Новости за 05.07.2018

Roberto Martinez lauded Belgium star Eden Hazard as a player who makes football "a beautiful sport" and applauded his influence as captain. Hazard has enjoyed a strong World Cup for Belgium so far, scoring two and assisting as many from just three matches. His form has helped Belgium reach the last eight where they meet tournament favourites Brazil in Kazan on Friday. But one element of his performances that many may not necessarily notice is his influence as a leader, and that is the side of... Читать дальше...

Cristiano Ronaldo's agent says that if he does leave Real Madrid it will be for a "new stage and challenge". Serie A champions Juventus are reported to have made a bid of £88million for Ronaldo, who is Madrid's all-time leading goalscorer after nine seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu. His future at the club has been shrouded in doubt ever since Los Blancos defeated Liverpool 3-1 to win a third straight Champions League in May. The Portugal superstar spoke about the club in the past tense after that game when he said... Читать дальше...

Sassuolo have completed the signing of Kevin-Prince Boateng from Eintracht Frankfurt. The 31-year-old has enjoyed two previous spells in Serie A with AC Milan and joins off the back of a fine season in Germany. The Ghana international scored six times in 31 Bundesliga appearances and played a key role in Frankfurt's DFB-Pokal final win over Bayern Munich in May. Sassuolo is Boateng's ninth different club during a nomadic career, which has seen him take in spells at Tottenham, Borussia Dortmund and Schalke. Читать дальше...

Watford have completed the signing of Sweden international Ken Sema from Ostersunds. The 24-year-old joins on a five-year deal and becomes the Hornets' fifth off-season signing after Gerard Deulofeu, Marc Navarro, Adam Masina and Ben Wilmot. Midfielder Sema racked up 58 league appearances during two-and-a-half years with the Swedish top-flight side and has won five caps for his country, though he did not make their World Cup squad. He made headlines last season when he scored the winning goal... Читать дальше...

Belgium coach Roberto Martinez is fully focused on facing Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup amid speculation he is a contender to take over Spain. Martinez led Belgium into the last eight at Russia 2018 despite a wobble in the last 16, his side coming from 2-0 down against Japan thanks to Nacer Chadli's last-gasp winner. Spain sensationally sacked Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup after the coach confirmed he was leaving after the tournament to take charge at Real Madrid.... Читать дальше...

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has proposed staging the Supercopa de Espana as a one-off match at a neutral venue ahead of the 2018-19 season. The move - described as "exceptional" by the governing body - represents a break with tradition, marking the first time the fixture will not have been played over two legs in the competition's current guise. The RFEF made the proposal on Thursday as president Luis Rubiales, who sacked national team coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the World Cup... Читать дальше...

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku defended Brazil star Neymar from accusations of being an "actor" on the pitch and backed him to become the best player in the world ahead of their meeting on Friday. Brazil and Belgium will clash in Kazan for a place in the World Cup semi-finals and much of the attention will be on the world's most expensive player. Neymar has been routinely criticised during the tournament for his theatrical reactions to fouls and tackles. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio labelled... Читать дальше...

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez refused to state whether Edinson Cavani will start Friday's World Cup quarter-final against France. The Paris Saint-Germain striker resumed team training on Thursday following a hamstring injury he suffered in the 2-1 last-16 win over Portugal. Cavani's return to the practice pitches at Uruguay's team base in Borsky came as a huge boost to Tabarez's plans for the clash with France at Nizhny Novgorod Stadium. However, the 71-year-old was left frustrated by some of the... Читать дальше...

Dejan Lovren is confident Croatia can exceed the achievements of the iconic France 1998 World Cup team. Davor Suker and Zvonimir Boban helped Croatia to a stunning third-placed finish France 20 years ago, and the 2018 class – after years of promise - stand on the cusp of emulating that side but must first negotiate Saturday's clash against hosts Russia in Sochi. There has been plenty of talk about the past and current generation since Croatia arrived in Sochi and Liverpool defender Lovren told reporters... Читать дальше...

Real Madrid have agreed a deal to sign Real Sociedad full-back Alvaro Odriozola on a six-year contract for a reported fee of €40million, pending a medical. Having made his senior debut in January 2017, Odriozola has gone on to become a first-team regular for Sociedad, starting 32 LaLiga matches last season. The 22-year-old also earned a first call-up to the senior Spain squad last year and won four caps, earning a call-up to Julen Lopetegui's squad for the World Cup in Russia. Lopetegui was sacked... Читать дальше...

A petition calling on FIFA to review two key refereeing decisions during Colombia's World Cup last-16 defeat to England has racked up 200,000 signatures. Colombia were beaten 4-3 on penalties after the sides were locked at 1-1 following 120 minutes of play in Moscow. England had opened the scoring with a penalty after Carlos Sanchez was penalised for obstructing Harry Kane in the box, although replays appeared to show the Three Lions captain pulling Sanchez down to his midriff to initiate the move. Читать дальше...

John Stones is continuing to dream of World Cup glory but knows Sweden present a formidable challenge for England in Saturday's quarter-final in Samara. Janne Andersson's men were the first of these two sides to secure their last-eight spot with a 1-0 win over Switzerland on Tuesday, courtesy of Emil Forsberg's deflected second-half strike. A few hours later, the Three Lions banished their penalty shoot-out hoodoo by defeating Colombia on spot-kicks following a feisty 1-1 draw in Moscow. After... Читать дальше...

France star Kylian Mbappe is relaxed and ready to repeat his last-16 heroics in Friday's World Cup quarter-final against Uruguay, according to Hugo Lloris. Mbappe scored twice and won a penalty in a devastating performance in the 4-3 win over Argentina in Kazan. The Paris Saint-Germain forward's performance led to praise from across the footballing world, including from Brazil great Pele, who was the last teenager to score twice in a World Cup match back in 1958. Lloris says his team-mate is well... Читать дальше...

Southampton's opening pre-season friendly turned into a thriller as they drew 3-3 with Schalke in China and the last of the game's six goals was something a bit special. Mark Hughes' side took on the Bundesliga runners-up in Kunshan as part of the Club Super Cup tournament and Nathan Redmond cancelled out Yevhen Konoplyanka's early strike to leave the score 1-1 at half-time. Harrison Reed and Jake Hesketh scored either side of a Suat Serdar effort to make it 3-2 to the Saints with six minutes left... Читать дальше...

1. Axed the egosFrom the outside looking in, the pivotal part of Gareth Southgate’s revamping of England over the past year or so has been a marked change in mindset. The now-notorious ‘golden generation’ may not have been especially brattish in their behaviour, but they certainly brought with them an air of here-to-win-it hubris.Perhaps that’s only natural for such high-achieving superstars as Frank Lampard, Rio Ferdinand et al, but however well it worked at their clubs, it proved a recipe for disaster... Читать дальше...

Lewis Hamilton wants to head to Russia to support England in the World Cup final. England take on Sweden in Samara on Saturday for a place in the semi-finals, where either Croatia or hosts Russia await. Hamilton is busy preparing for Sunday's British Grand Prix at Silverstone but he is already planning ahead should the Three Lions progress. The world champion - who was at school with England international Ashley Young - is seeking a record sixth victory in his home race but has one eye on events in Russia. Читать дальше...

Diego Maradona has apologised to FIFA over his criticism of referee Mark Geiger following England's World Cup penalty shoot-out win over Colombia in the round of 16 on Tuesday. The Argentina icon – who has rarely been out of the headlines during Russia 2018 – claimed Colombia were victims of a "monumental theft" and laid into the performance of the officials. England had been awarded a second-half penalty for a foul by Carlos Sanchez on Harry Kane – a decision that drew the particular ire of Maradona. Читать дальше...

England defender John Stones has branded Colombia the dirtiest team he has ever faced following Tuesday's ill-tempered World Cup triumph in Moscow. Gareth Southgate's side prevailed 4-3 on penalties after the game at Spartak Stadium finished 1-1, Harry Kane having netted his sixth goal of the tournament before Colombia centre-back Yerry Mina headed home in stoppage time to force an additional period. Referee Mark Geiger struggled to keep control of a tempestuous encounter, with Wilmar Barrios only... Читать дальше...

Brolin moved to Elland Road in 1995 after a successful spell in Italy with Parma, where he lifted the 1993 UEFA Super Cup and 1995 UEFA Cup.The Swede’s time in England with Leeds and Crystal Palace was less successful, though; after two seasons at Leeds interspersed with loan spells away from Yorkshire, he lasted just half a season at Selhurst Park.Brolin returned to Leeds after short-term spells away at Zurich and former club Parma – but first impressions under manager George Graham were not ideal. Читать дальше...

Radja Nainggolan's sale to Inter was "a shared choice" according to Roma head coach Eusebio Di Francesco, who expects more signings at Stadio Olimpico before the start of the new season.   Roma sporting director Monchi was the target of supporters' ire after the Belgian favourite departed the club to join their Serie A rivals, with Davide Santon and Nicolo Zaniolo moving in the opposite direction as part of the deal.   But Di Francesco insists the decision to let Nainggolan go was not made above his head. Читать дальше...

Alan Dzagoev has returned to training ahead of Russia's World Cup quarter-final against Croatia and insists he is ready to play in Sochi on Sunday. The 28-year-old midfielder has not featured for Stanislav Cherchesov's side since he suffered a hamstring injury after 24 minutes of Russia's 5-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in the opening match of the World Cup, a game where his replacement Denis Cheryshev scored twice. He was an unused substitute during the penalty shoot-out victory over Spain in the round of 16... Читать дальше...

Brazil head coach Tite has confirmed Marcelo is back in contention for a place in his starting XI in Friday's World Cup quarter-final with Belgium after recovering from a back injury. The Real Madrid left-back lasted just 10 minutes of Brazil's 2-0 Group E win over Serbia, when he was forced off with back spasms and replaced by Filipe Luis. Marcelo subsequently missed the 2-0 defeat of Mexico in the last 16 and Filipe Luis generally looked assured, even if Hirving Lozano caused him a few issues. Читать дальше...

The 21-year-old–the Leicester defender's younger sibling– has been struck by "Russian flu" according to manager Martin Allen, who penned another typically casual post on Chesterfield's website.The defender is expected to be a part of Allen's plansfor the upcoming National League season, but he's been granted permission to make the mammoth journey to Samara this weekend.Allen wrote on the club's official website: "Good morning. Laurence Maguire has unfortunately picked up Russian flu, which is obviously... Читать дальше...

FranceCan Antoine Griezmann outfox his best friend?When Cristiano Ronaldo plays against Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, he never scores and usually loses – as has been the case in three of his four meetings against the duo with Real Madrid. That’s what happened in the last 16 of this World Cup too, as Uruguay prevailed over Portugal. But now an Atletico Madrid striker – rather than a Real superstar – is about to face his own team-mates.For Griezmann, Godin is a role model and a friend. He joined Atletico thanks to the Uruguayan skipper... Читать дальше...

LA Galaxy drew 2-2 with Wayne Rooney's new club on Wednesday evening, and Ibrahimovic has now entered an exclusive club.In the fifth minute, the 36-year-old striker latched onto a David Romney cross and smashedhome to join a list of only 28 players in history who have scored over 500 goals, according to theRec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation (RSSSF).Zlatan will now be chasing the record to becomeSweden's highest all-time goalscorer, with Milan legend Gunnar Nordahl ranking ahead of him on 513... Читать дальше...