England boss Phil Neville has described his side’s last two performances as “outstanding” following their 1-0 friendly win in Portugal.
The Lionesses clinched a scrappy victory in Lisbon to ease the pressure on Neville, but Beth Mead’s late winner was gifted by a blunder from Portugal goalkeeper Patricia Morais.
England lost to the USA in the World Cup finals last summer and since their third-place play-off defeat to Sweden they have drawn in Belgium and been beaten by Norway and Brazil, who won 2-0 at the Riverside on Saturday.
“The players were determined to win and we got the luck we haven’t had in the last five games,” Neville was quoted as saying by the BBC. “The performances over the last two games have been outstanding.”
The former Manchester United defender added: “I’m pleased with the players, I’m pleased with the spirit, I’m pleased with the direction that we’re going in.
“And for me personally, in terms of what I’ve seen at this camp, it’s been my most enjoyable camp since I’ve been a manager with this England team.”
England dominated possession against a side 23 places below them in FIFA’s rankings, but failed to play with cohesion or intensity for long periods.
Neville, appointed to the role in January 2018, said on Monday that he did not fear for his position.
“We said before the game that a lot of people are saying this is a must-win game. For us every game is like that, every game we want to win, that’s the mentality of these players,” he added.
“There were some outstanding performances and I think we’ve seen one or two cement their place at Wembley.”
Next up for the Lionesses is a friendly against Germany at Wembley on November 9.
KUALA LUMPUR: ONE Bantamweight World Champion Bibiano Fernandes is set to face Kevin Belingon – for the fourth time – and defend his title at ONE: Century in Tokyo, Japan, this October 13.
The Brazilian mixed martial artist said he has prepared himself very hard for this bout, and that he is very exited to face his Filipino opponent, one more time.
“The last time we fought, it ended controversially. Now, we get the chance to do it again and this time, there will be no doubt.
“I look to successfully defend my ONE Bantamweight World Champion. I’m ready to show the fans in Tokyo a very good performance,” said the 39-year-old grappler.
Meanwhile, Belingon, 31, who is also a former ONE Bantamweight World Champion said he too is very excited for this upcoming match-up and looking to end the fight in a stunning fashion.
“This is my fourth match with Bibiano (Fernandes). I think this fight will determine who is the true king at bantamweight.
“I’ll do my best to emerge the winner of this fight,” he said.
The wushu black belt from Team Lakay also said he feels super motivated to get the win in Japan and bring the title back to the Philippines.
Fernandes and Belingon first met in January 2016, when the Brazilian made quick work of the Filipino, whom he finished via first-round submission.
They met again in November 2018 in a title unification bout, where Fernandes lost the fight via split decision.
Fernandes faced Belingon again for the third time in a trilogy match in March 2019 and won the bout via disqualification when he could not continue after Belingon landed an illegal elbow to the back of Fernandes’s head, regaining the bantamweight title.
He is now expected to face Belingon for the fourth time at ONE: Century Part II on October 13, 2019.
MANCHESTER – Manchester United kembali meraih hasil buruk di laga lanjutan Liga Inggris 2019-2020. Terbaru, mereka mengalami kekalahan 0-1 saat berjumpa Newcastle United pada Minggu 6 Oktober 2019.
Melihat buruknya permainan Man United itu, Owen Hargreaves sebagai salah satu legenda dari tim tersebut pun akhirnya ikut memberikan pendapatnya. Ia merasa Man United tampil buruk di laga kontra Newcastle dan di pertandingan-pertandingan sebelumnya dikarenakan sang pelatih, yakni Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, telah salah dalam memilih posisi para pemainnya.
Hargreaves memberikan contoh seperti apa yang terjadi terhadap Andrea Pereira, Marcus Rashford, dan Ashley Young di laga kontra Newcastle. Ia melihat ketiga pemain tersebut dipasangkan ke posisi yang bukanlah tempat terbaik mereka bermain.
Seperti Pereira yang merupakan pemain yang identik dengan permainan nomor punggung 10 justru ditaruh Solskjaer sebagai winger kanan. Lalu Rashford yang dianggapnya tak memiliki insting tajam seperti kebanyakan pemain bernomor punggung 9, justru terus-terusan dimainkan sebagai striker tunggal. Begitu juga Young yang pada dasarnya bukanlah fullback kiri, namun tetapi dipaksakan Solskjaer untuk bermain di posisi itu.
Karena menerapkan pemain di posisi yang tak seharusnya itulah Hargreaves merasa Man United kesulitan dalam meraih kemenangan. Ia berharap hal-hal seperti itu diperhatikan lagi oleh Solskjaer karena ia tak mau melihat Man United kembali dipermalukan oleh tim-tim lawan.
“Mari berpikir tentang apa yang terjadi di awal pertandingan (Man United). Pereira yang merupakan pemain identik bernomor punggung 10 justru bermain di sayap kanan. Rashford yang kesulitan untuk tampil percaya diri, membuat banyak pihak meragukannya,” kata Hargreaves, mengutip dari Sportsmole, Selasa (8/10/2019).
“Anda memiliki begitu banyak pemain di satu posisi tertentu, namun ada beberapa yang justru ditempatkan di posisi yang bukan mereka kuasai. Seperti Ashley Young yang dimaikan sebagai fullback kiri. Satu-satunya yang saya merasa tampil baik hanyalah Axel Tuanzebe,” tutupnya.
TURIN – Bek Juventus, Matthijs de Ligt, tidak memungkiri kalau dirinya membutuhkan waktu beradaptasi untuk bisa menampilkan performa apik bersama Bianconeri. Meski begitu, setelah sekitar tiga bulan bergabung, De Ligt merasa telah banyak mendapat pelajaran berharga.
Menurut De Ligt, pelajaran paling penting yang didapatnya sejauh ini adalah untuk tampil dengan percaya diri. Pasalnya, sebagai seorang bek muda yang ditebus dengan harga fantastis, yakni 85 juta euro, De Ligt selalu khawatir jika melakukan kesalahan.
Pada akhirnya, kondisi tersebut justru membuat bek berpaspor Belanda itu tak mampu tampil maksimal. Teranyar di laga melawan Inter Milan, De Ligt melakukan handball yang membuat Nerazzurri mendapat hadiah penalti. Kendati begitu, ia percaya seiring berjalannya waktu performanya akan membaik.
“Pelajaran paling penting yang saya pelajari sejauh ini di Juventus adalah bahwa Anda membutuhkan kepercayaan diri. Pada awalnya, saya memperhatikan kalau diri saya terlalu khawatir untuk tidak membuat kesalahan dan itulah yang seharusnya tidak Anda lakukan,” beber De Ligt, melansir dari Mirror, Selasa (8/10/2019).
“Saya tidak pernah bermain seperti itu dan dalam minggu-minggu pertama saya terlalu fokus pada hal itu. Saya ingin bermain dengan percaya diri lagi. Mungkin masih ada beberapa hal yang salah, tapi setidaknya saya tahu pasti semuanya lebih baik dari sebelumnya. Sejak laga melawan Atletico (Madrid) saya memiliki tren menanjak,” lanjutnya.
“Kritik yang Anda dapatkan setelah pertandingan adalah bagian dari kesepakatan. Sayangnya, itu adalah kehidupan seorang bek. Anda menyeimbangkan pada garis tipis bermain baik atau buruk. Tentu saja saya lebih suka tidak memberikan tendangan penalti (untuk lawan), tetapi pada akhirnya kami menang (melawan Inter) dan itulah yang penting,” tuntas bek 20 tahun itu.
Daniel James is determined to respond to a difficult time for Manchester United by improving Wales’ Euro 2020 qualification hopes.
United have made their worst start to a top-flight campaign for 30 years after picking up only nine points from their opening eight games.
Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Newcastle – who started the day only one place off the bottom of the table – left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side just two points above the relegation zone.
Manchester United’s season suffered another setback with a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday (Owen Humphreys/PA)
“It’s important in football to react when things aren’t going so well,” said James, who has been United’s standout performer with three goals since his £15million summer move from Swansea.
“It’s alright when things are going good, but it’s important to deal with things when they are bad.
“It was the same when I was at Swansea and things weren’t going so well. I’ve always dealt with it exactly the same.
“I’ve had a good start personally (at United) and I’m enjoying my football. It’s about taking that into playing for Wales as well.”
James has had a meteoric rise from Swansea bit-part player to United first-team regular in the last 12 months.
The 21-year-old scored the winner on his first Wales start in March – against Thursday’s Euro 2020 qualifying opponents Slovakia – and there is expectation on him now to deliver both at club and international level.
But James says he can handle the huge pressure that comes with being in the United spotlight as well as a fully-fledged international.
“If you’d said a year ago what was going to happen to me I’d have said ‘Don’t be silly’,” James added ahead of the Group E qualifier in Trnava.
“It is massive progress in the space of a year being a Man United regular and playing for Wales.
“But things happen so quickly in football you have to be ready for anything. That goes when things go badly as well.
“A year ago I wasn’t really playing for Swansea and everything just happened so quickly.
“It is just a case of how you grasp that. Everyone who speaks to me just says be yourself and don’t let anything trouble you.
Daniel James, right, celebrates after scoring Wales’ winner in the Euro 2020 qualifier against Slovakia in March (Darren Staples/PA)
“I think having established myself at Man United so quickly has helped me. There is going to be pressure going into these games this week, but I’m used to that now.
“European football (with United) is similar to playing away in these countries. When you are expected to win the group then going away to any team – Slovakia, Azerbaijan, whoever – with different atmospheres, pitches and cultures, then it is really difficult.”
James recalls being on a family holiday in Spain when Wales made their way to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 in France under Chris Coleman.
Wales – who trail group leaders Croatia by four points with a game in hand – are a much-changed squad three years on, and James is part of an exciting and youthful group who have been given opportunities by manager Ryan Giggs.
“I remember watching it (Euro 2016) in Marbella and it was amazing to get to so far,” James said.
Ryan Giggs has blooded many youngsters during his time as Wales manager (Nick Potts/PA)
“The expectation now is to get back to the Euros. That’s what we want to do and it would be amazing for me and the rest of the young players to experience that.
“All the youngsters are grasping our roles – Harry Wilson, Ethan Ampadu – and there is a younger generation coming through. It is just a case of whether we can go on and qualify now.
“We’ve got two massive games this week – Slovakia away and Croatia at home – but the gaffer says we are capable of doing anything as a team. If we can go to Slovakia and win that would be a big statement.”
Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer apologised to the club’s fans after a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle left them in 12th place in the Premier League.
Disgruntled travelling supporters sang anti-Glazer family chants as Matty Longstaff’s debut goal at St James’ Park left United without an away win in 11 attempts in all competitions.
Manager Solskjaer admitted after the game that they had simply not been good enough.
He said: “We’re unhappy with the results and it’s the results that bring out the mood of everyone, and I’ve got to say sorry to the fans that we’re not winning games.
“But that’s down to that now as well, we have started a rebuild. This is not a similar situation to when I was sat here after Everton last year when I felt people had given up and they don’t give what they have for the shirt.
“These boys give everything they’ve got for the shirt, and we’ll get there again.”
The visitors enjoyed plenty of possession on Tyneside against a Magpies side routed 5-0 at Leicester a week earlier but failed to convert it into meaningful chances, with defender Harry Maguire’s glaring miss on the stroke of half-time as good as it got.
Asked to assess the performance, Solskjaer said: “Very symptomatic of where we are at the moment, disappointing. We don’t create enough chances to deserve to win a game of football – and that’s the short version.
Matty Longstaff was the difference at St James’ Park on Sunday (Owen Humphreys/PA)
“The first half, I couldn’t see that one coming before the game because it was such a disappointing performance first half.
“The ball, it seemed like we couldn’t control it, it seemed like it was a hot potato and it was bouncing off our feet.
“Second half was better, we dominated more – but you could still see a couple of counter-attacks coming, especially just before the goal as well.”
Newcastle’s Geordie head coach Steve Bruce was thrilled at the response of his players to their humiliation at the King Power Stadium as he enjoyed the first win of his managerial career over the club for which he played for eight-and-a-half years.
He said: “Especially against who the visitors were… It’s been a long time coming, probably too long.
“It’s been a difficult week in particular, but that result gives everybody a lift, and let’s just hope now they all come back from internationals and we can stay a bit injury-free.”
