..::Football III::..

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Messi is simply the best - Pekerman

Lionel Messi is “quite simply the best player in the world”, according to Colombia coach Jose Pekerman ahead of his side’s Copa América quarter-final clash with Argentina.

The two sides meet in Viña del Mar on Friday in the last eight, and while Messi has not been in top form thus far in the tournament, Pekerman believes the Barcelona star remains the toughest of propositions.

“Messi is quite simply the best player in the world and Argentina have played in the same way that they did at the World Cup,” Pekerman told a pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“They have some new elements that are contributing much to the team too, with Gerardo Martino beginning to implement his plan for them.”

Colombia have been struck by a number of injuries and suspensions of late, with Carlos Bacca, Carlos Sanchez and Edwin Valencia all out of the Argentina tie, but Pekerman has faith in his squad’s ability to overcome their bad luck.

“It is not the first time we have suffered such disadvantages with injuries and absences in the team. We’re used to dealing with difficult situations, and we are looking forward to a good game.“We are eager to really participate in this game. We have talent in all positions, so we know we have enough.”

The two sides come head-to-head at the Estadio Sausalito on Friday, with kick-off at 20:30 local time.

 

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Oscar joining Juventus is 'completely impossible', says Joorabchian

Kia Joorabchian has ruled out the possibility of Oscar leaving Chelsea this summer and has dismissed reports of a move to Juventus as "completely impossible".

Joorabchian, who looks after the interests of a number of top players, says there is no truth to reports the Brazilian will leave Stamford Bridge.

Oscar exclusively told Goal in April that he intends to stay at Chelsea during the transfer window, with Jose Mourinho reiterating that stance just a day later.

Juventus have long been linked with interest and Massimiliano Allegri hailed Oscar's talents earlier in June, while Goal readers voted the Brazilian as the Serie A champions' key target this summer.

But Joorabchian does not foresee the Brazil international making a move to San Siro in the foreseeable future, telling calciomercato.it: "It's completely impossible and there is no truth to it at all.

"Oscar will not be leaving Chelsea."

 

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Van Persie on Manchester United future: I need regular first-team football

Robin van Persie has insisted he needs regular first-team football as speculation over his Manchester United future continues.

The 31-year-old, who is currently on holiday, has been linked with a move away from Old Trafford as he enters the final year of his contract, with Goal revealing in May that Real Madrid have made an enquiry.

Galatasaray have revealed and then denied interest in Van Persie, while Fenerbache are reportedly keen on the Netherlands international, and the striker says he must be first-choice ahead of next summer's European Championship.

"When I signed for United, I knew these kind of [reports] would appear," he told ELF Voetbal. "Next year is the European Championship. That tournament is going to play a big role in the choice I will make.

"I have to be in my best form [for Euro 2016]. But most important is the wish of my wife and children. Whatever I do Bouchra, Shaqueel and Dina Layla are the highest of my priorities. They have to be happy."

Van Persie notched 10 goals in all competitions for United last term, eight less than the previous campaign and 20 off his first-season tally, but the striker feels he deserves more credit for his scoring exploits.

He added: "I was second highest scorer, behind Wayne Rooney, with 10 goals. But people don't seem to accept this. I think that is deserved, because it says a lot that Wayne is top scorer with 12 goals.

"In all the other top teams, there is a minimum of one player who makes more than 25 goals over all competitions. Not at United. That's the reality and I feel responsible for that."

 

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I told Clyne to sign for Liverpool - Carragher

Jamie Carragher has been impressed by Liverpool's early transfer dealings, with Nathaniel Clyne set to become their sixth summer arrival.

Goal understands the Southampton defender will arrive in a €17.5m deal from Southampton with the England international following Roberto Firmino, James Milner, Danny Ings, Adam Bogdan and Joe Gomez to Anfield.

While Raheem Sterling's future remains undecided, with Manchester City set for a final €64m bid, Carragher feels Brendan Rodgers has already strengthened his squad ahead of the new season.

The former Liverpool defender wrote on Kicca: "I saw Nathaniel Clyne at St Mary's after a game last season and told him to sign for LFC – he took my advice!

"I think it's another good signing for the club to go along with the other business already done.

"The early deals were a couple of squad players and also James Milner, who are all an improvement on what's currently in the squad.

"The last week has seen the signings of Clyne and Firmino, which will improve the team more than the squad, and that's what costs the big money.

"Credit to the club for getting these deals done early as every club wants to do that but few do. Another striker still needed though!"

 

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Welbeck: Momentum key to Arsenal title challenge

Danny Welbeck believes Arsenal can mount a Premier League title challenge if they start the new season in the same form they ended the last.

Arsene Wenger oversaw the club's worst start to a campaign for 32 years but much-improved form in 2015 saw them rise as high as second before finishing the term in third place and retain the FA Cup.

Welbeck, who has struggled with injuries since moving to the Emirates Stadium in a £16 million deal from Manchester United last summer, has backed the Gunners to compete at the top next season.

"Chelsea won the league and credit to them," he told Rabona magazine. "They were very consistent last season with their performances and results.

"There have been times when they might not have played that well but they've still got the results. They've got a winning mentality, they just move onto the next game and get those three points.

"With Arsenal, at the start of the season we weren't getting as many points as we should have and that's obviously held us back further down the line.

"We don't want to set our aims low, we want to be the best we can be. After the run we went on, it shows that we can handle it in the Premier League and keep racking up wins and three points after three points.

"That's something we want to do and I think that's something we can look to do again next season. We're determined to keep on improving and are determined to come back stronger next season."

 

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Bolivia 1-3 Peru: Guerrero hat-trick sets up Chile showdown


Paolo Guerrero silenced his critics with a hat-trick as Peru overcame Bolivia 3-1 to set up a Copa America semi-final clash against hosts Chile.

Peru coach Ricardo Gareca was forced to defend Guerrero's goalscoring record pre-match, with the striker goalless in all three group games in Chile, leaving him with just two international goals since 2012.

Guerrero, however, proved his worth with his second Copa America hat-trick as Peru earned back-to-back semi-final appearances, having reached the final four in Argentina in 2011, and a showdown with Jorge Sampaoli's impressive side.

Marcelo Martins Moreno pulled one back from the penalty spot late on but the result was already beyond doubt thanks to Guerrero's heroics.

The Flamengo striker, who claimed a three-goal haul against Venezuela four years ago, scored two in three first-half minutes to put the game beyond Mauricio Soria's men after just 23 minutes.

He completed his hat-trick and a memorable performance with 16 minutes remaining as he moved second on Peru's all-time goalscoring charts with 24, alongside Teodoro Fernandez.

Bolivia - appearing in their first quarter-final since 1997 - made a host of changes to the team that lost 5-0 to Chile last week, with Edemir Rodriguez, Pablo Escobar, Ricardo Pedriel and Walter Veizaga dropping out for Edward Zenteno, Miguel Hurtado, Danny Bejarano and Alcides Pena.

Star forward Jefferson Farfan returned for Peru, while Victor Yotun and Edwin Retamoso were named in the starting XI at the expense of Josepmir Ballon and suspended captain Carlos Lobaton following last week's goalless draw with Colombia.

Bolivia came into the match as the lowest ranked nation remaining in the quarter-finals and they lived up to that tag as Peru gained a stranglehold on proceedings inside the opening 23 minutes.

Guerrero was the chief destroyer with a quick-fire brace, the first of his goals coming in the 20th minute after rising highest to head Juan Vargas' cross past goalkeeper Romel Quinonez, albeit with some help from a deflection off Cristian Coimbra.

It got better three minutes later as Peru caught Bolivia on the counter, with Christian Cueva playing through Guerrero, who tucked the ball underneath Quinonez, who had lost his footing.

Bolivia slowly worked their way back into the contest and they almost pulled a goal back via Leonel Morales and his thunderous long-range strike, while Martins Moreno forced Pedro Gallese into a fine save.

Farfa then struck the outside of the post minutes and crashed a free-kick off rattle the crossbar as he looked to add a third before half-time.

Farfan was in the thick of the action in the second half, though a goal continued to elude the forward despite two good opportunities.

At the other end, appeals for a 69th-minute penalty were waved away by referee Wilmar Roldan, who was soon surrounded by furious Bolivia players. Ricardo Pedriel appeared to be taken down by Gallese en route to goal.

Bolivia's woes were compounded five minutes later when Guerrero capitalised on Bejarano's terrible pass across the defence as he drove through on goal unchallenged for his hat-trick.

The Bolivians salvaged some pride late in the match when Martins Moreno converted from the penalty spot after Damian Lizio had been felled by Luis Advincula.

Substitute Yordy Reyna went close to making it 4-1 late on but could not connect with a low cross, and the match ended amid scuffles between both sets of players, although nothing as serious as Wednesday's clash between Chile and Uruguay.

Peru will now face the hosts at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago on Monday.

 

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Rooney: Manchester United will challenge for title next season

Wayne Rooney is confident Manchester United will challenge for the Premier League title next season.

Manager Louis van Gaal suffered a slow start to life at Old Trafford, overseeing just three wins in his opening 10 games, but United lost just five times since the turn of the year to secure Champions League football.

Having last won the title in 2012-13 as Sir Alex Ferguson bid farewell, Rooney now feels the squad are back on the right footing to be challenging the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City at the top.

"I honestly believe we will go far next year and won't be far off challenging for the league," Rooney said on his official website.

"If you look at the first 10 to 11 games we only had around 13 points, and if you look at where we finished I think it shows we could have been up there with a better start.

"We've dominated and outplayed most teams this season but haven't taken our chances to win those games, it could have been a different story if we had.

"The most important thing is that as a squad, including the manager and myself, we believe we are close to challenging for the title and with a couple of signings we will have a good chance of doing that.

"It would be good to win as many cups as possible, a club like Manchester United should be winning trophies and hopefully next season we can put that right."

Rooney admits last season was another disappointment for United having failed to mount a title challenge and finishing empty-handed but added that missing out of the top four would have been a "disaster".

He added: "Our main target this year was to get back into the top four, and we have done that so in that sense it's not bad at all.

"You have to realise that at the start of the season we had a new manager, new coaches and a lot of new players, so it was always going to be a tough ask for us to go and win the Premier League.

"It was a bit disappointing not to win any silverware, especially the FA Cup after the defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-finals; we had a great chance of going on to win that.

"After last season it would have been a disaster if we didn't get that Champions League spot, but the main thing is that the club is now back where it belongs."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Rooney: Manchester United will challenge for title next season

Title challenge karanna okkotama kalin hoda squad 1kak hadaganna wenawamehema balagena idalanam baha

Next next 1ka last season 1katath wada tough wei​

 

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Liverpool & another Premier League club keen on Bacca - agent

Liverpool and one other Premier League club are interested in Carlos Bacca, according to the Sevilla striker's agent.

The 28-year-old, who still has three years to run on his contract at the Europa League winners, reportedly has a buy-out clause of €30 million (£21.5m) but no club has yet bid that figure.

"We have had lots of interest but so far there has been no official approach," Sergio Barila told the Guardian.

"I spoke with Carlos on Wednesday night and we agreed we need a real solution. Clubs are telling him not to sign anything until they have made an offer but we are still waiting.

"Liverpool and another English club are among that have shown an interest but there are also clubs in Italy. What is clear is that they must meet the release clause but at this stage nobody has."

Barila insists Bacca, who is currently with Colombia at Copa America, is in no rush to leave Sevilla with Champions League football secured next season but Liverpool fit his criteria for a possible summer move.

He added: "Sevilla are a good team who will play in the Champions League next season so it wouldn’t be a disaster to stay.

"Carlos has other options to earn a lot of money in places like China or the United Arab Emirates but that would not fit in with what he is looking for.

"We are really looking at three things - number one is to have a happy family situation for his wife and son because he had a bad experience in Belgium.

"The second is to find a good team with a good project. Before he went to Chile, we wrote down a list of clubs that fit that description and Liverpool was on that list.

"The third question is the contract. He has a good salary in Sevilla but we know how much clubs in England can pay."

Earlier on Thursday, Sevilla sporting director Monchi released a statement on Sevilla's website regarding Bacca's future.

"We have not received an official offer for Bacca," he said. "We are not in negotiations for any important player.

"I'm no fortune-teller but there aren't that many top strikers in the market.
"Bacca has averaged 24.5 goals, 21 goals in his first season at the club and 28 in his second.

"I hope no one pays his buy-out clause."It's a risk we take but we can't do anything about that.

"We gave him a new contract 10 months ago and I believe he and his family are very happy here. But I cannot predict the future."

 

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Copa America Quarter-Finals Fixture 2015.06.26

Copa America Quarter-Finals Fixture 2015.06.26

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Argentina Vs Colombia

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[Wolverine GTR]

Ada thamai match 1kahoda fight 1kak yai kiyala hithenawa

 

[Wolverine GTR]

ow machan CL th nathiwa Firmino Liverpool giya eka pudumai.
dan clubs ikmanata ikmanata sign tika karaganna(Liverpool,Juventus ...) wenger la balan innawane.clyne th Liverpool yayi

Ow bro Juventus/Liverpool lage "Buy Early" policy 1kak yannehabai 1ka thamai matath hithena hatiyata hodama de.

Nathnam Dead Line day 1ka wenakam balagena idala anaganna one nahaneLiverpool la danatamath hoda playersla set 1kak gattha(Milner,Fermino,Ings,Clyne(sure thing 1kak wela thiyenne). & C.Bacca th Liverpool la interest kiyala kiyanne.Juventus lath okema copy 1kak thiyenne.Dybala,Mandzu,Khedira wa gattha

1kata ape kattiya (Specially Arsenal/Manchester United) karanne hamadama anthima mohotha wenakam inna 1kaneoken wenne hoda playersla okkoma miss wena 1ka​

 

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Ow bro Juventus/Liverpool lage "Buy Early" policy 1kak yannehabai 1ka thamai matath hithena hatiyata hodama de.

Nathnam Dead Line day 1ka wenakam balagena idala anaganna one nahaneLiverpool la danatamath hoda playersla set 1kak gattha(Milner,Fermino,Ings,Clyne(sure thing 1kak wela thiyenne). & C.Bacca th Liverpool la interest kiyala kiyanne.Juventus lath okema copy 1kak thiyenne.Dybala,Mandzu,Khedira wa gattha​

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1kata ape kattiya (Specially Arsenal/Manchester United) karanne hamadama anthima mohotha wenakam inna 1kaneoken wenne hoda playersla okkoma miss wena 1ka

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eka thami machan.anith eka thami deadline day lan wenkota ithuru wena players lath overpriced
puluwan nam pre season matches walata kalin new palyers la ganna one.
ethkota next season start ekedima experiment karanne nathiwa hoda team ekak danna puluwan.
last season eke Chelsea la Costa , Fabregas, Filipe Luis kalinma sign karagaththa.loic remy withrai deadline day eke sign karagaththe

 

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Ada thamai match 1kahoda fight 1kak yai kiyala hithenawa

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Jordi Alba: I want to retire at Barcelona

Jordi Alba has insisted that he is happy with life at Barcelona and intends to stay with the Catalans until the end of his career.

The 26-year-old, who came through the ranks of the club's famed youth academy, returned to Camp Nou in the summer of 2012 after spells with Cornella, Valencia and Gimnastic, and has since developed into a key player.

Alba was an integral part of the squad that won the treble in 2014-15 and he is hungry for more success."I want to play for Barcelona for many, many years," the Spain international told reporters.

"When I was young, I had to leave, but I finally came back to where I wanted to be."I have learned a lot in these three years and we have won several titles.

"You never know what the future has in store, but if possible I’d like to hang up my boots at Barcelona."The left-back has a contract with Barca until June 2020.

 

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Outraged Mainz open to offers for Jara after Cavani incident

Mainz are prepared to part company with Gonzalo Jara after the Chile international sparked outrage with his behaviour in a Copa America quarter-final.Jara was at the centre of the controversy that saw Uruguay's Edinson Cavani sent off on Wednesday in the second half of a match that Chile went on to win 1-0.

Having already been booked, Cavani picked up a second yellow card for raising his hand to Jara's face, with the latter falling to ground theatrically.Replays then revealed the provocation Cavani had received, with Jara appearing to prod the Paris Saint-Germain forward in the backside with a finger.

Mainz sporting director Christian Heidel has now indicated the Bundesliga club are less than impressed with their player's conduct and are happy to sell the defender.
"He knows that if an offer comes, he can go," said Heidel to Bild ."We do not tolerate that. More than the prod, however, it is what comes afterwards that makes me angry. I hate theatrics more than anything."

It is unclear as of yet whether Jara - contracted to Mainz for another season - will receive a suspension, with Chile set to face Peru in the Copa semi-finals on Monday.

 

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Jara maha Jara wadak kale​

 

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Kondogbia can match Pogba, says Domenech

Former France coach Raymond Domenech believes new Inter signing Geoffrey Kondogbia has the potential to reach the same level as Juventus star Paul Pogba, while he also has plenty of praise for Giannelli Imbula.

The Nerazzurri beat arch-rivals AC Milan to the capture of Kondogbia earlier this month, agreeing to pay Monaco €35 million for a midfielder who impressed in last season's Champions League.In addition, Inter are also set to land Marseille ace Imbula in the coming days.

Domenech has followed the careers of both men closely and believes that the pair will shine at San Siro, arguing that they could make the same instant impact in Serie A as Pogba, who arrived at Juve from Manchester United in 2012.

"Pogba is still the superior player at this stage. He is already a Ferrari, just like [Arturo] Vidal, although he wouldn't know how to drive one... But both Kondogbia and Imbula have the potential to reach his level, though. Kondogbia in particular," Domenech told La Gazzette dello Sport."Kondogbia had a quiet first half of the season with Monaco, but really exploded in the second half. He did incredibly well in the Champions League.

"But now the difficult part starts for him. He has to justify the €35 million Inter paid for him. Psychologically, it will be harder for him than for Imbula due to his pricetag.

"Imbula reminds me a bit of Blaise Matuidi. He can dribble, beat his man and take risks. He has improved a lot under Marcelo Bielsa when it comes to reading the game."

The 22-year-old Kondogbia has signed a five-year deal with Inter, while Imbula, 22, is close to joining Roberto Mancini's side on a one-year loan deal with an obligation to buy.

 

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Mascherano: Falcao not finished

Argentina's Javier Mascherano remains convinced of Radamel Falcao's enduring class, but hopes that the Colombia striker does not show it in Friday's Copa America quarter-final.

The sides meet in the last eight of the competition with neither having hit the heights perhaps expected, with Falcao struggling in a Colombia side that scored just once in Group C.

The Monaco man's role in Jose Pekerman's set-up has been questioned, with James Rodriguez forced out wide despite flourishing in a more central role at the World Cup last year in Falcao's injury-enforced absence.

Falcao failed to find his feet on loan at Manchester United last season, but Mascherano maintains the 29-year-old will recover the form he showed prior to a serious knee injury sustained early in 2014."I have not only played against Radamel Falcao, but also in the same team as him with River Plate. I know him very well," Mascherano told reporters.

"Obviously, he is a player with a a very important role. He is still missing some continuity after a very serious injury. He tried his best to be able to play the World Cup, but he could not.

"After this, the most important thing is to play a lot of minutes and, for different circumstances, he could not do that at his club even though Falcao has demonstrated that he is one of the best you can find at a worldwide level.

"It is a matter of time. I have no doubt that at some point, the best Falcao will show. I hope that this won't happen [on Friday]."

 

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De Jong signs AC Milan extension

AC Milan have announced that Nigel de Jong has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until the summer of 2018.

The experienced midfielder's previous deal was due to expire next week and there were question marks over whether he would stay at the San Siro outfit, with Schalke and his boyhood club Ajax showing an interest in signing him.

However, De Jong has now decided to prolong his stay with Milan by inking a new three-year deal.

The 30-year-old joined Milan from Manchester City in the summer of 2012 and has since developed into a key player at the Rossoneri.De Jong has made 90 appearances in all competitions for Milan so far, scoring seven goals in the process.

The holding midfielder came through the ranks of the famed Ajax youth academy and also wore the Hamburg jersey before signing for City in January 2009.