..::Football IV::..

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Croatia 0 England 0: Rashford wastes chances in Rijeka

England and Croatia face a struggle to unseat Spain at the top of their Nations League group after playing out a goalless draw in an empty stadium in Rijeka.Croatia had been ordered to play the match behind closed doors after a swastika was marked on the pitch in Split ahead of a Euro 2016 qualifier against Italy.

And the World Cup finalists appeared to miss the backing of their home fans as they struggled to take control of the match, with England dominating after a poor first half from both sides.


But Gareth Southgate's men could not atone for their semi-final defeat to the same opponents in Russia, despite hitting the woodwork twice and seeing Marcus Rashford waste a pair of fantastic opportunities The absence of spectators – with the exception of a hardy group of England supporters watching from the top of a nearby hill – contributed to a low-key opening in Rijeka, with shots at goal about as common as fans through the turnstiles in the early stages.The game's first shot on target did not arrive until the 37th minute, when Andrej Kramaric failed to truly test Jordan Pickford from the centre of the box.

Eric Dier came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock just before the break, but his glancing header across goal from a Jordan Henderson corner bounced back off the left-hand upright, and Tottenham colleague Harry Kane nodded against the crossbar shortly after the restart.

England started to dominate play and Rashford should have put the visitors ahead after 55 minutes, but the flimsy finish with which he greeted an inviting Kyle Walker ball into the box left Dominik Livakovic with a comfortable save.

It got no better for Rashford two minutes later, when the Manchester United frontman failed to slot past the goalkeeper after being played through on goal by Raheem Sterling.

Southgate introduced debutant Jadon Sancho for the final 15 minutes, but the Borussia Dortmund attacker – England's second-youngest debutant in a competitive game after Duncan Edwards - was unable to make a match-winning impact.

 

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Sri Lanka 1 Malaysia 4: Win for Malaysia despite dire performance


After a creditable win over Cambodia in the last match, Malaysia had to toiled for long period of the match before coming from behind to eventually win the match. For large parts of the match, the Malayan Tigers struggled to find creativity to break through what was a vastly inferior opponent.

In truth, that could be pointed at the starting XI that Tan Cheng Hoe selected for the match. Mahali Jasuli and Syamer Kutty Abba were paired in the centre of midfield, with neither player known for their ability to be a playmaker.


Without Nazmi Faiz in the middle, a lot was relied on the wing players but Syazwan Zainon and Shahrel Fikri were conspicuous in their anonymity in the match. That forced the returning Norshahrul Idlan Talaha to drop deep to try to create but was often crowded out easily.

So poor were Malaysia in the first half that Sri Lanka were able to capitalise by opening the scoring in the 29th minute when Asela Madushan sped past Irfan Zakaria to stab home a rebound after Hafizul Hakim had parried one shot from the right.

In the second half, Tan introduced Mohamadou Sumareh in place of Shahrel and the debutant would quickly be the most feared match on the pitch. In fact, it was his combination with familiar faces in Matthew Davies that produced the equaliser for another one of the Pahang connection.

Sumareh released Davies on the right hand side and the latter's cross was fumbled Sujan Perera for Norshahrul to have the easiest of task of passing the ball into an empty net in the 65th minute. Stunned by the equaliser, the match quickly swung the way of the away side.

Adam Nor Azlin headed in Malaysia's second goal of the night when he nodded in from a Syazwan Andik corner kick, Sumareh forced an own goal by Sri Lanka for Malaysia's third before find the back of the net in added time to cap off an encouraging debut for him in national colours.

There will be plenty for Tan to mull over on the flight back home as Malaysia will be heading straight to the airport after the match. The substitutions played their part in Malaysia recovering from being behind in the first half as he prepares the team for a tougher opponent in Kyrgyzstan on Tuesday.

 

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Belgium 2 Switzerland 1: Lukaku at the double for Red Devils

Romelu Lukaku ended a six-game competitive dry spell with both Belgium goals in a late 2-1 home win over a stubborn Switzerland in the Nations League on Friday.On target twice in a 3-0 defeat of Iceland last month, Manchester United striker Lukaku repeated the heroics as he scored either side of Mario Gavranovic's surprise 76th-minute equaliser.

The 25-year-old looked to have played the part of villain when he blazed over a golden opportunity to restore the hosts' lead late in proceedings, but he regained composure to tuck away a chance instigated by Eden Hazard six minutes from time and send the Red Devils top of Group A2.


The result may provide Thierry Henry with a winning farewell in what could be his final match as Roberto Martinez's assistant - the France great closing in on the vacant Monaco post.
After a week marked by investigations into alleged corruption and match-fixing within Belgian football, the hosts almost went ahead through Youri Tielemans' rasping drive in the 20th minute, but it was one of few moments of quality in a subdued first half.The opener eventually came when Hazard, Dries Mertens and Thomas Meunier were all involved in creating space for Lukaku to squirm the opener under Yann Sommer in the 58th minute.

Against the run of play, Switzerland appeared to have done enough for a point when Michael Lang aided Gavranovic in punishing some sloppy marking from Xherdan Shaqiri's free-kick.

But, after fluffing one fine chance for the winner, Lukaku did not waste a second, squeezing home after a brilliant move involving Hazard and Mertens in the 84th minute to send Martinez's men three points clear atop their Nations League group.

 

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Saudi Arabia 0 Brazil 2: Neymar and Jesus star in straightforward win

Neymar and Gabriel Jesus caught the eye as Brazil claimed a 2-0 friendly win over 10-man Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Friday.Jesus, who endured a difficult World Cup, was making his first post-Russia 2018 appearance and he looked particularly sharp as he opened the scoring, before Alex Sandro rounded things off in stoppage time.

An entertaining first half, which was full of flamboyancy from both teams, culminated in Neymar setting the Manchester City star up for his 11th senior international goal in the 43rd minute.


The hosts failed to build on first-half promise after the break and Brazil were completely dominant, eventually adding to the score with an Alex Sandro header after goalkeeper Mohammed Al Owais' red card for handling outside the area.It did not take Brazil long to establish control and they crafted several half chances, before Al Owais made a fine acrobatic save to palm Jesus' headed flick-on over in the 26th minute.

But Al Owais was beaten on the stroke of half-time when Jesus raced onto Neymar's throughball and found the net.Lucas Moura – introduced at half-time for his first Brazil appearance since June 2016 – should have swiftly made it 2-0, but he shot straight at Al Owais after an incisive pass from Neymar, who hit the post from 25 yards in the 55th minute.

Al Owais' fine performance was ruined five minutes from time when he was dismissed following a VAR review for handling Richarlison's shot outside the area following a weak back pass, and Alex Sandro rounded the win off by heading in Neymar's corner for his first Selecao goal in the 96th minute.

 

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Peru 3 Chile 0: Aquino brace caps dominant display


Substitute Pedro Aquino scored a late brace as Peru claimed a deserved 3-0 victory over South American rivals Chile in an international friendly in Miami on Friday.

It was a dominant performance at Hard Rock Stadium, where Peru were rewarded for their superior display thanks to an Enzo Roco own goal and Aquino's second-half double.Chile defender Roco turned the ball into his own net just past the hour-mark before Aquino sealed the win with two goals in 11 minutes as Peru snapped a run of back-to-back defeats following the World Cup.

Arturo Vidal – struggling for regular game time at LaLiga champions Barcelona – was in Chile's starting XI, but Alexis Sanchez was absent due to his visa issues in the United States, with the Manchester United forward set to face Mexico in Queretaro on Tuesday.
Peru dominated from the outset and Chile – who had drawn consecutive games ahead of the fixture – somehow managed to head into the half-time break on level terms.

A one-sided first 45 minutes saw Raul Ruidiaz's close-range effort miraculously blocked on the line, with Chile keeper Fernando De Paul kept busy.Peru finally scored the goal their dominance deserved 19 minutes into the second half thanks to some help from Roco, who conceded an own goal after team-mate Ignacio Jeraldino was dispossessed trying to shield the ball out of play.

Chile were carved open again in the 75th minute – Edison Flores squaring the ball to the unmarked Aquino to side-foot home before the 23-year-old added a second with four minutes remaining.

 

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'Mourinho sacking would be unfair' - Man Utd urged by Essien to stick with under-fire boss


Manchester United taking the decision to sack Jose Mourinho would be “unfair”, says Michael Essien, with the Portuguese still the right man for the job.A testing start to the 2018-19 campaign has seen pressure mount on a high-profile manager at Old Trafford.

Mourinho’s ongoing presence has divided opinion, although a number of his former players have spoken out in support of a coach who is being let down by an underperforming squad.

Essien has now added his voice to those who believe United need to make brave calls during a difficult period and offer support to an under-fire boss, rather than ushering him through the exits.

A man who worked under Mourinho at Chelsea and Real Madrid during his playing days told Standard Sport: "It's all part of the game. When things are not going right, clubs start making changes."It would be unfair [if they sacked him] but, as I said, it's part of the game. Managers come and go but we'll have to wait and see what happens."

Essien added on the situation Mourinho finds himself in at Old Trafford: "They've had a very bad start to the season. Knowing Jose and the players, I am sure they will work hard and start to change things around.

"He's a good man, first and foremost, and he always knows how to get the best out of his players. He knows when things are not going right and he knows what to do and the words to say to pick them up."I am sure he will do that and hopefully things will begin to change for him.

"He is [charismatic in training]. He is always close to his players. He's such a good man but people see him differently on camera. But, off camera, he is such a lovely person."Mourinho was able to send his side into the international on the back of a dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle, but bigger tests now lie ahead.

United will return to domestic action on October 20 with a trip to Chelsea, before then taking in a Champions League reunion with Cristiano Ronaldo and his Juventus side.

 

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Ronaldo urged to hand over evidence after claim key documents were fabricated in rape allegation


Cristiano Ronaldo has been urged by lawyers representing Kathryn Mayorga to hand over any evidence to support the claim that documents in a rape allegation were fabricated.

American Mayorga has accused Juventus attacker Ronaldo of sexually assaulting her in a hotel room in Las Vegas in 2009, something the Portuguese has strenuously refuted.

German publication Der Spiegel first reported the claims, which also included the suggestion Ronaldo paid Ms Mayorga $375,000 in 2010 as part of a privacy agreement, preventing her from going public with the allegations. Ms Mayorga filed a lawsuit last month in an attempt to quash that agreement while Las Vegas police have re-opened an investigation.

Ronaldo's lawyer Peter Christiansen confirmed the payment was made to Ms Mayorga, but criticised a fresh report at the weekend which he says was based on doctored evidence.

But a statement from lawyers, Larissa Drohobyczer and Leslie Stovall, representing Ms Mayorga, said: "We thank Cristiano Ronaldo's latest lawyer for confirming and admitting in his October 10, 2018 statement that the 'Football Leaks' documents were obtained from Cristiano Ronaldo or individuals acting on his behalf.

"We look forward to reviewing any evidence that tends to prove, as Mr Ronaldo's lawyer asserts, that some of the 'Football Leaks' documents were altered, fabricated, or contain false/inaccurate information.

"In both civil and criminal cases, disputes regarding the accuracy of documents are generally questions of fact to be decided by the jury. A jury determines the accuracy of disputed documents by: 1) Comparing of the different versions of the disputed documents; 2) Listening to the testimony of the individuals who wrote, prepared, transmitted, and stored the disputed documents; 3) Considering the circumstances under which the documents were written, prepared, transmitted, stored and maintained; and 4) Listening to the testimony of forensic experts who have examined the disputed documents, and the devices upon which the documents were written, prepared, transmitted, and stored.

"In a civil case, discovery is conducted to obtain evidence regarding these matters through the exchange of disputed documents, the forensic examination of disputed documents and devices, and the examination of witnesses under oath. In criminal cases, the prosecutors rely upon investigator's review of disputed documents, the forensic examination of devices and disputed documents, and questioning of witnesses.

"Any document or information under the control or in the possession of Cristiano Ronaldo should be immediately turned over to the appropriate law enforcement agencies and the offices of Stovall & Associates to expedite the investigation and resolution of the alleged discrepancies in the 'Football Leaks' documents."

In a statement earlier this week, Christiansen had said: "The documents which purportedly contain statements by Mr Ronaldo and have been reported in the media are complete fabrications. It is my understanding that in 2015, dozens of entities [including law firms] across many different industries throughout Europe were hacked and their electronic data was stolen and captured by a cyber-criminal.

"This hacker attempted to sell this data, and one media outlet has now irresponsibly published the stolen documents, significant portions of which were altered and/or completely fabricated. To absolve any doubt, Mr Ronaldo has always maintained, as he does today, that what occurred in 2009 in Las Vegas was consensual in nature."While Mr Ronaldo does not deny the existence of the mutual agreement and release, his motivations for agreeing to that resolution have been twisted to say the least.

"Far from any admission of guilt or any ulterior motive, Mr Ronaldo was advised to privately resolve the allegations against him in order to avoid the inevitable attempts that are now being made to destroy a reputation that has been built upon hard work, athleticism and honour.

"Unfortunately, he now finds himself embroiled in the type of litigation that is all too commonplace in America."Christiansen's statement went on to stress Ronaldo's innocence while again strongly criticising the reporting of the allegations facing the Portugal captain.

"While Mr Ronaldo is accustomed to being the subject of press attention that goes along with being famous, it is absolutely deplorable that any media outlet would support or advance such an elaborate and deliberate defamation campaign based on stolen, easily manipulated digital documents," the statement continued."Mr Ronaldo will leave future discussion of any and all legal matters to his attorneys here [in Las Vegas] and in Europe. He is confident that the truth will survive this frenzy and the laws of Nevada will be upheld and enforced."

Meanwhile, on Thursday, Real Madrid announced they are to take legal action against a Portuguese newspaper that suggested the club pressurised Ronaldo into seeking a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Mayorga.

Correio da Manha claimed on Wednesday that the NDA was put in place at Madrid's request, with the club having spent a then-world-record fee to sign the forward from Manchester United just weeks after the incident is claimed to have taken place.

Madrid insist that is "false information" and, in a statement, said: "Real Madrid CF can today announce that the club has taken legal action against the Portuguese newspaper Correio da Manha for publishing categorically false information in an effort to seriously damage the image of this club.

"Real Madrid has absolutely no knowledge of any of the information that the newspaper published with regard to the player Cristiano Ronaldo, and therefore the club was unable to take action on a matter of which it had no knowledge.

 

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Man Utd target Milinkovic-Savic welcomes Mourinho's presence at Serbia clash


Serbia and Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has admitted his delight that Jose Mourinho attended his country's clash with Montenegro in midweek.The Manchester United manager was present as Serbia ran out 2-0 winners in the first competitive clash between the two nations, who competed at the 2006 World Cup as one country.

Milinkovic-Savic has been regularly linked with a mega-money move away from Serie A, and United were reportedly one of several clubs queueing up to secure the 23-year-old.

He is unsure that Mourinho was in the stands to watch him, particularly given that he started the game as a substitute, coming on in the second half, but is nevertheless pleased that the United boss saw him play.“I’m a Lazio player, but obviously I was pleased that a coach of his calibre came to see the game,” he told reporters.

“If he gave the impression of disagreeing with the starting line-up, it may not be because of me.“Maybe he wasn’t here for me but for someone else. I read a bit from everywhere that he came here to watch me play, but that doesn’t mean anything.”

Indeed, Mourinho and United have also been linked with Serbia defender Nikola Milenkovic, who helped his side keep a clean sheet.

The Fiorentina defender is reportedly among the defenders on the Red Devils' wish list after they missed out on the likes of Tottenham's Toby Alderweireld, Leicester City's Harry Maguire and Bayern Munich's Jerome Boateng in the summer.

United have endured a poor start to the Premier League season, losing three of their opening eight games, and currently trail Chelsea and Manchester City by seven points.

 

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Monaco appoint Arsenal legend Henry


Monaco have appointed Arsenal legend Thierry Henry as their new manager, while Arsenal's Under-18 head coach Kwame Ampadu has been announced as part of his staff.Henry will take his first steps into management at the club where he began his professional career, and has signed a three-year contract.

The Frenchman obviously went on to greater heights, joining Juventus, then the Gunners and then Barcelona, but he spent six years with the Principality club and is delighted to be making a return.

“In the first place, I thank AS Monaco for giving me the opportunity to coach the team of this club which is so special to me," he said."I am very happy to come back to AS Monaco and extremely determined to meet the challenges ahead. I can not wait to meet the players to start working together.”

Henry had worked alongside former Everton boss Roberto Martinez in the Belgium set-up, and helped the side to a third-placed finish at the World Cup in Russia.

Vadim Vasilyev, Monaco's vice president, has already waxed lyrical about the appointment, made after the sacking of Leonardo Jardim earlier this week.“His knowledge of football, his passion for the game, his high standards and his commitment to our colours make his nomination a reality," he said.

"Thierry is both aware of the task ahead and eager to start his new job. He can count on our trust and all our support to bring a new dynamic to the team and carry out the mission.”

Indeed, Henry's task is a difficult one as he is charged with turning around the form of a side which have picked up only six points from nine Ligue 1 matches this season.

While it's true that Monaco won the French title a mere 17 months ago, a mass of sales including Kylian Mbappe, Thomas Lemar, Fabinho, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Bernardo Silva has drastically reduced the quality of the squad.

Currently 18th in Ligue 1, Monaco return to action on October 20 with a trip to Strasbourg.

 

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Republic of Ireland 0 Denmark 0: Eriksen sorely missed in bore draw


Republic of Ireland could not avenge their World Cup play-off defeat to Denmark as they were held to a goalless draw by a visiting side missing Christian Eriksen in Dublin.

Hat-trick hero Eriksen extinguished Ireland's qualifying hopes in a 5-1 away win last November, but the Tottenham midfielder was not fit to feature in Saturday's rematch in the Nations League.However, rather than opening the door for Ireland to record a much-needed victory, Eriksen's absence merely sapped the quality from the contest as both outfits struggled to offer anything in the final third.

Denmark at least know Eriksen's return should ensure improvement from this dour display, but there were few positives for Martin O'Neill and Ireland to take forward.

The first of very few first-half flashpoints came five minutes in when Denmark stopped play for the injured Harry Arter but Jeff Hendrick capitalised to run clear, wastefully shooting wide to the relief of the furious visiting players.Darren Randolph smothered from Thomas Delaney at the other end, before Pione Sisto whipped a low drive against the right-hand post just seconds before the break.

There was no change to the pattern of play following the restart as Denmark kept possession at a near-silent Aviva Stadium, with Simon Kjaer denied the opening goal as Arter hacked his header away from the goal line.

Kasper Schmeichel comfortably dealt with Cyrus Christie's drive after a rare Ireland break and there would be no late sucker punch for the dominant Danes as they eased through the closing stages.

 

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'Hazard is staying here!' - Sarri wants Real Madrid target to flourish at Chelsea


Maurizio Sarri has declared that Eden Hazard is staying at Chelsea, with a man being heavily linked with Real Madrid tipped to become one of the best players in the world at Stamford Bridge.

The Belgium international, who has seen talk of a switch to Spain build steadily over recent years, has kept the rumour mill ticking over with non-committal comments regarding his future.He has conceded that he considers Madrid to be a “dream” destination and feels a move to La Liga may be required in order to fulfil his Ballon d’Or ambition.

Sarri believes that Hazard is destined to join the global elite, but feels a player tied to Chelsea until 2020 should be looking to stay put and further his career in England.

The Italian, who took the Blues reins over the summer, told Corriere dello Sport of a player he may be tempted to use in a ‘false nine’ role again this season: “Hazard is immense and I don’t think even he knows how much he can still improve. I said he could end up in the tight circle of the best three or four players in the world.“The problem is he plays to enjoy himself and at times doesn’t realise the importance of moving from fun to reaping the rewards. At the end of the day, you’ve got to get the fruits of your labour.

“Hazard’s approach is a positive, but it can become a potential limitation too. He needs to lift his head up, look around and realise there’s a whole world in front of him that he can dictate with his feet for the good of the collective and not just the individual.“He said such kind words about me, I wasn’t expecting that.“His contract expires in 2020, but he’s staying here.

“I was tempted to use Hazard as a centre-forward and I might consider it again in future, but it’s not the right time now. We need to believe in Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata.”While Hazard has dominated the exit talk in west London of late, David Luiz and Cesc Fabregas have seen their respective Chelsea futures called into question.

Sarri said of two experienced performers approaching the end of their current deals: “David Luiz is a really sweet guy, exemplary and professional. Cesc Fabregas has immense quality, he returned from injury and I am proud to have him with me, as he’ll give us a big hand.”

All of those currently on the books at Stamford Bridge have helped the Blues to make a flying start to the 2018-19 campaign which has them sat among the Premier League frontrunners while also progressing positively in Europa League and Carabao Cup competition.

Sarri maintains that he is not yet setting title targets for his debut season in west London, but he is enjoying a new role which has seen ‘Sarriball’ embraced by an audience outside of his homeland.

He added: “I’d say this Chelsea side is only at 60-70 per cent capacity right now, but how much we are missing and how much we need is not the same thing. It’s double that.

“The whole Sarriball thing amuses me. I don’t go on social media, but I did see the fans post these videos with the most passes. If I have to be honest, the Chelsea fans aren’t even sure what Sarriball means. They invented this term, pronounce it all in one word and carry on. It’s very funny.

“It’s a dream to be here. I walked into Stamford Bridge and hear this shout: ‘Mauriziooooooo!’ Then the chants, it makes you want to pinch yourself. They usually do that for those who have won, but what have I won? I couldn’t believe it.”

 

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Netherlands 3 Germany 0: Record defeat means more misery for Low

Virgil van Dijk, Memphis Depay and Georginio Wijnaldum all scored to earn Netherlands a 3-0 win over Germany and left Joachim Low's men still without a win or a goal in the Nations League.

Liverpool defender Van Dijk pounced to nod home the loose ball on the half-hour mark after Ryan Babel had struck the crossbar with a header following a corner from Depay.Germany had chances to grab a leveller after the break, with substitute Leroy Sane steering a glorious opportunity wide.

They were also denied what appeared to be a clear-cut penalty in the final 10 minutes when Arnaut Groeneveld tripped Matthias Ginter.

However, Depay added an 86th-minute second on the counter-attack and Liverpool midfielder Wijnaldum rifled in a third in stoppage time, securing Oranje's biggest ever win over Germany.It leaves Low's side in danger of relegation in League A Group 1, of which they are bottom, having drawn 0-0 with France in their first game.

Germany enjoyed a bright start as Timo Werner poked wide when through one-on-one before Jasper Cillessen denied Thomas Muller's first-time effort.However, Netherlands went ahead in the 30th minute, Van Dijk nodding into the net having reacted quickest after Babel's header from Depay's corner came back off the crossbar.

Sane was guilty of squandering the best of Germany's second-half openings as he fired wide when it seemed easier to score having been put through by Joshua Kimmich.

Low's side were then denied a penalty when Groeneveld looked to have tripped Ginter from behind, but referee Cuneyt Cakir was uninterested.Depay then secured the victory with four minutes to spare, staying onside to collect Quincy Promes' pass and finish past Manuel Neuer, despite the keeper's best efforts.

There was still time for Depay to hit the crossbar before Wijnaldum steered into the bottom-left corner of the net after bamboozling Jerome Boateng to give Netherlands a win over Germany by three goals or more for the first time in history.

 

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'Zidane would return style to Man Utd' - Frenchman could fix Mourinho faults, says Ince


Manchester United lack identity under Jose Mourinho, says Paul Ince, and any move for Zinedine Zidane would see them bring a recognised style back to the club.

The Red Devils have made an inconsistent start to the 2018-19 campaign, with the current man at the helm having struggled to settle on a preferred XI and tactical approach.

Ince considers that to be the reason for the speculation surrounding Mourinho’s future, with it difficult to see what United are trying to achieve under the current coaching regime.

Former Real Madrid boss Zidane would add something new at Old Trafford, having enjoyed considerable success in Spain, and his presence could reignite the spark which has been lacking of late.

Former United midfielder Ince told Express Sport: “Zizou did great at Real Madrid. He came in and won Champions League after Champions League, just phenomenal.“He had a style at Real Madrid. And it got the best from their attacking players.Players bought into it. Zidane’s way of playing got them on side and that, for me, was significant.“You look at United now and they don’t have a way of playing. But Zidane did at Real. And if he gets the United job I see him using that same style.”

While talking up the qualities that Zidane would bring to United, Ince is not convinced that change is required at Old Trafford.

He considers underperforming players to be more at fault for the Red Devils’ struggles than an under-fire boss, with Mourinho boasting a CV which suggests that he will get things right if given the necessary support.
“Look, I still think he can turn it around,” Ince added.“But the players need to deliver. Look at Alexis Sanchez and Paul Pogba. I know they beat Newcastle last week but for me, that has papered over some of the cracks.

“Mourinho needs his players playing for him and they showed they can fight, that they do care. But they have to help him out of this mess.”

 

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Real Madrid shouldn't panic-buy a striker in January - Schuster


Real Madrid would be wrong to panic-buy a new striker in the January transfer window, according to former head coach Bernd Schuster.The European champions have not scored in any competition since a 1-0 La Liga victory over Espanyol on September 22 and are without a win in their last four games.

Their struggle for goals since Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus in a €112 million (£99m/$130m) deal has led to scrutiny over the form of their attacking players.

Karim Benzema hit five in four games at the start of the season but is now without a goal in his last seven appearances, while Gareth Bale has gone four league games without scoring and Mariano Diaz has only netted once since his return from Lyon.Schuster, though, has warned Madrid against signing another forward in early 2019 as he thinks it unlikely any top-class players will be made available.

"I wouldn't sign anyone in the winter market because if what you want is to bring in a star or someone who improves what you have, I think that if a club allows a player to leave like that it'll be because he's not right," he told Marca.

"Arriving in January without having good rhythm is very difficult. They won't easily let a striker leave if he has 20 goals with his team."What happens is that Ronaldo didn't only guarantee you goals, but the opponents unconsciously change the way they play.

"Sometimes, a leader is missing. Madrid didn't have one in Moscow [a 1-0 Champions League defeat to CSKA] and it was too noticeable."

Madrid's form has seen pressure mount on head coach Julen Lopetegui, with some reports suggesting he will be sacked if they lose the Clasico to Barcelona on October 28.
Schuster, who lasted just 17 months in charge at the Santiago Bernabeu, thinks Lopetegui is well aware of the demands involved."The players barely care. It's the coach who is thinking about the next game all day," said Schuster, now coach of Dalian Yifang in the Chinese Super League.

"They are mentally prepared for criticism and to suffer when things aren't going well. They know they live by the next result."

 

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'Drop Neuer and start Ter Stegen' - Germany legend Matthaus calls for goalkeeping change


Marc-Andre ter Stegen should take the Germany number one spot away from an out-of-sorts Manuel Neuer, former captain Lothar Matthaus has said.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer has struggled to hit top form since returning to action following his long absence due to a foot injury last season.The 32-year-old was unconvincing in Germany's shock group-stage exit at the World Cup and came in for criticism for his performance in the 3-0 Nations League loss to Netherlands last Saturday.

Ter Stegen has only started two matches this year – friendlies with Spain in March and Peru last month – but Matthaus thinks the Barcelona man has earned the right to a regular spot in Joachim Low's starting line-up.

"Manuel Neuer doesn't currently have the form and assuredness he had before his serious injury," the 1990 World Cup winner wrote in his column for Sky Sport.

"He's not yet back in the shape that made him the best goalkeeper in the world four times [according to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics]."[Ter Stegen] has been world-class at Barcelona for years. I think he's gradually earned the chance to play an important match from the start, even if Neuer is available."

Germany take on France in their latest Nations League match in Paris on Tuesday.

 

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'Struggling' Salah facing same problems as Pogba - Ince


Mohamed Salah is “struggling” at Liverpool because he faces the same post-World Cup burnout problems as Manchester United star Paul Pogba, says Paul Ince.

Having swept his way to 44 goals last season, the PFA Player of the Year award and the Premier League Golden Boot, much was expected of an Egyptian sensation during his second year at Anfield.Salah has, however, found the going a little tougher in 2018-19, netting three times in 11 appearances .

Ince believes an unfortunate injury suffered in a Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid, which then saw him rushed back for international duty in Russia, has left the 26-year-old a little drained.

The former Liverpool and United midfielder feels the same can be said of France international Pogba, who has endured a testing campaign back at Old Trafford following a memorable summer in which he helped his country to global glory.Ince told Express Sport : “Yeah, Salah’s struggling, but he’s an outstanding player.

“You can’t drop him as you need to keep those three [Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane] together.“He was injured at the end of last season and maybe wasn’t fully fit for Egypt.

“I know Pogba was great for France but he’s not been as impressive for United. That could be because of the World Cup.“I’ve played in these tournaments and they’re far from easy. They’re draining and can be exhausting.“That could be why Salah is struggling and possibly Pogba too.”

Liverpool are hoping that Salah will be available to them once domestic action resumes after the international break.They saw their star forward pick up another untimely injury during an outing for Egypt on Friday.

Salah scored direct from a corner in a 4-1 win over Swaziland, but was forced off after picking up a muscle complaint.Egypt assistant coach Hany Ramzy told beIN Sports afterwards: "The initial diagnosis, according to the team doctor, is a strong muscle strain. It is not a tear. I think it is not serious."

Jurgen Klopp will be hoping that is the case, with Salah back in England for assessment , while Jose Mourinho can be expected to throw Pogba straight into Premier League competition when United travel to Chelsea on Saturday.

 

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Lukaku hints at future Serie A switch


Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku has spoken of a desire to one day play in Serie A.

Lukaku – who scored both goals in Belgium's 2-1 Nations League win over Switzerland on Friday – is in his eighth season in the Premier League and has enjoyed spells with Chelsea, West Brom, Everton and now United.

It’s been an underwhelming season for him so far at club level, with the Red Devils currently eighth in the Premier League, having accumulated just 13 points from their opening eight league fixtures.

The striker has now sparked speculation that his future lies away from England and that Serie A – where his brother, Jordan, plays for Lazio – could be the destination.Asked by La Gazzetta dello Sport if he would make a move to Italy, he said: "Why not? I hope so."

Lukaku was also full of praise for Serie A champions Juventus – who United face in the Champions League on 23 October – and believes they are one of the best sides in the Europe.

"Juve have a great project in place and they just keep going," he added. "Every year they try to get stronger."Without doubt, Juve are one of the two or three best teams in Europe. They've got a great coach and extraordinary players in every area of the team.

"Cristiano Ronaldo stands out but watch out for the others too. Paulo Dybala is already impressive and getting stronger, while I love Douglas Costa. He's an exceptional signing and his career shows he always makes the difference."It's a tough group, but obviously Manchester United want to finish on top."

Jose Mourinho’s side sit in second place in their Champions League group having picked up four points from their opening two fixtures against Young Boys and Valencia.

Before United's clash with Juve, Lukaku is likely to line up for his country when Netherlands visit Brussels for a friendly on Tuesday.

The Dutch are in positive spirits following their historic 3-0 Nations League victory over Germany, but will be without captain Virgil van Dijk after he withdrew from the squad with a rib injury.

 

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Griezmann: Ballon d'Or would make me an Atletico legend


Antoine Griezmann is fixated on winning the Ballon d'Or because he believes it would fulfil his "dream" of ranking among Atletico Madrid's all-time greats.The shortlist for this year’s award was announced on Monday, with World Cup winner Griezmann one of 30 star-studded players to be vying for the coveted individual prize.

The 27-year-old has made no secret of his hope to improve on the third-place finish he managed in 2016 and believes he has done enough to break the decade-long duopoly of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric is also among the favourites to land this year’s accolade, with a remarkable year for both club and country already resulting in him being named UEFA Player of the Year and FIFA’s Best Player of the year within the last two months.

Griezmann, who starred on the way to his side’s Europa League glory last season and scored four goals during Les Bleus’ World Cup winning campaign, views the France Football honour as a sure-fire way to cement his Atleti legacy.

"To win the Ballon d'Or at Atletico Madrid would allow me to go down in the club's history," Griezmann told Marca."Being a historic player for this club would be a dream and make me proud. That's what I want, what I'm looking for.

"I am a very ambitious man and I always want more."Griezmann is bidding to become Atleti's first recipient of the Ballon d'Or in the award's 62-year history.

The influential forward is in his fifth season with Diego Simeone's side, having signed from Real Sociedad in 2014.

At one stage he looked set to leave Atletico in the summer, with La Liga rivals Barcelona said to be interested, but the Frenchman eventually opted to extend his stay at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Last season’s Europa League winners currently sit third in La Liga, just one point behind leaders Sevilla. They are also well placed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, having won both of their first two matches in Group A.

 

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Suso: Milan in a better place following 'mess' with Chinese ownership


AC Milan winger Suso says the club is in a better place now than the 'mess' that was created under the previous Chinese ownership.The club has experienced down times in recent years with Financial Fair Play being an issue for the San Siro side.

Milan were originally banned from participating in the Europa League after finishing sixth last season in Serie A, but an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport saw the ban overturned.

However, in July, president Li Yonghong's investment vehicle, Rossoneri Champion Inv. Lux., was removed as the club's principle shareholder with American firm Elliott Management Corporation taking over as primary owners.

The Americans now own a 99.93 per cent stake in the club and, under new ownership, Suso expects Milan to thrive under the leadership of some of the club's legends.

"Now everything has calmed down. After the mess of the Chinese (owners), now everything has changed with the Americans," Suso told EuroSport."They have brought club legends like Paolo Maldini and Leonardo in, people who know football and the club.

"(Maldini) watches a lot and speaks little. for what it is and is always close to us."In particular, Suso referenced a good relationship with manager Gennaro Gattuso, who took over last fall.

Gattuso, who won two Serie A titles and two Champions League titles with the club, has come under fire recently following Milan's lackluster start to the season, but Suso is a big believer in the Italian manager."In training and in the game, it's like when he played, pure passion and intensity, but outside it's something else, you can talk to him about everything," he said.

"Italian football is very tactical," he added, "demanding for offensive players and, for strikers, it is the most difficult place because every week you face well-organized defenses with teams that always know what to do."As for AC Milan? We are similar to Spain. Milan want to keep possession, I start from the end to cut towards the centre. The styles are very similar "

The 24-year-old winger is currently with Spain ahead of Monday's Nations League match with England as he looks to earn his third cap with the national team.

"I would like to play against England. It would be great for me to play all the games," Suso said.

"I think we saw what I can give the team, and for us, the one with England is the most important match."They know how to play and know how to hurt you. They have young players who are improving a lot "

 

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Spain 2 England 3: Kane inspires Three Lions as Sterling ends drought in style

Raheem Sterling ended his international drought with a brace before England survived a second-half onslaught from Spain to record a stunning 3-2 Nations League victory in Seville.

A Marcus Rashford goal sandwiched between a pair of finishes from Sterling had Gareth Southgate's men 3-0 up at the break, though Harry Kane – the architect of two and involved in all three – was their leading light.

Things were more one-sided due to Spain's desperation after the interval and Paco Alcacer scored his 10th goal in six games for club and country just before the hour.


Sergio Ramos also found the net with a last-gasp header, but England held firm to claim their first victory in UEFA's new competition.

Spain were quick to apply pressure, but England looked promising and scored a well-worked opener 16 minutes in – Sterling blasting into the top-right corner of David de Gea's net after Kane and Rashford had combined to put the Manchester City forward in the clear.Rashford was then the man to apply the finishing touch 13 minutes later, as he slotted home after Kane's inch-perfect pass.

Things got even worse for Spain - who had won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Wembley - just before the break.

Ross Barkley's sumptuous ball over their backline found the run of Kane, who squared across goal for Sterling to apply an easy finish.Spain unsurprisingly improved in the second half and Alcacer pulled one back shortly after his arrival in the 57th minute, losing his marker to head in from a corner.

Jordan Pickford was then lucky to escape unpunished, as he appeared to pull back Rodrigo Moreno in the area after being robbed of possession by the Valencia forward, who was denied a goal by the goalkeeper's last-ditch slide tackle.

Ramos did find the net when heading in Dani Ceballos' cross deep into added time, but it was too little, too late for the hosts as England successfully clinched a first away win against Spain since 1987.