cementing his position during the 2018 World Cup, has been out of action since early May, after sustaining the injury in the Red Devils' 3-1 Premier League win over Aston Villa.

Having missed his club's Europa League final defeat against Villarreal, hopes had seemed slim that Maguire might feature at all for his country during this summer's rearranged tournament at one point. But now, Southgate has revealed a positive update on his situation.

What has been said?

"He's had a few days training with the team and we are really pleased with the progress," the Three Lions boss told ITV ahead of Friday's Group D clash against Steve Clarke's side at Wembley Stadium.

"We have got to make a decision in the next couple of days. He's certainly further ahead than we might have dared to hope when it got to the end of the season.

"Everything he has done up to this point, there has been no reaction. We're really pleased with his progress."

England poised for major boost

Maguire may not be fully ready to play the whole 90 minutes in either of the national team's remaining group stage games, but any appearance would prove a shot in the arm for Southgate from the perspective of both tactics and morale.

Villa's Tyrone Mings deputised in the former Leicester City man's usual centre-back spot for Sunday's 1-0 win over Croatia, partnered with Manchester City's John Stones, but it is speculated that concerns over the former's form were the catalyst for Atletico Madrid's Kieran Trippier moving from right to left-back to provide additional coverage.

Mings subsequently acquitted himself with his best performance in an England shirt, but if Maguire is able to take the field, there would be little question about slotting the World Cup semi-finalist back into position.

The bigger picture

After Scotland on Friday, England will face a four-day turnaround before their final Group D clash with the Czech Republic, as they look to seal top spot and qualify for the knockout stages, with the potential to face France, Portugal or Germany in the last-16 a firm possibility should they do so.

Ahead of those two games, Southgate will be required to consider whether to tinker with a winning formula elsewhere - namely whether there is room for Liverpool's Jordan Henderson following the superb work of Leeds United's Kalvin Phillips alongside West Ham man Declan Rice against Croatia.

Should England win both remaining games, they will face a week-long wait to play their last-16 tie, also at Wembley, on June 29.

Further reading

Roberto Mancini said Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini will need to undergo further testing after limping off injured in a 3-0 win over Switzerland in the Euro 2020 group stage on Wednesday.

Mancini said he hopes it's nothing serious but admitted he will not be sure until Thursday.

The centre-back left after just 24 minutes, but the Azzurri still managed to thump their Swiss counterparts with their second straight three-goal effort.

What has been said?

“We’ll see tomorrow and hope it’s nothing serious,” Mancini told RAI Sport.

Centre-back Francesco Acerbi, who replaced Chiellini, blamed the taxing scheduling for professional footballers on his team-mate's problem.

“This is what happens with a tournament after a long season, there is fatigue, you have to be always ready when called upon," Acerbi said. 

“I didn’t even have a second of warm-up. I saw Chiellini seemed fine and then all of a sudden he took off his armband and needed to come off."

Italy keeps up record-breaking attack

The Azzurri recorded their first three-goal game at a European Championship in their first group stage appearance vs Turkey and then did it again on Wednesday.

“We try to attack and defend as a team, that’s why we score many goals and concede so few," Acerbi said. "It’s been going well so far!

“There might be three or four sides in the tournament who have better talents or individuals, but I said before the competition started that there was something in the air with this group. I think we can go far.”

Further reading

Golden Arrows and head coach Mandla Ncikazi have amicably parted ways despite an impressive PSL campaign.

"Lamontville Golden Arrows F. C. announces that the club along with Coach Mandla Ncikazi have reached an agreement to amicably part ways," a club statement read.

"We would like to thank him for his exceptional service, in different spells, over a 15 year period. Not only in the first team but also in the youth structures and the past, present and future stars produced during his time."

"He leaves through an open door and like any member of the family, he is welcome back at any time. We wish him well in his future endeavours."

MORE TO FOLLOW...

Barcelona president Joan Laporta says Lionel Messi wants to stay at the club, and it is only financial regulations that are preventing them announcing a new contract.

The Argentina star can leave Camp Nou at the end of the month when his deal expires, and the club have been trying to commit him to an extension.

Messi wanted to leave last year and attempted to exercise a release clause in his contract, but decided to stay because he did not want a legal battle with Barcelona.

What has been said?

Laporta says the 33-year-old has been convined to remain at Barca and they want to get a deal wrapped up "as soon as possible".

“Leo Messi's boots will continue on the Camp Nou pitch. He wants to stay. I do not contemplate a no. It isn't easy. We'll do what we can," Laporta said. "There is no need to seduce him, he is determined if there are a series of circumstances to stay."

He added: "He is OK but he hasn't signed yet. Kun Aguero tells him every day: 'Sign that, we will play together'."

What is holding up the deal?

Laporta says Barca have not been able to confirm an agreement so far because they must balance the books to comply with UEFA Financial Fair Play rules.

The president admits they will have to sell some players to make sure they can keep Messi.

"In economic terms, he has made it very easy, but financial fair play is another battleground," he said. "We have to follow the rules, we will follow them. There will be more sales and loans. Without paying a transfer fee. We will do a lot of loans, because we have a very high sports payroll compared to other clubs."

How did Messi perform last season?

Despite Barcelona enduring a disappointing 2020-21 season, Messi was once again the top scorer in La Liga. He netted 30 goals in 35 appearances in the league - seven more than nearest challenger Gerard Moreno.

He also scored five times in the Champions League and three in the Copa del Rey - the only competition they won last term.

Further reading

Villarreal have confirmed the signing of Aissa Mandi on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract at Real Betis.

The Algeria international penned a four-year deal on Wednesday to become the second African in Unai Emery’s team after Nigeria winger Samuel Chukwueze.

Mandi is not new to Spanish football having spent the last five years at Real Betis and he will link up with his new teammates when they Yellow Submarine kick-off their pre-season training on July 20.

Aside his defensive prowess, the 29-year-old has proved his versatility at the Estadio Benito Villamarin with his contribution of eight goals and four assists in 173 matches for Real Betis in all competitions.

“Villarreal CF have reached an agreement with Aïssa Mandi, who will play in yellow for the next four seasons (until June 2025). The French-Algerian footballer joins the Submarine as a free agent after his contract expired at Real Betis Balompie,” the club statement read.

Born in France to Algerian parents, Mandi started his career at Reims where he developed through the youth ranks before making his professional debut in a Ligue 2 encounter against Le Havre in August 2010.

His 16-year stint at Reims came to an end in 2016 when he sealed a five-year deal to Real Betis.

During the 2020-21 campaign, the Algeria defender enjoyed a decent return in front of goal with three goals for Real Betis who finished sixth in La Liga table with three points above seventh-placed Villarreal.

The move to the Estadio de la Ceramica also provides Mandi with a chance of playing Uefa Champions League football next season after the Yellow Submarine won the 2020-21 Uefa Europa League.

On the international scene, Mandi is a regular fixture in Algeria national team and he was part of Djamel Belmadi’s team that won the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

He has a tally of two goals in 60 appearances for the Desert Foxes. He opened his goal account for Algeria during the 2017 Afcon qualifiers against Ethiopia in March 2016 while the second came in the 2021 Afcon qualifiers against Botswana which ended 5-0 in March this year.

Rafa Benitez has emerged as the surprise front-runner for the vacant manager’s job at Everton.

Goal can confirm that the Spaniard has held positive talks with the Toffees board, after the they cooled their interest in former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo.

Sources say a deal could even be finalised this week, with the 61-year-old becoming the first man to have managed both Liverpool and Everton.

What’s the situation?

Everton have been searching for a new boss since Carlo Ancelotti’s shock resignation earlier this month.

A number of candidates were considered by Farhad Moshiri, the club’s majority owner, and as recently as last weekend it appeared that Nuno was the preferred candidate.

Brighton’s Graeme Potter was also discussed at board level, as were former Blues managers Roberto Martinez and David Moyes, as well as former Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe.

Benitez, though, is understood to have admirers within the club despite his strong Liverpool connections. He managed the Reds between 2004 and 2010, winning the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup a year later. Wednesday marked the 17th anniversary of his arrival at Anfield.

He has been out of work since leaving Chinese Super League club Dalian Professional in January, but has been keen to return to top-level management. The fact that his family is still based near Liverpool, on the Wirral peninsula, makes the Everton job even more appealing.

How would his appointment go down with Everton fans?

Were he to be appointed, it would be surely the most contentious decision in Everton’s recent history.

Benitez will forever be associated with Liverpool given that famous night in Istanbul in 2005, and he has clashed with Everton in the past, famously referring to them as “a small club” after a Merseyside derby in 2007.

A number of fans have already taken to social media to express their concerns, though his pedigree as a manager and his willingness to step into such a controversial role may count in his favour.

Benitez won two La Liga titles and a UEFA Cup with Valencia, and guided Chelsea to the Europa League in 2013. He also won an Italian Cup with Napoli.

Spells with Inter Milan in 2010 and Real Madrid in 2015-16 were less succesful,  although he did win the Italian Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup at Inter - but Benitez is revered at Newcastle, who he led to Championship success in 2017, before consolidating the Magpies as a Premier League club.

Further reading

Sergio Ramos is leaving Real Madrid, it has been confirmed.

The club have announced a press conference will be held on Thursday to bid farewell to the defender.

A statement from the club read: "Real Madrid CF announces that tomorrow, Thursday, June 17, at 12:30 pm, there will be an institutional act of tribute and farewell to our captain Sergio Ramos, with the presence of our president Florentino Pérez."

More to follow

Gareth Bale made European Championship history with his performance for Wales on Wednesday.

The winger was integral to his side's 2-0 win against Turkey as he registered two assists in the Euro 2020 clash to compensate for the penalty he missed.

Bale first set up Aaron Ramsey for the opening goal late in the first half and then gave Connor Roberts an easy finish in the dying seconds of the match.

What record has Bale set?

Wales could have won by an even bigger margin thanks to the threat Bale posed. The 31-year-old made five clear-cut chances during the match in Baku.

He is the first player to create so many big chances in a single match at a European Championship since 1980, according to Opta.

What next for Bale and Wales?

Wales are almost guaranteed a place in the next round of the competition after getting their first victory. They are now on four points from two matches, having drawn 1-1 with Switzerland earlier in the week.

Wales will round off the group stage with a match against Italy on Sunday.

The winners of their group will face the team that finishes second in Group C - consisting of Austria, Netherlands, North Macedonia and Ukraine.

The runners-up of Group A will take on the team that finishes second in Group B, which has Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Russia.

Further reading

Nigeria take on the United States of America in their last outing of the America Summer Series on Thursday morning.

Still fresh from their 3-3 draw with European giants Portugal, the Super Falcons go into this game full of confidence as they would be aiming to defeat Vlatko Andonovski’s women.

Although, the Stars and Stripes would be Randy Waldrum's toughest test, however, they are aiming to impress against the four-time Women’s World Cup winners.

Thursday’s meeting will be the sixth meeting between both countries – with the USA winning all previous encounters.

Before this game kicks off, Carli Lloyd would be honoured for earning her 300th international cap – a feat achieved by compatriots Kristine Lilly and Christie Pearce.

TV Channel, Live Stream & How To Watch

For Nigerian readers, get set on the latest football on TV here! For those across the globe, that is also the place to be.

Also, the game can be watched live on TV through NFF media and it can be streamed online using beIN Sports Connect.

Squads & Team News

Potential USA XI: Franch, Dahlkemper, Sonnett, Davidson, Lloyd, Horan, Lavelle, Macario, Dunn, Press, Purce

Potential Nigeria XI: Oluehi, Ogbonna, Zogg, Chikwelu, Payne, Okeke, Ariyo, Ajibade, Ordega, Oshoala

Match Preview

The United States of America go into Thursday’s game buoyed by their attacking masterclass against Jamaica.

Goals from Carli Lloyd, Lindsey Horan, Margaret Purce and Alex Morgan saw them outshine the Reggae Girlz in Texas.

Prior to that game, the Jamaicans had silenced reigning African queens Nigeria 1-0 in their first game.

Against the Super Falcons, Andonovski’s side would be aiming to extend their dominance.

Their biggest win remains a 7-1 triumph achieved in a group game of the 1999 Women’s World Cup.

On home soil, the USA boast a 41-game unbeaten streak – 37 wins and four ties – across all matches. In those games, they have scored multiple goals in 34 of those games.

Regardless of the result, the essence of the outing is to keep the West African side in fine shape ahead of October’s Africa Women Cup of Nations qualifier against eternal rivals, Ghana.

Former Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu believes the Black Stars are struggling to replace legendary striker Asamoah Gyan following their inability to score in friendly matches against Morocco and Cote d’Ivoire.

In two friendlies, The Black Stars succumbed to a 1-0 away loss to Morocco before playing out a 0-0 draw with Cote d’Ivoire back home on Saturday.

Gyan, Ghana’s all-time top scorer with 51 goals in 109 internationals, has not played for the Black Stars since the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in 2019.

“What we [Ghana] need now is a typical striker as I feel Jordan Ayew is more comfortable playing behind a striker,” former Udinese man Badu said on GHOne TV.

“Everyone knows we miss a striker like Asamoah Gyan. We may not get someone who has a potential like his, Gyan will be very difficult to replace.”

Badu is not the only former Black Star to have publicly commented on the team’s drought in the recent friendlies.

"It is a source of worry if we are not scoring goals. If you have to win a game then it means you must be scoring. Is it really an issue of striking? Don’t you think it's probably because of the strategy or format we are planning?” former Ghana striker Augustine Arhinful has said.

“How is our striker supposed to score if he doesn’t get the support? We are not creating enough, maybe because of the format we are planning. We need to look at those things. Are we lacking strikers or a complete team play that will result in bringing in the goals?

“We are not creating the chances in the game for the strikers to score. We need to find the best position for some of these players to play a system that will enable us to score. Everybody must be allowed to play and we have to be concerned about how the team is playing on the field as well."

Ghana return to action in September when they take on Ethiopia and South Africa in the second round of Africa’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

Gareth Bale is happy with the way he and Aaron Ramsey linked up to help Wales record a 2-0 win against Turkey on Wednesday.

Despite missing a penalty in the second half of the Euro 2020 tie, Bale registered two assists as his side got their first victory of the tournament.

The Real Madrid winger set up Ramsey for the opener near the end of the first half and then passed to Connor Roberts for a finish from close range in second half stoppage time.

What has been said?

Bale and Ramsey created four chances for each other in the game and are responsible for 50 of Wales' last 72 goals, with the former netting 33 and the Juventus midfielder scoring 17.

Bale is proud of the partnership they have struck up, telling BBC Sport : "I'm absolutely delighted with the win, we fought hard, worked our socks off, yes I missed a penalty but I feel I showed good character to keep going. That second goal at the end was the icing on the cake.

"Aaron got in a few times, we've always linked up well, it was important to get the victory today."

Will Wales go through to the next round?

Having drawn 1-1 with Switzerland in their first match, Wales now have four points from two matches and will finish the group stage with a clash with Italy on Sunday.

"You'd like to think that [four points] would be enough, we will have to wait and see. If you'd offered us four points at the start we would have bitten your hand off," Bale said.

"Playing in front of no fans is difficult, the fans were fantastic, I know most were Turkish but the Welsh fans were great too. It helped get your adrenaline going. We want to thank the fans at home too who I'm sure will be cheering in their millions."

Ramsey praises Wales' character

Ramsey was happy to make a difference for his team and the way his side saw out the game.

"I felt a bit of relief, I had two chances before to score but that first half today was superb, we really dominated," he told BBC Sport.  "Second half we showed great character and I think we thoroughly deserved the win.

"The penalty was a big moment but we didn't panic, we didn't leave anything out there, and we worked hard from each other.

"We've given ourselves a brilliant opportunity now, we've got another big game to go, we are in a good position now."

Further reading

The Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot) and Cameroon coach Toni Conceicao have dismissed reports accusing Vincent Aboubakar and Jean-Claude Billong of match-fixing during a Turkish Super Lig encounter between Besiktas and Hatayspor.

Several reports are claiming that Billong and Aboubakar had an agreement prior to the game on May 1 for the Black Eagles to win, with the latter allegedly promising to help the 27-year-old get an invitation into the Indomitable Lions' set-up.

Besiktas defeated Hatayspor 7-0 with the visitors conceding five goals in the first-half and Billong was replaced at half-time, however, Aboubakar was not present for the encounter.

Following the match, Hatayspor moved to terminate Billong’s contract but Fecafoot on Wednesday, took steps to defend the two national team players involved in the unverified allegations.

“Fecafoot is outraged by the weakness, ease and emptiness of the accusations made against these players, which are not based on any evidence. Vincent Aboubakar and Jean Claude Billong are two Indomitable Lions who have always been characterized by remarkable sporting behaviour and impeccable ethics,” the Fecafoot statement read.

“Fecafoot has total confidence in the two players of the Indomitable Lions and gives them all its support in the face of the cabal of which they are the object.”

Billong earned his maiden invitation to the Cameroon national team at the end of the 2020-21 season, and he made his debut in a 1-0 friendly win over Nigeria earlier this month.

Conceicao, in his own reaction, described the centre-back and Aboubakar as ‘very good boys’ who make his team on merit.

“I disavow the attempt to involve my players in this matter. They are two very good boys. The coach chooses the Indomitable Lions players, the only criterion is merit. This will be the case as long as I am the head of this great team,” the Portuguese coach wrote on Twitter.

The allegations have not gone down well in Turkey, with Hatayspor honorary president Lutfu Savas insisting that Billong did not block some goal-bound chances during the match.

“Billong got a tattoo on his leg one day before the game. He applied some creams to relieve the pain. It is known that the area that was tattooed is sensitive for a week,” Savas told Goal. “Therefore, he avoided possible contact on his leg by turning his back to some of the strikes. We gave away some chances and we conceded goals.

“I would not want to have such a player in my club. I had a discussion with the board and we terminated his contract. That’s all I know. Also, big teams like Besiktas have also conceded so many goals sometimes, it happens in football.

“We terminated Billong’s contract due to his fault, not for something else. If you have any doubts, you can go to court. These claims are nothing but shameful.”

Besiktas president Ahmet Nur Cebi, on the other hand, has also commented on the allegations and he maintains that the Black Eagles clinched their 16th Super Lig crown fairly.

“It is a disgraceful lie. If that’s the way they use to consolidate themselves, that’s fine. The championships of Besiktas are all clean as a whistle,” Cebi told Goal.

Finland coach Markku Kanerva has praised his players for their display of support for Christian Eriksen.

The Finland players wore t-shirts bearing the message "Get well, Christian" ahead of their Euro 2020 match against Russia on Wednesday.

Kanerva revealed that the players wanted to show their support for the Denmark star, who suffered cardiac arrest and collapsed on the field during their opening game of the tournament against the Finns in Copenhagen.

What has been said?

"We had a discussion with the captains. They suggested it and I supported it," the coach told reporters after their 1-0 defeat against Russia on Wednesday.

"Thanks to the responsible people who made this possible at short notice. This tells a story about the nature of the players."

How did the game go?

Russia secured a vital three points by beating Finland 1-0 in the Group B clash.

Aleksey Miranchuk made the difference with a goal just before half-time. He received a pass from Artem Dzyuba and cut inside before sending the ball curling into the top corner.

Finland thought they had struck the net in the opening minutes of the game, but Joel Pohjanpalo's goal was ruled ruled offside following a VAR check.

Kanerva was happy with his team's performance and is hopeful of a good result against Belgium to send them through to the next round.

"We would've deserved at least one point today. Belgium will be a very strong opponent, but the team has shown that we can make dreams come true," he said.

“We defended well and going forward we improved on our display against Denmark. We didn’t manage to score but we had good situations: some shots that went narrowly wide, others were blocked. It was a really close game.”

Finland player Paulus Arajuuri says having the goal chalked off affected his team, saying: "I don’t know how far Joel was offside, but it was so close. It’s all about fine margins, and today they didn’t go our way. It gives you a huge energy boost when you score. And when it’s ruled out, it takes a lot of energy out of you, too."

Cherchesov happy for Miranchuk

Russia manager Stanislav Cherchesov says he is happy with the way Miranchuk has developed in the last year, as the Atalanta player stepped up to earn their first win of the competition.

"When I was talking to him about his move to Atalanta I said that I support it. It was a big step for his career and for him as a player and person," he said.

"He has always been a good player but he had to develop as a person and get out of his comfort zone. We are very happy with his progress. We are not trying to force anything. We hope that he'll become one of the leaders at Atalanta next season."

Further reading

Former Ghana forward Augustine Arhinful is worried by the Black Stars' recent lack of sharpness in front of goal and states the problem could be tactical.

In over 180 minutes of action against Morocco and Cote d'Ivoire in two international friendlies earlier this month, CK Akonnor's outfit failed to score, raising questions about the quality of the striking department. 

Ghana first succumbed to a 1-0 loss to the Atlas Lions in Rabat before being held to a 0-0 draw by The Elephants in Cape Coast on Saturday. 

"It is a source of worry if we are not scoring goals. If you have to win a game then it means you must be scoring. Is it really an issue of striking? Don’t you think it's probably because of the strategy or format we are planning?" Arhinful quizzed.

“How is our striker supposed to score if he doesn’t get the support? We are not creating enough, maybe because of the format we are planning? We need to look at those things. Are we lacking strikers or a complete team play that will result in bringing in the goals?

“We are not creating the chances in the game for the strikers to score. We need to find the best position for some of these players to play a system that will enable us to score. Everybody must be allowed to play and we have to be concerned about how the team is playing on the field as well."

Against Morocco, Ghana were led by Crystal Palace striker Jordan Ayew, who scored just one league goal in the 2020-21 Premier League, with support from Saudi Arabia-based Samuel Owusu and Orenburg man Joel Fameyeh from wide. Ajax star Mohammed Kudus played just behind Ayew. 

In Saturday's fixture against Cote d'Ivoire, Jordan maintained his place as the Black Stars' leading striker, while Spezia attacker Emmanuel Gyasi and captain Andre Ayew started on either side of the wings.  

In Ghana's last two games before the recent double-header, they netted four goals. 

Under Gavin Hunt, who left with four games to the end of the Premier Soccer League season, Kambole only started in four games and failed to regain his top-scoring form exhibited at his previous work station. Nyambe has now alleged the poor form shown by the 27-year-old is down to being deployed in areas where it was hard for him to perform.

"[Lazarous] Kambole is a good friend of mine and I feel that Chiefs haven’t really given him that chance to play him right," Nyambe told Soccer Laduma. "Chiefs aren't playing him right. The way he played at Zesco United isn’t the same way that they are playing him. I think at Chiefs they are trying to play him behind the strikers and that is not his position. 
 
"He would flourish more playing from the wing and cutting inside and when playing as one of the forwards.
 
"That’s how they played him at Zesco United, but I have noticed that at Chiefs they have been trying to play him differently. He is a fast player, and you can’t play him as a centre-forward. For example, [Samir] Nurkovic is a centre-forward, and if you play Nurkovic as a number nine, Kambole should come from the wing and allow him to run with the ball, he is that kind of a player."
 
Kambole has emerged as Yanga SC's top target and the club's top official Said Heris is understood to have engaged Amakhosi over a potential one-year loan deal for the Zambian. 
In fact, Zesco United assistant head coach Noel Mwandila recently encouraged Yanga to complete the deal arguing Kambole will thrive in Tanzania.

"I know Kambole, he is a complete striker and one who can easily fill the boot that was left by Heritier Makambo," Mwandila said. "If they sign him, he'll be the most reliable star they've ever signed.

"He will help a great deal since he is pacy and a very competitive striker. There is an official from Yanga who called me and asked about Kambole's credentials and I assured him that the move to sign him would be the correct decision to make. 

"Kambole did well while he was at Zesco United and he could easily score 20 goals, but at Kaizer Chiefs, he was played as a winger.

"If one wants to know how strong he is, then playing him in that position is not the right way to assess him. I told the Yanga official that if Kambole was allowed to play in his natural position, they would reap the benefits of the signing.

"I understand the Tanzania league, and I know the defenders would have a difficult time dealing with him because he is a good fighter."

Kambole has one year remaining in his contract as speculation on his future at the club continues to increase.

The first Vice-president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Seyi Akinwunmi has stated Cristiano Ronaldo and Paul Pogba should not be blamed for their press conference actions if there are no commercial rules at Euro 2020.

Ronaldo and Pogba have dominated social media with their reactions at separate press conferences, where they removed branded items of sponsors before talking to the media.  

Before scoring a brace in Portugal's 3-0 victory over Hungary, Ronaldo removed two bottles of Coca-Cola from his table and raised a bottle of water instead.

In Munich, Pogba mimicked the former Manchester United forward after France’s 1-0 defeat of Germany on Tuesday night as he moved away the bottle of Heineken away from his presence but had no problem with Coca-Cola and water.

When asked about the effects of the players’ reactions on future partnerships, Akinwunmi - a seasoned football administrator - pointed out the importance of enlightening players of commercial rules before any tournament.

“I think before tournaments, players should be briefed on the rules of the tournament, including commercial rules,” Akinwunmi told Goal.

“I don't know if Uefa have any commercial rules for the tournament. If the commercial rules are against that aspect of game and they have been briefed, of course, they must be punished. However, if the commercial rules are not clear or individuals were not briefed, definitely if I say I don't subscribe to alcohol then I can't sit down behind an alcohol bottle.

“Although it might be another way round, because you are playing in a competition that Heineken sponsors but I think it boils down to what the commercial situation is. I can't fault them unless I know something about their commercial rules.”

Akinwunmi described the reaction of the business market to such an off-field incident as another point that stresses the value of football.

He added: “I think it is clear and we must be fooling ourselves if we are saying that we don't understand the value of sports and football in particular.

“The value of football cannot be underestimated and it has been shown by these events with the market reaction.”

Mamelodi Sundowns co-coach Rhulani Mokwena still rues the team's narrow defeat to Kaizer Chiefs in the second round of the recent 2020/21 PSL season.

Masandawana were stunned 2-1 by a struggling Amakhosi side on April 25 and it proved to be the Tshwane giants' only defeat of the campaign in the league. 

Sundowns went on to clinch their fourth successive PSL title in what was Mokwena and fellow co-coach Manqoba Mngqithi's first season in charge of the club.

However, Mokwena is not satisfied despite having steered the team to the league championship after replacing Pitso Mosimane, who left the Chloorkop-based side at the end of the 2019/20 season.

“A lot of very good work has been put in but the work will serve as a foundation rather than a benchmark,” Mokwena said to Sowetan on Wednesday.

“The reality is, apart from winning the league, we are not entirely satisfied with the season. Even in the league, we do feel we could have done a lot better.

“We could have won some of the games we drew. Maybe we shouldn’t have lost the Chiefs match because of the way we performed and the chances we created."

The defeat to Chiefs at Loftus Versfeld Stadium ended Sundowns' record-breaking 21-match unbeaten run in the league. 

Nevertheless, Mokwena feels that they have established a pattern of play that does promise greater success going forward.

“In retrospect, even when you do analysis, you see how clear it is for us to be able to improve certain aspects of our game so we can improve certain results," he continued.

“But it’s about the process. The first layer has been laid where we’ve built a very good foundation in terms of how we want to play. That now becomes the yardstick, and we have to build from that.”

Sundowns have arguably the strongest and among the biggest squads in the PSL and Mokwena admitted that their squad depth was key to them winning the league title. 

“Unlike other seasons where you would probably want to have a small squad, you are forced to have a lot of players in your squad and try to make all those players happy," he said.

“Fortunately for us we had situations where players were unavailable due to Covid-19 and suspension. Fortunately, whoever you play at Sundowns the standard and quality are the same, and the expectation is for them to help the team win matches.”

Arsenal defender Leah Williamson believes the club still has ambition and she trusts the right managerial appointment will be made this summer after the departure of Joe Montemurro.

The defender signed a new contract on Wednesday, ending months of speculation after her previous deal was set to expire this summer. New French champions Paris Saint-Germain were among those reported to be interested in the England international, as were former European champions Lyon and Wolfsburg.

However, Williamson will remain with the club with whom she won the 2018-19 Women’s Super League title as she is confident that, after finishing third in the past two seasons, the Gunners have what it takes to get back to the top.

What has been said?

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Williamson said: “This has been the toughest decision, contract wise, I've had to make, in terms of where I'm at in my career, and where the club is at.

“I think that was what I had to weigh up. Do we have the ambitions, firstly, that match my own? Do we want to be that team to compete, and can we compete? Those were the things that I just wanted to confirm, anything that I maybe was just a bit on the fence about because, as you know, Arsenal is everything to me.

“It was time to really make a football decision and not be blinded by my absolute love and affection for the football club.

“I put my emotion maybe to one side and just looked at as a footballer. I almost looked at it from the perspective of, 'if I wasn't at Arsenal, would I sign for the football club?' That's where I had to sort of put myself in my head to make sure that I was making decisions for the right reasons.

“Once I weighed everything up, and the type of player that I am, how I've been brought up to play football, and maybe where my next steps are, I still think that Arsenal is the perfect base for me to take what I'm good at to the next level and hopefully add the different side of my game that maybe will take me to the top.

“Whilst this is still a place where I can be developing every day and pushing myself, then there was no question really. The ambition of the club, I still believe is top and I can't wait to see what we can achieve.”

Who will Arsenal’s new manager be?

Williamson said she believes in the club when it comes to appointing a successor to Montemurro, who delivered the club’s first league title in seven years in 2019. The Aussie left the Gunners at the end of the season and was recently announced as the new head coach of Juventus.

“I was actually really lucky - and I do feel fortunate for these kinds of things. I think this is why I've always loved Arsenal and the type of football club that it is - I've been in regular contact with Vinai [Venkatesham, managing director] and those people higher up in the club just because they understood where I was at,” the 24-year-old said.

“Every player, really, needs that information if they're about to sign a contract or not. In the end, based on what they were looking for, what I want in a manager - and like I've said that player development thing is very important to me - and that's sort of top of their list as well.

“I basically wanted to know that the ambitions that I think the club have, they do have. I think after those conversations with them, I was happy to put my trust in the fact that they would pick somebody right for the job basically.”

What transfer business will Arsenal do?

There has been transfer speculation regarding a number of Williamson’s team-mates as well this summer. With midfielder Jill Roord and defender Ruby Mace having already departed, both Danielle van de Donk and Vivianne Miedema have been linked with Lyon, with the latter also reportedly interesting Barcelona.

Williamson admitted possible outgoings were something she couldn’t really “base [her] decision on” given those matters are “out of [her] control”, but emphasised her confidence in the club’s ability to get back to the top.

“I think we've had a lot of honest discussions this year and with the type of club that Arsenal are, the women's team have really been involved in those discussions,” she said.

“I'm a very logical person. I like to know a plan almost, and I think that the first step to that is maybe going, 'okay, we're not competing in this area, how do we fix that?' Arsenal are putting that in place.

“There's a lot still to be done, but the identification of those areas where we fall short a little bit, or have fallen short in the last couple of seasons and we've not maybe competed right at the top of the league, that's the first step for me

“The club has given me so much over the years, it's my turn, probably, to show my support back to them in terms of being here to see that through.”

Further reading