Categories
football Sports News

Werner scores as Germany draw Spain

New Chelsea signing Timo Werner scored for Germany before Spain rescued a point with a 95th-minute equaliser in the Nations League in Stuttgart.

Werner showed why the Blues have paid £54m for him when he drilled past David de Gea inside the penalty area.

Leeds United’s club record £26m signing Rodrigo missed two fine chances for Spain before heading into the path of Jose Gaya, who made it 1-1.

The Valencia defender scored with almost the last kick of the game.

It was a dramatic end to an eventful match.

Both teams were returning to international action for the first time in almost 10 months.

It was the first game of Luis Enrique’s second spell in charge of Spain and there were several positives for the former Barcelona boss, not least the performance of new Manchester City signing Ferran Torres.

City’s £20.87m winger produced a confident display on the right before switching wings after 17-year-old Barcelona player Ansu Fati came on for his senior international debut at the start of the second half.

In contrast forward Rodrigo wasted a glorious chance at 0-0 when he took too long to get his shot away in front of a gaping net before having another chance blocked by keeper Kevin Trapp after getting behind Germany’s defence.

Spain keeper De Gea produced several fine saves including a flying stop to keep out Leroy Sane.

This was the first competitive meeting between the two European powerhouses since Spain overcame Germany in South Africa on their way to winning the 2010 World Cup.

Germany’s side was largely deprived of players from Bayern Munich following their Champions League triumph in Portugal last month.

Categories
football Sports News Transfer News

Everton want James Rodriguez

Everton are hopeful of completing an ambitious deal worth more than £20m for Real Madrid and Colombia forward James Rodriguez by the end of the week.

The 29-year-old played under Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti at Spanish champions Real and Bayern Munich.

Rodriguez, who has been marginalised under Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabeu, has been allowed to miss pre-season training to sort out his future.

It would be Ancelotti’s first major signing since become boss in December.

He has been the driving force behind the deal, with Rodriguez, who is entering the final year of his contract at Real, attracted by the idea of working with the Italian once more.

A three-year contract is under discussion as Everton look to pull off a transfer that would be regarded as a major coup and a powerful statement of intent as Ancelotti moves to reshape a side that finished 12th last season.

Everton have also agreed a deal with Napoli for 29-year-old Brazil midfielder Allan which is expected to be confirmed shortly. The Italian club’s chairman Aureolio De Laurentis has already said: “We are at the final farewell. Allan will go to Everton.”

Ancelotti made Allan a priority after working with him at Napoli while discussions are continuing with Watford over a deal for Abdoulaye Doucoure.

The midfielder is believed to be keen on a move to Goodison Park but Watford are currently holding out for around £30m for the 27-year-old

Categories
Sports News Tennis

Djokovic advances in US Open

World number one Novak Djokovic began his pursuit of an 18th Grand Slam title with a straight-set win over Damir Dzumhur in the US Open first round.

The Serb, 33, raced through the opening set before being tested in the second on his way to a 6-1 6-4 6-1 win.

Djokovic is seeking to capitalise on the absence of fellow greats Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in New York.

Among those likely to challenge him are Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who also won their openers.

Both of those players are chasing a maiden Grand Slam title, with Spain’s defending champion Nadal not playing because of coronavirus concerns and Swiss 20-time major champion Federer missing following knee surgery.

Djokovic will play Kyle Edmund in the second round after the British number two came from behind to beat Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik.

It will be the seventh meeting between the two – and their second at Flushing Meadows – with Edmund’s only victory over Djokovic coming on the Madrid clay in 2018.

“He has a really good serve and forehand, those are two big weapons,” said Djokovic. “I’ve had some really good matches in the past against him at Wimbledon, a tough four-setter a few years ago.

“He doesn’t feel so much pressure playing on the big court, obviously it’s different circumstances here, but he actually likes the challenge.

“His results were kind of up and down a little bit but I think he does have the game and the potential to be in the top 20 without a doubt, where I expect him to be soon.

“It’s going to be a tough one, I’m sure he has not so much to lose in that match and it’s important for me to start off well.”

Categories
football Sports News

Naomi Osaka proceeds to next round in US Open

Osaka, who won the first of her two Grand Slams at Flushing Meadows in 2018, wobbled in the second set before recovering for a 6-2 5-7 6-2 victory.

Elsewhere, teenager Coco Gauff’s hopes of another Grand Slam run were ended by 31st seed Anastasija Sevastova.

But top seed Karolina Pliskova and sixth seed Petra Kvitova advanced.

Osaka, 22, withdrew from the Western and Southern Open final on Saturday with a left hamstring injury, saying afterwards she was “stressing” about her fitness going into the Grand Slam.

During Monday’s less-than-convincing win over 81st-ranked Doi, she did not wear any strapping or need medical treatment.

“It was difficult [physically]. I knew there was a chance it would get really long. I will have to see what happens tomorrow and how I feel,” Osaka said.

The former world number one struggled with her first serve in the early part of the match, landing only 38% as Doi took control in the second set and threatened to level the match.

But Osaka switched gears with a decider looming, finding more power and precision with her serves and returns to fight back from 5-2 down to level at 5-5.

Osaka was unable to take any of her three break points for a 6-5 lead before the momentum swung back to Doi, who broke on her second set point through Osaka’s 20th unforced error.

However, Osaka increased her level again at decisive moments. She broke in the opening game of the decider, and again for a 5-2 lead, to come through in two hours and three minutes.

Osaka walked out on court wearing a face mask with the name of Breonna Taylor, a black woman who was shot dead by a policeman in the United States in March.

Asked about it in her on-court interview, she said: “I have seven. It is quite sad seven masks isn’t enough for the amount of names – and hopefully I’ll get to the final and you will see all of them.”

She later added in a news conference: “For me, I just want to spread awareness. I’m aware that tennis is watched all over the world but that maybe there is someone who doesn’t know Breonna Taylor’s story. Maybe they’ll Google it after or something.

“I feel the more people know this story the more interested they will become in it.”

Osaka initially pulled out of her Western and Southern Open semi-final last week as a protest against racial injustice.

Tournament organisers then suspended play in New York on Thursday, one of a number of sporting events in the US to do so in protest at the shooting of Jacob Blake – a black man who was shot seven times in the back by police on 23 August in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Categories
football Sports News

Grealish called up to the England squad

Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish has been called up to the England senior squad for the first time.

However, Marcus Rashford and Harry Winks have pulled out of Gareth Southgate’s squad for the Nations League fixtures in Iceland and Denmark.

Grealish, 24, has previously represented England at Under-21 level and was a member of Southgate’s 2016 Toulon Tournament-winning squad.

It follows call-ups for Conor Coady and Ainsley Maitland-Niles on Saturday.

Following his withdrawal, Manchester United forward Rashford tweeted: “Gutted. Never want to let this team down but these fixtures just came a little too soon for me.

“I tried my best but I have to focus on starting the season at my strongest for club and country. Good luck boys, I’ll be cheering you on from home.”

England’s players met up at St George’s Park on Monday.

Southgate’s side face their Euro 2016 conquerors Iceland in Reykjavik on 5 September before playing Denmark in Copenhagen three days later.

The disruption caused to the football calendar by coronavirus, including Euro 2020 being delayed by a year until 2021, means England have not played since November 2019, when a 4-0 win in Kosovo concluded their Euro 2020 qualification campaign

Categories
football Sports News

David Silva test positive for corona virus

Real Sociedad’s former Manchester City midfielder David Silva has tested positive for coronavirus.

The 34-year-old Spaniard joined the La Liga club this month after 10 years with City in which he made 436 appearances and won 14 trophies.

He is not displaying any symptoms and is self-isolating.

The Spanish side confirmed the news on the same day the playmaker was revealed in his new club’s colours at Sociedad’s Anoeta Stadium.

Categories
football Sports News

Zlatan Ibrahimovic signs one year contract extention with Milan

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has signed a one-year contract extension with AC Milan.

The 38-year-old Swedish forward scored 11 goals in all competitions after returning to Milan in January.

Ibrahimovic, who first signed for the club in 2010 and won a Serie A title that season, resumed pre-season training with his team-mates on Monday.

He previously featured for Serie A rivals Juventus and Inter and played for Paris St-Germain, Manchester United and LA Galaxy between his Milan spells

Categories
football Sports News

Chelsea sign Thiago Silva

Brazil centre-back Thiago Silva has signed for Chelsea on a one-year deal, with the option of another.

The 35-year-old has joined the Blues on a free transfer having left Paris St-Germain after their Champions League final defeat on 23 August.

He will bolster the Blues’ defence, which conceded the most goals (54) in the Premier League top 10 in 2019-20.

“I am so happy to be joining Chelsea. I am delighted to be a part of Frank Lampard’s exciting squad,” Silva said.

“I’m here to challenge for honours and I look forward to playing at Stamford Bridge very soon.”

Silva, who has made 88 international appearances, played more than 200 games for PSG during his eight years in the French capital, winning seven consecutive Ligue 1 titles.

He is manager Frank Lampard’s fourth summer signing, following England left-back Ben Chilwell from Leicester and forwards Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.

Categories
football Slides Sports News

Paul Pogba test positive for Corona Virus

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has tested positive for coronavirus, says France manager Didier Deschamps.

The 27-year-old will have to self-isolate for 14 days.

He will miss France’s Nations League game in Sweden on Saturday, 5 September and the home game against Croatia three days later.

However, Pogba could be eligible for selection for United’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace at Old Trafford on 19 September.

His club said: “Everybody at United wishes Paul a speedy recovery ahead of the new season.”

Pogba will be replaced in the France squad by 17-year-old Rennes midfielder Eduardo Camavinga.

“I’ve completed, at the very last minute, a change in the list,” Deschamps said on Thursday.

“Paul Pogba, who was previously on the list, unfortunately for him he carried out a test yesterday which was returned as positive this morning.”

Categories
football Slides Sports News

Mikel scores on Stoke city Debut

The former Super Eagles captain made a goalscoring debut for the Championship outfit on Tuesday

John Obi Mikel scored his first Stoke City goal in their 5-1 hammering of Shrewsbury Town in Tuesday’s pre-season friendly match.

Mikel who joined the Potters on a free transfer earlier this month, made his first start for Stoke City at the club’s Clayton Wood training ground.

The 33-year-old restored the hosts’ lead just before the break after Oakley-Boothe’s opener was cancelled out by Shrewsbury Town.

Mikel was in action for 45 minutes before he was replaced by Tom Ince while DR Congo’s Benik Afobe was introduced for Lee Gregory, nine minutes after the hour-mark.

Following Tuesday’s convincing victory, Mikel will be eager to steer the Potters to victory when they host Blackpool for their League Cup fixture at bet365 Stadium on Saturday.

Meanwhile, O’Neill has lauded the former Nigeria captain for showing an instant impact in the team with his hard work.

“John’s been great in his first few days. You can see his quality, there’s no doubt, people in the group see his quality,” he was quoted by Stoke Sentinel.

Stoke City are scheduled to begin their 2020-21 Championship campaign on September 12 with a trip to Millwall.