Новости за 15.11.2019

Lionel Messi made a successful return to international football as Argentina gained a measure of revenge on Brazil for this summers Copa America semi-final defeat with a 1-0 win in Riyadh.The 32-year-old was banned for three months by CONMEBOL after criticising the South American governing body, both after the semi-final loss and a third-place play-off win over Chile in which he was sent off following an altercation with Gary Medel.However, the Barcelona forward made a triumphant return as he scored... Читать дальше...

Scotland take on Cyprus in their penultimate European Championship qualifying game on Saturday.Here are the talking points ahead of the game in Nicosia.Third ClassThe GSP Stadium where Scotland face Cyprus on Saturday pic.twitter.com/PXD5GqQWpL Gavin McCafferty (@GavinMcCafferty) November 15, 2019A poor campaign has reduced Scotland to battling for third spot with Cyprus and Kazakhstan. Cyprus currently occupy the position and will clinch a historic high finish if they win at the GSP Stadium. With the Cypriots facing Belgium away on Tuesday... Читать дальше...

Hearts have made a post-tax profit of almost 3million as a result of donations from unnamed benefactors.The club received 1million for player costs and an exceptional donation of 2.25million to record a proft of 2.9million after tax for last season.Hearts also received 3million in donations in the previous financial year.A club statement read: From a financial perspective we have once again achieved our major objective which was to grow our revenues profitably.In particular, our turnover increased... Читать дальше...

Northern Ireland host Holland on Saturday night in what could be Michael ONeills final game in charge at Windsor Park.Here the PA media agency takes a look at five key talking points ahead of the game.A long farewell?Still memories to be made as our journey continues. For now, for everything you've done for us we say #ThankYouMichael pic.twitter.com/YETnczEnO2 Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) November 8, 2019ONeill waited a long time for the right opportunity in club football, but though Stokes... Читать дальше...

Michael ONeill has stopped short of confirming he will remain in charge of Northern Ireland until March in the likely scenario that they reach the Euro 2020 qualifiers.ONeill was appointed boss of Stoke last week but the announcement from both the Potters and the Irish FA said ONeill would manager Northern Ireland for the rest of the qualifying campaign whether that journey ends against Germany in Frankfurt on Tuesday or more likely next spring.A number of players have expressed hope he would stay until the summer if Northern Ireland qualify... Читать дальше...

Figuring out how to spread your budget around is one of the key conundrums for any FPL manager.A 4m player isnt going to score as many points as one that costs 11m, unless their name is John Lundstram, but what kind of returns can you reasonably expect?Who, besides Sheffield Uniteds Lord of Fantasy Football, is surpassing expectations and who is falling short?In an attempt to answer these questions, we have looked at how many points the 180 players who have made 10 or more appearances this season score per match... Читать дальше...

The Camp Nou giants have been linked with several players as they hunt for a long-term successor to the Uruguayan, who turns 33 in January.But the speculation hasn’t affected the former Liverpool striker, who believes increased competition for places can bring out the best in him."There will come a time when my age won't allow me to be at the high level that it is needed forBarcelona," he told Uruguayan publication Ovacion (via Marca)."But while I can and have the strength, it'll be much better if... Читать дальше...

Germany manager Joachim Lowdoes not expect his side to be among the tournament favourites for Euro 2020 should they clinch qualification.Victory over Belarus in Monchengladbach on Saturday will secure Lows side a place at next summers finals provided fellow Group C heavyweights Holland are not beaten by third-placed Northern Ireland, who Germany host in the final round of fixtures on Tuesday.As soon as Germany officially enter the hat they will be considered serious contenders but Low, who has seen... Читать дальше...

The fixture was originally scheduled to take place on 26 October at the Camp Nou, but the volatility of the political situation in Catalonia forced a switch.La Liga originally asked for the game to be moved to Real’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium, but the request was ruled out in favour of a postponement to 18 December.That has caused some controversy, as it gives Barcelona 29 hours extra rest than their rivals because of the scheduling of league fixtures the weekend before, when Barca face Real Sociedad... Читать дальше...

Pep Guardiola has been forced to field Fernandinho in the role since losing Aymeric Laporte to serious injury early in the season.The form of the Foxes duo has caught the attention of the Etihad club, according to Sky Sports News.City are considering several centre-back options after failing to replace the outgoing Vincent Kompany in the summer before struggling with injuries.They have fallen nine points behind Liverpool in the title race, but Guardiola has previously insisted that the club are not... Читать дальше...

The French striker, who joined United from Fulham in 2004, had also missed out on the 2006 World Cup final after picking up two yellow cards in just nine minutes of action in the quarter- and semi-final victories.However, as he reveals in FourFourTwo’s December 2019 issue, out on Tuesday November 19, sitting out the Champions League final through injury was even more of a disappointment.“It was the worst,” Saha says. “I’d worked really hard to come back from injury, and I’d also learned from my mistake... Читать дальше...

Benitez took over at Chelsea in 2012 after Roberto di Matteo’s dismissal, with the team already all but eliminated from the Champions League and clinging to a top four spot in the league after four games without a win.The former Liverpool boss wasn’t the most popular appointment with fans, due to his association with the Reds, with a few fans showing their displeasure in banner form, but it was a different story with the club’s owner.Speaking to FourFourTwo for our December issue, a manager’s special which is out on Tuesday (November 19)... Читать дальше...

The 31-year-old has struggled for game time at the Camp Nou this season and has been heavily linked with a departure.A move to Italy appeared possible with Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan all showing interest, but reports in Spain suggest that he will remain in La Liga.Movistar+ claims that the Croatia international could leave Catalonia in January, as Atleti are willing to meet Barcelona’s €40m demands.Rakitic offers enormous experience, having helped Barca win three league titles, four Copa... Читать дальше...

The France international appears set for a Stamford Bridge exit after making just six appearances for the Blues under Frank Lampard this season.Dortmund have revived their interest in the striker after being rejected by him in the summer of 2018, according to the Mirror.With Inter also expressing interest, the Blues have set a price tag of £5 million for the 33-year-old.Giroud’s Chelsea contract is due to expire at the end of the season, but he is keen to seal a move away mid-season so that his place... Читать дальше...

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has told his squad in Cyprus to seize their chance to feature in the Euro 2020 play-offs.Clarke has lost a number of players to injury and international retirement before and after picking his squad for the final two group games, against Cyprus and Kazakhstan.Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, Liam Cooper and Ryan Fraser pulled out at the start of the week while the likes of Charlie Mulgrew, Kieran Tierney, John Souttar, Stuart Findlay and Leigh Griffiths were missing... Читать дальше...

The Croatia international has been frozen out by the Italian champions since the arrival of Maurizio Sarri as coach over the summer.He was left out of the Italian club’s Champions League squad and is yet to feature in any competitions for Juve this season.United has long been touted as his most likely destination and Tuttosport reports that the 33-year-old wants to make the move as soon as possible.Mandzukic is keen to begin training with the Red Devils next month to give him time to adjust to his... Читать дальше...

Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke has been criticised by a magistrate after he was banned from driving for a series of speeding offences.The Belgium international, who already had nine points on his licence for previous offences, was handed a 12-month road ban at Londons Lavender Hill Magistrates Court on Friday.Chair of the bench Pamela Stokes said the 28-year-old, who did not attend the hearing, had fallen far short of being a role model to fans.She said: I note that Benteke is someone who has offended before... Читать дальше...

The Switzerland international’s time at the Emirates appears to be up, after he was stripped of the captaincy for swearing at fans during a 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace two weeks ago.Xhaka hasn’t featured for Arsenal since the incident, and his future at the club is in doubt.The Telegraph reports that Newcastle are interested in sealing a short-term deal in January if the player wants to remain in the Premier League.The 27-year-old wants to continue playing regularly, to ensure he doesn’t miss... Читать дальше...

Derrick Williams has been ruled out of the Republic of Irelands final Euro 2020 qualifier against Denmark through injury.The Blackburn defender, who scored his first senior international goal in Thursday nights 3-1 friendly victory over New Zealand, has returned to his club for treatment on a calf problem sustained during the game.Ireland boss Mick McCarthy said: Derrick felt his calf in the second half of the game and our medical team have assessed him today.SQUAD UPDATE | Derrick Williams ruled... Читать дальше...

BarcelonaandJuventusare understood to be weighing upa pre-contract agreement in January, according to the Mirror.Willian has been heavily linked with Barcelona before, with the Catalanclub reportedly sounding out a move before they signed Malcolm in 2018.In a new-look Chelsea side layered with youth, Willian finds himself being one of the more experienced heads at Stamford Bridge.The Brazilian has played a key role in helping guide Lampard's young squad to an impressive third in the Premier League.Willian... Читать дальше...

James Fowler has returned to Kilmarnock after being appointed as their new head of football operations.The former Rugby Park favourite has been recruited by owner Billy Bowie to head up the Ayrshire sides recruitment and scouting departments.The 39-year-old who made over 460 appearances for Killie and was a member of the clubs 2012 League Cup-winning side turned to management after retiring, taking charge of Queen of the South before joining Jack Ross back-room staff at St Mirren and Kilmarnock.Fowler will now take us his new role on Monday... Читать дальше...

Wales meet Azerbaijan in a crucial Euro 2020 qualifier in Baku on Saturday.Ryan Giggs side are aiming to keep their automatic qualification hopes alive ahead of their final game against Hungary in Cardiff on Tuesday.Here, the PA news agency looks at the main talking points around the game.Bale fitnessGareth Bale has declared himself fit for Wales Euro 2020 qualifier despite not having played for Real Madrid for six weeks (Nigel French/PA)Gareth Bales fitness has been the subject of almost daily bulletins... Читать дальше...

The former Portugal winger helped Porto win the 1987 European Cup, before moving to Atletico Madrid and captaining Los Colchoneros to back-to-back Copa del Rey wins in 1991 and 1992.Futre was never quite the same player after sustaining a serious knee injury on his debut for Reggiana in 1993. After making asolitary league appearance for Milan in 1995/96, he decided to move to England and join Harry Redknapp’s West Ham, where he says he was in his element.Speaking in the December 2019 issue of FourFourTwo... Читать дальше...

We've given you every player's club and position to help you out. All you need to do is fill in the missing names. You've got eight minutes to name as many as you can, thenlet us know how you got on by tweeting us@FourFourTwo– butremember not to give away any of the answers.THEN TRYHow many of the 60 England players with 50+ caps can you name? At times on Thursday night, it felt as if every current professional English footballer was going to get on the scoresheet.Sadly for you, they didn't – meaning... Читать дальше...

The Armenian joined the Gunners from Manchester United in January 2018 when Arsene Wenger was still in charge at the Emirates.Mkhitaryan played under Emery for just one full season, making 38 appearances, before joining Roma on loan this September.Speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo in our December 2019 issue, a managers' special out on Tuesday (November 19), the 30-year-old explained how life changed under the Spaniard.“He paid more attention to tactics, so my role changed,” said Mkhitaryan. “I was starting as a winger... Читать дальше...