The team that has gone through so much heartbreak and frustration in the past few years finally got over the hump on Tuesday night.
The post Azkals rise again appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
Spain blew Argentina away on Tuesday but coach Julen Lopetegui insists they can take nothing for granted at this summer’s World Cup. A 6-1 demolition, which included an Isco hat-trick at the Wanda Metropolitano, underlined Spain’s credentials as one of the tournament favourites in Russia, while exposing Argentina, who were without the injured Lionel Messi. […]
The post Isco hat trick leads Spain rout over Argentina appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
Claims of an agreement between Thomas Tuchel and Arsenal are being denied today.
Kicker reported over the weekend that the former Borussia Dortmund coach had rejected an approach from Bayern Munich as he had agreed terms with the Gunners.
Read more on Tribal Football
ESPN FC's Shaka Hislop discusses England's goalkeeping dilemma for the World Cup.
ESPN FC's Shaka Hislop discusses England's goalkeeping dilemma for the World Cup.
With under three months to go before the World Cup, Gareth Southgate is trying to figure out his best England team.
Here's how we think England will line-up against Tunisia on June 18 ...
ESPN FC's predicted XI for England at the World Cup.
Goalkeeper: Jordan Pickford
If you cast your mind back to last summer, the prevailing wisdom was that Everton had "won" the transfer market. As it turned out, only Pickford represented much of an upgrade on what they already had, and while he hasn't been flawless in the intervening months, he's done enough to...
LOS ANGELES — Zlatan Ibrahimovic has really always belonged in Hollywood. The powerful 6-foot-5 Swedish forward has loomed above soccer for nearly two decades, captivating the world with his sublime physical talent and uniquely outrageous personality. He has scored hundreds of majestic goals, won dozens of trophies and scuffled with a few teammates on his […]
The post ‘Welcome to Zlatan’: Ibrahimovic makes play for LA’s heart appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
Jonathan Tannenwald of The Philadelphia Inquirer joined Sportsnet 650’s On Point to discuss Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s signing with the LA Galaxy, and what his arrival means for Major League Soccer.
[radioclip id=3950617]
Take a look at all the friendlies taking place as warm-up matches for the 2018 World Cup
Warm-Up: England played Brazil last year in a friendly, and have four more before the World Cup (Getty Images) Take a look at all the friendlies taking place as warm-up matches for the 2018 World Cup
Christian Eriksen scored an amazing eleven goals during qualifying, including a hat-trick in the playoffs.
Leader: Eriksen scored a hat-trick to emphatically get Denmark into the World Cup (Getty Images) Christian Eriksen scored an amazing eleven goals during qualifying, including a hat-trick in the playoffs.University of the Philippine kept its undefeated streak after blasting University of the East, 3-0, in the UAAP Season 80 men’s football tournament Thursday at Rizal Memorial Stadium. The Fighting Maroons (7-0-2) remained atop the table with 23 points and are one win away from securing a Final Four spot, but head coach Anto Gonzales […]
The post UP stays unbeaten after rout of UE; Gayoso nets four goals for Ateneo appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
BARCELONA, Spain — Lionel Messi joined Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League’s 100-goal club after scoring twice to lead Barcelona past Chelsea and into the Champions League quarterfinals for an 11th straight season on Wednesday. Messi also set up Ousmane Dembele in a 3-0 win at Camp Nou after he had scored Barcelona’s goal in […]
The post Messi reaches 100 Champions League goals, Barcelona beats Chelsea 3-0 appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough to get the job done.
Toronto FC lost a 3-2 decision to reigning Mexican league champions Tigres on Tuesday night in a wild second leg of its CONCACAF Champions League quarter-final.
Despite the loss in Monterrey, the Reds still managed to advance to the semifinals – the final aggregate score was 4-4 over the two legs, but Toronto advanced on the away goals rule.
Toronto earned a 2-1 win in the series opener last week at BMO Field.
This marks the second time TFC has reached the Champions League semis, having previously qualified for the final four in 2012 under Dutch coach Aron Winter.
This was not a vintage Toronto FC performance. Though the Reds started the match brightly and enjoyed a few flashes of brilliance in the final third of the pitch (mostly courtesy of Sebastian Giovinco), this came down to survival.
After a composed opening 65 minutes, Toronto had to switch into survival mode against a tough opponent in an intimidating stadium, Tigres’ Estadio Universitario, nicknamed El Volcán (“The Volcano”) on account of the amount of noise its vociferous fans generate. Andre-Pierre Gignac’s late brace gave Tigres the lead, and you had the feeling that if the game lasted five more minutes the Mexicans would have scored the goal that would have given them the aggregate victory.
Instead, the Reds valiantly held on and managed to just cross over the finish line as time ran out on Tigres. Critics will argue they were lucky to go through, and to be fair there was some good fortune involved. At the same time, credit must also be given to Toronto for winning the first leg, and for earning the result it needed in hostile territory to advance.
Was it perfect from TFC on the night? No. But they did what they had to do, and in the end, that’s what matters.
Giovinco should be singled out for his contributions on the day in setting up one goal and scoring another. Praise should also be showered on defender Chris Mavinga, though. The Frenchman was immense in making a series of key interventions and tackles for Toronto, bailing out fellow defenders Drew Moor and Eriq Zavaleta. Mavinga hobbled off the pitch and out of the game in the 62nd minute, and it’s no coincidence that all three of Tigres’ goals came after his premature exit.
The Liga MX champions dominated possession and dictated the pace for most of Tuesday’s match against the MLS Cup winners, who had to sub out Mavinga and fellow defender Justin Morrow with injuries. Tigres positively surged in attack for the final 25 minutes, as TFC was forced onto the back foot and just held on for the result it needed to move on to the next round.
After a fairly even half that barely featured any dangerous shots on goal, the second half erupted into life with a flood of goals.
Toronto took the lead in the 64th minute via an own goal by midfielder Rafael Carioca as the visitors controlled the ball in Tigres’ penalty area. Giovinco’s attempted pass to Jozy Altidore hit a Tigres defender and then deflected off of Carioca before trickling over the goal-line past helpless goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán.
The hosts equalized five minutes later through Chilean international Eduardo Vargas, who nodded one home off a corner kick after being left unmarked near the top of the six-yard box.
Giovinco restored TFC’s lead in the 73rd minute when he whipped in a free kick that tucked inside the near post. It was a well-placed shot by the Italian, but Guzmán should have palmed it out of danger.
The Mexicans battled back and knotted the score a second time when Gignac poked the ball past goalkeeper Alex Bono in the 84th minute after a cross skipped past two TFC defenders inside the box. Gignac dragged his shot wide of the far post moments later after slipping in behind Toronto’s defence.
The Frenchman converted from the penalty spot deep into injury time, but it wasn’t enough for Tigres.
TFC will meet the winner of Club America (Mexico) versus Tauro FC (Panama) in the semifinals. Club America won the opening leg of its quarter-final, 4-0 at home. The second leg is Wednesday night.
Earlier on Tuesday, the New York Red Bulls earned a 3-1 home win over Mexican side Club Tijuana to win their quarter-final 5-1 on aggregate.
JOSE MOURINHO has warned Real Madrid off David De Gea.
The Manchester United keeper is out of contract at the end of next season and Real are desperate to sign him.
Jose Mourinho has warned Real Madrid off trying to sign David De GeaReuters
But Mourinho said: “I think he will stay.
“I don’t know what Real Madrid’s intentions are, but if I were them, I would think of another player.”
Mourinho confirmed in January that United would trigger a one-year contract extension clause in De Gea’s contract before offering him a new deal.
Winning trophies is one way to keep hold of his Spanish stopper, 27.
David De Gea has won Manchester United player of the Year three timesMATTHEW CHILDS
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is desperate to snap up David De GeaGetty - Contributor
Jose Mourinho believes David De Gea will stay at Manchester UnitedGetty - Contributor
To do that, United must first overcome Sevilla in tonight’s second-leg clash at Old Trafford having drawn 0-0 in Spain.
Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham are both out of the competition, but the quarter-finals promise to bring Europe’s top dogs together.
But Red Devils boss Mourinho reckons his side are not among the favourites to go all the way.
He said: “I don’t think we are candidates to win the Champions League.”
MANCHESTER CITY could extend their lead at the top of the Premier League table on Monday, as they travel to the bet365 Stadium.
Despite beating Arsenal recently, including in the Carabao Cup, they are coming off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Swiss outfit Basel, their first home loss of the season in all competitions.
Manchester City will want to bounce back from only their fourth loss of the season in all competitionsPA:Press Association
While it is a case of champions-elect against relegation battlers, Stoke have already beaten Arsenal and Manchester United at their ground in this campaign and can jump out of the bottom three with a win.
What time is kick-off?THIS Premier League fixture will be held on Monday, March 12.
The game will be hosted at bet365 Stadium.
Kick-off is at 8pm.
YOU can watch this match live on Sky Sports Premier League and Main Event, with coverage starting at 7pm.
If you want to watch on the move and are a Sky Sports customer, you can use your Sky Go app.
If not a Sky customer, you can stream the match live with Now TV for £7.98 for a day pass. Buy it here.
Now TV also have a promotion on currently that lets you buy a month-long subscription for just £20 (normally £33.99). Buy it here.
Alternatively, stick with us here on SunSport for a LIVE BLOG.
Jesus scored against Basel in his first start since returning from injuryPA:Press Association
What is the team news?
AFTER scoring against Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday, Man City’s Gabriel Jesus could be in line for his first Premier League start since his return from injury.
They are only missing long-term absentee Benjamin Mendy, who is not expected back until April.
Stoke City will have a near-full strength squad with Mame Biram Diouf their latest injury concern, after he dislocated his shoulder against Southampton last weekend.
LET’S not beat around the bush here, Manchester United v Liverpool is comfortably the biggest in English football.
United fans shouldn’t be thinking about settling for a point at the weekend.
Manchester United v Liverpool is easily the biggest game in English footballGetty Images - Getty
They should be going into it expecting their side to take all three, which would go a long way to helping them secure Champions League football next season.
I’ve heard people mention the game against Sevilla on Tuesday as the priority, but when I played under Sir Alex Ferguson, he’d have picked a team capable of going out and winning the game against Liverpool and then the next one against the Spaniards.
If I was to turn the clock back to when I played, we didn’t have a big squad, but Sir Alex would make it clear to us that he expected us to win each and every time we stepped out onto the pitch.
It’s the here and now that mattered, and not the next game.
Sir Alex Ferguson would always expect his team to winAction Images - Reuters
Paul Parker previews Manchester United’s massive clash against LiverpoolPA:Empics Sport
Now, no disrespect, but if United were playing someone like West Brom on Saturday then I might understand it, but it’s not, it’s Liverpool, and United can’t be seen to be playing defensively against them.
Another way to look at it is if you can beat Liverpool, the players and fans would get a huge lift going into the Sevilla match.
MONEY SHOT Manchester United will be forced to pay Monaco £9m this weekend if Anthony Martial scores against LiverpoolOne thing that certainly helped us was continuity and the little partnerships we had across the pitch.
We had Pallister and Bruce, Keane and Ince, and Cantona and Hughes, and that rarely changed whoever we played and it was never about containing, only winning.
Sure we’d set up with four defenders who could defend well, but we’d also have two central midfielders who could attack and defend, and two wide players who could get at defences, ask questions and create chances as well as posing their own threat in front of goal.
And that’s the United way.
(function(){ var voice = document.createElement('script');voice.type = 'text/javascript'; voice.src = 'https://inconversation.net/widgets.js';var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(voice, s); })();We definitely weren’t boring or told to go out there and ‘take a point.’ That would have been unacceptable.
The league games against teams like Manchester City, Liverpool and Leeds were the ones we lived for and what we thrived on.
Three points against these teams meant so much and could kick-start another run for you.
I believe United must go into this game on Saturday with a better mind set and approach than what we saw earlier this season against City.
Liverpool and Manchester United drew 0-0 the last time they playedGetty Images - Getty
Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino make up Liverpool’s devastating attackAFP or licensors
Second shouldn’t be seen as good enough for United or Liverpool, but, it’s the position both teams find themselves in, which is why I think playing for draw won’t sit well with the supporters.
Liverpool have their own threat and three very dangerous forward players who are capable of carving you open.
What might help United is the fact that Liverpool have to win to take back second spot which may, unexpectedly, create room in their half for United’s creative players to exploit.
It might not be a classic despite the hype, but hopefully we see a home win.
Benevento veteran Bacary Sagna has jumped to the defence of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.
Wenger took Sagna to Arsenal before he left for Manchester City.
Read more on Tribal FootballJOSE MOURINHO is set to earn £1.71million for just four days work as a TV pundit for the Russia World Cup.
The controversial Manchester United manager will be in Moscow to share his expert analysis and predictions for news channel RT.
Jose Mourinho will earn £1.71million for just four days work at the World CupPA:Press Association
And the Daily Mail are now reporting The Special One will be raking in £425,000 a day for the channel that has no live rights.
He will be in Moscow for the opening four days before returning to Manchester but appearing on the day of the final via a satellite link.
Mourinho is also on the advertising for RT’s World Cup coverage that will see him paid significantly more than what Yahoo did for his services in 2014.
Mourinho said: “I am very happy to join the team at RT.
Joe Moiurinho will be behind the microphone for Russian television at the World CupRT
“I am looking forward to attending the World Cup in Russia this summer and sharing my insights into the games.”
Mourinho boasts true international knowledge having won the Champions League twice.
WATER PALAVA Jose Mourinho could face FA inquiry after angrily booting a plastic water bottle into crowd during Manchester United winHe achieved initial fame in his native Portugal with FC Porto before moving to England with Chelsea.
The ‘Special One’ went on to manage Real Madrid and Inter Milan.
Mourinho’s incisive views will be broadcast to a worldwide audienceRT
Mourinho will link up with Old Trafford goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel, who became part of the RT team in late 2017.
Schmeichel won five Premier League titles, and three FA Cups and one Champions League during a glittering career at United.
Not to mention winning the 1992 European Championships with Denmark.
After a cloud of uncertainty following the pullout of two clubs early this year, the second season of the Philippines Football League finally takes off on Saturday when JPV Marikina makes its home debut against Global Cebu at Marikina Sports Center.
The post JPV finally plays on Marikina home pitch, hosts Global; Davao opens season bid vs Kaya appeared first on Inquirer Sports.
