Wednesday, 30 March 2016

Ter Stegen considering his options at Barcelona

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen has cast fresh doubt on his future at Camp Nou after impressing in Germany's 4-1 thrashing of Italy.
Ter Stegen made a rare appearance for his country in their win against Italy and while he has been trusted with Champions League duty by Barcelona coach Luis Enrique, the German star could yet seek a move with a view to playing regular league football.
Chile's Claudio Bravo is the preferred man between the sticks for La Liga action at the Catalan club.
"I don't know what the coach [Luis Enrique] thinks, you have to ask him. I can just say that I want to give my very best," he said after the international friendly.
"That's what I always do - I want to give my best for the team and obviously also for me.
"I hope we reach the next round in the Champions League and win our next game in the league - these are my goals with the team."
But while Ter Stegen is happy to play the team game for now, he warned that he might not always be willing to share goalkeeping duties.
"Obviously I also have personal goals," he continued.
"The coach decides the way he decides, I guess he has his reasons to do so. But we will see how this goes on in the future."
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World Cup Qualifiers: Argentina 2 vs 0 Bolivia| Highlights Download

The Barcelona star was on target from the penalty spot to reach the personal landmark, after Gabriel Mercado had opened the scoring in a routine victory for the hosts.

Lionel Messi marked yet another milestone in his career to help Argentinato a third straight World Cup qualifying victory, as the Albiceleste prevailed 2-0 overBoliviain Cordoba.

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World cup Qualifiers: Paraguay 2 vs 2 Brazil| Highlights Download

Dario Lezcano and Edgar Benitez struck for the home team to secure an excellent victory for the Guarani, but Ricardo Oliveira hit back before the full-back's equaliser.

Dani Alves wasBrazil'sunlikely hero as the Selecao salvaged a 2-2 draw againstParaguay, striking in the last minute to take a share ofthe points.

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Seluk: Toure to leave City

Yaya Toure is preparing to leave Manchester City with the midfielder in talks with European clubs, according to his agent Dimitri Seluk.
Seluk had warned City that Toure, whose contract expires at the end of the 2016-17 campaign, would depart the Etihad Stadium unless he was offered a new deal before the end of the season.
But no new contract has been forthcoming for the Ivory Coast international ahead of Pep Guardiola's arrival, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Juventus reportedly interested in signing the 32-year-old.
"From this moment we start to discuss with different clubs about Yaya going there in the summer," Seluk told The Sun.
"City don't do anything concrete. Yaya has given everything for the club and we don't feel that this situation is the right way to show how much they appreciate him."
Toure has scored six goals in 26 Premier League appearances this term, as City cling onto the fourth and final Champions League qualification spot.
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Bonucci will undergo tests after hearing a 'crack

Leonardo Bonucci revealed he "heard a crack" before being carried off on a stretcher in Italy's 4-1 friendly defeat to Germany.
Bonucci's knee appeared to buckle as he attempted to stop a Mario Gotze flick in the lead-up to Germany's third goal, finished off by Jonas Hector just before the hour mark.
Mesut Ozil completed the rout in Munich with 15 minutes to go via a spot-kick, adding to Gotze and Toni Kroos' first-half efforts, condemning Italy to their first loss against Germany since 1995.
Bonucci said he is unsure of what type of injury he sustained, but the 28-year-old will undergo tests to examine the full extent of the damage. 
"I heard a crack and I was in a bit of pain," the Juventus defender told Rai Sport. 
"I do not know exactly where I got hurt. It could be anything.
"We'll see what the tests say tomorrow [Wednesday] and what happens next."
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Mathieu could miss France's Euro 2016 campaign with knee injury

The 32-year-old, who has made 31 appearances for Barcelona this term, faces up to eight weeks out after suffering a torn medial meniscus in Tuesday's win over Russia.

Jeremy Mathieu could miss the rest of the season and Euro 2016 afterhe suffered a torn medial meniscus during France’s 4-2 victoryover Russia on Tuesday evening.

The Barcelona defender suffered the injury to his left knee in the 53rd minute and was replaced by Lucas Digne.

Mathieu faces up to eight weeks on the sidelines, although he could also require surgery depending on the severity of the injury.

The 32-year-old has made 31 appearances in all competitions for Barcelona this season.

France continued their Euro 2016 preparations with a 4-2 win over Russia.

 N’Golo Kante, André-Pierre Gignac, Dimitri Payet and Kingsley Coman were all on target for Didier Deschamps’ side.
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Lionel Messi reaches 50 goals with Argentina

The Barcelona converted past the Verde to reach a half-century with the national team, as he keeps up the chase on top scorer Gabriel Batistuta.

Lionel Messi has reached 50 international goals after the Argentina star scored against Bolivia in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier.

The Barcelona superstar was on target with a penalty to put the Albiceleste 2-0 up against the Andean nation, with 28 minutes played of the first half.

His first goal in international colours came on March 1 2006, in a friendly against Croatia at the age of 18. 

That same year, Messi went on to become Argentina's youngest-ever scorer in a World Cup finals when he scored in a 6-0 rout of Serbia.

With a half-century of strikes, Messi also closes in on Albiceleste top scorer Gabriel Batistuta, who hit the net 56 times with the national team in 78 appearances.

La Pulga also joins an exclusive club of five South Americans who have broken the 50-goal mark, rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest strikers ever to play the game.
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O'Neill confirms Elliot injury ahead of Euro 2016

Martin O'Neill has revealed that Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Rob Elliot suffered a serious knee injury during the 2-2 draw with Slovakia.
The Newcastle United keeper was handed his fourth cap at the Aviva Stadium, but his chances of making O'Neill's Euro 2016 squad are now in tatters.
Slovakia opened the scoring through Miroslav Stoch, but Elliot was injured as he tried to stop the ball from flying into the top corner.
O'Neill refused to give a timeframe for the injury, but the former Aston Villa boss conceded Elliot's problem was serious.
"He's not great. He's got a serious knee injury and it's a real disappointment and a dampener on the evening, particularly when he's getting his career together and going well at Newcastle and looking forward to the game," the Ireland boss said.
"I've just spoken to the doctor and he's not happy with it. It might be too early to make any assumptions, but I don't think it's great. It's a really cruel injury. He's been waiting for some time now for a run of games at club level.
"He was doing very well indeed and it's naturally a big blow to him, us and his club."
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Friendly: Portugal 2 vs 1 Belgium| Highlights Download

Portugal triumphed 2-1 against Belgium with Nani and Cristiano Ronaldo on the scoresheet in Leiria.
The match had been scheduled to take place in Brussels, but was moved in the aftermath of last week's terror attacks in the Belgian capital and the visitors wore training tops with the message "In memory of all victims - Brussels, 22.03.2016" before the action got under way.
Nani gave Portugal the lead after Thibaut Courtois had pulled off a string of fine saves, the Fenerbahce winger converting a fine pass from Andre Gomes.
Courtois was again helpless after 38 minutes when Cristiano Ronaldo made it 2-0, heading in a cross from Joao Mario.
Romelu Lukaku grabbed a goal back with nearly half an hour to play, heading in a sublime cross from his brother Jordan, but Belgium - who top FIFA's rankings - could not find an equaliser.
Portugal had lost two of their three previous internationals but Fernando Santos' side were constantly threatening Belgium on the break and they will be a danger at Euro 2016 on this form.
Ronaldo had a penalty saved in Portugal's 1-0 loss against Bulgaria on Friday but his confidence was unaffected, the Real Madrid star nutmegging Jason Denayer with an early backheel.
That sumptuous skill, after nine minutes, set up Mario for a drive that Courtois blocked, with the Chelsea goalkeeper also saving Adrien Silva's follow-up.
Courtois was having a busy start to the game, turning Nani's effort away before superbly tipping Ronaldo's header on to the crossbar.
But Courtois could not continue his heroics as Portugal took a deserved lead after 19 minutes.
Gomes played a smart ball into the box with the outside of his foot and Nani ran on to bend a fine finish beyond Courtois.
Dries Mertens gave Rui Patricio his first test after 36 minutes with a long-range drive that the goalkeeper easily saved and Ronaldo made it 2-0 moments later, with Mario his supplier.
Ronaldo drifted ahead of his marker to nod in the delightful cross and Gomes blazed over shortly afterwards as the hosts threatened to increase their lead further.
Guillaume Gillet's error let in Ronaldo five minutes after half-time, but he sliced his shot wide.
World number one side Belgium had won eight of their nine previous internationals but there were few signs of a comeback, as Mertens missed a good headed chance and Patricio made a fine save from Radja Nainggolan's viciously swerving free-kick.
Belgium did get a goal back after 61 minutes, Everton striker Lukaku rising to head in a cross by his younger brother Jordan, who had just come on as a substitute.
Substitute Ricardo Quaresma whipped a free-kick just over the angle, as Belgium lost momentum amid a glut of changes made by each coach, and Marc Wilmots' side could not find a leveller.

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Friendly: France 4 vs 2 Russia| Highlights Download

N'Golo Kante scored on his first start for France to further boost his chances of Euro 2016 selection as Didier Deschamps' side beat Russia 4-2 in a thrilling encounter in Paris on Tuesday.
In what was Les Bleus' first match at the Stade de France since the Paris terror attacks on November 13, Kante - celebrating his 25th birthday - gave another tenacious performance in midfield and got the hosts off to a fine start, while Dimitri Payet - another birthday boy - also scored in spectacular style to surely secure his place in Deschamps' final squad.
Andre-Pierre Gignac replaced Olivier Giroud in one of four changes from Friday's 3-2 defeat of the Netherlands and the Tigres striker made it 2-0, expertly directing a header past Igor Akinfeev towards the end of the first period.
France monopolised possession and afforded Russia little space to attack, but the visitors did pull one back from a set-piece just before the hour mark - Aleksandr Kokorin nodding in.
Payet's glorious free-kick restored the two-goal cushion with 64 minutes on the clock, less than 60 seconds after coming on, only for Yuri Zhirkov to hit back shortly after.
France eventually put the fightback beyond Russia as Kingsley Coman netted his first international goal with a clever finish 14 minutes from time.
France played with freedom from the off, moving the ball effortlessly in midfield and attacking in numbers, ultimately resulting in the opening goal after just nine minutes.
Gignac linked well with Antoine Griezmann on the edge of the area, with the latter showing great awareness to spot the run of Kante, who confidently steered home after initially winning possession back to begin the move.
The hosts were showing great composure on the ball and another incisive move saw Griezmann presented with an opportunity, only for the Atletico Madrid man to drag wide from 20 yards.
France eventually doubled their lead seven minutes before the break, as Gignac darted in front of Kokorin to meet Griezmann's free-kick delivery and the centre-forward brilliantly directed a diving header across the face of goal and into the bottom-right corner.  
Russia halved the deficit in the 56th minute, as Lucas Digne - sent on to replace the injured Jeremy Mathieu just a few moments earlier - failed to track Kokorin and the forward headed Alan Dzagoev's free-kick past the helpless Hugo Lloris.
Payet put France two ahead once again just a few seconds after coming on in the 63rd minute, sending a 30-yard free-kick into the top corner in stunning fashion, but Zhirkov hit back soon after, tapping home after a darting run and cutback from Oleg Shatov.
France finally put the match beyond Russia in the 76th minute, though, as Coman chased Payet's pass, turned back on himself to evade Akinfeev and then slammed an emphatic strike into the roof of the net to wrap things up.

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Friendly: England 1 vs 2 Netherlands| Highlights Download

Netherlands came from a goal down to seal a morale-boosting 2-1 friendly victory away to England on Tuesday.
Roy Hodgson's side were riding high after their 3-2 victory over Germany on Saturday, but they failed to replicate the same standards they hit in the second half in Berlin against a Dutch side who looked far sharper than in recent displays.

Wembley observed an impeccable minute's silence for the victims of the recent terror attacks in Brussels, Lahore and Iskanderiyah, while applause once again sounded in tribute to Johan Cruyff, but the home fans did not have much to cheer until Jamie Vardy capped a fine team move to snatch the lead just before half-time.

Vincent Janssen, on his full debut for Danny Blind's side, equalised from the penalty spot on 50 minutes after Danny Rose had handled in the area, and Netherlands - who had lost five of their last eight matches before the game - looked happy to sit deeper and exploit the counter-attack in the second half.

Substitute Theo Walcott, whose place at Euro 2016 would seem to be under increasing threat given the form of England's forwards, proved a real handful as the hosts looked to find a winner, but Luciano Narsingh converted Janssen's cross - after a strong challenge in the build-up - to snatch a surprise victory.

Hodgson made eight changes from Berlin, Leicester City's Danny Drinkwater turning in a composed debut performance, while Netherlands - captained by Manchester United's Daley Blind - started with just five of the players who began the 3-2 loss to France.

England began in sluggish fashion and Rose was fortunate not to concede an early penalty when he slid in and caught Joel Veltman just inside the area, before Memphis Depay lashed a half-volley over the crossbar.

Applause rang out within Wembley in the 14th minute in tribute to Dutch great Cruyff, who died last week, and Ibrahim Afellay brought about the first save of the match soon afterwards, testing Fraser Forster from the edge of the area after good work from Quincy Promes.

Forster was at full stretch to deny Georginio Wijnaldum's bending effort, but England, who improved their display as the half drew on, took the lead five minutes before the break.

Adam Lallana slid a fine throughball to Kyle Walker inside the area, and his cut-back was turned into the net at the near post by Vardy from just six yards out for the 100th goal of Hodgson's reign.

England looked lively early in the second half, but they gifted Netherlands a way back into the match when Rose flicked out an arm to block Narsingh's cross after John Stones had slipped and lost possession, and Janssen swept the penalty high into the net.

England responded in positive fashion. Vardy rifled in a shot from 25 yards which Jeroen Zoet did well to tip over before substitute Walcott was denied by a timely block from Blind, and the Arsenal man whistled a shot just over the crossbar after a fine turn to beat Jetro Willems.

But Netherlands snatched the win in controversial fashion with 14 minutes to play. 

Janssen was allowed to play on after barging Phil Jagielka off the ball, and he squared across goal for the unmarked Narsingh, who fired home to ensure a first home defeat since November 2013 for a disappointing England.

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360 BREAKING NEWS: Garde leaves Villa

Remi Garde has left Aston Villa by mutual consent with the club seemingly condemned to relegation from the Premier League.
Garde was appointed at Villa Park in November after predecessor Tim Sherwood claimed a haul of four points from the opening 10 league matches of the season - the solitary victory coming on the opening day against AFC Bournemouth.
But the former Lyon boss has fared little better, winning just two of his 20 league games in charge.
Eric Black has been placed in charge until a permanent successor can be found.
A battling goalless draw in his first game at the helm against Manchester City proved to be a false dawn and a maiden Premier League win did not arrive until the visit of Crystal Palace on January 12.
Garde expressed frustration at the club's failure to secure any of his desired transfer targets during the mid-season transfer window and a 2-0 victory against fellow strugglers Norwich City on February 6 preceded an ongoing run of six straight defeats.
A 1-0 loss at Swansea City before the international break, where an error from goalkeeper Brad Guzan allowed Federico Fernandez to score the only goal of the game, left Villa 12 points behind fourth-bottom Norwich with seven matches remaining.
Villa's reshaped board under chairman Steve Hollis have been persuaded to act and former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has been reported as the club's primary target to succeed Garde.
Following the international break, Villa will play back-to-back home matches against Chelsea and Bournemouth.
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Friendly: Germany 4 vs 1 Italy| Highlights Download

Germany ended a 21-year wait for a win over Italy as they scored two goals in each half to record a resounding 4-1 triumph in Munich on Tuesday.

Having thrown away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to England on Saturday, Joachim Low's side bounced back in style to end a seven-match winless streak against their opponents. 

Toni Kroos scored his second international goal in as many matches when his right-footed attempt from just outside the area broke the deadlock in the 24th minute.

Mario Gotze headed in his 17th goal for Germany on the stroke of half-time, while any fears the hosts might suffer another second-half collapse disappeared when full-back Jonas Hector broke his duck for the national team just before the hour mark.

Mesut Ozil made it 4-0 from the spot after Sebastian Rudy had been tripped inside the area by goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, although the visitors had the last word with a consolation effort from Stephan El Shaarawy.

Italy - who had knocked their opponents out of Euro 2012 - arrived on German soil fresh from an impressive performance in a 1-1 draw with reigning European champions Spain on Thursday.

Their hopes of winning an international friendly for the first time since November 2014 were also boosted by the hosts being without goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielder Sami Khedira through illness and injury respectively.

However, Germany took the lead when Italy only partially cleared a low cross from the right wing.

The loose ball fell kindly just outside the area to Kroos, who steered a precise first-time shot beyond the diving Buffon and into the bottom right corner of the goal.

The veteran goalkeeper was able to deal with an effort from Thomas Muller soon after, tipping a curling shot over the crossbar, but could do nothing to prevent Gotze doubling Germany's lead.

Muller sent over an early cross that allowed his Bayern Munich team-mate to get in between two defenders and steer home a header.

Italy had a chance to half the deficit early in the second half, but Riccardo Montolivo poked his rushed attempt wide to the left with only goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to beat.

Germany were not so wasteful on their first real attack of the second half, Julian Draxler breaking clear of a high defensive line before squaring the ball for Hector to sweep home with his left foot.

Buffon's ill-timed tackle 15 minutes from time allowed Ozil to heap more misery on Italy, who saw defender Leonardo Bonucci carried off on a stretcher on his 50th international start.

They did at least get an 83rd-minute goal, substitute El Shaarawy firing off a quick shot that clipped defender Antonio Rudiger before reaching the back of the net.

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