..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

OFFICIAL: Southampton appoint Puel

Southampton have confirmed the appointment of Claude Puel as their new manager.

The former Lyon and Nice manager has signed a three-year deal at St Mary's and becomes Ronald Koeman's successor following his move to Everton. Koeman departed the club on June 14 to join the Toffees, and the Saints have now brought their hunt for a new manager to an end by luring Puel to the south coast.

Puel has only ever worked in France prior to his move to Southampton, managing Monaco and Lille as well as Lyon and Nice, and helped guide the latter club to a fourth-placed finish in Ligue 1 last season.

Following Puel's appointment, Eric Black has been confirmed as the club's new assistant manager, while Pascal Plancque joins as the first-team's assistant coach.

“The process to appoint a new First Team Manager has been diligent and meticulous," director of football Les Reed told the club's official website. "In order to ensure we appointed a manager who would meet our needs as a club, feedback from the dressing room, as well as taking account of our culture, vision and values, was critical in drawing up our criteria for the appointment.

“As the process eliminated a number of excellent candidates, Claude clearly came out on top of a very impressive shortlist. We have not only got the best man, but the right coaching team to support him.

“Eric Black has an excellent pedigree as a coach and vast experience domestically and internationally. Pascal Plancque has an excellent record as a technical coach and, like Claude, has been responsible for developing many young French talents into top quality players.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona agree deal to sign Lyon defender Umtiti

Samuel Umtiti has reached an agreement to join Barcelona, both Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas and Blaugrana president Josep Maria Bartomeu have confirmed.

The 22-year-old is one of the Spanish champions’ top summer targets alongside Paris Saint-Germain’s Marquinhos as they look to significantly strengthen their defence ahead of the new season.

And after Lyon president Aulas indicated on Wednesday that the clubs have reached an agreement, Barcelona president Bartomeu has revealed that a €25 million fixed fee has been agreed for the France international.

"We have an agreement with OL for Umtiti for a fixed €25 million without variables," Bartomeu said.

"There is still a deal to be done with the player. We'll do it when he is finished participating in the Euro because he is focused."
"But since Aulas made it official, I confirm that the agreement between clubs is true."

Bartomeu's intervention came after Aulas' comments to RMC Sport on Wednesday, as the Lyon president revealed that the club would allow Umtiti to move to the "club of his heart".
“We anticipate the eventual departure of Umtiti. Samuel has an exclusive agreement for him to join Barcelona,” Aulas told RMC Sport.

“We made a promise that if he could play for the club of his heart, he would leave. It’s part of the commitment which we have made, as was done for Karim Benzema when he went to Real Madrid.

“Right now, Samuel is with Les Bleus and is focussed on the Euro and the fact that he can play Sunday against Iceland. If the three parties agree, it is possible that he will leave us.”

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Vertonghen to miss rest of Euro 2016 due to torn ankle ligaments


Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots has confirmed the Jan Vertonghen will play no further part in the remainder of their Euro 2016 campaign after he sustained torn ankle ligaments in training and is facing six to eight weeks out.

The Tottenham defender, who has predominantly featured at left-back throughout the tournament in France, sustained the injury during training ahead of Belgium's quarter-final tie against Wales on Friday.

Vertonghen's absence is a blow to Wilmots, who is already without suspended Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen.

"I blew the whistle to stop training and he turned his ankle as he brought the ball down," Wilmots told reporters on Thursday.
"He had a scan here and he has torn two or three external ligaments, which mean his Euros are over.

"It's a sporting tragedy for him - I won't say it's a real tragedy. He was completely fit mentally and physically but fate decided that on this particular movement, that he would do 10,000 times his ligaments would tear.

"He was our vice-captain and we've got Thomas Vermaelen, who's banned. But we've got alternatives. We face a tricky fixture but the players have been with us for four years.

"We have options there. We're thinking forward, to the future. We've got 19 players fit and ready to play and we have to try to get into the last four."Asked about a timescale for Vertonghen's return, Wilmots added: "Based on our forecast it should be between six and eight weeks.

"He suffered the same injury before and it took about that long to recover. But it depends on his rehabilitation."We've been in touch with [Tottenham head coach Mauricio] Pochettino and the Tottenham doctor."

Belgium, who have been without injured captain Vincent Kompany in France, had been expected to shift Vertonghen into the centre to partner club-mate Toby Alderweireld with Jordan Lukaku coming in at left-back.

However, Vertonghen's absence may now hand an opportunity to 21-year-old Jason Denayer when Belgium face Wales in Lille.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Neymar confirms: I'm staying at Barcelona

Neymar has confirmed he is staying at Barcelona after club president Josep Maria Bartomeu revealed he expects the Brazilian to finalise a contract extension "in the next few days".

The Brazil star has been linked with a big-money move to either Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester United this summer but has now put pen to paper on a new contract at the Camp Nou.

The 24-year-old stated on Twitter: "I am very happy to keep living this dream. Visca Barça and Visca Catalunya". He also posted the image of himself in a Barcelona strip to his 52.7 million followers on Instagram.

Neymar's previous deal was to expire in June 2018, with a release clause of €200 million.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Del Bosque to resign from Spain job

Vicente del Bosque has confirmed he will not continue as Spain coach following their last-16 exit from Euro 2016.The reigning European champions were beaten by Italy on Monday to end their chances of winning a third consecutive continental title.

Del Bosque also guided La Roja to victory at the 2010 World Cup having taken over following Luis Aragones' winning Euro 2008 campaign.

"Without a doubt, I have no intention to remain as coach, but you have to be discreet," Del Bosque told radio station RNE. "No matter what the result of the Euros, I had no doubt about what my future would be."

A report by Spanish newspaper Marca claimed former Sevilla and Athletic coach Joaquin Caparros is set to succeed Del Bosque.

"I would be excited to manage the national team, any Spanish coach would be honoured to take this job," Caparros said. "But I hope Vicente stays, he is the best coach possible."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Time for a Change!

Spain last tournaments wala sucess une nathu unath godak victories walata Del Bosque guide kala

Thanks for Everything Del Bosque!

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[Wolverine GTR]

Poland 1-1 Portugal (3-5 on pens): Quaresma sends Seleccao into semi-finals

Ricardo Quaresma was Portugal's hero for the second game running as he capitalised on Jakub Blaszczykowski's missed spot-kick to seal a 5-3 penalty shootout win over Poland in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.Substitute Quaresma scored the only goal as Portugal, who have reached the semi-finals without winning a game in 90 minutes, defeated Croatia in the last 16.

And the winger rifled his spot-kick high into the goal after Rui Patricio had got down low to his left to push aside Blaszczykowski's effort at the Stade Velodrome after the match had finished 1-1 after extra time in Marseille.

It could easily have been a different story for Poland - who had beaten Switzerland on penalties in the last round - as Robert Lewandowski, much maligned for a series of poor performances throughout the tournament, netted the second-quickest goal in Euros history to end a 645-minute wait for a European Championship goal.

Portugal levelled just after the half-hour, though, as Renato Sanches - man of the match off the bench versus Croatia - marked his first international start by becoming the youngest scorer in a Euros knockout match.

And Portugal were left celebrating after the shootout, the miss particularly harsh on Blaszczykowski, who scored twice earlier in the competition and has been so influential in Poland's best showing at a European Championship.

Wales or Belgium now await Portugal in the last four. Both teams played 120 minutes in their last-16 ties, but Poland showed no signs of weariness early on and stormed ahead after 140 seconds.

Cedric misjudged a looping pass and Kamil Grosicki raced down the left before centring for Lewandowski, who clinically side-footed into the left corner from 10 yards.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani were largely isolated by Poland's stern defence early on, but the momentum slowly shifted Portugal's way, the former flashing a shot at Lukasz Fabianski from the edge of the box before seeing penalty claims waved away after being bundled to the ground by Michal Pazdan.

And the leveller came in the 33rd minute. Nani's clever flick set up Sanches and his 25-yard left-foot effort took a slight deflection before nestling in the right of the goal past a despairing Fabianski.

There was little to split the teams at the start of the second half, but Ronaldo will feel he should have done better after being slipped in on the left of the area and shooting straight into the side-netting.

Ronaldo then fluffed his lines from eight yards with an air shot after finding space to meet Nani's low ball, before Cedric flashed a 25-yard effort past the left-hand post.

Portugal almost got lucky when Artur Jedrzejczyk's attempted clearance came close to finding Fabianski's bottom left corner, while the luckless Ronaldo failed to make contact with Joao Moutinho's sublime ball over the top.

Neither team was able to make the breakthrough in regulation time, though, and there were few talking points in a drab extra time - the match pausing briefly due to an ill-advised pitch invader.That meant penalties were required to settle the affair with Ronaldo and Lewandowski setting the tone for a fine shootout with excellent penalties.

But it was Blaszczykowski that felt the spot-kick pain with the eighth effort, Patricio pushing away strongly with a big left hand to set the stage for Quaresma to emphatically hammer home the winner.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

OFFICIAL: Ibrahimovic announces Manchester United move

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has confirmed that his next destination will be Manchester United.

The 34-year-old will arrive on a free transfer following the expiry of his contact at Paris Saint-Germain, having won Ligue 1 four times in four years and scored 38 goals in 31 league games during his final season.

Ibrahimovic, whose past clubs include Barcelona, AC Milan, Inter and Juventus, will become Jose Mourinho's second signing as United manager, with the striker taking home a weekly wage of around £250,000.

Ibrahimovic has failed to win the league just twice since joining Ajax from Malmo in 2001 - though both Scudetti won with Juventus were later revoked due to the Calciopoli scandal.

The Sweden international's move to the Premier League means he will be playing in the sixth different domestic league of his career, excluding only the Bundesliga of Europe's traditional top-five leagues.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Welcome to the Manchester United Ibra!

Apita onama karala thibba type 1ke player kenek

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[Wolverine GTR]

Sign Zlatan, win the league! Mourinho and Ibrahimovic are a match made in heaven

Zlatan Ibrahimovic answers to nobody. Well, maybe that's not altogether true. We know he answers to his wife, Helena, and if she is number one on the list of people he listens to perhaps Jose Mourinho is number two.

Ibrahimovic could have opted for MLS or China and banked even more than the £8 million signing bonus and £250,000 weekly wage he will earn at Manchester United, but no manager has tapped into Ibra the way Mourinho did when he had him at Inter. During their time together at San Siro, Inter won the league and the Swede was Serie A's top goalscorer.

A cocksure, arrogant forward, Ibrahimovic nonetheless performed for Mourinho; he tried to impress him. He admits in his autobiography to attempting to put a smile on his coach's face when he looked on impassively from the sidelines.

Mourinho knew exactly how to mix genuine concern for a player and his family off the field with the coaxing of performances on it. Ibrahimovic was a Mourinho convert in no time and admitted he would lay down his life for him.

Now they will work together again. United were desperate to land Ibrahimovic and for many reasons it is the best signing they could possibly have made this summer. Neither Mourinho nor Ibra have ever gone more than a couple of seasons without a league title. This duo can restore glory to a team that has fallen off its perch.

Zlatan is ready to become another Eric Cantona for the Old Trafford faithful, who will be drawn to his magnetism and skill. He is capable of clearing the depressive clouds over United and making them believe.

He has taken a lot of criticism throughout his career because of a perceived inability to dominate matches at the sharp end of the Champions League. Back-heeled volleys into the top corner against Bastia are all well and good but where was he against Manchester City in the second leg of last season's quarter-finals?
Well, tough as it might be to countenance for United fans, that is not exactly a problem they'll have to worry about: they, of course, have no Champions League football on the horizon. And, for United, it is precisely those back-heel volleys against the likes of Bastia that they have been missing in recent seasons.

Wayne Rooney is no longer a striker; any conversation about his suitability for a centre-forward role would quickly dissipate in the presence of Ibrahimovic.Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are thrilling prospects but probably won't hit the consistent spells of their respective careers for another couple of seasons.

Last season, United dropped points against the following teams: Newcastle, Swansea, Crystal Palace, West Ham, Bournemouth, Norwich, Stoke, Southampton, Sunderland and West Brom. That is the kind of fodder on which Zlatan feasts. He may be unable to put away the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid, but he has never struggled against the league minnows worth three points every weekend.

And United, at the moment, don't need a big-game player. They need a flat-track bully. Had they put away the teams on that list, they would have won the league by some distance. Louis van Gaal's final season was not a campaign defined by the dropped points to Champions League teams like Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City. It was defined by slow, stifling football against the league's lesser lights. Zlatan has won 13 league titles in four countries precisely for his ability to mercilessly plunder goals all season long.

Moreover, Zlatan provides the leadership and star-quality sorely lacking in this current United side. It is a team devoid of character, of champions. PSG's transformation to super club and perennial French treble winners was spearheaded by the signing of Ibrahimovic. He is a domineering character, a born leader. He is someone the younger players can pull behind and admire. He is an example to follow.

And there is so much more to consider. Zlatan has admitted that he detests the English press and relished the opportunity to thumb his nose at them when he scored four against their national team in 2012. Across town, Pep Guardiola - the man who drove him like a Fiat when he was really a Ferrari - will be coaching Manchester City. Mourinho and Ibra will certainly be excited about taking him down a peg or two.At the age of 34, Ibrahimovic has just completed a 51-game season and scored 50 goals. United attempted to import leadership in the shape of Bastian Schweinsteiger last summer and it was a washout.

Zlatan is a different animal. He appears as fit now as he has ever been. He has never been reliant on pace. He's instead grown into the player he is today - one who uses the experience he has gained to his intellectual advantage and one whose physique doesn't let him down.

Simply, for Zlatan, it doesn't matter that he's 34; it's still his time. America can wait.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Mou & Ibra!

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[Wolverine GTR]

Hazard excited by 'world class' Ibrahimovic in the Premier League

Chelsea star Eden Hazard has welcomed the prospect of "world class" Zlatan Ibrahimovic moving to the Premier League with Manchester United.

The 34-year-old posted on Instagram on Thursday, claiming he is set to seal a move to Old Trafford after leaving Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain following four prolific years in the French capital.

Ibrahimovic has been heavily linked with United ever since Jose Mourinho - his former coach at Inter - took over as manager, although Arsenal had also been rumoured to be interested.

And Hazard admits that the competition in England's top flight has become even richer following the news of the ex-Barcelona forward's imminent arrival.

"The Premier League will welcome another world-class star," he said, speaking ahead of Belgium's Euro 2016 quarter-final with Wales in Lille."We can't wait for it to start up again. It will be tricky to win it with all the competition there is now, but that's what makes it great."

Should a deal be concluded, Ibrahimovic will become Mourinho's second signing at United, following the acquisition of defender Eric Bailly from Villarreal for a reported £30million fee.

 

[Alucard_SxE]

& Rui Patricio
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The best player for me in the pitch was Pepe. If not for him then Portugal would have conceded many goals. They were very shaky after Lewa's goal and Pepe was the one who stood firm.
Then secondly Renato Sanches It's beautiful to see him control the ball. I thought he only had a kind of quickness to his game but today he balanced the midfield very well with some slow ohase passing.
At third Cedric. He made a serious mistake that led to Lewa's goal but after that defended very well. I fovour him more than Virenha because of his defending abilty.
Ronaldo didn't find his finishing skills yet again. otherwise his movement was brilliant.

But Portugal can't go like this everytime by drawing in the first 90. They should attack and get at least one goal ahead. To do that ronaldo should wing and Quaresma should start with the right wing and nani staying at the center.Quaresma can do better crosses than Joa Mario. But the thing is Quaresma works rally well as a super sub.
Rui Patricio's save was fantastic as well

Next up Belgium vs Wales. I'd like to see Wales go through. Gonna be a tough match for them

 

[sri D]

Portugal Qualified to the Semifinals!​

GAME ON...​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

The best player for me in the pitch was Pepe. If not for him then Portugal would have conceded many goals. They were very shaky after Lewa's goal and Pepe was the one who stood firm.
Then secondly Renato Sanches It's beautiful to see him control the ball. I thought he only had a kind of quickness to his game but today he balanced the midfield very well with some slow ohase passing.
At third Cedric. He made a serious mistake that led to Lewa's goal but after that defended very well. I fovour him more than Virenha because of his defending abilty.
Ronaldo didn't find his finishing skills yet again. otherwise his movement was brilliant.

But Portugal can't go like this everytime by drawing in the first 90. They should attack and get at least one goal ahead. To do that ronaldo should wing and Quaresma should start with the right wing and nani staying at the center.Quaresma can do better crosses than Joa Mario. But the thing is Quaresma works rally well as a super sub.
Rui Patricio's save was fantastic as well

Next up Belgium vs Wales. I'd like to see Wales go through. Gonna be a tough match for them

Bale Vs Hazard​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

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GAME ON...
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[Wolverine GTR]

Conte has made Italy proud again, claims Vieri


Christian Vieri has given Italy coach Antonio Conte full credit for the country's impressive performance at Euro 2016 so far, saying "it's all him".

Conte has led his side to victories over Belgium, Sweden and Spain, setting up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Germany in Bordeaux on Saturday.

Italy have conceded just one goal in the tournament, during a 1-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland with qualification for the knockout stages already assured, and former Azzurri striker Vieri heaped praise on his one-time Juventus team-mate for masterminding the campaign.

Comparing Italy's performance at Euro 2016 with their poor showing at the World Cup in 2014, when they failed to make it out of their group, Vieri told La Gazzetta dello Sport: "It’s like day and night in every sense.

“It's all him [Conte]. He has charisma, personality, knows what he wants and gets the most out of his players. He is a star when it comes to tactics and he is very prepared.

"He knows who is running, and anyone who isn't is sent home. That's what he wants and it's right. People are proud of this Italy, I am proud of these 23 players and the coach.

"I'm watching Italy with passion and I see that the players are full of enthusiasm."They are in love with the Azzurri shirt and all the values that it brings. I see a lot of pride amongst the fans on social media and I see a lot of excitement within the team, and they don't hold back on the field.

"When you play like that, the result isn't as important because winning or losing can happen because of certain incidents."

Two of Italy's five goals at Euro 2016 have come from Southampton striker Graziano Pelle, and Vieri - who scored 23 times in 49 appearances for his country - heaped praise on the 30-year-old striker for his part in the 2-0 last-16 victory over holders Spain."Pelle was great against Spain," Vieri said. "He played for the team.

"At times people laud strikers that really only do two or three great things for the team. The other night, Pelle was at the full disposal of the team. It's thanks to him that the entire side played well.

"He knows how to finish, he's big and he isn't afraid of anyone - even defenders who are big in size. He troubled Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique, two great players. He makes the most of his qualities, and that means he isn't meant to be used to counter."Pelle only made his senior international debut in 2014, but Vieri said he may still have a long career at the top of the game ahead of him.

“You can ask someone like him to continue to grow until he is 35," said Vieri.
"I say that as someone who was put down for his abilities. I always challenged myself to improve. You can do so at any age."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Muller confident Italy's defence can be breached


Thomas Muller is confident Germany can breach Italy's impressive defence in their Euro 2016 quarter-final clash on Saturday.

The world champions meet Antonio Conte's men in Bordeaux in a re-match of the Euro 2012 semi-final, which was won by the Azzurri.

Italy have impressed at the tournament – conceding only once in four games – and sending Spain crashing out with a 2-0 win in the last 16, but Muller is optimistic they can be breached.

The forward told Sport1: "I don't see the Italian defence as insurmountable because I had some good experiences with Bayern.
"In the Champions League we scored four times in two matches and the Italian defence is more or less the Juventus defence.

"Italy do defend very well as a team - they sacrifice themselves. But I have still seen more chances happening in the Italian box than in the German box during these Euros."

Muller is yet to score in four appearances at Euro 2016, extending a goalless streak at the tournament which also saw him fail to notch in five games at Euro 2012.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

New signing Bartra looking to repay Dortmund faith

Marc Bartra hopes he can live up to Borussia Dortmund's expectations after joining the Bundesliga club from Barcelona.

The defender was snapped up by BVB earlier this month for a bargain €8 million, following a lack of appearances that triggered a clause in his contract which forced the Liga champions to accept such a bid.

The 25-year-old will be charged with helping to fill the void left by captain Mats Hummels, who has followed Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski in leaving Signal Iduna Park for Bayern Munich.

And the Spain international knows he will be under pressure to perform at his new home. "It's a really exciting challenge and I'm highly motivated," Bartra told the club's website."I hope I can justify the trust placed in me by the club.

"From the first day I knew Dortmund wanted to sign me, I felt really honoured. I'm now starting to prepare for [my] first game for BVB and I'm getting to know my team-mates.

"I'm looking forward to the first official match against Bayern Munich and I am glad to play for this great club," he added, referring to the German Super Cup on August 14.

Bartra has swapped one of world football's great venues for another in leaving Barca for Dortmund, where the 'Yellow Wall' at one end of the ground is among the largest and most atmospheric standing areas in Europe.

"I've seen the arena this week and I like it very much, it's a great stadium," he said.
"I'm looking forward to seeing it filled with fans. This is something I only know from videos."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Fearless Sanches had no nerves in dramatic shootout


Renato Sanches insists his nerves were not jangling after the fearless teenager nailed his spot-kick in Portugal's thrilling penalty shootout victory over Poland in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals.

The teenage midfielder had a night to remember in Marseille after scoring the equaliser to cancel out Robert Lewandowski's opener at the Stade Velodrome.
Penalties were needed after there were no more goals and Sanches once again showed his fearless attitude by coolly converting Portugal's second attempt.

His was one of five successful kicks for Portugal who beat Poland 5-3 in the shootout to book a semi-final against Wales or Belgium, and have done so without winning a match inside 90 minutes."It was the gaffer who decided [the order]," he told reporters after collecting the Man of the Match award.

"Cristiano [Ronaldo] went first and I went second, I was confident enough to do it."I was just thinking about scoring, I was very cool and collected. I did what I always do, picked a side and put it in there."

Sanches earned back-to-back Man of the Match prizes after also earning the accolade in Portugal's last-16 win over Croatia.But the youngster, who will play for Bayern Munich next season, insists team success is more important than individual recognition.

"It is important to receive individual accolades. I am happy to be man of the match again, but the individual comes after the team," he added. "That is how you build up a CV. It takes a lot of hard work to be this lucky.Sometimes we are bound to be lucky because we have worked very hard."