Новости за 21.11.2018

Davy Klaassen says it is "impossible" to compare him to world-class midfielders such as Xavi and Toni Kroos. Before his passing, Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff likened compatriot Klaassen to Xavi and Kroos for his "perfect anticipation" on the pitch. Netherlands international Klaassen joined Werder Bremen for the 2018-19 season after making just seven Premier League appearances for Everton. And the 25-year-old does not feel he deserves to be compared to Barcelona icon Xavi and Real Madrid star Kroos. Читать дальше...

Martin O'Neill has indicated he plans to stay in football after stepping down as Republic of Ireland's manager following their Nations League relegation. O'Neill led Ireland to the last 16 at Euro 2016 but they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and dropped out of League B after a 0-0 stalemate away to Denmark on Monday. The 66-year-old previously enjoyed successful spells with Aston Villa and Leicester City in the Premier League and took charge of Ireland in November 2013 after he was sacked by Sunderland earlier that year. Читать дальше...

The Premier League has strongly rejected a proposal that the number of foreign players playing in England's top flight should be reduced. The United Kingdom is in the process of leaving the European Union, with little clarity on how Brexit will affect football in the country. Reports emerged the Football Association (FA) was proposing a reduction in the number of foreign players allowed at a club from 17 to 13. It is suggested this would have a beneficial impact on England's national team, which... Читать дальше...

Patrice Evra has gone viral again - perhaps literally this time - after posting yet another bizarre video on social media. The former Manchester United and France defender has been making a name for himself with his antics on Instagram. Previous efforts included pulling a Jeep to prove his fitness and singing an Andrea Bocelli song to welcome Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus. And on Wednesday he went a step further with a Thanksgiving message that defies description and has to be seen to be believed...... Читать дальше...

Robert Lewandowski has returned to full training with Bayern Munich following a knee injury, with Alphonso Davies joining his team-mates for the first time. Poland striker Lewandowski sat out Tuesday's session with a knee injury but joined his colleagues ahead of Bayern's home game against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Kingsley Coman and Arjen Robben also joined in training as they recover from ankle and knee injuries respectively, with Davies' arrival giving coach Niko Kovac a boost. Читать дальше...

Former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner will serve a 50-day prison sentence for assaulting a taxi driver, the State Prosecutor of Copenhagen confirmed.

Iker Muniain has signed a new contract, committing his future to Athletic Bilbao through to 2024. The 25-year-old missed much of last season due to injury but has featured in 11 LaLiga games this term, although Athletic are hovering dangerously close to the relegation zone. Muniain has shown fine form, though, contributing four goals, including finding the net in Athletic's 1-1 home draw against Real Madrid in September. The versatile forward, who has spent his whole career at Athletic, won his sole Spain cap in 2012. Читать дальше...

Gary LinekerThe inspiration for this article, Lineker won more of football’s top individual awards than he did silverware. Players’ Player of the Year, Footballer of the Year (twice), runner-up in the Ballon d’Or, a Golden Boot winner three times in England and once at a World Cup – make no mistake, he was one of the all-time great strikers. And yet Lineker’s only major trophies were the FA Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Cup Winners’ Cup, while he ended up with as many league titles in his career as he did red and yellow cards... Читать дальше...

Gary LinekerThe inspiration for this article, Lineker won more of football’s top individual awards than he did silverware. Players’ Player of the Year, Footballer of the Year (twice), runner-up in the Ballon d’Or, a Golden Boot winner three times in England and once at a World Cup – make no mistake, he was one of the all-time great strikers. And yet Lineker’s only major trophies were the FA Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Cup Winners’ Cup, while he ended up with as many league titles in his career as he did red and yellow cards... Читать дальше...

Neymar and Kylian Mbappe are not seriously injured but Paris Saint-Germain confirmed the attacking duo will require further medical tests ahead of a crucial Champions League clash with Liverpool. Both forwards were injured in international friendlies on Tuesday, Brazil captain Neymar limping off after eight minutes against Cameroon while Mbappe was withdrawn in the first half of France's fixture with Uruguay. PSG's perfect Ligue 1 record is on the line at home to Toulouse on Saturday but head coach... Читать дальше...

Mauro Icardi is hopeful Lionel Messi will return to the Argentina scene again ahead of next year's Copa America. Messi has not played for his country since their last-16 exit from the World Cup at the hands of eventual winners France and his international future remains unclear. They have lost just one of those six matches under the stewardship of interim coach Lionel Scaloni, with Icardi on the scoresheet for the first time as Argentina claimed a second successive 2-0 win over Mexico on Tuesday. Читать дальше...

Sergio AgueroThere's something in the South American water. Aguero wasted little time making an impression in senior football, having only just turned 15 when he represented Independiente for the first time. Still 11 months shy of his 16th birthday, the striker broke Maradona's record to become the youngest-everplayer in Argentina's top flight.Aguero had to remain patient for his next senior outing, but he later became the youngest all-time debutant in the Copa Libertadores, a record he held for three years. Читать дальше...

It's always the goalscorers who get the glory – but what about the players who make that net-busting possible?Since 1992/93 only three players have broken the 100-assist mark, but in this quiz we've featured every player with 40 to their name for you to recall.You've got nine minutes on the clock to do so, and then we want you to tell us how you got on over at @FourFourTwo– as per, there's a place on our daily Twitter leaderboard for those who deserve crowning. After you're done,challenge your pals to see how their brains size up against yours.

Rough-and-tumble football, hulking centre-halves, pot-holed pitches, “a tough league to get out of”. The clichés about England’s second tier are well told, and for a long time they had the added benefit of being true.Not any more. For some years now, the Championship has been undergoing a quiet revolution. The division that was once the breeding ground for grizzled exponents of no-frills football is now a hotbed of ball-hogging teams, cutting-edge coaches and pint-sized playmakers.The stylistic overhaul... Читать дальше...

The Ballon d'Or should go to a France player and not favourite Luka Modric, according to Edinson Cavani. Modric is seen as the frontrunner for the award in what is expected to be the first year since 2007 that either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo will not claim the prize. The Real Madrid midfielder played a key role in their third successive Champions League triumph and starred as Croatia reached the final of the World Cup, where they were beaten 4-2 by France. His exploits saw Modric win the FIFA Best Men's Player award... Читать дальше...

Martin O'Neill has stepped down from his role as manager of the Republic of Ireland following Nations League relegation.

Ernesto Valverde's use of Barcelona midfielder Rafinha has been "crazy" and that could lead to a transfer away from the club in January, according to the player's father Mazinho. Rafinha spent the second half of last season on loan at Inter after recovering from a serious knee injury and, although he played regularly, the club decided against making the move permanent. Having returned to Barca in pre-season, the 25-year-old looked set for significant first-team opportunities, particularly given his versatility in midfield and attack. Читать дальше...

Edinson Cavani has told the media to stop suggesting he and Paris Saint-Germain team-mate Neymar have an ongoing feud after the two appeared at odds in a recent international meeting. The Uruguay striker was booked following a clumsy tackle on the Brazil captain in a 0-0 draw at Emirates Stadium on Friday, leading to an exchange between the two. Cavani was incensed by the booking, with replays suggesting contact was minimal, and he subsequently threw the ball at Neymar's leg after helping him up. Читать дальше...

Tite applauded his counterpart Clarence Seedorf for Cameroon's style of play in their 1-0 defeat to Brazil on Tuesday. Richarlison scored the only goal of the game on the stroke of half-time, having replaced the injured Neymar in the eighth minute. The Paris Saint-Germain star suffered a suspected groin injury, though both he and the team doctor have since suggested it was a minor strain. Brazil were dominant for much of the match in Milton Keynes and created numerous opportunities, but Tite was still able to appreciate Cameroon... Читать дальше...

Paris Saint-Germain star Neymar believes the groin injury he suffered in Brazil's friendly with Cameroon is "nothing serious". Neymar, 26, went off just eight minutes into his nation's 1-0 victory on Tuesday, sparking fears he may be sidelined for PSG's upcoming Champions League visit of Liverpool. But the superstar forward echoed the thoughts of Brazil's team doctor, insisting the injury was not significant. "We finished the year happy for the work done so far. These last games were important... Читать дальше...

France star Antoine Griezmann insists he is not obsessed with winning the Ballon d'Or, even if he is eager to lay his hands on the coveted prize. Griezmann is among the contenders for the award after helping France win the World Cup, as well as guiding Atletico Madrid to Europa League glory, in 2018. Speaking after France's 1-0 friendly win over Uruguay on Tuesday, the 27-year-old was clear over his desire to claim the gong. "I want to win it [Ballon d'Or] too," said Griezmann. But asked if he felt obsessed... Читать дальше...

Argentina interim coach Lionel Scaloni was delighted for Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi after the pair scored their first international goals. Goals from Icardi and Dybala helped Argentina to a 2-0 friendly win over Mexico in Mendoza on Tuesday. It was Icardi's first in eight games, while Dybala struck for his country for the first time in his 18th appearance. "We have to be happy because two players as important as Icardi and Dybala were unlocked," Scaloni said. #SelecciónMayor Así convirtió Mauro Icardi su primer gol con la Mayor. Читать дальше...

France coach Didier Deschamps praised Antoine Griezmann after the forward let Olivier Giroud take his team's penalty against Uruguay on Tuesday. Giroud converted a 52nd-minute penalty to give the World Cup champions a 1-0 friendly win at the Stade de France. That the Chelsea striker took the spot-kick was a surprise and Deschamps lauded Griezmann for the gesture. "Antoine is, I was about to say too kind, but not here. He has such amazing team spirit, it's exceptional," Deschamps told a news conference. Читать дальше...

Alexis Sanchez netted his 41st international goal as Chile thrashed Honduras 4-1 in a friendly on Tuesday. The nation's all-time leading goalscorer struck in the second half in Temuco, where Chile were awarded three penalties. Arturo Vidal scored a brace before Alex Lopez pulled a goal back for Honduras, only for Sanchez to convert after having a penalty saved and Nicolas Castillo to net from the spot late on. The win was a much-needed boost for Chile, who suffered a surprise loss to Costa Rica last week. Читать дальше...

Mauro Icardi and Paulo Dybala ended their waits for first international goals to help Argentina to a 2-0 win over Mexico in a friendly on Tuesday. Icardi scored in the second minute in Mendoza and Dybala sealed the win as Argentina made it back-to-back victories against Mexico this month. Playing his eighth international game, Icardi broke his duck early, while Dybala came off the bench to net his first in 18 Argentina appearances. Since the World Cup and with Scaloni at the helm on an interim basis... Читать дальше...