Новости за 26.03.2018

David de Gea has welcomed the challenge of facing Lionel Messi as the Argentina star seeks to recover from a hamstring injury ahead of the friendly against Spain in Madrid on Tuesday. Messi sat out Argentina's 2-0 win over Italy in Manchester last week but is expected to feature in the game at the Wanda Metropolitano. And while the inclusion of the deadly 30-year-old could make it a busy night for De Gea, the Manchester United shot-stopper is not daunted by the prospect. "As a goalkeeper it is a challenge to face Messi," De Gea said. Читать дальше...

Tim Cahill hopes Australia's national football team can play a part in rehabilitating the country's sporting reputation in the wake of the weekend's cricket ball-tampering scandal. Cameron Bancroft admitted using tape to try and artificially alter the condition of the ball during Australia's third Test against South Africa in Cape Town on Saturday, with captain Steve Smith stating the opening batsman was acting under instructions from himself and the team's "leadership group" of senior players.... Читать дальше...

Lionel Messi will be at the heart of Argentina's bid for World Cup glory – but head coach Jorge Sampaoli is not going to try teaching the Barcelona superstar anything. Messi will return to the Argentina line-up against Spain at the Wanda Metropolitano on Tuesday, having missed Friday's 2-0 win over Italy in Manchester with a sore hamstring. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner has been in typically sublime form for Barcelona this season and he dragged a ragged Argentina to qualification for Russia... Читать дальше...

Leonardo Spinazzola will miss Italy's friendly clash with England on Tuesday after suffering an unspecified injury in training. The on-loan Atalanta full-back had been expected to start at Wembley, with Luigi Di Biagio anticipated to make a number of changes from the side that lost 2-0 to Argentina on Friday. But Spinazzola felt discomfort during Monday's first training session and, after consultation with his club, it was deemed best to send him back to Italy. No replacement will be called, leaving... Читать дальше...

Germany boss Joachim Low believes the 7-1 humiliation his side handed Brazil in 2014 served as a motivation for the five-time world champions to change and improve. The two heavyweight footballing countries meet on Tuesday in Berlin for the first time at senior level since that remarkable World Cup semi-final in Belo Horizonte, which left the host nation stunned. Low's side went on to lift the trophy, beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time, while Brazil began the long process of getting the loss out... Читать дальше...

Dani Ceballos expected to play more than he has done at Real Madrid following his move from Real Betis, though he insists there is no problem with coach Zinedine Zidane. The talented midfielder made the switch to the Santiago Bernabeu at the start of the season after an eye-catching campaign with hometown club Betis. Madrid paid a reported €16.5million for the 21-year-old, as their transfer policy appeared to focus on players tipped for future stardom. But he has played just nine times in LaLiga... Читать дальше...

Joe Hart has remained a "fantastic" influence for England despite the goalkeeper's dwindling hopes of a starting berth at the World Cup. Manager Gareth Southgate confirmed Stoke City's Jack Butland will start Tuesday's friendly against Italy after Everton's Jordan Pickford extended the Three Lions' run of clean sheets to five matches in a 1-0 win over Netherlands. That streak began with Hart between the posts in the 1-0 World Cup qualifying victory versus Slovenia, but West Ham's on-loan goalkeeper ... Читать дальше...

Jack Wilshere could be available for Arsenal's Premier League match against Stoke City on Sunday despite withdrawing from international duty with England. Wilshere missed Friday's 1-0 win over Netherlands in Amsterdam due to a tendon problem in his knee and the issue has not cleared up in time for him to face Italy at Wembley on Tuesday. The 26-year-old's return to form and the Arsenal first team has put him in the frame for a place in Gareth Southgate's squad in Russia and the England boss believes... Читать дальше...

Mohamed Elneny has signed a new "long-term contract" with Arsenal, the Premier League club have confirmed. The midfielder joined from Swiss champions Basel in January 2016 and has since made 66 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals. Manager Arsene Wenger described Elneny as "a big advert for Egypt" as he welcomed the news. "I'm very delighted with Elneny," Wenger told Arsenal's official website. "He's a guy who contributes a lot to the collective quality of the team, he defends well... Читать дальше...

Lionel Messi says he plans to be involved in Argentina's friendly with Spain on Tuesday, despite concerns over a hamstring injury. The Barcelona star sat out the 2-0 win over Italy at the Etihad Stadium last Friday after admitting a muscle problem had been bothering him "for some time". However, the 30-year-old hopes to feature against Julen Lopetegui's side at the Wanda Metropolitano. "I was excited to be able to take part in the game against Italy, but I'm happy with the group's meet-up, I have good feelings," he told Fox Sports. Читать дальше...

The weekend may have delivered another round of unremarkable World Cup warm-up friendlies, but Stockholm hosted something worth paying attention to.Those who saw Sweden's game with Chile will have noticed that the home players took to the field carrying small sculptures. It's an initiative intended to draw attention to childhood bullying (by estimation, 60,000 are exposed to it in Sweden each year) and, with the support of Swedbank and Friends Foundation (the country's largest bank and its pre-eminent anti-bullying charity respectively)... Читать дальше...

This wide-ranging career reflective was published in 2014, since when Dinho has left Atletico Mineiro, spent a season with Mexico's Queretaro and an unhappy two-and-a-half months with Fluminense. FourFourTwo has interviewed him again since. In January 2018 he finally announced his retirement from football, drawing the curtain on a glorious career in which he wowed one and all with his fun-loving, unique style of football. So what's next? Well, music– as the man himself told FFT."I want to study,... Читать дальше...

This wide-ranging career reflective was published in 2014, since when Dinho has left Atletico Mineiro, spent a season with Mexico's Queretaro and an unhappy two-and-a-half months with Fluminense. FourFourTwo has interviewed him again since. In January 2018 he finally announced his retirement from football, drawing the curtain on a glorious career in which he wowed one and all with his fun-loving, unique style of football. So what's next? Well, music– as the man himself told FFT."I want to study,... Читать дальше...

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc has signed a new contract, the club have confirmed. The 55-year-old, who took up the post after he retired from playing in 1998, has extended his deal until June 30, 2021. "The sporting leadership of Borussia Dortmund will be in the proven hands of Michael Zorc in future," the club said in a statement. "The eight-time champions of German football have extended the contract of the sporting director until June 30, 2021."  #Zorc2021 pic.twitter.com/F6JhwjmMht ... Читать дальше...

Atletico Madrid have concerns over Jose Gimenez after the defender was replaced during the opening stages of Uruguay's China Cup match against Wales on Monday. The defender went down awkwardly following a collision with Wales midfielder Andy King and had pitch-side treatment to his lower left leg before departing. Gimenez has made 32 appearances in all competitions for Atletico this season, forming a key alliance with international team-mate Diego Godin at the heart of Diego Simeone's miserly defence. Читать дальше...

There's a scene in Friday Night Lightswhere a coach enters the field and actually tackles one of the players. Now, this isn't quite that, but it's not far off.Here's Cultural Leonesa coach Ruben de la Barrera breaking up an Albacete counter-attack during a Segunda Division game in Spain over the weekend. He's given a slightly tenuous explanation in response, saying that "it was an instinctive act. I believed that the ball was out. I talked to the referee andhopefullyhe will reflect what he interpreted in the same way."Nevertheless... Читать дальше...

Nile RangerRanger has never been far from controversy during his turbulent career, which is currently on hold after he was released by Southend in January 2018 for “reoccurring disciplinary issues”. The striker was once highly thought of by former club Newcastle, but the Londoner’s rap sheet has eclipsed his scoring record since he made his professional debut in 2009.Still, at least referees have little trouble writing his name in their notebooks – and not just because they’re used to doing so. Ranger... Читать дальше...

Diego Maradona has welcomed an increased use of technology in football but scoffed at suggestions VAR would have denied his iconic 'Hand of God' goal at the 1986 World Cup. During a quarter-final clash between Argentina and England in Mexico, Maradona famously used his hand to knock the ball beyond goalkeeper Peter Shilton and open the scoring in a match that eventually finished 2-1 to the South Americans. He explained after the match he scored "a little with the head of Maradona and a little with... Читать дальше...

Cerro Porteno against Luqueno last night was just a generic mid-table clash in Paraguay, a game of little consequence which seems unlikely to impact the league as a whole.But it still produced a staggering goal from Hernan Novick.Often pieces of skill like this are self-indulgent, but you have to believe - given how quickly the move develops - that is just pure instinct from Novick.The Uruguayan attacking-midfielder is fairly unremarkable in a sense, having spent his entire career in South America and never having represented his national side.

Six years isa long time in international football. England take on Italy in a friendly this week, but with dramatically different line-ups from the sides who clashed half a dozen summers ago in Kiev at Euro 2012.That was in the early stages of Roy Hodgson’s reign, when a small amount of optimism was stoked by England topping Group D to qualify for the tournament’s knockout stages. Of course, things went south against the Italians in the quarter-finals.England held on for a 0-0 draw after two hours of Italy-dominated play... Читать дальше...

Gremio took a commanding first-leg lead in the semi-final of their Brazilian state play-off against Avenidaon Sunday, beating them 3-0 away from home at the Estadio dos Eucaliptos.This, from Ramiro (in the seventh minute) was the pick of the goals– coming after a beautiful free-kick from Jael in their derby demolition of Internacional last weekend.Two points of interest: Ramiro is most commonly a full-back or a defensive midfielder, and he's also right-footed. Not bad for a weaker side, then.The second leg of their Gaucho 1 semi-final... Читать дальше...

Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay has withdrawn from the Scotland squad due to injury. The 21-year-old, who made his senior international debut in the 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica on Friday, has left Alex McLeish's squad along with Newcastle United's Matt Ritchie and Norwich City's Grant Hanley. United tweeted to confirm the player has suffered an injury but they did not specify the extent of the problem. McTominay is expected to be assessed when he returns to Manchester, ahead of United's... Читать дальше...

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has walked out on Manchester United after declaring that he has achieved everything he can at the club, and staying would only hinder his genius.The flamboyant author, investor, taekwondo master and walking doodle pad has joined LA Galaxy with immediate effect, describing the MLS side as “a vehicle fit for Zlatan’s talents” and “not in any way a gilded retirement home for ageing celebrities”.“Zlatan – that’s me, in case that wasn’t clear – is a big fish,” the 36-year-old told FourFourTwo. Читать дальше...

EA SPORTS™, the Lead Partner of the Premier League, has teamed up with FourFourTwo to offer one lucky readera pair of tickets toArsenal vs Stoke on Sunday, April 1.EA SPORTS delivers the most authentic gaming experience for fans engaging with Premier League clubs and players within EA SPORTS FIFA 18.To enter, all you have to do is answer correctly the question onthis post @FourFourTwo.Terms and conditionsAll entries must be received by09:00on 28/03/2018One entry per household. Entries sent in through... Читать дальше...

John Stones admits it has been "difficult" at Manchester City after falling out of favour with manager Pep Guardiola. The centre-back has struggled to earn a regular place in the team since suffering a hamstring injury in November and has played just nine minutes of the Premier League leaders' last six top-flight matches. The 23-year-old, who signed from Everton for a reported £47.5million fee in August 2016, is frustrated with his lack of playing time but accepts City's consistency makes it tough to break back into the side. Читать дальше...