Manchester United hold on to beat Real Madrid 2-1

Miami (AFP) – Jose Mourinho was finally given something to smile about as a tempestuous trip to the United States ended with Man United’s 2-1 win over former club Real Madrid thanks to first-half strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera.

Mourinho has cut a miserable figure during their two week trip to the United States, lashing out at a lack of transfer activity while reserving stinging criticism for a number of first team players.

But seeing his side establish a two goal lead in the first half was encouraging, as was holding Real at bay after Karim Benezema’s goal just before the interval gave the Spanish side hope of mounting a comeback.

“I didn’t learn anything (from this tour),” said Mourinho. “I know what Ander Herrera, Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez are.

“I know the kids are very young and need time to grow up, I know my players gave everything and in the last 15 mins we are dead and they bring on Toni Kroos and Asensio and Isco and I thought we wouldn’t resist but we did.

“That’s the spirit we need because our first two or three weeks in the Premier League are going to be really hard for us because we didn’t prepare for that.”

The Portuguese has been without 12 key players for most of the tour with many enjoying an extended break following the World Cup.

In front of 64,141 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, United were finishing off their pre-season preparations against a Real Madrid side just starting theirs.

La Liga starts a week later than the Premier League so new Real manager Julen Lopetegui was able to name the likes of Gareth Bale to start while Germany star Toni Kroos was on the bench.

Spanish international David de Gea was making his first start since returning from the extra time given to him following the World Cup and he was almost beaten in the eighth minute – Bale starting a move which saw Benzema fire just wide from close range.

Brazilian Fred, who was signed earlier this summer for £52 million, was making his first United start and looked comfortable in his new surroundings.

And on 18 minutes, United were ahead. Herrera fed Matteo Darmian and teed up Sanchez who clinically swept the ball home.

– Taken superbly –

It was Man United’s first real opportunity – and it was taken superbly.

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Manchester United holds on to beat Real Madrid 2-1

Miami (AFP) – Jose Mourinho was finally given something to smile about as a tempestuous trip to the United States ended with a 2-1 victory over former club Real Madrid thanks to first-half strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Ander Herrera.

Mourinho has cut a miserable figure during their two week trip to the United States, lashing out at a lack of transfer activity while reserving stinging criticism for a number of first team players.

But seeing his side establish a two goal lead in the first half was encouraging, as was holding Real at bay after Karim Benezema’s goal just before the interval gave the Spanish side hope of mounting a comeback.

An extraordinary outburst last weekend after losing to Liverpool in Michigan has seen question marks about squad morale surface once again.

The Portuguese has been without 12 key players for most of the tour with many enjoying an extended break following the World Cup.

In front of 64,141 at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, United were finishing off their pre-season preparations against a Real Madrid side just starting theirs.

La Liga starts a week later than the Premier League so new Real manager Julen Lopetegui was able to name the likes of Gareth Bale to start while Germany star Toni Kroos was on the bench.

Spanish international David de Gea was making his first start since returning from the extra time given to him following the World Cup and he was almost beaten in the eighth minute – Bale starting a move which saw Benzema fire just wide from close range.

Brazilian Fred, who was signed earlier this summer for £52 million, was making his first United start and looked comfortable in his new surroundings.

And on 18 minutes, United were ahead. Ander Herrera fed Matteo Darmian and teed up Sanchez who clinically swept the ball home.

It was a Mourinho’s side’s first real opportunity – and it was taken superbly.

So too was the second goal which arrived on 27 minutes.

Darmian lifted the ball to Mata and once the Spaniard had regained his composure he crossed for Sanchez who was able to divert the ball into the path of Herrera who made no mistake.

Bale curled wide soon after but just before the interval, Benzema tapped in an excellent Theo Hernandez cross to give the vast amounts of Madrid fans in Miami something to cheer.

Bale, a one time target for Mourinho, was withdrawn for the second half as Lopetegui shuffled his pack and one of the substitutes, Martin Odegaard should have levelled on 56 minutes when he blazed over the bar from eight yards.

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Big changes for soccer viewing options for 2018/19 season

If you’re a soccer fan living in the United States, the next month will be one of the most confusing times for you when you start trying to figure out what channels or streaming platforms are broadcasting your favorite soccer league or competition.

Never before have there been so many changes in such a short amount of time.

Here are just a few big ones to mention:

• The UEFA Champions League has a brand-new rights-holder in the United States. Bye-bye FOX Sports.
• Same with the Europa League.
• Serie A is also changing hands from beIN SPORTS to a yet unannounced broadcaster.
• FOX’s coverage of the FA Cup and Community Shield has also come to an end.

To make sense of all of the changes, we’ve taken the last few weeks to compile an exhaustive list of who has which leagues and competitions in the United States. See below.

Read our free Where to find soccer leagues and competitions on US TV and streaming guide.

Before you ask, there’s still no word about Serie A or the FA Community Shield. As soon as we have details on that, we’ll let everyone know on this website.

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‘Heading the ball’ riskier for female players: study

Tampa (AFP) – Brain damage from heading a football may be five times more extensive in women than men, said a US study Tuesday based on nearly 100 amateur players.

The report in the journal Radiology suggested that sex-specific guidelines may be needed to guard against head injuries in football, or soccer as it is widely called in the United States.

“Researchers and clinicians have long noticed that women fare worse following head injury than men, but some have said that’s only because women are more willing to report symptoms,” said lead author Michael Lipton, professor of radiology, psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

“Based on our study, which measured objective changes in brain tissue rather than self-reported symptoms, women do seem more likely than men to suffer brain trauma from heading soccer balls.”

For the study, 49 male and 49 female players were given a form of MRI called diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which analyzes the health of the brain’s white matter by looking at water balance in the tissue.

Players’ ages ranged from 18-50, and both groups reported a similar number of headings over the previous year. Men reported an average of 487 headings and women 469.

The scans showed that “the volume of damaged white matter in women soccer players was five times greater than for male players,” according to the report. 

The women had eight brain regions where white matter — which involves communication between different parts of the brain — were affected, compared to three in men.

Researchers said the brain changes were “subclinical,” meaning the players did not report any altered thinking ability.

But the changes remain a concern because they could be a precursor to further injury and brain damage, including cognitive decline and behavioral changes.

“Before serious dysfunction occurs, it’s wise to identify risk factors for cumulative brain injury — such as heading if you’re female — so that people can act to prevent further damage and maximize recovery,” said Lipton.

The study gave no formal reasons for the differences, but some experts suggest that neck strength, sex hormones or genetics could be to blame.

About 30 million women and girls play soccer worldwide, according to the International Federation of Association Football, known as FIFA.

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English referees will show cards to badly-behaved managers

London (AFP) – English football intends to start punishing managers who behave badly on the sidelines as severely as players on the field, the Football Association (FA) said on Tuesday.

In the coming season, referees will be able to show red and yellow cards to coaching staff in England’s top professional competitions, with the exception of the Premier League, as part of a pilot project based on the FA’s existing “technical area code of conduct”.

In the top flight, managers will not be shown cards but receive verbal warnings.

Like cards for players, the warnings will be totted up and could lead to match bans.

What the FA calls “stage one warnings” will be issued for inappropriate language or gestures “which are an obvious show of dissent or an attempt to influence the decisions of the match officials”. These include kicking or throwing water bottles or clothing, sarcastic clapping or waving imaginary cards.

Managers who receive four warnings will be banned for one match, eight warnings will result in a two-match ban, 12 warnings will bring a three-match ban and 16 will lead to a misconduct charge.

Unlike cards for players, the warnings will not, in most cases, be wiped out after a fixed number of games.

Shaun Harvey, the chief executive of the English Football League which runs the three divisions below the Premier League, said on Tuesday that rules for behaviour in the dugout or technical area are not new, but the idea is to make the disciplinary procedure clearer to fans.

Referees have long been able to banish badly-behaved managers, but now a red card will make clear what is happening.

“We thought it should add to the clarity and hopefully better behaviour in the technical areas,” said Harvey.

Harvey said that the referee can, if necessary, caution a team’s entire coaching staff.

“This is not about creating a drama. It is about making sure behaviour doesn’t decline further.”

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NBC Sports heading to England to bring Premier League to you live, on location

NBC Sports has announced more coverage details for their opening weekend of the 2018/19 Premier League season, which will include their talent being on-site in England to bring you closer to the action.

From Thursday, August 9 to Sunday, August 12, the entire NBC Sports crew will be together on-location in England. The coverage will move across three days from four different grounds throughout Britain, featuring on-site studios for pre-match, halftime and post-game shows as well as pitch-side locations just a few feet from the playing field.

Coverage begins on Thursday, August 9, with a special three-hour Premier League Live: Transfer Deadline Day show live from Old Trafford at 11 a.m. ET on NBCSN. The program will surround the end of the summer transfer window, which closes at Noon ET that Thursday, as the team analyzes all 20 clubs’ transfer activity. In addition, the program will preview the 2018-19 season with the entire team, as Rebecca Lowe hosts the program, joined by Arlo White, Lee Dixon, Robbie Earle, Graeme Le Saux, Kyle Martino and Robbie Mustoe.

Arlo White will call the matches, and make pre-match and post-match appearances from NBC’s pitch-side locations. Earle, Martino and Mustoe will each call a match with White. They will join NBC’s UK-based team of Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux for 21 hours of live on-site Premier League coverage across four days.

“After an incredible summer of World Cup football which saw some players cement their star status and others elevate themselves into that sphere, we now have the treat of seeing many of these faces on our screens every week with the return of the world’s most entertaining league,” said Lowe. “And what better way to begin our sixth season of Premier League coverage on NBC than by flying to the U.K. and bringing you all our coverage from right there on the ground. We will start it all at the Theatre of Dreams for Manchester United v Leicester City. We are set for another nine months to remember.”

Here’s the schedule for the opening weekend of the Premier League season (all kickoff times listed are in the Eastern United States timezone):

 

Thursday, August 9

Premier League transfer deadline day (live from Old Trafford), 11am, NBCSN, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

 

Friday, August 10

Manchester United vs. Leicester City, 3pm, NBCSN, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

 

Saturday, August 11

Newcastle vs. Spurs, 7:30am, NBCSN, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

Huddersfield vs. Chelsea, 10am, NBCSN, Universo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

Bournemouth vs. Cardiff, 10am, NBC Sports Gold

Fulham vs. Crystal Palace, 10am, NBC Sports Gold

Watford vs. Brighton, 10am, NBC Sports Gold

Wolves vs. Everton, 12:30pm, NBC, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

 

Sunday, August 12

Liverpool vs. West Ham, 8:30am, NBCSN, Telemundo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

Southampton vs. Burnley, 8:30am, NBC Sports Gold

Arsenal vs. Manchester City, 11am, NBCSN, Telemundo, fuboTV, Sling Blue and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

 

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Kante offered huge raise by Chelsea to deter PSG: reports

London (AFP) – French midfielder N’Golo Kante, labelled the “essential element” in the World Cup-winning side by Didier Deschamps, has been offered a new five-year contract by Chelsea, according to British media reports on Tuesday.

The pocket-sized 27-year-old dynamo — who recovered the ball more often than any other team-mate during the finals in Russia — will earn £290,000 ($380,000, 325,000 euros) a week if he signs the new deal, reported The Times and the London Evening Standard.

Chelsea, who sacked Antonio Conte as manager despite winning the FA Cup after finishing outside the Champions League spots last season, want to ward off apparent interest from Qatari-owned French champions Paris Saint-Germain.

The new contract would see Kante’s pay almost doubled from his present deal — £150,000 a week — which terminates in 2021.

Kante was a pivotal figure in Chelsea’s title-winning campaign in 2016/17 under Conte after joining from Leicester City for a reported £32 million.

His move followed an equally influential role in The Foxes’ shock league-winning campaign in 2016.

Chelsea are also reported by both newspapers to be prepared to increase Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard’s weekly pay from £220,000 — at present he is the highest wage earner — to £300,000 in an effort to dissuade him from moving to Spain with Real Madrid showing an interest, although the £200-million price tag may put them off.

Hazard and fellow Belgian Thibaut Courtois, who is also believed to be subject of a £35.5-million bid from Real Madrid, are due back in training this weekend after their holidays following Belgium’s run to the World Cup semi-finals.

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Interview with Jon Champion, the voice of soccer

In our exclusive interview with Jon Champion, the legendary commentator discusses the role of a football commentator, how he manages his time when announcing five games per week, what his experiences were like in Russia calling the World Cup for ITV, and more.

Listen to the show via the player above or via this link.

Send in your questions, comments and feedback via e-mail web@worldsoccertalk.com, via Twitter (@worldsoccertalk) or Facebook. We’ll read them out on-air in the next episode.

Here are the different ways you can download the World Soccer Talk Podcast stream.

• Subscribe to the World Soccer Talk Podcast on Stitcher,
• Subscribe to the podcast via Google Play,
• Listen via the World Soccer Talk website, or visit the World Soccer Talk Podcasts page
• Subscribe to the World Soccer Talk Podcast on iTunes,
• Add the World Soccer Talk Podcast RSS feed to your RSS reader,
• Listen to the World Soccer Talk Podcast on TuneIn, Soundcloud, Spreaker, YouTube and Audioboom.

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‘Improper honking’ ends in fines for French World Cup fans

Lille (France) (AFP) – A handful of football fans in northeast France are paying the price for celebrating their nation’s World Cup win a little too loudly.

Police in the town of Tergnier — population 13,000 — issued fines of 35 euros ($41) in the wake of the national team’s World Cup victory this month to people who carried on honking horns after some neighbours were ready to call it a night.

After France secured its second World Cup title on July 15, “for a while there were huge numbers of people out in the streets,” police officer Didier Aubin told AFP on Tuesday, confirming a local press report which revealed the fines.

But when calm returned at around 10:00 pm (2000 GMT) some fans still wanted to drive around honking their horns, while motorcyclists repeatedly revved up their engines.

“Lots of people who couldn’t care less about football were complaining, because people were screaming in the streets, honking, and the motorcyclists were making tons of noise,” Aubin said.

As a result, eight people were received tickets for “improper honking” and three for revving their motors, he said.

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Vieira brings a different World Cup vintage to Ligue 1

Nice (France) (AFP) – As Ligue 1 prepares to kick off in the glow of France’s summer triumph, Nice will be one of the clubs that can boast a World Cup winner, but theirs is of an older vintage.

Patrick Vieira, a member of the 1998 squad that put the first star on Les Bleus’ shirts, has succeeded Lucien Favre as manager.  

Vieira, who arrived in June from New York City FC of Major League Soccer, is the third member of the class of ’98 to manage in Ligue 1 after World Cup winning coach Didier Deschamps, who was at Monaco and Marseille, and Laurent Blanc, who had spells at Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain.

Once again, Nice president Jean-Pierre Rivere has shown his knack for recruiting big names either on the bench, where Vieira follows Claude Puel and Favre or on the field where Hatem Ben Arfa, Wesley Sneijder and Mario Balotelli have all played for the club. 

Rivere sees Vieira as, above all, the man to build a team based on attractive football and youthful talent.

“We did not recruit a name, nor a world champion, nor did we take a gamble,” said Rivere after hiring Vieira. “Our project is very clear and projects are run by men. The goal is to keep the club growing, and after 20 minutes of talking with Patrick, I told him: ‘You are exactly what we are looking for’.”

At 42, the challenge is daunting for the native of Dakar who played 107 times for France but had long left Ligue 1 when he won the World Cup. At 19 he moved to Serie A and played for both Milan clubs, Juventus and Arsenal in England before retiring as a player with Manchester City in 2011. He spent two seasons coaching City’s under-21 team before moving to the club’s New York cousin.

“I did not think twice before signing for Nice,” said Vieira, who started his career along the Riviera at Cannes in 1994. “I have confidence in my ability to manage.”

Though he is smiling and open, Vieira is unbending on his basic principals.

“He is tolerant but knows how to pull you back into line when necessary. He puts the team before any other consideration,” veteran Nice defender Christophe Jallet told AFP. “A healthy mentality.”

Balotelli found this out when he arrived at camp late after a transfer failed to materialise. He had to train alone to catch up physically before joining the rest of the squad this week.

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B/R Live reveals pricing and plans for Champions League and Europa League coverage

Turner Sports has announced pricing details and more coverage plans for its B/R Live streaming service, which will be broadcasting every single game of the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League and Europa League competitions to viewers in the United States.

The pricing plans range from individual matches ($2.99 per game), a monthly subscription ($9.99) or an annual plan ($79.99).

With a subscription to the streaming service, you’ll have access to more than 340 live Champions League and Europa League games per season including everything from the Group Stage (beginning in September) through to the finals (in late May and early June). B/R Live also streams select matches from the Scottish Premiership, Belgium Jupiler League, Polish Cup and Swiss Cup. Bleacher Report Live is available online, as well as by downloading the B/R Live app through iTunes or Google Play, and/or via Apple TV, the Roku platform and Amazon Fire TV.

In a seismic shift in how consumers are offered UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches in the United States, the only Europa League game featured on television will be the final (on TNT and B/R Live on May 29). Meanwhile, TNT will televise 46 UEFA Champions League games throughout the season. That’s in stark contrast to FOX Sports’ coverage of the Champions League where they showed 146 games per season on television. For the Europa League, FOX Sports had 205 Europa League matches on TV compared to TNT’s one.

TNT is in more homes than FOX Sports 1 though. TNT is in 90 million homes, which trumps FS1’s 84 million households.

Speaking of the actual coverage itself, pre-match, halftime and post-match studio shows will be available on both B/R Live and TNT, with the lineup consisting of the following:

• B/R Football Matchday: One-hour pre-match show airing at noon ET on UEFA Champions League match days,
• B/R Football Halftime: Halftime show during UEFA Champions League matches,
• B/R Football Extra Time: A bridge show airing on TNT in between UEFA Champions League matches,
• B/R Football Postmatch: A 30-minute post-match show recapping the day’s UEFA Champions League action.

SEE MORE: Schedule of UEFA Champions League games on US TV and streaming

As of press time, Kate Abdo and Steve Nash have been already announced as two of the talent that will be bringing the coverage to you (with Abdo taking the role of host while she continues to work for FOX Sports).

One of the biggest changes that soccer fans will notice with the UEFA Champions League coverage for the 2018/19 season is the kickoff time. Instead of most of the matches kicking off at 2:45pm ET on a UEFA Champions League matchday, they will be begin at either 12:55pm ET or 3pm ET, which will allow broadcasters to feature a double-header of soccer coverage (see below):

• Group Stage: Tuesday, Sept. 18, through Wednesday, Dec. 12, with weekly matches held Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 12:55 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET. All matches will be available on B/R Live, with one match per game window (two each day) televised on TNT,

• Round of 16: Tuesday, Feb. 12, through Wednesday, March 13, with matches on B/R Live and TNT each Tuesday and Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET
• Quarterfinals: Tuesday-Wednesday, April 9-10 and April 16-17, with live coverage on B/R Live and TNT at 3 p.m. ET
• Semifinals: Tuesday-Wednesday, April 30-May 1 and May 7-8, with matches on B/R Live and TNT at 3 p.m. ET
• Final: Saturday, June 1, at 3 p.m. ET on B/R Live and TNT

Live UEFA match coverage will include the upcoming UEFA Super Cup – Real Madrid vs. Atletico Madrid – held Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 3 p.m. ET, and available on both B/R Live and TNT.

UEFA Champions League action will immediately follow with the Playoff Round (play-in rounds), held Tuesday-Wednesday, Aug. 21-22 and Aug. 28-29, with all matches available on B/R Live and TNT at 3 p.m. ET.

SEE MORE: Where to find soccer leagues and competitions on US TV and streaming

All UEFA Europa League matches will be available through B/R Live including:

• Group Stage: (Thursdays) Sept. 20, Oct. 4, Oct. 25, Nov. 8, Nov. 29 and Dec. 13 at 12:55 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET
• Round of 32: (Thursdays) Feb. 14 and Feb. 21, at 12:55 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET
• Round of 16: (Thursdays), March 7 and March 14, at 12:55 p.m. ET and 3 p.m. ET
• Quarterfinals: (Thursdays), April 11 and April 18, at 3 p.m. ET
• Semifinals: (Thursdays), May 2 and May 9, at 3 p.m. ET
• Final: Wednesday, May 29, at 3 p.m. ET, on B/R Live and TNT

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Mourinho’s dark mood casts shadow over Manchester United

London (AFP) – Jose Mourinho’s constant carping and foul mood during Manchester United’s increasingly tortuous tour of the United States is raising questions about team morale and title hopes just over a week away from the start of the new Premier League season.

Unlike rivals Liverpool and champions Manchester City, two Premier League contenders whose pre-season has included solid preparations and astute transfers, Manchester United watchers see nothing to celebrate as the 55-year-old Portuguese manager prepares for his third term at Old Trafford.

The days when Mourinho used to poke fun at journalists with a twinkle in his eye during press conferences appear long gone, replaced by a litany of complaints as seen following the side’s 4-1 humbling by Liverpool on Saturday in their latest outing on the US tour.

Bookmakers are now taking bets on Mourinho becoming the first Premier League manager to be sacked or leave his post this season. 

Reports reaching home from the US tour depict players too nervous to talk openly about what they think, with the Daily Telegraph and The Sun claiming those in the squad feel they are “treading on eggshells”.

The Sun cites one case of an unnamed player in a panic asking the TV channel he gave an interview to erase an answer he gave them.

“It’s understood the piece of content in question wasn’t even contentious and could be considered ‘on message’ from a club point of view — but it is a measure of the tension being felt on a  troubled tour,” remarked the Manchester Evening News.

– ‘Turning sour’ –

Mourinho has a history of targeting specific players on occasion and Ivorian central defender Eric Bailly has been in his firing line in the United States.

“I don’t think he is a great leader,” Mourinho said of Bailly while adding that newly-appointed captain Antonio Valencia’s physical preparation was below expectations.

“His condition was not good when he was back,” he said after the player returned to the squad from holiday.

He was more critical of French striker Anthony Martial, who he said should have returned to the US tour after going home to be with his girlfriend when she gave birth to a baby boy in Paris.

Mourinho’s position was in stark contrast to England manager Gareth Southgate’s much-praised decision to allow Fabian Delph to leave the World Cup finals to be with his wife at the birth of their child.    

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Where to find Man United vs. Real Madrid ICC on US TV and streaming

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Manchester United vs. Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup, you’ve come to the right place.

In Manchester United’s last match of the 2018 International Champions Cup tournament, all eyes will be on Jose Mourinho after his comments on Saturday that fans should go to the beach instead of watching an ICC match. After being hammered 4-1 by Liverpool, it’ll be interesting to see if United puts up a fight against Real Madrid in front of what is expected to be a huge crowd in Miami.

Match: Manchester United vs. Real Madrid

Kickoff: Tuesday, 8pm ET

Looking to watch Manchester United vs. Real Madrid online from work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.

We Recommend:

US Only.

Here are all of the details of where you can watch it on television and via legal streaming:

Who: Manchester United vs. Real Madrid
What: International Champions Cup
When: Game kicks off at 8pm ET / 5pm PT; Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Where: Live on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, Sling Orange and PlayStation Vue (free trial)

With Sling Orange, you can watch Manchester United vs. Real Madrid and all of the other games from the International Champions Cup with a free 7-day trial to access the ESPN networks.

With the legal streaming service, you can watch the game on your Windows 10, Chrome browser on Windows or Mac computers, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire tablet (running Android 4.4.2+), Amazon Cube, Roku players and Roku smart TVs, Samsung and LG smart TVs, Android TV, AirTV Player, ZTE, Channel Master, Apple iOS 8 (& higher) phones & tablets, Android 4.0.3 (and higher) phones & tablets and Xbox One.

Among the channels available on Sling Orange, they include A&E, Adult Swim, AMC, BBC America, Bloomberg, Cartoon Network, CNN, Comedy Central, Disney Channel, El Rey Network, ESPN, ESPN2 ESPN3, Flama, Food Network, Free Form, Galavision, HGTV, History Channel, IFC, Lifetime, Local Now, Newsy, TBS, TNT, Travel Channel and Viceland.

SEE MORE: Schedule of International Champions Cup on US TV and streaming

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Alisson’s mentor dissuaded parents from terminating his career

London (AFP) – Alisson’s path to becoming the world’s costliest goalkeeper may never have come about had his parents not been persuaded he would slim down and grow enough to succeed, his former goalkeeping coach told The Sun on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old Brazilian number one — who signed for Liverpool for a record £67million ($88million, 75million euros) from Italian side AS Roma this month — was too fond of biscuits and fizzy drinks and his parents preferred he stop football and return to his studies.

“One day his parents came looking for me, thinking he had no future in the profession and they wanted to get him out of football,” his mentor Daniel Pavan told The Sun.

“They thought he had more future in his studies and that he should leave the club.

“But I managed to convince them Alisson was still going to grow to maturity for his age and would have a great future as a keeper.”

Pavan said he told the parents they should not be concerned about his relatively small height at the time because he would definitely grow and become a commanding presence in the penalty area — he now stands at 6feet 4inches (1.93 metres).    

“When Alisson started he had a slower maturation than the other boys, this made him a shorter keeper and one with weight above the others,” said Pavan.

“This made him often deprived of a position in the starting line-up and sometimes even the bench.

“Genetically, he was slower than the boys of his age but with different technical gestures —- we bet on his growth from the first moment.

“And thank God they heard me. A year later he had grown 6.5in (16.51 centimetres).”

Alisson is a rarity for a footballer in that he hails from a middle class background, his mother is a real estate broker and his father was in the leather and footwear business.

But he was desperate to prove himself at Brazilian club Internacional, whose youth system he joined aged 15. He went on to make over 100 appearances for them.

Pavan says he is enormously proud to have seen his protege play at the World Cup finals and as a result engineer a big money move to the Premier League.

He remained in touch with Alisson even after he joined Roma in 2016  for just 7.5million euros, a fraction of the price he cost Liverpool two years later.     

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Underfire New Zealand coach quits after player mutiny

Wellington (AFP) – Embattled New Zealand women’s coach Andreas Heraf quit Tuesday, ending a rocky era which culminated in most top players refusing to play for him.

The former Austrian international’s resignation came as the New Zealand Football Association (NZF) launched an investigation into complaints about the 50-year-old who has been on “special leave” since June. 

NZF president Deryck Shaw accepted Heraf’s resignation but said the inquiry would continue into issues raised in written complaints from 13 players who said they would not play for New Zealand again if he remained in charge.

“Part of the resignation is that Andreas has confirmed that he will fully participate in the review and we will look to the findings of the review to determine the outcomes around this matter,” Shaw said.

Heraf quit with immediate effect as both coach of the Football Ferns, as the women’s team is known, and as New Zealand’s technical director. 

He has not commented in New Zealand but in a recent interview with Austrian newspaper Der Standard he claimed there was a “large-scale conspiracy” against him.

Allegations of bullying and intimidation “lack any foundation and are based on fundamental differences in professionalism and performance,” he said.

Current Ferns players have told reporters, under anonymity, they had to ask Heraf’s permission to leave the table at dinner, they were shouted at for passing the ball between defence and midfield or if they passed the ball backwards because it was deemed too risky.

Problems within the women’s camp spilled into the public arena after their tour of Spain in March, following which New Zealand’s most-capped player, Abby Erceg, retired in frustration.  

Erceg later described the Ferns’ tactics as “cowering in a corner”, saying she would prefer to lose a game while trying to win it.

“That’s my mindset, and if you tell me I can’t do that, then I can no longer represent that shirt with pride or conviction,” she said.

The player criticism reached a peak in June following Heraf’s comments after a 3-1 loss to Japan in which New Zealand were told to play an ultra-defensive game. 

Heraf believed they “could have lost 8-0” with a more positive approach and said New Zealand, ranked 20th in the world, “will never have (the) quality to compete with” 11th-ranked Japan, the former world champions.

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Uruguayan football president resigns one day ahead of re-election bid

Montevideo (AFP) – Uruguay’s football association (AUF) president Wilmar Valdez resigned suddenly on Monday following the release of compromising audio recordings, just a day before he was due to stand for re-election.

Although the exact content of the recordings is unknown, specialist media said they contained comments about sports administrators, a member of the government, sports journalists and supporters.

One of Valdez’s main rivals for the presidency, Arturo Del Campo, told local media that he’d heard the recordings five days ago, describing them as “slightly compromising Wilmar’s image”.

Valdez, though, denied they had any link to his resignation.

“This decision has been motivated solely by family and personal reasons that have nothing to do with the context of the current election,” he said in a statement published by the AUF.

“I want to stress that I was under no undue pressure, threats or extortion in making this decision.”

Valdez’s resignation leaves just two candidates for Tuesday’s presidential election: farming businessman Del Campo and Eduardo Abulafia, a businessman that local media claim has close ties to controversial players’ agent Francisco Casal.

A former player with Atletico Madrid in Spain and Brazil’s Gremio, Casal’s company represents the majority of Uruguayan footballers and also owns the television rights to the Uruguayan league in the country.

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Serb star Mitrovic secures permanent move to Fulham

London (AFP) – Serbia striker Aleksandar Mitrovic’s pivotal role to Fulham’s return to the Premier League earned him a permanent move from rivals Newcastle on Monday and he declared himself “happy to the moon and back”.

The 23-year-old — who scored 12 goals in 17 appearances for the Cottagers after joining them on loan in January — cost a reported £22 million ($28.9 million) and signed a five-year contract.

“I’m very glad and happy and proud to finally be here and officially become a Fulham player. I’m happy to the moon and back,” he told Fulhamfctv.

“I have love for the fans. They’re amazing fans and I have a really good connection with them.

“This is a big club and last year we made history, we did big things, and I want to continue this. We want to keep making big things, and with all the fans behind us I think we can go far.”

Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan said he is delighted to have secured Mitrovic — who scored 17 times for Newcastle in three years — as he had been a target since his successful stint there.

“He was a hero in our run to promotion, and from the moment he arrived at Motspur and began working with us, we’ve always wanted Mitro on a permanent,” said Khan.

“I told him that after the final at Wembley, and I’m thrilled to make it official today.”

Mitrovic, who played for Serbia at the World Cup and has 17 goals in 40 international appearances, is the fifth recruit by his fellow Serb and manager Slavisa Jokanovic.

The club spent a reported £35 million on Ivory Coast star Jean Michael Seri and French team-mate Maxime Le Marchand from Ligue 1 side Nice, while also bringing in Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning winger Andre Schuerrle from Borussia Dortmund on loan and buying goalkeeper Fabri from Turkish outfit Besiktas.

Fulham returned to England’s top flight by winning promotion last season via a play-off, after four years in the Championship.

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Lemar targets Champions League triumph with Atletico

Madrid (AFP) – France midfielder Thomas Lemar wants to lift the Champions League trophy in his debut season at Atletico Madrid with the Spanish club set to host next year’s final.

“I’m going to give everything possible to go the furthest and win this Champions League,” Lemar said Monday as he was unveiled by Atletico following his arrival from Monaco.

The 22-year-old, who was part of the France squad that won the World Cup, joined Atletico in a deal worth 72 million euros ($84 million) after three seasons at Monaco.

Lemar said the presence of international team-mates Antoine Griezmann and Lucas Hernandez at the Wanda Metropolitano had played a key role in his decision to move to Atletico.

“Antoine and Lucas have told me lots about the club. I’m very happy with the decision I made,” said Lemar, who will wear the number 11 shirt for Diego Simeone’s side.

“I know this team demands hard work and I’ll give it my all for the team. If I need to run more, I’ll do it without a problem.”

Lemar played just one of France’s seven matches at the World Cup, starting the 0-0 draw with Denmark in the group stage, and has already started training after just a short break.

“I’m looking forward to getting started with my new club, getting to know the staff, my new team-mates and the supporters.”

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Tuchel blindsided by Cavani report after first PSG win

Singapore (AFP) – Thomas Tuchel said it was his “biggest wish” for Edinson Cavani to stay at Paris Saint-Germain on Monday after reports linking the Uruguay striker to Real Madrid.

Tuchel appeared surprised by Real’s interest in Cavani, as reported by Spanish media, when he heard about it after a 3-2 friendly win over Atletico Madrid in Singapore.

“This is my feeling and my biggest wish and I have not heard such a thing,” Tuchel said, when asked if he would like to keep Cavani at PSG.

“I talked to Edinson some days ago, he didn’t mention anything. He said he was looking forward to coming back, he said he’s looking forward to joining us to achieve all his goals with us and our team. 

“He’s a key player for us and there’s no thought about giving him away.”

Unconfirmed reports say European champions Real are interested in Cavani as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has joined Juventus on a 100-million-euro deal.

The elegant forward, a member of PSG’s ‘MCN’ strike force along with Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, has been with PSG for five seasons after moving from Napoli.

The 31-year-old has reportedly admitted to having problems with Neymar, who arrived for a world-record fee last year, but said he had resolved them with the Brazilian.

– ‘Unbelievable mentality’ –

Tuchel is still without his full squad with Marquinhos set to arrive on Tuesday and Neymar flying in ahead of Saturday’s French Super Cup game against Monaco in Shenzhen, China.

An under-strength PSG have lost 3-1 to Bayern Munich and 5-1 to Arsenal already in pre-season but Virgiliu Postolachi’s injury-time strike against Atletico gave Tuchel his first win at the helm.

Moldova-born Postolachi, 18, curled a stunning winner past Antonio Adan after Atletico had recovered from 2-0 down, helped by Antoine Bernede’s own goal on 86 minutes.

Christopher Nkunku’s tap-in on 32 minutes was the highlight of a drab opening period before the International Champions Cup game exploded into life after PSG made nine changes at half-time.

Eighteen-year-old Tim Weah was denied by Antonio Adan, and Adan then saved from Moussa Diaby — who rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box shortly afterwards.

But Diaby, 19, made no mistake when he was selflessly put through by Weah on 71 minutes, planting his shot low and to Adan’s left.

Victor Mollejo reduced the arrears on 76 minutes when he put away the rebound from his own shot, before Bernede’s unfortunate own goal made it 2-2 with four minutes to go.

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Ibrahimovic to miss MLS All-Star Game after first Galaxy hat-trick

Los Angeles (AFP) – Swedish star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will miss Wednesday’s MLS All-Star Game against former club Juventus, the Los Angeles Galaxy announced Monday, citing workload and travel issues.

Ibrahimovic took his league tally for the season to 15 goals from 17 matches with his first MLS hat-trick against Orlando City on Sunday.

He was a fan selection for the All-Star match but would be playing his third game in seven days by joining the squad for the clash across the country in Atlanta.

“I am disappointed to miss the 2018 All-Star game against Juventus, one of my former clubs,” Ibrahimovic said. “I want to thank the fans for voting me to the team. My main focus is to score goals and help the LA Galaxy to the playoffs.”

The 36-year-old will also miss the Galaxy’s MLS match Saturday at Colorado under MLS rules regarding All-Stars unable to play in contest.

“It was a good day. For the team. For me. I scored three goals, had one assist. We won the game,” Ibrahimovic said. “If we wouldn’t have won the game, it doesn’t matter how many goals or assists you do, to win is something different.”

Ibrahimovic, who joined from Manchester United earlier this year, scored all three of his goals against Orlando inside 24 second-half minutes.

“He’s the most physically imposing player this league has ever had at forward,” Galaxy coach Sigi Schmid said. “When Ibrahimovic posts up, it’s like (retired NBA star) Shaquille O’Neal or people like that. You just don’t move them.”

Ibrahimovic, who has helped the Galaxy to third in the Western Conference after a nine-match unbeaten streak, says he feels good but must take special care to stay healthy.

“Physically I feel good. I’m training good. I don’t miss one training. I’m playing all the games. I have a good balance. I take care of my body,” he said.

“Even if my age what it is, I’m still proving that it’s not about the age. It’s about how you prepare and how you take care of yourself. People were worried how old I am. But don’t worry about my age. You should worry when I slow down.”

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England’s Cook backs Rashid to handle pressure of India Test

London (AFP) – Former captain Alastair Cook says leg-spinner Adil Rashid is mature enough to handle the pressure following his controversial recall to the England squad for this week’s first Test against India.

Rashid was included in a 13-man squad for the Edgbaston game even though he has opted out of playing first-class County Championship cricket for Yorkshire this season.

Michael Vaughan, another ex-England skipper, described the decision as a “stab in the back” for the county game while Yorkshire were unhappy with the move.

Asked if Rashid, 30, may find it difficult to give his best in England’s 1,000th Test, which starts on Wednesday, Cook said: “I think probably in the past he would have.

“(But) over the last 18 months I think he’s matured as a cricketer and improved since we last saw him in an England Test shirt.

“I think he’ll be fine. Clearly he’s going to be nervous but I genuinely think he will cope — he’s bowling brilliantly.”

Cook voiced his sympathy for Rashid, who has had to deal with the fallout following his selection rather than being allowed to celebrate his first call-up since the last of his 10 Test caps in December 2016.

“I can understand why it’s caused a bit of fuss,” he said. “But you just have to get on with it and I think we should be concentrating on the positives rather than the negatives.

“We’ve got a different style of English spinner with a little bit of mystery to him, who’s bowling really well.”

Cook does not believe a significant precedent has been set to clear the way for what would be Rashid’s first Test on home soil if he makes the team on Wednesday.

“I don’t think it will happen very many times again,” he said. “Obviously, (national selector) Ed (Smith) said you need to be playing red-ball cricket (to be selected in future) and I think that’s right.

“But sometimes in exceptional circumstances, selection goes a different way than you would like — and obviously Ed and the selectors have made a brave call.”

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Injury-time winner hands Tuchel first win with PSG

Singapore (AFP) – Virgiliu Postolachi’s injury-time strike handed Thomas Tuchel his first win as Paris Saint-Germain coach after a pulsating 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid on Monday.

Postolachi, 18, curled a stunning shot past Antonio Adan to settle the friendly after Atletico had recovered from 2-0 down, helped by Antoine Bernede’s own goal on 86 minutes.

PSG welcomed back Angel Di Maria after World Cup duty and Italy’s Marco Verratti, but it was Christopher Nkunku and Moussa Diaby who put them 2-0 up before Victor Mollejo pulled one back for Atletico.

The win was welcome for German newcomer Tuchel, whose under-strength French champions have fallen 3-1 and 5-1 to Bayern Munich and Arsenal in their previous pre-season friendlies.

Nkunku’s tap-in on 32 minutes was the highlight of a drab first half in front of 22,007 fans at the 55,000-capacity Singapore National Stadium.

The 20-year-old midfielder was on hand to gobble up the rebound after a strong hint of a defensive handball in the Atletico box.

The lead was deserved for PSG, who had most of the play but created few clear chances apart from a long-range Di Maria free kick and Nkunku’s header from a Colin Dagba shot.

But Atletico were dangerous on the break. Angel Correa and Luciano Vietto both had shots blocked on the line and Kevin Gameiro fired over when one-on-one with goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.

PSG changed nine outfield players at half-time — a number that rose to 11 by 60 minutes, including an injury to substitute Alec Georgen — as the game opened up markedly.

Eighteen-year-old Tim Weah was denied by Antonio Adan and Adan then saved from Moussa Diaby — who rattled the crossbar from the edge of the box shortly afterwards.

But Diaby, 19, was not to be denied and made no mistake when he was selflessly put through by Weah on 71 minutes, planting his shot low and to Adan’s left.

Atletico had twice come close at the other end and they finally scored on 76 minutes when Victor Mollejo stuck the rebound from his own shot past Trapp.

And with four minutes to go, they had a huge slice of luck when Borja Garces’s cross deflected off the helpless Bernede and into the PSG goal.

The game looked like it was headed for a draw until Postolachi popped up with the decisive strike from the top of the penalty area.

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Ex-Manchester United star Anderson joins Turkey’s Adana

Istanbul (AFP) – Brazilian midfielder Anderson, who spent almost a decade at Manchester United, has joined Turkish First League side Adana Demirspor on a three-year deal, the club announced on Monday.

Anderson, who notched up 181 appearances for United between 2007-2015, was welcomed at the club in the south of Turkey by its chairman Murat Sancak, it said in a statement.

The First League is the second flight of Turkish football after the Super League and Adana Demirspor will be hoping Anderson helps the club to win promotion after 12th place last season.

The player, 30, won four Premier League titles and also the Champions League in 2007-2008 with Manchester United.

After his time at Old Trafford, Anderson had a stint with Brazilian side Internacional and then played on loan with Coritiba.

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Mahrez given all-clear after ankle knock during Man City friendly

London (AFP) – Manchester City’s record signing Riyad Mahrez could play in Sunday’s Community Shield against Chelsea after a scan showed he had suffered no significant damage to his left ankle in a friendly with Bayern Munich.

The 27-year-old Algerian international forward — for whom City paid Leicester £60 million ($79 million) earlier this month — had to leave the pitch in Miami on Saturday after being fouled by Bayern’s Chris Richards.

However, City said in a statement on Monday that a scan had showed nothing alarming.  

“Riyad Mahrez has been given the all-clear to return to training later this week after picking up an ankle knock,” read the statement. 

“City’s new signing was withdrawn from the action after being fouled by Bayern Munich’s Chris Richards during the first half of Saturday’s 3-2 win over Bayern Munich.

“Subsequent pictures emerged showing Mahrez wearing a protective boot on his left foot upon his return to Manchester.

“However, a scan today (Monday) has revealed no significant damage, and he could be available for selection for this weekend’s Community Shield against Chelsea.”

Mahrez’s replacement Bernardo Silva went on to score a double as City beat the German champions 3-2.

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Gor Mahia on verge of creating CAF Cup history

Johannesburg (AFP) – Gor Mahia are set to become the first Kenyan club to reach the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-finals after a 3-2 victory away to Young Africans of Tanzania at the weekend.

The Group D leaders need two points from two matches to clinch a last-eight place in the African equivalent of the UEFA Europa League.

Nairobi-based Gor host Rayon Sports of Rwanda on August 19, then complete their mini-league scheduled 10 days later away to second-place USM Alger of Algeria.

Gor are the only Kenyan club to have lifted a CAF trophy, winning the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup 31 years ago.

AFP Sport looks at the four groups and predicts which clubs are likely to reach the last eight of a competition won last year by TP Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Group A

Matchday 4 wins for Raja Casablanca of Morocco and V Club of DR Congo have established them as hot favourites to occupy the top two places in the final standings.

Mahmoud Benhalib became the eight-goal leading Confederation Cup scorer thanks to a brace as Raja overwhelmed ASEC Mimosas of the Ivory Coast 4-0 in a clash of former African champions.

Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele was another sharpshooter to bag a brace, giving V Club a 2-0 home win over third-place Aduana Stars of Ghana.

Group B

Leaders Al Masry of Egypt and second-place Renaissance Berkane of Morocco are virtually certain to qualify, needing one victory each to be sure.

The pacesetters met for a second time in 11 days with Masry edging Berkane 1-0 in Port Said thanks to an Islam Issa goal soon after half-time.

Experienced African campaigners Al Hilal of Sudan and rookies UD Songo of Mozambique remained winless after four rounds by drawing 1-1 in Indian Ocean port city Beira. 

Group C

The hardest mini-league to predict with just three points separating leaders Williamsville of the Ivory Coast from bottom club Djoliba of Mali.

Williamsville overcame twice African champions Enyimba of Nigeria 2-0 in Abidjan with a bullet-like header from Guy Serge Yameogo after a corner sealing maximum points. 

CARA of Congo Brazzaville maintained a perfect home record in the competition by edging Djoliba 1-0 thanks to an early Racine Louamba goal.

Group D

Gor completed a double over great east African rivals Young Africans despite a couple of goalkeeping howlers from Boniface Olouch, who gifted the Tanzanians two goals. 

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Neymar blames ‘brattish’ behaviour on his inner child

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Neymar has tackled critics who derided his play-acting at the World Cup, admitting he “overreacts” and blaming his “brat” like behaviour on his inner child.

The Brazilian superstar was widely lambasted in Russia for his theatrical reactions to challenges which often left the world’s most expensive footballer wincing and rolling on the ground.

“Boot studs on the shins, kick in the spine, stomp on the foot, you may think I overreact, and sometimes I do, but for real? I suffer on the pitch, but you have no idea what I go through outside of it,” he said in comments on a television commercial for a razor blade.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward, speaking in Portuguese with English subtitles, continued “You may all think I’ve fallen too much, but the reality is I did not fall, I crumbled.”

“And that hurts more than anyone stepping on your post op ankle,” he added, alluding to the surgery on the injury he suffered back in February.

“When I act like a brat, it isn’t because I’m a spoiled child, but because I still haven’t learned to deal with my frustrations.

“There’s still a boy inside of me, sometimes it dazzles the world. Other times it pisses every one off.

“And my fight is to keep this boy alive, but inside of me, not inside the field.”

He adds: “You can keep throwing rocks at me, or you can throw your rocks away and help me get up. Because when I do get up the whole of Brazil gets up with me.”

This is not the first time Neymar has addressed his taxing World Cup.

On his return from Russia he took a tongue in cheek swipe at his detractors with an online video teaching children how to dive.

And last week, in an interview with AFP, Neymar disclosed he “didn’t want to see a ball, or to see any more football played” after Brazil’s premature exit.

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Hair to the throne? Arsenal’s Guendouzi compared to Vieira

Singapore (AFP) – French whizz Matteo Guendouzi said he hopes he’s embarking on a “big adventure” with Arsenal after a scintillating start which has drawn comparisons with the great Patrick Vieira.

The 19-year-old midfielder, instantly recognisable by his long hair, had fans salivating in friendlies against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in Singapore.

Guendouzi, a strong tackler with confident distribution, was a dynamo at the base of midfield, where against PSG he played alongside the similarly hirsute Mohamed Elneny.

Arsenal have long missed a midfielder of the stature of Vieira, a member of the “Invincibles” side, which went through the 2003/2004 Premier League season unbeaten.

With only three appearances so far — also including this month’s outing against Boreham Wood — it’s early days for Guendouzi, an under-20 international signed from Lorient.

But he said there was a positive feeling at Arsenal as the London club opens a new era under Unai Emery, following Arsene Wenger’s 22-year reign.

“I’m very happy about how the team played,” he told AFP, after Arsenal’s 5-1 demolition of a youthful PSG side at the International Champions Cup in Singapore.

“It gives us confidence and it really made things easy for me. With such a good team and a good feeling around the team, I think we can really do some good things here.”

– ‘Working, working, working’ –

Arsenal is traditionally one of England’s biggest clubs but Guendouzi’s arrival is well timed as Emery rebuilds a team which finished only sixth in the Premier League last season.

However, Emery has plenty of midfielders to choose from including Uruguay international Lucas Torreira, another new signing, and Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka.

Guendouzi said he hopes to get his chance in competitive games but that he also wants to learn from team-mates such as Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey.

“Yes I hope to play, that’s true but this is a big squad, with a lot of great players with a lot of experience,” he said.

“It’s a question of working, working, working, and afterwards the coach will make his choices. But I hope to play a few games.”

Arsenal complete their pre-season against Chelsea and Lazio before a tough start to the season when they play champions Manchester City and Chelsea in their first two games.

But they have the advantage of working with a nearly full-strength squad as many of their rivals await the return of players after the World Cup.

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French World Cup glory costs China firm $9 mn and counting

Shanghai (AFP) – A Chinese kitchen appliance maker said Monday it has so far made refunds worth nine million dollars, fulfilling a costly pledge to reimburse customers if France won the World Cup.

Vatti, one of the French team’s sponsors, is coughing up after Didier Deschamps’ side beat Croatia 4-2 in the final in Moscow a fortnight ago.  

According to Vatti’s latest figures, the Chinese firm has made refunds — either in cash or gift cards — of more than 62 million yuan.

And the cost to Vatti of the success of “Les Bleus” does not stop there, with a portion of refunds still outstanding.

The total payout over the marketing stunt will amount to nearly $12 million. 

Vatti, founded in 1992, promised before the World Cup to refund customers who bought their “Championship Package” of selected products if France lifted the trophy.

Vatti stock dived as France made their way through the tournament, but the firm is publicly sanguine.

“The amount to repay could be very significant, but it was included in our annual budget. It will not have huge consequences on the company,” Wang Zhaozhao, a Vatti representative, previously told the China Securities Journal.

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Five most eye-catching close-season transfers so far

Paris (AFP) – With Europe’s top clubs preparing for the start of the new season, there have already been several headline-grabbing moves in the transfer market, including Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning switch to Juventus and the arrival of Gianluigi Buffon in France.

Here, AFP Sport looks at five of the close-season movers who could make the biggest impact:

Cristiano Ronaldo (POR)

Real Madrid (ESP) to Juventus (ITA) (100 million euros)

— The end of Ronaldo’s reign at Real Madrid took the football world by surprise, although it wasn’t met with total shock. The 33-year-old had hinted at a desire to leave after winning a third straight Champions League title with Real against Liverpool, but a move to Italy didn’t appear to be on the cards.

The arrival of the Champions League’s all-time record goalscorer will surely boost the Turin giants’ hopes of finally winning Europe’s premier competition for the first time since 1996.

Some will think that Ronaldo’s time at the top is coming to an end, but his recent form has suggested otherwise. The Portugal captain scored 44 goals for Real in all competitions last season before netting four times at the World Cup, including a hat-trick against Spain, and will undoubtedly bring a massive presence to Juventus both on the pitch and off it.

Gianluigi Buffon (ITA)

Juventus (ITA) to Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) (free)

— As Ronaldo looks to win the Champions League in a third different country, Buffon will be hoping to finally lift the famous trophy for the first time in his first season playing outside of Italy.

The 40-year-old was expected to retire at the end of last term, but instead decided to have another crack at European glory with big-spending PSG. Buffon will miss the first three Champions League games of the campaign, though, after his tirade against English referee Michael Oliver following a late Ronaldo penalty which saw Juve lose to Real in the quarter-finals in April.

Buffon will likely start all of PSG’s big matches, but the lower quality of Ligue 1 may be perfect for the latter stages of his career, with French international Alphonse Areola more than capable of stepping in to give him a rest during more low-key encounters.

Alisson (BRA)

Roma (ITA) to Liverpool (ENG) (72.5 million euros)

— Despite the revelation that he had earlier suffered concussion, Loris Karius’ horror show in the Champions League final confirmed what many onlookers had known for years — that Liverpool needed a new goalkeeper.

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Rooney scores first DC United goal before breaking nose

Washington (AFP) – Former England captain Wayne Rooney grabbed his first goal for DC United but also suffered a broken nose in a 2-1 victory over Colorado Rapids in the MLS.

Rooney, 32, scored the opening goal against ex-Manchester United team-mate Tim Howard but was left bloodied after a clash of heads with Colorado defender Axel Sjoberg in stoppage time.

“Delighted to score my first goal for DC United,” Rooney tweeted after his team won for just the fourth time in 18 matches this season. Two of those victories have come since Rooney made his debut on July 14.

The striker, England’s all-time record goalscorer, said he required five stitches after breaking his nose in the collision with Sjoberg.

Rooney, who played for boyhood club Everton last season following his return from Old Trafford, signed a three-and-a-half year deal with DC United worth $13 million earlier this month.

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Bayern Munich and Manchester City still have a long way to go in United States

On paper, Manchester City and Bayern Munich are two of the biggest clubs in club soccer. One is a reigning Premier League champion as well as one of the most exciting, attacking teams on the planet. The other is the biggest and most successful club in Germany.

In reality, neither club is heavily supported in the United States. Their fanbases are dwarfed by bigger clubs in the United States such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal and others. That’s not an indictment on City or Bayern. It’s just that it takes decades to grow a fanbase to be anywhere near the numbers of the seven aforementioned teams.

A good example of the work that City and Bayern need to do was evidenced at the International Champions Cup game featuring the two teams in Miami on Saturday night. In front of an attendance of 29,195 — an estimated 80% of which were Bayern supporters — the crowd was still far smaller than you’d expect for two soccer powerhouses.

Before you blame the lack of quality talent on display, the players on the pitch included Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Bernardo Silva, Riyad Mahrez, Rafinha, Kingsley Coman and Sandro Wagner, among others.

And don’t blame Miami. Tuesday’s match between Real Madrid and Manchester United is already expected to bring in a massive crowd to the same stadium where Bayern-City played to the 2-3 result.

With Bayern Munich and Manchester City, it is what it is. And it isn’t from a lack of effort. Both City and Bayern have been two of the more progressive clubs when it comes to promoting their clubs across social media and the Internet. But right now, both clubs aren’t big enough in the United States to fill a 65,000-seat stadium. The clubs are better suited for a stadium similar to Red Bull Arena that seats 25,000.

If cultivating a sports audience was as simple as having the best team, success would happen overnight. But growing a fanbase is an experience that can take months or years of numerous touch points across television, social media, the Internet or — in the case of the International Champions Cup — matches in front of tens of thousands of potential new fans.

That’s the beauty of the International Champions Cup. It’s a built-in way to grow a fanbase in the United States. With games being played across the United States, it’s an opportunity for clubs to get as close and personal as possible to soccer fans. It’s not about winning games, although that helps. It’s about building a brand, growing an audience and making a connection.

Support local soccer

From soccer fans across the United States, the battle cry is to “support local soccer.” That’s fine if you’re fortunate to have a MLS local to you, but what about everyone else — including soccer fans in South Florida?

Even though Manchester City and Bayern Munich are based five thousand miles away from Miami, these two clubs are making the effort, more-so than Major League Soccer clubs who are based in the United States. For example, take Real Madrid. In the last five years, Los Blancos has played three times in South Florida. That’s three times more than any Major League Soccer team have played in South Florida. You could argue that Real Madrid are more local to Miami than any MLS club is to Miami.

The same can be said for countless cities across the United States where teams from overseas have made repeated trips to U.S. cities to entertain local soccer fans. For MLS, perhaps building a fanbase outside of their own local market isn’t a priority? But it should be.

For Bayern Munich and Manchester City, the more the clubs put into the International Champions Cup, the more they’ll get back.

The same goes for other clubs from around the world wanting to become more popular in the United States.

SEE MORE: Schedule of International Champions Cup games on US TV and streaming

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2LLTIUB