..::Football III::..

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Mata: I hope Hernandez stays at Manchester United

Juan Mata has urged Louis van Gaal to ensure Javier Hernandez remains at Manchester United this summer amid growing uncertainty over the Mexican’s future at the club.

The 27-year-old spent last season on loan at Real Madrid, though struggled to force his way into Carlo Ancelotti’s starting XI, and has been heavily linked with a permanent departure from Old Trafford.

Goal understands Hernandez will seek clear the air talks with his United bosses once he returns to pre-season training and would ideally like his future clarified before they jet off on their tour of the United States.

Team-mate Mata, though, hopes Hernandez will decide to stay and fight for his place with the Red Devils and hailed his natural goalscoring instincts.

“Chicharito still belongs to Manchester United and selfishly I'd like him to be with us,” Mata told reporters while on a trip to Mexico.

“He has scored goals in every team he has played in and is a very smart striker.

“Chicharito is a great friend. When I arrived to Manchester he behaved great with me. He is a great person and a great professional. I've been lucky enough to share a dressing room with Chicharito, whom I admire.”

Hernandez scored seven times in 23 La Liga appearances with Madrid last season, though only started seven of those games, and also netted once in the Champions League.

 

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Pekerman: Argentina were just too good for Colombia

Jose Pekerman has conceded his Colombia team were second best as they were eliminated from the Copa America by Argentina on Friday.Carlos Tevez struck the winning penalty to clinch the Albiceleste’s 5-4 shoot-out win after a 0-0 draw over 90 minutes.

But while the Colombia coach praised his side for hanging on despite Argentina’s dominance of possession and territory, he was quick to admit afterwards that Los Cafeteros were beaten by the better side.

“Argentina played a great game and we had many difficulties in the first half,” the 65-year-old told a post-match press conference.“We lost the ball a lot, we tried to use some width but failed, and we tried to put things right early on but just couldn’t get up with the pace of the game.

“We improved in the second half and created some chances, but Argentina were much better. We have to take the result on the chin, but we deeply regret going out of the competition.

“This is a very tough group who always fight. The players prepared well and strove to be fit, but today we just came up against a team of great strength who were not going to let us off the hook.”

Pékerman’s side head home having beaten only Brazil in four matches at the tournament, but he insists they gave it a decent fight and will be better for it in the longer term.

“It was a good experience for Colombia,” he added. “We are a growing team with lots of good parts to our game, but we thank all those who always believed in us and we must keep working to improve.”

 

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Messi: Colombia win Argentina’s best Copa America performance

Lionel Messi has hailed Argentina’s victory over Colombia as their best performance of the Copa America so far.

The Albiceleste dominated from the outset in Vina del Mar on Saturday but were unable to find a breakthrough and ultimately triumphed on penalties after the game ended goalless after 90 minutes.

And captain Messi was delighted with his team’s showing, but admitted they were lucky to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament in Chile.“We played our best match of the Copa America,” Messi told TVP.

“We create a lot of chances… Unfortunately we were able to get a goal and we were eventually lucky to win on penalties.”Carlos Tevez hit the winning kick to book a place in the last four, where they will come up against either Brazil or Paraguay.

Messi, who was named man of the match, has hit just one goal in the tournament, scoring from the penalty spot in Argentina’s opening match against Paraguay which ended in a 2-2 draw.

“We were the superior side. We played the game we wanted to play and kept going until the last minute against a very strong team,” added Messi’s Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano.

“What do we have to do now is to repeat that performance. The team took a big step forward. We had to suffer until the end, but we deserved the victory."

 

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Coutinho relishing Firmino link-up at Liverpool

Philippe Coutinho believes Brazil team-mate Roberto Firmino will be a a big success alongside him at Liverpool next season.

Firmino completed a move to Anfield in a deal rising to £28 million on Wednesday after an impressive season with Hoffenheim that saw him notch seven goals and 10 assists in 33 Bundesliga appearances.

And Coutinho - who is currently playing alongside Firmino for Brazil at the Copa America - is confident his countryman will light up the Premier League.

"I think it is great news," he told Liverpool's official website. "Firmino is a great player and obviously I know him from the Brazilian national team. He is a great character and person.

"He is strong physically, he is fast, agile, very skilful on the ball and he scores a lot of goals - he is a great forward. I am sure he will be of great help to us next season.

"After hearing the news, I said to him 'welcome to Liverpool' and I have told him that he will be coming into a club that is like a family - I made sure to tell him that. I have also wished him a great and very successful first season at Liverpool.

"I'm very much looking forward to playing and starting the new season alongside Firmino at Liverpool. I am looking forward to not only playing for Liverpool again, but trying to help us get into a position to win trophies.

"As I said, I am very happy he has signed for Liverpool - but not only him, all of the other signings we've made recently as well. I'm sure all of these new players are coming in to make our team even stronger for the new season.

"I can't wait to start the Premier League season. I am very hopeful things will go well for us on the pitch this season."

 

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Vlaar: I don't know where I'll be next season

Ron Vlaar insists he is yet to decide whether he will sign a new contract at Aston Villa or look for a move elsewhere this summer.

The Netherlands international becomes a free agent on July 1 and is believed to be the subject of interest from a host of other Premier League clubs as he weighs up his options, with Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal said to be a long-time admirer.

Vlaar is adamant he has made no final decisions on his future, though he hints that he would like to remain in the Premier League.

"I don’t know it where my future lies," he told reporters. "Even if I knew, I would not be able to tell you. But, the truth is that there is nothing going on right now. No idea about renewing with Aston Villa, but the truth is that nothing is confirmed.

"The Premier League is a great competition and a great league. I think it’s the toughest league in the world. I don’t know if it is the best as I only know the Dutch and the English leagues.

"But there are a lot of challenges there for every player. It’s great to play in the league. It made me a better player and it has certainly been good for me."

Vlaar was also effusive in his praise for Van Gaal, under whose guidance he helped the Netherlands reach the semi-finals of the World Cup in Brazil last summer.

"He’s a tactically strong manager and really passionate," the 30-year-old added. "He demands everything from us but also from himself. It’s 100 per cent every day, but it’s also in a really good way.

"If you want to achieve anything you have to be dedicated, disciplined, everything. The results help with the confidence but it’s a whole package."

 

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Cannavaro: I dream of coaching Napoli or Italy

Fabio Cannavaro says it is "a dream" of his to coach Napoli and the Italy national team at some point in his career.

The World Cup-winning former defender broke through the Napoli youth system and spent three years in the first team before going on to enjoy a prosperous career at the likes of Parma, Juventus, Inter and Real Madrid.

Cannavaro experienced his first spell as a head coach in China, taking over Guangzhou Evergrande in November 2014 but was replaced at the helm of the club by Luiz Felipe Scolari in June.

However, the 41-year-old is looking to continue his career and hopes to take over at the helm at Napoli one day."Sure it's a dream to coach Napoli as well as the national team," he told Corriere dello Sport . "You always have to dream big and think big.

"I will think about some offers and in the meantime I will keep developing as a coach. I will go to England, and maybe even see Maurizio Sarri at Napoli or Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus.

"Beyond studying, though, I think a coach should mainly have knowledge of football: if you do not know what to say to the players then you are not going anywhere."

 

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Ben Affleck to produce Fifa corruption film

Ben Affleck is set to produce a film about the Fifa corruption scandal, according to reports.

A deal has been struck to bring upcoming book "House of Deceit" by Ken Bensinger, about the latest scandal that has rocked world football's governing body.

The book and film are said to be centred around Chuck Blazer, the former executive committee member who became an FBI informant, supplying them with information which helped lead to the indictment of 14 people for racketeering, fraud and money laundering.

The Batman actor is set to team up with friend and star of the Bourne series Matt Damon in producing the film, while Gavin O’Connor is expected to direct and Anthony Tambakis is to write the script.

Blazer began co-operating with the FBI in 2011 and is said to have recorded conversations with Fifa colleagues before admitting to charges of tax evasion, money laundering and bribery.

Bensinger announced on Thursday that he will begin writing his book about Fifa corruption, with reports stating it will be released in 2017.

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Real Madrid before Bale - Toshack

Cristiano Ronaldo will leave Real Madrid before Gareth Bale does, according to former coach John Toshack.

The Wales international enjoyed a bright debut season in the Spanish capital following his €100 million move from Tottenham, but his 2014-15 campaign was less impressive and he became the subject of criticism from fans and pundits.

The 25-year-old has already been linked to a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu, with Manchester United said to be interested in him, but Toshack believes he will remain in the Spanish capital for years to come."My own opinion is that we will probably see, for one reason or another, Cristiano move from Madrid before Gareth," he told BBC Sport.

"You need time to adapt and obviously, for the money they paid for Bale and at the age that he is, he's still got a lot to do."Toshack, a former Madrid coach, who gave Bale his debut for the national team, believes the attacker has not been played in his best position so far in Spain.

"I hope Gareth will get the opportunity to play in an area of the field where he can do most damage."I'm not so sure playing out wide is Gareth's best position, but I think Cristiano has got a bit do with that.

"Ronaldo was always a right winger, but likes to play on the left side and I think Gareth suffers a bit for that."Rafael Benitez has taken over as Madrid boss this season following the sacking of Carlo Ancelotti and Toshack is confident the Spaniard will be a success.

"Rafa's got all the credentials," he said. "There's no question about that."Rafa was at Madrid at the time I was there, working with the junior sides.

"Everyday the newspapers say 'Rafa's going to do this and Rafa's going to do that', but we just have to wait and see."

 

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Alexis Sanchez sings One Direction song in karaoke

Terrorising defenders by day, karaoke singer by night, Alexis Sanchez has it all.

The attacker has been winding down ahead of Chile's semi-final encounter with Peru in the Copa America on Tuesday by belting out one of his favourite numbers on stage.

But did the Arsenal forward do One Direction's 'More than This' justice?

 

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Fiorentina have made insane Salah offer - Guerini

Fiorentina have made an "insane" offer for Mohamed Salah, according to general manager Vincenzo Guerini.The Egypt international joined the Viola in January on loan as part of the deal which saw Juan Cuadrado join Chelsea.

The Serie A side have an option to extend the loan for another year, although the 23-year-old has to agree to it too. However, Fiorentina also have the option to buy him.

Guerini confirmed that the club have made the winger an offer, who scored six goals in 16 league appearances in Italy, and is sure that the player will accept it.
“I can tell the fans that the club made an insane offer to Salah," he said.

“If any player, not just Salah, turned down a proposal like that, then it’s best he doesn’t stay at Fiorentina. However, I think Salah will accept.“He made a huge impact with us, so it’s normal that other offers are coming in. He wants to earn more, but Fiorentina made a truly important proposal.

"It really would be a pity to lose him. He was happy with us last season. He was always smiling and was never late. So I am confident he will stay."

Fiorentina unexpectedly sacked coach Vincenzo Montella after a breakdown between him and the board, and Guerini says things did not end the way he wanted them to.

"I'm sorry that it all ended so badly. It was a wonderful story and it left a bad taste in the mouth of everyone".

 

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Demba Ba joins Shanghai Shenhua

Demba Ba has completed a move to Shanghai Shenhua, the Chinese club have announced.

The Senegal international has agreed to join the club after they settled on an undisclosed fee with Turkish side Besiktas.

The striker is set to arrive in China on Saturday and have a medical before officialising his transfer.

The former Chelsea frontman scored 18 goals in 29 league appearances for Besiktas and was contracted to the club until 2018, having joined last summer.

Ba's signing comes just a few days after former Paris Saint-Germain attacker Mohamed Sissoko joined the Chinese Super League side.

 

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Lord Bendtner catches an alligator

When one thinks of ‘Lord’ Nicklas Bendtner one might think of stately regalia, vast grounds at the back of a huge mansion and glaring misses in the red of Arsenal.

But Bendtner, fresh from joking that he is to run as Prime Minister of Denmark, has recently turned his hand to alligator rearing.

Just two days after Robin van Persie caught his own shark, Bendtner attempted to go one better than the Dutchman by nabbing his own alligator on Saturday.

The Dane has been holidaying with friends in recent days, ahead of returning to pre-season training with Wolfsburg before the 2015-16 season.

 

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Bendtner meh dawas wala godak populer neh​

 

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Agent: Bacca has agreed Milan terms

Sevilla star Carlos Bacca is set to join AC Milan after his agent claimed the striker has agreed personal terms with the club.The Colombia international has has scored 34 La Liga goals in the past two seasons and helped fire the club to back-to-back Europa League honours.

Bacca has subsequently been linked with Premier League sides Liverpool and Manchester United but is now closing in on a move to Milan.

"I can confirm that Milan and the player have reached an agreement," Bacca's representative, Sergio Barila, told Milan News.

"Carlos has chosen the best for his future, it is normal to be happy. "The agreement is for how many years? You are best asking the Rossoneri."

Milan were also linked with a move for Bacca's Colombia team-mate Jackson Martinez, but the Porto striker is poised to join Atletico Madrid instead.

 

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Jara to be punished over Cavani spat

Copa America organisers CONMEBOL have opened disciplinary proceedings against Chile's Gonzalo Jara following an incident in the 1-0 quarter-final win over Uruguay.

The defender was involved in a clash with Edinson Cavani that appeared to provoke the Uruguay striker, whose subsequent reaction was punished with a second yellow card.Having already been booked, Cavani was punished for raising his hand to Jara's face, with the latter falling to ground theatrically.

Television replays then revealed the provocation that had sparked Cavani's reaction, with Jara appearing to prod the Paris Saint-Germain forward in the backside with a finger.

The CONMEBOL Disciplinary Tribunal opened proceedings against the Chilean on Saturday, and it is expected that a decision on any potential punishment will be made before Chile's semi-final with Peru on Monday.The disciplinary tribunal has also received a complaint from the Chile Football Association (ANFP) against several members of the Uruguay team following the match, with that case set to be examined once the Copa is concluded.

According to the Fifa disciplinary code, any suspensions that surpass the duration of the Copa will carry over to the qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup.

Jara's German club, Mainz, have already suggested they are prepared to part company with the player following his actions.Speaking to Bild on Friday, Mainz sports director Christian Heidel said: "He knows that if an offer comes, he can go.

"We do not tolerate that. More than the prod, however, it is what comes afterwards that makes me angry. I hate theatrics more than anything."

 

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Brazil 1-1 Paraguay (3-4 on pens): Selecao dumped out of Copa America


Brazil have been dumped out of the Copa America quarter-finals 4-3 on penalties by Paraguay after a 1-1 draw took the game to a shoot-out.

Robinho put Brazil ahead after 15 minutes, but Derlis Gonzalez's penalty midway through the second half ensured normal time finished 1-1 and took the game to penalties.

Everton Ribeiro and Douglas Costa both missed from the spot as the Selecao suffered a repeat of their shoot-out loss to the same nation at the same stage four years ago.

Both sides deployed 4-2-2-2 formations from the outset, but Brazil settled into their rhythm the quickest.It took less than two minutes for Dunga's men to register a shot on target as Coutinho's effort from range forced goalkeeper Villar to tip the ball over his crossbar.

Edgar Benitez was proving to be a thorn in Brazil's side down Paraguay's left flank early on, but it was the Brazilians who took the lead in the 15th minute.

In the middle of the park, Elias - who had received the ball from Robinho - played a pass wide right for Dani Alves, whose probing cross eventually fell back to an unmarked Robinho, who had a straightforward tap-in.Coutinho was giving Paraguay all sorts of problems on the left wing but he almost produced a magical moment just prior to the half-hour mark on the right byline.

With Bruno Valdez trying to shepherd the ball out for a goal-kick, Coutinho somehow kept it in and played a ball back across goal - only for the linesman to adjudge the ball had crossed the line.

Paraguay had their moments leading up to half-time, with Roque Santa Cruz trying his luck from range and a Benitez corner causing the Brazil defence problems.Benitez continued to push Brazil on the left side, with Dani Alves yellow-carded for a foul on him five minutes after the interval.

Paraguay's push to get back into the match saw Paulo da Silva power a header at Brazil goalkeeper Jefferson, who parried it clear in the 62nd minute - but Diaz's men were level with 18 minutes to play via Gonzalez.

Both goalkeepers were called upon in the final stages - Gonzalez firing an acute-angle strike at Jefferson, before Coutinho's dipping shot made Villar work.

But neither could create a decisive second goal, as a shootout ensued - and Brazil suffered penalty heartbreak again, meaning Paraguay face Argentina in the semi-finals.

 

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Brazil knockout wela neh​

 

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Neymar will be the best in the world - Forlan

Diego Forlan says he fully expects Neymar to become the best player in the world.
The Brazil star won the treble with Barcelona this season but suffered a setback at international level after he was red carded during the Selecao's Copa America group stage clash with Colombia.

He was subsequently handed a four-match ban, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament, but Forlan believes he remains on track to reach the same level as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The former Uruguay striker said: "Neymar is one of the best strikers in the world, playing in football’s best club team. He scores goals, he makes assists, he gets past players, he produces magic when he gets the ball.

"I could continue to compliment him because Neymar has lived up to the hype. Other Brazilians who’ve gone to Europe haven’t always settled so quickly. Neymar has.

"He knows he’s playing alongside the best in the world. He looks at Messi as someone he can learn from. Neymar is still a level below Messi and Ronaldo and those two are likely to remain the world’s best for a few more years, but he’s also nearly five years younger than Messi and seven younger than Ronaldo."He’s going to get better and I suspect he’ll be the best in the world in a few years."

However, Forlan advised the 23-year-old to retain his discipline in light of events at the Copa America: "Neymar lost the temper which has brought him success to match his talent after the Colombia game.

"That’s one of the small areas in which he can improve if he wants to be Brazil’s first Ballon d’Or winner since Kaka eight years ago."

 

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De Gea can win more medals than me at Manchester United, says Schmeichel

Peter Schmeichel believes David De Gea can win more medals than him if he chooses to stay at Manchester United this summer, amid interest from Real Madrid.

Schmeichel won 15 trophies at Old Trafford during a glittering eight-year stay at the club, including five Premier Leagues and the Champions League.

De Gea has emerged as one of the finest goalkeepers in world football over the last two seasons and has attracted interest from the Spanish giants, but United's former keeper has urged him to stay at Old Trafford.

“I would be upset if he left this summer because I’m certain he could go on to make multiple hundreds of appearances for United — and end up winning more medals than me,” he is quoted as saying by The Sun.

“There is no reason I can see why he wouldn’t be successful if he stayed for the rest of his career.”

Schmeichel also believes that Louis van Gaal should bow to any contractual demands that De Gea makes, such is his irrefutable importance to the club.

“Whatever David would want in a new contract, if I were Van Gaal, I would fight tooth and nail to keep him happy in Manchester,” he added.

“Let’s face it, the number of games where David saved United three points or one point is the reason why they were fourth in the table. He has just been unbelievable.

“He is by a long way over the last two seasons United’s best performer.