Football News

AC MILAN 2-0 JUVENTUS: FIKAYO TOMORI AND BRAHIM DIAZ ON TARGET AS CHAMPIONS PILE PRESSURE ON MAX ALLEGRI Fikayo Tomori and Brahim Diaz were on the scoresheet as champions AC Milan inflicted a 2-0 defeat on a woeful Juventus, a result that is certain to pile the pressure on Max Allegri. The Rossoneri were full value for their victory at San Siro as they climbed into third in the table. Juventus, who are still without a win on the road this season, are eighth. AC Milan go level on points with league leaders Napoli in the Serie A table after a comfortable 2-0 win over Juventus. A close-range strike from Fikayo Tomori and a brilliant solo goal from Brahim Diaz either side of half-time helped Milan ease past a toothless Juve side. The result, which will pile more pressure on Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri, means Juve remain in ninth on 13 points; seven points off Napoli, Atalanta and AC Milan who share the lead at the top. Juan Cuadrado and Danilo both had vicious driven strikes on the Milan goal which veered narrowly wide in the early stages of a physical contest, but the hosts came back with a vengeance. Rafael Leao struck the woodwork in the 20th and 34th minute before Tomori gave Milan the lead on the stroke of half-time. Olivier Giroud's smashed effort from a corner was redirected on goal by Tomori who swivelled and blasted his shot into the roof of the net for his first goal since March. Diaz extended Milan's lead in the second half with a fine solo goal. In the 54th minute, the Spaniard picked the ball up in his own half and outpaced two Juve players before slotting his strike beyond Wojciech Szczesny. It was Milan who looked the more likely to get a third than Juve finding even a consolation goal, but were unable to test Szczesny further in a straightforward win. TALKING POINT - ALLEGRI SHOULD CHANGE FORMATION No spark, no imagination, no belief. Without Angel Di Maria in their side Juventus look a team without a strategy to attack teams. Injuries are clearly a problem for Massimiliano Allegri with Paul Pogba, Federico Chiesa and Di Maria all missing, but the Italian's stubbornness to persist with a 4-4-2 when he is without his best players has not worked. The title race already looks to be over for Juventus. Allegri will have to set his team up in a new way to get the best out of the players available to him if he wishes to avoid the sack. PLAYER OF THE MATCH - RAFAEL LEAO The Portugal international may not have got on the scoresheet - although he got very close by striking the woodwork twice - he gave Danilo plenty of problems throughout the match down the left flank. PLAYER RATINGS AC Milan: Tatarusanu (6), Kalulu (7), Gabbia (6), Tomori (7), Hernandez (7), Bennacer (6), Tonali (6), Pobega (5), Diaz (7), Leao (8), Giroud (6) Subs: Krunic (5), Rebic (5), De Ketelaere (5), Vranckx (N/A), Origi (N/A) Juventus: Szczesny (5), Danilo (6), Bonucci (5), Bremer (5), Sandro (5) , Rabiot (4), Locatelli (6), Kostic (5), Cuadrado (5), Milik (5), Vlahovic (4) Subs: McKennie (6), Miretti (5), Paredes (5) MATCH HIGHLIGHTS 20' - OFF THE POST! Milan's first corner of the evening swung in by Tonali is nodded on at the near post by by Kalulu and it bounces off Leao's feet off the woodwork! Leao did not really have any time to react! 34' - OFF THE POST! Leao cuts onto his right foot and bends a low shot on goal from outside the box which comes off the edge of Szczesny's left post! That's twice Leao has hit the woodwork this evening. He's been very dangerous so far. 45' - GOAL! TOMORI FIRES MILAN IN FRONT! It comes from a corner. Hernandez's outswinger is smashed on goal by Giroud and it heads into the path of Tomori who swivels and redirects his shot into the roof of the net! It's Tomori's first goal in Serie A since scoring against Juve in March last year. 54' - WHAT A GOAL FROM DIAZ! It's a stunning solo goal from Diaz! He does a Messi-esque celebration as he shows the back of his shirt off to the crowd. He picks the ball up in his own half, storms past two Juve defenders before drilling his low shot into the net. Source: https://www.eurosport.com/football/serie-a/2022-2023/ac-milan-v-juventus-serie-a-live_sto9175184/story.shtml Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 #ACMilan #Juventus #SerieA #Italy Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

At least 125 people are dead after chaos and violence erupted during an Indonesian league soccer match into the early hours of Sunday, according to Indonesia’s National Police Chief in what is one of the world’s deadliest stadium disasters of all time. Supporters of Arema FC and rival Persebaya Surabaya, two of Indonesia’s biggest soccer teams, clashed in the stands after home team Arema FC was defeated 3-2 at a match in the city of Malang in East Java, police said. Supporters from the losing team then “invaded” the pitch and police fired tear gas, triggering a stampede that led to cases of suffocation, East Java police chief Nico Afinta said during a press conference following the event. Two police officers were also among the dead, he said, adding that the crush occurred when fans fled for an exit gate. More than 300 people were injured, according to Indonesian authorities, with fears that the death toll could rise. Earlier on Sunday, the governor of the East Java province, where the incident occurred, said the death toll was at 131. National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo clarified the discrepancy of the previous higher numbers saying it was due to some casualties being recorded twice. Indonesian President Joko Widodo, also known as Jokowi, on Sunday ordered all league matches to be halted until investigations were completed. “I have specially requested the police chief to investigate and get to the bottom of this case,” Jokowi said in a televised speech. “Sportsmanship, humanity and brotherhood should be upheld in Indonesia.” “I regret this tragedy and hope that it will be the last to occur in Indonesian football. We cannot have anymore (of this) in the future.” Videos filmed from inside the stadium late into the night and shared on social media showed fans, dressed in red and blue – the home team’s colors – storming the field and clashing with Indonesian security forces, who appeared to be wearing riot gear. Video footage broadcast on local news channels also showed images of body bags, Reuters reported. Smoke, which appeared to be tear gas, was also seen later in videos, with several people shown being carried into a building. Officials said that many had been admitted to nearby hospitals, suffering from “lack of oxygen and shortness of breath.” One of the worst stadium disasters in history Located in East Java, the Kanjuruhan Stadium is used mostly for soccer matches – with its full capacity estimated at 38,000 spectators. But 42,000 tickets were issued for Saturday’s game, according to ministry officials. “We had anticipated the (large) numbers and suggested that the game be held in the afternoon instead but it went on in the evening,” Indonesian Chief Security Minister Mahfud MD said in a post shared on his official social media accounts. He added that the stadium had been “filled beyond its maximum capacity.” “Our proposals were not met. I also would like to emphasize that supporters in the field were Arema FC’s.” There have been previous outbreaks of trouble at matches in Indonesia, with a strong rivalry between clubs sometimes leading to violence among supporters. “All sports clubs (in Indonesia) that compete between the cities are always intense,” Indonesian football analyst Dex Glenniza told CNN, who noted that it was “forbidden” for Arema and Persebaya supporters to visit each other’s stadiums. “(This is) in order to avoid friction and clashes between supporters,” he said. “But there are still many incidents between the supporters, most of which off the field.” Police chief Listyo said officers will look at the organization and security that was in place during the match, and that a number of specialized units have been dispatched to investigate the incident. The probe will also look into the police officers who were on duty at the time of the incident, he said. With Indonesia set to host next year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup and staging a bid for the 2023 Asian Cup, there is now global scrutiny on the country. Observers note that the death toll from the Kanjuruhan Stadium disaster has surpassed that of other global soccer disasters like the 1989 Hillsborough Stadium tragedy in Sheffield, England, which saw 96 Liverpool supporters being crushed to death. Criticism is also growing over the police’s handling of Saturday’s event. In a statement released on Sunday, watchdog group Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) called for accountability and the “removal” of Malang Police Chief Ferli Hidayat. Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/10/01/asia/indonesia-soccer-stadium-stampede-persebaya-surabaya-arema-fc-intl-hnk/index.html #KanjuruhanStadium #IndonesiaSoccer Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Lionel Messi: Paris St-Germain forward isolating after testing positive for Covid-19 Lionel Messi is one of four Paris St-Germain players to test positive for Covid-19. The Argentine forward and team-mates Juan Bernat, Nathan Bitumazala and Sergio Rico were confirmed to have Covid a day before PSG's French Cup tie against fourth-tier side Vannes. The quartet are said to be isolating. PSG boss Mauricio Pochettino added that Messi remained in Argentina where he spent the winter break and would not travel until testing negative. During a pre-match news conference on Sunday, Pochettino said he could not put a date on Messi's return. PSG's first league game of 2022 after their winter break is against Lyon on Sunday, 9 January. Forward Neymar will miss that match as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury in Brazil. PSG say the 29-year-old is expected to return to training in three weeks. Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/59852819 #LionelMessi #PSGplayers #PositiveCovid Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

AFF Suzuki Cup: Indonesia knock Malaysia out, will meet Singapore in semis SINGAPORE — Indonesia and Vietnam booked their AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final spots on Sunday (19 December), following convincing victories over their opponents in their final Group B matches. Indonesia advanced as group winners after coming back from a goal down to beat Malaysia 4-1, with goals from Irfan Jaya (36th and 43rd minutes), Pratama Arhan (50th) and Elkan Baggott (82nd) cancelling out Kogileswaran Raj's 13th-minute opener. They will face hosts Singapore in the opening semi-final, with the first leg on Wednesday and the second leg on Christmas Day. Malaysia, on the other hand, were eliminated from the competition. Defending champions Vietnam need a big win to overtake Indonesia atop Group B, and while they managed a 4-0 win over Cambodia, it was one goal short of what was required to leapfrog to the top place. Instead, they will have to face five-time champions Thailand in the second semi-final, with the first leg on Thursday and the second leg on Sunday. Ticket sales for semi-finals Ticket sales for the Suzuki Cup semi-final matches at the National Stadium have commenced, with tickets priced at $25 for adults and $15 for children below 12. Fans can enjoy a 20-per-cent discount if they purchase a SG Semi-Final Bundle at $40, which will consist of one ticket for each semi-final leg. Singapore zone sections will be sold at the National Stadium’s box office at Kallang Wave Mall from 10am to 8.30pm on Monday. These tickets will be for sale only to Singaporeans and permanent residents, who will be required to show their NRIC or passport for verification purposes at the point of purchase. Fans who had previously purchased Group A tickets and opted to receive marketing information will be sent an exclusive link via email to purchase their tickets online, with each account able to buy eight tickets per matchday. Chia Han Keong - Yahoo News Sun, 19 December 2021 #IndonesiaVSMalaysia #AFFSuzukiCup #UpinIpin Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/aff-suzuki-cup-indonesia-knock-malaysia-out-meet-singapore-semis-153958546.html Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

AFF Suzuki Cup: Indonesia knock Malaysia out, will meet Singapore in semis SINGAPORE — Indonesia and Vietnam booked their AFF Suzuki Cup semi-final spots on Sunday (19 December), following convincing victories over their opponents in their final Group B matches. Indonesia advanced as group winners after coming back from a goal down to beat Malaysia 4-1, with goals from Irfan Jaya (36th and 43rd minutes), Pratama Arhan (50th) and Elkan Baggott (82nd) cancelling out Kogileswaran Raj's 13th-minute opener. They will face hosts Singapore in the opening semi-final, with the first leg on Wednesday and the second leg on Christmas Day. Malaysia, on the other hand, were eliminated from the competition. Defending champions Vietnam need a big win to overtake Indonesia atop Group B, and while they managed a 4-0 win over Cambodia, it was one goal short of what was required to leapfrog to the top place. Instead, they will have to face five-time champions Thailand in the second semi-final, with the first leg on Thursday and the second leg on Sunday. Ticket sales for semi-finals Ticket sales for the Suzuki Cup semi-final matches at the National Stadium have commenced, with tickets priced at $25 for adults and $15 for children below 12. Fans can enjoy a 20-per-cent discount if they purchase a SG Semi-Final Bundle at $40, which will consist of one ticket for each semi-final leg. Singapore zone sections will be sold at the National Stadium’s box office at Kallang Wave Mall from 10am to 8.30pm on Monday. These tickets will be for sale only to Singaporeans and permanent residents, who will be required to show their NRIC or passport for verification purposes at the point of purchase. Fans who had previously purchased Group A tickets and opted to receive marketing information will be sent an exclusive link via email to purchase their tickets online, with each account able to buy eight tickets per matchday. Chia Han Keong - Yahoo News Sun, 19 December 2021 #IndonesiaVSMalaysia #AFFSuzukiCup #UpinIpin Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com/aff-suzuki-cup-indonesia-knock-malaysia-out-meet-singapore-semis-153958546.html Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Lionel Messi has been named the 2021 Ballon d’Or winner for a seventh time after leading Argentina to Copa America glory. Monday’s ceremony saw Robert Lewandowski finish second with Jorginho in third place. Karim Benzema came home fourth ahead of Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante while Cristiano Ronaldo was voted ahead of Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne - who were named sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. “It is incredible to be here again,” said Messi. “Two years ago I thought that it was my last year and now I am here again. I am very happy, very excited and wanting to fight for new challenges. “I do not know how long I have left but I hope it will be a long time. I want to thank my teammates from Barcelona and PSG, and especially the Argentina team. I won this award and I had the feeling that I was missing something and this year I was able to achieve it. “A large part of this trophy is because of what we did in the Copa America, so thanks to my teammates, this is also yours. My wife, my children, my father, my mother are here. “It is a huge honor to fight with Robert [Lewandowski]. Last year you were the winner and I think France Football should give it to you.” The ceremony was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, when Lewandowski was strongly tipped to claim the honour - and also won FIFA’s The Best award. Raheem Sterling finished highest of the four Englishmen up for the award, coming home 15th after Harry Kane landed in a disappointing 23rd place. Mason Mount was 19th with Phil Foden 25th. Since the trophy was first presented to Stanley Matthews in 1956, no player has won it more than Messi, who also has five second-place and a third-place finish to his impressive record. In 2019, Messi won ahead of Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Ronaldo, then of Juventus. The year before had seen the first winner other than the iconic strikers since 2007 as Luka Modric took the prize. Also on Monday night, Barcelona youngster Pedri won the Kopa Trophy and the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper was taken home by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Alexia Putellas claimed the Ballon d’Or Feminin award. #LionelMessi #BallondOr #BallondOr2021 Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/2021-ballon-dor-winner-lionel-messi-copa-america-lewandowski-jorginho-b968969.html Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Lionel Messi has been named the 2021 Ballon d’Or winner for a seventh time after leading Argentina to Copa America glory. Monday’s ceremony saw Robert Lewandowski finish second with Jorginho in third place. Karim Benzema came home fourth ahead of Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante while Cristiano Ronaldo was voted ahead of Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne - who were named sixth, seventh and eighth respectively. “It is incredible to be here again,” said Messi. “Two years ago I thought that it was my last year and now I am here again. I am very happy, very excited and wanting to fight for new challenges. “I do not know how long I have left but I hope it will be a long time. I want to thank my teammates from Barcelona and PSG, and especially the Argentina team. I won this award and I had the feeling that I was missing something and this year I was able to achieve it. “A large part of this trophy is because of what we did in the Copa America, so thanks to my teammates, this is also yours. My wife, my children, my father, my mother are here. “It is a huge honor to fight with Robert [Lewandowski]. Last year you were the winner and I think France Football should give it to you.” The ceremony was cancelled last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, when Lewandowski was strongly tipped to claim the honour - and also won FIFA’s The Best award. Raheem Sterling finished highest of the four Englishmen up for the award, coming home 15th after Harry Kane landed in a disappointing 23rd place. Mason Mount was 19th with Phil Foden 25th. Since the trophy was first presented to Stanley Matthews in 1956, no player has won it more than Messi, who also has five second-place and a third-place finish to his impressive record. In 2019, Messi won ahead of Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Ronaldo, then of Juventus. The year before had seen the first winner other than the iconic strikers since 2007 as Luka Modric took the prize. Also on Monday night, Barcelona youngster Pedri won the Kopa Trophy and the Yashin Trophy for best goalkeeper was taken home by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Alexia Putellas claimed the Ballon d’Or Feminin award. #LionelMessi #BallondOr #BallondOr2021 Source: https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/2021-ballon-dor-winner-lionel-messi-copa-america-lewandowski-jorginho-b968969.html Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Tottenham's appointment of the Italian means that four of the world's top five coaches are now plying their trade in the Premier League Antonio Conte’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur is one of the greatest coups pulled off by a Premier League club this century. Despite their super-club pretensions, a solitary League Cup is all Spurs have won in the last three decades, while 60 years have passed since they last won the league. Conte has lifted five league titles in the last nine years. But those are antiquated measures of power and status in the modern game and, as extraordinary as it sounds, Tottenham are actually the second-biggest club Conte has ever managed – financially speaking. Forbes’ list of the most valuable clubs in 2021 has Spurs 10th, one place behind Paris Saint-Germain and above both Juventus and Inter. England is now undoubtedly the seat of power in world football. Six of Forbes’ top ten list are English clubs, as were five of the last eight Champions League finalists. Such a growing imbalance of resources and success has huge implications for European football and for the spectre of a Super League, and if last year’s all-English final felt like an important symbolic moment in the dynamic shift, that’s nothing compared to Conte accepting the Spurs job. That’s because real power – truly insulating, exponential power – comes from elite management of the thing itself; of the actual football being played on the pitch. Right now, the Premier League has almost a complete set of the world’s super-managers, of its genius tacticians. Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Thomas Tuchel, and Antonio Conte are four of the top five, with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and Bayern Munich’s Julien Nagelsmann the only top-tier coaches missing. By the end of the season, Manchester United will probably have hired Mauricio Pochettino, arguably the next man on the list, leaving PSG searching for a B-lister, while it is conceivable that Arsenal or Newcastle United will offer too-good-to-turn-down money to Simeone within the next couple of years. Where would that leave the rest of Europe? We are already seeing a worrying dearth of quality outside of England. Proof enough that until recently both Barcelona and Real Madrid had ex-Everton managers at the helm. England’s financial dominance has been secured for a decade or more, but it is only in the last few years that clubs have become savvy to the value of hiring elite managers at the top of their game. It has completely revolutionised the tactical landscape of the Premier League and created a new order that threatens to drain resources out of mainland Europe. The starting point is Champions League success, because the problems we see at PSG could soon be replicated and exacerbated in Spain, Italy, and Germany. Elite football will always require tactical complexity, which in turn necessitates individual sacrifice for the collective. To state the obvious, this is a team game. And so Pochettino’s difficulty crowbarring superstar players into his system is something we will see more of as the best coaches move to England. That’s not to say the quality at Real, Barcelona, or Bayern will plummet, but rather that the Premier League’s will rise and rise – and that top coaches like Pochettino will grow weary, eventually moving back to England. What is most interesting about the arrival of Conte is that it completes the tactical set: English football has gegenpressing high-liners like Klopp and Guardiola as well as space-compressing mid-blockers like Conte. This means the world’s best managers are now in constant test mode, acting and reacting to one another on a weekly basis. It is a petri-dish for tactical innovation and the often under-valued knock-on effect of concentrated power in one location. What follows that is the most valuable resource of all: the players. The allure of the super-clubs in Spain is fading, after all. How long will it be until almost every star footballer is in the Premier League? #SuperLeague #England #AntonioConte #JurgenKlopp #PepGuardiola #ThomasTuchel #PremiereLeague Source: https://www.goal.com/en/news/conte-klopp-guardiola-and-tuchel-now-all-in-england-the-european-/19srvo05jjvnp1o7gn81y2h8t3 Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Tottenham's appointment of the Italian means that four of the world's top five coaches are now plying their trade in the Premier League Antonio Conte’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur is one of the greatest coups pulled off by a Premier League club this century. Despite their super-club pretensions, a solitary League Cup is all Spurs have won in the last three decades, while 60 years have passed since they last won the league. Conte has lifted five league titles in the last nine years. But those are antiquated measures of power and status in the modern game and, as extraordinary as it sounds, Tottenham are actually the second-biggest club Conte has ever managed – financially speaking. Forbes’ list of the most valuable clubs in 2021 has Spurs 10th, one place behind Paris Saint-Germain and above both Juventus and Inter. England is now undoubtedly the seat of power in world football. Six of Forbes’ top ten list are English clubs, as were five of the last eight Champions League finalists. Such a growing imbalance of resources and success has huge implications for European football and for the spectre of a Super League, and if last year’s all-English final felt like an important symbolic moment in the dynamic shift, that’s nothing compared to Conte accepting the Spurs job. That’s because real power – truly insulating, exponential power – comes from elite management of the thing itself; of the actual football being played on the pitch. Right now, the Premier League has almost a complete set of the world’s super-managers, of its genius tacticians. Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Thomas Tuchel, and Antonio Conte are four of the top five, with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone and Bayern Munich’s Julien Nagelsmann the only top-tier coaches missing. By the end of the season, Manchester United will probably have hired Mauricio Pochettino, arguably the next man on the list, leaving PSG searching for a B-lister, while it is conceivable that Arsenal or Newcastle United will offer too-good-to-turn-down money to Simeone within the next couple of years. Where would that leave the rest of Europe? We are already seeing a worrying dearth of quality outside of England. Proof enough that until recently both Barcelona and Real Madrid had ex-Everton managers at the helm. England’s financial dominance has been secured for a decade or more, but it is only in the last few years that clubs have become savvy to the value of hiring elite managers at the top of their game. It has completely revolutionised the tactical landscape of the Premier League and created a new order that threatens to drain resources out of mainland Europe. The starting point is Champions League success, because the problems we see at PSG could soon be replicated and exacerbated in Spain, Italy, and Germany. Elite football will always require tactical complexity, which in turn necessitates individual sacrifice for the collective. To state the obvious, this is a team game. And so Pochettino’s difficulty crowbarring superstar players into his system is something we will see more of as the best coaches move to England. That’s not to say the quality at Real, Barcelona, or Bayern will plummet, but rather that the Premier League’s will rise and rise – and that top coaches like Pochettino will grow weary, eventually moving back to England. What is most interesting about the arrival of Conte is that it completes the tactical set: English football has gegenpressing high-liners like Klopp and Guardiola as well as space-compressing mid-blockers like Conte. This means the world’s best managers are now in constant test mode, acting and reacting to one another on a weekly basis. It is a petri-dish for tactical innovation and the often under-valued knock-on effect of concentrated power in one location. What follows that is the most valuable resource of all: the players. The allure of the super-clubs in Spain is fading, after all. How long will it be until almost every star footballer is in the Premier League? #SuperLeague #England #AntonioConte #JurgenKlopp #PepGuardiola #ThomasTuchel #PremiereLeague Source: https://www.goal.com/en/news/conte-klopp-guardiola-and-tuchel-now-all-in-england-the-european-/19srvo05jjvnp1o7gn81y2h8t3 Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo up there but no place for Lionel Messi in list of five best footballers in the world right now with Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski and N’Golo Kante all among the elite Debate has been raging over who the best player in the world right now is. There are quite a few staking their claim for the position of no.1 and long gone is the era where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were the top two by a distance. The pair were in a two-horse race for the Ballon d’Or each season for a decade before Luka Modric broke their streak in 2018. This year the race is wide open with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho, Erling Haaland all up there with Ronaldo and Messi for the prize. That prize looks on who has been in the best over the whole calendar year, but who is the best right now? talkSPORT.com ranks the top five players in world football at the moment. 1. Mohamed Salah Who else but Salah? It’s hard to argue that there is anyone better than the Liverpool forward. He has scored in nine consecutive games for the club and they have not merely been tap-ins. The Reds remain unbeaten in the Premier League, with Salah jointly leading the race for the Golden Boot, and they also have a 100 per cent record in the Champions League. His return of 12 goals in just 11 games, and the manner of those performances in the biggest games, shows why he is the best right now. When asked if Salah was the best in the world, Liverpool legend Didi Hamann told talkSPORT: “There’s no doubt about it. You see his goals against City, the one against Watford was even better. He’s scored in nine consecutive games now. “His stats and figures since he joined the club are absolutely ridiculous.” 2. Robert Lewandowski The man running Salah closest for best player in the world is Lewandowski and would have won the Ballon d’Or last season had it not been cancelled. He broke Gerd Muller’s Bundesliga goal record last season, notching 41 times in just 29 games. The Poland striker has started the new season in fine form again with 16 goals in 12 games for Bayern. Lewandowski is the man that Man City star Kevin De Bruyne would pick as the best player in the world. Salah just edges it for the brilliant hot streak he is on at the moment, and the quality of opposition he is performing against week in, week out. 3. Cristiano Ronaldo Ronaldo’s impact at Manchester United has been much talked about and whether he has been a help or hindrance. United may have been under par in games, but it would have been a whole lot worse without the 36-year-old. He continues to prove why is the man for the big moment with some crucial goals for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who may be under far more pressure if he was not performing. Twice he has rescued his team with late Champions League goals, the most recent coming on Wednesday night to complete a brilliant comeback against Atalanta. Ronaldo’s performances for Portugal also cannot go unnoticed as he continues to be prolific for the national team. “Football has changed a lot. For many years, we had Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and sometimes Neymar, but there’s no one who has shown more than they have.” 4. Erling Haaland There is much speculation about where Haaland will join in 2022 when his transfer release clause at Borussia Dortmund becomes active. It is easy to see why there is so much interest in the 2021 considering the way he has started this season for club and country. The 21-year-old has 18 goals in just 13 games this campaign for Dortmund and Norway, including seven goals in his last four Bundesliga games. 5. N’Golo Kante Kante may have had his injury niggles this season, but he’s still shown why he’s the best midfielder in the world. He was integral in Chelsea’s Champions League success, picking up man-of-the-match awards in both the semi-final and final. Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta proclaimed that he was the best in the world at his position after the win over Man City. “It’s straightforward, yes [he is the best in the world],” Azpilicueta said. “He does everything. The energy he brings, I don’t know how many ball recoveries he had today. The way he drives the ball forward, he covers so much ground. #BestFootballers #CristianoRonaldo #MohamedSalah #LionelMessi Source: https://talksport.com/football/966598/mohamed-salah-lionel-mess-cristiano-ronaldo-best-world/ Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo up there but no place for Lionel Messi in list of five best footballers in the world right now with Erling Haaland, Robert Lewandowski and N’Golo Kante all among the elite Debate has been raging over who the best player in the world right now is. There are quite a few staking their claim for the position of no.1 and long gone is the era where Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were the top two by a distance. The pair were in a two-horse race for the Ballon d’Or each season for a decade before Luka Modric broke their streak in 2018. This year the race is wide open with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, Jorginho, Erling Haaland all up there with Ronaldo and Messi for the prize. That prize looks on who has been in the best over the whole calendar year, but who is the best right now? talkSPORT.com ranks the top five players in world football at the moment. 1. Mohamed Salah Who else but Salah? It’s hard to argue that there is anyone better than the Liverpool forward. He has scored in nine consecutive games for the club and they have not merely been tap-ins. The Reds remain unbeaten in the Premier League, with Salah jointly leading the race for the Golden Boot, and they also have a 100 per cent record in the Champions League. His return of 12 goals in just 11 games, and the manner of those performances in the biggest games, shows why he is the best right now. When asked if Salah was the best in the world, Liverpool legend Didi Hamann told talkSPORT: “There’s no doubt about it. You see his goals against City, the one against Watford was even better. He’s scored in nine consecutive games now. “His stats and figures since he joined the club are absolutely ridiculous.” 2. Robert Lewandowski The man running Salah closest for best player in the world is Lewandowski and would have won the Ballon d’Or last season had it not been cancelled. He broke Gerd Muller’s Bundesliga goal record last season, notching 41 times in just 29 games. The Poland striker has started the new season in fine form again with 16 goals in 12 games for Bayern. Lewandowski is the man that Man City star Kevin De Bruyne would pick as the best player in the world. Salah just edges it for the brilliant hot streak he is on at the moment, and the quality of opposition he is performing against week in, week out. 3. Cristiano Ronaldo Ronaldo’s impact at Manchester United has been much talked about and whether he has been a help or hindrance. United may have been under par in games, but it would have been a whole lot worse without the 36-year-old. He continues to prove why is the man for the big moment with some crucial goals for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who may be under far more pressure if he was not performing. Twice he has rescued his team with late Champions League goals, the most recent coming on Wednesday night to complete a brilliant comeback against Atalanta. Ronaldo’s performances for Portugal also cannot go unnoticed as he continues to be prolific for the national team. “Football has changed a lot. For many years, we had Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and sometimes Neymar, but there’s no one who has shown more than they have.” 4. Erling Haaland There is much speculation about where Haaland will join in 2022 when his transfer release clause at Borussia Dortmund becomes active. It is easy to see why there is so much interest in the 2021 considering the way he has started this season for club and country. The 21-year-old has 18 goals in just 13 games this campaign for Dortmund and Norway, including seven goals in his last four Bundesliga games. 5. N’Golo Kante Kante may have had his injury niggles this season, but he’s still shown why he’s the best midfielder in the world. He was integral in Chelsea’s Champions League success, picking up man-of-the-match awards in both the semi-final and final. Blues captain Cesar Azpilicueta proclaimed that he was the best in the world at his position after the win over Man City. “It’s straightforward, yes [he is the best in the world],” Azpilicueta said. “He does everything. The energy he brings, I don’t know how many ball recoveries he had today. The way he drives the ball forward, he covers so much ground. #BestFootballers #CristianoRonaldo #MohamedSalah #LionelMessi Source: https://talksport.com/football/966598/mohamed-salah-lionel-mess-cristiano-ronaldo-best-world/ Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Ronaldo's return to Old Trafford is a bolt from the blue and his extortionate salary was not part of United's plan, but the Glazers have still managed to make the transfer happen. By David McDonnell, Sports Journalist, 22:30, 29 Aug 2021 Manchester United were only able to bring Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford because of their unique business model. According to those involved in the deal to bring the five-time Ballon d'Or winner back to United, the club's huge commercial clout was the only way the deal could be done. United have 37 financial and global commercial sponsors, including kit supplier Adidas and shirt sponsor Teamviewer, and it was these lucrative tie-ups that facilitated the deal for Ronaldo. Describing the structure of the deal as “very complex”, those who struck the Ronaldo deal said United had no intention of moving for him, having done their transfer business with Jadon Sancho and Rafael Varane. But after Ronaldo changed his mind about leaving Juventus last week and Manchester City moved in to try to sign him, United were spurred into action to land him themselves. With their summer transfer budget of £114million spent on Sancho and Varane, executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward had to set about structuring a deal to enable the Red Devils to re-sign Ronaldo. In what was described as “a crazy few days”, United were able to make an offer of £12.8m, plus £6.8m in add-ons, which was accepted by Juventus and blew Manchester City out of the water. United then consulted with their principal financial partners and were then able to offer Ronaldo a salary of £500,000-a-week, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League. The re-signing of Ronaldo has been hailed as a masterstroke by United, not least because they were able to get in ahead of local rivals City, who were in talks to sign him. United's hierarchy hope the return of Ronaldo will go some way towards taking the heat off the club's controversial Florida-based owners, the Glazers, reviled by so many of the club's fans. Anger towards the Glazers, on the back of the failed European Super League plan, saw United fans storm Old Trafford last season, causing the postponement of the league game against Liverpool. Against that backdrop of violence and animosity, the Glazers promised to have greater dialogue with United supporters and created a Fan Advisory Board and Fan Share Scheme. #CristianoRonaldo #ManchesterUnited #RonaldoTransfer Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/cristiano-ronaldo-united-business-model-24863708 Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

IF AND WHEN Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is finally sacked, this wonderful game should be Exhibit A for the prosecution. The charge that Solskjaer’s side is still a collection of individuals rather than a team was proved beyond reasonable doubt as Brendan Rodgers’ vibrant Leicester collective deservedly won a thriller A moment of brilliance from Mason Greenwood, put United ahead and more heroics from David De Gea kept the scores level after Youri Tielemans’ equally superb equaliser. And even after substitute Marcus Rashford made it 2-2 following Caglar Soyuncu’s goal, the visitors were unable to stop Jamie Vardy restoring Leicester’s lead almost immediately. Substitute Patson Daka made sure the scoreline came closer to reflecting Leicester’s superiority. Another item on the Solskjaer rap sheet on the questionable team selections. His team’s fans were far from United at hearing the news that captain Harry Maguire had been deemed fit to return from a calf injury after very litle time back in training. And their fears were justified not only by Maguire’s bad mistake in the build-up to Tielemans’ goal but also by an all-round rank performance by the visiting defence that not even De Gea could redeem. Going forward, United were also a mess. It was little surprise to see Paul Pogba give another infuriating display. The way Jadon Sancho has begun his United career made his below-par showing far from shocking. But with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes also stinking the place out, there was too much for the rest of Solskjaer’s team to do against an excellent Leicester. The warnings were there from inside six minutes. Maguire was left for dead by Kelechi Iheanacho as he charged down the Leicester right. But the Nigerian delayed his initial pass long enough for even the notoriously tanker-like England defender to get back in time to cut out a cross by Timothy Castagne. Leicester were much the better side, with James Maddison playing like a man who had spent another international break seething with frustration about how others have leapfrogged him in the England pecking order. United’s attacking line-up - Nemanja Matic was the only defensive player outside the back four - was achieving little, with Greenwood shooting straight at Kasper Schmeichel from their own decent opening. But the young forward gave Schmeichel - and any goalkeeper in the world - no chance with his next effort. Yes, Castgane stood off Greenwood but he made the most of the time and space, smashing an absolutely rasper in off the far post with his left foot. Castagne wasted a fine break and Maguire blocked Iheanacho’s effort, but United continued to look vulnerable, with Ricardo Pereira volleying narrowly wide from Maddison’s clever pass. In quick succession, referee Craig Pawson and both assistants enraged the Leicester fans with questionable decisions. But they were soon in raptures when Tieleman took gorgeous advantage of some rank defending by United. A needless bit of fannying around from their own free kick ended with Maguire negligently allowing Iheanacho to steal De Gea’s slightly underhit pass from him. But if that was slack, Tielemans’ finish could not have been more precise - assuming he meant it.. His first-time clipped finish found the only space it could have if it was to beat De Gea. The Spaniard looked understandably bewildered to see the ball in the net. The great Ronaldo knew he was being upstaged. So after a one-two with Luke Shaw narrowly failed to come off he attempted a spectacular overhead kick - and was penalised by Pawson. A cracking half ended with an innovative Leicester free-kick routine narrowly failing to come off. Another lacklustre performance from Sancho continued within a minute of the restart when he was robbed by Tielemans only for Iheanacho to allow De Gea to make a routine save. United were showing a little bit more cohesion as an attacking force but trouble beckoned at the back when Lindelof was booked for a badly misjudged challenge on Vardy. Shots from distance were being taken at both ends, but with nothing close to the accuracy of the first-half pearlers. Greenwood, Matic, Maddison, Tielemans and Matic were among the guilty. Sancho was put out of his misery with 25 minutes to go and on came Rashford, giving a competitive debut to his new haircut. #Leicester #ManUtd #ManchesterUnited #Ronaldo #CristianoRonaldo Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/premierleague/16441849/leicester-man-united-premier-league-report/ Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Cristiano Ronaldo has completed a sensational return to Man Utd but the Premier League has caused confusion after listing the forward's shirt number on their website. By Samuel Meade 21:46, 28 Aug 2021 The Premier League have caused confusion by listing Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt number as 7 following his move to Manchester United. The Portuguese star completed a sensational return to Old Trafford on Friday - 12 years after leaving the Red Devils. United's rivals, Manchester City, had been heavily linked with the 36-year-old, who made it clear to Juventus he wanted to leave. Ronaldo bolsters a squad that has already seen Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane arrive this summer. Attention has now turned to what shirt number the five-time Ballon d'Or winner will don in his second coming. Edinson Cavani currently wears No 7 - the number Ronaldo previously wore in Manchester. But the Premier League's official website has listed both the Uruguayan and United's latest signing as the same number. There is no word yet from the Red Devils as to what number Ronaldo will wear. Former player turned pundit Gary Neville has said this summer that United were in need of a centre forward. Harry Kane had been on the market whilst doubt continues over some of the club's long-term options. "It's fantastic news," Neville told Sky Sports . "It's a little bit nostalgic, which doesn't always work in football, but the idea of Ronaldo going to Manchester City was torture for United fans. "If there is a big player available, United have to be in the market. We know there's a potential that Erling Haaland could be available next summer, Edinson Cavani's probably got a year, they definitely need a centre-forward option with Cavani. "I know they've got Mason Greenwood but if you look at the business Chelsea have done, that Manchester City were looking to do, Manchester United had to compete, and what they've done is bolster the squad with a proven goalscorer, a club legend, and it's going to give them an incredible 12 months. "Ronaldo will be coming to win trophies, personal accolades, set the Premier League on fire. It is a different Ronaldo, everyone expected that. "But he is a number nine, someone who still has that burst over short distances, he makes great runs inside the box, has anticipation of where the ball's going to drop, and he gives United something they need. "I said the other day United should be in for Harry Kane if he was available, or Haaland. These types of player. To get above Manchester City and Chelsea they're going to have to do something big, and this could give them a temporary shot in the arm to get them right up there this year. "I was a little bit fearful watching Chelsea last weekend, knowing City are going to be strong, Liverpool have Virgil van Dijk back, that United could improve but finish in a lower position. But this news gives me more hope that they can have a great season. "This is one of the most special players that has ever lived, forget Manchester United, it's one of the greats of all time." #CristianoRonaldo #EdinsonCavani #ManchesterUnited Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-ronaldo-shirt-number-24861288 Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Manchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement to re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Juventus. United have agreed to pay £12.8m for the 36-year-old, with the deal subject to personal terms, a visa and a medical. Ronaldo scored 118 goals in 292 games in his first spell at Old Trafford before leaving for Real Madrid in 2009. "Everyone at the club looks forward to welcoming Cristiano back to Manchester," said a United statement. United's announcement came after a dramatic 24 hours. Neighbours Manchester City had looked to be one of the favourites to land the forward and some reports suggested personal terms had already been agreed between the two. However, Ronaldo has opted to return to United where he spent six years and won three Premier League titles, one Champions League, two League Cups and one FA Cup - as well as the Fifa Club World Cup and Community Shield - under Sir Alex Ferguson. Initially, Ronaldo thought there was no chance of a deal with his former club, but United have decided to make it happen, while City have missed out on another striker option after main target Harry Kane committed to Tottenham. Speaking before City face Arsenal in the Premier League on Saturday, manager Pep Guardiola said: "Cristiano is a Juventus player. I cannot add anything else. "In these three or four days left until the transfer window shuts, anything can happen but, in my view, there are few players - Cristiano Ronaldo included, Messi is another - they decide where they are going to play. "Right now, my feeling is I am more than delighted with the squad we have and we will stay the same." United only appeared to become an option when manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer held a news conference on Friday afternoon and said their former star "knows that we're here". Solskjaer added United's Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes has been talking to his compatriot Ronaldo. A few hours later the club announced they had reached an agreement for what will be their third major signing of the summer transfer window following the arrivals of Jadon Sancho and Raphael Varane. #CristianoRonaldo #ManchesterUnited #Juventus Source: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/58359561 Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Nani speaks to Goal about the first time he saw his fellow Portuguese in action at Sporting CP and their time together at Manchester United Luis Nani was 12 years old when he first became aware of Cristiano Ronaldo, and his incredible will to win. Nani was in Lisbon for a trial with Sporting CP, where a teenage Ronaldo was already making a name for himself. Nani quickly realised why. During a youth-team game at one of Sporting's training complex, Ronaldo was left in tears on the sidelines after the referee had decided against awarding him a free kick, thus allowing the opposition to race down the other end of the pitch and score. Ronaldo's coach went over to him as he sat feeling sorry for himself and said: “Come on, you can’t do that! You need to keep pushing. Sometimes things will happen." Ronaldo re-entered the field of play, immediately got on the end of a cross and took two touches before backheeling the ball in the back of the net. Nani was awestruck. “Seeing Cristiano that day, and how behaved, made me realise why he was so good,” Nani tells Goal in an exclusive interview. “Even at that time, you could see he was something else compared to the other players. “Everyone was saying he'd be the best, so I started to look at him and thought to myself, 'I need to improve myself.' "At that age I knew I was good but I was not at that level, so I started focusing on the best players like him. I started pushing myself more and, in a month, I was able to see that I had improved so fast.” Nani realised his dream of playing for Sporting CP when he made his senior debut in 2005 but only spent two seasons in Portugal before securing a €25.5 million (£21.8m/$30.1m) transfer to Manchester United. His determination to try to emulate Ronaldo's winning mentality had earned him the chance to join his compatriot at Old Trafford. “It was beautiful,” Nani enthuses. English MANCHESTER UNITED 'You could see Cristiano was something else' - How Ronaldo inspired Nani as a kid Charlotte Duncker Charlotte Duncker Manchester United correspondent Last Updated18 hours ago Aug 29, 202115:00 UTC +07:00 #CristianoRonaldo #ManchesterUnited #LuisNani Source: https://www.goal.com/en/news/you-could-see-cristiano-was-something-else-how-ronaldo/svdesv8zj59g191rvqspqhx5e Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

CR7? Cristiano Ronaldo ‘can’t take No.7 shirt’ at Manchester United due to Premier League rules, unless Edinson Cavani leaves or club seek ‘special dispensation’ Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly going to face a battle if he’s to reclaim his iconic No.7 shirt at Manchester United. Michael Benson: 28th August 2021, 11:25 am The Portuguese footballing icon has decided to return home to the club at which he first became a global superstar, with the deal officially confirmed on Friday. When fans started to ponder the question of his shirt number, the immediate reaction was to assume he’d reclaim his famous old No.7. However, it appears this may not be so simple. It’s now being widely reported that Premier League rules state players must retain the shirt numbers they are registered under, unless they either depart or are granted ‘special dispensation’. ESPN reporter Dale Johnson pointed this out and added that such special dispensation has never been granted previously. Sky reporter Dharmesh Sheth explained: “Section M of the Premier League rulebook says that, while he remains with the club, a player will retain his shirt number throughout the season for which it was allocated. “That means that [Ronaldo could not get No.7] unless Edinson Cavani leaves United or United apply for special dispensation from the Premier League board, which is highly unlikely. “United would need to come up with a really good reason why Cristiano Ronaldo should have that No.7 shirt. “As it stands, you’d have to say that unless Edinson Cavani leaves Man United in the coming days, which we’re not expecting to happen, then Cristiano Ronaldo is unlikely to be wearing the No.7 after returning.” The other two numbers Ronaldo has worn during his career were numbers 9 and 28. Currently those are occupied by Anthony Martial and Facundo Pellistri. The latter has been sent out to Alaves on loan for the season, so there is a possibility of him taking that number. It was the one he wore when he was at Sporting CP. The other numbers that are available to him are: 12, 15, 24, 30, 31, 33, 35. #CristianoRonaldo #EdinsonCavani #ManchesterUnited #PremiereLeague Source: https://talksport.com/football/934045/cristiano-ronaldo-no7-number-seven-shirt-manchester-united/ Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

IF AND WHEN Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is finally sacked, this wonderful game should be Exhibit A for the prosecution. The charge that Solskjaer’s side is still a collection of individuals rather than a team was proved beyond reasonable doubt as Brendan Rodgers’ vibrant Leicester collective deservedly won a thriller A moment of brilliance from Mason Greenwood, put United ahead and more heroics from David De Gea kept the scores level after Youri Tielemans’ equally superb equaliser. And even after substitute Marcus Rashford made it 2-2 following Caglar Soyuncu’s goal, the visitors were unable to stop Jamie Vardy restoring Leicester’s lead almost immediately. Substitute Patson Daka made sure the scoreline came closer to reflecting Leicester’s superiority. Another item on the Solskjaer rap sheet on the questionable team selections. His team’s fans were far from United at hearing the news that captain Harry Maguire had been deemed fit to return from a calf injury after very litle time back in training. And their fears were justified not only by Maguire’s bad mistake in the build-up to Tielemans’ goal but also by an all-round rank performance by the visiting defence that not even De Gea could redeem. Going forward, United were also a mess. It was little surprise to see Paul Pogba give another infuriating display. The way Jadon Sancho has begun his United career made his below-par showing far from shocking. But with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Bruno Fernandes also stinking the place out, there was too much for the rest of Solskjaer’s team to do against an excellent Leicester. The warnings were there from inside six minutes. Maguire was left for dead by Kelechi Iheanacho as he charged down the Leicester right. But the Nigerian delayed his initial pass long enough for even the notoriously tanker-like England defender to get back in time to cut out a cross by Timothy Castagne. Leicester were much the better side, with James Maddison playing like a man who had spent another international break seething with frustration about how others have leapfrogged him in the England pecking order. United’s attacking line-up - Nemanja Matic was the only defensive player outside the back four - was achieving little, with Greenwood shooting straight at Kasper Schmeichel from their own decent opening. But the young forward gave Schmeichel - and any goalkeeper in the world - no chance with his next effort. Yes, Castgane stood off Greenwood but he made the most of the time and space, smashing an absolutely rasper in off the far post with his left foot. Castagne wasted a fine break and Maguire blocked Iheanacho’s effort, but United continued to look vulnerable, with Ricardo Pereira volleying narrowly wide from Maddison’s clever pass. In quick succession, referee Craig Pawson and both assistants enraged the Leicester fans with questionable decisions. But they were soon in raptures when Tieleman took gorgeous advantage of some rank defending by United. A needless bit of fannying around from their own free kick ended with Maguire negligently allowing Iheanacho to steal De Gea’s slightly underhit pass from him. But if that was slack, Tielemans’ finish could not have been more precise - assuming he meant it.. His first-time clipped finish found the only space it could have if it was to beat De Gea. The Spaniard looked understandably bewildered to see the ball in the net. The great Ronaldo knew he was being upstaged. So after a one-two with Luke Shaw narrowly failed to come off he attempted a spectacular overhead kick - and was penalised by Pawson. A cracking half ended with an innovative Leicester free-kick routine narrowly failing to come off. Another lacklustre performance from Sancho continued within a minute of the restart when he was robbed by Tielemans only for Iheanacho to allow De Gea to make a routine save. United were showing a little bit more cohesion as an attacking force but trouble beckoned at the back when Lindelof was booked for a badly misjudged challenge on Vardy. Shots from distance were being taken at both ends, but with nothing close to the accuracy of the first-half pearlers. Greenwood, Matic, Maddison, Tielemans and Matic were among the guilty. Sancho was put out of his misery with 25 minutes to go and on came Rashford, giving a competitive debut to his new haircut. #Leicester #ManUtd #ManchesterUnited #Ronaldo #CristianoRonaldo Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/premierleague/16441849/leicester-man-united-premier-league-report/ Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

The theory that Romelu Lukaku would give Chelsea the one thing they had been lacking under Thomas Tuchel always looked to be a sound one. By Graham Ruthven 19:37 · MON August 22, 2021 For all that the Blues shone in the second half of last season, they were generally wasteful in front of goal. It didn’t take much analysis to conclude the addition of a £98m striker with 64 goals in 95 games for his last club would help address this. And now there is some actual evidence to support this hypothesis following Lukaku’s goalscoring (second) debut for Chelsea in Sunday’s 2-0 away win over Arsenal. After only one week of training with his new teammates, the Belgian already appears to have been seamlessly integrated into Tuchel’s side. He was irrepressible throughout and could have score more than just one. The significance of Lukaku’s arrival at Stamford Bridge is greater than his quality as an individual, though. Indeed, the 28-year-old’s signing means Chelsea are now the most complete team in the Premier League. This doesn’t necessarily mean Tuchel’s men will win the title, but no other side is as rounded as they are. Tuchel now has a Swiss Army knife of a football team. Chelsea can play on the counter attack, as they did for much of the second half of last season, through the pace of Timo Werner and Lukaku, who is most devastating when he is allowed to turn and run at the opposition. They can, however, also control games through the likes of Jorginho and Mason Mount. What is most impressive about these two approaches is that Chelsea have the intelligence to toggle between the two within the one match. This is what the visitors to the Emirates did on Sunday, holding Arsenal at arm’s length for period before hitting them hard and fast on the break. Chelsea now have the ability to build around a central trio of Kai Havertz, Lukaku and Mount with the wing backs pushed high to provide width. Or they can spread their three attackers the width of the pitch to stretch the opposition deface and create space for runners from midfield. Tuchel could even use Lukaku and Werner as a front two with the latter in the Lautaro Martinez role. Nobody made more dribbles than Lukaku did over the 90+ minutes with the 28-year-old also firing off more shots on goal (eight) than Arsenal managed as a team (six). Underlining his value as a facilitator as well as a goalscorer, Lukaku even registered three key passes. It was the complete centre forward performance. There was even a point in the second half against Arsenal at which Tuchel shifted Lukaku out to the right with Kai Havertz deployed through the middle. This suggests the Chelsea boss has a firm grasp of Lukaku’s qualities as a centre forward, unlike Jose Mourinho who frequently used the Belgian as a frontman to hit with long balls and crosses. All this made Arsenal look incoherent as a unit. While Mikel Arteta was without a number of key figures through injury and illness, there was very little to suggest the Spaniard is getting any closer to achieving his vision for the Gunners, whatever that is. There was no structure to their play against Chelsea just as was the case in the opening weekend loss to Brentford. At no point did it seem as if Arsenal were on the brink of a breakthrough. Even when they had spells of possession, it was with no purpose - Granit Xhaka was their only midfielder or attacker to register a single key pass. No Arsenal player managed more than one shot on target with only three through balls attempted. Arsenal fans have been told to ‘trust the process’ with Arteta at the helm, but what that process actually entails still isn’t clear. Having claimed just 37% of the ball against Chelsea, the Gunners can’t be described as a possession-based side. They aren’t a high-pressing team either, dispossessing Chelsea just 11 times over the entire 90+ minutes, and they certainly aren’t a counter-attacking outfit either. Individually, there is a clear difference between the talent in Tuchel’s squad and that Arteta has to work with, but the gulf between the two London rivals is about more than just the quality of the players on the pitch. While Chelsea are the Premier League’s most complete team, capable of doing many things in many ways, Arsenal are yet to even find one area of the game they do well. #Arsenal #Chelsea #PremiereLeague #Lukaku Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas Source: https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/arsenal-0-2-chelsea-why-chelsea-are-the-most-complete-side-in-the-premier-league/194075

ARG RIVALS How Brazil and Argentina could line-up with no Premier League players but PSG duo Messi and Neymar still involved Dylan Terry, Updated: 11:28, 24 Aug 2021 BRAZIL and Argentina will renew their historic football rivalry on September 5 when they face off in a World Cup qualifier in Sao Paulo. It will be the first time the two sides have met since Lionel Messi's men edged out Neymar and Co to lift the Copa America in July. Speaking of new Paris Saint-Germain teammates Messi and Neymar, the pair are set to come up against one another next month when their two countries do battle once more. But there is a good chance there could be NO Premier League stars starting for either side as some players look to take a well-earned rest. The likes of Aston Villa keeper Dani Martinez, Tottenham pair Giovani Lo Celso and Cristian Romero, Manchester United's Fred, Chelsea's Thiago Silva and Manchester City No1 Ederson all featured in the Copa America for their nations. They then had just a couple of weeks off before returning to pre-season training with their clubs in England. Meanwhile, Everton striker Richarlison had virtually no rest whatsoever throughout the summer. The Brazilian forward started five of his country's seven games in their run to the final of the Copa America. And then less than two weeks later he jetted off to Tokyo as a part of Brazil's Olympic Games squad. This time he was successful in winning the tournament as Brazil retained the Olympic title they claimed for the first time in Rio five years earlier. Richarlison was also the top men's scorer at the Games with five goals. Then just six days after winning the gold medal he returned to start Everton's opening game of the Premier League season, scoring in a 3-1 win over Southampton. So, with all that in mind, you imagine the 24-year-old has earned himself a little rest. Brazil currently top the South American World Cup qualifying table having won all six of their matches so far. Meanwhile, Argentina are second in the standings on 12 points following three victories and three draws. #Brazil #Argentina #PremiereLeague #Messi #Neymar Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas Source: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/15950688/brazil-argentina-premier-league-messi-neymar/

Thomas Tuchel spoke exclusively to Sky Sports before Chelsea's trip to rivals Arsenal on Sunday, live from 4pm; head coach revealed he questioned decision to sack Frank Lampard before taking the job and admits last season's Champions League success has "raised the bar" By Vicky Gomersall and Joe Shread Sunday 22 August 2021 09:56, UK Thomas Tuchel has admitted that, before replacing Frank Lampard as head coach, he asked Chelsea's board if they were sure about sacking the club's record goal-scorer due to his legendary status at Stamford Bridge. Lampard - who won 11 major trophies as a player at Chelsea - was sacked in January after 18 months in charge and succeeded by Tuchel, who had recently left Paris Saint-Germain. Despite his side's patchy form in the weeks leading up to his departure, Lampard had led Chelsea to the Champions League knockout stages on two occasions, as well as a top-four Premier League finish and an FA Cup final during his time in charge. In an exclusive interview ahead of Chelsea's trip to rivals Arsenal on Sunday - live on Sky Sports - Tuchel admits Lampard's achievements as both a player and manager led even him to question whether sacking the former Derby boss was the right decision. Tuchel revealed: "I actually said to the board, 'are you sure of doing this? Because they will not like you. Maybe he deserves more time.' Because when I think of Chelsea I think about Frank Lampard, John Terry, Petr Cech, Didier Drogba. "I think about him in the very first moment because he embodies everything that Chelsea is: hard work, aggressive player, big leader but at the same time a normal guy on the pitch and such a team player. A true, true legend. "But I clearly understood the choice was more or less made and it was take it or leave it. Then I hoped for a fair chance with the players because when you step in, there is not everybody happy from 20, 22 players. "You cannot expect everybody to be happy with the manager gone, especially because he had a good [Champions League] group stage, good results, good performances and sometimes he was also simply unlucky, with what the data showed to us. "But I said very early, 'listen guys, I did not push him out. I am just here now to continue in my way and let's try to be open and give us a chance together.' "I'm in a top club with fantastic support, super organised and strong group on the field. It's a pleasure to work every day and it's like this since day one." In hindsight, Tuchel may not have questioned the Chelsea board's decision, as the German went on to guide his new team to Champions League glory just four months after taking charge. That memorable victory over Manchester City in the final in Porto - along with Chelsea's decision to re-sign Romelu Lukaku for a club-record fee this month - means the Blues are now one of the favourites to win this season's Premier League. Tuchel accepts that events of the past few months have raised expectations but is refusing to set any specific targets for silverware in his first full campaign in west London. "We raised the bar," he said. "It creates expectations, it creates demands, but I hope we don't get affected by it too much from outside. "I know what I demand from myself, which is always the highest level. I know what the team can produce - they are really ambitious, really competitive. "I think we need to be honest, to accept that we were fourth last season, so we have to close the gap to Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City. You will find nobody who says, 'nothing else but the title is a success', because you have to put it into perspective. "So to say now, 'what is the big success in May?' This is simply not possible and if we try, it will be a pure distraction. But we demand the very best still and we want to play hungry, with the same ambition - nothing has changed. "After a big success, you have to start from scratch. This is what top-level sports is all about and this is what we love it for." #ThomasTuchel #FrankLampard #Chelsea Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas Source: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12387048/thomas-tuchel-says-he-asked-chelsea-board-if-they-were-sure-about-sacking-legend-frank-lampard

It was on Thursday afternoon that Jorge Mendes decided to call Manchester United to see if they may be interested in the offer of a lifetime. After three days of negotiations between the Portuguese super agent and officials from Manchester City and Juventus as he scrambled to find a new home for his most famous client before next week’s transfer deadline, Cristiano Ronaldo’s future was finally settled in a matter of hours. The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s return to Old Trafford after 12 years away has taken the football world by surprise given that he had seemed destined to join United’s bitter rivals, although for Mendes the move represents a perfect conclusion to a summer of speculation. Ronaldo first asked his representative to sound out potential suitors as he prepared to return for pre-season training in mid-July under new head coach Massimiliano Allegri. Having signed a four-year contract worth a staggering €31m a season after tax when he moved to Italy from Real Madrid in 2018, it is understood that he was keen to pursue a new challenge after Portugal’s exit in the last-16 of Euro 2020. Mendes informally approached most of Europe’s big hitters including Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, United, City and Chelsea but had received no firm encouragement about a potential move. Ronaldo even released a statement criticising what he called “frivolous” speculation over his future on 18 August after reports in Spain linked him with a return to Madrid. “My story at Real Madrid has been written. It’s been recorded. In words and numbers, in trophies and titles, in records and in headlines,” he wrote on Instagram. But when City were informed by Tottenham last weekend that their improved offer of £127m for Harry Kane would not be accepted and the England captain was staying in north London, the situation suddenly changed. While by no means all of the City hierarchy were convinced by the need to sign a 36-year-old and would have represented a major departure from their usual approach to recruiting younger players, Mendes was confident of being able to seal a deal despite a reluctance from the Premier League club to pay a transfer fee. Ronaldo requested a meeting with Allegri the day before Juventus were due to face Udinese on Sunday in their first Serie A match of the season and told him that he wanted to leave the club. They decided that he would start the match on the bench, with Allegri introducing him in the 59th minute as a substitute for Álvaro Morata as Udinese claimed a 2-2 draw. Afterwards, the Juventus vice-president Pavel Nedved dismissed reports that Ronaldo was set to leave and insisted that he said he was staying. “We mustn’t try to create sensational stories where there aren’t any,” said the former Czech Republic midfielder and 2003 Ballon d’Or winner. “I can absolutely confirm Ronaldo will remain at Juventus this season.” Behind the scenes, however, that was far from the reality as Mendes stepped up his exit strategy. That evening, he began negotiating with City, who were still adamant that they would only take Ronaldo on a free transfer. Mendes had what has been described by sources close to the deal as “a really tense” meeting with the Juventus sporting director Federico Cherubini, with the club insisting that they wanted a fee of around €30m to balance their books to comply with financial fair play regulations. Cherubini replaced Fabio Paratici in the role after his move to Tottenham earlier in the summer and did not enjoy such a strong relationship with Mendes as his predecessor. However, with City – who had also made Raheem Sterling and Bernardo Silva available for transfer in anticipation of completing a deal – still not prepared to submit a formal offer after rejecting Juve’s proposal to include the Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus, Mendes spent Thursday morning trying to convince both parties to meet in the middle. When no agreement could be struck, the man who brokered his first transfer back in 1996 when now Tottenham manager Nuno Espírito Santo joined Deportivo La Coruña from Portuguese side Vitoria picked up the phone to Old Trafford. Within hours, the move had accelerated thanks to a series of calls from Ronaldo’s current and former teammates including Bruno Fernandes and Rio Ferdinand. United and Mendes reached a verbal agreement over personal terms for a two-year contract late on Thursday night and by the time most people were waking up on Friday,,... Source:https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/aug/27/talks-that-ushered-in-ronaldos-return-to-manchester-united-after-12-years #CristianoRonaldo #ManchesterUnited #RonaldoReturns Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

Kylian Mbappe scored the winner as France came from behind to beat Spain 2-1 and win the Nations League. Mikel Oyarzabal followed up his pair of semi-final assists against Italy with Spain’s opening goal but Karim Benzema quickly hit back before Mbappe’s winner - returning profit for Sporting Life readers with a BTTS winner in Jake Osgathorpe's preview. It was a second successive comeback win for Didier Deschamps’ side after their thrilling 3-2 semi-final success against Belgium. Paul Pogba and Benzema linked up well early on but Cesar Azpilicueta prevented the latter from setting up Mbappe. Hugo Lloris saved easily from Pablo Sarabia at the other end, while Azpilicueta again thwarted Benzema with a key block. France defender Jules Kounde survived a VAR referral for a possible handball in the penalty area and Marcos Alonso then curled a free-kick just wide with Lloris, expecting a cross, helpless. Les Bleus lost defender Raphael Varane to injury just before half-time, in a blow to his club side Manchester United. Dayot Upamecano took his place. An error from Kounde allowed Sarabia to race clear down the flank, but his cross eluded Oyarzabal and Ferran Torres. A half-chance to Mbappe was then snuffed out by Alonso before the game burst into life in a dramatic three minutes. Theo Hernandez, who scored France’s late winner against Belgium on Thursday, was the width of the crossbar away from repeating the feat, but instead Spain broke up the other end and Oyarzabal latched on to Sergio Busquets’ long pass, took on Upamecano and scored in the 64th minute. However, France were level two minutes later as Pogba and Mbappe combined to create the chance and Benzema curled home brilliantly from a narrow angle. Mbappe shot off target and had another effort blocked by Aymeric Laporte, while Unai Simon saved from Pogba as Didier Deschamps’ side took the upper hand. And they got their full reward when Mbappe delayed his run to race on to Hernandez’s through-ball and finish clinically beneath Simon, with the goal upheld by VAR after a check for offside. Lloris saved brilliantly from Oyarzabal’s volley, while Simon denied Mbappe a third which would have been harsh on Spain. Simon was forward for corners in the five added minutes but Lloris’ save from substitute Yeremi Pino snuffed out the last Spanish hope. Italy finish in third Italy earlier beat Belgium 2-1 in the third-place play-off, with Domenico Berardi’s penalty proving decisive - a result tipped up at 13/10 by Jake Pearson. After Thibaut Courtois denied Federico Chiesa in another goalless first half, Nicolo Barella volleyed the Azzurri in front in the first minute of the second period and Berardi doubled their advantage after Leicester’s Timothy Castagne fouled Chiesa. Belgium hit the woodwork through Alexis Saelemaekers in the first half and Michy Batshuayi and Yannick Carrasco in the second but had to wait until the 86th minute to pull one back through Charles De Ketelaere’s first international goal. By Sporting Life - Mon, October 11, 2021 #KylianMbappe #Spain #France #UEFANationsLeague Source: https://www.sportinglife.com/football/news/spain-1-2-france-kylian-mbappe-hits-winner-in-nations-league-final/195254 Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@tonowelas

The Spaniard has led the Gunners to disappointing back-to-back eighth placed finishes and began the current campaign with a calamitous 2-0 defeat at newly promoted Brentford last weekend. Despite a lack of European football and the financial rewards that brings, Arteta has been backed to the tune of £130million by Arsenal chiefs with the transfers of Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Odegaard confirmed on Friday. With Chelsea and Manchester City up next, the Gunners will do well to avoid heading into the international break with no points from their opening three games. The clamour to sack Arteta would reach fever pitch were Arsenal to lose three successive games at the start of a new season but Cascarino believes Arteta deserves time to prove with the new talent he has at his disposal. He told The Times: ‘Mikel Arteta has shown some signs of smart management -and he lifted the FA Cup in 2020 after a 2-1 victory over Chelsea at Wembley – but I’ve been surprised at how defensive his teams have been. ‘He hasn’t replicated the kind of adventurous football he witnessed first-hand as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City. That has been compounded by some bad decisions in the transfer market. ‘While Arsenal have made a lot of mistakes, it would be idiotic to sack Arteta before Christmas. ‘After so much investment in the squad, it would not make sense to get rid of the Spaniard before he has had a chance to show what he is trying to build at the club. Now he has to prove he can create a more positive team to get the fans on board again.’ #TonyCascarino #Arsenal #MikelArteta Subscribe this channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAiGbL29m6PCRcVo2vI9lWQ?sub_confirmation=1 Follow me: Facebook: https://facebook.com/tonowelas Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonowelas Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonowelas Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/tonowelas Source: https://metro.co.uk/2021/08/20/tony-cascarino-tells-arsenal-to-avoid-making-idiotic-mikel-arteta-decision-15127849/

Germany have become the first nation to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after running out comfortable 4-0 winners against North Macedonia in UEFA Group J. Hansi Flick's side booked their spot in the Middle East for next season's showpiece tournament, having cruised through their qualification campaign with relative ease. Now, they can look forward to discovering who they will face just over a year from now, as they look to recapture their Brazil 2014 success eight years on after a frustrating Euro 2020. Heading into Monday's match in Group J, Flick and company needed only to defeat their hosts in Skopje and hope that Armenia dropped points against Romania elsewhere. On the road, the visitors held up their end of the bargain, with goals for Chelsea duo Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, plus a first finish for Jamal Musiala, seeing off any chance of a second upset after their reverse loss in March. With the Tricolours elsewhere managing to pick up a win against the Mountaineers, it confirmed Germany's place - and helped Flick clear his first major test in charge of the national team. Outside of the European nations who have officially staked their flag at next year's tournament, the only other side to be in the hat are the hosts - Qatar themselves. It is customary for the host nation to receive an automatic passage through to the finals, and they usually spend the qualification cycle playing a spate of friendlies. For what will be their maiden appearance at the tournament however, Felix Sanchez's side have actually run a schedule in tandem with UEFA qualifying Group A. They have played the spare side from the quintet consisting of Portugal, Serbia, the Republic of Ireland, Luxembourg and Azerbaijan during the international breaks this year. Even if no other sides manage to book their spots before club football returns this weekend, a whole host of nations will have officially confirmed their berth by the end of November. Next year's tournament will represent the intended final staging of the World Cup in its current format too, with the 32-team system set to be expanded by the time it next comes around in 2026. On that occasion, a triple-hosting bid from the United States of America, Mexico and Canada will take the competition across its widest geographical spread in history, following Russia 2018. #Germany #NorthMacedonia #Qatar2022 Source: https://www.goal.com/en/news/germany-become-the-first-team-to-qualify-for-qatar-2022/1db9os67ngsqz1a0n5t97yywkh