Новости за 21.02.2018

An early injury to Ander Herrera handed Paul Pogba a reprieve after he was dropped for Manchester United's Champions League round of 16 first-leg clash with Sevilla. Herrera had been struggling in recent weeks with a muscle injury and then appeared to pick up an innocuous-looking foot injury 17 minutes into Wednesday's game at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, allowing Pogba the chance to get involved having previously been left on the bench in something of a shock decision made by Jose Mourinho. Pogba's... Читать дальше...

Leonardo Sigali is sporting a dodgy new trim to get the Racing fans onside.The 30-year-old defender left Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb in January to join Racing Cluband he's wasted no time in trying to win over his new followers.Posting to his Instagram feed, Sigali showed off his fresh new trim complete with impeccable line-work.Sigali, who was bought by Villarreal in 2007 but never played for the Spaniards before being bought by Dinamo Zagreb in 2014,scored Racing'sequaliser in their2-1 win overOlimpo on February 10. Читать дальше...

1. George Eastham (Newcastle)By 1959, Newcastle’s promising Under-23 England international had had enough of life at St. James’ Parkand dared to ask the club for a transfer. In the era of the ‘slavery contract’ and the minimum wage, this was a daring request by Eastham. Over the next two years, with Arsenal keen to whisk Eastham to north London, the forward was kept under virtual house arrest by his club, refusing to budge on his request, and living in self-imposed exile in the capital.To fill the... Читать дальше...

Millwall beat Sheffield Wednesday 2-1 on Tuesday night to move up to 11th in the Championship table, but it wasn't such a good night for one of their officials.Millwall have createdan emotional tribute, complete with Inception's 'Time' playing in the background, showing the poor blokedropping a stray sponsor board before it waves around in the night sky.When you try your best but you don’t succeed #Millwall pic.twitter.com/PQcmW1bTfH— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) February 21, 2018A true tear-jerker... Читать дальше...

In case you missed it, League One side Wigan beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup fifth round on Monday night to endthe visitors' hopes ofwinning the quadruple.Grigg scored the contest's decisive goalin the 79th minute against 10-man City, who had Fabian Delph controversially sent off in the first half.The Northern Ireland international's seventh cup goal made himthe tournament's top scorer this season, with his memorable strike bringing back the viral hit Will Grigg's on Firethat exploded in popularity in the summer of 2016.Since then... Читать дальше...

Kashima Antlers took top spot in AFC Champions League Group H as Mu Kanazaki's brace earned his side a 2-1 win at Suwon Bluewings on Wednesday. The visitors forged ahead in the eighth minute as Kanazaki slotted home from Yasushi Endo's sensational first-time pass, but Suwon wasted a golden chance to level as Leo Silva fouled Waguininho in the box only for Dejan Damjanovic to see his weak spot-kick saved by Kwoun Sun-tae. Kanazaki had his second shortly before the hour, heading in on the line after... Читать дальше...

In January, FIFA forbade officials to speak about the advantages of a North American bid featuring USA, Canada and Mexico – and the same applied to Morocco, so far the only rival bidder.At the time, Confederation of African Football president Ahmad Ahmad – forced to host a CAF Congress without being able to support continental comrades Morocco – made it known he was not best pleased with FIFA's instruction.But now FIFA's secretary-general Fatma Samoura has informed members that the ban has been lifted... Читать дальше...

France head coach Didier Deschamps has dismissed the notion that Paul Pogba is having a poor season with Manchester United. The midfielder's recent performances have come in for criticism, with Jose Mourinho substituting him in Premier League defeats at Tottenham and Newcastle United. Pogba missed Sunday's FA Cup fifth-round win at Huddersfield Town due to illness, but was back in full training on Tuesday as United prepare to visit Sevilla in the opening leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Читать дальше...

Neymar would have to change sport if he is serious about stepping out from Lionel Messi's shadow, according to Thierry Henry. The Brazilian stunned the footballing world in August by completing a record €222million switch from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, amid speculation he sought individual acclaim away from the Camp Nou's regular headline act. And Neymar has made a fine start to life at PSG, scoring 28 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions with Unai Emery's men seemingly set for... Читать дальше...

Facing a potentially tricky second leg after drawing the home game 1-1, Independiente have brought along some magical assistance.Travelling to face Copa Libertadores holders Gremio in Porto Alegre on Thursday night, the Argentine club ventured across the border on Tuesday with a very special guest.Manuel, an avidIndependiente supporter, is a wizard who has been brought along for the ride to act as a lucky charm for the visitors. He was filmed stepping off the team coach alongside the technical staff... Читать дальше...

Thomas Muller was in excellent form for Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Tuesday, and his wife may have uncovered the secret behind his success. The Germany international struck twice in a 5-0 rout of Besiktas at Allianz Arena, which effectively guaranteed Bayern's place in the quarter-finals ahead of the return fixture. But has Muller's four-legged friend been giving the forward some handy hints? Muller's spouse, Lisa, an equestrian athlete, posted a video on Instagram of her husband indulging in a little horseplay... Читать дальше...

Toni Kroos should not have been allowed to leave for Real Madrid, according to Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer. The Germany international made his Bayern debut in 2007 and went on to lift nine major honours across a seven-year spell, including the treble of Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and Champions League in 2012-13. He left at the end of the following season, however, and has since gone on to further glory with Madrid, securing historic back-to-back European crowns as well as last term's LaLiga title. Читать дальше...

The 59-year-old has regularly been spotted over the years having a touchline puff on a cigarette. So, ahead ofLeipzig's Europa League last-32secondleg tie with the Serie A leaders on Thursday night, they've createda cabin to cater to the Italian manager'shabit.According to Bild, the little area is three-and-a-half metres high and three metres wide, while all smoke detectors in the changingroomhave been switched off.Napoli, who were eliminated from this year's Champions League at the group stages,have... Читать дальше...

Carlo Ancelotti would be the perfect appointment as Italy head coach, according to Inter boss Luciano Spalletti. A three-time Champions League winner with AC Milan and Real Madrid, Ancelotti has been out of work since getting the sack at Bayern Munich in September. Italy have been without a permanent head coach after Gian Piero Ventura was relieved of his duties following November's shock 1-0 aggregate loss to Sweden which saw the Azzurri fail to qualify for a World Cup for the first time in 60 years. Читать дальше...

Words: Alec Fenn, Jon SpurlingWhen Manchester City were found guilty of financial irregularities after a 1906 FA enquiry, Manchester’s press gathered en masse inside the city’s Queens Hotel. They were all there to document the sheer bewilderment of the Blues’ slack-jawed directors as they witnessed the fire sale of their best player, Billy Meredith, to arch enemies Manchester United. There might not have been a large club-branded desk, a room crammed full of cameras or a press officer overseeing proceedings but... Читать дальше...

Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes lauded Thomas Muller after the forward's brace against Besiktas, saying the German could score "out of nothing". The Bundesliga giants all but sealed their spot in the Champions League quarter-finals after thrashing Besiktas 5-0 in the first leg of their last-16 tie. Muller and Robert Lewandowski scored braces at Allianz Arena to go with a Kingsley Coman goal on Tuesday. Heynckes was full of praise for Muller, who has scored three goals in five Champions League games this season. Читать дальше...

Toronto took a huge step towards the CONCACAF Champions League quarter-finals, while Tigres UANL were pegged back away from home on Tuesday. Sebastian Giovinco scored and provided an assist as Toronto claimed a 2-0 win over the Rapids in Colorado in their first leg. The Italian star set up Jonathan Osorio for a header in the second half before volleying in an Auro cross to seal the win for the MLS Cup champions. It leaves Toronto with a huge advantage heading into their home second leg next week. Читать дальше...

Premier League-winning boss Claudio Ranieri said he would ask to be released by Nantes if he was offered the Italy job. Ranieri, 66, has been linked with the vacant Italy post after Gian Piero Ventura departed following the country's failure to qualify for the World Cup in Russia. Former head coach Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti and Roberto Mancini have also emerged as possible replacements for Ventura, who presided over Italy's shock 1-0 aggregate play-off defeat to Sweden last year as the Azzurri... Читать дальше...

Andreas Christensen cost Chelsea victory against Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday, but Antonio Conte hailed the defender's "incredible" performance. After a flawless defensive display at Stamford Bridge, where the Premier League champions led through Willian's strike, Christensen's loose pass evaded Cesc Fabregas with 15 minutes to play. Barca captain Andres Iniesta subsequently set up Lionel Messi to beat the otherwise untested Thibaut Courtois to earn the Catalans a crucial away goal to take into the second leg on March 14. Читать дальше...

Jupp Heynckes insisted Bayern Munich will not take any risks against Besiktas, despite humbling the Turkish visitors 5-0 in the opening leg of the Champions League last-16 tie. German champions Bayern eased to a five-goal demolition in Tuesday's fixture in Munich after Besiktas were reduced to 10 men early in the match. Any hope of a result at the Allianz Arena were dashed when Domagoj Vida saw red for a mistimed challenge in the 16th minute as braces from Thomas Muller and Robert Lewandowski and... Читать дальше...