..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Maxwell pens new Paris Saint-Germain deal

Paris Saint-Germain have announced that Maxwell has signed a one-year contract extension.

The Brazilian defender's previous deal was set to expire this summer but he has now committed his future to the French champions until 2016."I am very proud of the confidence placed in me by the president Nasser Al-Khelaifi and the whole club," Maxwell told PSG's official website.

"I will continue to give everything to help the club try to reach its objectives."Maxwell has made 128 appearances in all competitions for PSG since arriving at the Parc des Princes from Barcelona for a fee of €3.5 million.

Club president Al-Khelaifi was only too happy to offer the versatile full-back a 12-month extension."Maxwell is an exceptional player who has brought so much to this club since he joined us," he added.

"We are delighted that he has signed on for an extra year with Paris Saint-Germain, which is perfectly normal, given his investment on and off the pitch and the quality of his performances."

Maxwell has featured 19 times in Ligue 1 this season, contributing two assists and one goal from left-back

 

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Wenger: Away-goals rule is outdated

Arsene Wenger has called for the away goals rules to be changed in the Champions League after Arsenal were knocked out after a 3-3 aggregate draw with Monaco.

The Gunners won 2-0 at the Stade Louis II, thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey but failed to become the first team to overturn a two-goal home leg deficit.

The 3-3 aggregate scoreline saw Arsenal knocked out of the Champions League at the last-16 stage for the fifth consecutive season, and Wenger feels the current rules are old fashioned.

"It's two teams that have gone out on away goals, so it should be questioned. It is a rule that is outdated," he told reporters.

"In direct knockout you can be a bit lucky as well. None of the teams apart from Barcelona appear to be that much superior. It should count maybe after extra-time.

"This rule has been created in the 1960s. The weight of the away goal is perhaps too big today. I still think you can count it maybe after extratime."

He added: "We have to move on. We know why we went out - it's down to a dreadful defensive performance in the first leg."

The away goals rule was first implemented in the European Cup for the 1967-68 season but was not used to decide knockout ties until the 1970-71 campaign after play-offs on neutral grounds were scrapped.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kane handed first England call-up

Harry Kane has been rewarded for his fine form for Tottenham this season with a first senior England call-up.

The 21-year-old has thrived in a breakthrough season under Mauricio Pochettino, scoring 24 goals for Tottenham, more than any other Englishman in the Premier League, including doubles against Arsenal and Chelsea.

Kane's exploits saw him named Premier League player of the month for both January and February and become the fourth player after Cristiano Ronaldo, Denis Bergkamp and Robbie Fowler to win twice in a row.

The striker, who has eight goals in 10 outings for the Under-21 side, now looks likely to make his senior bow against Group E minnows Lithuania at Wembley on March 27.

Elsewhere, Daniel Sturridge returns after missing England's last six matches through injury and joins Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck as Roy Hodgson's selected forwards.

Ben Foster misses out after being ruled out for a month with a knee injury, so Hodgson has called up just two goalkeepers in first-choice Joe Hart and Southampton's Fraser Forster.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Southampton), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Nathaniel Clyne (Southampton), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Luke Shaw (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Ross Barkley (Everton), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Fabian Delph (Aston Villa), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Adam Lallana (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Andros Townsend (Tottenham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)

Forwards: Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool), Danny Welbeck (Arsenal)

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Kane ta chance 1ka deelapatta​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Alexis can be the best in the world, says Isla

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez can become the best player in the world, according to Chile team-mate Mauricio Isla.

The former Barcelona man has been a hit since moving to the Emirates Stadium in the summer and is the Gunners’ top scorer so far this season with 19 goals in all competitions.

Isla is set to link up with Alexis as Chile play international friendlies against Iran and Brazil at the end of March and the QPR defender says he can fulfil his potential at the Emirates.

"I have known him for 10 years and I think Alexis has shown what he is made of," Isla told Sportsbeat.

"He has always said that he wanted to be the best in the world and now he has arrived in a team where this can truly become a reality.

"He can build confidence and he transmits the confidence that his team-mates have given him but honestly, I am not at all surprised by the quality of Alexis as a player.

"It's fantastic that he is scoring so much which fills him with confidence and joy and I hope he continues to keep scoring always more.

"If we were to talk about his characteristics, we could be here all day but for me, I love playing with a player who’s so bold, who is a fighter, runs for 90 minutes and always loves training," he added.

"I have heard from many of his Arsenal team-mates also that he never tires in training or on the pitch and this is fundamental for the team."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger: Title challenge? Only if Chelsea slip up

Arsene Wenger has says there is little chance of Arsenal winning the Premier League this season unless Chelsea suffer a dramatic late collapse.

The Gunners have won eight of their 10 league games since the turn of the year to banish memories of a worst ever start to a Premier League season, and currently lie in third place.

Current champions Manchester City sit one point ahead in second while Chelsea have built up a six-point lead and have a game in hand, and Wenger isn't optimistic about mounting an unlikely title tilt.

"At the moment we are too far away from Chelsea but we have the opportunity every week to get closer," he told reporters.

"We need positive results from us and negative results from Chelsea. That's the only thing we can master."

Liverpool are another side who have overcome a disappointing start to challenge at the top of the table, having dropped just four points in their last 12 league outings.

Wenger accepts Brendan Rodgers's side are now also in the hunt to replicate last season's second-place finish, but hasn't ruled out late charges from Southampton and Tottenham, who sit in sixth and seventh spot.

He added: "They are in the hunt yes. We are on the neck of Man City but as well behind us we have Man United and Liverpool.

"It's very tight. Tottenham are not out of it and Southampton are not out of it."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Manchester United close in on Depay deal

Memphis Depay has told Manchester United he wants to join them as they close in on a deal to bring the PSV star to Old Trafford.

The €31 million-rated winger is one of European football's hottest properties and is also a leading target for Liverpool and Tottenham this summer, with both clubs sending scouts to watch him in recent weeks.

United, though, are confident Depay will join the club and sources have told Goal they are making 'strong progress' both in negotiations with PSV and the 21-year-old’s representatives.

Goal first revealed last summer that Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal had urged the 21-year-old to stay in the Netherlands for a year with a view to a big-money move at the end of the current season.

The pair have a strong relationship after Van Gaal handed Depay his international debut before taking him to the World Cup, where he scored twice and was shortlisted for the young player of the tournament award.

Depay has sought assurances that he will feature heavily in Van Gaal’s plans at United so he can build on the sparkling form that has seen him score 22 goals in 33 matches in all competitions this season.

United have close ties with Depay’s management group and believe they have seen off strong competition, particularly from Tottenham who saw a bid rejected last summer, to sign the speedy winger.

The 13-time Netherlands international is almost certain to leave PSV this summer with the Eindhoven club runaways leaders in the Eredivisie, holding an 11-point advantage over second-placed Ajax.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is keen to tie up transfer deals early despite doubts over whether the club will finish in the top four and book a place in next season’s Champions League.

The 20-time champions are prepared to spend another €209 million this year to strengthen the squad and provide Van Gaal with a team capable of challenging for the title next term.

Depay’s anticipated arrival at United could raise fresh doubts over the future of some of their stars, including record signing Angel Di Maria.

The Argentine has struggled to settle on and off the pitch since his €83m switch to United from Real Madrid last summer, scoring just four goals in 26 appearances.

Di Maria was sent off during the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Arsenal earlier this month and Van Gaal recently admitted he will not stand in the attacking midfielder’s way if he seeks a summer move.

"As a manager, you can never say no or yes because the player at the end shall always decide but I don't think he shall move," the Dutchman told reporters. "Despite his incident with his wife at home, he is very pleased to be here at Manchester United.

"I'm always like that. When you see my history – that's part of my philosophy. A player is not just a man who kicks the ball from A to B. Also, his environment is influencing him.

"So I shall always be open for that conversation but I know also the commercial interests of the club and we have to respect that. You cannot give a lot of money for a player and then, next season, put him out of your selection.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Depay gatthoth nam patta

meh wage playersla thamai one​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Hart is a phenomenon - Messi

Lionel Messi described goalkeeper Joe Hart as a "phenomenon" following his performance in Manchester City's Champions League second leg defeat to Barcelona .

Ivan Rakitic scored the only goal as Barca secured a 3-1 aggregate win, but the margin could have been greater had it not been for the heroics of the England No.1 - who made 10 saves on Wednesday.

Hart, who also saved a penalty from Messi in the first leg, said it was an "honour" to pit his wits against the Argentine and the 27-year-old returned the praise with a glowing assessment of his opponent's display.

"Joe Hart had an absolutely fantastic game," Messi told UEFA.com . "I already knew he was a top keeper, but it was impressive in this performance how he just stopped everything that came his way, with either his hands or his body - he is a phenomenon.

"The fortunate thing, given all that, was we managed to get through the tie, which was all we wanted, so that we could be in Friday's quarter-final draw.

"These nights are just so tremendous to play in and wonderful for the public to watch, especially when the game is played like this.

"The opposition was full of great players and both teams just try to play really good, open football. Both City and Barcelona wanted to be on the ball, to do things with it, and it ended up as a pretty spectacular game."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Ibrahimovic is Messi, Ali and Tyson rolled into one'

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's agent says the Paris Saint-Germain star has the "technique of Lionel Messi, the character of Muhammad Ali and the strength of Mike Tyson".

The Sweden international, 33, hit the headlines for the wrong reasons at the weekend when he branded France a “sh*t country” in a foul-mouthed rant at a referee following PSG's defeat to Bordeaux.

Although Ibrahimovic later apologised for the disparaging remarks he made about France, he has since been criticised by several politicians in thecountry, prompting speculation he could depart the club at the end of the season.However, Raiola says the Ligue 1 champions couldn't possibly afford to sell him given the unique qualities of the former Milan and Barcelona star and compared him to three sporting icons.

"Theoretically, Ibrahimovic could be sold this summer - but PSG would have to actually want that. Which leads me to say that it would be virtually impossible," he told L'Equipe.

"Today he is still the most important player in PSG's project. Where's his potential replacement? Where's the new Zlatan? It's impossible to find someone like him today and PSG know that.

"Zlatan is unique – he's the only player in the world who measures 1.96 metres, has the technique of Lionel Messi, the character of Muhammad Ali and the strength of Mike Tyson.

"I've never forced players to do things they don't want – Zlatan will extend his deal beyond 2016 if he wants to. One thing he won't be, though, is a benchwarmer. He is the star of the team or he is gone."

Blaise Matuidi is another player on Raiola's books and despite admitting the PSG midfielder would be a great fit for the Premier League, he believes there is no chance of him leaving this summer."He could've left last summer, but it's his dream to win everything with PSG," he continued. "Blaise could be brilliant in English football.

"Yes, he could leave, but there's just one problem: PSG's owners are not in football to make money. They just want to have the best team. Matuidi doesn't want to leave."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Schneiderlin/Sven/Lars/W Carvalho wage hoda DM kenek ganna one.naththam next season eketh 3rd or 4th thamayi

Ow bro Arsenal latath ona karanne hoda DM kenek specially​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

owaparde LEW Bayern giye dan wadiya chance hambennth nae play karanna.BVB ma hitiyanam ewarayi..

1ka thamai broBayern join una 1kanam aparade.Set unath chance set wenne godak aduwen

Bas Dost patta ai Kevin De Bruyne Cesc tath wada assists thyenawa
25(app) 9 goals & 16 assists
aniwa machan Europa League eketh hoda gamek deyi

Aniwa bro

Wade kiyanne De Bruyne Chelsea walin giyath hari elatama peform karanawajust like Paul Pogba​

 

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Sevilla 2-1 Villarreal (agg 5-2): Suarez seals progression against 10-man visitors

me parath Sevilla lata cup eka ganna chance ekak thyenawa

 

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Kane handed first England call-up

kanehabayi Welbeck/Sturridge wenuwata charlie austin ta chance ekak denna thibba

 

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Ow bro Arsenal latath ona karanne hoda DM kenek specially​

Wade kiyanne De Bruyne Chelsea walin giyath hari elatama peform karanawajust like Paul Pogba​

ow De Bruyne tath chelsea ennakota chance dunne naene wadiya.dan patta

 

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[Wolverine GTR]

Elche 0-4 Valencia: Alcacer sends message to Del Bosque

Paco Alcacer sent a timely reminder of his qualities to Spain coach Vicente del Bosque as he helped Valencia to a 4-0 win over Elche on Friday.

Alcacer, overlooked for the latest Roja squad, scored once and had two other goals disallowed as Nuno Espirito Santo's side closed to within four points of Real Madrid and five of leaders Barcelona with an accomplished performance.

It took just two minutes for Valencia to threaten, with Nicolas Otamendi stabbing high and wide from close range after Elche failed to clear a free kick.

Alcacer then pounced on a mistake from Enzo Roco and rounded the goalkeeper but David Lomban was on hand to clear off the line.

Alcacer would later have the ball in the net twice - the first from a corner, and later with a cool low finish - but both times the linesman's flag ruled out the goal.

However, Valencia would ultimately head into the break with an advantage. Pablo Piatti's teasing cross from the left found Sofiane Feghouli at the far post and when Przemyslaw Tyton could only parry his cut-back into the six-yard box, Andre Gomes was on hand to turn home.

Valencia hearts were in mouths shortly after half-time when Diego Alves raced 30 yards from goal to intercept a through-ball, with the Brazilian making enough contact with the ball to escape a foul.

And, just five minutes later, Valencia doubled their lead. Some good work from Feghouli saw him send Gomes clean through to the right of the area and his cross was met by the outstetched leg of Alcacer, who was third-time lucky in his quest to get on the scoresheet.

The impressive Feghouli really should have made it three on the hour mark as he arrived to meet Piatti's cross at the far post but failed to connect properly from point-blank range.

Elche finally created a good chance of their own as Jonathas showed good feet before rifling over from 20 yards, but Valencia soon made the points safe. Feghouli and Gomes combined once again down the right and defender Roco could only contrive to turn the ball into his own net from six yards.

Jonathas again came close from distance, this time forcing Alves into a strong parry, as Valencia took their foot off the gas in the closing stages to cruise to three points.

Los Che sealed an emphatic win in the dying moments as Otamendi rose unmarked from Piatti's corner corner to power home a header with what proved to be the final action of a match that ensured the visitors reduced the gap to the top two ahead of their Clasico meeting.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Paris Saint-Germain 3-1 Lorient: Ibrahimovic hat-trick rescues three points for champions

Paris Saint-Germain kept their title hopes firmly alive after a Zlatan Ibrahimovic hat-trick helped them to a 3-1 win over Lorient on Friday.

Ibrahimovic has rarely been out of the headlines in the last week or so, first getting sent off in PSG's Champions League success at Chelsea before then launching a foul-mouthed tirade at referee Lionel Jaffredo following last Sunday's 3-2 defeat to Bordeaux.

However, the Ligue 1 champions' talisman will take the spotlight for the right reasons after his treble at the Parc des Princes defeated a spirited Lorient outfit.

Ibrahimovic was chopped down by visiting goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte in the early stages of the game and subsequently tucked home the resulting penalty.

It appeared as though PSG would be punished for wasting several opportunities when Jordan Ayew levelled with a superb strike against the run of play in the 67th minute.

But, with the clock winding down, Javier Pastore was fouled in the box by Lamine Kone and Ibrahimovic rolled in his second spot-kick of the game.

And the Sweden captain completed his hat-trick in injury time, unerringly firing past Lecomte from the edge of the area after being fed by Marco Verratti as PSG moved above Lyon at the top, with Hubert Fournier's side playing Nice on Saturday.

Ibrahimovic's evening started well as he converted low into the left-hand corner from the spot after he was brought down by Lecomte while latching on to a long ball.

PSG continued to find success from a direct approach and Lavezzi raced on to Javier Pastore's dink only to be foiled by the legs of Lecomte, with Cavani's calls for a penalty when Wesley Lautoa appeared to handle his follow up falling on deaf ears.

Lecomte came to the rescue again with a smart one-handed parry from Ibrahimovic's low first-time shot after he was slipped in by Veratti's throughball.

Lavezzi had PSG's first opportunity of the second half when he failed to convert Maxwell's cross from the left from inside the six-yard box.

PSG's profligacy was nearly punished by Ayew as he surged into the box and stung the palms of Salvatore Sirigu, and Cavani then came agonisingly close a first league goal since mid-January when he bent a 25-yard free kick narrowly wide on the hour.

But PSG's failure to find a second goal came back to haunt them in the 67th minute as Ayew hit a sweet, low effort from 20 yards that nestled in the bottom-left corner.

The former Marseille man almost put Lorient on course for a shock win soon after, but Verratti was on hand to clear his half-volley off the line.

There would be another twist in the tale, though, as Kone clumsily brought Pastore to ground in the box and the home fans breathed a sigh of relief as Ibrahimovic put his penalty to left of Lecomte.

And Ibrahimovic was celebrating his treble in stoppage time. Verrati won possession deep in Lorient's half and slid the ball to the forward, whose shot had too much power for Lecomte.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ibra is back​