Новости за 06.12.2017

Lionel Messi has defended Gonzalo Higuain, claiming the Juventus striker is one of the best in the world and deserves to be in the Argentina squad. Higuain was left out of Jorge Sampaoli's squad for Argentina's final two World Cup qualifiers against Peru and Ecuador in October. The Juventus striker had also missed Argentina's previous two qualifiers, with the Albiceleste eventually booking their place in Russia with a 3-1 win in Ecuador in which Messi grabbed a hat-trick. Sampaoli has a wealth... Читать дальше...

Lionel Messi believes he and his Argentina team-mates will "have to disappear" if they fail to take their "last chance" to win a trophy at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Argentina have not won a senior international title since the 1993 Copa America, with five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi receiving criticism for failing to inspire an end to the country's drought. The 30-year-old retired from international duty after losing the Copa America Centenario final to Chile in 2016, the same side that pipped them to the trophy one year prior. Читать дальше...

Crotone have announced coach Davide Nicola has resigned after the team lost their last four matches in all competitions. A 3-0 home loss to Udinese in Serie A on Monday proved to be Nicola's final match in charge, with club president Gianni Vrenna having entered the dressing room at half-time. Nicola led Crotone to a miraculous survival in their first Serie A campaign last season, with six wins from their last nine matches seeing the club turn around a seemingly hopeless situation. Vrenna said... Читать дальше...

Al Jazira edged to a battling 1-0 win over Auckland City in the first round of the Club World Cup on Wednesday, moving a step closer to a glamorous meeting with Real Madrid. Romarinho drilled Al Jazira in front after 38 minutes, starting the move himself on the left wing and then finding the bottom-right corner from 20 yards, and the goal proved to be the winner. The New Zealanders should have equalised after 74 minutes when Cameron Howieson's low left-wing cross found Ryan de Vries six yards out... Читать дальше...

Ousmane Dembele has taken part in Barcelona's group warm-up exercises for the first time as the attacker nears a return from three months out with a hamstring injury.  Dembele suffered the injury against Getafe in September in just his second league appearance after becoming the club's record signing, joining in a €105million deal from Borussia Dortmund to replace Neymar after the Brazilian moved to Paris Saint-Germain. The 20-year-old had been touted as having a chance to return in time for the December 23 Clasico against rivals Real Madrid... Читать дальше...

Leon Goretzka is set for another spell on the sidelines after Bundesliga surprise package Schalke confirmed the midfielder will undergo tests on a leg injury. Goretzka, a reported target for Bayern Munich, Juventus and Barcelona, has featured twice for Domenico Tedesco's side after recovering from a stress fracture sustained last month. But the Germany international, who starred in his country's victory at the Confederations Cup, has been ruled out for the forseeable future. "Leon Goretzka has... Читать дальше...

Robbie Brady faces a "substantial" period of recovery after suffering a serious knee injury in Burnley's 1-0 Premier League defeat at Leicester City on Saturday. Brady was hurt in an accidental clash with Foxes defender Harry Maguire as he shaped to shoot on the edge of the box and left the field on a stretcher with his left leg in a brace. Burnley manager Sean Dyche confirmed on Wednesday the Republic of Ireland winger has torn the patellar tendon in his knee and will need an operation on the injury. Читать дальше...

SEE ALSO These 12 players who somehow DID win the award instead of this lot...8. David de GeaManchester United’s player of the season for a club-record three successive seasons. A Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield (hey, it's major trophy - when Jose wants it to be) and Europa League winner.Yet he's apparently never been the league'sbest player in a calendarmonth.De Gea joined the Old Trafford club in 2011 and is closing in on 300 appearances. In this time, he won the first four... Читать дальше...

Paul Pogba has claimed he would "stop playing" if he thought Manchester City could not be caught in the Premier League title race. The Manchester United midfielder is suspended for Sunday's derby clash thanks to his sending off in a 3-1 win at Arsenal last weekend. This weekend's fixture takes place with City eight points clear of their local rivals at the top of the table, but Pogba insists the void is not yet too vast to bridge. "If I don't believe [that United can catch City], I stop playing... Читать дальше...

EA SPORTS™, the Lead Partner of the Premier League, has teamed up with FourFourTwo to offer one lucky reader a pair of tickets toNewcastle vs Everton on Wednesday, December 13.EA SPORTS delivers the most authentic gaming experience for fans engaging with Premier League clubs and players within EA SPORTS FIFA 18.To enter, all you have to do is answer the simple question we’ve put out on Twitter(winner will be selected at random from correct entries).Terms and conditionsAll entries must be received by 08:00on 08/12/2017One entry per household. Читать дальше...

Moyes, who is still looking for his first win in charge of the Hammers, and before that suffered relegation atSunderland with six wins from 38Premier League games,has received his degree from the University of Central Lancashire.The former Manchester United manager has picked up the honorary degree after being "recognised for the significant contribution he has made as a football manager and player".Moyestold the UCLan's official website: “I’m really honoured and feel very privileged, not only for me but for my family too... Читать дальше...

SEE ALSOThe 95best Football Manager 2018 wonderkids… sorted by budgetFor most virtual football managers, there’s no better feeling than developing the next best talent in world football. The tricky bit is not necessarily to spot a gem, but to nurture the prospect so he can reach his full potential.The good news is that developing youth in Football Manager 2018 is mostly an exact science. So as long as you stick to the following guidelines, you're very likely to be successful...Is he worth it?Many... Читать дальше...

Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte has been fined £8,000 by the Football Association after being sent off during last week's 1-0 Premier League win over Swansea City. Conte was asked to leave the dugout by referee Neil Swarbrick after a prolonged remonstration with fourth official Lee Mason with regards to perceived time-wasting by Paul Clement's struggling Swansea. The former Juventus and Italy boss apologised immediately after the match, in which Antonio Rudiger headed the decisive goal, saying... Читать дальше...

In 1999, Stam played a pivotal role at the heart of Manchester United’s defence, in what turned out to be the most dramatic of conclusions to a Champions League final.Fast-forward six years and Stam was once again involved in the Champions League final – this time,on the wrong end of an incredible comeback as Liverpool came from 3-0 down to beat Milan on penalties.And, like so many players for whom losing was torturous, the Dutchman always remembers the anguishof Istanbul before the elation of Barcelona.“When... Читать дальше...

Arsene Wenger has responded Jose Mourinho's jibe that he was dishonest over Alexandre Lacazette's fitness before Arsenal's game against Manchester United last weekend. France striker Lacazette was ruled out of Saturday's game by Wenger on account of a groin injury, only to recover, start and get on the scoresheet. That effort was ultimately in vain as the Gunners went down 3-1 in a thriller but the former Lyon star's presence lingered with Mourinho as he accused Manchester City boss of being similarly... Читать дальше...

The Ballon d'Or will be handed out on Thursday and, as has become tradition, the football world waits with bated breath to see which of Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo will win it. The Barcelona and Real Madrid stars have won every edition of the prize since 2008, both as France Football's standalone award and during its merger with FIFA's prize, and it seems inconceivable that the duopoly will not continue in 2017. Plenty of debate has raged over which of them has deserved to get their hands on the glittering gold sphere every year... Читать дальше...

Arsene Wenger does not believe Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere jeopardised his return to fitness with a family ice-skating trip. England international Wilshere, whose career has been ravaged by injury problems over recent years, poked fun at his fitness record in an Instagram post of him skating on Tuesday. "Positive week, managed to get through 20 minutes of ice skating without getting injured," the 25-year-old wrote alongside a picture of his wife and two children. Hailing from Strasbourg,... Читать дальше...

Bayern Munichfans have been a busy bunch recently – and their endeavours usually involve protesting about money by throwing things onto the pitch.Last month, they voiced their displeasureaboutChampions League ticket prices after being charged €100 to attend their matchat Anderlechtbyshowering thepitch with fake money. That came afer similar protests at Arsenal in March, when disgruntled Bavarians threw toilet paper and earned themselves a UEFA wrist-slap.This time Neymar was the target at the Allianz Arena... Читать дальше...

Crouch’s career has spanned 12 clubs and also includes a formidable scoring record for England, with 22 goals in his 42 caps.There is one moment, though, that he enjoyed more than any other– and it wasn't for the Three Lions.As Tottenham and Manchester City were battling for a Champions League spot at the end of the 2009/10 season, Spurs travelled to Manchester knowing that victory would ensure a qualification place for the first time.Crouch’s 82nd-minute header proved to be the only goal of the game... Читать дальше...

Arjen Robben could miss Bayern Munich's DFB-Pokal clash with rivals Borussia Dortmund after head coach Jupp Heynckes was unable to nail down a return day for the winger. Robben last featured in the 2-1 Champions League win at Anderlecht, where he was substituted due to what was described at the time as a "minor calf strain". He sat out the Bundesliga matches at Borussia Monchengladbach and against Hannover, along with Tuesday's concluding Group B win against Paris Saint-Germain and Heynckes does... Читать дальше...

This week, a Celtic player bested Kenny Dalglish’s all-time European appearance record for a Scottish footballer. Impressive, even if he probably won’t match King Kenny’s total of three wins in Europe’s premier club competition (unless thatshock summer move to PSG comes off).Yet we’re going into more recent history now to quiz you on the top three appearance-makers for 20 major nations in the post-1992, Champions League era.Answers runfrom a Spanish goalkeeper with the all-time record of 166 Champions... Читать дальше...

The winner of France Football's 2017 Ballon d'Or is set to be announced on Thursday, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi the two frontrunners to be crowned the world's best player yet again. Kaka was the last player to beat either of them to first place in 2007, with every single one taken home by the Real Madrid and Barcelona stars since. Ronaldo, the current holder, is thought to be the favourite once again and, should he win, he will go level on five with Messi as the player with the most Ballons d'Or. Читать дальше...

Andrei Kanchelskis feels privileged to have played alongside Eric Cantona during their time at Manchester United. Wednesday marks the 25th anniversary of Cantona's United debut as a half-time substitute during a 2-1 win over Manchester City at Old Trafford. The enigmatic Frenchman's arrival from Leeds United proved to be the spark for United's incredible run of success in the 1990s under Alex Ferguson and he collected four league titles, while his goals in FA Cup finals helped to turn two of those into domestic doubles. Читать дальше...

Much was made of the supposedly strained relations between the pair when Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in 2013.Sure enough, the Portuguese tactician stuck to the narrative byshiftingthe Spanish schemerout of his side before selling him to rivals Manchester United the following January.Two years later, Mourinho was appointed manager at Old Trafford– and Mata was in the crosshairs for pundits' concernsonce more. But they needn't have worried, says the 29-year-old, who is adamant that no such thoughts were running through his own mind. Читать дальше...

GOAL! is the young person’s football magazine from the makers of FourFourTwo.Inside you’ll find interviews with big stars, quizzes, posters, advice on starting your own YouTube channel, tips on FIFA 18 and few laughs along the way.It’s currently at the pilot stage, and comes FREE with the January 2018 issue of FourFourTwo, out now,so we'd love to hear your thoughts: what do you like, what don’t you like and how often would you like to get a copy? The more we know, the better it will be.So, whether... Читать дальше...