..::Football III::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Messi fires warning to sluggish Argentina


Lionel Messi admits Argentina's 1-0 win over Jamaica on Saturday saw them slow their play once again in the second half.Gonzalo Higuain hit the only goal of the game to ensure Argentina finished top of Copa America Group B.

The 14-time champions dominated the Caribbean side from the outset but were unable to build on their 11th-minute lead and their captain has warned they must improve in the knockouts.

"In the second half our pace dropped, we played much slower," said Messi, who was making his 100th appearance for his country.

"We did the same against Paraguay. We struggled to find spaces, the pitch was slower... I do not know why, but it is true that we ran slower."In the knockout matches we can't let that happen again."

Sluggish second-half showings are becoming a concern for Argentina, who threw away a two-goal half-time lead against Paraguay in their Copa America opener last week to draw 2-2.Ahead of Friday's game, coach Gerardo Martino conceded his players may well be feeling the toll of a gruelling domestic season.

Argentina, without a trophy at senior level in 22 years, will now meet either Ecuador or the third-placed team from Group C, which could see them go up against Colombia or Brazil in the quarter-finals."Chile are playing very well, and Colombia showed against Brazil that they are also a candidate," added Messi.

"Every opponent will be difficult."

 

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Martino hits out at 'boring' Argentina after Jamaica win


Gerardo Martino has admitted his Argentina side were "boring" in the second half of their narrow 1-0 victory over Jamaica in the Copa America.

The Albiceleste qualified for the quarter-finals as Group B winners thanks to Gonzalo Higuain's early goal in Vina del Mar, but Martino was quick to concede that his team have been far from their best in the competition so far.

"We are lacking effectiveness," Martino told a post-match press conference. "It is something we took out of the result against Paraguay, but you cannot legislate for players of the ability of ours missing so many chances."The fact we didn't put the game to bed, coupled with the physical issues we are having towards the end of games, generated uneasiness.

"I thought we did alright in the first half, getting the early goal and then creating four or five chances to score. We also did well to control Jamaica's chances to break. But the second half was boring, our ball control was tedious, the movement of the ball was too slow and we generally lacked speed in processing our play."

Argentina will now play either Ecuador or the third-placed team from Group C on Friday in Vina del Mar in the third quarter-final, and the coach believes the break until then gives his side a chance to replenish their energy reserves.

"We had some good times in the first stage, we have finished third and now we have six days to rest before the quarter-final," he added.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Monawa unath Copa America Argentina matches wala highlights baluwama mama dakka deyak thamai Di Maria Manchester United play karanawata wada godak unanduwen play karana 1ka

Di Maria ge Copa America performance hodai​

 

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Messi: I feel sorry for Neymar

Lionel Messi admits he is sorry to see Neymar ruled out of the remainder of the Copa America.

Brazil captain Neymar was handed a four-match suspension by Conmebol following his red card and subsequent verbal attack on a referee after his side's 1-0 defeat to Colombia this week.

Argentina skipper Messi refused to be drawn on the controversy surrounding the decision to ban his Barcelona team-mate from the remainder from the tournament but admitted it is a blow for the 23-year-old.

"I do not want to comment on Neymar. He's a friend," Messi, who starred alongside the Brazilian as Barca romped to a treble this season, said after Argentina's 1-0 win over Jamaica.

"I regret the punishment he was given and that he cannot participate any further in the Copa America. "He is a very important player for Brazil. I know what it means to them to have him on the field."

Brazil have the right to appeal the suspension but even a successful plea would likely only see his suspension dropped to three games, which would still rule him out until the final.

Brazil face Venezuela on Sunday in their final group game hoping to secure a place in the quarter-finals, with all four teams from Group C locked on three points.

 

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Mata: Benitez can get the best out of Real Madrid

Manchester United's Juan Mata has pledged his support to new Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez, insisting his former boss knows how to get the very best out of his players.Mata worked under Benitez at Chelsea in the 2012-13 season, where the duo claimed the Europa League title and a safe passage into the Champions League.

Benitez succeeded Carlo Ancelotti to take the reins at the Santiago Bernabeu last month and Mata believes the former Valencia, Liverpool, Inter and Napoli coach has what it takes to revitalise a Madrid team who ended the season without a major domestic trophy after crashing out of the Champions League in the semi-finals to Juventus.

"I had him at Chelsea and we won the Europa League. It was a great campaign, my best in terms of statistics," Mata told Marca. "Benitez knows how to get the most out of every player and get them performing to their best. Benitez was key for me."

The 27-year-old went on to say he hopes current team-mate David De Gea does not follow Benitez to the Spanish capital this summer.

"Lots of people ask me about De Gea. He's a friend and I want him to be happy.
"He's currently one of the best goalkeepers in the world. From a selfish point of view, I would want to have him in my team."

 

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Bale is what Manchester United need, insists Yorke

Gareth Bale is the player Manchester United should pursue above all others this summer, according to former Red Devils star Dwight Yorke.

Having lost out to Real Madrid in the battle for his signature in the summer of 2013, United have long been touted as the likeliest destination should Bale, who has been criticised by the media and supporters in Spain, decide he wants to return to the Premier League.

And Yorke believes the flying Welshman should be Louis van Gaal's No.1 target as he looks to ready his squad to challenge Chelsea for domestic supremacy next season.

"I would get Gareth Bale in, that's what United need . . . a player who will just take the ball and run," Yorke told The Sun.

"He's British, he's exciting, he's quick, fast, he goes past people and that will lift everyone going forward. That would excite everybody. And he will be loved here, he will be far more appreciated because the people here know what to expect.

"The Spanish are hard people, they are used to the likes of Romario and Ronaldo — the dribblers with the silky skills.

"In all fairness, Bale is not silky — he is a powerhouse with great pace and that's best for England.

"When he is in full flow he is one of the best in the world. That's why Madrid paid all the money for him. If I was signing one player for United this summer, it would be him."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Bale is what Manchester United need, insists Yorke

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Mourinho: I cried when Andy Murray won Wimbledon

He may have gained a reputation as a man of stone on the touchline, but it seems there are situations that reduce even Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho to tears.

The Special One has revealed he could not contain his emotions when Andy Murray triumphed over long-time rival Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Wimbledon final, ending Britain's 77-year wait for a male singles champion at the prestigious tournament.

"I have to say I had a couple of tears for Andy when he won Wimbledon," Mourinho told the Aegon Championships Tennis Podcast in association with The Telegraph.

"It was something that obviously meant more than anything in his career. I could imagine it was something from another world. I don't think he would change the Wimbledon victory for another 10 victories in other Grand Slams.

"It's more than the game, it's more than a tournament. He has broken the psychological wall that was there for every British person that loves the game. I think that for sure it was the best day in his career and I shared that happiness from where I was."

Fresh from claiming Chelsea's first Premier League title in five years, Mourinho has been unwinding by watching the exploits of Murray and others at this year's Aegon Championships at The Queen's Club.

And the Portuguese says he is full of respect for the mental strength elite tennis players have to show to claim major tournaments. "In tennis they take penalty shoot-outs all day," he added.

"Every point is a tough decision so they have to be really strong. I always say that in my sport sometimes we hide behind each other, we can always find excuses in success and in failure and in this way tennis is phenomenal because you have to be really strong."

 

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Galliani: Inter gazumped AC Milan's Kondogbia deal

AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani says he believed he had agreed a deal to sign Monaco midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia until they were gazumped at the last minute by city rivals Inter.

The France international looked all set to join the Rossoneri after a deal worth around €40m was agreed, in principle, for the 22-year-old France international.

The player's father told Galliani "see you in Milan on Monday" after a dinner with the club chief, only for Inter to step in with a bigger offer at the final hour.

"The agreement with Geoffrey had already been agreed the night before and was confirmed in the morning by the player and his father. At 1.30pm [on Friday] the deal was done," Galliani told La Gazzetta dello Sport .

"Monaco had given us the all-clear for the transfer at €40m, with the payment spread over two years, paying €20 million [this year] and then €20m [next year].
"But after exchanging documents, at 1.30pm everyone just disappeared. Evidently, they had changed their minds or someone else offered more.

"I told his representative that in certain negotiations you have to act like a father would with his children. A 'no' is more difficult to accept than a 'yes', but we cannot accept the figures."Sometimes you need to show the courage to get up from the table and leave."Inter's offer is said to include one lump sum of €40m plus performance-related bonuses.

It has been a bad week for Milan in the transfer market as Galliani went on to confirm they may also have lost out on Porto striker Jackson Martinez.The Colombia international appeared all set to join Milan last week but could now be on his way to Atletico Madrid instead.

“If we save that €40m on Kondogbia and another €35m on Jackson Martinez, we'll have an extra €75m to spend over the rest of the transfer window," Galliani continued.

"Only time will tell whether that proves to be a good or bad thing for the club."

 

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Bojan: Luis Enrique to blame for my Roma failure

Bojan Krkic has blamed Luis Enrique and Franco Baldini for his failure to impose himself at Roma.

The once-capped Spain international attacker said that the Barcelona boss played him out of position while the Giallorossi's former sporting director "disrespected" him.The 24-year-old came through the youth team ranks at Camp Nou before moving to the Stadio Olimpico in the summer of 2011 for a fee of €12 million.

However, the forward failed to justify his price tag over the course of a disappointing debut season in Italian capital and spent another frustrating campaign on loan to AC Milan before returning to Barca.

Bojan believes that he could have flourished at Roma had he been properly managed.“I'm finally being played in my own role, unlike in Italy,” he told the Corriere dello Sport.

“I'm a striker. At the most I can play just behind the forwards, but not as a winger.
“Luis Enrique didn't know me well enough, I spent a complicated year working with him.

“Later, I wasn't part of the plans of the new coach [Zdenek Zeman].“And I had some problems with Baldini. On one day he was telling me to stay, on another that I may be sold. He disrespected me, that's all.

“But I'm grateful to Roma - they were the first club who opened their doors to me after Barcelona.“It's a shame that our paths should have parted the way they did.”

Bojan also dismissed the suggestion that Francesco Totti cast too large a shadow over the Roma attack, insisting that he had no problem with the iconic captain being the fulcrum of the front line.

"On the contrary," he added. "When you play with him you're the one who has to adapt, not the other way round. He's outstanding."

 

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Juventus playmaker Pirlo to join NYCFC on Friday

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo will seal a switch to New York City FC on Friday, Goal understands.

The Italy international still has a year to run on his contract with the Bianconeri and had previously claimed that he would only consider leaving Turin if Massimiliano Allegri's men lifted the Champions League earlier this month.

However, despite Juve's 2-1 loss to Barcelona in Berlin, the uncertainty surrounding the midfielder's future has only intensified in recent weeks and, on Saturday, the 36-year-old attended a New York Yankees baseball game at Yankee Stadium - which is also home to NYCFC.

Goal has now learned that Pirlo has agreed a move to MLS and will be confirmed as an NYCFC player before the end of the week.

Pirlo will join former England international Frank Lampard and Spain's all-time record goalscorer, David Villa, at a franchise that only entered the league this season.

Set-piece specialist Pirlo also played 115 matches for Italy and was a key component in the side that tasted World Cup glory in 2006.

 

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Kimmich: I can compete for Schweinsteiger's spot

Joshua Kimmich has warned his role model, Bastian Schweinsteiger, that he will move to Bayern Munich this summer to challenge for the veteran's place in Pep Guardiola's starting line-up.

It was revealed in January that the RB Leipzig starlet would be joining the Bundesliga champions for a reported €8 million, with the Germany Under-21 international having agreed a five-year contract with the Bavarians.

Kimmich freely admits that he can scarcely believe his luck that Guardiola wanted him at Bayern but he insists that he is not going to the Allianz Arena just to sit on the bench.

"Bayern could buy any No.6 in the world, so that they want me is a great honour," the 20-year-old told Sonntag in Prag."Mr. Guardiola has already told me what he likes about me.

"Bayern is a new world for me; a new challenge."Obviously Schweinsteiger is a great role model for me. But from next season we are team-mates and, even in some ways, competitors."

However, Schweinsteiger, 30, only has a year to run on his contract with Bayern and has recently been linked with a move to Manchester United.

 

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Sweden U21s 0-1 England U21s: Late Lingard volley keeps Young Lions alive

Jesse Lingard was the hero for England Under-21s, scoring a superb late goal as Gareth Southgate’s men secured a narrow 1-0 win over Sweden to keep their European Championship hopes alive.

The Manchester United was actually left out of the starting XI as Southgate made two changes to the side that lost their opener against Portugal bringing in Will Hughes and Alex Pritchard with James Ward-Prowse the other man to make way.
England dominated possession in the early stages with Sweden, having beaten Italy already, happy to sit back and allow the Young Lions to play from the back.

Yet despite seeing plenty of the ball England struggled to create anything initially, looking ponderous despite having an extra player in midfield, against a well-disciplined Sweden side.

However, just before the half-hour mark the Young Lions spurned two good chances to score their first goal of the tournament and break the deadlock.

First, Tom Carroll and Nathan Redmond combined to spring Carl Jenkinson down the right hand side who delivered a superb cross for Harry Kane, but his diving header flew just wide of the post.

Minutes later and Pritchard found Hughes inside the box, the Derby midfielder jinking past one challenge only to be denied by a combination of defender Filip Helander and goalkeeper Patrik Carlgren.

Five minutes before the break and England had sight of goal once again, Pritchard wriggling into the box only to see his shot blocked by Joseph Baffo before Kane fired a free kick straight at Carlgen.

Yet Sweden did have chances of their own with Manchester City striker John Guidetti twice testing Jack Butland while Issac Kiese Thelin headed Simon Tibbling’s cross over minutes before the interval.

With victory needed Southgate opted to change his team at the break sending on Danny Ings for Hughes as England reverted to a 4-4-2 formation.

The striker was swiftly joined by Lingard as England continued to probe, prompted by the lively Pritchard, yet still lacking the urgency that was so sorely required to break down Sweden.

Yet clear-cut chances continued to elude the Young Lions with Baffo marshalling Kane well after good work from Jenkinson and Sweden worrying England with a series of corners.

With time running out Ruben Loftus-Cheek was introduced for the final 20 minutes and the Chelsea youngster enjoyed a bright cameo, with England unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after his ball found Ings in the box and he tangled with Baffo, only for the referee to ignore the striker's appeals.

With five minutes remaining on the clock, a third consecutive group stage elimination looked likely for England, until Carlgren could only punch clear a corner.

The ball fell to Lingard on the edge of the box who fired a superb volley past the Sweden goalkeeper, to keep the Young Lions' hopes alive with England's first goal of the tournament.

 

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Cillessen: Ajax want to block my transfer

Jasper Cillessen has warned potential suitors that Ajax will block any bids for the goalkeeper during the transfer window.

Goal understands Manchester United have made the Netherlands No.1 one of their targets should David De Gea make his expected move to Real Madrid, with Tottenham captain Hugo Lloris also shortlisted.

Cillessen, who has previously worked with Louis van Gaal for Oranje, penned a new contract in December and admits he is unlikely to leave the Amsterdam ArenA in the close-season.

"The Ajax management are going to make it really difficult when the interest becomes concrete," he is quoted as saying by The Mirror.

"If I had planned to leave, I would not have signed a new contract until 2018. My old contract was expiring in the summer of 2016 and in that case this summer would have been the perfect moment to leave.

"Frank de Boer has been very clear when he received questions about my transfer - he wants to block it."

 

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Cillessen: Ajax want to block my transfer

Cillessen nam ganna bari wena tharamatama hodaihari yanne naha Cillessen

Mamanam thamath hithenne De Gea idi kiyala Manchester United​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

english players la kohomath overpriced and overrated machan
Harry Kane ehema €100m wath kiyai

Apo ow bro....Kochchara hoda talent 1kak unath wadak naha price tag 1ka godak wadi nam​

 

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Mandzukic lands in Turin ahead of Juventus move

Mario Mandzukic has landed in Turin ahead of sealing an €18 million move to Juventus.

The Atletico Madrid striker has spent just one season in Spain after moving to the Vicente Calderon from Bayern Munich last summer.But with Carlos Tevez informing Juve of his desire to return to Argentina, the Bianconeri swiftly made the Croatia international their priority signing.

Mandzukic will undergo a medical on Monday, with Juve set to pay a basic €15m fee, with a further €3m in add-ons.

The 29-year-old will earn €3.5m a year after tax and will sign a three-year deal, with the option of a further 12 months.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico Madrid Mandzukic wa sell karana 1ka pudumai.​

 

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I would have exploded like Neymar - Alba

Jordi Alba says he would have "exploded" like Neymar after the Brazil forward was banned for four games following his red card in the aftermath of his nation's Copa America defeat to Colombia.

The 23-year-old kicked a ball at Pablo Armero at full-time and was then involved in an altercation with Carlos Bacca, which saw both players given their marching orders.Neymar was subsequently handed a suspension that has ruled him out of the rest of the tournament, but Alba understands the frustration of his Barcelona team-mate.

"I think the suspension is really unfair," he told Sport.es. "The opposition look for him a lot. Neymar is very patient and has been silent for a long time."I would have exploded long before Neymar did."

Alba also responded to Barcelona presidential candidate Jordi Majo's claim he was offered Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos by an intermediary as an "electoral asset".

Further reports claimed the centre-back is unhappy at the Bernabeu and would be willing to join his side's arch-rivals.Alba added: "I would never join Real Madrid."

 

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Colombia 0-0 Peru: Bore draw sends Gareca's men into quarter-finals

Peru are through to the quarter-finals of the Copa America after drawing 0-0 with Colombia on Sunday night.

Both sides came into Sunday's clash in Temuco hoping to guarantee their spot in the knockout phase, though Colombia needed a win to do so.Neither side could find the breakthrough in an even encounter, despite Colombia's wealth of attacking talent creating the better chances to break the deadlock.

Radamel Falcao, James Rodriguez and Jackson Martinez all wasted opportunities to be the match-winner for the 2014 World Cup quarter-finalists.

Jose Pekerman's men - who suffered a shock defeat to Venezuela in their tournament opener – were put under pressure at the back by a Peru side that has performed above expectations and will finish at least third in the pool, with a record good enough to advance even if they are nudged out of the top two places.
Colombia, though, will watch on anxiously as Brazil and Venezuela face off in Santiago – a draw in that game will see them eliminated at the first hurdle.

Knowing they needed to force the issue, Colombia were fast out of the blocks and Falcao went close to opening the scoring in the fourth minute as his low shot was tipped round the post by goalkeeper Pedro Gallese after Peru had failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Pablo Armero then lashed into the side-netting before Colombia suffered a blow when Edwin Valencia landed awkwardly when chasing the ball, leading him to being taken off on a stretcher and replaced by Alexander Mejia.

Peru were rarely threatened for the remainder of the half after weathering the early storm and could have taken the lead themselves in the 43rd minute had Paolo Guerrero not skewed wide from Claudio Pizarro's clever pass.

Joel Sanchez saw two good chances to give Peru the lead go begging after the restart as the midfielder fired wide of the near post and was then denied by Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina.Ospina got down low to his left to keep out Sanchez's first-time effort following great work from Christian Cueva.

The best chance of the second half fell to Martinez, who was thwarted on the rebound by Gallese in the 69th minute after the shot-stopper had prevented Rodriguez from giving Colombia the lead at the end of a quick counter-attack.

And Colombia may be left to rue missing what was their last real opportunity to take all three points, leaving one of the tournament favourites facing a nervous wait to learn whether they will remain in the competition.