Sunday, 29 May 2016

World Cup 2018 Qualifying Re-cap: Tahiti thrash Samoa

Tahiti began their defence of the OFC Nations Cup with a 4-0 thrashing of Samoa, in day two of the second round of Oceania qualifying for World Cup 2018.
Teaonui Tehau scored twice inside the first five minutes to give Ludovic Graugnard's side an excellent start, steering home a clinical finish before heading in from a corner.
Steevy Chong Hue blasted in a fine volley with just a quarter of an hour played, before Alvin Tehau, who earlier had a goal ruled out for offside, curled in from the edge of the area to seal the win ahead of the interval.
Papua New Guinea held on for a 1-1 draw with New Caledonia in the earlier match after being reduced to 10 men.
Tommy Semmy converted Emmanuel Simon's fine throughball to put the hosts ahead after 41 minutes, but the goalscorer picked up a second booking after the break to leave his side up against it.
Jean-Philippe Saiko, who saw a goal disallowed for offside in the first half, volleyed in the equaliser with six minutes to play, but the 2012 Nations Cup runners-up spurned the chance to take all three points in the dying moments when Cesar Zeoula crashed his penalty off the crossbar.
The winner of the tournament - which doubles as the second stage of qualifying for Russia 2018 - will represent Oceania in the Confederations Cup next year, while the three other best-placed teams of the two groups will advance to round three of the World Cup preliminaries.

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Dortmund dismiss Aubameyang exit talk

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has laughed off suggestions Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to leave the club.
Gabon coach Jorge Costa was quoted as saying on Saturday that the 26-year-old had asked not to be selected for the friendly against Mauritania because he is close to a transfer, with clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United believed to be keeping a close eye on the prolific attacker's situation following his sublime performances in 2015-16.
However, Dortmund have made it clear there is no truth in suggestions Aubameyang is on his way out of the Signal Iduna Park.
"Is Aubameyang set to leave? That's b******t," Watzke told Sport Bild when questioned about a potential transfer.
Aubameyang netted 39 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions for BVB in 2015-16, helping them to second spot in the Bundesliga table and the DFB Pokal final, where Bayern Munich proved to be too strong.
The former AC Milan man has a contract with Dortmund until the end of June 2020.
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Dortmund dismiss Aubameyang exit talk

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has laughed off suggestions Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is set to leave the club.
Gabon coach Jorge Costa was quoted as saying on Saturday that the 26-year-old had asked not to be selected for the friendly against Mauritania because he is close to a transfer, with clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United believed to be keeping a close eye on the prolific attacker's situation following his sublime performances in 2015-16.
However, Dortmund have made it clear there is no truth in suggestions Aubameyang is on his way out of the Signal Iduna Park.
"Is Aubameyang set to leave? That's b******t," Watzke told Sport Bild when questioned about a potential transfer.
Aubameyang netted 39 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions for BVB in 2015-16, helping them to second spot in the Bundesliga table and the DFB Pokal final, where Bayern Munich proved to be too strong.
The former AC Milan man has a contract with Dortmund until the end of June 2020.
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Zieler close to Leicester move as Hannover confirm medical

Hannover have announced that goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler has been granted permission to travel to Leicester City to complete a transfer.
The Germany international is to hold contract talks and complete a medical with a view to sealing a switch to the Premier League champions.
The Bundesliga club confirmed via their official website: "Ron-Robert Zieler has exercised the option in his contract and informed Hannover that he will travel to English champions Leicester City to have contract talks.
"In addition, the 27-year-old goalkeeper will complete the sports medical examinations in England."
Hannover managing director said Zieler would always be welcome to return to the club in future.
"We've always been aware that Ron would continue to show his outstanding qualities in the first division," he said.
"We wish him all the best for the future. Ron will always be welcome in Hannover."
Zieler has played nearly 200 times in his six years with Hannover since leaving Manchester United, where he never made a senior appearance.
The club were relegated from the Bundesliga this season after finishing bottom of the table with just seven wins from 34, thus activating a clause in Zieler's contract to allow him to look for a transfer.
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Xhaka proud to complete 'dream' Arsenal move


Switzerland star Granit Xhaka is delighted to have completed a "dream" transfer to Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach.
The 23-year-old secured a move to Emirates Stadium this week for a reported fee of close to EUR40million after an impressive four-year spell in the Bundesliga.
The midfielder, compared to Andrea Pirlo by former Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, is relieved to have sealed the move prior to Euro 2016 and is relishing the prospect of his first appearance under Arsene Wenger. 
"I feel good, now I'm happy to be a Gunner," Xhaka told Sky Sports News after Switzerland's 2-1 friendly defeat to Belgium on Saturday.
"It's been a big week for me, but now it's official and I'm very happy. Arsenal is a big club. I've seen the pitch, it's unbelievable. It was a dream for me and I'm happy now."
Xhaka, captain for much of the season under Andre Schubert, made 36 appearances for Gladbach in all competitions this season.
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Saturday, 28 May 2016

I have not scored enough for Man City, concedes Sterling


Raheem Sterling concedes he did not score or create enough goals in his first season at Manchester City.
The England international made 47 appearances for the club following his £49 million move from Liverpool last July, scoring 11 times.
But Sterling acknowledges his end product needs to be better under Pep Guardiola next season, even if he feels he has made important mental strides forward following his move.
"I have learned quite a bit going into City for my first year and I think I'm improving," he said after England's win over Australia.
"I probably haven't scored as many goals or assisted as many goals as I wanted to, but I'm definitely improving mentally. 
"That's the most important thing for me, the mentality to not listen to outsiders, just concentrate on being myself and expressing myself."
Sterling was deployed in a central attacking role in Friday's 2-1 win against Australia and he enjoyed that opportunity after playing a part in both goals from Marcus Rashford and Wayne Rooney.
He added: "It's a position where I can get in behind and I'm close to the goal. 
"That's my main problem as well, sometimes I can get drawn into staying too wide, but on Friday I could be close to the box creating stuff."
Sterling only started 23 Premier League games for City in 2015-16, 11 fewer than he did in the previous campaign at Liverpool.

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#RoadToMilano2016 (FINAL): Real Madrid 1 vs 1 Atletico Madrid (aet, 5-3 pens)

Real Madrid defeated Atletico Madrid in the Champions League final for the second time in three years as they won a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Milan.
After 120 minutes of action ended in a 1-1 draw, Atletico's Juanfran was the unfortunate man to miss, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to slot home the decisive spot-kick as Real won 5-3 on penalties.
Real were much the better team in the first half and took the lead through Sergio Ramos, who got a faint touch on Gareth Bale's header from close range to haunt Atletico again after his vital goal in his side's 2014 victory.
Atleti came out fighting after the break, but Antoine Griezmann crashed a penalty against the crossbar as they looked set to fall to another painful defeat against their city rivals in club football's biggest fixture.
But substitute Yannick Carrasco's strike from inside the six-yard box with 11 minutes remaining sent the game to extra-time, where neither side found a winner to prompt spot-kicks.
However, Atletico hearts were broken again with Ronaldo's topless celebrations and tears from Atletico fans bringing back memories from their defeat in Lisbon.
Real's victory means they are now 11-time European champions with Zinedine Zidane becoming the seventh man to win the tournament as both player and coach after only five months at the helm.
Atletico, meanwhile, suffered their third heartbreaking defeat in a European Cup final, with Diego Simeone missing out on the opportunity to win every major honour available since taking charge of the club.
Real came close to taking an early lead when Bale fired in a free-kick that was turned towards goal by Karim Benzema a few yards out, but Jan Oblak made a crucial save with his legs.
The breakthrough did arrive in the 15th minute, though, with Toni Kroos' free-kick flicked on by Bale before Ramos prodded his effort under Oblak from close range. 
Despite Ramos appearing to have strayed narrowly offside, the goal stood to make him the first defender to score in two Champions League finals.
At the other end, Griezmann shot straight at Keylor Navas twice before sending another effort narrowly wide as he attempted to lift Atletico from what was a flat first-half performance.
Simeone made a half-time change with Carrasco replacing Augusto Fernandez and Atletico were awarded a penalty within a minute of the restart when Griezmann fed Fernando Torres in the area and the striker drew a foul from Pepe.
But Griezmann could only cannon his spot-kick against the crossbar as Real survived.
A tearful Dani Carvajal had to be withdrawn through injury for Zidane's men, who continued to come under pressure with Stefan Savic somehow missing the target from six yards after Diego Godin and Griezmann had kept a corner alive.
But for all of Atletico's improvement, they were not testing Navas and Real should have made sure of victory when Benzema was thwarted by Oblak after Luka Modric had impressively sent him through on goal.
They came even closer when the otherwise quiet Ronaldo was denied by Oblak twice in quick succession, with Bale's goal-bound attempt from the rebound cleared off the line by Savic.
And that missed opportunity proved costly as Atletico went up the other end and equalised, with Juanfran's brilliant volleyed cross after Gabi's chipped pass emphatically converted by Carrasco.
Ramos' cynical challenge on Carrasco thwarted a stoppage-time Atletico breakaway to send the match to extra-time, where Ronaldo completely misjudged a headed chance having been found by substitute Isco in the best opening.
The first seven penalties - including Griezmann's effort - were all scored, until Juanfran hit the foot of the post, allowing Ronaldo to seal European glory.

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Diame strike secures Premier League slot for Hull City

Mohamed Diame scored a stunning second-half goal to send Hull City back to the top flight at the expense of Sheffield Wednesday.
Hull City sealed an instant return to the Premier League as Mohamed Diame's superb strike secured a 1-0 Championship play-off final victory over Sheffield Wednesday.
Steve Bruce's men wrapped up a money-spinning spot back in the top flight a year on from the pain of relegation after a dominant display at Wembley.
Having been denied time and again by inspired Owls goalkeeper Keiren Westwood, it took a 20-yard curler from Diame to settle matters 18 minutes from time in an entertaining Yorkshire derby.
While Hull will take a seat at the top table – and pocket an estimated £170million in the process – Wednesday will spend a 17th consecutive season outside the Premier League, with trips the likes of Burton Albion and local rivals Rotherham United on the agenda.
After the Tigers put in two such contrasting performances in their semi-final triumph over Derby County – winning 3-0 away before succumbing 2-0 at home – much of the talk in the build-up centred on which side would turn up at the national stadium.
It transpired to be the one that finished nine points ahead of Wednesday in the table and City looked superior for most of what was an absorbing encounter.
Wednesday's bright start gave way to a spell of Hull pressure that saw Bruce's side force the impressive Westwood into a stunning save and Diame strike the upright.
Carlos Carvalhal's men continued to come under fire after the break, with Michael Dawson and Andrew Robertson missing gilt-edged opportunities before Diame assumed the role of Hull's hero.
And yet it had started well enough for Wednesday, who won a free-kick in a promising position after Dawson was cautioned for hacking down Fernando Forestieri, whose set-piece was palmed over by Eldin Jakupovic in unorthodox fashion.
It was from another dead-ball situation that Ross Wallace again called an unconvincing Jakupovic into action.
Hull almost broke the deadlock when Tom Huddlestone's powerful 29th-minute header from Robert Snodgrass' corner was cleared off the line by Kieran Lee and Dawson failed to steer in the rebound.
Westwood was next to come to the Owls' rescue when he brilliantly diverted Abel Hernandez's shot over the crossbar after Tom Lees failed to deal with Diame's throughball. 
Diame then rattled the post after dancing his way into the area as the Tigers ramped up the pressure, with Moses Odubajo then testing a busy Westwood.
Forestieri looked to redress the balance early in the second half as he chased Westwood's long kick, but Curtis Davies recovered brilliantly to thwart him.
Carvalhal's men were soon on the back foot again, though, and Dawson brought yet another fine stop from Westwood when he flashed at Snodgrass' searching delivery to the back post.
Odubajo then played in Robertson for what looked to be a simple finish 12 yards out, but the Scot skied his shot well over the target.
Finally Diame made the breakthrough, curling home expertly from outside the box, with Westwood barely getting his right glove to it.
For the first time, Wednesday's huge following contingent – in stark contrast to the many empty seats in the Hull end – fell silent and there was to be no last-gasp tonic for the Owls.
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#RoadToMilano2016: Ramos sets new Record in Champions League

The Real stopper has set a new record after opening the scoring in Saturday's final against Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos has set a new Champions League record by becoming the first defender to score intwo finals.

The Spain international opened the scoring against Atletico Madrid in the 15th minute by poking home Gareth Bale’s flick-on, although the centre-back looked to be in an offside position.

Including the European Cup, Ramos becomes the fourth defender overall to score in two finals after former Ajax centre-back Velibor Vasovic, former Celtic left-back Tommy Gemmell and former Liverpool full-back Phil Neal.

But he is the first to do so since the competition was reformatted and rebranded as the Champions League in the 1992-93 season.

Ramos also becomes the sixth player to score in two European Cup finals for Madrid after Alfredo Di Stefano, Hector Rial, Francisco Gento, Ferenc Puskas and Raul.

The final is being played in Milan and is a repeat of the 2014 final, which Real won 4-1 after extra time following a late Ramos equaliser in regular time.
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#RoadToMilano2016: Carvajal sustains injury in Champions League final

The right-back has been named in Spain's provisional squad but was forced off prematurely at San Siro and left the field in tears early in the second half.

Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal could be in danger of missing Euro 2016 after sustaining a muscle injury in Saturday's Champions League final against Atletico Madrid.

The right-back pulled up early in the second half after a long ball and immediately signalled for goalkeeper Keylor Navas to kick it out of play.

Carvajal was briefly treated on the pitch, but the 24-year-old quickly realised he was not able to continue and limped off in tears in the 52nd minute.

The Spain international - who had earlier been booked fora reckless challenge on Antoine Griezmann - was replaced with Danilo.

Carvajal has been included in Spain's provisional squad for the upcoming European Championship, but his injury could see him miss out on the tournament in France.

The reigning European champions will have to deal with Czech Republic, Turkey and Croatia in Group D.
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Man City congratulate Kelechi Iheanacho after First Super Eagles Goal

The Citizens celebrated the wonderkid's finish to down Mali in an international friendly on Friday Manchester City have congratulated Nigeria wonder kid Kelechi Iheanacho as his late goal downed Mali on Friday.

The 19-year-old forward—who has been one of the revelations of the Premier League season—made his Super Eagles debut in a World Cup qualifier against Swaziland in November 2015, but had to wait until this weekend's international friendly to break his international duck.

Congratulations @67Kelechion your winning goal!#mcfchttps://t.co/0smzM9Cj6R
— Manchester City FC (@MCFC) May 27, 2016

With Nigeria's bout against their west African neighbours in Rouen was seemingly destined for a 0-0 draw, before Iheanacho was picked out by Michael Babatunde in the 77th minute and made little mistake with a sharp close-range finish.

"Congratulations Kelechi on your winning goal," wrote City on their official@MCFC Twitter handle, in acknowledgement of the youngster's strike.

Iheanacho has been a ray of light for the Citizens during a testing season at the Etihad Stadium, and while he struggled to impress in the Champions League, he scored eight goals in just 753 Premier League minutes—spread over 26 appearances, of which seven were starts.

The teenage sensation will surely be hoping to add to his tally when the Super Eagles meet Luxembourg in Luxembourg City on Tuesday.
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France midfielder Diarra hit with €10million fine

Lassana Diarra must pay a EUR10million fine to former club Lokomotiv Moscow after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled he had breached his contract.
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid star joined Lokomotiv from Anzhi Makhachkala during the 2013-14 season, but refused to turn up for training following a salary cut and a fallout with head coach Leonid Kuchuk - who was sacked in August 2014 - and went on to quit the club.
Lokomotiv took the case to FIFA and the midfielder then spent 15 months out of football without pay prior to joining Marseille last July as he was initially unable to join another team after his exit because of the contract dispute.
CAS has now ruled Diarra must pay EUR10m to the Russian Premier League club as well as EUR110,000 in court costs, with the player accepting the decision.
Diarra, 31, announced the verdict himself on Twitter, adding: "I take note of CAS' decision and I want to thank all the people that have backed me during this difficult time.
"As I have said, it has been a challenge and I would not wish that on any other player. 
"I accept it and take full responsibility, as I have always done in the past. It is a closed chapter and it is now time for me to concentrate on the France team at the Euros which takes place in my country."
Diarra is in France's Euro 2016 squad after a bounce-back season with Marseille which saw him named in the Ligue 1 Team of 2015-16.

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Bartra confirms he can leave Barcelona for €8million

Marc Bartra has confirmed that his release clause at Barcelona has dropped to EUR8million as a result of a lack of appearances this season.
The 25-year-old played just 13 times in Barca's successful defence of their Liga title, with Gerard Pique, Javier Mascherano and Jeremy Mathieu all preferred by head coach Luis Enrique at the heart of the defence.
Bartra announced at a Spain media conference on Saturday that the release clause stipulated in his contract, reported to have been worth EUR40m, has now been reduced due to his lack of playing time.
The defender has been heavily linked with a move away from Camp Nou, with Premier League side Tottenham among the teams rumoured to be interested, but he says his next move lies in the hands of his agent and former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol, who runs the agency to which he is signed.
"It's in the hands of Carles Puyol and my representative," Bartra said.
In the meantime, Bartra says his focus is on Spain's preparation for Euro 2016, with a friendly match against Bosnia-Herzegovina taking place in Switzerland on Sunday.
"I'm happy to be here, the boss called me and to be at the Euros is a dream for which I have been preparing for over a year," he added.
"Players change, there are some who have had a lot of titles, others who just started, and there's always a good atmosphere."
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