Новости за 20.03.2018

Ryan Bertrand has withdrawn from England's squad for the friendlies with Netherlands and Italy due to a back injury. The full-back has returned to Southampton for further tests on the problem, a decision that has been described by the Football Association as a precautionary measure. Bertrand will miss the matches with Netherlands in Amsterdam on Friday and the visit of Italy to Wembley next Tuesday. Danny Rose and Ashley Young are the players most likely to start on the left of the England defence in Bertrand's absence. Читать дальше...

Ashley Young has defended Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho over his treatment of Luke Shaw, and backed the defender to become one of the world's best. Mourinho's handling of Shaw has again been questioned after he substituted the left-back at half-time in Saturday's FA Cup win over Brighton and Hove Albion, before singling the player out for public criticism. The pair's relationship has appeared strained for some time, with Young - nominally a winger - often preferred over the former Southampton... Читать дальше...

Usain Bolt caused a storm last month when he announced he had signed for a football team, only for the watching world to feel a little deflated when it turned out he was simply playing in a charity match at Old Trafford this year. However, fans hoping to see the athletics great swap spikes for studs on a full-time basis will have been encouraged by his latest social media teaser. On Tuesday, Bolt took to Twitter and Instagram to post footage of him hard at work in a football training session, apparently back in his homeland of Jamaica. Читать дальше...

Nabil Fekir will ensure he maintains a positive relationship with Lyon if he goes on to fulfil his dream of playing for an elite European club, according to his agent. Lyon captain Fekir has enjoyed an outstanding season in Ligue 1, scoring 16 goals and reportedly attracting interest from a number of sides, including Liverpool and Arsenal. His agent Jean-Pierre Bernes insists the France international is happy at Les Gones, but he has not ruled out a move come the end of the season. "The career... Читать дальше...

Roma goalkeeper Alisson is fully committed to the club and has not discussed the prospect of a move to Liverpool, his agent has said. The Brazilian has reportedly attracted the attention of Jurgen Klopp's side and Real Madrid due to his performances in Serie A and the Champions League this season. Roma sporting director Monchi stated on Sunday that the club are not afraid of losing the 25-year-old, whose contract expires in June 2021, despite the player himself admitting he was flattered by links with some of Europe's top clubs. Читать дальше...

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay says he has always wanted to play for Scotland, despite reported interest from England. McTominay has won a place in United's midfield this season, his form leading to rumours of a battle between Scotland - his dad's birthplace - and England to secure the 21-year-old's allegiance at international level. But the Lancaster-born starlet put the speculation to bed this month when he accepted a senior call-up from Alex McLeish, insisting it was an easy decision to make. Читать дальше...

Federico Chiesa says he owes it to former Fiorentina captain Davide Astori to give everything for Italy during the international break. Astori died in his hotel room this month ahead of Fiorentina's scheduled Serie A clash with Udinese, with a post-mortem identifying cardiac arrest as the most likely cause of death. Viola star Chiesa, who could make his senior Italy debut against Argentina on March 23, acknowledges it has been a difficult few weeks but is determined to honour his late team-mate with his performances. Читать дальше...

Nick Pope is ready to battle for an England place, even if he acknowledges that soon he may no longer be guaranteed a start with club side Burnley. The 25-year-old has benefited from Tom Heaton's injury this season at Turf Moor, playing regularly in the Premier League for Sean Dyche's men and impressing enough to earn a first international call-up for this month's friendlies against Netherlands and Italy. Pope is one of four goalkeepers in the England squad and hopes to have an opportunity, but... Читать дальше...

Alvaro Morata was unhappy to be omitted from the latest Spain squad, according to Chelsea team-mate Marcos Alonso. Blues striker Morata scored his first goal of 2018 in the FA Cup quarter-final win over Leicester City on Sunday, ending a run of 13 games in all competitions without scoring. The 25-year-old's dip in form, combined with a back injury, saw Antonio Conte experiment with Eden Hazard as a false nine and use January arrival Olivier Giroud in place of Chelsea's record signing. Alonso admits... Читать дальше...

Mario Balotelli's omission from Italy's national team has prompted the striker's outspoken agent Mino Raiola to take aim at the Italian Football Federation (FIGC). Italy are beginning a new era under interim boss Luigi Di Biagio with friendlies against Argentina and England, having suffered the humiliation of failing to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years. Balotelli has not featured for the Azzurri since their group-stage exit at the finals in Brazil four years ago, but the... Читать дальше...

Gianluigi Donnarumma's agent Mino Raiola has reiterated his desire to see the goalkeeper leave AC Milan. The Rossoneri have confirmed their interest in signing Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina, who will be available on a free transfer in July, casting fresh doubt over Donnarumma's future. The 19-year-old looked to be on the verge of departing San Siro during protracted contract negotiations last year, before he eventually agreed a new deal through to 2021. But Raiola, who has made no secret of his frosty relationship with the Milan hierarchy... Читать дальше...

Mo Salah is riding on the crest of a wave right now: that four-goal haul against Watford on Saturday took his Premier League tally for the season to 28 – three short of the 38-game record.Now, though, the Reds speedster won’t just be assisting Liverpool for the rest of the season – Salah will earn Egyptians signed up to Vodafone 11 free minutes of extra airtime for every goal he scores.The mobile network recently released a memorable advert showing Salah as a fully acclimated Brit on Merseyside ... Читать дальше...

Eduardo Berizzo felt hard done by at Sevilla but is now planning a return to coaching after beating cancer, with LaLiga a possible destination. Former Argentina international Berizzo was diagnosed with prostate cancer last year, before being sacked by Sevilla in December shortly after returning to the dugout following successful surgery. The 48-year-old says he is ready to take on another job now and is focused on the future, even if he remains frustrated at the way things ended in Seville. "I... Читать дальше...

Patrick Cutrone did not believe he could become an Italy international, until the AC Milan striker experienced a breakout season in Serie A this term. The 20-year-old had made just one substitute first-team appearance before this campaign, but he has quickly established himself as a key player at San Siro, scoring 15 goals in all competitions. And as Cutrone prepares for his senior Italy debut - called up to the squad to play friendlies against Argentina and England - he has revealed his rise to prominence felt unlikely just 12 months ago. Читать дальше...

Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga has said he strongly considered a move to Real Madrid during the January transfer window. The 23-year-old came close to joining the European champions before eventually settling on a seven-and-a-half-year contract extension at San Mames, with a release clause of €80million. Already a senior Spain international, Kepa has racked up 44 top-flight appearances since his 2016 debut. But the highly-rated shot-stopper says the offer from Madrid was not the right choice for his future. Читать дальше...

The Danish Superliga might want to have a rethink about its structure.On Sunday, Sonderjyske conceded an 89th-minute goal to title-chasing Midtjylland, losing the game and dropping into eighthplace.That's actually handy for them, though. At this point, with the 14 teams having played each other twice, the Superliga splits into three: teams that finish in the top six go off to battle for the title, while those in seventh and below divideinto two separate play-off groups to contest both the drop and, strangely, an additional Europa League place. Читать дальше...

Lucas Vaquez sees no reason to consider leaving Real Madrid as he enjoys his brightest patch of form for the LaLiga giants. Spain international Vazquez is enjoying an extended run in Zinedine Zidane's side and scored his fourth league goal of the season in Sunday's 6-3 crushing of Girona. Madrid have won in seven of the winger's last eight LaLiga starts, with his form enough to consign Gareth Bale to the bench. And as a current member of the national team squad bound for the World Cup, Vazquez... Читать дальше...

Giorgio Chiellini is expected to be fit following the international break after Juventus confirmed the defender's thigh injury was only a minor concern. The Bianconeri issued a statement on Tuesday downplaying the problem Chiellini sustained in Saturday's 0-0 draw with SPAL. A "niggling injury" to the flexor muscles of the 33-year-old's right thigh has been revealed as the reason for his withdrawal from the Italy squad. While he will miss the international matches against Argentina and England... Читать дальше...

Newcastle United have been charged by the Football Association (FA) for fielding a youth team in a kit that breached kit and advertising regulations. The Magpies' under-18 side are alleged to have worn a kit bearing the logo of a betting company. Newcastle are sponsored by Asian betting company Fun88, and the FA's guide to kit advertising states that any team comprising players "all under the age of 18 on 31 August in the current season" is prohibited from wearing clothing that features "any reference whatsoever to a product... Читать дальше...

Miralem Pjanic insists he did not betray Roma by leaving for Juventus as winning trophies simply was not possible at Stadio Olimpico. The Bosnia and Herzegovina international moved to Turin in a €32million deal in 2016, claiming Serie A and Coppa Italia titles in his first season at the Bianconeri having failed to lift a trophy at Roma. And Pjanic believes that success underlines why he had to take the opportunity to join Juve, even if he would have loved to triumph in Rome. "Winning [at Roma] would have been a unique emotion... Читать дальше...

Less than three months to go, folks– actually, 86 days to be precise.As the 2018 World Cup beckons, adidashave got us in the mood with the big reveal of eight nations' strips for Russia this summer– Germany, Russia, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Sweden, Argentina and Mexico. Phwoar indeed, we think you'll agree.Forcurrent holders Germany, adi have paid homage to the greenof Die Mannschaft'sItalia '90 winners– famously used in their semi-final victory over England (*sob*).Elsewhere, Spain’s kit reverts to... Читать дальше...

Maurizio Sarri plans to stay at Napoli for as long as he can give his all as he continues to chase the Serie A title. Napoli looked to be falling away in the Scudetto race, but they moved back to within two points of defending champions Juventus with victory over Genoa at the weekend. It had been suggested that this could be Sarri's last season with Napoli, with Chelsea allegedly hovering and a release clause in his contract, but reports in recent days have claimed an agreement on a new contract is close. Читать дальше...

The next time you hear a Premier League manager bemoan the travails of yet another arduous pre-season tour abroad, spare a thought for Bob Kap.His name may be unfamiliar, but in 1967, he and his Dallas Tornado players embarked on football’s maddest world tour – one that featured bullet trains, exploding planes, monkeys staging war re-enactments, baying mobs and the Viet Cong.Over six-and-a-half months, they visited 19 different countries and played 45 games with a threadbare squad, one coach, no medical staff... Читать дальше...

Mauro Icardi's agent and wife Wanda Nara is "relaxed" over the Inter striker's future amid sustained speculation linking him with a move to Real Madrid. Icardi reached 100 Serie A goals on Sunday and went on to put former club Sampdoria to the sword, scoring four in a 5-0 away win. Such performances are unlikely to make the 25-year-old Argentina international any less sought after, although Nara told Gazzetta dello Sport a contract extension at San Siro remains on the agenda. "Mauro makes noise on the field... Читать дальше...

These 34 chaps fall squarely into two brackets. There are the recent debutants, who still have strong hopes of adding to their solo cap total - possibly even in the coming week or so.Then there are the men who... well, are more permanentlystuck in the one-cap wonder category. After all, for the then-Aston Villa midfielder who made his England debut in November 1998 to get a call-up for this year’s World Cup squad, Gareth Southgate will have to havefaced an injury crisis of biblical proportions.Yet we’re not here to bury this lot... Читать дальше...