Haaland still sidelined by leg injury, could miss Norway qualifiers

Berlin (AFP) – Erling Braut Haaland has ruled himself out of Borussia Dortmund’s Bundesliga match against Augsburg on Saturday and is set to miss Norway’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

The striker, who has scored a staggering 68 goals in 67 appearances for Dortmund since he joined in January 2020, has missed the last two games with a leg knock.

“I can’t play tomorrow. I am injured. I’ll be back soon,” the 21-year-old wrote on Twitter Friday.

Norway play crucial qualifiers against Turkey next Friday and Montenegro on October 11 in their bid to reach the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

But it appears as though they will have to do without talisman Haaland, who scored five goals in three internationals in September.

Norway are second in Group G, behind the Netherlands on goal difference.

Haaland missed Dortmund’s 1-0 Bundesliga defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach last Saturday and Tuesday’s Champions League home win against Sporting Lisbon by the same scoreline.

“Erling will be out once again. The pain is too strong, it’s not possible,” Dortmund coach Marco Rose said.

“He tried, but had to stop running in training.”

Rose said Dortmund will welcome back midfielder Emre Can, sidelined by a leg injury since August, against Augsburg, but American teenager Giovanni Reyna will still “need a few more days” to get over a hamstring injury.

Mahmoud Dahoud is suspended after being sent off at Gladbach, but is unavailable anyway with a knee injury.

Dortmund are fourth in Germany’s top flight, four points behind leaders Bayern Munich after six games.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3F4XOQJ

Rangers report Kamara abuse to UEFA

Glasgow (AFP) – Rangers manager Steven Gerrard said the Glasgow giants have contacted UEFA after midfielder Glen Kamara was targeted by Sparta Prague fans just months after being racially abused by Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela.

Kamara was sent off for two bookable offences in Rangers’ 1-0 defeat in the Czech capital on Thursday.

The match was initially meant to be played behind closed doors following a separate racist incident when Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni was subjected to abuse from the stands during a Champions League qualifier in August.

However, UEFA relented to allow around 10,000 fans, mainly made up of school children with some accompanying adults, to attend.

Czech international Kudela was banned for 10 matches after European football’s governing body found him guilty of racially abusing Kamara during a Europa League clash last season.

In the immediate aftermath of the match, Gerrard said he was unaware of Kamara being booed every time he touched the ball.

But on Friday, the former Liverpool captain added he was now aware of it having reviewed television footage.

“I am fully aware now having watched the game back with audio on and I am actually surprised that I wasn’t aware of it during the game,” said Gerrard.

“Yes, I have spoken to Glen Kamara and that conversation will remain private. Glen is OK.”

Gerrard called on UEFA and other governing bodies to take far tougher action against racist abuse.

“There are hundreds of thousands and maybe more people disappointed and frustrated because these things keep raising their head far too often and unfortunately the punishments are not enough.

“I said last night there needs to be more done and that is the only way it is going to be eradicated because the punishments are nowhere near severe enough.

“I have been told that Rangers are going to take it up with UEFA, I think that has already happened and the wheels are already in motion and I certainly will be pushing from my direction to make sure that’s the case.”

Kamara’s lawyer Aamer Anwar issued a statement saying: “Prague has a serious problem with racism and as usual UEFA is nowhere to be seen.”

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3mitrNN

French federation chief ‘not opposed’ to biennial World Cup project

Paris (AFP) – French Football Federation president Noel Le Graet says he is “not opposed” to the highly controversial idea of staging a World Cup every two years, after FIFA held an online summit to discuss the project.

“It would be a mistake not to look into this,” the veteran Le Graet, 79, told Friday’s edition of sports daily L’Equipe, a day after world football’s governing body held the summit with its 211 member federations in an attempt to rally support.

Le Graet said he was “very favourable” to the idea of staging biennial World Cups for women “as long as they are played in winter and not in summer when it would be too close to the men’s”.

He was more reserved about having more regular men’s World Cups but admitted: “Personally, I am not opposed to the idea, but I wouldn’t give carte blanche to it either.

“I need to know if this project will enrich or impoverish the French Federation, of which I am the president.”

Le Graet pointed out that UEFA’s decision to create a new biennial tournament, the Nations League, held in between European Championships and World Cups, was problematic as it made it harder for national teams on other continents to have the opportunity to play European sides in friendlies.

In contrast, France coach Didier Deschamps — who led Les Bleus to World Cup glory in Russia in 2018 — on Thursday said that playing the World Cup more regularly threatened “to banalise” it. He added that the current format of a tournament every four years was “fine as it is”.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3AUIUKd

‘The second Havertz’: rising star Wirtz making Bundesliga history

Berlin (AFP) – Florian Wirtz is a rising star in the Bundesliga with the 18-year-old already a full Germany international on the back of superb performances for Bayer Leverkusen as the in-house replacement for Kai Havertz.

“Florian has everything you need for an outstanding career,” Leverkusen sports director Simon Rolfes told AFP subsidiary SID.

“He is a young guy who we have to encourage, develop and prepare for the tasks that are certain to lie ahead of him.”

Wirtz became the youngest player to reach the milestone of 10 Bundesliga goals in Germany’s top flight last Saturday when he hit the winner at home to Mainz. 

This Sunday, struggling Bielefeld will be the next team trying to contain the precocious teenager.

His four goals and four assists this season have helped Leverkusen climb to second in the league, three points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who they meet in a fortnight.

Wirtz, an attacking midfielder who also plays on the wing, made his Bundesliga debut in May 2020, two weeks after his 17th birthday and four months after he was signed from the youth academy of rivals Cologne.

He has since stamped his authority on Leverkusen’s attack, filling the void left by the departure to Chelsea of Havertz, scorer of the winning goal in last season’s Champions League final.

“He will be the second Kai Havertz,” Germany legend Lothar Matthaeus predicts of Wirtz.

Shortly after his 18th birthday, Wirtz helped Germany win the Under-21 European championship, notably scoring both goals in a 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands.

Football runs in his family.

Older sister Juliane, 20, is a defender for the Leverkusen women’s team and has played for Germany Under-19s.

Wirtz’s powerful runs into the box cause havoc, a sight increasingly common after his recovery from an adductor injury that slowed him to start the season.

He is now one of the first names in Leverkusen’s starting line-up, and has been on target each of the past six games, including wins over Ferencvaros and Celtic in the Europa League.

“The team works very well, it won games at the start of the season even without him, but at the moment he’s the icing on the cake,” Leverkusen director Rudi Voeller told local newspaper the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger.

Wirtz is set to be included when national team coach Hansi Flick, who gave him his Germany debut in September, names his squad Friday for World Cup qualifiers against Romania and North Macedonia.

One to watch: Christopher Nkunku

The French forward has netted seven goals in nine games for RB Leipzig despite his team’s erratic form.

The 23-year-old scored a stunning free-kick in a two-goal, two-assist haul in last weekend’s 6-0 thrashing of Hertha Berlin.

Despite Leipzig’s two defeats in Europe, Nkunku has scored four Champions League goals. He grabbed a hat-trick in the 6-3 thrashing at Manchester City and then bagged the opener in Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Club Brugge.

Leipzig host Bochum on Saturday and their American coach Jesse Marsch said he switched Nkunku to an attacking midfield role from the wing recently because “he is so clever, so quick, so aggressive”.

Key facts

41 –  Bundesliga games Wirtz needed to become the youngest player to reach 10 goals in Germany’s top flight.

46 – Goals Bayern Munich have scored in 10 games so far this season, 13 of which by Robert Lewandowski, ahead of Sunday’s home game against Eintracht Frankfurt.

36,000 – Attendance Borussia Dortmund expect for Saturday’s home game against Augsburg after the local health authority relaxed the hygiene rules on Thursday. Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke hopes Signal Iduna Park will again see a capacity crowd of 81,000 by mid-October for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Germany.

Fixtures (all times 1330 GMT unless stated)

Friday

Cologne v Greuther Fuerth (1830)

Saturday

Borussia Dortmund v Augsburg, VfL Wolfsburg v Borussia Moenchengladbach, VfB Stuttgart v Hoffenheim, Hertha Berlin v Freiburg, RB Leipzig v Bochum (1630)

Sunday

Mainz v Union Berlin, Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (1530), Arminia Bielefeld v Bayer Leverkusen (1730)

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2Y7nwmB

Juventus look to build on Chelsea win in Turin derby

Milan (AFP) – Juventus head into Saturday’s Turin derby in the unusual position of being behind city rivals Torino in the Serie A table, but have started to find some momentum in recent weeks.

Massimiliano Allegri’s side made a nightmare start to the season as they looked to regain the title which was lost to Inter Milan last term.

A five-match unbeaten run, capped by an impressive Champions League win over holders Chelsea in midweek, has raised hopes that the Old Lady have turned a corner.

“We showed the Juventus spirit tonight, and that’s what the coach asks of us,” winger Federico Chiesa told Amazon after scoring the winning goal on Wednesday.

Juve had to rally late just to secure Champions League qualification by finishing fourth last season under Andrea Pirlo, with their bid for a 10th straight Scudetto never getting off the ground.

The return of Allegri, who led the club to five straight titles from 2015-2019 and two Champions League finals in his previous spell as coach, was expected to end the Turin giants’ woes.

Juventus found themselves languishing at the wrong end of the table after four matches, though, and are still yet to keep a Serie A clean sheet this campaign.

But the old defensive resolve was there against Chelsea as the European champions failed to create a clear-cut chance despite dominating possession.

Further forward, Juve have a potential star of the future in Euro 2020-winner Chiesa.

The 23-year-old had been criticised by Allegri after a slow start to the season, but his manager believes he can become a striker — like his father, former Italy forward Enrico Chiesa.

“He is absolutely not at 100 percent and this was the first real time he has played as a centre-forward,” Allegri said. “I told Federico my evaluation, which is that he can play as a centre-forward or a support striker.”

Juventus are unbeaten in their last 14 meetings with Torino, whose most recent derby victory was a 2-1 success, also at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico, in April 2015.

Juve sit 10th in the standings, below Torino on goal difference.

– Napoli face tough test –

Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli will be hoping to avoid the first slump of their season when they make the tricky trip to take on in-form Fiorentina on Sunday.

Napoli, who have started the league campaign with six straight wins to give their supporters hope of a first Serie A triumph since 1990, suffered their first loss of the season to Spartak Moscow in the Europa League on Thursday.

Fiorentina will be looking to take advantage of any hangover from that defeat as they bid for a fifth win from seven league games.

Reigning champions Inter Milan sit third in the early table and, like city rivals AC Milan and Napoli, are also unbeaten.

Inter visit Sassuolo after announcing Serie A record annual losses for 2020-2021.

AC Milan take on the always-dangerous Atalanta in Bergamo on Sunday, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma host Empoli.

Player to watch: Victor Osimhen

Nigeria striker Osimhen endured an injury-hit first season in Naples in 2020-21, but has started the current campaign in brilliant form.

The 22-year-old still netted 10 times in the league last season but he is continuing to improve and has found the net seven times in his last five games.

Key stats

10 – Goals conceded by Juventus in six league games this season. They have kept back-to-back clean sheets in Europe.

13 – League draws for Torino in 2021, three more than any other team.

22 – Years since Salernitana last won a Serie A match. They have managed only one point on their return so far.

Fixtures (times GMT)

Friday

Cagliari v Venezia (1845)

Saturday

Salernitana v Genoa (1300), Torino v Juventus (1600), Sassuolo v Inter Milan (1845)

Sunday

Bologna v Lazio (1030), Sampdoria v Udinese, Verona v Spezia (both 1300), Roma v Empoli, Fiorentina v Napoli (both 1600), Atalanta v AC Milan (1845)

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3kZqT8a

Liverpool, Man City battle for Premier League supremacy

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool and Manchester City resume their rivalry for top spot when they go head to head in the Premier League this weekend, while Chelsea and Manchester United aim to get their title challenges back on track.

Under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, City and Liverpool have become the dominant forces in English football, sharing the past four Premier League titles between them.

City, who have won three of those, delivered a warning shot to the pretenders to their crown with a hugely impressive 1-0 win at Chelsea last weekend.

But it is Liverpool who boast the only unbeaten record after six games and find themselves a point clear of City, Chelsea and United, even though they dropped two points at Brentford last week.

City ended their long wait for a win away to Liverpool in emphatic fashion with a 4-1 victory in February but they have not won in front of a crowd at Anfield since 2003.

Fatigue could take its toll on Guardiola’s men after a draining week. Three days after their statement win at Stamford Bridge, the English champions were beaten 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital.

Liverpool, by contrast, were able to ease off the gas long before the end of a 5-1 Champions League win over Porto.

However, the Reds will be without right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad announced Thursday with a groin problem.

“Obviously when you have something with your muscle, it’s not likely for Sunday,” said Klopp. “No muscle injury heals that quick.”

– Everton threat to United –

United needed all 95 minutes to edge past Villarreal in their midweek Champions League game, emerging as victors thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic stoppage-time winner.

The late intervention from the Portuguese superstar stopped the rot for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men after a run of three defeats in four games.

But in truth United were lacklustre again, relying on goalkeeper David de Gea, who produced a string of vital saves.

Everton head to Old Trafford level on points with Solskjaer’s men after an impressive start to life under Rafael Benitez.

The Toffees are more than capable of following the example set by West Ham and Aston Villa, who have both won at the Theatre of Dreams in recent weeks, unless United show significant improvement.

Chelsea made a brilliant start to the season under Thomas Tuchel, picking up where they left off after beating Manchester City in the Champions League final in May.

City exacted a measure of revenge at Stamford Bridge last week and Chelsea slipped up again in the Champions League in midweek, losing 1-0 to Juventus.

But Tuchel’s men appear to have a relatively straightforward task as they seek to return to winning ways against winless Southampton at home.

– Nuno needs response from Spurs –

Just three weeks after topping the Premier League table, Nuno Espirito Santo’s position as Tottenham manager has been questioned by fans following three dismal league defeats on the spin.

Spurs have lost to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal by a combined score of 9-1 to fall back into the bottom half of the table.

Nuno is yet to conjure the best from star forward Harry Kane, who failed to force a move away from his boyhood club during the transfer window.

And he has so far failed to instill the defensive organisation that was his calling card in three seasons at Wolves.

Another defeat when in-form Villa visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday would leave the Spurs faithful restless over the international break.

Fixtures (all times GMT)

Saturday

Manchester United v Everton (1130), Burnley v Norwich, Chelsea v Southampton, Leeds v Watford, Wolves v Newcastle, (all 1400), Brighton v Arsenal (1630)

Sunday

Crystal Palace v Leicester, Tottenham v Aston Villa, West Ham v Brentford (all 1300), Liverpool v Manchester City (1530)

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3kSQZtf

Three police hurt as smokebombs thrown at Marseille, Galatasary tie

Marseille (AFP) – Three police officers were injured after smokebombs and firecrackers were thrown at Thursday’s Europa League game between Marseille and Galatasary in France.

The match was delayed by eight minutes late in the first half as projectiles were lobbed from the end of the Stade Velodrome where fans of the Turkish club were grouped, officials said.

There were also clashes between rival sets of fans before calm was restored.

“Tonight it took 550 police officers for a football match to take place. Three of them were injured, they have my full support,” prefect of police, Frederique Camilleri, wrote on Twitter.

Galatasaray fans were banned from travelling from Turkey for the high-risk game.

However, the club boasts thousands of supporters throughout the rest of Europe.

“Our supporters are important to us. I asked them to stay calm. They listened to me,” said Galatasary coach Fatih Terim.

The game itself ended 0-0.

from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3uuBFGE