..::Football IV::..

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Bayern should have signed Werner - Heynckes


Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes regrets that his club previously missed out on bringing in RB Leipzig’s talented striker Timo Werner.Werner joined Stuttgart at the age of six and played for various youth teams before making his Bundesliga debut being aged 17.

After three seasons with Stuttgart, Leipzig signed Werner in 2016 for £9 million. Since then, the 21-year-old has made a huge impact in the Bundesliga and is regularly selected for the national team.

His rise to prominence has left Heynckes in rueful mood, telling Welt: “Bayern should have signed Timo Werner years ago, when he was still playing in Stuttgart. He could have learned a lot here.”Having netted 21 times last season, Werner has already scored six and assisted three more in his first nine games of the current campaign.

Bayern, meanwhile, recently ran out of firepower, as main striker Robert Lewandowski and potential replacement Thomas Muller were both ruled out due to injuries.Heynckes called up reserve-team strikers Kwasi Okyere Wriedt, 23, and Manuel Wintzheimer, 18, to his squad to provide cover.

But, since David Alaba emerged from Bayern’s own ranks in 2010, no homegrown player has made a permanent impression in the first team.“Bayern must develop players who have the talent to compete at the highest level later in their career,” said Heynckes. “For this, you must have endurance. That’s a process which lasts for years. The best players must play, no matter if they are young or old.”

Nevertheless, the coach demands big transfers too: “A club like Bayern should buy an absolute star who costs a lot every now and then.”

 

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Man Utd & Celtic send messages of support to Liam Miller amid reports he's battling cancer


Manchester United and Celtic have sent messages of support to Liam Miller after reports emerged that the midfielder is battling cancer.
The 36-year-old spent two years at Old Trafford having been signed by Sir Alex Ferguson back in 2004, playing 22 games in all competitions for the Red Devils.

He also played for the likes of Celtic, Sunderland, Leeds and QPR before a spell in Australia that saw him represent Perth Glory, Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City over a three-year period.

Miller then joined League of Ireland outfit Cork City in 2015 before making the move to America to play for third-tier North Carolina-based side Wilmington Hammerheads in February 2016.

Tweets sent by the ex-Republic of Ireland international's former clubs and team-mates suggest that he is battling a serious illness, with Tam McManus, Alex Bruce and Noel Hunt having mentioned cancer in their messages.

His former Hibs team-mate McManus also claimed that he is undergoing chemotherapy. He tweeted: "Awful news about Liam Miller keep the fingers crossed that he somehow pulls through. Was in the USA for treatment this month and [flies] back tomorrow to start chemo here. He’s still fighting it. Will say a prayer for him tonight."

Manchester United and Celtic offered their thoughts to the player and his family, while the likes of Ian Harte, Darren O'Dea and Chris Sutton also expressed their concern and passed on their support.

 

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Mane's returning hamstring injury concerns Klopp as Liverpool await full assessment


Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp admits it is "a concern" to have had Sadio Mane return from international duty with another hamstring problem.The forward has been sent back to England after Senegal's football federation confirmed he had been feeling slight pain in same muscle that kept him out for the majority of October.

With Senegal having sealed qualification for the World Cup with a 2-0 win over South Africa last week, Mane has been allowed to go back to Liverpool for assessment on the problem before they resume Premier League duties against his old club Southampton this weekend.Klopp is unwilling to speculate on the severity of the injury but concedes it is a worry to see the 25-year-old suffer another setback.

"First and foremost, I have to say big congratulations to Senegal on the achievement of qualifying for the World Cup," Klopp told Liverpool's official website. "This is fantastic news for their country and the players, Sadio included.

"Aliou Cisse and his guys have done a fantastic job there and you can see them making a real impact in Russia come next summer. Personally speaking, I'm delighted for Sadio. Everyone in Liverpool knows his ability and the best players should be on the best stage – Sadio will now have this wonderful chance."Specifically on him returning to Melwood early to be with us: obviously it is a concern that the hamstring injury is again on the agenda and it will be critical for us to monitor and manage that in the coming days.

"At this stage, we haven't seen Sadio yet to properly assess the extent, but what is clear is that we will have to stay on top of this for the rest of the week and make sure we are careful in how we look after him.

"There has been really strong communication between ourselves and the Senegal team management to ensure the player is properly protected and looked after. We respect how important he is for Senegal and therefore it must always be the case that they get to make the decision when he is under their care.

"It should not be forgotten in Liverpool, either, how important it is to Sadio that he represents his country whenever he is fit enough to do so. He is so proud of his country and recognises what a role model he is for them.

"So, in this moment all I can really say with certainty is that we will assess Sadio as soon as he lands back in the country and make decisions on what rehab and treatment gives him the best chance of being back fit and strong for the important fixtures we have coming."

 

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'I thought it was better to send on Insigne' - De Rossi explains dugout spat


Daniele De Rossi explained that his remonstration with Gian Piero Ventura was in a bid to make the head coach put on extra strikers in Italy's failed bid to reach the 2018 World Cup.

The Roma stalwart, who said he has taken off the Azzurri jersey "for the last time", was spotted on camera showing his frustration apparently at the decision not to send on Napoli forward Lorenzo Insigne, despite Italy desperately needing to score with the match goalless against Sweden on Monday.De Rossi is reported to have said "Why the hell should I go on? We don't need to draw here, we need to win!".

Italy eventually slumped to a goalless draw, meaning they lost 1-0 on aggregate and missed out on World Cup qualification for the first time since 1958.
But De Rossi explained that it was nothing personal against Ventura.

"We have this tendency to warm up three at a time, then after five minutes we change and another three go," he told Rai Sport . "I just said we were near the end and had to win, so send the strikers to warm up. I pointed to Insigne too.

"It wasn't up to me whether it was a tactical issue. I'm sorry if I offended anyone.At the time I just thought perhaps it was better that Insigne come on instead."

On his own future and Italy's failure, he added: "We will begin again, just as we did after other desperately disappointing moments.

"I don't believe we deserved to go out considering the 180 minutes, Sweden deserve credit for their performance, but it was fairly even."Now the next generation is ready to take flight and we must begin again from them. It was almost an absurd moment to associate with a football match. There was a funereal atmosphere in the locker room, yet nobody died.

"I've been wandering around Coverciano and all over the world with this jersey for over a decade, so to take it off for the last time is a strange feeling."

 

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Barzagli reflects on 'biggest disappointment of his life' after confirming Italy retirement


Andrea Barzagli reflected on the "biggest disappointment of my life" after confirming his Italy retirement following the Azzurri's shock failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

A goalless draw with Sweden at San Siro saw Gian Piero Ventura's side miss out on a spot in Russia due to a 1-0 defeat on aggregate, and means they will miss out on football's global showpiece for the first time in 60 years.

Legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon consequently confirmed his retirement after the game alongside Daniele De Rossi, with head coach Ventura expected to hand in his resignation in the coming days.

And Juventus centre-back Barzagli was unable to pin-point what went wrong for four-time world champions Italy."In football terms, it's the biggest disappointment of my life," he told Rai Sport."The Italy side gives you unique sensations. It gives you goosebumps, creates friendships between all the Italy fans. It's a real shame to end like this.

"I don't know what we missed, all I know is we're out of the World Cup, it's a unique disappointment and leaving this group of lads is painful."Everyone has their own feelings, but it's really hard to accept right now."

Team-mate Manolo Gabbiadini was equally despondent, but would not disclose what Ventura had said to his squad.

"I don't know what to say. It's an ugly thing that nobody wanted to see," he said.
"The coach said things that remain between us in the locker room."

 

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De Rossi and Barzagli join Buffon in announcing Italy retirement


Daniele De Rossi and Andrea Barzagli have joined Gianluigi Buffon in announcing their retirement from international play after Italy's failure to qualify for the World Cup.

The Azzurri missed out on Russia 2018 after settling for a 0-0 draw with Sweden in Milan on Monday, as the visitors advanced to the World Cup on the strength of a 1-0 first-leg victory. The stunning setback marked Italy's first failure to qualify for a World Cup since 1958.A teary Buffon confirmed his retirement from Italy duty after 175 caps post-game, with fellow 2006 World Cup winners De Rossi and Barzagli soon following suit.

Buffon's Juventus team-mate Barzagli steps away from international play having represented his country 73 times since 2004, including trips to two World Cups, three European Championships and a Confederations Cup.

"In football terms, it's the biggest disappointment of my life," the 36-year-old defender told Rai Sport."The Italy side gives you unique sensations. It gives you goosebumps, creates friendships between all the Italy fans. It's a real shame to end like this.

"I don't know what we missed, all I know is we're out of the World Cup, it's a unique disappointment and leaving this group of lads is painful."Everyone has their own feelings, but it's really hard to accept right now."

De Rossi, 34, finishes his Italy career with 117 caps and 21 goals since 2004. The Roma midfielder represented Italy at three World Cups, three European Championships and a Confederations Cup.

"We will begin again, just as we did after other desperately disappointing moments," De Rossi said."I don't believe we deserved to go out considering the 180 minutes. Sweden deserve credit for their performance, but it was fairly even.

"Now the next generation is ready to take flight and we must begin again from them. It was almost an absurd moment to associate with a football match. There was a funeral atmosphere in the locker room, yet nobody died."I've been wandering around Coverciano and all over the world with this jersey for over a decade, so to take it off for the last time is a strange feeling."

The retirements mark the end of an era for Italy, as the four-time World Cup champions turn the page on a storied generation and look ahead to Euro 2020.

 

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Buffon retires from Italy duty after World Cup failure

Gianluigi Buffon has confirmed his retirement from international play after Italy's failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.

The legendary goalkeeper had previously indicated his intention to step away from the Azzurri following the tournament in Russia. But Italy were eliminated from contention for the World Cup with a 0-0 second-leg draw against Sweden on Monday in Milan, as the visitors advanced on aggregate following a 1-0 win in the first leg.It marked the first time the four-time World Cup winners had missed the finals since 1958.

The Juventus legend said he was not saddened by the end of his international career but rather the effect the result will have on Italian football."It’s disappointing," Buffon told Rai Sport while fighting back tears.

"Not for me, but for the football movement, because we failed at something that could've been truly important for the country. That is the only regret I have and certainly not that I am finishing my career, because time passes and it's only right.

"It's just a shame my last official game coincided with the failure to qualify for the World Cup. [But] there is certainly a future for Italian football, as we have pride, ability, determination, and after bad tumbles we always find a way to get back on our feet."I'm leaving an Italy side that will know how to speak for itself."

Buffon ends his Italy career having compiled 175 caps over two decades, peaking with the 2006 World Cup triumph in Germany. The 39-year-old has represented Italy at a record-tying five World Cups, as well as four European Championships and two Confederations Cups.

Had Italy qualified for Russia 2018, Buffon could have become the first player to earn a roster spot on six World Cup squads, and just the third to see the pitch in five tournaments.

Despite the embarrassment of a botched campaign this cycle, Buffon refused to lay the blame on manager Gian Piero Ventura."In football you win as a group, you lose as a group, you divide the credit and the blame," he said. "The coach is part of this entire group."

Shortly after Buffon announced his retirement, his World Cup-winning team-mates Andrea Barzagli and Daniele De Rossi followed suit by confirming they too were stepping away from the international game.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Good bye Buffon!

Thanks for everything!

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Portugal 1 United States 1: Horvath horror show hands hosts a draw

Ethan Horvath's woeful error took the shine off a promising United States display as they earned a 1-1 draw against European champions Portugal in Leiria.

Interim USA coach Dave Sarachan assembled a makeshift squad for the clash, with previous boss Bruce Arena having departed following his side's failure to reach the World Cup with a shock defeat to Trinidad and Tobago last month.
The visitors - facing a similarly experimental Portugal team - performed better than many would have expected as 19-year-old Weston McKennie, making his senior international bow, secured a deserved lead.


However, it was an advantage that lasted just 10 minutes thanks to Horvath's moment of misery. The Club Brugge goalkeeper spectacularly failed to gather Vitorino Antunes' cross, instead poorly helping the ball into the net for a 31st-minute equaliser to hand Portugal a route back into the game.Portugal indeed improved from that point onwards but, without talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, lacked the cutting edge to punish further mistakes.

Sarachan's side likewise could not capitalise on a second-half rally - McKennie hitting the woodwork with their best effort - but both teams will hope to reap the benefits of testing fringe men on the international stage.

Portugal were dealt an early blow when stand-in captain Pepe went off with an apparent foot injury and the visitors - boosted by the enthusiasm of teenage debutants Tyler Adams and McKennie - made an energetic start.

McKennie's big moment arrived in the 21st minute. The Schalke midfielder collected a pass on the left of the penalty area and danced inside a back-tracking Ricardo Ferreira before wrong-footing Beto with a smart finish.

However, the hard work was undone by a comical error from Horvath, who allowed Antunes' driven cross to slip through both his hands and legs to improbably find the bottom-left corner.

Horvath recovered well to hold a testing Manuel Fernandes strike, but another mistake followed and he was fortunate to save Danilo's effort after gifting possession to the midfielder 25 yards from goal.United States retained an attacking threat, though, and John Brooks saw a headed effort harshly ruled out for an alleged foul from a corner.

Adams almost joined McKennie on the scoresheet early in the second half, but Beto brilliantly clawed away a back-post header and was then alert again to block Eric Lichaj's powerful shot.



McKennie nodded against the crossbar from the consequent corner, before Goncalo Paciencia thumped the woodwork at the other end with Horvath's half-time replacement Bill Hamid well beaten.Substitute Cameron Carter-Vickers appeared set to restore United States' lead as he controlled inside the six-yard box, but Beto's unorthodox volleyed clearance - his high studs only just missing the opponent - kept the scores level.

Unconvincing goalkeepers having been the theme of the day, Hamid then spilled Antunes' effort before reclaiming the ball just in front of the goal line to ensure his side returned home with a creditable draw.

 

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Wales 1 Panama 1: Last-gasp equaliser spoils Coleman's milestone match


Chris Coleman's landmark 50th match in charge of Wales ended dramatically as Armando Cooper's strike in second-half stoppage time earned Panama a 1-1 draw in Cardiff.With questions lingering over Coleman's Wales future after their failure to qualify for the World Cup, Tom Lawrence's stunning solo effort 15 minutes from time looked set to ensure the manager's milestone fixture would be a memorable one.

However, an earlier penalty miss from Sam Vokes would ultimately prove costly for the hosts, as Panama - who are preparing to take part in a World Cup for the first time in their history - pulled level in the 93rd minute.


Shorn of a glut of key players including Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey, Coleman utilised Tuesday's friendly to offer experience for a number of Wales' promising youngsters, with Lawrence, David Brooks and Ben Woodburn impressive during a lively opening.

The hosts were granted an opportunity to go ahead in the 42nd minute when Luis Ovalle scythed down David Edwards in the penalty area, but Vokes could not apply the finish from 12 yards.

Lawrence took matters into his own hands in fantastic fashion, but Cooper was on hand to steal the show in the final moments, marking what could be Coleman's final game at the helm in a disappointing draw.


Sheffield United youngster Brooks got his full Wales debut off to an impressive start, floating in a sublime cross to Woodburn, whose header failed to beat Jaime Penedo.

Brooks, Woodburn and Lawrence continued to shine, with the latter almost getting in on goal after weaving his way through Panama's backline, only for a heavy touch to see the chance go begging.

Wales had a glorious chance three minutes prior to the interval, though. Brooks played in Edwards, who drew a clumsy foul from Ovalle inside the box.It was not to be, however, as Penedo got down low to his right to keep out Vokes' tame spot-kick.

That miss was to be the Burnley striker's last contribution as he made way for Barnsley forward Tom Bradshaw at half-time, but it was Panama who should have been ahead shortly after the restart.

Gabriel Torres beat the offside trap to get in on goal, but Danny Ward was out swiftly to smother the Panama forward, with Chris Gunter recovering to block the follow-up.After James Chester headed wide from a corner, Coleman's side finally found their opener on 75 minutes - Lawrence leaving Panama's defence in his wake before curling a precise finish into the bottom-right corner.

Penedo had to be at his best to keep out Andrew Crofts' blistering attempt as the game drew to a close, and that save would prove vital as Panama found an opening at the other end.

Wales' defence switched off, allowing Cooper to drift inside and latch onto a neat throughball from substitute Ismael Diaz, and the winger kept his cool as a historic year for Panama finished in a positive fashion.

 

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England 0 Brazil 0: Gomez impresses as hosts stifle Neymar and company

England followed up their stalemate against Germany with another impressive clean sheet as they held five-time world champions Brazil to a 0-0 draw at Wembley.Gareth Southgate's injury-hit squad showed their dedication to defending with a stoic display on home soil, leading to the first scoreless encounter between the nations in 40 years.

The always busy Neymar did his best to light up an otherwise dim spectacle but, despite dominating for long periods, Brazil struggled to cut open an England team that saw Joe Gomez impress as a centre-back in the new 3-5-2 system.


Southgate handed a debut to Gomez's Liverpool team-mate Dominic Solanke off the bench in the second half, but a team minus Harry Kane barely threatened to cause an upset in the capital.


England had given cause for optimism with their performance against Germany, and Southgate once again stuck with the three centre-back policy he had tested out last Friday.

Gomez was handed a first start and Ruben Loftus-Cheek kept his place in the team, albeit his involvement was ended after only 35 minutes by a back injury.Brazil, who welcomed back Philippe Coutinho from a thigh injury, bossed possession in the first half without turning their dominance into clear-cut chances.

Joe Hart was needed to make a save from a Gabriel Jesus header, but the tempo of the game struggled to match the occasional noise stemming from the samba band inside the stadium.

Marcus Rashford produced England's brightest moment before the break, the striker – occupying the central role he has played for Manchester United recently – cleverly turning away from Casemiro before sending a firm drive straight at Alisson.

While the chances failed to arrive early in the second half, yellow cards for Jake Livermore and Dani Alves at least showed there was a competitive edge to proceedings.

Brazil saw Hart block Coutinho's weak attempt after the Liverpool playmaker had outpaced team-mate Jesus to reach Neymar's scooped throughball, only to then stumble and lose his balance at the point of contact.

Tite utilised the Premier League pairing of Willian - who had captained his country in the 3-1 win over Japan in France - and Fernandinho off the bench in the hope of sparking his team into life.Both replacements had late opportunities to break the deadlock, with Fernandinho whistling a shot just wide of the target before Willian saw his goal-bound effort blocked by England substitute Ashley Young.

Solanke made his introduction in the 73rd minute and had the chance to mark the occasion with a dramatic winner from Young's cross in the closing stages.However, teed up by fellow sub Tammy Abraham, the striker waited a fraction too long to get his shot away, allowing the alert Alisson to make the block at the far post.

While England could not quite nick it at the end, they could at least reflect on back-to-back shut-outs against the top-two ranked teams in the world.

 

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Germany 2 France 2: Late Stindl strike extends world champions' unbeaten run

Lars Stindl rescued a draw in stoppage time to extend Germany's unbeaten run to 21 matches as the world champions twice came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw with France in Cologne.

Stindl, an 83rd-minute replacement for Emre Can ensured Joachim Low's finished 2017 without tasting a single defeat, their last loss coming at the hands of France in the European Championship semi-finals last year.

That run looked like coming to an end when Alexandre Lacazette netted twice on Tuesday – the Arsenal striker profiting from Anthony Martial's brilliant footwork for his first before Kylian Mbappe created his second.In between the Arsenal striker's brace Timo Werner levelled for the hosts as he broke the French offside trap to sweep home Mesut Ozil's pass.

But a second goal looked too much for the hosts as the game entered stoppage time, however substitute Stindl had other ideas as he fired low past Steve Mandanda just 10 minutes after coming on.

Low will hope to see better defending when his side face Spain and Brazil before they begin their World Cup defence in Russia, but their battling spirit will give the coach plenty of encouragement.


A Germany side showing six changes from their draw with England took time to settle and that allowed France to have the better of the opening exchanges, although they initially failed to stretch Kevin Trapp. Mbappe may well have done when he found space in the 12th minute, but Mats Hummels came to Germany's rescue with a perfectly executed sliding tackle.

Lacazette – preferred in attack to Antoine Griezmann – eventually tested Trapp just before the half-hour mark, while at the other end an important block from Raphael Varane denied Ozil.Minutes later Trapp had to be alert again to keep Mbappe out low to his right, the Paris-Saint Germain goalkeeper denying his club-mate after a neat Cruyff turn in the penalty area.

Finally, in the 33rd minute, the goal France's pressure deserved came, Martial dancing past Niklas Sule before touching the ball wide of Trapp for Lacazette to apply a simple finish.

Half-time substitute Antonio Rudiger should have brought Germany level seven minutes after his introduction, but the Chelsea defender skewed his effort wide after great work down the left from Julian Draxler.

Germany did not have to wait long for their equaliser as Ozil led a swift counter-attack, his pinpoint throughball releasing Werner and the RB Leipzig forward calmly slotted under Mandanda.Almost immediately Martial thought he had restored France's lead, but Trapp got down brilliantly to push away his dipping strike.



A Kroos free-kick rattled Mandanda's bar with 20 minutes to play but while the Real Madrid midfielder was wondering how it stayed out, France scored.Rudiger inexplicably left Lacazette in acres of space 20 yards from goal and the 26-year-old beat Trapp again after being found by Mbappe's pass.

Low introduced Mario Gotze for his first international appearance in just shy of a year and he came good with a superb assist for Stindl, who kept their run going by sliding home a neat 93rd-minute finish.

 

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Austria 2 Uruguay 1: Sabitzer & Schaub cancel out Cavani strike


Edinson Cavani scored his 40th international goal but it was not enough for Uruguay to avoid a late 2-1 defeat against Austria on Thursday.

Louis Schaub found the net with an 87th-minute free-kick to give the home side a third consecutive victory following a winning end to their unsuccessful World Cup qualification campaign.Austria went ahead in just the fifth minute through Marcel Sabitzer, the RB Leipzig star firing into an empty net after Martin Silva smothered Guido Burgstaller's initial effort.




But the Russia-bound visitors immediately replied as an unmarked Cavani nodded in from Jonathan Urretaviscaya cross.And the match seemed destined for a draw with neither side capable of causing trouble after the restart.

That was until Schaub's free-kick from wide on the right drifted untouched past a sea of bodies and inside the far post, putting an end to Uruguay's five-match unbeaten run.

 

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Republic of Ireland 1 Denmark 5 (1-5 agg): Eriksen's sparkling treble seals World Cup spot

Hat-trick hero Christian Eriksen was the difference as Denmark silenced a thunderous Dublin crowd to beat the Republic of Ireland 5-1 and book their ticket to the 2018 World Cup.

The sides had played out a numb goalless draw in Copenhagen and the six previous play-off games across the globe had all finished 0-0, with tensions at their highest, but this return leg was a superb contest and the touch paper was lit by Irish defender Shane Duffy scoring a sixth-minute header.

Ireland's inability to score in the first leg meant their lead was as precarious as could be, however, and two goals inside three minutes put Denmark in firm control.Cyrus Christie was unfortunate to turn into his own goal, but Eriksen's brilliant strike oozed the kind of class needed to settle these ties.

Martin O'Neill's side had only managed to score three goals once in this campaign, away at Moldova, and the task was beyond them in the 63rd minute as Eriksen curled another beauty past Darren Randolph before drilling home his third from close range to start the party among Denmark's travelling support.Substitute Nicklas Bendtner then added a fifth from the penalty spot in the last minute as qualification was emphatically sealed for the first time since 2010.

Eriksen was the youngest player in that tournament, but more performances like this will be key as Age Hareide hopes for better than the group-stage exit in South Africa, with Ireland left to lick their wounds at home.


A rousing rendition of the Irish anthem gave way to a pulsating atmosphere that reached fever pitch when Duffy gave the hosts an early lead. Nicolai Jorgensen's attempted clearance of Robbie Brady's free-kick went straight up in the air and Duffy was on hand to close in and nod over Kasper Schmeichel from close range.

Despite the goal, Denmark's task remained essentially unchanged - requiring a solitary strike to qualify - and Jens Larsen ought to have equalised almost immediately but his decision to volley, rather than head, Simon Kjaer's excellent cross-field pass was a poor one and he scuffed wide.

Randolph saved sharply from William Kvist and Pione Sisto, but a coiled Ireland carried a threat on the break and Daryl Murphy rippled the side-netting before James McClean drilled wide from an acute angle.Denmark continued to dominate the possession and their reward came just before the half-hour in fortuitous circumstances as Christie unwittingly bundled in after Andreas Christensen's effort came back off the post.

Though they could rue their luck with that, the second was their own fault, as Stephen Ward was robbed on halfway by Yusuf Poulsen and Denmark sprung forward before Jorgensen squared for Eriksen to smash home via the crossbar from 20 yards.

O'Neill sent Aiden McGeady and Wes Hoolahan on for David Meyler and Harry Arter at half time in the search of a creative spark, but an adventurous change in formation left Ireland vulnerable.Eriksen had already seen a one-on-one chance to seal it squandered, but the Tottenham star made no mistake from the edge of the area with his left foot to end any flickering Irish hopes.

He then brought up his 11th goal of the campaign and his hat-trick in the 73rd minute, reacting sharpest to Ward's muffed clearance and smashing past a helpless Randolph.

The seal was put on Denmark's famous victory as Bendtner - just seven minutes after replacing Jorgensen - won a penalty from McClean and converted it himself, as Ireland were left to rue their gamble backfiring in painful fashion.

 

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Belgium 1 Japan 0: Lukaku breaks scoring record with second-half winner

Romelu Lukaku became Belgium's outright record scorer with the only goal in an uninspired 1-0 friendly win over Japan in Bruges.The Manchester United striker had pulled level with Bernard Voorhoof and Paul Van Himst on 30 goals after his double in Friday's pulsating 3-3 draw with Mexico.

And he took his tally to 31 Belgium strikes with 18 minutes remaining against Japan on Tuesday, heading in from almost on the line after a superb run and cross from Nacer Chadli.Before his historic goal, it had been a frustrating night for the 24-year-old, who was comfortably shackled by a stubborn Japan defence.

Belgium boss Roberto Martinez will be pleased with his side's improved defensive display, but is likely to be concerned by the struggles of his star-studded attack against a side that had conceded six goals in their last two games against Haiti and Brazil.


Belgium carved out the first sight of goal and unsurprisingly it fell to Kevin De Bruyne, who has been in sparkling form for Manchester City this season. The midfielder carried the ball fully 40 yards into the Japan penalty area, but his low effort was straight at Eiji Kawashima. Lukaku was then denied by the Japan goalkeeper, who got down well to smother his close-range effort after Thorgan Hazard's cross had been deflected into his path.

The hosts continued to look menacing going forward and De Bruyne was once again denied by Kawashima, this time the goalkeeper pushing away the 26-year-old's typically measured effort from the edge of the area.

Japan struggled to impose themselves in the early stages, but could have taken the lead twice before the break as Yuya Osako and Maya Yoshida both headed narrowly over Simon Mignolet's crossbar from good positions.The visitors appeared to come out for the second half with renewed vigour as Kazuki Nagasawa drilled a shot just over from outside the area.

Lukaku then saw a goalbound effort deflect off target at the other end, but he finally had his moment in the spotlight just as it looked like Belgium would suffer an evening of frustration. West Brom winger Chadli did brilliantly to skip past a number of Japan defenders and clip a teasing cross into the box, where Lukaku had the simple task of heading in from just a yard out.

Mignolet was twice called into action in the final 10 minutes to preserve Belgium's lead, getting down smartly to push away shots from substitutes Takashi Inui and Kenyu Sugimoto.

Hazard came close to adding a second for Belgium in the final moments, but it was perhaps fitting that Lukaku's landmark goal remained the game's only one.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Lukaku!

​

 

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Romania 0 Netherlands 3: Advocaat signs off in style

Dick Advocaat enjoyed a successful farewell as Netherlands coach as a trio of second half goals secured a routine 3-0 victory in Romania on Tuesday.

Following the disappointment of falling short in World Cup qualification, Advocaat was given the chance to conclude his third stint in charge on a more positive note.And the 'Little General' got his wish as last week's 1-0 win in Scotland was followed by a polished performance in Bucharest.


The Oranje are searching for an attacking talisman to help replace the retired Arjen Robben and Memphis Dempay continued to press his case, opening the scoring in the 47th minute with his fifth goal in his last eight Netherlands appearances.

Ryan Babel is also back in the fold as a potential short-term solution and the Besiktas man soon doubled the advantage with his first international goal since May 2008.Substitute Luuk de Jong rounded off the rout with just under 10 minutes remaining as the visitors ensured Advocaat's successor will take charge of a team on a positive run having claimed five successive wins.


Advocaat played his part in ushering in a new era by handing a third international cap to teenager Matthijs de Ligt.The defender had little to do over the opening exchanges as Netherlands' encouraging start led to openings for Nathan Ake and Davy Propper.

Babel was gifted the best of the early chances when Vlad Chiriches coughed up possession on the edge of the area, but the former Liverpool forward could only force a routine near-post save from Costel Pantilimon.

Despite the backing of a vocal home crowd, Romania's best move of the half came to nothing as George Tucudean was adjudged to have fouled Jasper Cillessen amid a goalmouth scramble.Babel did have the ball in the net on the stroke of half-time, but an offside flag meant scores remained level at the interval.

The deadlock was broken with two minutes of the restart, though, as Steven Berghuis escaped down the right and saw his deflected cross loop perfectly for Memphis to nod in at the far post.

And it was Berghuis who created the second less than 10 minutes later, crossing well for Babel to volley in at close-range. At the other end, Gheorghe Grozav wasted a chance to reduce the deficit by side-footing straight at Cillessen.

But any hopes of a Romania fightack were scuppered in the 81st minute as PSV striker De Jong came off the bench to head in his fourth international goal from Berghuis' free-kick, completing a hat-trick of assists for the Feyenoord man.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Russia 3 Spain 3: Visitors squander two-goal lead as Smolov & Ramos net braces

Spain showed rare signs of defensive frailty as they squandered a two-goal lead to slump to a thrilling 3-3 friendly draw with Fedor Smolov-inspired Russia on Tuesday, despite Sergio Ramos scoring twice from the penalty spot.

The home side found themselves trailing 2-0 just after the half-hour mark, as Spain appeared to pick up where they left off in their 5-0 hammering of Costa Rica, but Russia fought back and ultimately secured a commendable draw thanks to Smolov's stunning second goal.

An entertainingly frantic first half saw plenty of attacking football and the opening goal took just nine minutes to arrive, as Jordi Alba – who broke the deadlock against Costa Rica on Saturday – headed in a Marco Asensio cross.


A Ramos penalty saw their lead doubled, though Russia halved the deficit a few minutes before the break – Smolov emphatically finishing a flowing move from the edge of the box.

Russia equalised early in the second half thanks to Aleksey Miranchuk, though poor defending quickly allowed Ramos the chance to bury a second penalty, which the captain did with aplomb.

Smolov brought Russia level again 20 minutes from time, though, sending a fierce long-range effort into the top-left corner to set up a tantalising finish that ultimately saw the teams end on level terms.


A counter-attack almost brought about a Russia goal in the eighth minute, as Spain were caught with too many men forward and Smolov prodded wide following a brilliant Igor Smolnikov cross.

Spain clinically responded by going a goal up with the next attack.Asensio was given too much space on the left flank and his teasing cross was expertly diverted over Andrey Lunev by Alba's glancing header.

Rodrigo went close to a second shortly after, as he produced a clever turn on the edge of the area to lose Viktor Vasin before shooting at Lunev.Spain did look set to go into the break 2-0 up when Ramos coolly converted a penalty after Daler Kuzyaev handled in the area.

But Russia pulled one back in the 41st minute – Smolov shaped to shoot, fooled a defender and smashed a left-footed effort into the bottom-right corner from 18 yards.

Spain's lead was then wiped out entirely five minutes after the restart, as Miranchuk put past David de Gea from close range after good work on the left by Yuri Zhirkov.

But they were level for just three minutes before Ramos' second penalty put Spain ahead again – the Real Madrid star dispatching from 12 yards after being tripped by Giorgi Jikia.



Russia poured men forward in response and were good value for a third goal, which arrived in glorious fashion as Smolov sent an unstoppable drive beyond De Gea from just outside the penalty area.And they should have clinched a remarkable win five minutes from the end, but Aleksandr Kokorin saw his effort saved by De Gea at the end of a swift counter.

A nasty collision between Rodrigo and Lunev resulted in the Russia goalkeeper being withdrawn late on, forcing Denis Glushakov to go in goal for the final moments due to all of their substitutions being made, but Spain failed to capitalise and the hosts held out for a draw.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Congratulations Spain!

VAMOS ESPANA!​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Argentina 2 Nigeria 4: Super Eagles produce stunning comeback in Krasnodar

Alex Iwobi scored twice as Nigeria fought back from 2-0 down against an Argentina side missing Lionel Messi to secure a stunning 4-2 friendly victory in Krasnodar.

Sergio Aguero scored his 36th international goal to move clear in third place on Argentina's all-time scoring list as Jorge Sampaoli's side looked set to prosper despite the absence of Messi, who had returned to Barcelona after featuring in the 1-0 win over Russia on Saturday.

Having drawn level with Hernan Crespo by scoring a late winner against the Russians, Aguero followed up his first international goal since June 2016 by tapping home Argentina's second to back up Ever Banega's free-kick opener.


Yet their comfortable cushion evaporated either side of the interval, with Kelechi Iheanacho inspiring a Nigeria fightback with a free-kick of his own in the closing stages of the first half.

Two goals in the space of three second-half minutes from Iwobi and Bryan Idowu swung the game further away from Argentina, with the former then slotting home a fourth to secure Nigeria just their second ever win over their South American opponents.


The astonishing turnaround came after Banega's 28th-minute free-kick gave Sampaoli's side a deserved lead - albeit they needed help from goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi to break the deadlock.

After nudging the ball outside his own penalty area, a careless Akpeyi curiously allowed Aguero to quickly close the gap, forcing him to pick it up to prevent embarrassment.

He did not escape punishment for his error, however, as Banega curled the resulting set-piece opportunity into the net, Akpeyi opening up further space to target by taking an unnecessary step behind his wall.

Aguero added a second eight minutes later to move clear of Crespo, the striker tapping home Cristian Pavon's low cross from the right, and at that stage Argentina were coasting.

Nigeria had barely threatened in the first half but still managed to get back in the game, Iheanacho following Banega's example by scoring from a free-kick in the final minute of the first half.

The Leicester City striker's effort came after he had earlier left an impression on Nicolas Otamendi, catching his former Manchester City team-mate with an elbow.
Yet Iheanacho escaped with only a yellow card and, after halving the deficit, he heaped further pain on Argentina by setting up Nigeria's quick-fire double after the break.



Not content with a square pass from the right that allowed Iwobi to sweep home an equaliser, the 21-year-old forward played in the supporting Idowu to curl a right-footed effort beyond goalkeeper Agustin Marchesin.Hit by a one-two combination, Argentina struggled to mount a response as they looked to get back on level terms in a game that had somehow escaped from their grasp.

With no Messi to inspire any late heroics, Iwobi wrapped up the victory for Nigeria, the Arsenal forward finishing with his left foot after swerving his way beyond Javier Mascherano.