EURO 2016 football: 2019

Thursday, November 7, 2019

Tottenham team defeated Red Star 4-0 in the Champions League group

Tottenham team defeated Red Star 4-0 in the Champions League group stage and will almost certainly qualify for the 1/8 finals of the tournament. Spurs starter Giovanni Lo Selso started for the first time in the 34th minute, and in the second part Hyun-Min Son scored two quick goals. Christian Eriksen added the fourth goal.

The British started off well, claiming a penalty shot at the beginning. However, when checking with VAR, it became clear that the ball had met the thigh of a Star player.

In the 13th Harry Kane missed a good chance of finding the result.

The Serbs were one step away from the opening goal in the 23rd minute. Then Milan Pavkov only had to overcome Paulo Gazaniga, but his shot was weak and the keeper saved.

Tottenham came forward in the 34th minute after a comic series of beams and gaps. After the counterattack, Harry Kane and Son hit the beams, but in the end Lo Selso was correct.

The Serbs missed the tie in the 44th, when a cannonball in Tottenham field led to two beams, but the ball never hit the net. Both beams were touched by guest players - Gazaniga and Davinson Sanchez.

Paris Saint-Germain1-0 Belgian Bruges

Paris Saint-Germain team won with a minimum of 1-0 when hosting the Belgian Bruges in the fourth round of Champions League A. The only goal in the match was noted by Argentine shooter Mauro Icardi in the 22nd minute.

By the end of the first part again Di Maria had a chance to threaten the visitors' door, his shot boundary on the penalty box was inaccurate.

Last season's Belgian vice-champion stepped up in the second half. Within 60 seconds, David Okereke and Emmanuel Dennis missed chances in the 50th and 51st minutes.

In the 75th minute came the golden chance for Philip Clement's boys. Mbaye Dignier was shot down in the penalty box by Thiago Silva Parisians, after which Judge Bobby Maden decided that was enough to rule on the penalty. Behind the ball was Digner, who did, however, produce a terrible shot that fell straight into the hands of Kaylor Navas.

In this way, Paris Saint-Germain secured their continuation in the semifinal, collecting a maximum asset of 12 points after 4 matches. Bruges, for its part, remains in 3rd position with 2 points.

Bayern Munich won with 2: 0 Olympiakos in a Group B

Bayern Munich won with 2: 0 Olympiakos in a Group B match in the Champions League. Robert Lewandowski opened the score in the 69th minute. Just before the end of regular time, Ivan Perisic sealed Bayern's victory. Bayern's team was the better team on the pitch, and they fully controlled the initiative on the pitch. The Bavarians fired 11 accurate shots, but only good interventions by goalkeeper Hode Sa prevented the result from swelling more. It was also the first Champions League game since the departure of Nico Kovac. With that win, Bayern continues to lead the group with a full pool of points, and have already secured themselves the qualification for the semifinals in the tournament.

The team of Bayern Munich won with 2: 0 Olympiakos in a Group B match in the Champions League. Robert Lewandowski opened the score in the 69th minute. Just before the end of regular time, Ivan Perisic sealed Bayern's victory. Bayern's team was the better team on the pitch, and they fully controlled the initiative on the pitch. The Bavarians fired 11 accurate shots, but only good interventions by goalkeeper Hode Sa prevented the result from swelling more. It was also the first Champions League game since the departure of Nico Kovac. With that win, Bayern continues to lead the group with a full pool of points, and have already secured themselves the qualification for the semifinals in the tournament.

Nikas Zule and Luca Hernandez missed Bayern Munich this evening. For the Greeks, only Papa Abu Cisse was not available to coach Pedro Martins.

Bayern Munich - Olympiakos 2: 0

1: 0 Robert Lewandowski 69 '

2: 0 Ivan Perisic 89 '

The meeting started with pressure from the hosts. In the fifth minute Leon Goretska fired the first accurate shot, but he was saved by the goalkeeper Jose Sa.

In the 15th minute, the visitors had a chance to level with their first more dangerous attack. Lazar Rangelovic got a good pass in the penalty area and fired, but the ball went past Manuel Neuer's left post.

Ten minutes later, Robert Lewandowski delivered a nice header after a centering pass but Ca made a brilliant save.

Kingsley Coman could have found in the 34th minute, but again Sa managed to save his team. A minute later, Thomas Mueller fired, but straight into the keeper.

In the last minute of the first half, the beam saved the guests after a hit by Benjamin Pavar.

Five minutes after the start of the second part, Goretzka scored with a header centered by a foul, but once again Sa displayed a great reflex to keep the score even.

In the 60s, the Portuguese guard parried another blow to Kingsley Coman.

In the 69th, however, even Jose Sa had nothing to do and Bayern found the result. Coman centered very sharply and Lewandowski directed the ball into the net for 1-0.

Two minutes later, the Bavarians had a chance for a second goal, but Coman did not detect a single pass from Serge Gnabri.

In the 89th minute Bayern sealed their victory with a second goal. Kingsley Coman went for a break from his own half and reached the penalty area, where he passed to the left to Serge Gnabri. He tried a pass to the penalty spot, where a guest player failed to clear the ball and Ivan Perešić from close range scored for 2: 0.

Lokomotiv Moscow 1 Juventus 2

Juventus sealed their place in the last 16 of the Champions League with an injury-time winner against Lokomotiv Moscow in Group D.

Substitute Douglas Costa struck the decisive blow with a cool finish as the visitors rallied late on.

Aaron Ramsey handed Juve an early lead after Guilherme spilled Cristiano Ronaldo's free-kick, before Aleksey Miranchuk equalised.

Juventus will be joined by Atletico Madrid if they beat Bayer Leverkusen.

Champions League permutations: Who is through and who can still progress?

Maurizio Sarri made seven changes to his side that won the Turin derby last weekend, handing Ramsey a first European start for the club, and the Juve boss was rewarded early on.

Guilherme allowed Ronaldo's long-range free-kick to bounce and trickle through his legs, and the Welshman tapped his side's 300th Champions League goal into an empty net.

Lokomotiv, who knew victory would have kept their qualification hopes in their own hands, responded after going behind and Miranchuk scored his second goal in as many games against the Italian giants to level.

The forward headed against the post to beat the diving Wojciech Szczesny before converting the loose ball into an empty net.

Ronaldo - who was denied breaking the record for scoring against the most clubs in the Champions League by Ramsey's final touch in the first half - improved after the break.

The Portuguese forward forced Guilherme into a terrific save from a fierce shot as Juve pushed forward, while Leonardo Bonucci had to be sharp to clear Joao Mario's shot off the line at the other end, as the hosts threatened to snatch the winner against the run of play.

Qualification was secured when Costa finished off Gonzalo Higuain's through ball to send his side into the knockout stages, with two group games to play.

Juve become fifth club to hit 300 - the stats

Juventus have now beaten Lokomotiv Moscow in each of their four meetings in European competition, winning both matches in the 1993-94 Uefa Cup as well as the two matches in the Champions League this season
Juventus have kept just one clean sheet in their last five group stage matches in the Champions League - this after keeping six shutouts in their previous seven games at this stage of the competition
Aaron Ramsey's opening goal became the 300th goal Juventus have scored in the Champions League; the fifth club to reach this after Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United
Aleksei Miranchuk's goal for Lokomotiv Moscow (11:45) was the earliest goal the club has scored in the Champions League since Dmitri Loskov netted against Inter Milan in the third minute of their meeting in October 2003 (02:38)
Miranchuk became the first player to score home and away during the group stages of a Champions League campaign against Juventus since Cristiano Ronaldo back in 2013-14
Ramsey's goal in the third minute of the match made him the first British player to score a European Cup/Champions League goal for Juventus

Real Madrid's 6-0 defeat of Galatasaray

Brazilian forward Rodrygo announced himself on club football's biggest stage with a 'perfect' hat-trick in Real Madrid's 6-0 defeat of Galatasaray.

The 18-year-old became the second youngest player to score a Champions League treble, behind only Real legend Raul.

He has already been labelled the "new Neymar", having followed in the Paris St-Germain star's footsteps by moving from Brazilian club Santos to Spain.

Outside of South America, little was known about the 5ft 9in youngster - who is the the same height as Neymar - before his summer switch to Real.

Since then, Rodrygo has scored five times in his first six appearances for the club in all competitions.

"Hearing the Bernabeu singing my name is a dream come true," Rodrygo said. "I'm so happy, it has been a joyous night but I must try and stay calm."

Champions League permutations: Who is through and who can still progress?

The Bernabeu were saluting the teenager as early as the fourth minute when he clinically opened the scoring, left-footed, from his fellow countryman Marcelo's pass.

He got his second three minutes later as he headed in superbly from another Marcelo cross, becoming the first player to score twice in the first seven minutes of a Champions League game.

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

England's road to Euro 2020

England are on the brink of Euro 2020 qualification - but what steps must they take to achieve a dream Wembley final win next summer?

After near-misses at the World Cup and Nations League finals, Gareth Southgate will be hoping it's third time lucky for him and his squad, as they edge towards a third shot at silverware in consecutive summers.

What do England need to confirm qualification?

Three points against Czech Republic on Friday will be enough to guarantee England their place in next year's finals. Even without that, victory in Bulgaria on Monday would also seal qualification before the end of the international break.

However, England are in such a commanding position that even if they weren't to achieve that total, their final two qualifiers in November, against Montenegro (h) and Kosovo (a), would offer another chance to get over the line if necessary.

When is the draw and how does it work?

The draw for the finals will take place in Bucharest, Romania on November 30, with group games set to be played in 12 stadiums across 12 European countries.

Group A: Rome and Baku
Group B: Saint Petersburg and Copenhagen
Group C: Amsterdam and Bucharest
Group D: London and Glasgow
Group E: Bilbao and Dublin
Group F: Munich and Budapest

Because each group has been assigned two stadiums and host nations play two of their three group games at home, we know England will go into Group D. As well as Wembley, their other group game will take place at Hampden Park, as Glasgow is the other host city assigned to Group D.

With that in mind, Southgate and England supporters can start to plot a potential route to the final…

What's England's potential run to the final next summer?

If England were to win Group D, they would play a Round of 16 match at the Dublin Arena in Dublin against the second-placed team from Group F. With Munich and Budapest hosting fixtures in Group F, Germany or Hungary could lie in wait, should they qualify.

Win their last-16 clash and England will be on their way to Rome to play their quarter-final in the Olympic Stadium. The winners of Group E - which is set to include Spain - will be on a similar path.

Then it's back home to Wembley, which is hosting both semi-finals and the final…

Monday, January 7, 2019

Santi Solari ignores questions about his future after Real Madrid lose again

en-man Real Madrid were handed their sixth defeat in La Liga this season and are fifth in the table after a lacklustre performance against Real Sociedad.

Real Madrid coach Santi Solari refused to directly answer questions about his future, following Sunday evening’s 2-0 La Liga defeat at home to Real Sociedad at an angry and one-third empty Bernabeu.

Madrid were behind inside two minutes when La Real striker Willian Jose coolly converted a penalty against his former side, with the Basques wrapping up the three points late on through Ruben Pardo’s close range header.

Having drawn derision in the local media for claiming that Madrid can be happy at fourth position and accept draws in some games, Solari’s team are now fifth in the table after losing at home to opponents in relegation trouble.

Asked directly at the post-game news conference whether he felt he deserved to continue in the position — just over two months after he replaced Julen Lopetegui on the Madrid bench — the former Argentina midfielder replied: “We compete to win the next game.”

With 30 after 18 games, Madrid’s points total is the club’s worst at this point of the season since 2005-06 and Solari responded with a stare after it was suggested that Solari’s public comments about being happy with the team’s form showed he did not understand the standards demanded at the Bernabeu.

“We compete to win, always compete to win,” the former Madrid player and Castilla youth team coach said. “We always fight to win. We never underestimate the competition, never underestimate anybody. The only one who has that luxury is he who has never competed. You can never question our winning character; we showed character today, despite the difficulties. Unforgivable would be to lack that.”http://sports-tornado.com/2019/01/06/santi-solari-ignores-questions-about-his-future-after-real-madrid-lose-again/