Didier Deschamps admitted France’s 2-0 defeat to Turkey in Euro 2020 qualifying was a slap in the face for his World Cup winners.
First-half goals from Kaan Ayhan and the impressive Cengiz Under were enough to earn Turkey a first ever win over France and a three-point lead in Group H.
Deschamps, whose side did not even manage a shot on target and must bounce back against Andorra on Tuesday, told TF1: “When the team performs like that, there is nothing positive to take away from it.
“We did not turn up and even if we are world champions, if we play like that we have no hope.
“We took a good slap tonight. We have to analyse it, we have another match to come in three days.
“Nothing more to add apart from to say well done to Turkey, and to get back to basics.”
Midfielder Moussa Sissoko told L’Equipe’s television channel: “There are no excuses, we know the areas we fell short – pretty much everywhere.
“There are plenty of matches left. In the past, we have made these mistakes and we have always bounced back.
“We have a team with quality, with talent, we must do everything to avoid this type of performance.”
Turkey coach Senol Gunes reflected on an “awesome” night for his side, who dominated the scoring chances despite France having more possession.
Gunes told Spor Arena: “This team is here to give both hope and happiness.
“The players and fans were awesome. We played with discipline and with one heart.”
Turkey next face an Iceland side who lie level with France on six points from three games.
Turkish Football Federation president Nihat Ozdemir, who only took the job on Monday, revealed he had received a congratulatory phone call after the match from the country’s president Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Ozdemir, quoted by Sabah Spor, said: “Mr President called me on the phone. He thanked me, congratulated our players and coach Senol.
“We have nine points and we are the leader in the group. We have an important game against Iceland ahead of us, I hope we come back with the victory.”
Uruguay 3 Panama 0: Suarez scores wonderful free-kick on return
Luis Suarez scored a wonderful free-kick in Uruguay’s friendly victory over Panama in Montevideo.
Luis Suarez marked his return from a knee injury with a brilliant goal in Uruguay’s 3-0 win over Panama in an international friendly on Friday.
Suarez underwent knee surgery after Barcelona’s Champions League exit last month and his return was a welcome sight for Uruguay ahead of the Copa America.
The star forward came on for the final half-hour in Montevideo, where he struck with a free-kick six minutes after being introduced to add to Maxi Gomez’s first-half header.
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Another substitute, Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde, sealed Uruguay’s win with a fine strike.
Edinson Cavani also came off the bench for Uruguay, who open their Copa America campaign against Ecuador on June 16.
Fouls ruined the early flow of the game, although Uruguay goalkeeper Fernando Muslera was tested by a long-range Fidel Escobar strike.
But Gomez opened the scoring for the hosts in the 19th minute with his second international goal.
After a throw-in on the right, Giorgian De Arrascaeta’s lovely cross was headed in by Gomez from close range.
Uruguay pushed following their opener and De Arrascaeta poked a rebound wide after Panama goalkeeper Luis Mejia could only parry a tame Nahitan Nandez shot.
There was a brief injury worry for Uruguay as Diego Godin went down clutching his arm before half-time, while Matias Vecino had a volley pushed around the post by Mejia.
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Suarez needed little time to have an impact, scoring his 56th international goal in the 69th minute.
The star forward curled a wonderful 20-yard free-kick into the top corner, giving Mejia no chance.
Valverde wrapped up Uruguay’s win in the 79th minute, brilliantly volleying into the bottom corner from 25 yards after a cross from the right was cleared into his path.
The Pahang captain is clear on what needs to be achieved by Harimau Malaya in the first leg of the 2022 World Cup / 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Malaysia begins their journey in the 2022 World Cup qualification with a double header against Timor Leste, a team very familiar because of logistics but also because of how often they are paired together in a match-up. They were in the same group for the 2018 World Cup qualification and also met in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers.
On both occasions, Malaysia flexed their superiority over Timor Leste and that authority is expected to be continued when they face each other on June 7 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium. With both the home and away leg of the tie being played in Malaysia, the outcome is expected to be favouring Tan Cheng Hoe’s boys.
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Yet in football sometimes results can confound expectations and complacency can be dangerous to any team. That is exactly why Matthew Davies is not expecting any of his team mates to be giving any less than 100% when the play the first leg on Friday.
“The aim is to take the game to them like we did against Nepal. We expect their style to be similar to Nepal where they will defend deep and look to break on the counter. But Timor Leste has got some dangerous players, so we have to be wary and we can’t take them lightly.
“It’s a massive bonus (to not concede an away goal). We can’t give away anything. Definitely our goal is to get a good win and keep a clean sheet while doing that,” Davies told Goal.
After the withdrawal of Syahmi Safari from the squad due to injury, Davies is the only recognisable right back in the team and the Pahang player is rightly expected to fill the berth for the two matches, if he steer clear of any injuries of his own.
Neither teams were allowed to train on the pitch at the stadium during their official training on Thursday as the match commissioner decided that the field was not in a good condition and required a break from being used to ensure a more palatable condition on match day.
While the Malaysian team are already used to playing on that pitch, not having the chance to train on it is another disadvantage to Timor Leste. All of which points clearly to Malaysia making their way to the second round of the qualifiers but only with the right focus and discipline.
Aston Villa would taste defeat in the 2018 Championship play-off final vs Fulham.
However, Villa would get a second shot at the final a year later.
Aston Villa looked pretty unlikely to even make it into a play-off place though as they were sat down in 11th place at the beginning of March.
But Villa would continue to fight and go on a 10-match winning run that saw them finish the season in 5th place.
Aston Villa then took on West Brom in the play-off semi-final, coming out on top thanks to a penalty shootout.
Dean Smith’s side would then face Frank Lampard’s Derby County in the final and win 2-1.
The BBC estimated that Villa beating Derby earned them somewhere around £170m.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 27: Jack Grealish of Aston Villa and Dean Smith, Manager of Aston Villa celebrate with the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Final Trophy following their team’s victory in the Sky Bet Championship Play-off Final match between Aston Villa and Derby County at Wembley Stadium on May 27, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Copa/Getty Images)
Villa secure Jota signing
Villa have already put some of that money to good use. On Wednesday, June 5th they signed Jota from Birmingham City.
Jota made 40 Championship appearances this past season for Birmingham, in which he scored three and assisted nine.
The Spaniard is naturally a right winger but he can also play on the left or as a central attacking midfielder.
Jota has signed a two-year deal at Villa Park.
On securing Jota’s services from Birmingham, Dean Smith stated:
“I worked with Jota at Brentford. He’s a superb, talented player and Birmingham signed him as their record transfer.
“I’m really happy to have him back working with us. He’s got great ability, great balance and a great eye for both goals and assists.”A quoted by Aston Villa’s official website.
Barring a major collapse from either of the duo at the start of the 2019/20 season, this year’s Ballon d’Or is likely to be contested primarily by Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.
Most bookmakers, including Sky Bet, currently have Messi as the favourite to win the award, with his odds around 5/6.
Virgil van Dijk is a close second, however, with his odds currently around 10/11.
The third favourite, as of writing on June 4th , is Mohamed Salah. But his odds are well away from VVD and Messi at 14/1.
Elsewhere, five-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo is joint-5th favourite to win the award in December, with odds of 25/1.
This isn’t too surprising, though, given that Ronaldo finished 4th top scorer in Serie A and Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals.
Juve did win Serie A, but they also did so in the past seven seasons without Ronaldo being there.
So, with it looking to be a two-horse race between van Dijk and Messi, how do the two compare?
BARCELONA, SPAIN – MAY 01: Lionel Messi of Barcelona celebrates after he scores his sides second goal during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final first leg match between Barcelona and Liverpool at the Nou Camp on May 01, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Messi vs VVD in the league
Let’s start with the pair’s achievements in their respective leagues.
Lionel Messi would help guide Barcelona to their 26th La Liga title this past season.
Barca would finish the season on 87 points, 10 points above second-placed Atletico Madrid.
However, given the poor season that Real Madrid had, there could be a case made that Barca didn’t have too much competition in the 2018/19 campaign.
Individually, Messi dominated La Liga in terms of goals, scoring 36 in 34 outings.
The Argentine would also earn the joint most assists in La Liga (13), along with Sevilla’s Pablo Sarabia.
Messi’s 36 league goals also saw him earn his 6th European Golden Shoe award.
Lionel Messi is the first player in history to win the European Golden Shoe in six different seasons:
As for Liverpool and Virgil van Dijk, they did not win the 2018/19 Premier League trophy.
But Jurgen Klopp’s side did manage to amass a staggering 97 points this past season.
That total would have won Liverpool the league title in all of the Premier League’s past seasons, except the last two.
97 points is also the highest total a PL side has reached and not won the title.
Furthermore, the Reds would manage to keep the tightest defence in the English top-flight, letting in just 22 goals in 38 games.
VVD played a key role in that, starting all 38 of their league outings and only failing to complete 90 minutes once, versus Southampton.
Jurgen Klopp’s side also managed to keep the most clean sheets in the PL – 21, compared to Manchester City’s 20.
Van Dijk would win the PFA Player of the Year award and the Premier League Player of the Season.
In addition, while the statistic is not confined to just domestic football, no opposition player has managed to dribble past VVD in his last 64 games, which is a simply incredible achievement.
Van Dijk earns Champions League glory
In terms of how the pair did in the Champions League, it is hard not to give the upper hand to Virgil van Dijk.
Liverpool, of course, won this year’s UCL for the first time since 2005, beating Tottenham 2-0 in the final as van Dijk earned Man of the Match honours.
Messi and Barcelona, however, would be knocked out in the semi-finals, after blowing a three-goal advantage vs VVD and co.
Messi would still earn the Champions League Golden Boot this season, though.
Both players would make it into the UCL Squad of the Season.9
But VVD’s Champions League win will no doubt have helped him massively in the Ballon d’Or running.
MADRID, SPAIN – JUNE 1: Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool FC, with the trophy during the UEFA Champions League match between Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano on June 1, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
The impact of the Champions League
While the Ballon d’Or is supposed to be an individual award, and winning the UCL obviously requires a full team, it is hard to ignore the impact that winning the top prize in European club football has on deciding the winner.
Luka Modric won the award in 2018. In 46 appearances throughout the 2017/18 season, he managed four goals and eight assists, not exactly an eye-catching amount.
However, Real Madrid would win the CL in 2018 and Modric would reach the World Cup final with Croatia.
It could be argued that Modric’s World Cup efforts helped him to secure the Ballon d’Or, along with his UCL win.
Also, it is hard to compare the likes of Modric and Messi, as they have very different roles in the game.
2017, though, saw Cristiano Ronaldo win the award for a 5th time.
Both Messi and Ronaldo’s main job is to score goals, and secondly to assist.
In the 2016/17 season, Messi scored 54 and assisted 16 in 52 appearances. Ronaldo, on the other hand, scored 42 and assisted 11 in 46 appearances.
Despite Messi having had a better goals-to-game ratio than Ronaldo, and more assists, the ex-Madrid forward claimed the Ballon d’Or that year.
Real Madrid would also win the Champions League that season.
Finally, in the last five years, every player who has won the Ballon d’Or has also lifted the Champions League that year.
MADRID, SPAIN – JUNE 01: Players of FC Liverpool celebrate with the trophy after winning the UEFA Champions League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on June 1, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)
Two trophies still up for grabs
While the UCL clearly has an impact on who wins the Ballon d’Or each year, there are two more competitions set to take place over the coming months, which could help decide the victor.
Virgil van Dijk is set to take on England in the Nations League semi-finals with the Netherlands this week.
Should they beat England, then either Portugal or Switzerland in the final, they will become the inaugural NL Champions, a stat that can only really boost VVD’s case for the Ballon d’Or.
Lionel Messi, meanwhile, will be in action for Argentina, as they look to win the Copa America for the first time since 1993.
Like van Dijk in the Nations League, Messi helping Argentina to win the CA would be a huge point in his favour with regards to being crowned the 2019 BD winner.
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – JUNE 26 Argentina forward and Captain Lionel Messi (10) during the Copa America Centenario Final Argentna vs Chile Soccer, 2016 on June 26, 2016 at Met Life in East Rutherford, NJ, USA . The score was tied at 0 to 0 at the end of regulation play and then added time. Chile won the match 4 to 2 in penalty kicks to win the Copa America Final. Photo by Ira L. Black/Corbis via Getty Images
Predicted winner
Lionel Messi has had yet another outstanding year in football, and him winning the Ballon d’Or is unlikely to upset too many people.
However, at this point, given van Dijk’s excellent year, and the sway that the Champions League has had on deciding the winner of late, it is hard to see the Dutchman not winning the award.
Should Messi win the Copa America and VVD fail to win the Nations League, though, the story may be different.
If van Dijk does go on to win the award, he will become the first defender to do so since Fabio Cannavaro in 2006.
See also: Official: Liverpool confirm Moreno & Sturridge exits
Barcelona & Liverpool-linked Matthijs de Ligt admits ‘there’s an
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has this evening taken to social media to suggest that his former side should make a move for soon-to-be free agent midfielder Daniele De Rossi.
Roma icon
Italian veteran De Rossi has long stood as one of the most-recognisable figures in Serie A.
The 35-year-old has spent his entire career to date on the books of boyhood club AS Roma, after joining the Giallorossi’s youth setup as a talented youngster in 2000.
Two weeks ago, though, following 19 long, passion-filled years at the Stadio Olimpico, De Rossi took to the pitch for the final time in Roma’s colours.
After almost two decades personifying the Gladiator spirit at the heart of the capital outfit’s midfield, across over 600 appearances, it was confirmed earlier this month that the 2006 World Cup winner’s contract would not be renewed this summer.
‘Arsenal need to bring in De Rossi’
As such, the 1st of July will see De Rossi become a free agent for the first time in his career.
As things stand, it is unclear what the combative midfielder’s plans for his next move are, with a potential MLS switch having been touted of late.
In addition, Roma president James Pallotta has confirmed that the club’s doors ‘will remain open for him to return in a new role whenever he wants.’
One individual who is of the opinion that De Rossi’s career is not yet finished at the top level, though, is Ian Wright.
As mentioned above, the Arsenal legend has this evening taken to Twitter to urge the north Londoners’ board to make a move for the Italian, insisting that the experience he would introduce to Unai Emery’s squad would be ‘invaluable’:
Arsenal need to bring in De Rossi from Roma ! We’ll get 15 games out of him, it won’t cost hardly any money, and the experience he could pass on to the likes of Willock and the other youngsters could be invaluable and money well spent.
Tottenham’s wait for silverware will go on for at least one more season.
Spurs would take on Liverpool in Madrid this past Saturday in the Champions League final.
Liverpool came away with a 2-0 victory, but if Spurs had really been at their best, they could have won the tie.
Both Liverpool and Tottenham looked a little rusty in Madrid, which isn’t too much of a surprise given they hadn’t played a competitive game for three weeks.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 07: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United and Arsene Wenger, Manager of Arsenal shake hands prior to the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium on May 7, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
Kane goes missing
One of the biggest talking points heading into the final was if Harry Kane would start.
The England forward had been out of action since early April with a ligament problem.
However, Kane was able to recover in time for the final, and took his place up front from the start on Saturday.
Unfortunately for Spurs fans, Kane did not look at his best. He would manage just 11 touches in the first 45 versus Liverpool, the lowest of any Tottenham player.
After the first-half of the final, while working for beIN SPORTS, Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger gave their respective assessments of Kane’s display.
When speaking about Kane, Mourinho stated:
“Harry Kane was hidden all the time.
“He normally drops back, comes in between the lines, normally he’s the link player – he receives the ball from one side, he goes between the lines, he turns, plays with the other full back, arrives in the box. Nothing of this dynamic yet.”
Wenger also had his say on Kane:
“We spoke a lot about Kane, he doesn’t look ready. Overall only Son looked dangerous, especially going in behind Alexander-Arnold.” As quoted by football.london.
Watch the full discussion below:
“We spoke a lot about Kane. He doesn’t look ready.”
“Harry Kane was hidden all the time.”
They may have had their differences but Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho both AGREED on something last night.
Liverpool and Tottenham went head-to-head on Saturday evening in the 2019 Champions League final.
No matter the outcome it would be the first time an English side had lifted the trophy since 2012 when Chelsea did so.
The final in Madrid got off to a very lively start.
Moussa Sissoko was adjudged to have handled the ball inside his penalty area less than two minutes into the final, giving Liverpool an early penalty.
Mohamed Salah would step up and convert said spot kick.
The rest of the game was actually quite poor considering it was a UCL final, it was pretty clear both teams had been three weeks without a real competitive game of football.
Liverpool would eventually kill the game off in the 87th minute through Divock Origi.
MADRID, SPAIN – JUNE 01 : Jordan Henderson of Liverpool kisses the UEFA Champions League trophy during the UEFA Champions League Final between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on June 1, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Chamberlain remembers Arsenal
After the game, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain spoke about winning the final for Arsenal.
Arsenal are, of course, Spurs’ biggest rivals and Chamberlain himself played for Arsenal for many years before making the switch to Anfield.
However, Chamberlain didn’t feature in any UCL games this season due to the injury he suffered in last year’s competition vs Roma.
Chamberlain was still named on the bench for the 2019 final though.
When speaking about Arsenal, Chamberlain stated:
“As former Gooners, we all know how much that one meant to all the Arsenal fans out there.
“Once a Gooner always a Gooner’ that’s what they say. I had a personal sort of feeling in that game that we needed to get it done for all the people I left at Arsenal.”
As per a report from SportItalia journalist Alfredo Pedulla, Chelsea have agreed to allow Maurizio Sarri to join Juventus this summer.
Chelsea 4-1 Arsenal
Sarri’s Chelsea travelled to Baku, Azerbaijan two nights ago, for a Europa League final clash with London rivals Arsenal.
While the Gunners required a victory to book their spot in next season’s Champions League, Chelsea had already done so, courtesy of a 3rd-placed Premier League finish.
Both sides, though, were looking for their first silverware of the campaign, with Maurizio Sarri in search of the first title of his career.
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN – MAY 28: Maurizio Sarri, Manager of Chelsea kicks his cap in frustration during the Chelsea FC training session on the eve of the UEFA Europa League Final against Arsenal at Baku Olimpiya Stadion on May 28, 2019 in Baku, Azerbaijan. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
And, when all was said and done, the Chelsea boss went on to put his trophy-less past firmly behind him, in emphatic fashion.
A dominant second-half display on the part of the Stamford Bridge outfit eventually saw goals from Eden Hazard (2), Olivier Giroud and Pedro lead the Blues to a comprehensive 4-1 win.
Juventus bound
However, despite it being less than 48 hours since Chelsea tasted victory in Baku, reports have already begun to mount that Sarri is all set for a departure from the club.
First, the reliable Gianluca Di Marzio stated yesterday that Sarri’s agent, Fali Ramadani, had flown to London for talks with the Chelsea hierarchy ‘to study an exit strategy’ to Juventus:
And, as per the aforementioned update from Alfredo Pedulla, who, according to Football-Italia, ‘is very close’ to Sarri, the Italian tactician’s move to Turin appears to have taken another huge step forward today.
This comes amid claims that a ‘positive’ meeting resulted in Chelsea agreeing to ‘free’ their boss from his position.
