Football Blog (Page 200)

[ad_1] The MLS Cup is set for Saturday, as LAFC hosts the Philadelphia Union at Banc of California Stadium. The Union reached the Cup after triumphing 3-1 over New York City FC in the Eastern Conference Final, while LAFC earned hosting rights when defeating Austin FC 3-0. These are the goals that helped both teams reach the final… Opoku makes it 3-0 and @LAFC are 10 minutes away from their first trip to #MLSCup!#LAFCvATX // Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/jKy5Tel3AB — Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 30, 2022 Let’s kick off with Opoku’s strike against Austin FC. The player came off the bench in the 71st, replacingRead More →

[ad_1] Sarina Wiegman has insisted the door is not closed for Hannah Hampton, despite the goalkeeper not being included in an England squad since Euro 2022 and being dropped by Aston Villa boss Carla Ward following an unspecified incident. Hampton was handed her England debut by Wiegman in February and was understudy to Mary Earps at the European Championships, alongside Ellie Roebuck. However, she has not been selected in the three subsequent post-Euros squads, with Sandy MacIver called up in her place. MacIver has not played a minute in the WSL for Manchester City this season. After being declared fit for her side’s trip toRead More →

[ad_1] Nashville SC’s Hany Mukhtar has been named Major League Soccer’s Most Valuable Player for 2022. After leading the league with 23 goals to capture the MLS Golden Boot, the 27-year-old German-born forward stands the first in Nashville SC history to win MVP. Mukhtar also helped his side with 34 goal contributions in 2022, tied for the fifth-most in a single MLS season to inspire Nashville to fifth place on the Western Conference table. He won the vote with 48.03% of the vote, defeating Austin FC’s Sebastián Driussi and Philadelphia Union’s Andre Blake, who finished in second and third respectively. Nashville became the fourth expansionRead More →

[ad_1] Aston Villa have underlined their commitment to new boss Unai Emery by handing him the longest managerial contract in the club’s history. Emery was confirmed as the Villans new boss last week, although he is yet to officially start the job yet as he awaits his work visa. Aston Villa pushed the boat out to get the former Arsenal boss, paying £5.2m in compensation to release him from his deal at Villarreal and a bumper pay deal. It has also now emerged that the deal commits the Spaniard to Villa for at least four-and-a-half years. That eclipses the three-and-a-half years offered to previous bossRead More →

[ad_1] England have been handed a potential World Cup boost with Pep Guardiola saying Manchester City duo Kyle Walker and Kalvin Phillips are ‘likely’ to be available for selection. Phillips and Walker both played a key role in the Three Lions’ run to the final of Euro 2020 but they have struggled with injury this season, throwing their chances of making Southgate’s squad for Qatar into doubt. Walker underwent groin surgery in early October, while Phillips has been battling a shoulder problem since his summer move from Leeds. However, Guardiola believes both will be available when Gareth Southgate names his World Cup squad on NovemberRead More →

[ad_1] Pachuca lifted the 2022 Liga MX Apertura trophy on Sunday, after triumphing 8-2 over Toluca on aggregate. The team first defeated the Red Devils 5-1 in the first leg on Thursday, before sealing the deal with a 3-1 victory at home to kick off the championship celebrations in front of fans.  The victory stands as the team’s seventh league title. Goalkeeper Oscar Ustari served as a key component on the team’s 2022 Apertura success, conceding 15 goals in 17 matches to inspire Pachuca to fourth place on the table and winners of the Liguilla. He reflected on the victory, calling the team his ‘family’.Read More →

[ad_1] Karim Benzema and Aurelien Tchouameni are both doubts for Real Madrid’s match with Celtic after missing training. The French pair have both had injury problems in recent times, with Benzema missing the club’s last three matches with fatigue and Tchouameni sidelined for the latest outing against Girona. It was hoped that both would be able to return for the final Champions League group stage match with Celtic, but it now looks unlikely that they’ll do so. Neither took part in team training on Monday, doing individual programmes instead. Benzema’s took place entirely on the training field, while Tchouameni also spent time in the gym.Read More →

[ad_1] Raheem Sterling has said that he’s happy to play as a wing-back for Chelsea, but doesn’t believe the position allows him to play to the best of his ability. The 27-year-old has found himself playing in the unfamiliar role under head coach Graham Potter, following his appointment in September as Thomas Tuchel’s successor. His appearances there have brought mixed results to date. Sterling impressed in the role during the Champions League win over RB Salzburg, but looked overwhelmed and exposed defensively in the heavy 4-1 defeat to Brighton that followed. Critics have questioned whether Sterling is worthy of a place in Gareth Southgate’s EnglandRead More →

[ad_1] Jurgen Klopp is adamant that he remains as motivated as ever despite Liverpool’s struggles, saying he is committed to the bad times as well as the good. The opening months of the 2022/23 campaign have been perhaps the hardest of Klopp’s seven-year reign at Liverpool. After 12 Premier League matches, the team is languishing down in ninth in the table, eight points off a top-four spot and 15 points off leaders Arsenal. Things haven’t been great in Europe either with Napoli humiliating last year’s Champions League finalists, storming to a 4-1 victory. Many are wondering whether it’s time for a change for both KloppRead More →

[ad_1] The Ukrainian Football Association have submitted a request to FIFA to ban Iran from the upcoming World Cup over alleged links to Russia. Iran’s involvement in the winter showpiece has already been challenged over the country’s human rights violations, with a number of Iranian personalities accusing the nation of breaching FIFA laws by preventing women from entering football stadiums. Now, those in charge of Ukraine’s football have accused Iran or providing weapons to the Russian military and aiding their invasion of Ukraine, which would be a violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. “Taking into account media information about systematic human rights violations inRead More →