Новости за 01.06.2018

Neymar moving to Real Madrid would not come as a surprise to former Barcelona midfielder Gaizka Mendieta. The Brazil star has been linked with a switch to the Champions League winners since becoming the world's most expensive player when he left Barca for Paris Saint-Germain in a €222million move last August. Neymar has labelled the speculation "nonsense" although Zinedine Zidane described the forward as "compatible" with Cristiano Ronaldo prior to his shock departure from Madrid.  While players... Читать дальше...

Agent Jorge Mendes' Gestifute firm has vehemently denied accusations of "blackmail" made by Sporting CP president Bruno de Carvalho over a proposed move for Rui Patricio. The goalkeeper has been linked with a switch to Napoli or Championship winners Wolves, and the Portugal international has asked to cancel his Sporting contract, according to a report by Record. Patricio is said to want to leave Sporting following an attack on the club's training ground by supporters this month, after the team missed out on Champions League qualification. Читать дальше...

Huddersfield Town have secured the signing of goalkeeper Ben Hamer on a free transfer from Leicester City. The 30-year-old's contract with Leicester expires at the end of the month, giving Huddersfield the opportunity to boost their options in goal. Hamer made four Premier League appearances in 2017-18 but has struggled to displace Kasper Schmeichel in his time at the King Power Stadium. "I've spoken with Ben and he arrives here wanting to play Premier League football, which is great for us all," said manager David Wagner. Читать дальше...

Stoke City have released veteran pair Glen Johnson and Stephen Ireland following their relegation from the Premier League. Johnson and Ireland made nine and four league appearances respectively in 2017-18 as the Potters dropped into the Championship after a 10-year stay in the top flight, with neither player offered a new contract. Former England international Johnson joined Stoke on a free transfer from Liverpool in 2015, and played 57 times for the club in the Premier League. Ireland struggled to establish himself as a first-team regular... Читать дальше...

Roberto Martinez insists the identity of his 23-man Belgium squad for the World Cup has not been given away in 'mattressgate'. Television footage in Belgium suggested that 23 mattresses sent to Russia, marked with players' names, had revealed which five members of the preliminary group will be cut from the squad. But Martinez, whose side face Portugal in a friendly on Saturday, is adamant that he has yet to confirm his selection and so any supposed list is false. "This is not a job for private detectives," he told a news conference. Читать дальше...

Colombian footballer Alejandro Penaranda has died in a 'violent act', his club Deportivo Tulua have confirmed. The forward, who was 24, previously played for America de Cali and Atletico Nacional. Deportivo Tulua announced Penaranda's death in a statement released via the club's official Twitter page. "Club Deportivo Tulu and America de Cali express their sincere condolences for the tragic death of the player Alejandro Penaranda, in a violent act that took place at Friday night in a house in Cali east. Читать дальше...

Sean Dyche's name now adorns a pub in Burnley after the manager led the Clarets to European qualification for the first time in over 50 years. Burnley's seventh-placed finish in the Premier League was enough to book the club a place in the Europa League second qualifying round. The landlord of the Princess Royal, a pub located close to Turf Moor in the Lancashire town, pledged to rename the venue after Dyche if Burnley qualified for Europe. And after they achieved that feat, the pub followed through with a rebrand to The Royal Dyche... Читать дальше...

David Trezeguet believes France have "everything" required to win the World Cup for a second time this year. Former forward Trezeguet was in the France squad when they lifted the trophy on home soil in 1998, before featuring again in a run to the final eight years later. Despite disappointment in more recent tournaments, the ex-Juventus man is confident that the current France squad, led by coach Didier Deschamps, can triumph at Russia 2018. "I think they have the level [to win the tournament]. Читать дальше...

France will be a better side at the World Cup for having experienced the pressure of hosting the European Championships, according to Louis Saha. Les Bleus have underwhelmed in recent years, last challenging meaningfully at a major tournament in 2006, but they nearly clinched the Euros on home turf in 2016, coming unstuck against Portugal in the final. Although France again left the public disappointed with their failure to secure silverware, former international Saha believes it was an experience that will benefit the team in Russia. Читать дальше...

Gareth Southgate has saluted the "brave" decisions former England internationals Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have made in opting to start careers in management instead of choosing an "easier route". Despite enjoying little genuine success on the international stage, Gerrard and Lampard are regarded as two of England's greatest midfielders in recent history, amassing 220 caps between them. Gerrard, who was previously in charge of Liverpool's Under-19s, has taken over at Rangers, where he will... Читать дальше...

Paul Heckingbottom has been sacked by Leeds United after four months in charge, amid rumours linking Marcelo Bielsa with the Championship club. Heckingbottom switched from Barnsley to Elland Road in February but could only lead the team to 13th place after taking seven points from their last seven games. Bielsa is out of work after short spells at Lazio and Lille, with the Argentine appearing to fit the bill after managing director Angus Kinnear said Leeds would appoint a more experienced coach to succeed 40-year-old Heckingbottom. Читать дальше...

Jurgen Klopp’s two full seasons in charge of Liverpool have resulted in two top-four finishes –an impressive feat given that the last time it happened at Anfield was almost a decade ago under Rafa Benitez’s leadership.Add in an unexpected and highly enjoyable run to the Champions League final, and 2017/18 was certainly a season of progress and positives for the Merseysiders.With such breathtaking football on show and Klopp’s character now being displayed by his players on the pitch, Liverpool are... Читать дальше...

Gareth Southgate has given Raheem Sterling his backing after the England forward made the headlines for having a gun tattoo. Sterling drew criticism from some media outlets after it was revealed he has the image of an M16 assault rifle inked on his leg, prompting the player to reveal its meaning as a tribute to his father, who was shot dead when the Manchester City player was two years old. That explanation has not satisfied some critics, but Southgate has defended his player, wishing the public... Читать дальше...

Zinedine Zidane has refused to say whether his decision to leave Real Madrid has anything to do with the vacant hotseat at BBC Radio 1.Pressure had been growing on Zidane, with Madrid supremo Florentino Perez publicly demanding to know why he had only won a disappointing nine trophies in his two-and-a-half-year spell in charge.Last weekend's Champions League victory had appeared to buy him time, despite Perez's warnings that he would not tolerate a whole summer without silverware.But Zidane, widely... Читать дальше...

Mauricio Pochettino insists it is not "impossible" to turn down the opportunity to coach Real Madrid. The Tottenham manager is among the favourites to succeed Zinedine Zidane at the Santiago Bernabeu after the Frenchman sensationally quit on Thursday, having won three consecutive Champions League titles. But Pochettino has only just renewed his contract with Spurs and, speaking in Spain at the launch of a book on his time in London, the former Espanyol and Southampton boss says he could turn down Madrid if an offer came through. Читать дальше...

Wolves have completed the permanent signings of loan stars Willy Boly and Benik Afobe following their promotion to the Premier League. Centre-back Boly joined Wolves from Porto on a season-long temporary deal at the start of last season, establishing himself as a key man under Nuno Espirito Santo during the team's Championship title triumph. And Afobe - previously a goalscoring star at Molineux - returned to the club from Bournemouth in January and netted six goals in just seven league starts.... Читать дальше...

EA Sports’ sixth World Cup game is the first made available free of charge, and as such can call itself groundbreaking before you’ve even lifted the controller. The small catch: you need to own FIFA 18 for it to automatically download. It’s an essential diversion for anyone who does, but what about those considering a purchase just to sample a virtual World Cup? That’s the main question we’re looking to tackle here.Modes wise, there are few surprises. You get a customisable World Cup finals recreation, and a bespoke version of Ultimate Team. Читать дальше...

Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller will not feature for Germany against Austria, as Joachim Low instead assesses players who may not yet be assured of a World Cup place. The reigning champions play their first warm-up friendly for Russia 2018 in Klagenfurt on Saturday, with Low's 23-man squad for the finals to be confirmed at the start of next week. And the Germany coach, while yet to settle on a starting XI, does not see the benefit of using players at this stage who featured heavily in qualifying and endured long club seasons. Читать дальше...

When a bullet header from Brian Laudrup made the net bulge at Tannadice Park on May 7, 1997, Rangers achieved much more than just a 1-0 victory over Dundee United. The great Dane’s goal helped the Gers clinch a record-equalling nine league titles in row.Much has changed in Scottish football since then. The Gers have been through financial turmoil, rebooted and started afresh, while arch-rivals Celtic are enjoying their own period of dominance (seven straight titles and counting). Still, these are the men who last achieved the feat...Manager... Читать дальше...

Mauricio Pochettino insists he will not force a switch to Real Madrid, as the Tottenham manager intends to let his football "destiny" play out. With three-time Champions League winner Zinedine Zidane quitting as Madrid coach on Thursday, the European champions are suddenly required to source a replacement. Pochettino, despite recently signing a contract renewal at Spurs, has long been linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu and features prominently among the favourites. But the former Southampton boss... Читать дальше...

Pepe Reina says he would recommend his former Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri to "any team in the world" amid suggestions he is a candidate to replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid. Zidane shocked world football on Thursday when he confirmed in a hastily arranged news conference that he was resigning from his post just five days after guiding the club to a third successive Champions League title. Madrid president Florentino Perez insisted Zidane's decision took him by surprise when he was informed on Wednesday... Читать дальше...

Ah, 2010. Who could forget the drone of the vuvuzelas, the “goal for all of Africa,” and ITV cutting to a Hyundai advert during England’s best moment of the tournament.While it wasn’t a great tournament for Three Lions fans (particularly anyone who sat through England 0-0 Algeria, comfortably the worst game in living memory), some players did enjoy it. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!10. Asamoah GyanThe Black Stars were the breakout stars of the tournament – quick on the break, and quite brilliant to watch. Читать дальше...

Gauging the best player at a World Cup isn’t easy. Sometimes, such as in 1986, the pick is so obvious that even FIFA couldn’t muck it up. At other times, votes are split between flying goalkeepers, totemic defenders, midfield wizards and hot-shot strikers.It hasn’t helped that FIFA tend to vote on the Golden Ball award, given to a tournament’s best player, before the actual final. In more than one case, this precipitated a player having a bit of a stinker in the event's showpiece occasion itself. Читать дальше...

Hugo Lloris has encouraged France team-mate Paul Pogba to step up and become a "leader" for the team at the upcoming World Cup. Pogba goes into the World Cup on the back of a curious season at club level with Manchester United. Although he scored six and set up another 10 in the Premier League, Pogba regularly came in for criticism for inconsistent performances and some pundits even took issue with his off-field habits. He also endured a difficult period in the second half of the season when Jose Mourinho dropped him several times... Читать дальше...

Mauricio PochettinoForgive us, Spurs fans – but your boss is the No.1 target for Real Madrid. The drum began beating some time ago for Pochettino to replace Zidane, and those two outstanding results in the Champions League last season only strengthened the Argentine’s case (not to mention his anti-Barça persuasions).His work at Tottenham has been outstanding; well-measured and calculated, helping to keep the north Londoners punching above their weight. Working on a limited budget, the 46-year-old... Читать дальше...