Month: September 2019

The veteran manager says the Three Lions have the talent and leadership to win going forward

Harry Redknapp says that he believes that England will win a major title within the next eight years as the longtime manager backed the country’s current stars to shine brightly on the international stage.

England fell just short of World Cup glory in Russia this past summer, falling to Croatia at the semi-final stage in the nation’s best tournament performance since Euro 1996.

The Three Lions haven’t lifted a major trophy since the 1966 World Cup, having come in fourth in 2018 and 1990.

In addition, England’s best finish at the European Championships is third place, having reached that mark in 1968 and 1996.

And now, with Euro 2020 looming, Redknapp says Gareth Southgate’s side is poised for a long-awaited tournament victory.

“We’ve got an amazing group of young players,” said Redknapp, who last managed Birmingham City in 2017.

“It’s such an exciting time. Gareth is in for a great ride with these young kids. I just see so much talent there, the future looks amazing.

“I think we are on course to win a European Championship or World Cup in the next eight years. There is a big competition in this group of England players.”

In particular, Redknapp pointed to Harry Kane, a player he sees as the team’s leader.

The manager worked with Kane during his time with Tottenham from 2008-12 before the forward truly broke out in 2014.

And Redknapp says that Kane is the ideal star to lead this young Three Lions team through the next few tournaments due to his ability on the pitch and demeanour away from it.

“He’s just a class act, on and off the field,” said Redknapp. “People said the same about Bobby Moore – a great captain and leader.

“He’s a great guy, a perfect role model. He gets on with his football and trains hard, works hard. You never see anything bad about him; he’s a family man.”

England are set to face the Czech Republic and Montenegro to kickstart Euro 2020 qualifying. 

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Born in Cameroon, the defender was a star in his Lyon neighbourhood thanks to his footballing skills almost before he could walk

The return of Samuel Umtiti marks a huge boost for Barcelona ahead of their crucial Champions League clash against Lyon. For the defender the match also has a special meaning as he faces the team that sent him on the way to stardom. 

Umtiti was born in the capital of Cameroon, Yaounde, but moved to France at the age of two, with his family settling in Lyon. He grew up kicking the ball around at school and before too long was already starring for neighbourhood club Menival. 

Roland Rimet-Mignon was tasked with teaching Umtiti and the rest of Menival’s hopefuls, whom the defender joined at just five. 

“I met him when he was very young,” the coach recalled to Goal. “He came to us early because his school was opposite the club and since he already had a passion for football, he joined up with Menival.”

Umtiti began, like most talented youngsters, as a forward, but was convinced by Menival to drop back down the field, a fateful decision that culminated in him finally settling into the centre of defence once he joined Lyon. 

Even at the tender age of eight, his ability was clear to all observers. “There was a point in which when I saw Samuel play, I told myself ‘this kid can’t stay here, he is already better than everyone,” Menival academy chief Regis Molouba stated. Despite his age, Molouba did not hesitate: “I made my move so that OL would not lose sight of Umtiti.” Luckily for the club, they listened.

To begin with, however, Lyon struggled to recruit the young Umtiti. “They did not have access to Samuel’s guardians,” Molouba explained. 

“I went to see Samuel’s mother to tell her that her son was good, that Lyon were interested in him and that this was an opportunity they could not let go.” Annie Ngo Um did not oppose her son’s signing, and Molouba came to be Umtiti’s personal trainer as he prepared to take the step up. “I developed a personal program for him and we would work every Sunday from nine in the morning until midday because he did not have to go to school.

“We would run through the streets of Lyon and we kept that up for a long time, even after signing for Lyon we would work during his school holidays with intensive sessions to prepare for the season ahead.”

Umtiti passed his Lyon trial at the first attempt, and 10 years later – after moving back to defence – was ready to make his debut for the first team. In his first match Lyon took down local rivals St. Etienne in a cup tie, prompting then-coach Claude Puel to sing the 18-year-old promise’s praises: “He has adapted amazingly to a game of such importance.”

Just four years on from that auspicious debut Umtiti was Barcelona-bound, moving to Camp Nou in a €25 million (£21.3m /28$m) switch ahead of the 2016-17 season. This year’s injury woes notwithstanding, he quickly became one of the first names on the Barca teamsheet and played a key part in them capturing the 2017-18 Liga title among other trophies.

The centre-back boasts for good measure a World Cup winner’s medal, having headed home the semi-final goal that put France into the final in Russia as they overcame Belgium. Now, having completed 90 minutes against Sevilla for the first time since November in February and repeating the feat at the weekend for the victory over Rayo, he is looking for Champions League glory. 

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His first club and boyhood mentors, of course, now stand in the way. Umtiti has come a long way since he first walked into OL as a boy, but he knows better than anyone how important Lyon have been in creating one of the finest defenders currently active in world football.

The Englishman nets in a 7-0 thrashing at the Etihad Stadium which takes the Premier League champions into the quarter-finals

Phil Foden became Manchester City’s youngest Champions League goalscorer as the Premier League champions put seven past Schalke to progress to the quarter-finals. 

The 18-year-old latched onto a through pass by Leroy Sane – his third assist of the night – and rounded goalkeeper Ralf Fahrmann before slotting into an empty net. 

At 18 years and 288 days, Foden is the youngest Englishman to net in the competition’s knock-out stage, and fourth overall behind Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jadon Sancho and Theo Walcott. 

“Every time I come on I just try to enjoy my football,” he told BT Sport. “I try to concentrate and improve. I enjoy scoring goals. 

“You are learning all the time in the changing rooms, on the touchline and when you come on. I am learning every day. I will try to keep improving each day.

“They are all great lads and great players so it is just a pleasure to be here.”

It was a night of records for Pep Guardiola’s men who became the third English side into the last eight for the first time since 2010-11.

The 10-2 aggregate win is the second highest in Europe’s premier club competition, only behind Bayern Munich’s 12-1 win over Sporting which came in the last-16 in 2009.

It is, therefore, the biggest by an English club in the knock-out phase.

Meanwhile, for Schalke it was a night of misery despite having shown glimmers of encouragement in the first leg.

The 7-0 reverse was the biggest defeat by any German side in the Champions League.

It was a defeat their passionate and vocal following were thoroughly disappointed with, leading to a stand-off between fans and players at full-time as the latter attempted to offer their thanks for the volume of support.

The defeat could be the last time Die Konigsblauen are seen at Europe’s top table for some years, with the club sitting perilously above the Bundesliga relegation zone heading into the final few months of the season.

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The duo have struggled with injury problems in 2018-19 but their manager is hopeful they’ll be ready for the end-of-season run-in

Pep Guardiola has revealed that he expects both Kevin De Bruyne and Benjamin Mendy to be ready to return for Manchester City after the upcoming international break.

Both players have seen their 2018-19 campaign heavily disrupted by injury problems, with De Bruyne having made 14 Premier League appearances and Mendy having featured just eight times in the league.

The latest set-back saw De Bruyne suffer a hamstring injury in City’s 1-0 win over Bournemouth, with Guardiola initially having feared that he would be out for “a while”.

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Mendy, meanwhile, was originally sidelined with a knee injury for two months back in November.

He did return as a second-half substitute in the Carabao Cup semi-final win over Burton Albion on January 23 but has not featured for City since then.

The French World Cup winner’s lack of game-time continues to be a source of frustration for Guardiola, with the 24-year-old facing a crucial couple of months in a bid to convince his manager of his worth.

Injuries have restricted Mendy to just 18 appearances in all competitions since signing from Monaco in 2017, with a cruciate knee ligament injury suffered in September of that year severely hampering his debut campaign at the club.

Guardiola has given a positive update on both players, however, tipping them to return after the forthcoming international break.

Regarding De Bruyne, he told reporters: “It happened. The first injury was knees. When you are long-term absent due to knee problems it sometimes influences the hamstring.

“He doesn’t feel quite well right now, not 100%. Doctors and Kevin tell me after international break he will be ready.

“I think before the Bournemouth injury, he was reaching a high level. Kevin knows he needs games, but he always creates something for the team. The important thing is he will be back.

“Mendy will hopefully be fit after the international break, too.”

Next up for City is a meeting with Swansea in the FA Cup quarter-final, as Guardiola’s side continue their quadruple pursuit.

Having already wrapped up the Carabao Cup, City lead Liverpool by one point in the Premier League title race, while they’ve got a Champions League quarter-final against Tottenham to look forward to as well.

The Marseille striker has scored five goals in eight games at club level but the Azzurri boss feels he must make further improvements

Italy boss Roberto Mancini believes Mario Balotelli is still not at peak form as he prepares for the start of Italy’s Euro 2020 qualification campaign without the Marseille striker.

Mancini recalled Balotelli from a four-year international exile last May and has been a champion of the enigmatic forward throughout his career, coaching him at Inter before making him a big-money signing at Manchester City.

The 28-year-old drew a blank in Marseille’s 3-1 Classique defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday but has five goals in eight Ligue 1 games since joining Rudi Garcia’s side from Nice.

However, he failed to find the net in 10 matches for Nice earlier this season amid a breakdown in relations with head coach Patrick Vieira – a former team-mate during his younger days at City and Inter.

And Mancini thinks there is still work to do until he feels he can rely on his old protege.

“Mario is not yet in the best condition to play in the national team,” he told a news conference at Coverciano on Monday, where his squad gathered for the qualifiers against Finland and Liechtenstein.

“He has definitely improved but from him, we expect a lot. He starts to have some experience, he is at the peak of his maturation. It will take some time.”

Torino’s Andrea Belotti is another number nine to have missed out, with Mancini calling upon prolific Sampdoria veteran Fabio Quagliarella and Juventus teenager Moise Kean.

“[Belotti] is a player like the others who stayed at home. I think he can do better and play for the Azzurri again,” Mancini said.

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“He was with us at the beginning, now there are others. But he is improving and will be back.”

Kean caught the eye with an impressive brace in Juventus’ 4-1 win over Udinese this month and takes up the mantle of being a bright young hope in the Italy squad – one once held by Balotelli.

“At his age, he played in the national team, he made goals, he won a lot. Let’s hope [Kean] starts like Mario, that is to say very well,” Mancini added.

“But then go on. It is clear that Balotelli could have done much more, but he did a good career.

“He plays at a big club where they aim to win things and this helps a lot with a sportsperson’s development.”

Pep Guardiola’s side remain in contention to complete a clean sweep of trophies, with a man committed to a new contract loving the pursuit of prizes

Bernardo Silva is hoping to see Manchester City enjoy a “special” end to an ongoing quadruple bid, but concedes that it could be all or nothing for Pep Guardiola’s side from this point.

The Blues have already claimed the Carabao Cup in 2019, with that trophy being lifted in successive campaigns.

A defence of the Premier League title is progressing positively, as City sit two points behind Liverpool with a game in hand.

They are also preparing for an FA Cup semi-final showdown with Brighton and a Champions League quarter-final clash with Tottenham.

A clean sweep of major honours remains on the cards, with Silva determined to get his hands on as many prizes as possible.

The Portugal international said after helping City to edge out Swansea in the last-eight of the FA Cup: “All the players feel that this season can be special.

“Last season was special in the way we won the Premier League; this season can be special because we’ve already won one competition, we’re still playing for three. 

“We can win three or lose all of them as well, so it will be very tough, so yeah, we know that the last month-and-a-half will be very tough.

“It will be crucial, to make something special and to try to write an important page in the history of this club, and that’s what we’ll try to do.”

Silva added on a quest which will see City’s star-studded squad pushed to their limit: “There are no perfect teams, so we try to improve, we know that in some moments of the game we’re not as good as some teams, and we try to improve that.

“Obviously we cannot be perfect in all moments, but so far this season, to still be in the four competitions – three left, because one we’ve won already – it’s pretty good. It means we’ve been doing a pretty good job, but we still have to improve a few things and we’ll try to do it.”

Silva has been starring in City’s bid to land four pieces of silverware this season, delivering 10 goals and 11 assists across all competitions.

His efforts have been rewarded with a long-term contract extension and the 24-year-old admits he needed little persuading when it came to committing his future to the Blues.

“It was a special moment for me, I’m very happy to stay here, to sign a new deal with Man City, and to stay until 2025,” said Silva, who joined City from Monaco for €50 million (£43m/$57m) in the summer of 2017.

“To be honest it was quite easy to sign a new deal because I’ve been very happy to be here for the last season-and-a-half, a little bit more than that.

“It has been fantastic, I’ve been living the dream here, so it was a very easy decision.”

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The teenager is one of a number of young players to be given first-team opportunities in recent weeks

Manchester United youngster James Garner has signed a new long-term contract at Old Trafford.

The 18-year-old has put pen to paper on a deal through to the summer of 2022, with the option of a further year.

Garner made his senior debut as a late substitute against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park last month and has been included in a number of senior squads by Red Devils interim boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer over recent weeks.

He was part of the travelling United squad for last week’s memorable Champions League comeback victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the Parc des Princes, one of eight academy graduates to make the trip to Paris.

The midfielder joined the club at the age of eight and has progressed through the youth ranks.

He has already captained England at Under-17 level and has been called up to the England Under-18 squad for a tournament in Dubai later this month.

Solskjaer has shown a desire to give the club’s youngsters opportunities in the first-team since his appointment as interim manager in December.

Tahith Chong and Mason Greenwood have also been handed their senior debuts by the Norwegian in recent weeks, while the likes of Scott McTominay and Andreas Pereira have also been regularly involved.

That has proved a popular move with supporters, who believe part of the club’s identity involves the promotion of young players.

Solskjaer has turned the club’s fortunes since succeeding Jose Mourinho late last year, with many now calling for the former United striker to be given the managerial role full time.

The Red Devils were 11 points adrift of the top four when Solskjaer arrived but a run of 10 league wins and two draws under the Norwegian saw them climb above Arsenal into fourth place prior to last weekend’s trip to Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners won that game 2-0 to inflict Solskjaer’s first league defeat in charge, with his only other defeat coming in the first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

They have also progressed through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they face Wolves at Molineux on Saturday.

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The Barcelona defender has aired his surprise at seeing Clasico rivals lure a former coach to the Santiago Bernabeu less than a year after he left

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Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba has aired his shock at Zinedine Zidane’s return to Clasico rivals Real Madrid so soon after walking away from the club.

Zidane surprisingly stepped down as Madrid head coach after guiding the Spanish giants to a third consecutive Champions League title last season.

However, Zidane was re-appointed on Monday following Santiago Solari’s sacking after Madrid’s European rout at the hands of Ajax and with the team 12 points behind Barca in La Liga.

Asked about Zidane’s return after Barca crushed Lyon 5-1 to reach the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday, Alba was surprised.

“Real Madrid went out being the favourite in theory,” Alba told said in the mixed zone on Spanish radio.

“But Ajax were better in the two matches and deserved to beat them.

“I was surprised by the return of Zidane to Real Madrid. It’s not normal for a coach to return after nine months.”

While Zidane’s teams dominated in Europe, the 46-year-old head coach could only guide Madrid to one domestic title in his tenure.

Barcelona lifted the La Liga trophy three times in that period, an accomplishment which Alba believes Ernesto Valverde’s side are not given credit for.

“What Barcelona do is given little value in some parts of Spain,” he added.

“I don’t think that everybody fails to value us, but in a bad season you all know that they’d have given it to us from all sides.

“I think they don’t give us all the credit that is deserved. I’m not just talking about this year, but about all years.”

Alba should get plenty of opportunity in which to try and earn that respect as he recently committed to a new contract with Barca until 2024.

He said after penning that deal: “I have never seen myself outside of Barcelona, since I have been at Barca it’s my dream [to stay].

“As the years have passed I have kept growing and I notice the affection from the fans even more. I have always seen myself in Barcelona and my dream is to retire here.

“It’s obvious that my dream is to stay at Barcelona. It’s cost too much to get here to then have to leave.

“I have my family here, their support, the fans and my teammates. I don’t think I’d be happier anywhere else.”

Michael O’Neill’s side know that they will need to take maximum points from their opening qualifiers if they are to reach Euro 2020 next summer

With their ill-fated Nations League campaign behind them, Northern Ireland will hope to kick off a new international year in better form than they finished it as they host Estonia in the first of their European Championship qualfiiers.

Michael O’Neill’s side will be looking to for a first win in five at Windsor Park as they look to qualify for next year’s tournament following their round-of-16 finish in 2016.

They host a side who also endured a torrid time in the Nations League, led by Martin Reim, and with both sides set for clashes with Germany and Netherlands in Group C, they will be desperate to start off on the right foot.

With Belarus another opponent in this opening international break of 2019, O’Neill knows that anything less than maximum points would likely put their chances to an early bed.

Game	Northern Ireland vs Estonia
Date	Thursday, March 21
Time	7:45pm GMT / 3:45pm ET

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In the United States (US), the game will be broadcast on Univision Deportes En Vivo and can be livestreamed on the ESPN3 platform.

US TV channel	Online stream
Univision Deportes En Vivo	ESPN3

In the United Kingdom (UK), the game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event and can be livestreamed via the Sky Go app.

UK TV channel	Online stream
Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Football	Sky Go

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Position	Northern Ireland squad
Goalkeepers	McGovern, Peacock-Farrell, Hazard
Defenders	Hughes, McAuley, Jonny Evans, Cathcart, McLaughlin, McNair, Lewis, Flanagan, Ballard
Midfielders	Davis, McGinn, Corry Evans, Ferguson, Dallas, Saville, Jones, Whyte, Thompson
Forwards	Lafferty, Magennis, Washington, Boyce, Grigg, Smyth

There is no place in Michael O’Neill’s squad for veteran Oliver Norwood, who missed out on selection in November too.

Norwich City man Michael McGovern, meanwhile, will likely take back the number one jersey with Motherwell’s Trevor Carson absent and Bailey Peacock-Farrell restricted for game-time at Leeds United.

Potential Northern Ireland starting XI: McGovern, McLaughlin, Jonny Evans, McAuley, Dallas; Corry Evans, Davis, Saville; McGinn, Boyce, Grigg.

Position	Estonia squad
Goalkeepers	Aksalu, Lepmets, Meerits
Defenders	Kams, Pikk, Vihmann, Mets, Kallaste, Baranov, Teniste, Tamm, Kruglov, Kuusk
Midfielders	Kait, Lepistu, Vassiljev, Roosnupp, Dmitrijev
Forwards	Anier, Zenjov, Ojamaa, Sappinen, Liivak

Konstantin Vassiljev will likely lead in terms of international experience for Martin Reim’s side while Fulham midfielder Mattias Kait is in line to win his 17th cap.

There is no place for captain Ragnar Klavan however, with the Cagliari man missing out on the squad once again after sitting out November’s international break.

Potential Estonia starting XI: .Meerits; Teniste, Taam, Kuusk, Vihmann; Ojamaa, Vassiljev, Kait, Dmitrijev; Liivak, Anier.

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Northern Ireland are the odds-on favourites at 9/20 with bet365. Estonia are meanwhile at 8/1 while a draw is priced at 11/4.

Click here to see more offers for the game, including goalscoring markets, correct score predictions and more.

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It was something of a tough year for Northern Ireland in 2018 having missed out on a World Cup place, with Michael O’Neill’s side forced to watch Russia on from the sidelines.

Their subsequent relegation in the Nations League furthered their woes too, but now they will hope to put it all behind them as they prepare to mount another successful European Championship qualification campaign.

Making it into the knockout rounds three years ago in France was seen as a major achievement for the nation in the 21st century but O’Neill will have his work cut out taking his side through the minefield of Group C if he is to head back to the top table in 2020.

Former World Cup winners Germany, fresh from their own poor 2018, and Nations League finals favourites Netherlands are just two of the sides they will be forced to tangle with for the chance of a place in next year’s tournament.

First up however, they host Estonia at Windsor Park as they look to start off on the right foot.

O’Neill has already said that his side will have to take “maximum points” from their opening two games against Martin Reim’s side and next opponents Belarus, whom they host on Sunday.

He will however be able to call upon several experienced players, with captain Steven Davis and defender Aaron Hughes offering 219 caps between them alone.

In-form Norwich keeper Michael McGovern will likely provide an extra level of watertight cover behind the defence too.

Estonia meanwhile are outsiders to prevail – and with their experienced captain Ragnar Klavan not in their squad, they arguably face issues of leadership on the pitch too.

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A man who knows all about playing at the back for the Reds believes that a Netherlands international has become integral to the club’s ambition

Virgil van Dijk is “the most important player” at Liverpool, says Sami Hyypia, with the Dutchman integral to the club’s future ambition.

The Reds knew they were getting a talented centre-half when acquiring a Netherlands international.

Eyebrows were raised, though, when they invested a record-breaking £75 million ($99m) transfer fee in his skill set.

Those doubters have been silenced by a series of commanding performances which have made Van Dijk a talismanic presence at Anfield.

He is surrounded by quality in a star-studded squad, but the 27-year-old is considered to be the key man for Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League title-chasing side.

Former Reds defender Hyypia told Sky Sports: “Alisson came in the summer and we made some good signings in the midfield as well, but I think Virgil van Dijk is the most important player for the team.

“He makes the other players play better and he gives a lot of confidence to the others as well. He’s such a good player.”

Van Dijk’s efforts have helped to push Liverpool into contention for major honours this season.

They are through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, where they will face Porto, and back on top of the Premier League table.

Klopp’s men are only two points clear of Manchester City, who boast a game in hand, and Hyypia expects the battle for domestic dominance to go down to the wire.

He added: “It’s going to be an exciting end to the season.

“I don’t think City are going to drop many points and we can’t [afford to] drop many points either, so I think it’s going to go til the last game.

“That would be great to fight right until the end and I’m hoping we are going to do it this year.”

Liverpool are set to return to Premier League action on March 31 when they play host to top-four hopefuls Tottenham.

They are then due to take in a trip to Southampton before a two-legged continental clash with Porto sandwiches another crunch domestic date with Chelsea.

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