Новости за 21.11.2017

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic paid a glowing tribute to Gianluigi Buffon ahead of Wednesday's Champions League match against Juventus, stating the veteran goalkeeper's heart-wrenching farewell from international football was tough to witness. Buffon returns to Europe's top competition after Italy's ignominious exit from the World Cup, with Sweden's play-off triumph over the Azzurri denying the 39-year-old a fitting career farewell at Russia 2018. Asked whether he had any consoling word for Buffon at a pre-match news conference... Читать дальше...

Chris Smalling was surprised to be left out of Gareth Southgate's last England squad, but believes his Manchester United form "under one of the most successful managers" in Jose Mourinho can lead to a recall. The centre-back was an unexpected absentee for the recent home friendlies against Germany and Brazil, with Southgate stating a desire to "play in a certain way" as he switched to a three-man defensive line. Speaking ahead of Wednesday's Champions League clash with Basel, Smalling responded... Читать дальше...

Jupp Heynckes says Manuel Neuer's recovery from injury is on track but the coach insists he will not rush the Bayern Munich star back into action. Neuer suffered a repeat hairline fracture of a metatarsal in his left foot in training in September and was forced to undergo surgery. The 31-year-old said in October he could be out for as much as six months but it has been suggested he could return shortly after the winter break. However, Heynckes says the goalkeeper will only play again when he is 100 per cent fit. Читать дальше...

A late goal from Jasmin Mesanovic cancelled out Ze Luis' 82nd-minute effort to secure Maribor a 1-1 draw at Spartak Moscow, leaving the Russians with it all to do in their final Champions League Group E match against Liverpool at Anfield. Spartak had seemingly claimed a vital victory when Ze Luis found the net, but just when they looked set to leap above Sevilla for at least a couple of hours, Mesanovic tapped in from close range to leave the Spaniards and Liverpool firmly in the driving seat. In truth... Читать дальше...

Jose Mourinho says it is "frustrating" to be asked why Henrikh Mkhitaryan was left out of Manchester United's win over Newcastle United on Saturday. The Armenia star had been ever-present in the Premier League until the visit of Rafa Benitez's men to Old Trafford, a game for which he did not even make the matchday squad. Mkhitaryan started the season in fine form but has been struggling to influence matches in recent weeks, particularly the 0-0 draw with Liverpool at Anfield and defeats to Huddersfield Town and Chelsea. Читать дальше...

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed Phil Jones will miss both Wednesday's Champions League game with Basel and the weekend match against Brighton and Hove Albion. The centre-back missed the 4-1 win over Newcastle United last Saturday after aggravating a thigh problem while on England duty, with Mourinho later blasting Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate for allegedly allowing Jones to receive six painkilling injections in order to start the friendly against Germany. Jones missed... Читать дальше...

Itumeleng KhuneAsking price: £625kAge: 30Can play: GKEU citizenship: NoIn-game stats:Need to know: Three timeSouth African champion who has been capped 86 times for his country. The driven and experienced goalkeeper who plays for Kaizer Chiefs since 2004won the domestic footballer of the year award in 2013.Joona ToivioAsking price: £200kAge: 29Can play: DC, DREU citizenship: YesIn-game stats:Need to know: 2014 Norwegian Eliteserien winner who served his country on 42 occasions. After leaving Finland 11 years ago to join AZ Alkmaar... Читать дальше...

Antonio Conte believes changes must be made to Premier League fixtures to help English clubs progress further in the Champions League. Chelsea face Qarabag in Group C on Wednesday before travelling to Anfield to take on Liverpool in a key Premier League clash on Saturday. No English clubs have reached the final of the Champions League since Chelsea defeated Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga giants' Allianz Arena home in May 2012. And Conte has called on sides in continental competitions to be given... Читать дальше...

Spurs were leading 2-0 in the UEFA Youth League clash,but poor Austin allowed Dortmund back into the contest with a misake he'll want to forget as quickly as possible.In the 29th minute, a flowing BVB move led to Emre Aydinel taking a hopeful shot from range which forced Austin into action.At first it looked like the young net-minder had a grasp on it, but the ball ended up squirming underneath the young American as he landed, and then rolling agonisingly beyond the line.Austin's name was attributed... Читать дальше...

How special a place is La Masia, and did you grow up training with any youngsters who should have goneon to become big stars but didn’t?Laura Ibanez, BrixtonIt’s an incredible place. There was one player there in the under-18 team who, along with Xavi, trained with Louis van Gaal’s first team. His name was Mario Rosas and was only 16 years old, but he was seen as good enough to train with the first-team squad. He was small, just like Xavi, but a No.10. He was amazing: clever, brave, two-footed – he had it all. Читать дальше...

Udinese have announced the appointment of Massimo Oddo as the club's new coach, replacing the sacked Luigi Del Neri. Del Neri was dismissed after Udinese suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Cagliari on Sunday, leaving the team three points above the Serie A relegation zone. Udinese wasted no time in moving for Oddo, who was dismissed by previous club Pescara in February. "I'm delighted to have been given this opportunity," Oddo - a member of the Italy squad that won the World Cup in 2006 - said at a news conference. Читать дальше...

Jose Mourinho makes sure the ball boy gets the respect he deserves for the assistClass. pic.twitter.com/4zWt0Jxwco— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 26, 20191. Occupational HazardJoe Hart, Yohan Cabaye and El Hadji Diouf have all had run-ins with ballboys, but the most famous of recent vintage involved Chelsea's Eden Hazard. Trying to retrieve the ball quickly as the Blues trailed in a 2013 League Cup semi-final against Swansea, the Belgian was faced with the self-titled ‘king of all ball boys’ (#timewasting)... Читать дальше...

1. Occupational HazardJoe Hart, Yohan Cabaye and El Hadji Diouf have all had run-ins with ballboys, but the most famous of recent vintage involved Chelsea's Eden Hazard. Trying to retrieve the ball quickly as the Blues trailed in a 2013 League Cup semi-final against Swansea, the Belgian was faced with the self-titled ‘king of all ball boys’ (#timewasting), Charlie Morgan, who promptly laid down on said sphere.The brilliant Belgian tried to pull the ball out from under the 17-year-old and, when that failed, took ‘boy and ball’ with his foot. Читать дальше...

Barcelona may need to enter the transfer market to add a "finishing touch" to their squad if they are to continue challenging on all fronts, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu has conceded. Ernesto Valverde's team have been excellent this season, responding well to the blow of losing Neymar to Paris Saint-Germain in August. The Catalan giants are four points ahead of Valencia at the top of LaLiga after 12 matches and already 10 clear of Real Madrid, while they are also still in the Copa del Rey and on track to win Champions League Group D. Читать дальше...

The FFA Cup final went to extra-time after A-League sides Sydney and Adelaide Unitedhad fought out a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes.As it turned out, the real drama was just getting started.Bobo put Sydney ahead in the 110th minute, and tensions boiled over when Adelaide's Michael Marrone bundled over a ball boy in trying to take a quick throw-in. The youngster stayed on the floor for a few seconds before eventually being helped to his feet by a frantic crew of helpers.The incident led to an almighty scuffle... Читать дальше...

Words: Andrew Murray, Nick Moore, James Maw25. Dinamo Zagreb 1-7 LyonGroup stage, 2011/12Hands up if you can tell us who scored the Champions League’s fastest hat-trick. Hands up if you were at a freezing cold Maksimir Stadium that December night to watch Lyon frontman Bafetimbi Gomis put hosts Dinamo Zagreb to the sword 7-1? Er, we suspected not.Needing a second-placed Ajax to lose against Real Madrid and a seven-goal swing to reach the knockout stage, Lyon trailed to Mateo Kovacic’s rebound before all hell broke loose. Читать дальше...

Unai Emery defended Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar from criticism of his lifestyle after the Brazil international was spotted partying in London. Neymar was a part of the Brazil team which drew 0-0 with England at Wembley on Tuesday and followed that match by enjoying the nightlife in the country's capital, being photographed alongside actress Demi Lovato. Critics were quick to comment after it was reported that Neymar was out until 6am, but Emery is adamant that the 25-year-old is doing nothing wrong. Читать дальше...

In the 19th minute, Lucas Albertengo looked to be chasing a lost cause as Lux stormed out of his area seemingly ready to make a simple clearance.Somehow, though, the 35-year-oldmade the fatal error of misjudging the flight of the ball and caught it instead... about 10 yards outside his box.Naturally, Lux'scalamitous loss of focus meant the former Deportivo goalkeeperwas immediately sent off and forced River Plate to play with 10 men for over 70 minutes.Independiente finally broke the deadlock in... Читать дальше...

Luigi Del Neri has been sacked as Udinese head coach after the club lost eight of their first 12 Serie A matches, with Massimo Oddo expected to take over. The 67-year-old was hired in October 2016 after Udinese's poor start to the 2016-17 campaign, eventually leading the club to a 13th-placed finish, as they escaped the drop. Del Neri was given a new one-year contract for keeping Udinese up, but they have underwhelmed again at the start of the new season, collecting just 12 points from as many games... Читать дальше...

Everton forward Oumar Niasse is the first Premier League player to face retrospective punishment for simulation under new Football Association rules. Niasse won a sixth-minute penalty, converted by Leighton Baines, after Scott Dann was adjudged to have fouled him by referee Anthony Taylor during Saturday's 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park. Replays suggested contact was minimal and the FA has charged Niasse – who scored his sixth goal of the season later in the match - for "successful deception of a match official". Читать дальше...

Arsene Wenger might have been at Arsenal for more than two decades, but that spell fades in comparison to the Gunners' apparent target as the new sporting director. Michael Zorc is more than just a Borussia Dortmund legend. He has been there since 1978, through good times and bad, and its almost impossible to imagine the club without him.One would doubt that Zorc can imagine himself without Borussia.Born in Dortmund, he joined die Schwarzgelben as a 15-year-oldand gradually became avital player. Zorc is less known globally... Читать дальше...

Frank Lampard is hopeful Premier League clubs are on the cusp of another golden period in the Champions League. From Liverpool's stunning comeback and penalty shoot-out triumph over AC Milan in 2005 to Chelsea's win via the same means against Bayern Munich in 2012, English clubs were represented in seven out of eight Champions League finals. Lampard was on the scoresheet before Chelsea lost on spot kicks in an all-Premier League affair against Manchester United in Moscow in 2008, but no English... Читать дальше...

Anthony Pulis has been announced as the head coach of USL club Saint Louis FC, moving across from his manager's role at Orlando City B.The 33-year-old was a journeyman in English football, and playedfor the likes of Stoke, Plymouth, Grimsby and Stockport.Pulis Jr. thenmoved to Orlando as a player-coach for three years before they became an MLS team.OFFICIAL: Anthony Pulis named Saint Louis FC Head Coach. https://t.co/tlhuJAJRL8 pic.twitter.com/5BYPHkh9Cy— Saint Louis FC (@SaintLouisFC) November 21... Читать дальше...

Juventus star Paulo Dybala has hailed Lionel Messi as "Maradona for our generation". Dybala will come face-to-face with fellow Argentina international Messi when Juve host Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday, with both sides set to progress from Group D. Messi scored twice and turned in a dazzling display as Barcelona won 3-0 in the teams' initial meeting this season. Since that game, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner produced a virtuoso performance to score a hat-trick in Ecuador and... Читать дальше...

Tim Sherwood sees no reason why Tottenham cannot go all the way and claim Champions League glory after besting a Real Madrid side he believes are a "team on the down". Mauricio Pochettino's side convincingly got the better of the European Champions at Wembley last time out in the competition, storming to a 3-1 win having shared a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu two weeks earlier. Domestic defeats to Manchester United and Arsenal either side of that famous triumph have quelled some of the early season optimism around Spurs but Sherwood... Читать дальше...