Новости за 06.06.2018

Besiktas' failure to prevent a cat from invading their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich in March has resulted in a €34,000 fine from UEFA. The inquisitive feline briefly brought play to a halt at the Vodafone Arena during the second half of Bayern's 3-1 win, before comically going on to win a man of the match poll held by the Bundesliga giants. UEFA did not see the funny side, though, and Besiktas have been ordered to pay a hefty bill for what was deemed "insufficient organisation". The... Читать дальше...

An impressive debut season for Pascal Gross at Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League has been rewarded with a one-year contract extension. The German midfielder was a relative unknown when he swapped Ingolstadt for Brighton in July, but he quickly became a household name thanks to his performances for the Seagulls. Gross finished the 2017-18 campaign with seven goals and eight assists, and that was enough to earn a new deal that will run until 2022. "We are delighted that Pascal has agreed... Читать дальше...

Gareth Southgate has dismissed concerns that England's players could suffer from boredom during their downtime at the World Cup. Filling the time between training sessions and matches has long been a contentious issue, with previous squads claiming to have struggled with boredom. Southgate does not believe that should be an issue for the 23-man squad travelling to Russia, though, stressing the huge excitement within the young squad. "I think it is sad, nonsense and a big red herring," he told a media conference. Читать дальше...

Andres Iniesta's extra-time World Cup final winner in South Africa marked a historic victory for Spain, and Xabi Alonso believes the significance of that goal should give him all the freedom he desires in football. In a tight match against the Netherlands in July 2010, it was Iniesta's goal that crowned Spain as world champions for the first time. In April the midfielder announced plans to leave Barcelona, following a long and successful career at Camp Nou, before confirming his move to Vissel... Читать дальше...

England's World Cup squad are a "tight knit" group and have plans in place to deal with any racial abuse aimed at any members of the travelling party, says manager Gareth Southgate. The Three Lions will leave for Russia next week ahead of their opening game with Tunisia on June 18, but Danny Rose's family will not be following them. Rose made the decision to tell his family to stay at home due to concerns over abuse at the tournament, particularly after racist chants were aimed at French players during a friendly with Russia in March. Читать дальше...

10. Brazil (1974)It wasn’t that the defending World Cup holders crashed out early in Germany. In fact, they reached the second group stage. It was more the fact that Brazil ditched the beautiful football they’d played four years earlier in Mexico and adopted a far more hard-edged, pragmatic approach to matches. Coach Mario Zagallo warned recently bulked-up stars like Jairzinho and Rivellino that they’d have to withstand the physical challenge of European opponents, and so it proved.Brazil – minus Pele... Читать дальше...

Roma forward Patrik Schick has no regrets about a failed move to Juventus last July. The Czech Republic international was set to move to the Old Lady in 2017 from Sampdoria until two medicals revealed a heart inflammation. When asked if he regrets not being given the chance to play for the side who went on to win Serie A, Schick insisted he does not think about it. "Do I wonder what might have been? No, I've already closed it out," he told Lidovky. "I never looked back at it, it wouldn't be worth it. Читать дальше...

Die Mannschaft trounced Fabio Capello’s men 4-1 in the last-16 showdown, with Thomas Muller’s second-half double adding to Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski strikes in Bloemfontein.Trailing 2-1 as the interval approached, Lampardlarruped the ball off the underside of Neuer's crossbar and a yard over the line, only for Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda to wave play on.And although Steven Gerrard’s free-kick clipped the top of the bar at the beginning of the second period, England failed to find the... Читать дальше...

St Mirren chairman Gordon Scott has played down speculation the newly promoted Scottish Premier League side could appoint Patrick Kluivert or Guti as their next manager. The Buddies have been on the search for Jack Ross' replacement since last month, when the 41-year-old joined League One outfit Sunderland. A host of names have been linked with the role, including Champions League winners Kluivert and Guti – who was also said to be in the running for the vacant Real Madrid position. But Scott... Читать дальше...

Messi and Marquez hunt MaradonaSix goals as captain is the World Cup record that Diego Maradona owns. Lionel Messi, who scored four times with the armband at Brazil 2014, requires one to go joint-second beside Gyorgi Sarosi, Uwe Seeler, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Lothar Matthaus– and two to equal the fellow Argentine No.10 he's chasing.Maradona’s record for the most World Cup appearances as captain (16) is also under threat from 39-year-old Mexico defender Rafa Marquez (14).Old professors to re-formulate... Читать дальше...

England defender Danny Rose told his family not to come to Russia for the World Cup over concerns they may be racially abused. The Russian Football Association was fined £22,000 by FIFA, after racist chants were directed towards black French players during a friendly between the two nations in March, a seemingly lenient punishment Rose labelled "disgusting". "I am not worried about myself," Rose told Standard Sport. "But I've told my family I don't want them going out there because of the racism and anything else that may happen." Rose... Читать дальше...

Jose Mourinho has hailed new Manchester United signing Diogo Dalot as the "best full-back in Europe" in his age group and is confident he has all the attributes to be a success at Old Trafford. Dalot had been strongly linked with a move to United over the past week, with reports claiming his €20million release clause had been met. United confirmed the deal on Wednesday after both parties agreed terms on a five-year contract which has the option for a further 12 months. And, despite featuring just six times in the Primeira Liga in 2017-18... Читать дальше...

Thomas Muller believes Germany have a stronger squad heading to the World Cup than they did four years ago, when they beat Argentina in the final. Joachim Low's side lifted the trophy in Brazil with a 1-0 victory thanks to Mario Gotze's extra-time goal. After 10 wins from 10 in qualifying, Germany are well backed to defend their title and Muller is confident Low's squad has the quality to go all the way in Russia. "Individually, without a doubt [we are better]," he told reporters. "But football has developed considerably. Читать дальше...

Manchester United have signed full-back Diogo Dalot from Portuguese champions Porto. Dalot only made his first-team debut in February but the 19-year-old has moved to Manchester on a five-year deal, with an option for a further year, after Premier League runners-up United activated his release clause. With out-of-favour Italian Matteo Darmian expected to leave Old Trafford and manager Jose Mourinho desperate to provide veteran right-back Antonio Valencia with more competition, United have turned to the Portugal Under-21 international. Читать дальше...

Of all the scenarios that could unfold in Russia this summer, among the less likely is Argentina and Portugal meeting in the final. Not just because neither side are among the hot favourites, but also because it would mean Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – the two best players of their generation – facing off for the game’s biggest trophy. And that almost never happens.You could perhaps argue it did in 1998, when Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo went toe-to-toe in the Stade de France showpiece, though... Читать дальше...

Brazil great Rivaldo says the pressure Neymar will be under at the World Cup could work in the Selecao superstar's favour. Brazil are aiming to win the tournament for the first time since 2002, when Rivaldo was part of the side that defeated Germany 2-0 in the final in Yokohama.  Redemption may also be on the agenda, as four years ago, on home soil, an injured Neymar was forced to watch his team humbled 7-1 by Die Mannschaft in the 2014 semi-final. Former Barcelona and AC Milan forward Rivaldo... Читать дальше...

Following a week of criticism aimed at Raheem Sterling, his Manchester City teammate Kevin De Bruyne has hit back at those singling him out from "behind a keyboard". Sterling has been at the centre of controversy after a picture of his gun tattoo surfaced on social media, which sparked outrage from a British tabloid. He was in the headlines once again a few days later; this time because it was revealed he arrived late to the England training camp due to a delayed flight coming back from a holiday in Jamaica. Читать дальше...

The CIES Football Observatory'stop 10 positions are occupied by six nationalities – two each from England, Belgium, France and Argentina, and one from Brazil and Egypt.Their algorithm has been formulated using the financial details of over 5,000 transfers between July 2011 and June 2018, and takes into consideration no fewer than 31 player variables alone, combined with 19 more used to predict clubs potentially interested in their signature. Yes,FFT's head hurts already.Only two goalkeepers appear in the top 30 positions (head-scratchingly so... Читать дальше...

You’ve generally got to be a tiny bit imaginative when you’re dreaming up a nickname for your national side. For example, lots of countries go with the Lions (yawn) or the Dragons (they don’t even exist).The Three Lions works though (because they're… three times better?), while the Indomitable Lions is stronger still. Roar. Other nicknames just don’t catch on. Scotland are apparently the Tartan Terriers, but that rings few bells with us. At least their supporters – the Tartan Army – have a real nickname... Читать дальше...

Thibaut Courtois is not convinced concussion can be used as an excuse for Loris Karius' mistakes in Liverpool's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid. Liverpool lost 3-1 in Kiev on May 26, with Karius producing two major errors which ultimately cost the Reds dear. For Madrid's opener, Karius threw the ball straight to Karim Benzema, giving him an easy finish, before then making a mess of a long-range Gareth Bale effort for the final goal of the game. But, just prior to his first howler... Читать дальше...

Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker were left dumbfounded after their Manchester City team-mate Leroy Sane was left out of Germany's World Cup squad. Sane was a surprise omission from Joachim Low's final 23-man selection, the 22-year-old dropping out of Germany's party along with Bernd Leno, Jonathan Tah and Nils Petersen. The winger - who won the PFA Young Player of the Year award and was involved in 33 goals in competitive matches in the 2017-18 season - spoke of his disappointment in a Twitter post... Читать дальше...

The Johannesburg showpiece, in which Spain eventually defeated the Netherlands 1-0 after extra time, was less than 30 minutes old when the central midfielders clashed on the Soccer City turf.De Jong’s kung-fu kick only resulted in a yellow card from referee Howard Webb, whose 14 bookings more than doubled the previous record of six yellow cards shown in a World Cup final from 1986.But the former Manchester City and Milan midfielder insists he didn’t expect to be sent for an early bath, as he only... Читать дальше...

Brazil great Rivaldo is wary of the threat posed by bitter rivals Argentina in Russia because he feels it will be Lionel Messi's last chance to gain World Cup recognition and elevate himself above Diego Maradona. Messi is regarded by many as the greatest player of all time due to his exploits in Spain and Europe with Barcelona, winning every trophy possible and claiming five Ballons d'Or, the joint most alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2017-18 season was also the ninth successive campaign in which... Читать дальше...

The 25-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough campaign as a game-changing No.10 for Manchester United, scoring 13 goals in 48 appearances.The Warrington wonder also netted his first goal for England during 2017/18, sealing afirst Three Lions victory in Amsterdam since November 1969.Each of Lingard's strikes have beenfollowed by one of his famous choreographed goal celebrations, endearing him to fans of club and country on social media. However, he admits he will probably opt for something more straightforwardshould... Читать дальше...

Voluntari's Balan was aiming to get his side off to a fine start as he stood over this free-kick in the 14th minute of this Liga I clash against Juventus Bucharest.Despite his best efforts, though, it didn't exactly go to plan. Nope: Balan smashed his set-piece so high that it ended up flying out of the stadium.Voluntari, who are managed by ex-Chelsea striker Mutu, did at least take a point in the game which finished 2-2 –withBalan getting on the scoresheet in the 57th minute.Seen a worse one than this? Читать дальше...