..::Football III::..

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I try to be professional - Keylor Navas

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas says he will remain professional in his ongoing battle with Iker Casillas for the club's No.1 jersey.

The Costa Rica star joined Madrid from Levante in the summer but has made just four appearances for the club, with Iker Casillas preferred in goal.

Navas could start against Ludogorets in the Champions League on Tuesday night as the reigning European champions conclude their group stage campaign having already sealed their progress to the last-16.

But while there have been suggestions the 27-year-old has grown unhappy with his bit-part role in the Spanish captital, he insists he is satisfied and determined to play as many games as possible.

"I'm happy at the club," he told reporters at a press conference on Monday.

"I try to be professional and play all the games I can. We are working seriously as usual. We know that this match will be difficult and we respect Ludogorets like we do all our other rivals. We want to win tomorrow and finish the year well.

"Football is a very beautiful sport and everybody should try to enjoy it. Ludogorets have come to play a serious match. We don't have to change our gameplan. We always think that the next match is the most important one."

Madrid came through a tricky test in Bulgaria in their first clash against Tuesday's opponents at the start of October, and had Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema to thank as they came from behind to win 2-1.

Should Carlo Ancelotti's side win again at the Santiago Bernabeu, they will have recorded a maximum 18 points from their six group games, having also seen off Liverpool and FC Basel home and away in Group B.

 

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Juventus must beat Atletico to top spot, says Allegri

Massimiliano Allegri has insisted it's vital for Juventus to beat Atletico Madrid and finish top of their Champions League section in order to have a better chance of going far in the competition.

The Serie A champions currently sit second in Group A with nine points from five games, trailing leaders Atletico by three points, but a win by two goals would seem them leapfrog the Spanish side.

"Our aim is to get through as group winners. It would enable us to face a second-placed team in the next round," Allegri said at a press conference.

"It's crucial for us to get to the last 16. We need to put in a strong display from a technical standpoint.

"Juve and Atletico are both excellent teams. Atleti won La Liga and were a whisker away from lifting the Champions League.

"Diego Simeone's done a fine job. Finishing above Real Madrid and Barcelona is a top achievement, as is getting to the Champions League final.

"We're playing for first place and a spot in the knockout stages. They need to think about holding on to top spot.

"The Champions League round of 16 is our first target of the season. Tuesday we have the opportunity to achieve it."

Juve were beaten 1-0 by Atletico at the Vicente Calderon earlier this season.

 

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Beckenbauer: Referees will be replaced by drones

Bayern Munich honorary president Franz Beckenbauer believes that referees will eventually be replaced by drones hovering over the pitch as the use of technology grows in football.

The Bundesliga has approved the use of goal-line technology for the 2015-16 season onwards, following its successful deployment in the Premier League this term.

Beckenbauer, however, feels even referees could ultimately become obsolete as the game embraces more and more technological advances.

"We are living in a century that's all about technology. We all know that it doesn't end with goal-line technology," Beckenbauer told Sky90.

"At some point, we won't even need a referee any more. Drones will be keeping an eye on whatever happens on the pitch at some point.

"I genuinely think this is the future. I won't be alive when it happens, though, so it's up to other people to fight it.

"This isn't something that's been discussed at Fifa. It's just a personal idea of mine."

 

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Beckenbauer: Referees will be replaced by drones

Future 1kedi mekath wenna bari kamak naha​

 

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Top clubs are still scared of Stoke - Crouch

Peter Crouch says top Premier League clubs still fear Stoke City following Saturday's victory against Arsenal at the Britannia Stadium.

Crouch scored after just 19 seconds to give the Potters the lead over the Gunners, with Bojan Krkic and Jonathan Walters making it 3-0 by half-time.

Arsene Wenger's men rallied to make it 3-2, but soon had Calum Chambers sent off and have now won just once in seven Premier League matches in the Potteries.

"I've been an away player coming here in the past and I know it's not a place you want to come," Crouch told reporters.

"I've been here with Spurs, with Liverpool and as a big club you're thinking, 'Do we really have to go to Stoke?'

"We still have that fear factor. The crowd are always up for it. Everything that surrounds this particular game [against Arsenal], you can see why there are so many people here because it's an important fixture.

"There's a bit of history. Words have been exchanged. Things have happened in the past. There is a little bit there."

Crouch insists Mark Hughes' men are still attempting to shed the reputation that was forged during Tony Pulis' time at the club, but believes some of those old traits have stood them in good stead.

"We are trying to evolve, to play in the right manner," he added. "But there are a few of the old people from before, who still have that determination and desire to win. It's a nice blend."

 

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Van Persie: Five wins in a row - Manchester United are on the up

Robin van Persie insists that Manchester United are on the up after they recorded their fifth straight Premier League win with a 2-1 victory at Southampton.

The Dutchman scored both goals for Louis van Gaal's side as they leapfrogged the Saints in the table, with Graziano Pelle on target for the hosts, who suffered their third straight defeat.

Van Persie admitted after the game that his side had not been at their best but says that the victory proves United are improving and heading in the right direction.

"I don't think we played our best football today," the sstriker told Sky Sports. "At times we were a bit sloppy here and there but we fought hard and we gave absolutely everything.

"In the end we nicked it. It was a tough game, they have a good team. We knew what to expect but in the end it's a fifth straight victory so we're on the up.

"I've been feeling quite good over the last couple of weeks fitness-wise. Every time it gets easier to play 90 minutes and tonight as well, I kept it up until the last minutes and that's what you want.

"Then the goals and assists and in the end the wins will come. So I just have to keep it going and play more."

 

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Wenger bites back at critics: Judge Arsenal at end of the season

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told his critics to judge him at the end of the season after coming in for criticism following his side's 3-2 loss at Stoke City.

Saturday's defeat at the Britannia Stadium left the Gunners in sixth place in the Premier League, 13 points behind leaders Chelsea after just 15 games.

However, Wenger insists it is far too soon to judge his team and has called for calm ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash with Galatasaray.

"We want to be judged at the end of the season. Not after every single game when emotion is very high," he told reporters.

"Let's get our stability back and see at the end of the season where we are.

"This is my 180th Champions League game and that shows something. Many of those were for this club."

The Arsenal boss also insisted his side must cope with any criticism directed their way and says the team are down after losing to the Potters.

"We are professional footballers and football people, we have to cope with that [criticism]," he added.

"I am a competitive person. What is important is the next game and responding in a strong way. It is part of our job. We cannot always look for excuses.

"We are down. Everyone feels it. When you have a disappointment you have to respond in a strong way. You cannot guarantee you will never lose a game.

"But many teams will lose at Stoke. You have to be realistic."

 

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Van Gaal: Manchester United were very lucky against Southampton

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal says his team were lucky to triumph 2-1 at Southampton on Monday evening.

Two goals from Robin van Persie gave the Red Devils all three points as they recorded their fifth successive win to move into third place in the table.

However, Van Gaal’s side were far from convincing and the Dutchman admits Southampton were the better team on the night.

"We lost the ball too easily in the first half," he told reporters. “We didn't have very good positional play.

"The only chances Southampton created were when we lost the ball. That was not good in spite of our good result. We got a present from Southampton.

"You need confidence on the ball which we don't have, and I said something about that at half-time.

"In the second half we had a better part of the game but I think Southampton played better than Manchester United - we were the lucky guy.

"The first goal was a present of Southampton. The second he [Van Persie] made it very nice because I thought the goalkeeper would come out but he didn't do it. We were very lucky."

Van Gaal also explained why he substituted defender Paddy McNair in the first half, bringing on Ander Herrera in his place.

"He had not any confidence. He had already given three big chances away. I had to," he added.

"It's very disappointing for me and also for Paddy but I had to. Because as a manager I am responsible to win.

"After the change we played a little bit better. It's tough but it's also in his best interests.

"I have made a lot of changes already in 30 minutes and all the boys can survive. It is only one match, one moment in a lifetime."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Balotelli remains a doubt for crunch Basel showdown

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed that Mario Balotelli is likely to miss his side's crucial Champions League clash with Basel on Tuesday due to injury.

The Reds, who have just four points from five games, host the Swiss side on Tuesday in their final Group B fixture, needing to take all three points if they are to progress with leaders Real Madrid into the next round.

Balotelli has not featured since the 2-1 home loss to Chelsea in November after picking up a groin injury while on international duty and Rodgers has conceded that the striker is set to miss out once again.

He told reporters: "I very much doubt Balotelli is fit to play. We have goals in the squad. I believe we have enough talent in the group to get the goals we need to win.

"We would have taken this scenario when the draw was made. We knew the last two games would be key and that is the case. It's going to be a great night and it's up to us do what we need to do."

Rickie Lambert remains the club's most senior striker ahead of the clash but, with just two goals in 17 appearances, Rodgers admits he has considered playing academy graduates.

He continued: "It's something we've looked at. I very much doubt any of the players that weren't available at the weekend will be ready.

"I feel we have goals in the squad but it's certainly something I've thought about in the last couple of days. Some of our young players have been doing very well.

"We'll take the time to assess that. I believe we have enough talent within the group to get the win."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Carvajal: Real Madrid want Club World Cup glory

Daniel Carvajal has insisted Real Madrid are keen to win the Club World Cup and add yet another piece of silverware to their trophy cabinet.

The Champions League winners last qualified for the competition in 2000, when they came in fourth behind Corinthians, Vasco da Gama and Necaxa, and Carvajal is determined to do better this time around in the tournament in Morocco.

Madrid meet the winner of the match between Cruz Azul and Western Sydney Wanderers in the semi-finals on December 16.

"Being able to win this new title is a huge motivation for me. It would be really special, as it is not easy to win. It would be a great way to close the season," the defender said via Madrid's official Twitter account.

"The group is fully aware of the importance of lifting this title and we are keen to keep winning.

"Being able to take part is a dream for me because of how hard it is to qualify and I'll try to enjoy it as much as possible."

The Spain international says he feels proud to be part of the Madrid set-up after returning to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2013 following a one-year spell with Bayer Leverkusen.

"I have goose bumps each time I enter the Bernabeu wearing this shirt and stand in front of the Madrid supporters," he said.

"It is my second home and my life revolves around Real Madrid."

 

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City Football Academy opened in Manchester

Manchester City have opened their City Football Academy complex in a bid to improve the number of homegrown players coming through the club.

Since the Premier League champions were bought by Sheikh Mansour in 2008, City have often preferred to look abroad when it comes to player recruitment.

While signings from overseas have helped the club add to their trophy cabinet, a lack of English players has proven problematic when it comes to meeting Premier League quotas on homegrown players.

The likes of Jack Rodwell and Adam Johnson have already moved on after struggling to impress at the Etihad Stadium, while Scott Sinclair and Dedryck Boyata seem unlikely to feature under Manuel Pellegrini.

However, the club opened the academy, which has been four years in the making, with the complex tipped to serve as a breeding ground for the club's age-group sides as well as community initiatives.

The 7,000 capacity Academy Stadium will be used by the Elite Development Squad, Manchester City Women and the local community.

"We wanted to build something that was unique in the world of football," explained academy director Brian Marwood.

"The vision was always about building for the future," added Khaldoon Al Mubarak, with the City chairman also touching on the importance of the academy in terms of the English champions' place in global football.

City already have existing partnerships with New York City - the soon-to-be MLS side - and Australian outfit Melbourne City, and Elite Development Squad coach Patrick Vieira stated he is excited about the project.

He said: "What I find really exciting about the project is before designing the facilities, they've been to the football world, the basketball world, the NFL world. There is a lot of hard work behind the project."

 

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Manchester City's New Football Academy

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Manchester City lage New Football Academy 1ka patta

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UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2014.12.09

UEFA Champions League Group Stage Fixtures 2014.12.09

Group A

Juventus Vs Atletico Madrid

Olympiacos Vs Malmo

Group B

Liverpool Vs Basel

Real Madrid Vs Ludogorets

Group C

Monaco Vs Zenit

Benfica Vs Bayer Leverkusen

Group D

Dortmund Vs Anderlecht

Galatasaray Vs Arsenal

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[Banks PLK]

Manchester City lage New Football Academy 1ka patta

​

pissu kora ne

 

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Real Madrid 4-0 Ludogorets: Ronaldo and Bale on target as Blancos make it six out of six

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale struck in the first half to help give Real Madrid a 4-0 win over Ludogorets and make it six wins out of six in Champions League Group B.

The defending European champions were guaranteed top spot but recorded maximum points for the second time in their history after further goals from Alvaro Arbeloa and Alvaro Medran sealed victory.

Ludogorets saw Marcelinho sent off midway through the first half and missed out on the Europa League as they struggled to contain the quality of the Spanish giants.
Amid early pressure from Real, Ludogorets' slim hopes of taking anything from the Santiago Bernabeu diminished with the loss of a man and a goal in quick succession.

Marcelinho – on target in the reverse fixture - handled Raphael Varane's goalbound header to earn a straight red card before Ronaldo converted the penalty to move past club legend Raul to outright second in the competition's record scorers list with his 72nd Champions League goal.Bale doubled the advantage late in the first half with a header from Toni Kroos' corner before Arbeloa added a third 10 minutes from time with his first goal in over a year.

Young midfielder Medran added a touch of gloss to a straightforward outing with a late strike - his first at senior level - as Real eased to a 19th straight win in all competitions - breaking Barcelona's Spanish record for consecutive victories.

Having fallen behind early in the reverse fixture, Real were on the front foot from the off with Bale and Javier Hernandez threatening with headers in the opening stages.

Isco was thwarted by a smart Vladislav Stoyanov save 14 minutes in following Asier Illarramendi's clever ball before Virgil Misidjan tested Keylor Navas with a curled strike from the edge of the area.However, Ludogorets were dealt a double blow 19 minutes in when Marcelinho was sent off for blocking Varane's header on the line with his hand. Ronaldo made the visitors pay with a chipped effort from 12 yards to open the scoring and set Real on their way.

Ludogorets managed to keep Real at bay somewhat after the opener - displaying the defensive shape that had seen them lose just once in 11 games prior to Tuesday's clash.However, the hosts' quality came to the fore again eight minutes before the break as Bale crashed a header off the crossbar and past Stoyanov to ease Real into the break two goals ahead.

Making the most of their numerical advantage, Real continued to threaten although visiting captain Svetoslav Dyakov went close before the hour as Navas was forced into an acrobatic stop.With Georgi Dermendzhiev's men defending impressively and Real's victory under no real pressure, chances were at a premium until the latter stages.

Arbeloa - having already seen a header hit the crossbar - finished from close range before Medran's deflected strike looped over Stoyanov to give the 20-year-old his first goal for the club on his Champions League bow.

 

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Monaco 2-0 Zenit: Abdennour and Fabinho give Jardim's men top spot

Monaco clinched top spot in Champions League Group C thanks to second half strikes from Aymen Abdennour and Fabinho at the Stade Louis II.

Zenit required victory to pip their hosts to a place in the round of 16, and though they had the better of the first half, they were largely outplayed after the break.

Centre-back Abdennour struck midway through the second period before Fabinho made sure of the win on 89 minutes.

The result gave Monaco a third successive victory and clean sheet in all competitions. Moreover, they progressed having conceded just one goal in six Champions League matches.

The French outfit have successfully navigated their last three group-stage campaigns, having lost in the 2003-04 final and succumbed to last-16 elimination the following campaign.Leonardo Jardim will also take heart from success in Europe as free-spending Monaco struggle to keep up with Ligue 1's frontrunners.

In desperate search of the necessary win, Zenit dominated possession from the outset, but they struggled to create meaningful chances.Wallace, deputising for the suspended Ricardo Carvalho, blocked a Salomon Rondon drive, Abdennour scrambled a loose ball clear and Danijel Subasic punched away a Danny free-kick as the hosts held on.

Monaco belatedly came to life in the 35th minute. Jeremy Toulalan was the unlikely employer of some fine trickery down the right, which enabled him to cut inside and fire a low shot narrowly wide.

Zenit rapidly resumed taking the game to their opponents, but Nicolas Lombaerts' close-range header from a corner went straight into the arms of Subasic and the first half finished goalless.

Monaco began the second half on the front foot. Yannick Ferreira Carrasco did well to retain possession down the left and cross low for Dimitar Berbatov, whose shot from 10 yards was deflected wide.Then Nabil Dirar broke down the right and cut the ball across the Zenit box, but no Monaco player was there to get on the end of it.

Monaco's pressure paid after 63 minutes. Joao Moutinho won and took a free-kick from the left touchline, which Abdennour diverted home in scrappy fashion.
Hulk curled a free-kick just over minutes later, before Abdennour made a superb sliding tackle to deny Danny.

In the closing minutes, Monaco put the result beyond doubt, with Fabinho bursting forward and firing the ball under Lodygin to help Monaco seal top spot on their return to Europe's top table.

 

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Galatasaray 1-4 Arsenal: Ramsey wonderstrike inspires Gunners

Aaron Ramsey helped Arsenal get back to winning ways in sublime fashion as they eased to a 4-1 Champions League win at Galatasaray.

Last Saturday's 3-2 defeat at the hands of Stoke City ramped up the pressure on Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, but the London club responded in the right manner with a comfortable victory at the Turk Telecom Arena.

Wenger named a host of academy products on the bench and was able to give some of those youngsters a run out after Ramsey's first-half double put Tuesday's Group D encounter beyond any doubt.

Ramsey set up Lukas Podolski for Arsenal's opener in the second minute and then doubled their lead in the 11th minute with a cool finish.

The midfielder capped a display of superb quality with a remarkable second, his magnificent long-range strike in the 29th minute the highlight of a game that marked Gala's last in a disastrous European campaign.

Wesley Sneijder grabbed a consolation for the group's bottom side before Podolski netted his second, as Arsenal had to settle for second place by virtue of Borussia Dortmund's 1-1 draw with Anderlecht.

Arsenal looked determined to atone for last weekend's setback from the first whistle and Podolski quickly broke the deadlock in fine fashion by firing into Sinan Bolat's top-right corner with a fierce left-footed finish after being played through by Ramsey.

A frantic opening to the game continued, with Hakan Balta only shooting hopelessly wide with just Wojciech Szczesny to beat and the hosts were made to made to pay for their profligacy as a clinical Arsenal side took complete control thanks to Ramsey's strike.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain cleverly slipped the Wales international through down the left and Ramsey showed great composure to steady himself and slot into the bottom-left corner, leaving Gala to fume about what they believed was a foul on Tarik Camdal in the build-up.

Again Oxlade-Chamberlain was heavily involved as the visitors pressed forward, the England man neatly flicked the ball on for Podolski, whose rasping shot from the edge of the area cannoned off the crossbar with Bolat well beaten.

Bolat then turned another Podolski effort round the post, however, he could do nothing to keep out Ramsey’s phenomenal second from the resulting corner.

Gala cleared Joel Campbell's delivery only as far as the 23-year-old, who met the ball first time from 30 yards and unleashed a thunderous left-footed half-volley that flew beyond the despairing dive of Bolat.

Ramsey and Mathieu Flamini were withdrawn after half-time for teenagers Gedion Zelalem and Ainsley Maitland-Niles and the contest lacked tempo in the second half as Arsenal took their foot off the gas.

The hosts dictated possession in the second half but rarely troubled the Arsenal goal, blocked efforts from Hamit Altintop and Umut Bulut in a 66th-minute goal-mouth scramble representing their best opportunity before Sneijder did grab a slight consolation by lashing home an 18-yard free-kick.

That effort was answered by Podolski in the second minute of injury time as he raced into the penalty area to slot home and finish off a neat move and the only regret for Wenger will be that performance will mean little in the grand scheme of things with earlier disappointing results against Dortmund and Anderlecht likely to see Arsenal face a tough draw in the last 16.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool 1-1 Basel: Reds bow out despite stunning Gerrard free-kick

Steven Gerrard could not haul 10-man Liverpool into the knockout stages of the Champions League as Basel drew 1-1 at Anfield.

Paulo Sousa's team only required a draw to seal second place in Group B behind Real Madrid but dominated the first half either side of Fabian Frei's 25th-minute strike.

Ten years ago this week, Liverpool famously overturned the odds in their final group game to beat Olympiacos 3-1 and qualify en route to eventual 2005 Champions League glory in Istanbul.

But a disjointed performance meant similar heroics felt highly unlikely on Tuesday, even before substitute Lazar Markovic was sent off 15 minutes after being introduced.

Gerrard, who scored decisively a decade ago, made Anfield dream again with a brilliant 81st-minute free-kick.

Jordan Henderson's deflected header almost found the net four minutes from time, although five consecutive winless outings means Liverpool's European campaign will now continue at Europa League level.

Basel enjoyed the first clear opening of the match in the 13th minute when Luca Zuffi’s throughball caught out a disorganised Liverpool defence and met Shkelzen Gashi's intelligent run, although the forward steered his shot over.

Liverpool should have created a better chance when Henderson's lofted ball found Raheem Sterling in the Basel penalty area but the England international's cut-back to Gerrard was ill judged and under hit.

Indecisiveness was a feature of the hosts' play all over the pitch and there was a sense of inevitability when the Swiss side retained possession well for Zuffi to lay off and Frei to lash a powerful left-footed shot into the bottom corner.

Sterling gave Basel goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik his first work of the game with a routine save but it remained a far more testing night for the Liverpool defence - left-back Jose Enrique racing across to thwart Derlis Gonzalez after Zuffi was again given room to torment the hosts.

Captain Marco Streller volleyed wastefully wide at the back post in the 32nd minute and Zuffi was the creator once more as Gashi thumped a low shot home two minutes before an interval that Liverpool badly needed, only for the Basel man to be denied by the offside flag.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers introduced Alberto Moreno and Markovic for Enrique and Rickie Lambert at the interval - leaving the hosts without a recognised striker.

Looking to inject immediate impetus, Markovic charged down the Basel left and the visiting defence struggled to clear his cross before Gerrard sent a 25-yard shot wide.

Markovic and Joe Allen had 57th-minute efforts blocked, the Serbian winger at least providing a degree of impetus as Liverpool continued to struggle for fluency.

The better chances remained at the other end, though, the impressive Taulant Xhaka weaving past a pair of challenges to shoot agonisingly wide.

Liverpool's task shifted from difficult to improbable in the 60th minute when Markovic thrust a hand in Behrang Safari's direction.

The contact was minimal and the Basel defender's reaction highly theatrical, but referee Bjorn Kuipers produced his red card to Anfield's dismay.

The home faithful felt it should have been 10-a-side in the 71st minute but Vaclik raced out well to first get a hand to the ball when Sterling sent Gerrard racing clear of the visiting defence.

Almost inevitably, Liverpool's talisman and captain threatened a late twist when he clattered a shot home via the upright and, after his header, Henderson then tested Vaclik with a venomous drive in stoppage time.

Zuffi and Xhaka came close to settling Basel nerves on the break in a frantic finish while substitute Breel Embolo also threatened as Liverpool were left to reflect on falling some way short on their return to the top table of European football.

 

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Gerrard ge free kick 1ka patta​