FOOTBALL - The African Mirror

Apr

02

2024

Premier League talking points

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend in the Premier League: LIVELY LIVERPOOL SET UP FOR KLOPP SEND-OFF Liverpool's players showed against Brighton & Hove Albion they are ready and willing to do everything in their power to give coach Juergen Klopp a successful send-off as he enters his final months as manager. Sunday's comeback win featured everything that Klopp holds dear -- suffocating pressure high up the field, quick decisions and little skill from his attacking players turning a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 win for the home side. The win put Liverpool back on top of the table and the…

Apr

02

2024

By The African Mirror

Talking points from European soccer

FOOTBALL

TALKING points from the weekend in European soccer leagues: ITALY ALLEGRI UNDER PRESSURE The season has changed quickly for Juventus and manager Massimiliano Allegri. After their loss against Lazio on Saturday, Juve have only one win in the last nine Serie A matches from which they have gained seven points. What had looked like shaping up to be a title battle with leaders Inter Milan before Christmas, has transformed into a struggle to achieve a top-four spot, a goal clearly stated by Allegri on several occasions. If Bologna and AS Roma win their respective matches on Monday, they will be…

Apr

01

2024

By LORI EWING

Man City and Arsenal draw 0-0 to hand Liverpool title-race advantage

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ARSENAL nullified reigning champions Manchester City in a 0-0 draw at the Etihad Stadium, allowing Liverpool to take top spot on a pivotal day in the Premier League's three-way title race Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, in the hunt for their first league title in 20 years, are second in the table on 65 points with nine games remaining, while City are third with 64. Liverpool, on 67 points, claimed the lead with their 2-1 comeback victory over Brighton & Hove Albion earlier on Sunday. "No way can you be fully happy (with just a point)," Arteta told Sky Sports. "Listen, I think we…

Apr

01

2024

By The African Mirror

Liverpool go top after 2-1 comeback win over Brighton

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STRIKER Mohamed Salah scored the winner as Liverpool came back from a goal down to beat Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 and go top of the Premier League ahead of Manchester City's showdown with Arsenal. Salah's sublime second-half strike leaves Liverpool on 67 points, three ahead of second-placed Arsenal and four ahead of City on a pivotal day in the title race. The Egyptian striker tormented Brighton, taking 12 shots to notch up his highest total in a Premier League game and, even though only one of them found the back of the net, it was to prove vital. Danny…

Mar

25

2024

By The African Mirror

African champions Ivory Coast held to draw by Benin

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Oumar Diakite scored a second-half equaliser to spare the blushes of newly-crowned African champions Ivory Coast who were held to a 2-2 draw by Benin in a friendly in Amiens, France. It was the first game for coach Emerse Fae since his side lifted the Cup of Nations title on home soil last month, but they had to come behind twice to draw after a lacklustre performance. Benin midfielder Junior Olaitan opened the scoring before winger Max Gradel equalised just before the half-hour mark. Olaitan’s second goal put Benin on course for victory before Diakite equalised again after 69 minutes.…

Mar

25

2024

By HATEM MAHER

Croatia beat Tunisia on penalties after 0-0 friendly draw

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WORLD Cup semi-finalists Croatia needed a penalty shootout to beat Tunisia following a 0-0 draw in a friendly. Keeper Ivica Ivusic, who replaced Dominik Livakovic in the second half, came to Croatia's rescue with three penalty saves as his side prevailed 5-4 after the game went to a shootout. Seifeddine Jaziri had a chance to win it for Tunisia in sudden death but Ivusic blocked his tame effort. The Cypriot-based keeper saved the decisive penalty from Oussama Haddadi. Croatia will face Egypt in the final of the four-team tournament on Tuesday after the hosts defeated New Zealand 1-0 on Friday.…

Mar

25

2024

By The African Mirror

Germany defeat a wake-up call for France, says Tchouameni

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FRANCE were completely outclassed by Germany in their 2-0 defeat and should treat the loss as a wake-up call ahead of the European Championship, midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni said. Florian Wirtz scored Germany's fastest international goal after seven seconds before the Euro 2024 hosts doubled their lead early in the second half through Kai Havertz to earn victory in the Lyon friendly. "I think we were outclassed in every department," Tchouameni told French TV network TF1. "We couldn't put our game plan in place. We came up against a great team. We need to do better, individually and collectively. "It's a wake-up…

Mar

23

2024

By The African Mirror

Police arrest former soccer player Robinho in Brazil

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POLICE arrested former soccer player Robinho in the Brazilian city of Santos to serve out a nine-year prison sentence for rape, local news website G1 reported. Robinho's defence had filed a petition to Brazil's Supreme Court to avoid his arrest, but the appeal was rejected on Thursday. On Wednesday, a separate local court ruled the athlete must serve his sentence in Brazil, though he was convicted in Italy.

Mar

22

2024

By The African Mirror

Spanish soccer federation fires executives linked to corruption probe

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SPAIN'S soccer federation (RFEF) fired two executives it said were linked to a multimillion-euro corruption probe, adding that the case had caused "very serious damage" to the sport's image in the country. Pedro Gonzalez Segura, director of legal services, and Jose Javier Jimenez, director of human resources, had been removed from their positions, RFEF said in a statement. The federation "opened disciplinary proceedings and has removed from their jobs and functions the managers related to the legal case," the RFEF added. It is the second scandal in less than a year to rock Spain's top football body, coming after former…

Mar

20

2024

By The African Mirror

Boa Morte to leave Fulham at end of season to coach Guinea-Bissau

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LUIS Boa Morte will leave his role as Fulham's first-team coach at the end of the season to take over as Guinea-Bissau manager, the Premier League club said. Boa Morte, who played for Fulham from 2000-2007, returned to Craven Cottage in 2021 following the appointment of Marco Silva as manager to form part of his coaching team. "Everyone at Fulham would like to thank Boa for his efforts since his return to the Club, and wishes him the best of luck in this next chapter when he departs following our season finale away to Luton Town," Fulham said in a statement.…