Новости за 03.06.2018

Roberto Firmino insists he would have no complaints over being a back-up to Gabriel Jesus for Brazil at the World Cup. The Liverpool striker came off the bench to score his side's second in a 2-0 friendly win over Croatia at Anfield on Sunday. Jesus, who captained the side, endured a quiet game but the Manchester City star is expected to keep his place when Brazil kick off their campaign against Switzerland on June 17. And Firmino says he will not dispute the decisions of head coach Tite in Russia. Читать дальше...

Neymar's return to action was everything Brazil needed it to be on Sunday. The Selecao star came on as a second-half substitute and scored a glorious goal in a 2-0 win over Croatia to emphatically answer any doubts about his physical condition ahead of the World Cup. Brazil's talisman and leader suffered a fractured foot in action for Paris Saint-Germain in February, raising concerns over his participation in Russia. He was unable to play again for PSG before the end of the season, leaving doubts... Читать дальше...

Barcelona have confirmed Samuel Umtiti has extended his contract until 2023, ending speculation the defender could leave the club. Umtiti will formally sign the five-year deal on Monday, before Barca hold a news conference. The Catalan giants have not confirmed the new release clause in Umtiti's contract, which previously would have allowed clubs to buy the France international for a cut-price €60million. Premier League sides Manchester United and Manchester City were among the teams reportedly ready to meet the release clause... Читать дальше...

Mohamed Salah has posted a positive social media update on his injury recovery ahead of the World Cup. The Liverpool star exited last weekend's Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in tears after hurting his shoulder when he landed awkwardly following a challenge from Sergio Ramos. More than half a million people subsequently signed a petition calling for the Madrid captain to face punishment over the incident. Liverpool and Egypt have indicated Salah's recovery is likely to take around three weeks... Читать дальше...

Neymar scored a superb opening goal in his first match since February as Brazil defeated Croatia 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday. The Paris Saint-Germain star came on at half-time and blasted home in front of the Kop with 69 minutes gone, four years on from his double against the same opponents at the 2014 World Cup, before Roberto Firmino added a late second. Neymar's strike was a rare moment of quality in a match in which both sets of players seemed eager to keep injury risks to a minimum, with less... Читать дальше...

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner does not want to encourage reports linking him to Bayern Munich, instead preferring to focus on playing for Germany at the World Cup. Werner is a rumoured target for the Bundesliga champions, who could lose Robert Lewandowski before the start of the 2018-19 season. Lewandowski's agent Pini Zahavi was quoted as saying the Poland international needs a "change" and a "new challenge", amid links with European giants including Juventus, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Читать дальше...

Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil star Neymar has made his much-anticipated return to action from a foot injury. The 26-year-old came on as a second-half substitute for Brazil in Sunday's friendly clash with Croatia at Anfield. Head coach Tite had promised to play the forward for part of the match to help him regain some rhythm ahead of the World Cup. It is the first time Neymar has appeared since suffering a fractured metatarsal and sprained ankle in the Ligue 1 match against Marseille on February 25. Читать дальше...

Jerome Boateng says he is "90 per cent" fit but has promised to be ready to help Germany defend their World Cup crown in Russia. The defender has been out of action with a hamstring injury sustained in Bayern Munich's 2-1 defeat against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg at the end of April. Boateng was not included in Germany's squad for a 2-1 friendly defeat away to Austria on Saturday, with coach Joachim Low having to name his final 23-man selection before Monday's deadline. Читать дальше...

Konstantin Rausch and Roman Neustadter have been left out of Russia's final 23-man squad for the World Cup. Soslan Dzhanaev, Fedor Chalov and Alexander Tashaev are the other names to be cut from the provisional squad by Stanislav Cherchesov. The coach has largely selected domestic-based players, with all but two of the squad playing their club football in Russia. Villarreal's Denis Cheryshev and goalkeeper Vladimir Gabulov of Club Brugge are the exceptions. Established stars Sergey Ignashevich... Читать дальше...

Matija Nastasic and Ralf Fahrmann have committed their futures to Schalke by signing new contracts that run until 2022. Centre-back Nastasic and goalkeeper Farhmann were key players as Domenico Tedesco's side finished second in the Bundesliga behind champions Bayern Munich. Captain Fahrmann was one of two ever-present players as Schalke qualified for the Champions League, with Naldo the other to start all 34 league games. Nastasic's contract renewal will come as a welcome boost after he missed... Читать дальше...

Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs urged Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba to remove the shackles and start entertaining supporters. Wales manager Giggs came through United's academy, played for the first team between 1991 and 2014 and previously served as Louis van Gaal's assistant at Old Trafford. The Red Devils' style of play has come under criticism since Alex Ferguson departed five years ago, and Giggs is keen to see the current crop show the same commitment to entertainment that he did. Читать дальше...

Xherdan Shaqiri is set on leaving Stoke City in the transfer window and would like to join a Premier League club. The Switzerland international scored eight goals in the top flight in 2017-18 but was unable to save his side from relegation to the Championship. Shaqiri, who reportedly has a release clause of £13.5million that has become active following Stoke's drop to the second tier, is said to have attracted the interest of Everton. Although he does not want to discount a move elsewhere in Europe... Читать дальше...

Arsenal defender Shkodran Mustafi has explained why he thinks Lionel Messi is a tougher opponent than Cristiano Ronaldo. Barcelona superstar Messi enjoyed another scintillating season, plundering 45 goals in all competitions in 2017-18, and geared up for the World Cup with a hat-trick in Argentina's 4-0 win over Haiti on Wednesday. Mustafi came up against the Rosario-born forward during his time at Valencia and highlighted why he perceives him as a trickier adversary than Real Madrid icon and Ballon d'Or holder Ronaldo. Читать дальше...

Paul Pogba is "indispensable" to France but needs to raise his game, according to head coach Didier Deschamps. The Manchester United midfielder was whistled by some fans when he was substituted during the 3-1 win over Italy on Friday, prompting Deschamps to jump to his defence. Pogba has had a frustrating 2018, having struggled for form at club level while his relationship with manager Jose Mourinho reportedly soured, although he was named United's player of the month for April. Deschamps nevertheless... Читать дальше...

Philippe Coutinho believes Mohamed Salah and Neymar can stake their claims to be the world's best player at Russia 2018. Both are going into the tournament with injury concerns - Salah faces a race against time to be fit after hurting his shoulder in the Champions League final, while Neymar has not played since fracturing his foot in February. Coutinho, who played with Salah at Liverpool before his January move to Barcelona and regularly partners Neymar in attack for Brazil, is confident that both... Читать дальше...

Nigeria have included Simeon Nwankwo in their final squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Crotone striker, who only made his international debut against DR Congo last Monday, has earned a spot in Gernot Rohr's 23-man group. Established stars including Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses, John Obi Mikel and Joel Obi have all been included, alongside Leicester City duo Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho. Brighton and Hove Albion's Leon Balogun, Porto's Chidozie Awaziem and forward Ahmed Musa, who spent... Читать дальше...

Everton and Wales defender Ashley Williams revealed he suffered a collapsed lung during the friendly draw with Mexico on Monday. The 33-year-old was substituted in the 21st minute of the 0-0 draw at the Rose Bowl in California after a collision with striker Javier Hernandez. Williams was taken to hospital where tests showed he had broken two ribs, which caused his lung to become punctured and collapse. The former Swansea City centre-back thanked staff for their treatment during and after surgery and is now looking forward to returning home. Читать дальше...

Espanyol have appointed Rubi as their new head coach. The 48-year-old joins from Huesca after successfully guiding them into LaLiga for the first time in their history. He replaces Quique Sanchez Flores, who was sacked in in April after a run of five games without a win or a goal. Reserve team coach David Gallego ensured the season ended with a flourish, guiding them to four wins and a draw in their remaining five matches to secure an 11th-placed finish.   Espanyol marks the 12th job of Rubi's nomadic managerial career... Читать дальше...

Joshua Kimmich says the only positive Germany can take from their pre-World Cup friendly defeat to Austria is the performance of returning goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. The Bayern Munich man made his first appearance since sustaining a broken metatarsal in September, making a series of smart saves in the 2-1 loss at Worthersee Stadion on Saturday. He was unable to do anything about Martin Hinteregger and Alessandro Schopf's fine second-half strikes, though, as Germany's winless run stretched to five games. Читать дальше...

Bayern Munich forward Thomas Muller hinted he could be tempted by a move away from the Bundesliga champions. The 28-year-old has played for Bayern for his entire career and is contracted until 2021, but has often been linked with a departure from Bavaria, most notably to Manchester United. Muller, who is expected to be named in Joachim Low's 23-man Germany squad for the World Cup, has now offered signs he could be swayed by a new challenge. "Another task would certainly be interesting and attractive," he told Welt Am Sonntag. Читать дальше...

Dele Alli is not fazed by criticism of his form this season, insisting he is only motivated by the standards he sets for himself. The Tottenham midfielder - who played 82 minutes in England's 2-1 win over Nigeria on Saturday - scored nine Premier League goals in 2017-18, half the amount he managed in the previous campaign. However, Alli has a different view of how his season has gone and is refusing to be distracted by the "noise" around his form ahead of the World Cup. "Everyone has different opinions," he said. Читать дальше...

Harry Kane said rival nations see England as a threat at the World Cup after he urged his team to believe ahead of the Russia showpiece. England captain Kane was on target in Saturday's 2-1 win over Nigeria at Wembley in their penultimate match before the World Cup. Not since 1966 have England won the World Cup following the country's group-stage exit in 2014. However, star striker Kane insisted Gareth Southgate's men can cause problems at the tournament. "A lot of countries do believe that England... Читать дальше...

FC Dallas claimed top spot in the MLS Western Conference after overcoming Los Angeles FC, while Philadelphia Union had two players sent off in their loss to Atlanta United. In-form Dallas moved ahead of Sporting Kansas City by a point in the west thanks to Saturday's 2-1 victory against 10-man LAFC – the club extending their unbeaten streak to six games. Ex-Tottenham defender Reto Ziegler opened the scoring with his first MLS goal in the 25th minute – the Dallas left-back heading a stray ball past Tyler Miller at Toyota Stadium. Читать дальше...

Gabriel Jesus is relishing the opportunity to captain Brazil in their World Cup warm-up fixture against Croatia, with superstar team-mate Neymar set to return. Manchester City striker Jesus, 21, will wear the captain's armband when Brazil face Croatia in an international friendly at Anfield on Sunday. Brazil head coach Tite has rotated the captaincy since taking over in 2016 and Jesus is the latest player set to lead the South American giants. Speaking ahead of the clash on Merseyside – where... Читать дальше...

French Football Federation (FFF) president Noel Le Graet played down links with former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane, insisting Didier Deschamps will remain in charge until at least 2020. Zidane surprisingly resigned just days after guiding Spanish giants Madrid to their third successive Champions League crown via a 3-1 win over Liverpool. The 45-year-old has been linked with the France post – occupied by former international team-mate Deschamps, who will lead Les Blues at the World Cup in Russia. Читать дальше...