..::Football IV::..

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    Herrera trains with Real Zaragoza ahead of Manchester United's new season

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    Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera has already kicked his pre-season into gear by training with his former club Real Zaragoza.

    The 26-year-old began his career with the Spanish club before moving to Athletic Bilbao and then United in 2014.

    Herrera was joined by Alberto Zapater, a former team-mate at Zaragoza, and 19-year-old Jesus Vallejo, who joined Real Madrid last year but was loaned back for the season.

    Herrera is now preparing for life under Jose Mourinho having endured a tough spell under Louis van Gaal.

    The midfielder made 40 appearances overall this season but only 26 of those were starts.
     

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    France 2-0 Albania: Griezmann & Payet strike late for hosts

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    Antoine Griezmann and Dimitri Payet both scored late goals to give France a 2-0 win over minnows Albania and book their place in the knockout rounds of Euro 2016 on Wednesday evening.

    Griezmann, who was a surprise omission from Didier Deschamps' starting line-up, was introduced in the second half and made his presence felt with a superb headed goal before Payet rounded off the victory with his second of the tournament for the hosts.

    After playing well in their opening Group A defeat to Switzerland, Albania looked set to go one better and earn a point against a France side that dominated possession, but failed to register a shot on target until Griezmann struck.

    Deschamps also opted against picking Paul Pogba from the start and his chosen 11 struggled to break down a determined Albania side that defended resolutely throughout.

    Gianni De Biasi's men created a number of chances to take the lead in a brave performance, but Griezmann and Payet consigned them to a defeat which leaves them bottom of the group.Albania started without former Marseille captain Lorik Cana, who was sent off in their defeat to Switzerland, but the defender was not missed in the early stages as his side enjoyed a spell of possession and Ermir Lenjani fired the game's first shot.

    In the absence of Pogba and Griezmann, it was left to Anthony Martial and Kingsley Coman to probe for an early opening, but the Albanian defence frustrated the tournament hosts and the home support packed into Stade Velodrome.


    Albania gave France a scare when Elseid Hysaj fired in a cross that took a wicked deflection off Martial's leg and Armando Sadiku was only just denied an easy goal by the alert Hugo Lloris.

    As patience began to wane amongst the France supporters, Lenjani dragged a shot just wide from a corner during a sustained spell of Albania pressure, but the first half ended without a shot on target from either team.France sent on Pogba for Martial after the break and within seconds of the restart Olivier Giroud whipped in a cross that Coman headed just wide.

    Just as it looked like France were imposing themselves on the game, Sadiku delivered a raking ball into the box that Bacary Sagna would have turned into his own net had Lloris not saved well, and the rebound almost went in off Lenjani's head.

    France countered, and Pogba fired over from Payet's sweetly hit cross, but the game hung in the balance after an hour.Giroud squandered a golden chance to score when he headed Coman's perfectly judged cross wide of Etrit Berisha's goal, and a minute later he powered an almost identical chance onto the post.

    Deschamps sent on Griezmann for the final 20 minutes as his side continued to press, but it was not until the 89th minute that the substitute connected with Adil Rami's cross to make it 1-0.

    Payet then sent the French fans wild with another superb solo goal in injury time, cutting inside to place a shot into the net with great composure.
     

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    I won't risk Hummels – Low

    Germany coach Joachim Low will not risk Mats Hummels in the Euro 2016 clash with Poland on Thursday if the defender's injury problems persist.

    The centre-back, who is set to join Bayern Munich this summer, missed Germany's Group C opener against Ukraine due to a calf problem, but has since returned to training.However, Low has now revealed that centre-backs Jerome Boateng and Shkodran Mustafi will be selected again against the Poles unless Hummels makes a full recovery.



    "He [Hummels] has trained twice with the team but not for too long," said Low. "It is important to see his final training session and then we'll talk to him to decide if he can play or not."I will not run any risk if he has any problems or doesn't feel 100 per cent. I can't predict that right now – it will be after the final training [session].

    "He told me he felt quite well. He coped with the effort and performance shown in training but I have to talk to the physicians before I can tell you more."

    Experienced midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger scored Germany's second goal in the 2-0 victory against Ukraine, but Low has now indicated that the Manchester United man is not fit enough to play an entire match.

    "You can see every day that he is proceeding, his physical condition is excellent, and he has worked very hard. He was a little tired lately but now he's full of energy," he added.

    "He doesn't have the condition for 90 minutes but he is well integrated into the squad in training."His role is ever more important; he's an emotional leader who is being listened to by other players.

    "He has won everything you can win. He is a world champion, he's won the Champions League. He has a big role and is very important for our squad."
     

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    Payet closing in on Zinedine Zidane's Euro record

    Dimitri Payet is currently the frontrunner for Player of the Tournament at Euro 2016, and he’s already closing in on a record held by Zinedine Zidane.The West Ham midfielder has scored against Romania and Albania as France sit top of Group A, with last 16 qualification already assured.

    In two games Payet has created a whopping 14 chances for his team-mates, even though Olivier Giroud is the only man to have converted one of them.



    To put Payet’s incredible tournament into perspective, Zidane created 15 chances throughout the entire 2004 as France were knocked out in the quarter-finals by surprise winners Greece.
     

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    Real Madrid ready to sell cut-price flop Kovacic

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    Real Madrid are prepared to make a loss on Mateo Kovacic as the European champions look to offload the youngster, Goal understands.

    The 22-year-old arrived from Inter for a fee of €29 million less than 12 months ago, but has struggled to make an impact after two-and-a-half stellar seasons in Serie A.

    Kovacic was afforded just eight Liga starts after failing to impress both Rafael Benitez and Zinedine Zidane and Madrid are now prepared to accept offers of €25m for the Croatia international.

    Real Madrid are prepared to make a loss on Mateo Kovacic as the European champions look to offload the youngster, Goal understands.

    The 22-year-old arrived from Inter for a fee of €29 million less than 12 months ago, but has struggled to make an impact after two-and-a-half stellar seasons in Serie A.

    Kovacic was afforded just eight Liga starts after failing to impress both Rafael Benitez and Zinedine Zidane and Madrid are now prepared to accept offers of €25m for the Croatia international.
    "I want to try a new experience in a different League, a new challenge," Witsel said. "I hope to step up a level and play in a big European club.

    "My future could be in Italy or in England. It doesn't matter if I go to Serie A or the Premier League, as long as it's a big club."

    Milan were thwarted with a January bid for the Belgian, while Ronald Koeman has been linked with interest as he begins his tenure as Everton manager.
     

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    Turan: I was ineffective, but criticism is harsh


    Turkey captain Arda Turan feels he did not deserve the harsh criticism he received in the wake of his side's 1-0 Euro 2016 defeat at the hands of Croatia.Luka Modric's stunning volley saw Turkey suffer an opening game defeat at Euro 2016 with Turan a particular target for a poor performance.

    The Barcelona man admitted he was not at his best in their Group D opener, but is adamant he always gives his all for his country.

    "I played badly and I was ineffective. However, such things can happen in life. I'll try my best to do better in the next match," Turan told the official UEFA website.

    "But I really find it hard to understand the way people respond to me. I've worn this jersey over 90 times. I have played badly a few times, but you could count them on the fingers of one hand.

    "I'm just trying to stand tall for my country and my national team."Turkey need a good result against Spain on Friday in order to keep their chances of reaching the knockout stages alive and Turan hopes they can spring a surprise.

    "Spain are the favourites, they will have more of the ball," the midfielder added."We're going to try our hardest to get a point; if we can do that, our chances of going through are very high. Spain are a very strong team, but, they will still only play with 11 players like us. We're going to fight until the end.

    "I have lots of friends in the Spain team. That is the beauty of football. Nowadays everyone knows each other – video analysis has really developed – so I do not think there will be any sort of advantage or disadvantage."
     

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    :shocked:Two stabbed in Lyon fan zone


    Local authorities in Lyon have confirmed two people were stabbed in the city's Euro 2016 fan zone on Wednesday.

    According to the Rhone region's state government, police intervened in a confrontation between locals singing the national anthem and fans of Albania, who lost 2-0 to France in Marseille in the day's late kick-off.

    A Frenchman and a Belgian were treated for wounds to the thigh and backside respectively, but no weapons were found inside the heavily guarded area and no arrests were made.

    Officials in Lyon will reportedly meet with UEFA and the private company providing security at the fan zone to review their procedures after one of the first high-profile instances of disorder in the city, which has been largely free of trouble so far during the tournament.
     

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    England 2-1 Wales: Last-gasp Sturridge strike earns win

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    Daniel Sturridge scored in stoppage-time as England came from behind to clinch a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wales to move top of Group B in Euro 2016.

    Roy Hodgson's two second-half substitutes win the game as Jamie Vardy scored his first competitive England goal to cancel out Gareth Bale's first-half opener before Sturridge's strike at the death

    Bale had powered a long-range free-kick past Joe Hart to give Wales the lead in Lens, but Hodgson sent on Vardy and Sturridge at the break and saw that move rewarded.

    The Leicester City striker grasped his first opportunity to score, before Sturridge pounced to seal a victory that England will feel they deserved after dominating possession and creating more chances as the match progressed.

    England move top of the group on four points and will definitely reach the last 16 if they get at least a draw in their final match against Slovakia, who are level with Wales on three points.


    Wales boss Chris Coleman made three changes, with fit-again goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey starting, but it was unchanged England who squandered a golden early chance as Raheem Sterling connected with Adam Lallana's cross but could only blaze over the crossbar.

    Wales struggled to get out of their own half as England settled into a rhythm, and Gary Cahill should have tested Hennessey when Wayne Rooney's free-kick found him unchallenged in the box.

    England had claims for a penalty turned down when Ben Davies appeared to handle in the area and Chris Smalling was inches away from scoring when he rose well to head a Rooney corner just wide.

    But with only three minutes left in the first half, Rooney felled Robson-Kanu 30 yards from goal and Bale struck the ensuing free-kick with such venom that Joe Hart could not keep it out, despite getting a hand on the ball.

    Hodgson sent on Vardy and Sturridge for Kane and Sterling at the break, with their presence galvanising England, who went close when Rooney's shot was turned round the post by Hennessey.Their pressure paid off when Sturridge crossed into a crowded box and Williams' backward header fell to Vardy, who slammed into the net from a few yards.

    Much of England's attacking threat came down the right with Kyle Walker causing Wales constant problems with his pace and Hodgson sent on Marcus Rashford as his side pressed for a winning goal.

    Wales put their bodies on the line and Jonathan Williams and James Chester did well to block a smart Rooney shot before the winner arrived a minute into stoppage-time.

    Hodgson's men broke into the Wales penalty area and Dele Alli's flick-on was driven inside the near post by Sturridge, prompting wild celebrations on the England bench and in the stands.
     

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    Rashford becomes England's youngest ever player at Euros



    Marcus Rashford has become England's youngest ever player at a European Championship finals at 18 years and 228 days old.

    The Manchester United striker was brought on with 17 minutes of ordinary time remaining, replacing Liverpool's Adam Lallana, as the Three Lions chased a winner against Group B opponents Wales.
    Wayne Rooney has held the record since Euro 2004 when he appeared in England's 2-1 defeat to France, with Rashford registering four days younger.


    The United forward scored twice on his United debut, and then scored another double on his Premier League debut. Then, keeping up the trend, the teenager scored on his England debut.