Новости за 21.06.2018

If Argentina are going to survive in this World Cup, they need fresh impetus, a new system, and certainly a new goalkeeper. Willy Caballero was never meant to be their number one in Russia but the injury to Sergio Romero forced coach Jorge Sampaoli to make a choice. He went with the 36-year-old, who only made his international debut in March. After Thursday's 3-0 defeat to Croatia, that decision may have cost his side a place in the last 16. Caballero has had a fine career but the warning signs have been flashing brightly. Читать дальше...

Willy Caballero's clanger presented Ante Rebic with an opportunity he could not refuse, and Croatia rolled on to a stunning 3-0 victory over Argentina that sent them into the last 16 of the World Cup. Jorge Sampaoli's side produced an abysmal second-half display that severely damages their hopes of following Croatia out of Group D, with Caballero's stray pass to Gabriel Mercado that was volleyed home by Ante Rebic in the 53rd minute proving the turning point. Any hopes of a late Argentina fightback... Читать дальше...

World Cup Willy makes Argentina look sillyArgentina's night wasn't exactly going to plan when goalkeeper Willy Caballero decided to chip towards his defender inside the box. The score was nil-nil, they'd missed an open goal in the first half, but also been fortunate not to concede themselves. It was hanging in the balance.Caballero's chip didn't reach its intended destination, though; instead, the ball hovered helplessly in the air above Ante Rebic, who locked eyes on it like a hawk and larruped... Читать дальше...

Everton have sold defender Ramiro Funes Mori to Spanish side Villarreal for an undisclosed fee. Argentina international Funes Mori arrived at Goodison Park in September 2015, with Roberto Martinez - who was Everton manager at the time - splashing out a reported £10million to sign him from River Plate. A regular starter in his first season, Funes Mori slipped down the pecking order under Ronald Koeman before a knee problem restricted him to just four appearances in the 2017-18 campaign. The 27-year-old... Читать дальше...

World Cup winner Fabio Grosso has been tasked with guiding Verona back to Serie A next season after agreeing a two-year contract with the Gialloblu. Grosso – who scored the penalty that saw Italy crowned world champions in 2006 – makes the move having coached Bari in Serie B during 2017-18, the club finishing seventh. They failed to get through the play-offs, though, despite a 2-2 draw with Cittadella, the latter progressing from the preliminary round due to a better league position. That proved... Читать дальше...

Nemanja Matic is expecting a "hellish" match against Switzerland as Serbia seek to qualify for the World Cup knockout phase in Russia. Serbia face Switzerland in Kaliningrad on Friday, knowing victory would seal their passage from Group E after edging Costa Rica 1-0. Switzerland held World Cup favourites Brazil to a shock draw last week and Manchester United midfielder Matic expects them to provide another tough challenge for Serbia. "We're aware of what's install for us," Matic told reporters on Thursday. Читать дальше...

Often underappreciated and sometimes written off, there's little doubt France play better with Olivier Giroud, as demonstrated on Thursday as Les Bleus stuttered to a 1-0 win over Peru. Didier Deschamps sprung a surprise against Australia in France's World Cup opener when naming a front three of Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele, leaving Giroud on the bench after suffering a head injury in a pre-tournament friendly. Although they ran out 2-1 winners in Kazan, they were by no... Читать дальше...

Brighton and Hove Albion have announced the signing of goalkeeper Jason Steele from Sunderland on a three-year contract. Steele made 18 appearances for Sunderland last term, including 15 in the Championship as the Black Cats suffered a second successive relegation. However, the 27-year-old has now ended his stay on Wearside and will provide back-up to Mat Ryan, who was an ever-present for Brighton in the Premier League last term. "To come to such a great club that's been on an upward curve over the last few seasons... Читать дальше...

Kasper Schmeichel questioned whether VAR should be used during the World Cup after Denmark felt hard done by in their 1-1 draw with Australia. Age Hareide's men were leading 1-0 towards the end of the first half in Thursday's Group C meeting in Samara when Mathew Leckie's header struck the arm of Yussuf Poulsen at very close range. Initially, referee Antonio Miguel Mateu Lahoz signalled for the game to continue. However, a few seconds later - and with play having moved down the other end - he opted to consult the replays. Читать дальше...

Gernot Rohr has insisted Nigeria will not lose their crunch World Cup Group D clash with Iceland and is adamant his youthful squad will continue to improve. Nigeria's hopes of reaching the last 16 hang in the balance following their 2-0 defeat to Croatia on Saturday, and defeat to Iceland would guarantee an early exit for the Super Eagles. Rohr is sure his side will not slump to a second defeat, but knows Nigeria's inexperienced squad face a tough task to secure a place in the knockout stage. "For me it's no question to lose... Читать дальше...

Brazil defender Thiago Silva is relishing captaining his country once more in Friday's World Cup Group E clash with Costa Rica in St Petersburg. The experienced Paris Saint-Germain centre-back was skipper for the 2014 World Cup on home soil but missed the 7-1 semi-final humiliation against Germany through suspension and was stripped of the armband when Dunga replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari in the aftermath. Current head coach Tite has opted to rotate the captaincy and Real Madrid left-back Marcelo... Читать дальше...

RB Leipzig have confirmed Julian Nagelsmann will take over as their coach in 2019, following Bundesliga rivals Hoffenheim's announcement he will leave them at the end of the coming season.

Argentina World Cup winner Mario Kempes insists Lionel Messi cannot be compared to the legendary Diego Maradona. Messi, whose hat-trick against Ecuador secured Argentina's place in Russia, missed a penalty in their Group D opener against Iceland as Jorge Sampaoli's side were held to a draw. Despite the array of attacking talent at their disposal, it is Messi who is the one relied on to push Argentina forward. And Kempes - who won the World Cup in 1978 - claims a lack of variety from Sampaoli's... Читать дальше...

Kylian Mbappe's first World Cup goal means the Paris Saint-Germain attacker is now the youngest player to score for France at a major international tournament. Mbappe, aged 19 years and 183 days old, got France off the mark in their Group C clash with Peru on Thursday, finishing from inside the six-yard box after Olivier Giroud's shot was deflected. The teenager usurps David Trezeguet as Les Bleus' youngest scorer at a major tournament, the former Juventus striker having held the record for 20... Читать дальше...

Julian Nagelsmann will leave Hoffenheim at the end of the 2018-19 season, the Bundesliga club have announced.

Steven Gerrard has finalised his seventh signing as Rangers manager, with former Liverpool team-mate Jon Flanagan signing a two-year deal at Ibrox. Flanagan played with Gerrard during the latter's distinguished career at Anfield, with the full-back enjoying a breakthrough campaign under Brendan Rodgers during 2013/14. Injury derailed Flanagan's progress, however, and he failed to make an impact during a season-long loan stint at Burnley. A temporary switch to Bolton Wanderers came in January before... Читать дальше...

Eden Hazard has defended Belgium's performance against Panama and claimed this will be "his World Cup". The Red Devils beat Panama 3-0 on Monday but it was not enough to prevent criticism from home, particularly after a goalless first half. Chelsea forward Hazard feels expectations in Belgium are a little unrealistic, although hopes will be high of a better performance against Tunisia on Saturday. He told Het Nieuwsblad: "People expect a lot but we have seen during this World Cup - except for... Читать дальше...

Manchester United raised eyebrows with their official announcement for the signing of Alexis Sanchez but decided to strike a different note when confirming Fred's arrival. Sanchez was announced in dramatic fashion across United's social media streams following his switch from Arsenal in January, with the Chile forward sat at a piano to the tune of 'Glory Glory Man United' before taking his first steps onto the Old Trafford pitch. The video quickly went viral, but United have shown their sense of... Читать дальше...

Former Germany midfielder Dietmar Hamann has leapt to the defence of Mesut Ozil in the wake of the defending world champions' defeat to Mexico. Germany began their World Cup defence with a 1-0 defeat against Mexico on Sunday and defeat against Sweden on Saturday could see Joachim Low's side become the third successive defending champions to be knocked-out in the group stages. Ozil, already under the spotlight following a controversial meeting with Turkey president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was criticised... Читать дальше...

They said Juan Fernando Quintero was ready to give it all up.Lost in a world that appeared to no longer have a place for him, he’d decided that a career in music could offer a greater vehicle for his artistic expression. He was castigated for showing more interest in nights out with Colombian singer Maluma and appearing in reggaeton videos than he had for his profession. They said he just didn’t care enough.Quintero is distrustful of media and rarely speaks about that period of his life. Asked to discuss it in April... Читать дальше...

Olivier Giroud was named in France's starting XI to face Peru in their second World Cup fixture, with Ousmane Dembele dropping to the bench. France ran out 2-1 winners in their opening game against Australia, though they were fortunate to benefit from a fortuitous own goal late on. Didier Deschamps' men came in for criticism for their performance and their coach reacted on Thursday by making two alterations. Giroud got the nod to lead the line, coming in for Dembele having featured as a substitute last time out. Читать дальше...

Uruguay midfielder Lucas Torreira is focused only on the World Cup despite continued speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal. The 22-year-old is widely tipped to become Unai Emery's third signing at Emirates Stadium, with the Gunners already bringing in Stephan Lichtsteiner and Bernd Leno, but any move is unlikely until after Torreira's involvement in Russia. Sampdoria president Massimo Ferrero claimed earlier this week that a deal is done for Torreira, who has featured twice for his country in the tournament, both times off the bench.

Brazil head coach Tite rejected suggestions he has asked Neymar to become more of team player. The Paris Saint-Germain forward made a successful return from a broken metatarsal to score in the Selecao's pre-World Cup friendlies against Croatia and Austria. But he cut a frustrated figure as he laboured in vain for a winner during Brazil's opening 1-1 draw with Switzerland at Russia 2018. Philippe Coutinho's stunning first-half strike crowned a superb start to the match from Tite's side, but their... Читать дальше...

Australia's hopes at Russia 2018 were left looking slim after Thursday's 1-1 draw against Denmark, with Tim Cahill left on the bench once more despite further evidence of a lack of cutting edge. Head coach Bert van Marwijk stuck with the same starting XI from their opening 2-1 Group C loss to France and, perhaps predictably, familiar flaws proved the Socceroos' downfall in Samara. Speaking to some of Australia's fans and ex-players in the build-up to the clash, the common criticism levelled at... Читать дальше...

Manchester United's latest arrival Fred says he is "honoured" to have signed for the club, as he aims to help Jose Mourinho's side challenge for titles. United announced on June 5 that they had reached an agreement with Shakhtar Donetsk to sign the dynamic midfielder, who had also reportedly attracted interest from Manchester City. Fred is part of Brazil's World Cup squad in Russia, but that did not stop United confirming the big-money move - for a fee reported to be in the region of £50million - on Thursday. Читать дальше...