Iran v United States: Berhalter happy to control destiny in repeat of ´most politically charged game
In 1998, Lyon s Stade de Gerland played host to what has since become known as the most political match in World Cup history between the United States and Iran.
Relations between the two countries had been tense for three decades at the time, and Iran players were reportedly ordered by Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei not to walk towards their American counterparts during the pre-match handshakes.
Those pre-game formalities were carefully orchestrated to ensure the USA players were the ones walking during the pleasantries, but despite the political hostility, the Iranians handed white roses to their opponents as a peace offering and the two starting XIs posed for a joint photo.
The two nations will tussle for the first time in a competitive game since then on …
Senegal progressed to the World Cup knockout stage at the expense of Ecuador after Kalidou Koulibaly s strike sealed a 2-1 win at the Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.
Aliou Cisse s side went into the game a point adrift of their opponents, but a deserved victory saw them secure second spot in Group A behind the Netherlands, who beat hosts Qatar in the group s other game.
Senegal were brightest from the outset and went ahead in the 44th minute when Watford winger Ismaila Sarr coolly slid home from the penalty spot after he had been fouled.
Moises Caicedo pulled Ecuador level midway through the second half, but Chelsea defender Koulibaly popped up in the 70 th minute to restore Senegal s lead and send them into the last 16.
What a time for your…
The main title contenders in Ligue 1 face fairly easy returns to action this weekend as France s top tier resumes after the mid-season break.
After a three-week interval over the festive season, pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain, Lyon and Marseille who are separated only by goal difference will all ease back into competitive action with games against teams in the bottom five of French football s top division.
PSG s sporting director Leonardo believes his squad has both the ability and, crucially, the desire to break the capital club s 19-year wait for a league title.
The desire of the players has been the key, Leonardo told Ligue1.com.
They had a good look at themselves and now they are saying to each other that any defeat is a tragedy.
That i…
Barcelona made it back-to-back wins in the Ecuadorian Serie A on Sunday, with a 2-0 away win over Universidad Catolica.
The win took Barcelona to eighth on the table on eight points, five behind fifth-placed Universidad.
The visitors to the Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa took the lead on the hour mark, when Holger Matamoros hit a brilliant long-range chip into the Universidad net.
Five minutes later, and the home fans in Quito were stunned when Ariel Nahuelpan doubled Barcelona s advantage.
The victory extended Barcelona s unbeaten run over Universidad since February 2008 with Gustavo Costas men winning six of their seven head-to-head matches.
…
Newcastle United are considering a move for Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina, according to the Mirror.
The North East side are preparing for their first season back in the big time having won the Championship title and promotion at the first time of asking last term.
A new shot-stopper is high on manager Rafael Benitez’s list and he has an eye on Reina, having signed him for Liverpool back in the summer of 2005.
The thirty-four year old signed for Napoli permanently in the summer of 2015 having also played for them on loan in the 2013/14 campaign.
In total, the Spain international has made one hundred and thirty-four appearances for the Serie A side in all competitions while he played just three times for Bayern Munich in the year between his two spell…
FIFA presidential candidate Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim al-Khalifa would seek to use former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson in an advisory role should his election campaign prove successful.
The Asian Football Confederation president is one of five men in the running to succeed Sepp Blatter in the top job of world game s governing body, along with Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein, Jerome Champagne, Gianni Infantino and Tokyo Sexwale.
Blatter, assumed the role in 1998, was given an eight-year ban from all football-related activities as a result of a disloyal payment made to UEFA president Michel Platini on FIFA s behalf in 2011.
Platini, who had previously been in contention to replace Blatter, was also hit with an eight-year suspension, although both a…
Liverpool will reignite their interest in Sheffield United s Sander Berge this summer, according to .
The Premier League champions were credited with strong interest in the midfielder before his move to Bramall Lane, back when he was at Genk and played against Liverpool in the Champions League group stages in 2019-20. This term, Berge played 13 league matches before picking up a tendon problem which required surgery back in December, and he remains out of action still.
Sheffield United are firmly nailed to the bottom of the table and their relegation from the English top flight is now imminent. Manager Chris Wilder has already left the club and a number of players are expected to follow in his wake. Berge has been closely watched by Aston Villa, but Liverpool will now e…
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, who missed out on Jorge Sampaoli s World Cup squad, has now signed for Villarreal, penning a four-year deal with the LaLiga club.
| has joined on a four year deal for an undisclosed fee.
— Everton (@Everton)
Funes Mori made a total of 6…
Harry Kane has described how criticism of his brother, who is also his agent, has been difficult to take after the Tottenham striker failed to secure a move to Manchester City.
After registering 28 goals and 16 assists in all club competitions last season, Kane then netted four times for England in their run to the final of Euro 2020, which they ultimately lost to Italy on penalties as the striker continues to be frustrated in his search for silverware.
As a result, a big-money move to replace the outgoing Sergio Aguero at City appeared to be on the cards for the 28-year-old, with Kane missing a portion of pre-season training as negotiations rumbled on.
However, Spurs held firm and Kane remained in north London, prompting criticism of his brother s handling of…
Curtis Good and Connor Metcalfe were on target as Melbourne City started the defence of their A-League title with a 2-1 win over Brisbane Roar.
City were crowned champions for the first time in June and Patrick Kisnorbo started the 2021-22 campaign by securing all three points at AAMI Park on Friday.
Good set them on their way to victory when he was on hand to apply the finish after Jamie Maclaren s strike was saved by Macklin Freke.
Metcalfe doubled their lead only three minutes later, beating Freke with a deflected left-foot drive from just inside the penalty area when he was afforded too much time to let fly.
Brisbane had to regroup at the break and they pulled a goal back when Luke Ivanovic opened his account for the club by with a powerful close-ra…