Football news, match reports and fixtures | theguardian.com |
- Belgium v USA: World Cup 2014 live!
- Argentinas reliance on Lionel Messi a big worry for Alejandro Sabella
- Yohan Cabaye warns France must stay humble to survive Germany showdown
- Liverpool open talks with Barcelona over transfer of Luis Suárez
- Lionel Messi: Luck was on Argentinas side in defeat of Switzerland
- World Cup 2014: Belgium v USA - in pictures
- Lionel Messis one-man mission for Argentina continues to pay dividends
- Argentinas Ángel di María breaks Switzerlands hearts at the death
- Brazilian star Kaká confirms move to MLS newcomers Orlando City
- Argentina v Switzerland: World Cup 2014 as it happened
- World Cup 2014 diary: Chiles Mauricio Pinilla records miss with tattoo
- Why Fifa must act to deter serial divers like Hollands Arjen Robben
- Luis Suárez apologises to Giorgio Chiellini - video
- World Cup 2014: Hollands Nigel de Jong out of rest of the tournament
- My unlikely World Cup assignment: hey, it was just like fashion week!
- World Cup 2014 style: putting the boot into fashion and football
- Diego Costa completes £32m Chelsea move from Atlético Madrid
- Man at centre of Cameroon match-fixing claims denies allegations
- US declares war on waffles before World Cup match against Belgium
- World Cup 2014: day 20 as it happened!
- 'We have a wonderful team': Belgium ready for the USA video
- Fernandinho: Brazil face a tough match against Colombia video
- Detroit's soccer scene flourishes but tensions of a changing city remain
- When Germany get to a World Cup you are expected to win André Schürrle
- In praise of France's decision not to shelter the ball by the corner flag
| Belgium v USA: World Cup 2014 live! Posted: 01 Jul 2014 03:05 PM PDT
ET6:Lukaku brings a good save out of Tim Howard, shooting low, hard and diagonally, forcing the goalkeeper to scramble the ball around the post for a corner. Nothing comes of it.
ET5:What an impact by Lukaku. After setting up the first goal, he plays the ball into space for Vertonghen on the edge of the penalty area. Not quite sure what to do, the full-back dithers at ridiculous length, allowing assorted USA defenders to get back and block Vertonghen's shot when he eventually decides to pull the trigger.
ET2: Kevin De Bruyne slots the ball into the bottom left-hand corner after running on to a pull-back from Lukaku, who won the ball down by the right touchline after shrugging off Besler and galloped into the penalty area before squaring the ball.
ET1: Belgium substitution: Romelu Lukaku has replaced Divock Origi. You have to feel for Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez - if I was a centre-half who was mentally and physically drained after an attritional 90 minutes, I can't think of anyone I'd rather have to mark less than a fresh-off-the-bench Lukaku with a point to prove.
USA have been wonderful tonight. Almost to a man, their largely ordinary players have given everything tonight, wringing out every last drop of effort for the good of the collective. Belgium have had a touch more class, but so many of their big names have under-performed. Fellaini has done little or nothing, Hazard hasn't done much more and De Bruyne has gone very quiet after a good first half.
Full time: The referee blows his whistle and it's all square at the end of normal time. I'm not quite sure how nobody has scored, but there you have it - we'll have another 30 minutes, with penalties if it's still deadlocked after that.
90+2 min: Wondolowski gets on the end of a looping backwards header to smash a volley high and wide of a practically open goal from six yards. His blushes are spared by the linesman's flag, but replays show that Toby Alderweireld was playing him on. That was an appalling miss and an appalling decision from the man with the flag.
90 min:Belgium take their 15th and 16th corners of the match. Fellaini gets a head to one of them, but fails to score.
89 min: Vincent Kompany gallops out of his own defence with the ball, passes it wide to Kevin De Bruyne on the left and continues his run to pick up the return pass. It comes to him on the edge of the six-yard box, but is straight under his feet, rather than a yard or two ahead of him. He fluffs his shot and the ball, which was going wide anyway, is put out for a corner.
87 min: Eden Hazard shoots into the side-netting after being teed up by Kevin De Bruyne down the inside left. It was on his left foot and he was running away from goal, making it night on impossible for him to score, but he decided to have a go anyway. If he'd checked his run and crossed, a couple of his team-mates were waiting in the centre.
86 min: USA corner. Alejandro Bedoya takes it. His delivery is cleared at the near post by Witsel.
85 min: The corner's sent to the far post, where Fellaini leaps highest but only head it out of the shoulders of his marker. The referee mistakenly awards a goal-kick.
84 min: Origi picks up the ball on the edge of the USA penalty area, shimmies a couple of steps to his right and unleashes a surface to air screamer. Tim Howard tips it over the bar to concede the corner.
82 min: Daniel van Buyten shapes to shoot in the USA penalty area, but Matt Besler slides in with a heroic block to concede the corner. Nothing comes of it.
80 min: Bradley plays the ball down towards the corner flag, where the excellent Yedlin, who had sauntered past Hazard to get the ball and put a cross in. The ball is cleared as far as Hazard about 40 yards from his own goal, where Yedlin pops up to rob him of possession.
78 min:Super save from Tim Howard, who dives low to his left to keep out an Eden Hazard drive from outside the penalty area after Marouane Fellaini had laid off a ball into the box from Mirallas, who's been exceptional since he came on. Hazard had the accuracy, but not the power, which gave Howard a chance of saving it which he took gratefully.
77 min:USA centre-back Omar Gonzalez goes down and appears to roll his ankle.He receives treatment and looks fit to continue.
76 min: Origi plays a short pass in behind the USA defence for Kevin Mirallas, who attempts to roll it past Tim Howard and into the bottom right-hand corner. Tim Howard spreads himself and gets something on it to put the ball out for a corner. Nothing comes of it. The USA are really under the cosh here.
74 min:Good defending from Vertonghen, who does well to clear a dinked pass in the direction of Jermaine Jones.
72 min: Origi squanders another great chance for Belgium, fluffing a shot and firing straight at Tim Howard when he had no end of gaping goal to aim at. USA substitution: Zusi off, looking shattered. He's replaced by Chris Wondolowski.
70 min: Having said that, he'll probably end up scoring the winner, in the fine tradition of players who are having a bad day at the office in this round of games popping up with late winners. Yes you, Mesut Ozil. And you, Angel Di Maria. Alternatively, Eden Hazard is a likely contender. He's done little or nothing this evening.
69 min: The USA are starting to look tired and Graham Zusi needs to be withdrawn because he's looking a bit of a liability on the left side of midfield.
68 min: After patient Belgian build-up play, Axel Witsel strikes from about 25 yards. H"is diagonal daisy-cutter zips wide of the left upright.
68 min: The same, only with Toby Alderweireld doing the crossing and Tim Howard doing the plucking. I said plucking.
67 min: USA attack down the right wing, courtesy of DeAndre Yedlin. He sends in another good cross, which Thibaut Courtois plucks from the air under pressure from Clint Dempsey.
65 min: Axel Witsel picks up the ball on the right flank and plays a short pass to Eden Hazard. It's fed wide to Vertonghen, who crosses it into the penalty area. The USA clear.
63 min: Jan Vertonghen, who's being given the freedom of the pitch by Graham Zusi, shoots from distance. Tim Howard dives forward and smothers the ball to his chest, but only on his second attempt.
62 min: Kevin De Bruyne has a shot blocked by Omar Gonzalez.
59 min: Origi makes a darting run down the inside left and picks out Mertens with a pass to the near post. He flicks it wide from close range and a near impossible angle. Belgium substitution: Kevin Mirallas on, Dries Mertens off.
58 min:Graham Zusi has a shot blocked.
57 min: Vertonghen attempts to score with a ridiculously ambitious volley from the left hand side of the USA penalty area. The ball slaloms in mid-air before fizzing high and wide. That would have been one of the greatest goals of all time if it had gone in.
56 min: Origi leaps to get on the end of a cross from the right and his header looks to be heading for the top right-hand corner. With Tim Howard beaten, the ball bounces off the top of the cross-bar. Close, but no cigar.
54 min: Brilliant play from Jan Vertonghen, who squares the ball across the face of the USA six-yard box, where it's just begging to be prodded home. Origi doesn't react quickly enough, then the ball rolls through DeBruyne's legs. That is astonishing; how did either, never mnind both of them miss?!?!?!?
53 min: Belgium ratchet up the pressure on the USA with a prmising attack, then de-ratchet it by passing the ball back into their own half, where their defenders pass it around. It's been a slow start to this half. Certainly a lot less lively than the one that went before.
52 min: Fellaini wins the ball about 40 yards from the USA goal, advances a few yards and tries a shot. High and wide.
50 min: I may have been a bit hard on Tim Howard two posts ago. A replay suggests he may have lost his bearings and tipped the ball over the bar just to be on the safe side.
48 min: Dries Mertens takes the corner and once again, for the fourth or fifth time in this match, his delivery is dreadful.
47 min: Kevin De Bruyne dinks the ball into the USA penalty area, where Dries Mertens attempts to send a looping header past Tim Howard. The USA goalkeeper pulls off a save for the cameras, needlessly and extravagantly tipping the ball over the bar, when it looked eminently catchable.
46 min: Marouane Fellaini hacks clear after Graham Zusi attempts to make his way into the Belgium penalty area from the right flank.
Second half: Belgium get the second half started, with no changes on either side.
"Are Belgium suffering in this tournament from Wilmots's supposed lack of tactical know-how?" he asks. "From what I've read his big achievement was uniting a traditionally fractious dressing room. But he seems to have too many options and doesn't know how or who he thinks his side should play from one game to the next, and the Belgians seem less assured and confident in what they're trying to do as you'd expect given the talent of their players. Can a coach really have too many options?"
"Perhaps if Jurgen Klinsmann knew how to ask for a yellow card in French?" muses Scott Martin.
It's half-time: Well, that was lively first half. There's been no goals, but lots of entertainment and plenty of chances for both teams in Salvador.
45+1 min: Booking from a couple of minutes ago I haven't had a chance to mention yet: Vincent Kompany was yellow carded for an ill advised challenge on Clint Dempsey.
45 min:Kevin De Bruyne attempts to catch Tim Howard unawares with a long-range volley. The USA goalkeeper is wise to his ruse and is not troubled unduly.
44 min: Zusi wins a corner off Jan Vertonghen and takes it himself. Gonzalez leaps highest but fails to make contact with the ball and Belgium clear.
43 min: Belgium win a corner. Kevin De Bruyne sends the ball into the penalty area, where Tim Howard clears with both fists.
40 min: But for some atrocious finishing, it could be about 4-4 here by now. Once again, the substitute DeAndre Yedlin burns rubber down the right flank and beats the hopefully exposed Vertonghen for speed again, sends in a low cross only to see Jermaine Jones fluff his shot. On BBC's coverage, pundit Danny Murphy rips into Eden Hazard for failing to provide any cover for Vertonghen.
39 min: A foul by Alejandro Bedoya gives Belgium a free-kick halfway inside the USA territory, on the right flank. Dries Merten sends the ball into the penalty area, but his delivery is woeful. The USA clear.
38 min: Yedlin sends in a decent cross from the right, but it's a mite too high for Graham Zusi. Belgium clear.
36 min: Jurgen Klinsmann waves an imaginary yellow card at referee Djamel Haimoudi in a bid to get one of the Belgian players booked for a fairly innocuous foul. Classy.
35 min:Mexican wave klaxon: there is a Mexican wave doing the rounds of the stadium. Is this end-to-end match not exciting enough for the fans, who feel compelled to make their own fun? Bah! Belgium advance again, but Eden Hazard runs into a wall of white shirts on the edge of the USA penalty area and Belgium clear.
32 min: The corner comes in, and Clint Dempsey chests it down beautifully to Jermaine Jones outside the area. He tries a shot, but doesn't get hold of it properly and pulls his low, fairly feeble drive wide.
31 min: Yedlin makes an instant impact, showing great speed down the right to win a corner off Eden Hazard.
30 min: Bad news for the USA: Fabian Johnson, who was playing well at right-back, has pulled up with a hamstring injury (disclaimer: I'm no doctor etc, and so on). He's replaced by DeAndre Yedlin, who plays for Seattle Sounders in MLS.
29 min: Origi finds himself in space on the left for Belgium and cuts inside, only to try to do too much himself and make life easy for Tim Howard.
27 min:Eden Hazard sprints down the inside left with the ball at his feet and wins a corner for Belgium; their sixth of the match thus far. It's swung into the penalty area, where Joohnson heads clear, sending Zusi on his way into the Belgium half. He plays it forward to Dempsey, who is thwarted by good defending from Toby Alderweireld, the last man back.
25 min: Another bad miss for Belgium, who are threatening to run amok. With Belgium hopelessly exposed at the back, Jan Vertonghen tries to pick out the unmarked Marouane Fellaini with a cross that he left a smidge too late, enabling DaMarcus Beasley to get back and frantically hack the ball clear. This is another fine game of football at World Cup 2014.
22 min: A shocking miss from Kevin De Bruyne, who pulls the ball a foot or two wide of the left upright from about 10 yards out, with the goal gaping. Graham Zusi lost the ball in midfield, prompting Belgium to swarm into the American half, with Jan Vertonghen leading the charge with the ball at his feet. With a range of options to choose from, he picked out De Bruyne, whose finish was nothing short of dreadful.
20 min: From the corner, Belgium break at high speed and have a three-on-two, only for Origi to mess it up by squandering possession with a heavy touch, when he had two men screaming for the ball in acres of space on his left. America attack again and Clint Dempsey brings a save out of Thibaut Courtois from inside the penalty area, who would have been in big trouble had the American captain not got the ball caught under his feet.
19 min: Fabian Johnson beats Jan Vertonghen for speed down the right flank again and wins his team a corner. Graham Zusi sends the ball into the mixer, where Cameron gets a flick with his head, but the ball doesn't break kindly for Clint Dempsey.
17 min: The match resumes and Geoff Cameron picks up a yellow card for a silly, unnecessary challenge on Dries Mertens. Disciplinary tightrope klaxon: Geoff Cameron is walking the disciplinary tightrope.
15 min: Pitch invader alert! There is an invader on the pitch. He's removed by stewards as Jurgen Klinsmann shakes his head in the wya you're father might do when he catches you coming home a bit too drunk, while Marc Wilmot settles for giving the interloper the stink-eye.
14 min: Origi is fit to continue, in a state of affairs that will disappoint USA fans. Belgium win a throw-in on the halfway line, with Fellaini kicking the ball out of play off Jermaine Jones.
13 min: A USA throw-in, deep in Belgium territory. Belgium win the ball back and embark on a counter-attack. Divock Origi goes down injured inside his own half after being caught late by Matt Besler and there's a pause while he receives treatment.
10 min: Jermaine Jones concedes a free-kick halfway inside his own half, from which Belgium win a throw-in. Toby Alderwiereld hurls it long for Marouane Fellaini and Geoff Cameron gives away a needless corner after a mix-up with his goalkeeper. Nothing comes of it; a foul by Alderweireld on Beasley gifts a free-kick to the Americans.
8 min: For the USA, right-back Fabian Johnson shows an impressive turn of foot to beat Vertonghen down the flank, but the ball is even quicker and rolls out of play for a Belgium goal kick before he can control or cross it.
7 min: Belgium go on the counter-attack after Jan Vertonghen broke up an Amercian attack on the fringe of his own penalty area and moved forward. He picks out Kevin De Bruyne, who tries to thread a through-ball in behind the USA defence and send Origi on his way. It's blocked and the attack is foiled.
6 min: DaMarcus Beasley surges down the left flank and attempts to get in a cross from the byeline. Under pressure from Marouane Fellaini, his effort goes high and wide. It's been a lively, promising start.
5 min: A promising USA attack breaks down when Michael Bradley gallops through the centre with the ball at his feet, before misplacing a fairly straightforward pass towards Clint Dempsey on the left flank.
2 min:Nothing comes from the corner, but Belgium win another one moments later. The USA clear. They're under the cosh from the get go! Origi showed searing pace in the opening seconds and will be cursing himself for not opening the scoring. That was a wonderful chance; he was clean through on goal with only Tim Howard to beat.
1 min: Belgium win a corner after Divock Origi almost opens the scoring for Belgium after 42 seconds. He caught one of the USA centre-backs - Besler, I think - napping, got in behind him and fired a low, hard diagonal shot at Tim Howard, who did well to block the ball and put it out for a corner.
USA kick-off:Clint Dempsey does the honours, with the team he skippers playing from right to left. Omar Gonzalez gets an early touch and it seems Geoff Cameron has lined up in the centre of midfield.
Not long now: The teams have emerged from the tunnel and lined up either side of referee Djamel Haimoudi and his team of match officials. Belgium's anthem is played first. Next up it's the Star Spangled Banner. Amercia's players wear white shirts, shorts and socks. Belgium's are kitted out in red shirts with gold and black trim, red shorts and red socks.
It seems they'll play a 4-3-3, with Johnson at right-back and Beasley at left-back, book-ending a centre-half pairing of Gonzalez and Besler. Cameron will play right midfield, with Michael Bradley in the centre and Jones on the left. Up front it's Bedoya on the right and Jones on the left, with Dempsey up front. Obviously that could be cobblers, but time will tell.
I know there are some Americans out there who are relatively new to the game of "soccer", so lest there be any confusion after your magnificent, triumphant and heroic defeat at the hands of Germany, be aware that if you lose tonight's match you are definitely out of the tournament.
Seven group winners have won the first seven second round matches. Should Belgium proceed tonight, they'll complete a clean sweep of table-toppers in the quarter-finals. Nobody who isn't Belgium wants that, do they? Do they?
People at bars at 2:30 on a Tuesday to watch soccer, maybe evaluate the life decisions that led you to this place.
#USA line-up has thrown everyone for a bit of a spin up here. Beckerman not injured - tactical decision by Klinsmann to put Cameron in CM.
The USA's dred-headed defensive midfielder is conspicuous by his absence tonight and I'm not sure why. According to USA football journalist Grant Wahl he's fit, but just not selected. I presume it's Stoke City's Geoff Cameron, who is no mug, who comes in ahead of him. That's a surprise, as far as I can tell, but presumably Jürgen knows best.
Belgium: 1-Thibaut Courtois; 2-Toby Alderweireld, 4-Vincent Kompany, 15-Daniel Van Buyten, 5-Jan Vertonghen; 6-Axel Witsel, 8-Marouane Fellaini; 14-Dries Mertens, 10-Eden Hazard, 7-Kevin De Bruyne; 17-Divock Origi United States: 1-Tim Howard; 3-Omar Gonzalez, 23-Fabian Johnson, 5-Matt Besler, 7-DaMarcus Beasley, 20-Geoff Cameron; 19-Graham Zusi, 11-Alejandro Bedoya, 4-Michael Bradley, 13-Jermaine Jones; 8-Clint Dempsey
#BEL LINE-UP: Courtois, Alderweireld, Kompany (c), Vertonghen, Witsel, De Bruyne, Fellaini, Hazard, Mertens, Van Buyten, Origi #BELUSA #USA LINE-UP: Howard, Gonzalez, Bradley, Besler, Beasley, Dempsey (c), Bedoya, Jones, Zusi, Cameron, Johnson #BELUSA #WorldCup #Joinin
So now we know. Argentina scraped past Switzerland, with Lionel Messi teeing up Angel Di Maria to score the winner in the breath-taking climax of an otherwise dire match in São Paulo earlier. They'll take on the winner of this match in Brasilia on Saturday.
Thomas Vermaelen has been ruled out of this evening's match with a hamstring injury, but Vincent Kompany is expected to line up for Belgium whether fully fit or not after missing Thursday's win over South Korea with a groin problem. Anthony Vanden Borre is out for the rest of tournament having suffered a broken ankle, while Steven Defour is suspended.
Featuring interviews with Tim Howard, Jozy Altidore and head coach Jürgen Klinsmann, plus an unexpected, but not entirely surprising, claim for the title of world's tallest mountain.
Good evening (BST) everybody. Welcome to our minute-by-minute coverage of the final second round match of World Cup 2014: Belgium v USA at Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, a stadium that has yielded a whopping 21 goals from just four games at this World Cup thus far. It's good news for those who bet on high goal-tallies (you can get 7/2 against there being more than three in 90 minutes tonight) and even better news for Mother Nature, with organisers of a project in Bahia having promised to plant 1,111 trees in the Atlantic Forest, located in the south of the state of Bahia, for every goal scored at the stadium during the tournament. With the forest having shrunk to an eighth of its original size, the initiative is good news for the local environment, but bad news for local industries who have agreed to sponsor it. Continue reading... |
| Argentinas reliance on Lionel Messi a big worry for Alejandro Sabella Posted: 01 Jul 2014 02:41 PM PDT Argentina struggled to break down a disciplined Switzerland and do not look like an intelligent, cohesive team Argentinas World Cup-winning side of 1986 are often unfairly described as Diego Maradona and 10 mediocre teammates, and the 2014 version may be given a similar label. On the basis of this display, it is Lionel Messi and little else. Switzerland caused Argentina problems simply because they were organised, disciplined and boasted a clear gameplan something you cannot say about Alejandro Sabellas side. Sergio Agüeros injury meant Ezequiel Lavezzi came into the side on the right, and Argentina switched to a 4-4-1-1 system Lavezzi and Ángel di María played as conventional wingers, sometimes switching flanks but rarely moving inside. More than ever, there was great responsibility upon Messi to dictate the game from the classic No10 role. Continue reading... |
| Yohan Cabaye warns France must stay humble to survive Germany showdown Posted: 01 Jul 2014 02:30 PM PDT Antoine Griezmann set to replace Olivier Giroud in Rio Didier Deschamps praises Pogba for display against Nigeria Yohan Cabaye has warned France they will be on the first plane out of Brazil if they get carried away with their own success before Fridays quarter-final against Germany in Rio. The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder said his team-mates need to stay humble and not arrogant, and also play at the same high tempo, to give themselves the best possible opportunity of reaching the World Cup semi-finals. In a fascinating tie that will evoke memories of the epic World Cup semi-final between the two nations in 1982, when West Germanys victory on penalties was overshadowed by Toni Schumachers shocking foul on Patrick Battiston, France will fancy their chances of causing an upset after scoring 10 times and conceding only once en route to the last eight. Continue reading... |
| Liverpool open talks with Barcelona over transfer of Luis Suárez Posted: 01 Jul 2014 02:29 PM PDT Liverpool want Chiles Alexis Sánchez as part of deal Lallana signs for £25m to take summer spending to £40m Liverpool have given the first indication that Luis Suárezs future lies away from Anfield by agreeing to open talks with Barcelona over the transfer of the disgraced striker. The Spanish club have not been deterred in their pursuit of the Uruguay international by the four-month ban from all football-related activities that he received for biting Italys Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. It is understood a delegation led by Barcelonas director of football management, Raul Sanllehi, will meet Liverpools chief executive, Ian Ayre, in London on Wednesday for the opening round of negotiations over the 27-year-old. Continue reading... |
| Lionel Messi: Luck was on Argentinas side in defeat of Switzerland Posted: 01 Jul 2014 02:20 PM PDT We suffered and suffered before late goal earned 1-0 win Ottmar Hitzfeld proud of his career after final match as coach Continue reading...  |
| World Cup 2014: Belgium v USA - in pictures Posted: 01 Jul 2014 12:52 PM PDT All the best images from Arena Fonte Nova where Belgium and the USA are battling it out for the last remaining quarter-final place Continue reading...  |
| Lionel Messis one-man mission for Argentina continues to pay dividends Posted: 01 Jul 2014 12:27 PM PDT Captain supplies the pass to allow Ángel di María to clinch the tie and spare Argentinians the agony of penalties Continue reading...  |
| Argentinas Ángel di María breaks Switzerlands hearts at the death Posted: 01 Jul 2014 12:09 PM PDT If, after two hours of doggedly repetitive effort, you dont succeed: try, try again. On the evidence of this gruelling and occasionally claustrophobic World Cup last-16 tie, if youve got a nimble-footed creative genius of a No10 in your team, the chances are its going to come off in the end. With Argentina and Switzerland still goalless after 117 minutes in São Paulo, Lionel Messi picked the ball up, as he had many times already, in a central position 40 yards from the Swiss goal. This time there was a genuine pocket of space in front of him and Messi spotted the moment, as he has with uncanny timing at thisWorld Cup. Continue reading... |
| Brazilian star Kaká confirms move to MLS newcomers Orlando City Posted: 01 Jul 2014 11:58 AM PDT After a protracted pursuit, MLS team confirm Milan playmaker will join as their first designated player in time for the 2015 season It was one of the worst-kept secrets in American soccer, but finally, after months of teasing reports and hints from the concerned parties, Kaká has signed for Orlando City, as the first designated player for the side who will begin play in MLS in spring 2015. The coup of signing the former world footballer of the year follows the arrival of Spains David Villa as the first designated player for Orlandos fellow MLS debutantes, New York City FC, last month. PIC: Kaka arrives @ MCO. Hundreds here. Been in soccer 16yrs, never seen welcome like this @OrlandoCitySC @MLS pic.twitter.com/PMf4M2zFTf Rockstar Arrival @KAKA pic.twitter.com/zZZ3vMpNXC They said to me that they had this dream to get a team and build an amazing team in America. So from 2012 until now we have been speaking a lot, flirting a lot until today that we signed this final contract and I'm so happy for that. It's a dream come true. I've been speaking with other teams two years ago. I had the opportunities to go to New York. In the end I think God had another special thing for me in Orlando. And so I'm happy because for me it's a very nice project. We can build a lot of good things here in Orlando and also because Flavio is Brazilian, for the Brazilian people it's nice to have this focus now on America and American football. .@KAKA putting pen to paper! READ: http://t.co/PgCsrp0m99 pic.twitter.com/4RlBNDxHG4 "We not only brought a Brazilian superstar, we brought a world superstar. Today we put MLS on notice. We may be franchise No 21, but we're not here to make up the numbers. Continue reading... |
| Argentina v Switzerland: World Cup 2014 as it happened Posted: 01 Jul 2014 11:39 AM PDT A dull game for 117 minutes exploded into glittering life thereafter, with one goal scored and two other notable misses, one from the halfway line, another from six yards! And after it all, Argentina make the quarters ... Continue reading... |
| World Cup 2014 diary: Chiles Mauricio Pinilla records miss with tattoo Posted: 01 Jul 2014 11:36 AM PDT Striker has one centimetre from glory inked on his arm while Mexico return home to heros welcome despite failure Continue reading...  |
| Why Fifa must act to deter serial divers like Hollands Arjen Robben Posted: 01 Jul 2014 10:24 AM PDT The lack of punishment, beyond a yellow card, for match-defining cheating is becoming an embarrassment to football Whether Arjen Robbens tumble as Hollands game against Mexico stumbled into stoppage time was prompted by actual physical contact or mere desperation, there could be no disputing its theatricality, or that the Dutch winger has something of a track record here. He is great player, but he was diving all the time, said Noé Pamarot, then of Tottenham, in January 2005, after Spurs fell to a 2-0 defeat to Robbens then club, Chelsea, at White Hart Lane. Robben is a great player and as well a very good diver, said Arsène Wenger, after Arsenals 1-1 Champions League draw at Bayern Munich earlier this year. For a decade Robben has tumbling and his opponents have been singing the same mournful tune, and still he remains free to flop. Continue reading... |
| Luis Suárez apologises to Giorgio Chiellini - video Posted: 01 Jul 2014 09:57 AM PDT Uruguayan forward Luis Suárez admits to biting Giorgio Chiellini and issues an apology to the Italy defender. In the apology Suárez says he deeply regrets what happened and adds that there will never be another incident like it. Fifa said Suárez's refusal to come to terms with his actions was a factor in his punishment comprising of a four month ban from football and nine international fixtures Continue reading...  |
| World Cup 2014: Hollands Nigel de Jong out of rest of the tournament Posted: 01 Jul 2014 09:42 AM PDT De Jong injured groin in Hollands win over Mexico Midfielder out for two to four weeks, say Holland Continue reading...  |
| My unlikely World Cup assignment: hey, it was just like fashion week! Posted: 01 Jul 2014 09:40 AM PDT I knew nothing of football, so how would seasoned sports journalists in Brazil take to me? Would they want to see my Panini sticker album? And could I learn to love the game? Hadley Freeman: putting the boot into fashion and football Continue reading...  |
| World Cup 2014 style: putting the boot into fashion and football Posted: 01 Jul 2014 09:40 AM PDT Football may be the, ahem, winner at the World Cup in Brazil but there have also been positive fashion statements and the odd faux pas(s) Hadley Freeman: My unlikely World Cup assignment Continue reading...  |
| Diego Costa completes £32m Chelsea move from Atlético Madrid Posted: 01 Jul 2014 09:34 AM PDT Premier League club meet Spain forwards buy-out clause Atlético Madrid forward leaves for Stamford Bridge Chelsea have reached an agreement to sign Diego Costa from Atlético Madrid. The Spain international had long been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge and now the Blues have confirmed they have met the buy-out clause for the 25-year-old striker, understood to be £32m. Chelsea Football Club can confirm an agreement has been reached with Atlético Madrid for the transfer of Diego Costa, with Chelsea meeting the buy-out clause for the Spanish international, read a statement on the clubs official website. Continue reading... |
| Man at centre of Cameroon match-fixing claims denies allegations Posted: 01 Jul 2014 09:13 AM PDT Wilson Raj Perumal says he didnt predict result to Der Spiegel Der Spiegel rejects Perumals claims and stands behind story The Cameroon match-fixing storm descended into confusion on Tuesday night as the whistle-blower involved denied making the claims that the countrys World Cup defeat to Croatia was rigged while Der Spiegel, who broke the story, is standing behind its report. Wilson Raj Perumal, a convicted match-fixer, reportedly told a Der Spiegel journalist during a Facebook conversation that the game would finish 4-0 to Croatia and that the African side would have a player sent-off both of which were correct. Continue reading... |
| US declares war on waffles before World Cup match against Belgium Posted: 01 Jul 2014 09:09 AM PDT With high hopes of devouring the competition, the US poked fun at its own patriotism (and obsession with calories) on social media Continue reading... |
| World Cup 2014: day 20 as it happened! Posted: 01 Jul 2014 09:01 AM PDT |
| 'We have a wonderful team': Belgium ready for the USA video Posted: 01 Jul 2014 08:56 AM PDT Belgium train before their match against the USA with team captain Vincent Kompany making a return following an injury. At a press conference, midfielder Axel Witsel looks ahead to the USA game and says it will be a disappointing failure for the side if they don't qualify. Belgium manager Marc Wilmots concedes that his side are not favourites for the match but says he is focusing on Belgium's own qualities for the game Continue reading...  |
| Fernandinho: Brazil face a tough match against Colombia video Posted: 01 Jul 2014 08:43 AM PDT Brazil's Fernandinho speaks at a press conference about his side's next match, against Colombia. The midfielder says Brazil cannot be complacent: they are training in expectation of a tough Colombian side. 'From now on we can't have any fantasies and hope for easy games.' He compliments the abilities of Colombia's midfielder James Rodríguez, saying the money spent on him by AS Monaco was worthwhile. Brazil face Colombia on 4 July Continue reading...  |
| Detroit's soccer scene flourishes but tensions of a changing city remain Posted: 01 Jul 2014 08:41 AM PDT Neighborhood soccer leagues are a hit in Detroit, as a path to class mobility for young children and a way to revitalize the city for newcomers. But the growth of the sport is not without friction  |
| When Germany get to a World Cup you are expected to win André Schürrle Posted: 01 Jul 2014 08:33 AM PDT Germanys second-half substitute and scorer of their first goal against Algeria admits his team will have to do it the hard away André Schürrle could savour a beautiful moment. The Germany forward made a discernible difference upon his introduction as a half-time substitute in the last-16 victory over Algeria on Monday, injecting power and urgency into a team that had laboured. Yet it was the extra-time goal that will stand the test of time. With each replay it seems more audacious; the timing of the flick with the trailing leg more sumptuous and clinical. As soon as it beat the impressive Algeria goalkeeper, Rais MBolhi, everybody inside Porto Alegres Estádio Beira-Rio knew that it would be Germany advancing into Fridays quarter-final with France in Rio de Janeiro. Continue reading... |
| In praise of France's decision not to shelter the ball by the corner flag Posted: 01 Jul 2014 08:19 AM PDT When France were awarded a corner in the 91st minute against Nigeria they could have kept the ball and protected their lead, but they went on the attack and scored. Good for them  |
| You are subscribed to email updates from Football | The Guardian To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
Written by TBMU Admin
We are Manchester United Fan located around the World which provides user friendly, effective and easy to browse info regarding our Team. Each support/info is free. Support us by clicking the ads located in this site. Thanks
Posts
0 comments :
Post a Comment