..::Football IV::..

Wolverine GTR

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    'Arsenal forgot how to win the Premier League' - Cech takes aim at Wenger style


    Petr Cech admits that Arsenal may have forgotten how to win the Premier League under Arsene Wenger, hinting that the veteran coach concentrated too much on style compared to results.Unai Emery took over from Wenger in the summer, and has attempted to start from scratch at the Emirates, though he has not enjoyed a perfect start.

    Indeed, the Gunners lost their opening two games of the season, to Manchester City and Chelsea, and did not keep a clean sheet until the weekend, when they beat Everton 2-0.

    Four straight wins has left Arsenal six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have enjoyed a perfect start to the season, but Cech is wary of the fact that the club have not won a league title since 2004.“For any club who wins titles in the recent years, you have a team with the knowhow how to finish it off - and you can see it in any sport," he told reporters.

    "Take Tiger Woods - it's 10 years since he won a Major tournament. The longer it goes on, the harder it becomes.“This club has not won the league for over 10 years so, obviously, you need to get back into knowing how to do it.

    "We started with the new manager from scratch, basically, and we try to get this mentality of winning every game, progressing every game, working every day and, hopefully, we can build this up and win the title sooner rather than later. That will make the big difference.“In the past I would say the Arsenal way was more important than getting the points sometimes and this is not how you win the league.

    “Sometimes you need to make sure you win an ugly game, when you are not playing well but you just dig deep, close the back door and win 1-0 no matter how. I think this is what we lacked. "Yesterday, we went through difficult moments but got the win with the clean sheet, so this is very positive.”

    The Gunners are next in action on Wednesday when they host Brentford in the Carabao Cup before taking on fourth-placed Watford on Saturday in the Premier League.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Modric defeats Ronaldo and Salah to be crowned FIFA's The Best of 2018

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    Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric has been named the Best Men’s Player at The Best FIFA Football Awards on Monday evening, fighting off competition from fellow nominees Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah.

    The award caps off an incredible year for Modric, who won his fourth Champions League title with Real Madrid in May, before leading his country to a World Cup final in July and being crowned UEFA Men’s Player of the Year last month.

    The Best Men’s Player of the Year award, formerly named the Fifa World Player of the Year, has long been dominated by both Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but Barcelona forward Messi failed to make the shortlist for this years award for the first time since 2006. Neither player was present in London on Monday.

    Modric’s other accolades from last season include him being awarded the Golden Ball for his performances during the 2017 Club World Cup, whilst the former Spurs man was also included in the Champions League team of the season for a third consecutive year and named the best midfielder in the competition for a second consecutive year.

    "This trophy is not just mine, it’s for all my Real Madrid team-mates, for all my team-mates from the Croatia national team, for all the coaches that I have played for," Modric stated upon receiving the award."Without them, this would not be possible and thank you a lot to them."This trophy is also for my family, without whom I would not be the player and person that I am. They are my ‘the best’.

    "At this particular moment, I would like to mention my footballing idol [Zvonimir Boban] and captain of Croatia generation 1998 and their first participation [at the World Cup finals as Croatia] and bronze in France.

    "He was my big inspiration and that team gave us belief that we could achieve something great in Russia. Hopefully we can be the same for next generations.
    "This award shows that we all can become the best with hard work, dedication and belief. All dreams can come true."

    Juventus forward Ronaldo had won the two previous Best FIFA awards before this year, but was beaten to this year's crown by his former Real Madrid team-mate and also missed out of the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award to Modric last month.

    Modric’s other accolades from last season include him being awarded the Golden Ball for his performances during the 2017 Club World Cup, whilst the former Spurs man was also included in the Champions League team of the season for a third consecutive year and named the best midfielder in the competition for a second consecutive year.

    "This trophy is not just mine, it’s for all my Real Madrid team-mates, for all my team-mates from the Croatia national team, for all the coaches that I have played for," Modric stated upon receiving the award."Without them, this would not be possible and thank you a lot to them."This trophy is also for my family, without whom I would not be the player and person that I am. They are my ‘the best’.

    "At this particular moment, I would like to mention my footballing idol [Zvonimir Boban] and captain of Croatia generation 1998 and their first participation [at the World Cup finals as Croatia] and bronze in France.

    "He was my big inspiration and that team gave us belief that we could achieve something great in Russia. Hopefully we can be the same for next generations."This award shows that we all can become the best with hard work, dedication and belief. All dreams can come true."

    Juventus forward Ronaldo had won the two previous Best FIFA awards before this year, but was beaten to this year's crown by his former Real Madrid team-mate and also missed out of the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year award to Modric last month.

    The Portugal star was nominated after playing a vital part in a third successive Champions League title for Real Madrid last season. He was top scorer in the competition with 15 goals and netted 44 goals altogether for Los Blancos in 2017-18, before moving to Juventus in a deal worth a reported €100 million (£90m/$118m).

    "First of all I would like to give congratulations to Mohamed [Salah] and Cristiano [Ronaldo] for the seasons they have had, and I'm sure that in the future you will have another opportunity to win this trophy," Modric said of the two fellow nominees.

    Liverpool star Salah was nominated after a remarkable year that saw him score 44 goals in 52 games in his debut season with the Reds, after arriving from Roma in June 2017.

    The Egyptian icon came up against both Modric and Ronaldo in last seasons Champions League final but was forced off early after suffering a shoulder injury in a coming together with Sergio Ramos. He recovered in time to represent his country at the World Cup in Russia, but was unable to guide them past the group stages.

    Salah was rewarded at Monday's ceremony with the Puskas Award for best goal of the past year.France coach Didier Deschamps was crowned Men's Coach of the Year, while football legends lined up to criticise Messi and Ronaldo for their notable snub of the FIFA event.

    Five-time FIFA World Player of the Year winner Marta (pictured, top) won the Best Women's player award, having been runner-up last year.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Deschamps edges Zidane and Dalic to win Best Men's Coach award

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    Didier Deschamps has won the FIFA Best Men's Coach award after leading France to World Cup glory.

    Deschamps was included on a three-man shortlist and saw off competition from former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and the coach of beaten World Cup finalists Croatia, Zlatko Dalic.

    France entered the tournament as one of the favorites, although Deschamps was criticised in the build-up to Russia 2018 for his perceived negative tactics after a sluggish group stage performance.

    Les Bleus proceeded to win a 4-3 thriller against Lionel Messi and Argentina before toppling an Edinson Cavani-less Uruguay in the quarter-finals.After edging Belgium out through a Samuel Umtiti goal to book a spot in the tournament finale, France saw off Croatia to become champions.Their victory came on the heels of Euro 2016 disappointment as the hosts fell to Portugal in the final despite Cristiano Ronaldo's injury.This summer's trophy was Deschamps' second World Cup after previously winning the trophy in 1998.

    He inherits the award from 2017 winner Zidane, his former French teammate, who left Real Madrid after guiding them to a third consecutive Champions League title in May.

    Zidane had finished second the prior year, as Claudio Ranieri won the award for Leicester City's shocking Premier League title run.Dalic, meanwhile, was included on the shortlist after leading Croatia past Denmark and Russia on penalties and England in regular time before falling to Deschamps' France in the final.

    The honor is Deschamps' second ever individual coaching award as the Frenchman was previously recognised as Ligue 1 Coach of the Year in 2004 whilst in charge of Monaco.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Puskas Award 2018: Mohamed Salah beats Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale for best goal

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    Mohamed Salah has beaten Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo to the 2018 Puskas Award with his strike against Everton last December.

    The FIFA accolade for the Liverpool star came as a surprise to many, with Gareth Bale heavily tipped to win the prize following his acrobatic overhead kick that gave Real Madrid the lead in last season's Champions League final.

    The Egyptian also had strong competition from Cristiano Ronaldo for his impressive finish against current club Juventus in April, a goal that was awarded UEFA goal of the season.

    In total, there were 10 goals nominated for the award, but Salah’s strike in the Merseyside derby was announced as the winner at a ceremony in London on Monday evening.

    The goal saw Salah shrug off two players on the right-hand side of the penalty area before curling in a beautiful effort into the top corner of the net from an improbable angle to give Liverpool a 1-0 lead in their Premier League tie against Everton last year. The match eventually ended 1-1 with Wayne Rooney equalising from the penalty spot after a controversial decision from referee Craig Pawson.

    It was a remarkable debut campaign at Anfield for Salah, who arrived from Roma in June 2017. The 26-year-old netted 44 goals in all competitions for Liverpool last season and was also nominated for the FIFA Best Men’s Player of 2018 award.

    The other goals nominated for this year's Puskas award included Benjamin Pavard’s thumping effort in France’s World Cup last 16 clash against Argentina, a strike which went on to be chosen as goal of the tournament.World Cup strikes from Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma and Russia’s Denis Cheryshev were also nominated.

    Salah lost out in FIFA's The Best Men's Player of 2018 award to Real Madrid and Croatia midfielder Luka Modric, with Ronaldo also finishing behind his former club team-mate.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    'Ronaldo & Messi The Best snub is disrespectful' - Football legends line up to slate duo's FIFA award absence


    Fabio Capello, Diego Forlan and Davor Suker were among the football legends to criticise Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for skipping out on Monday's FIFA's The Best Awards.

    Messi and Ronaldo were not in attendance in London with the Portuguese star skipping out despite being nominated for the Best FIFA Men's Player award alongside Luka Modric and Mohamed Salah.

    Ronaldo has won each of the last two iterations of the award while earning honors twice when the award was the FIFA Ballon d'Or and one further honour as FIFA World Player of the Year.

    Messi, meanwhile, claimed four Ballons d'Or as well as one FIFA World Player of the Year honour."The absence of Ronaldo and Messi? It is a lack of respect, for the players, for FIFA and for the world of football," Capello told TVE ahead of the ceremony. "It is possible that they won too much and do not like to lose. In life you have to be good when you win and when you lose."

    Former Uruguay and Manchester United forward Diego Forlan was also critical, citing what he sees as a lack of respect for the event and their status as role models."It's a pity. Messi attended the gala last year and he didn't win," said Forlan. "It's a pity if it happens the same with Ronaldo than in the UEFA gala.

    "It's an event of every player and it's important to be here. No matter who wins. A player has to show with his attitude and actions, because they are a model for the world".

    Suker, who finished behind Zinedine Zidane and Brazilian star Ronaldo in the 1998 FIFA World Player of the Year voting, also called the duo our for a lack of sportsmanship."You have to be a gentleman when you win, but also when you lose," said the former Croatian star.

    Suker's Croatian compatriot Luka Modric went on to win the award, ending Messi and Ronaldo's 10-year run of winning FIFA's top individual prize.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    :('I would have liked them to be here' - Modric wanted Ronaldo, Messi at awards ceremony


    Luka Modric said he would have liked Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi present to see him win the FIFA Best Men's Player award.

    The Real Madrid and Croatia star took the prize ahead of Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah in London, but the Juventus forward and Messi skipped Monday's awards ceremony.Modric, who helped Madrid win the Champions League before leading Croatia to the World Cup final, said he wanted the duo at the event.

    "Everyone has their own reasons," he said."Obviously, I would have liked them to be here but they aren't."

    Asked if he had spoken to his former Madrid team-mate Ronaldo, UEFA Men's Player of the Year Modric said: "No.""He sent me a message the day of the UEFA prize but nothing yet," he added. "I don't have my phone with me now so maybe he has [sent a message]."

    Ronaldo, the winner of the award the previous two years, finished second to Modric and did vote for his former team-mate as the second-place choice on his ballot behind Raphael Varane and ahead of Antoine Griezmann.
    The 33-year-old Modric had no interest in discussing whether he deserved the honour."I don't want to enter into the debate of whether it is deserved or not," he said."I just want to thank all the people that voted for me for their support and continue as I have until now."
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Modric deserved FIFA Best award – Ramos


    Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos hailed Luka Modric, saying the midfielder deserved the FIFA Best Men's Player award.After helping Madrid to the Champions League title and leading Croatia to the World Cup final, Modric claimed the prize ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mohamed Salah on Monday.

    As Spain captain, Ramos had a vote for the award and went with Modric as his choice, followed by their ex team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi third.

    Following Modric's win, Ramos said the 33-year-old midfielder, who has starred since arriving at Madrid in 2012, was a worthy winner of the award."I am as happy as if I had won it," the defender said."He deserves it, he is an excellent player and has marked an important era in the history of Real Madrid."However, Ronaldo and Barcelona star Lionel Messi drew criticism after skipping the awards ceremony on Monday.

    Messi was not in the top three for Best Player, while Ronaldo was, though both were named to the FIFPro World XI.Modric himself voiced disappointment the pair were not present and Ramos joined the chorus of those who believed the superstar duo should have been in attendance.

    "It would have been good for Cris and Leo to be here," he said.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Messi ruled out of Argentina's upcoming matches


    Argentina interim coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed Lionel Messi would miss his nation's friendlies next month, casting further doubt over the star's international future.Messi, 31, missed Argentina's matches against Guatemala and Colombia earlier this month and has now been ruled out of their friendlies in October.

    Argentina are heading to Saudi Arabia to face Iraq on October 11 and Brazil five days later, but Messi will play no part.

    "I talked to him and we still think that the best thing is that he doesn't come, that he's not in," Scaloni told Fox Sports on Monday."We are in a different stage and these guys have to keep putting on the shirt of the national team and see what they show, which is the most important thing."

    Messi last played for Argentina at the World Cup in Russia, where they made a last-16 exit to eventual champions France.
    He has scored a record 65 goals in 128 matches for his nation, and briefly retired from Argentina duty in 2016.The Barcelona attacker recently came under fire for failing to attend the FIFA best player awards ceremony along with Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Men's best player winner Luka Modric admitted he would have liked both Messi and Ronaldo to have been present.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Carabao Cup Fixtures 2018.09.25

    Carabao Cup Fixtures 2018.09.25


    Blackpool Vs QPR

    Bournemouth Vs Blackburn

    Burton Vs Burnley

    Millwall Vs Fulham

    Oxford Vs Manchester City

    Preston Vs Middlesbrough

    Wolves Vs Leicester City

    Wycombe Vs Norwich City

    Manchester United Vs Derby County

    WBA Vs Crystal Palace
     

    RottenCOLT

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    Carabao Cup Fixtures 2018.09.25


    Blackpool Vs QPR

    Bournemouth Vs Blackburn

    Burton Vs Burnley

    Millwall Vs Fulham

    Oxford Vs Manchester City

    Preston Vs Middlesbrough

    Wolves Vs Leicester City

    Wycombe Vs Norwich City

    Manchester United Vs Derby County

    WBA Vs Crystal Palace
    tv eke yanne naha naha neda mekath :D
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Manchester United 2 Derby County 2 (Derby win 8-7 on pens): Lampard heaps pressure on Mourinho

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    Derby County increased the pressure on Jose Mourinho as Scott Carson denied Phil Jones to secure a shock 8-7 penalty shoot-out win over 10-man Manchester United after a dramatic 2-2 draw at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup.

    Marouane Fellaini's stoppage-time equaliser gave United – who had Sergio Romero sent off – a second bite, but after 15 successful penalties between the two sides, Jones saw his feeble effort saved by Carson.

    The hosts wasted little time before taking the lead in the regulation 90 minutes, as Juan Mata rounded off a lovely early move, but Derby looked capable of troubling United and deservedly levelled early in the second half through Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson's stunning free-kick.


    Things got more difficult for United when Romero was dismissed for handball outside his area and Derby capitalised through Jack Marriott, but Fellaini forced a shootout with a last-gasp equaliser.United were unable to bail themselves out again, however, as Derby scored all of their spot-kicks and edged through when Jones failed from 12 yards.

    United went ahead after just three minutes, doing so in style.Anthony Martial's pass across the edge of the area was backheeled to Jesse Lingard by Romelu Lukaku, and the England midfielder found Mata, who finished with aplomb.Derby stepped things up after the break and Wilson – who had previously gone close to an equaliser – found the net brilliantly in the 59th minute, picking out the top-left corner with a 30-yard free kick.

    The 21-year-old then played a role in Romero's sending off, as the goalkeeper handled when trying to prevent Wilson getting past him.Derby thought they had won it five minutes from time when Marriott nodded in from close range, but Fellaini headed a deflected cross beyond Carson deep into stoppage time.

    The quality in the shootout was high, with all of the first 15 penalties beating Lee Grant – Romero's replacement – and Carson, but the latter dived down to his left to foil Jones and book Derby's passage into round four.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Atletico Madrid 3 Huesca 0: Rojiblancos cruise ahead of Madrid derby

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    Antoine Griezmann started the rout as Atletico Madrid prepared for the upcoming derby against Real Madrid with an emphatic 3-0 LaLiga win over Huesca on Tuesday.

    In their first top-flight meeting with the visitors, Diego Simeone's side ran riot in the space of 17 first-half minutes to put the result beyond all doubt.Griezmann opened the scoring in the 16th minute when he tucked in Diego Costa's cut-back, Thomas Partey then getting in on the act with a sublime long-range finish.

    Koke's VAR-awarded third piled further misery on Huesca soon after, as Atleti warmed up for Saturday's Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu in emphatic fashion.
    Atleti did not have to wait long to take the lead, Costa racing clear of Huesca's defence before selflessly squaring to Griezmann for a simple finish.

    Huesca's resolve would be broken again just before the half-hour - Partey arrowing a strike into the bottom-left corner from 25 yards.And Atleti were celebrating a third four minutes later - Koke's pass, intended for Angel Correa, leaving keeper Axel Werner flat-footed - and although the goal was initially disallowed for offside, VAR rightly overturned the referee's decision.

    Jose Gimenez's calf injury dealt Atleti a blow shortly before half-time, Simeone wasting no time in taking the Uruguayan off, but the cushion did allow the manager to rest his key men with an eye on the derby as both Griezmann and Costa made way early in the second half.

    Substitute Juan Aguilera almost restored some pride for Huesca with a close-range flick late on, but Jan Oblak pulled off a fine save to maintain Atleti's clean sheet.
     

    Wolverine GTR

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    Inter 2 Fiorentina 1: D'Ambrosio maintains Nerazzurri revival

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    Inter's recent revival continued as Danilo D'Ambrosio's late goal secured a 2-1 win over Fiorentina at the San Siro on Tuesday.Last-gasp wins against Tottenham in the Champions League and Sampdoria in Serie A in the past week had injected life into the Nerazzurri's stuttering start to the season and another three points will further ease the pressure on Luciano Spalletti.

    Inter's cause was aided significantly on the stroke of half-time when referee Paolo Silvio Mazzoleni punished Vitor Hugo for handball inside the penalty area after a VAR review, Mauro Icardi opening his league account for the season from the resulting spot-kick.


    The Viola thought they had secured a share of the spoils after 52 minutes when Federico Chiesa's long-range drive took a huge deflection off Milan Skriniar to wrong-foot Samir Handanovic, but D'Ambrosio had other ideas.Fiorentina started confidently and saw an early Kevin Mirallas effort crash back off the base of the post.

    Inter then belatedly woke from their slumber and carved out a hat-trick of superb chances. Antonio Candreva's powerful volley arrowed just over the crossbar, Icardi fired straight at Alban Lafont after a sweeping counter-attack and Ivan Perisic whipped a first-time effort agonisingly past the far post.

    At the other end, Giovanni Simeone hit his effort straight at Handanovic after being played in by Chiesa before Inter took a fortuitous lead on the stroke half-time through Icardi's contentious spot-kick.

    Clearly aggrieved by the decision, the visitors started the second half brightly and were rewarded when Chiesa's drive was diverted in by the unlucky Skriniar.Inter scarcely looked like finding a winner during a tepid second half, but D'Ambrosio burst forward to collect Icardi's pass and stroke past Lafont in the 77th minute to secure maximum points.