Football Blog (Page 178)

[ad_1] The first four games of the 2022 World Cup are done and dusted, with the off-field controversy taking a back seat for now as fans are entertained by the globe’s best footballers. Qatar and Ecuador got things off to an entertaining start on Sunday, with three further games taking place on Monday to get the tournament into full swing. There have been plenty of goals and a handful of excellent ones. too. Here are the best strikes from the first matchday of the winter World Cup. How good was @EnnerValencia14‘s second goal?! 🤩#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/cx9vcpysQP — ITV Football (@itvfootball) November 20, 2022 WellRead More →

[ad_1] The World Cup always throws up surprises, and the large amount of injury time being played in matches is definitely a talking point from the early matches in Qatar. There was a total of 24 minutes added on in the England vs Iran game, although a lengthy injury accounted for at least some of that. However, there was another nine minutes added on in both of the other games on day two, so it definitely feels there is a new directive to the referees in play. Essentially it comes down to the wishes Pierluigi Collina, who retired from refereeing in 2005 yet still yieldsRead More →

[ad_1] The Washington Spirit announced that Mark Parsons will rejoin the team as the new head coach, after previously leading the NWSL side from 2013 to 2015. He replaces Kris Ward, who departed in August following an incident in the Club’s training grounds. Prior to his dismissal, the team had been on a 17-match winless streak. “Mark is one of the best coaches in the sport and we are thrilled to have him guiding our team as we start a new chapter,” Spirit president of soccer operations Mark Krikorian said. “After an extensive search process, we are confident that Mark’s experience and accomplishments are whatRead More →

[ad_1] The World Cup is the pinnacle of international football, and while the tournament has showcased the greatest of athletic competence over the years, the significance of the event means controversy has never been too far away. Exploited by regimes as a propaganda tool and courageously utilised by activists to draw attention to greater causes, the World Cup and protests have gone hand in hand over the years. Here are some of the biggest World Cup protests since the competition’s inception in 1930, ranging from bitter internal disputes to global issues. The first winners of the World Cup, Uruguay, boycotted the 1934 tournament / Keystone/GettyImagesRead More →

[ad_1] Netherlands got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start in Group A, although they made very hard work of it against Senegal in a late 2-0 victory. In a game of precious little quality, Cody Gakpo and Davy Klaassen provided late goals, although both owed plenty to some very poor goalkeeping from Edouard Mendy. It was Gakpo who created the first meaningful opportunity of the match on the quarter-hour. The PSV man stood the ball up for Daley Blind at the back post, but he could only head wide when he should have done better. Frenkie de Jong had an even betterRead More →

[ad_1] Mexican national team head coach Gerardo Martino addressed the heavy criticism coming from the El Tri fanbase ahead of their inaugural 2022 World Cup match against Poland on Tuesday, stating: “we are making ourselves strong in our atmosphere.” Mexican supporters began condemning the team following a string of negative results in recent games, but doubled down during the announcement of the 26-player roster headed to Qatar. The omissions of Diego Lainez and Santiago Gimenez did not sit well with most. But Martino insists the team will concentrate on themselves at the tournament to ensure a positive buzz around the team.   “What we have alwaysRead More →

[ad_1] Guillermo Ochoa defended the inclusion of Raul Jimenez in Mexico’s World Cup 26-player roster, insisting the Wolves figure stands with “a desire to play, to be on the field and contribute.”  In September, Jimenez suffered a groin/adductor injury that forced him back to the sidelines. Wolves confirmed the Mexican striker would be unavailable for the foreseeable future, putting into question his national team involvement.  In the weeks leading up to the final roster announcement, Jimenez trained with Mexico and traveled to England to receive his last bit of medical attention regarding the injury. Though his place on head coach Gerardo Martino’s list remained onRead More →

[ad_1] Canadian Men’s National Team midfielder Jonathan Osorio has claimed there’s no more ‘hope’ in the squad about competing at the World Cup; only ‘belief’. Les Rouges open their Group F campaign against world No.2 Belgium on Wednesday, playing in their first World Cup match since 1986. The last time Canada were at this stage, they left Mexico without a point or goal in a group containing France, the Soviet Union, and Hungary. However, since then, the soccer landscape in the country has undergone radical change, culminating in Canada qualifying for Qatar 2022 top of the Concacaf group, ahead of both Mexico and the UnitedRead More →

[ad_1] Cristiano Ronaldo has stressed he has nothing to prove to anybody following criticism of his controversial interview. Ronaldo spoke out about his unhappiness at Manchester United, taking aim at Erik ten Hag and the Glazers and prompting the club to seek termination of his contract ahead of the January transfer window. Asked on Monday whether he hopes to use the World Cup to prove his value to United and any potential suitors, Ronaldo laughed off the suggestion. “If I have to prove something at 37 years and eight months, I’d be worried,” he said. “After what I’ve already done and won, it would beRead More →

[ad_1] Bayern Munich have shunned enquiries for Leroy Sane and insist they are not looking to sell the German winger, 90min understands. The 26-year-old was first linked with a move away from the Allianz Arena in the summer following the arrival of Sadio Mane from Liverpool, and unsurprisingly the Senegalese star has made a significant impact at the Bavarian giants. He has been a virtual ever-present on the left side, scoring 11 time in 23 games, which has impacted on some of his new teammates playing time. Sane is one of those to have seen his number of starts restricted, although that is also becauseRead More →