..::Football IV::..

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Former Manchester United star Rooney completes D.C. United move

Wayne Rooney has joined the likes of David Beckham, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in making the switch to Major League Soccer, with the 32-year-old completing his move to D.C. United on Thursday.

Reports that Rooney would move to United this summer and that he and the club were in advanced talks cropped up in May, with Everton manager Sam Allardyce confirming that negotiations were taking place just days later.The former Manchester United and England star now joins a D.C. United club that sits dead last in the MLS standings having picked up just 10 points from 12 matches so far this season.




While terms of the deal were not released, the striker has signed a three-and-half-year deal that will reportedly net him around $13 million (£10m), which would make him the highest paid player in team history and one of the top earners in MLS.

"It is fantastic to be joining D.C. United at such an exciting time in the club’s history with the new stadium opening in just a few weeks," Rooney told the club's official website."Moving to America and MLS fulfills another career ambition for me."I have the hunger to be a success here and will give D.C. 100 percent - as I have always done for every team I have ever played for.

"When I visited earlier this summer I was really impressed with everyone I met connected with the club, and of course the new Audi Field."Now I can’t wait to get on the pitch in a United shirt and join my new teammates to bring success to this club."Rooney will begin training with his new club this week but cannot officially join until the MLS transfer window opens on July 10.


That date puts him on track to debut for the club when it opens its brand-new stadium, Audi Field, a 20,000 seat venue with a $400 million price tag, on July 14.

United will be in action twice more before Rooney is eligible to play, with trips to face the New England Revolution and the LA Galaxy on tap ahead of opening the new venue against the Vancouver Whitecaps.Jason Levien, the club's managing general partner and CEO, said of a high-profile arrival: "This is a seminal moment for our fans and organization.

"Wayne is a global soccer icon and his presence at D.C. United will elevate our product on the pitch and soccer as a whole in our city and in this country."Wayne has thrived when competing at the most elite levels of soccer and we’re thrilled to have his leadership as we enter this new era at Audi Field."

Dave Kasper, United general manager and VP of soccer operations, added:"Wayne is undoubtedly one of the best players in Premier League history and his goal scoring record for club and country speaks for itself."He is a world-class player and he elevates those around him, both through his work-ethic and winning mentality.

"We are beyond excited to add someone of Rooney’s caliber and we are thrilled to welcome him to D.C."

 

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Congratulations & Good Luck Rooney!

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Senegal 0 Colombia 1: Mina header dumps unlucky Africans out in fair play first

Colombia topped Group H thanks to Yerry Mina's header in a 1-0 win over Senegal that sent the African side out of the World Cup by virtue of their fair play record - the first nation to exit the tournament by the method.Both teams were on track to move into the knockout stages with 16 minutes remaining in Thursday's clash at the Samara Arena, due to Japan trailing 1-0 to Poland in Volgograd.

But Mina - also on target in Colombia's win over Poland last time out - proved the matchwinner for his side with a superb late header that was celebrated in style with a choreographed team dance.




Japan qualify in second place from Group H despite losing to already eliminated Poland. Senegal exit having received six yellow cards to Japan's four.Senegal had a first-half penalty ruled out following a VAR review, while Colombia's key man James Rodriguez was substituted before the break and could be a doubt for the knockout rounds.

Group G's top two England and Belgium await Colombia and Japan in the last 16, with Senegal unfortunate to be knocked out by the slimmest of margins.


M'Baye Niang missed an early opportunity but the opening exchanges were cagey before referee Milorad Mazic awarded Senegal a penalty in the 17th minute.After consulting VAR, Mazic judged defender Davinson Sanchez to have won the ball before making any contact with Sadio Mane.Colombia were struggling to gain a foothold and they were dealt a blow after half an hour.

Star player James, who won the Golden Boot at the last World Cup, was substituted with what appeared to be a recurrence of the injury that kept him out of Colombia's 2-1 loss to Japan.News of Jan Bednarek's goal for Poland gave a lift to fans of both Colombia and Senegal as the tension levels in Samara continued to rise.Mane's slip as he took a free-kick in the 64th minute, the Liverpool forward sending the ball wildly off-target, summed up the lack of quality in the match.

Kalidou Koulibaly got a vital touch on a Luis Muriel drive to deflect the ball narrowly wide as Colombia threatened to turn the group on its head.

And in the 74th minute Colombia scored the decisive goal of the game, Juan Quintero's cross perfect for Barcelona defender Mina to rise highest and crash home a stunning header that went through goalkeeper Khadim N'Diaye.Senegal knew they were heading out and responded well to Mina's goal, Ismaila Sarr missing a fine chance after being picked out by Mane.

Colombia settled for their one-goal lead and, despite growing increasingly desperate and frantic in the closing minutes, Senegal could not force in an equaliser to keep them in the World Cup, their fair play record giving them an unwanted piece of history.

 

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Japan 0 Poland 1: Fair play history made as Nishino's men scrape through

Japan became the first team to qualify from the World Cup group stages via fair play rankings despite a 1-0 defeat to Poland in which Akira Nishino bizarrely made six changes to an unbeaten team.

The Samurai Blue had beaten Colombia and drawn with Senegal to enter their final Group H match, against already-eliminated Poland, requiring only a point to reach the last 16.But Japan scarcely threatened in Volgograd as Shinji Kagawa and Takashi Inui started on the bench and they were instead dependent on results elsewhere after Jan Bednarek's fine strike won the game for Poland.




Colombia's Yerry Mina came to Nishino's rescue, though, as his goal defeated Senegal and ensured Japan progressed in second place due to their superior disciplinary record.

Senegal's six yellow cards to Japan's four ultimately cost the African side, who exit Russia in disappointing circumstances.On this showing, neither England nor Belgium – Japan's potential last-16 opponents – will fear playing Nishino's men, who will be grateful simply to make the knockout stages and may well be unrecognisable after this risky experiment.


Both sides lacked a cutting edge early on and, even when Bednarek gifted Japan the ball 20 yards from goal, Shinji Okazaki could only nod wide at the end of a laboured move.

Japan at least drew encouragement from their first sight of goal and Yoshinori Muto's drive forced Lukasz Fabianski to parry, before the goalkeeper smothered a tame Gotoku Sakai effort.

Goal-line technology was called into action when Poland belatedly came forward, but Eiji Kawashima brilliantly scooped Kamil Grosicki's header clear.A first half of little drama concluded to a chorus of whistles from the crowd and little changed following the restart.

But with just over half an hour remaining, Rafal Kurzawa's free-kick picked out Bednarek, completely unmarked, to volley into the net against the run of play.

That setback hit Japan hard and their chances of rescuing the match and their campaign drifted by the minute, as Maya Yoshida directed a header well wide from a left-wing corner.

Robert Lewandowski should have put the result beyond doubt at the other end, but his wait for a first World Cup goal continues after he steered Grosicki's pin-point pass over the top.News of Colombia's goal saw Nishino make another odd tactical call as his side sat on their one-goal deficit, despite the risk of Senegal scoring decisively in Samara.

Despite farcical scenes in which Japan moved the ball back and forth on halfway, it paid off as Senegal could not rescue a point, sending the fortunate Samurai Blue through.

 

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Panama 1 Tunisia 2: Khazri seals first World Cup win in 40 years

Tunisia secured their first World Cup win in 40 years as they came from behind to beat Panama 2-1 in their Group G closer on Thursday.The African side – who along with Panama had already been eliminated before their clash at the Mordovia Arena – last tasted victory at the 1978 tournament when they beat Mexico 3-1.

Before their second-half fightback, Panama had looked like sealing a maiden World Cup victory when Jose Luis Rodriguez's long-range strike was deflected in by Yassine Meriah for an unfortunate own goal after 33 minutes.




Tunisia had been woeful in the opening period, but started the second half strongly and pulled level six minutes after the restart when Fakhreddine Ben Youssef tapped in from close range after a flowing move.Sunderland forward Wahbi Khazri – who scored in the 5-2 defeat to Belgium last time out – was Tunisia's brightest spark throughout and he got the goal he deserved after 66 minutes, slotting home after another impressive team move.

Panama huffed and puffed in the closing stages, but were unable to find a goal that would have ended their memorable World Cup campaign with a flourish.


With little at stake, it was hardly surprising that the game started at a tepid pace.
Naim Sliti enjoyed an early sight of goal, but cracked a half-volley well off target from outside the area, while Rami Bedoui's header was comfortably dealt with by Jaime Penedo.Panama looked significantly more organised than in their capitulation to England and were rewarded with the opening goal shortly after the half-hour.

Rodriguez picked up the ball from Roman Torres 25 yards out and his well-struck shot took an almighty deflection off Meriah to wrong-foot goalkeeper Aymen Mathlouthi and nestle in the back of the net.That goal appeared to spark the African side into life and they soon wasted two clear opportunities to pull level.

Ben Youssef flashed a header wide of Penedo's far post from a teasing cross before Khazri thumped a volley over from a promising position at the back post.
Khazri again came close before the interval when his initial shot was blocked and Penedo scrambled away his follow-up effort.

Tunisia looked a team rejuvenated at the start of the second period and pulled level after 51 minutes from an incisive move that carved open the Panama backline.After dancing past two defenders on the edge of the area, Sliti found Khazri down the right and the latter's low cross was converted by the unmarked Ben Youssef just six yards out.



The Al-Ettifaq forward should have scored a second minutes later, but his low effort was kept out by the foot of Penedo.However, Tunisia's new-found threat did pay off again in the 66th minute when Oussama Haddadi's surging run down the left gave him the space to pick out Khazri, who had the simple of task of slotting home from close range at the back post.

Panama rarely looked like finding a leveller in the closing stages as Tunisia held on for just their second World Cup win.

 

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England 0 Belgium 1: Januzaj stunner claims Group G top spot

Belgium set up a World Cup last-16 meeting with Japan as Adnan Januzaj's first international goal earned a 1-0 win against England to top Group G.With Brazil potentially awaiting in the quarter-finals for the group winners, there was speculation both teams would prefer to finish second to be paired with either Sweden or Switzerland in the last eight.

But despite Belgium making nine changes from their previous group match and England eight, both sides showed plenty of willingness to try and win the game and the group.




Januzaj's moment of magic was enough to secure maximum points for Belgium and their first win against England since 1936, the winger cutting in off the right flank to whip a delightful strike across Jordan Pickford.Marcus Rashford had England's best chance to reply, but Thibaut Courtois made a fine save to deny the Manchester United striker, who was deputising for rested Golden Boot leader Harry Kane.

John Stones was one of two outfield players to be retained by Gareth Southgate and he had to be replaced at the break - the centre-back could be a doubt for the Three Lions' second-round match against Colombia.


Jamie Vardy was gifted an early opportunity by sloppy defending, but Courtois saved with his right boot.Pickford kept out a long-range drive from Youri Tielemans before the goalkeeper was rescued by Gary Cahill's goal-line clearance after the ball squirmed out of his grasp.

Tielemans collected the game's first booking and Trent Alexander-Arnold was next to produce a block on the line, although Pickford might well have saved the effort from Marouane Fellaini.

Leander Dendoncker was booked for bringing down a rampaging Danny Rose as England appeared to be edging towards top spot in the group by virtue of their better fair play record.

England were dealt a blow with Stones replaced at the break, the Manchester City defender appearing on the bench with an ice pack applied to his calf. And Belgium took the lead in the 51st minute, Januzaj scoring a beauty to open his international account.

The former Manchester United man tied Rose in knots, cut inside and whipping a glorious finish out of Pickford's reach, the goalkeeper beaten in his top-right corner.Clever play from Vardy sent Rashford through on goal in the 66th minute, but the striker's effort was a good height for Courtois to get a vital touch to turn the ball wide of the post.

While England will be concerned about Stones' knock, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez was able to bring Vincent Kompany off the bench for the last 16 minutes for the defender's first action of the World Cup.Rashford drilled a free-kick narrowly over the angle, but Belgium - who could have added a late second but for Pickford denying substitute Dries Mertens - held firm to win Group G.

Martinez's men take on Japan on Monday with England facing Colombia the following day.

 

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Japan 0 Vs 1 Poland

Group H Match in Pictures

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Senegal 0 Vs 1 Colombia

Group H Match in Pictures

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Panama 1 Vs 2 Tunisia

Group G Match in Pictures

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England 0 Vs 1 Belgium

Group G Match in Pictures

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Senegal v Colombia - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

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Japan v Poland - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

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Panama v Tunisia - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

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England v Belgium - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

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We will save a locker – Carvajal would welcome Neymar at Madrid


Real Madrid full-back Dani Carvajal is ready to save a locker for Neymar if the European champions sign the Paris Saint-Germain star.

Neymar, 26, has been linked with a move to Madrid after spending just one season at Ligue 1 winners PSG, the club he joined from Barcelona.Carvajal said he would welcome the Brazil international to the Santiago Bernabeu if Madrid president Florentino Perez was eager to sign the star forward.

"If he was born to play in Madrid, I don't know," he told Cadena SER."Madrid always want the best in the world. If the president is determined to sign him, we will have to save a locker."

Madrid are also linked with a move for Alvaro Odriozola, the Real Sociedad right-back who would likely put pressure on Carvajal for his spot.

But Carvajal said he would be happy to see his Spain team-mate join him at Madrid."If the coach [Julen Lopetegui] and the president believe it necessary, welcome," he said.

"I think he is a great player, young, with good defensive skills. He's a very complete player."

 

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Eliminated Germany need 'big changes', says Low


Joachim Low believes there must be "big changes" in Germany after the nation's shock group-stage exit at the World Cup.The defending champions stunningly finished bottom of Group F after suffering a 2-0 loss to South Korea on Wednesday.

Head coach Low, whose future remains unclear despite signing a new deal until 2022 before the World Cup, said action was needed after Germany's first opening-round exit at the tournament since 1938.

"We've had this situation – when the team was knocked out of the European Championship in 2004 after the group stage," he said.

"After that, there were a lot of changes. Over 14 years we got better and better, we were the most consistent team in the world for the last 10 years and we were world champions."But now, with the exit and huge disappointment, we must reflect what the consequences will be and the right steps."We need changes, big changes. And about that, we must talk."

Germany never hit top form in Russia and Low, who has been in charge since 2006, said time was needed to pinpoint what went wrong.
"It's too early to say. Of course, we talked about it. But there isn't a single reason or a single thing for why we failed," he said."There are more reasons, and it's my responsibility to analyse that. It was also my responsibility to get the team on a high level of football in these four weeks and that didn't work as well.

"Now we need a bit of time and a few conversations and then we will give answers."

 

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Chelsea closing in on Golovin signing


Chelsea are nearing their first signing of the summer after they made quick progress in a meeting with Russia star Aleksandr Golovin's agent, Goal understands.Juventus have been heavily linked with a move for the 22-year-old CSKA Moscow midfielder, but the Blues have stolen a march on their Serie A rivals.

The Serie A champions have offered €20 million (£18m/$23m) plus €3m in bonuses, but Chelsea have assured CSKA that they will get closer to their €30m (£27m/$35m) asking price.

Chelsea are still yet to clarify their managerial situation for next season, but feel very confident that they will land Maurizio Sarri and want to provide the ex-Napoli boss with some quality players for next season.

The Blues have accelerated their transfer plans this week after gaining momentum in managerial talks, as dialogue has been made with Napoli after lawyers had been pouring over the contract situations of both Sarri and Antonio Conte.Conte remains the head coach at Stamford Bridge, but he will be moved aside for a new manager as his relationships with several players, along with the club's director Marina Granovskaia have turned sour.

The strength of Chelsea's approach for Golovin has led to Juventus to believe that their chances of landing the Russia star are over, as the Turin side feel like a back-up option for both CSKA and Golovin.Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic had already been dismissed by the Turin giants after the Biancocelesti demanded a huge fee of €150m (£132m/$175m).

Sarri has already spoken to Chelsea about a number of his personal targets, including Gonzalo Higuain, Dries Mertens and Kalidou Koulibaly, but the Blues retain control of transfer policy as they have for all their managers.

 

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Casemiro: Spain's Busquets is world's best in my position


Brazil and Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro labelled Barcelona's Sergio Busquets as the world's best in his position.The Brazilian and the Spanish star will be very familiar with each other, having faced off many times as players for Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Real Madrid got the better of Barcelona in their four meetings last season, though a resounding win for the Blaugrana in league play helped pave the way for a La Liga title.

And Casemiro, preparing for Brazil's last-16 World Cup clash against Mexico in Samara Monday, pointed to rival midfielder Busquets when quizzed on who the best in the world at his position was. The 26-year-old said the Spain international – whose team face Russia in the round of 16 – was the world's best defensive midfielder."There are not many players that I can choose from in my position but if I had to pick one then it would be Busquets," Casemiro told a news conference Friday.

"He is the best in the world and I have a lot of admiration for him, he has a lot of quality."[France duo N'Golo] Kante and [Paul] Pogba are also very strong."Should Casemiro and Busquets face off in Russia it would be in the final, with the Brazilian possibly having to go through Kante, Pogba and France in the semi-finals to get there.

 

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Sanchez hopes Man United team-mate Lukaku wins World Cup Golden Boot


Alexis Sanchez wants Manchester United team-mate and Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku to win the Golden Boot at the World Cup .

Lukaku made a fine start to the showpiece tournament in Russia, scoring braces in wins over Panama and Tunisia, scoring twice in both games.The 25-year-old's four goals leave him behind only England forward Harry Kane (five) in the Golden Boot race.

And Sanchez, whose Chile failed to qualify for Russia 2018, hopes to see Lukaku finish the tournament as the top scorer."Lukaku is fine, on fire. He has four goals," he said at a sponsorship event Friday.

"I hope he is the top goalscorer of the World Cup."Lukaku sat out the Group G finale against England due to an ankle injury, but Roberto Martinez says that he, along with Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen are all fully fit and available for selection.

Belgium continue their World Cup with a last-16 clash against Japan in Rostov-on-Don Monday, with the winner of that contest slated to take on either Mexico or Brazil in the quarter-finals.

 

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Steve Coppell: This has been one of the most open World Cups till date


Steve Coppell might be getting ready to take charge of his third Indian Super League (ISL) club in three years but that doesn’t mean the Englishman hasn’t kept an eye on his countrymen’s performance in the ongoing World Cup in Russia.The Three Lions will take on Colombia in the Round of 16 clash after finishing second in their group behind Belgium.

Coppell, who himself has represented England at the 1982 World Cup, is refusing to read too much into the side’s performance against Belgium which Gareth Southgate’s men lost 1-0.Interestingly, the former Middlesbrough manager made wholesale changes against Belgium in their final group game.

“I think it is too early to say (if England can win the World Cup). England fielded reserve players against Belgium to test the bench strength. Things will depend on how they perform in the knock-out rounds,” the former Manchester United winger assessed England’s chances.The ongoing World Cup has seen upsets aplenty with defending champions Germany crashing out in the group stages for the first time since 1938 after a 0-2 defeat to South Korea. The 62-year-old veteran coach admitted that the World Cup has been full of surprises while picking Spain and Brazil as two of the favourites for the title.

“I think Spain has a good chance of winning the cup. Brazil also has a good chance. But I must admit that it has been one of the most open World Cups till date,” Coppell opined.

The Round of 16 fixtures in the World Cup get underway on Saturday while England and Colombia will lock horns on Tuesday at the Spartak Stadium in Moscow.