..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Neymar: I don't care about the Golden Boot

Brazil star Neymar says he is not concerned about winning the Golden Boot at the World Cup and is only interested in winning the tournament.

The 22-year-old has been one of the stars of the tournament, scoring four goals in the three group stage games, meaning he sits just one behind current top scorer James Rodriguez.

But Neymar says he has no interest in taking the competition's individual accolades.

"I don't want to be the best player; I don't want to be the top scorer," he told Times of India. "All I want is to win the World Cup title.

"It's what I always dreamed about. It doesn't matter how it happens, I just want to win the title. All I want to do is play football and help my team-mates and my team. I hope the dream ends with us winning the title.

"Not only by scoring goals but also by doing everything possible to help Brazil win."

The hosts came extremely close to exiting the tournament in the second round as they had to beat Chile on penalties. Neymar, though, who was pictured crying into coach Luiz Felipe Scolari's shoulder after the game, says he didn't feel any pressure throughout the match.

"I was calm. I felt no fear. Fear removes the desire to win," he said. "We knew that we would be playing a great team but there was no fear. Now, we just want to go into the quarter-finals and keep winning.

"There is no pressure when you are living your dream. I'm doing what I've wanted to do since I was a kid. Today, my dream is coming true; I'm playing the matches that I've always wanted to play.

"We really suffered [against Chile]. It was pure emotion. My tears after the game were of happiness. The desire to win and get through to the next round was huge. It was the most I have ever suffered in football. The game had everything.
"For me, it is an honour to be where I am, and to be wearing the shirt of Brazil, especially in a World Cup and that too in your own country."

The Barcelona player also praised Scolari, saying the entire team respects him.
"[Scolari is] very important. The players love having him as coach. We all respect him, but it works two ways," he added.

"He is the sort of man that if you show him respect he will show you respect. We are all so happy to be playing under him. He is very clear that only winning the World Cup will do. We all feel the same."

 

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Schwarzer signs new one-year Chelsea deal

Mark Schwarzer has signed a new one-year contract with Chelsea.

The 41-year-old goalkeeper joined Jose Mourinho’s side on a free transfer from Fulham last July and made 12 appearances in all competitions last season.

The former Australia international deputised for Petr Cech, who required shoulder surgery, towards the end of last season and featured in both legs of Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

Meanwhile, Goal understands that Chelsea are open to offers for Petr Cech this summer and are preparing to make Thibaut Courtois their first-choice goalkeeper next season.

 

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Insigne's agent plays down talk of €25m Arsenal move

market"
Lorenzo Insigne's agent claims Arsenal have not made any move for the Napoli forward and insists the club have no interest in putting him “on the market.”

Reports have associated the Gunners with a €25 million bid for the 23-year-old, while his representative had previously claimed that Insigne was “honoured” by links with the Premier League club.

Yet Fabio Andreotti has now said that there has been no contact between the two clubs over a transfer, with Napoli in no mood to sell the Italy international.

"We have not been contacted by Arsenal for Lorenzo Insigne and Napoli have not notified us of this interest," Andreotti told Italian radio station Radio Crc.

"Lorenzo is a target of several European sides so it wouldn't surprise me if big clubs are interested in him. However, Napoli don't want to put him on the market."

Insigne, who was a part of the Italy squad that were eliminated at the group stage of the 2014 World Cup, scored nine goals in all competitions last season.

 

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Liverpool tried to sign Robben - Carragher

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has revealed Brendan Rodgers attempted to sign Netherlands winger Arjen Robben in 2013.

The Bayern Munich winger has scored three goals for his country at the 2014 World Cup, with Louis van Gaal's side set to face Costa Rica in their quarter-final on Saturday.

And Carragher says Rodgers made a move to sign the star last year, at a time when the 30-year-old was struggling for game time at Bayern – with the defender claiming such a move would have been perfect for both parties.

"Brendan Rodgers tried to sign him for Liverpool before the 2013 Champions League final,” he told the Daily Mail.

"He wasn't a regular for Bayern then but he scored the winner at Wembley against Borussia Dortmund and has since gone from strength to strength.

"Liverpool have not had a world class wide man since John Barnes."

Former Chelsea and Real Madrid star Robben signed a new contract with Bayern earlier this year, which would keep him at the Allianz Arena until 2017.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger stalls Vermaelen sale to Manchester United

Arsene Wenger is stalling Thomas Vermaelen's expected move to Manchester United while he lines up a replacement, Goal can reveal.

The Red Devils have held talks with the Gunners about signing the Belgium international this summer.

Wenger accepts that Vermaelen wants to find a new club after slipping down the pecking order at Emirates Stadium over the last 16 months.

But the Gunners manager wants a deal in place for a new centre-back before he sanctions the departure of the Arsenal club captain.

Wenger's preference is for a defender who has Premier League experience and can fit in with his team's playing style but he has not yet settled on a specific target.

United are leading the race for Vermaelen and are ready to pay upwards of £8 million for the 28-year-old, who is in the Belgium squad that is set to take on USA in the World Cup last 16 on Tuesday night.

Napoli have also asked to be kept informed of the Belgian's situation.

Vermaelen has only a year remaining on his contract and Arsenal will not stand in the way of him getting a move before the end of the window.

Arsenal expect the Belgian to become their second senior defender to leave this summer following Bacary Sagna, who has joined Manchester City on a free transfer.

Vermaelen has been the third-choice centre-back at Arsenal since an error-strewn display in a 2-1 derby defeat to Tottenham in March 2013 prompted Wenger to make Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny his preferred central-defensive partnership.

Mertesacker and Koscielny have both signed contract extensions in recent months, keeping them at Emirates until 2017 and 2018, respectively.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United Vermaelen wenuwata Eliaquim Mangala & Matas Mummels wa try kalanam godak hodaiA 2nna thamai Rio & Vidic ge places walata hodatama match wenne​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Chelsea confirm Eto'o exit

Chelsea have confirmed the departure of Samuel Eto'o following the expiration of his one-year contract at Stamford Bridge.

Eto'o spent just one season with the Blues, scoring 12 goals in 35 games, including a hat-trick against Manchester United in the Premier League.

The 33-year-old never looked likely to stay on at the club beyond the summer and the Cameroon international even publicly criticised manager Jose Mourinho following comments regarding his age.

"Contrary to what a puppet says about my age, I am still physically fit," he said. "At 33, I feel really good. I have proven that I can do better than the younger players."

It was revealed in May that Eto'o has been in talks with Guangzhou Evergrande over a move to China this summer.

Chelsea also confirmed Ashley Cole's exit from Stamford Bridge after eight seasons and 338 appearances in a spell which saw the club win the Champions League, Premier League and the FA Cup four times among other trophies.

"Chelsea Football Club thanks Ashley for the fantastic service he gave throughout his eight years here, and for helping to bring so many trophies home. We wish him well for the future," a club statement read.

Portuguese goalkeeper Hilario, who spent much of his time at Chelsea as deputy to Petr Cech, has also left the club.

 

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Official: Chelsea agree Diego Costa deal

Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid after meeting the Spain international's buy-out clause, the Premier League club have confirmed.

As reported by Goal in early May, the striker's move to Stamford Bridge was tied up following the Blues' Champions League semi-final exit to Atletico Madrid.

Chelsea will pay around €44m for the striker, although a significant portion of the transfer fee includes fees paid to agents.

The Brazil-born Spain international will also triple his wages at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea are set to hand the 25-year-old a five-year contract worth €194,000 a week.

The move has long been mooted, with Costa himself confirming the agreement exclusively to Goal in June: "Why would I have chosen to play for Chelsea? It is a thing that is about to happen

"Things are going in a direction and, if they keep going as they are going, it is the team I will play for in the next season.

"I've wanted to play in the Premier League for a while. Chelsea are one of the greatest clubs of the world so there are many factors that make you take a decision like this."

Costa becomes Chelsea's second signing of the summer following the capture of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good Luck Diego Costa!​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Argentina 1-0 Switzerland (AET): Di Maria strikes at the death to seal quarter-final spot

Argentina booked their place in the World Cup quarter-final after Angel Di Maria struck in the dying minutes of injury time to secure a 1-0 win over Switzerland.

Not for the first time this tournament, Alejandro Sabella's men struggled to make their presence felt in attack for large spells, with the Real Madrid midfielder guilty of conceding possession on a number of occasions.

However, Di Maria popped up with just two minutes of extra-time remaining to sweep home after some good work by Lionel Messi.

Substitute Blerim Dzemaili headed against the post for Switzerland before time was up, and should have done better with the rebound.

The result sets up a last-eight meeting for Argentina with Belgium or the United States in Brasilia, and was ultimately harsh on a Switzerland side who defended resolutely in what will now prove to have been Ottmar Hitzfeld's final game in charge before retiring.

Argentina were forced into one change, with Ezequiel Lavezzi coming in for injured striker Sergio Aguero, while Switzerland stuck with the same XI that triumphed 3-0 over Honduras in their closing Group E fixture.

Xherdan Shaqiri ran riot with three goals in that convincing victory, but chances were few and far between for both sides in the opening stages in Sao Paulo - a Gonzalo Higuain header that comfortably cleared the crossbar was as close as either came to hitting the target inside the first 25 minutes.

Switzerland injected some life into an otherwise dormant half in the 28th minute when Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichsteiner were both denied by Sergio Romero in the Argentina goal, before Lavezzi called Diego Benaglio into action at the other end with his team's first accurate effort moments later.

Germany's Manuel Neuer produced a superb goalkeeping display in their last-16 clash on Monday, effectively acting as sweeper at times when his defence was breached by Algeria, but Argentine counterpart Romero was statuesque when Josip Drmic found himself clean through on goal in the 39th minute.

However, the Bayer Leverkusen striker's attempted chip was tame, and Romero gratefully clutched the ball to his chest.

Romero was far from convincing in keeping out a Shaqiri free-kick from 25 yards five minutes into the second half, and Argentina looked short of ideas going forward, evoking memories of their last-gasp 1-0 victory over Iran in the group stage.

Benaglio denied Marcos Rojo from a tight angle as Argentina got a rare sight of goal, before Di Maria attempted a flamboyant cross.

Trying to be pleasing on the eye, he left his team-mates far from pleased as his showboating resulted in a Swiss goal-kick and an opportunity wasted.

Benaglio's reflexes were put to the test shortly after the hour mark as he tipped over from a powerful Higuain header, and Messi shot narrowly over soon after as the Argentinian pressure started to build.

Messi went close again with a drilled effort that Benaglio got down well to meet, but both nets remained untroubled as a last-16 clash entered extra-time for the fourth time this tournament.

Having disappointed for much of the game, Di Maria ultimately emerged as the hero for Argentina.

The 26-year-old, who had earlier forced Benaglio into a fine save at his near post in the second half of extra-time, received the ball following a probing run from Messi and calmly slotted a left-footed finish across Benaglio and into the far corner.

Dzemaili remarkably had a chance to equalise in injury time, but headed against the post from close range before failing to convert the rebound.

 

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Di Maria hails Argentina 'heroes' after Switzerland winner

Angel di Maria insisted that Argentina have a squad of "23 heroes" after his extra-time goal saw off Switzerland in a hard-fought round of 16 encounter at Arena Corinthians.

Di Maria slotted home from a Lionel Messi pass on 118 minutes to edge Alejandro Sabella's men past the Swiss without the need for a penalty shootout.

But after the match the 26-year-old - who also made a decisive difference in Real Madrid's 4-1 extra-time Champions League final victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid - was keen to downplay his own contribution.

"It's not just me," he insisted. "We have 23 heroes and the coaching staff. We gave our lives.

"We knew that every knockout game is like this. We knew this could happen and we did everything we could with every ball. We did everything very well.

"We had many goal situations, we always tried to play and we never got desperate. We managed it in the end and the victory is more than deserved."

Argentina will face the winner of Belgium and USA in Brasilia on July 5.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Last 16: Argentina 1 Vs 0 Switzerland

 

[Wolverine GTR]

kroos & luiz Gustavo ta real try karanwa kiyala thibba .ehema unoth Khedira wa sell karayi

Ow machan & anith 1ka thamai Real Madrid la James Rodriguez wa ganna try karanawaSo ahema unoth Di Maria wa sell karana kathawak mama dakka news 1kaka thiyanawa.Habai ithin sure karanna bahaMokada last season 1ke Real Madrid wala hodatama play karapu player kenek neh

​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

sanchaz patta form eke enne sell karayida danne nae

Barcelona dan kiyana widiyata Sanchez ta hoda deal 1kak awoth sell karana scene 1kak thiyenne broAhema baluwoth nam hoda chance 1kak Sanchez wa gannaanith 1ka Top form inna player kenek

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[Wolverine GTR]

Belgium 2-1 USA (AET): De Bruyne and Lukaku book quarter-final date

Belgium booked a World Cup quarter-final date with Argentina as they saw off the USA 2-1 after extra time.

Kevin De Bruyne, one of a host of Belgium players to find American goalkeeper Tim Howard in inspired form, smashed into the bottom corner in the third minute of the first additional period after regulation time somehow ended goalless at Salvador's Arena Fonte Nova.Romelu Lukaku, dropped to the bench having failed to fire so far in the competition, then gave Belgium breathing space with an emphatic 105th-minute second.

But there was further drama as a resilient USA team hit back through substitute Julian Green before Jermaine Jones poked agonisingly wide, with Clint Dempsey also denied late on, before Belgium sealed the prize of a last-eight meeting against Argentina in Brasilia, despite the stunning efforts of the brilliant Howard.

Captain Vincent Kompany returned from groin and abdominal complaints to bolster Belgium's defence, while Divock Origi was favoured to Lukaku in attack.
The 19-year-old almost enjoyed a dream start, stealing in behind the defence to draw a fine save from Howard on the angle inside the first minute.

But the United States quickly settled into the contest and Michael Bradley combined with Dempsey for a 20th-minute opening, although the latter's shot lacked the power to trouble Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Jan Vertonghen caught USA midfielder Graham Zusi in possession on the halfway line and stormed forward to give De Bruyne a glorious opportunity in the 23rd minute, but Belgium's top scorer in qualifying dragged wastefully past the near post.

Vertonghen was proving a potent attacking threat from full-back and he forced DaMarcus Beasley into a vital goalmouth clearance, with Marouane Fellaini poised to convert.Influential USA right-back Fabian Johnson departed with a hamstring injury after the half hour, although the pacey runs of replacement DeAndre Yedlin provided a useful counter-point to Belgium's razor-sharp threat on the break.

Howard was forced into an acrobatic stop to touch Dries Mertens' looping header behind two minutes into the second period, and Belgium settled into the groove of calm, assured possession football they were denied during the opening half.

De Bruyne and Origi somehow both failed to convert Vertonghen's brilliant 54th-minute cross and the young striker flicked a header onto the crossbar two minutes later.

Vertonghen called Howard into action once more before Zusi caused panic on an increasingly rare USA attack, although they returned to the back foot as Mertens prodded past the near post - his last act as Kevin Mirallas was introduced.
The attacker displayed clever footwork to set up Origi, but Mirallas' Everton club-mate Howard was again equal to the task after 72 minutes.

Roles were reversed when Origi sent Mirallas clear with a cute threaded pass, only for Howard's excellence to come to the fore again as he saved brilliantly with his boot - a stop possibly bettered by pushing Eden Hazard's 80th-minute half-volley out of the far corner.

There was an air of inevitability in Howard keeping out Origi's rasping shot and turn after Hazard smashed into the side-netting, while Kompany instigated a 90th-minute counter only to have a scuffed attempt impressively saved.Somehow the USA retained an attacking threat amid the onslaught and the sight of Chris Wondolowski blazing over unmarked from an offside position served due warning to Belgium heading into extra time.

Having almost single-handedly brought about the additional period, Howard was beaten by De Bruyne after Lukaku's fresh legs proved decisive down the left flank, and the powerhouse striker made it two as a Belgium break finally came to fruition.
With the game seemingly up, Jurgen Klinsmann threw on Green and his swivelled volley put the match back in the balance.

After Jones' close shave, Dempsey looked destined to send it to a shoot-out but it was Courtois' turn to provide goalkeeping heroics after a brilliant set-piece routine as Wilmots' charges held on.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Belgium Vs USA match 1ka patta

FIFA 2014 wala mama methek balapu pattama match 1kaLast second 1ka wenakam sides 2kama henama gemak dunna

& Congratzzzzzz Belgium!​

 

[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

Messi wa mark karala thibbe broBut passing niyamai​

ow passing thama sirama messige

 

[Wolverine GTR]

ow passing thama sirama messige

Kohomath Messi ge allround performance patta bro!Welawa thamai ithin
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[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

Kohomath Messi ge allround performance patta bro!Welawa thamai ithin
​

hmm. ahala thiyenawa. eth wadiya football match balen na. aye sikurada neda match thiyenne?

 

[රජ්ජුරුවෝ]

Final Brazil n Argentina awoth hondai