Category: Football

Lionel Messi scored the quickest goal of his career as he guided Argentina to a 2-0 friendly win over Australia in Beijing on Thursday.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner curled in from the edge of the area after just 79 seconds following slack defending by the Socceroos.

In front of a crowd of more than 50,000 adoring fans, Lionel Messi nearly notched a rapid second but lashed into the side netting from a tight angle.

Australia weathered the early storm and nearly equalised when attacker Mitchell Duke forced Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to tip a close-range shot onto the post.

Lionel Messi and fellow Argentina veteran Angel Di Maria both drew saves from Australia stopper Mat Ryan at the start of the second half.

And the world champions eventually made their pressure count when German Pezzella headed in a cross to make it 2-0 in the 68th minute.

Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez again stretched Ryan as Argentina saw out victory in the sultry summer heat.

Lionel Messi is idolised in football-mad China, whose underperforming national team and struggling domestic league are chronic sources of disappointment.

Midway through the second half, a young-looking fan wearing an Argentina shirt invaded the pitch and briefly embraced Messi before being hauled away by security guards.

Thousands greeted the Argentina captain’s every touch with roars of anticipation that built to a crescendo when he put his team into their quick-fire lead.

They had braved afternoon temperatures of nearly 40 degrees Celsius to gather at Beijing’s newly renovated Workers’ Stadium a full three hours before the 8 pm (1200 GMT) kick-off.

Many had donned replica shirts bearing Messi’s name, while others wore blue-and-white face paint and waved miniature Argentina flags.

“Today the stadium looked like we were playing in Argentina,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni of the partisan crowd.

He toasted the win in a “difficult game” for his team, adding: “We continued to compete, which is the best thing this team has in its DNA.”

Lionel Messi did not stop to speak to journalists gathered in the stadium shortly after he left the team dressing room.

The global superstar has kept a low profile in the Chinese capital, save for some commercial engagements in which he confirmed the 2022 World Cup was probably his last.

But the local excitement around the Argentine legend ratcheted up in recent days as the sell-out match drew nearer.

Hundreds of fans massed outside the team’s luxury hotel and lined heavily guarded streets in the hope of catching a glimpse of their hero.

Lionel Messi made waves last week when he revealed he would join MLS side Inter Miami after the end of his two-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain.

The Beijing friendly match was a re-run of the last-16 clash between Argentina and Australia at last winter’s World Cup in Qatar.

On that occasion, Lionel Messi scored a goal and tormented the Socceroos’ defence as the Albiceleste won 2-1.

Argentina went on to win the World Cup for the first time in 36 years.

The South Americans will round off their Asian tour on Monday when they play another friendly against Indonesia in Jakarta.

READ: PCB confirms hosting South Africa Women for first-ever home series

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) issued No-objection Certificate (NOC) to the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) on Friday to participate in the upcoming South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in India.

The Ministry IPC issued the notification, addressed to the Director of Pakistan Sports Board Shoaib Khoso, on Friday.

Upon receiving the NOC from the ministry, Pakistan men’s Football team will now depart for Bengaluru, India on June 18 from Mauritius for the SAFF Championship 2023, scheduled to run from June 21 to July 4.

The national team’s players, alongside coaches and support staff, have already submitted the Visa application to the Indian embassy in Mauritius.

Notably, the Pakistan football team are currently in Mauritius to partake in the four-nation tournament.

The green shirts have thus far played two matches and are yet to taste the triumph as they succumbed to straight losses against host Mauritius and Kenya, the highest-ranked team in the aforementioned tournament.

The second defeat in the tournament means that Pakistan have been knocked out of the tournament but will face Djibouti in their last fixture on June 17.

After concluding their campaign in the four-nation tournament, the Pakistan men’s football team will mark their return to the SAFF Championship after missing the last two out of the 13 editions held since 1993.

The national team has been drawn with India alongside invitee Kuwait and Nepal in Group A while Group B features Bangladesh, Bhutan, Lebanon and Maldives.

The Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) could not send its men’s team for the 2015 edition held in India due to the lack of funds.

The national side then missed the 2021 edition as they were serving a suspension from FIFA, which was lifted last year in June.

Sri Lanka will not be participating in the tournament as they are serving a suspension from the football governing body FIFA, while Afghanistan left SAFF and joined the Central Asian Football Federation.

READ: Zakir, Najmul fifties give Bangladesh huge lead over Afghanistan

ROTTERDAM: Bruno Petkovic and Luka Modric struck in extra time to fire Croatia into the Nations League final with a 4-2 victory over hosts the Netherlands on Wednesday.

Zlatko Dalic’s side, who reached the World Cup semi-finals last year, moved a step closer to earning their first-ever trophy and demonstrated once again they are extra-time specialists.

Andrej Kramaric and Mario Pasalic netted in the second half after Donyell Malen sent the Dutch ahead, but Noa Lang snatched a 96th-minute equaliser to force an additional half hour.

However Petkovic got away from Frenkie de Jong and drilled home from outside the box to decisively put Croatia ahead eight minutes into extra time, and Modric wrapped up the win with a penalty.

The Nations League represents one of the last chances for Croatia’s elder statesmen, including Real Madrid midfielder Modric, to taste international triumph.

“It’s a victory for the Croatian people, we beat the Netherlands in front of their fans, Croatia has one more medal — it’s impossible, unreal, but she deserves it,” Croatia coach Dalic told his country’s Nova TV.

“Nothing upset the team, they know what they are playing for, above all, Croatia. You endure everything for Croatia.

“This is one of our biggest victories, to win 4-2 on their ground, we were losing, we conceded in the 96th minute.

“Surely this is a victory which will go down in history.”

Croatia have only suffered one defeat in their last 16 matches, to World Cup winners Argentina, and quashed the Netherlands’ bid to win their first competition since the 1988 European Championship.

Ronald Koeman’s side finished as runners-up in the inaugural Nations League against hosts Portugal in 2019, while France triumphed in 2021.

“We fought like lions, but unfortunately it was just not good enough today,” Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk told Dutch broadcaster NOS.

“It’s very disappointing. We knew it would be difficult, but we actually did quite well.

“We conceded two penalties, we have to be better there, it’s hard to look for words now.”

Koeman selected Malen on the right of the attack, with exciting youngster Xavi Simons making his fourth appearance for the Netherlands on the left.

Both were involved in the opening goal, along with Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, as the Oranje burst into life after half-an-hour.

The match started sluggishly in the evening heat, both sets of players tired after a long season with the World Cup wedged in the middle.

After a tidy team move Feyenoord’s Mats Wieffer, playing in his club’s stadium De Kuip, fed Malen, who slotted past Dominik Livakovic — Croatia’s World Cup hero on their run to third in Qatar.

Croatia came out stronger in the second half, with Kramaric cutting inside from the left and firing wide of the far post.

Soon they were level, when 37-year-old Modric, earning his 165th Croatia cap, cleverly robbed Gakpo on the edge of the area, with the forward pulling him back to concede a penalty.

Kramaric stroked his spot kick down the middle as Justin Bijlow dived to his right to delight Croatia’s travelling contingent.

Further celebrations were in order when Luka Ivanusec crossed for Atalanta midfielder Pasalic to stab home from close range after 73 minutes.

Dutch defender Nathan Ake, who featured in Manchester City’s Champions League final win just five days ago, came close with an acrobatic effort before Lang pounced on a loose ball to level.

Croatia, who have beaten Brazil, Japan, England, Russia and Denmark in matches which have gone to extra-time at the last two World Cups, were nonplussed.

The Netherlands could not maintain parity for long, with Petkovic beating Bijlow at his near post.

Lang fired into the side netting when he might have equalised and Netherlands paid the price when Tyrell Malacia fouled Petkovic in the area and Modric converted the penalty to seal the win.

Croatia, who finished third in the 1998 and 2022 World Cups and runner-up to France in 2018, have their sights firmly set on their Nations League silverware.

“We have bronze and silver, let’s go for gold so that we can finish this story,” said Dalic.

Spain and Italy face off in Enschede on Thursday in the other semi-final of the Nations League.

Shumah Moses scored in Kenya’s 1-0 victory over Pakistan, which succumbed to their second straight defeat in the ongoing four-nation tournament in Mauritius.

Kenya’s Shumah Moses, ranked 103rd in FIFA rankings, capitalised on a throw-in to score the game’s opening goal in the 17th minute.

His brilliant strike handed Kenya an early lead and they dominated the possession for most of the match to bar Pakistan from scoring an equalizer.

Pakistan’s Hassan Bashir had the best chance to score for his side and level the scores in the 39th minute but he spilt.

The green shirts made several desperate attempts in the second half to draw level with Kenya but all went in vain as Kenyan defence stood solid.

The second defeat in the tournament means that Pakistan have been knocked out of the tournament but will face Djibouti in their last fixture on June 17.

It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan, ranked 195, are the lowest-ranked team, participating in the ongoing four-nation tournament.

Whereas, Kenya (102nd) are the best-ranked team in the tournament, followed by hosts Mauritius (180th) and Djibouti (193rd).

READ: Najmul Shanto ton guides Bangladesh to 362-5 against Afghanistan

The Spanish and Brazilian football federations presented their plan on Tuesday for a friendly match at the Santiago Bernabeu in March 2024 to combat racism, after global outrage at the abuse of Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. 

The Brazil winger, 22, suffered racial abuse by Valencia supporters in May, provoking worldwide outrage after he squared off with fans in one stand.

Spanish federation president Luis Rubiales and his Brazilian counterpart Ednaldo Rodrigues revealed their plans for the game at Madrid’s stadium, alongside Spain internationals Ansu Fati and Rodrigo Moreno.

“I want to announce that the match against racism between Spain and Brazil will be at the Santiago Bernabeu,” Rubiales told a news conference.

“It’s the ideal stage for an encounter between two of the best teams in the world.”

Rubiales also said the match taking place in March depended on Spain qualifying directly for Euro 2024, as those dates would be potentially needed for play-offs if not.

“(The game is) a way of saying ‘enough’,” said Rodrigues.

“It protects joy in our football, (and shows) this intolerance and attitude are unacceptable.”

Vinicius Jr issued a strongly-worded statement after he was abused, saying: “Today, in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists.”

Leeds forward Rodrigo, born in Brazil, was happy about the arrangements for the match, given the slogan “The Same Skin”.

“I think it’s a great initiative on the part of both federations,” said Rodrigo.

“It’s very important to use the power of football to denounce and fight against discrimination.”

Earlier in June legislators in the Brazilian state of Rio de Janeiro approved a law on Tuesday to curtail football matches affected by racist abuse, after a wave of disgust over the treatment of Vinicius, a native of the state.

Supporters found guilty of abusing Vinicius Jr were issued stadium bans and fines by Spanish authorities last week.

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Lionel Messi on Tuesday confirmed he “doesn’t think” he will play at another World Cup in an interview with Chinese media, after the 35-year-old led Argentina to victory at last year’s tournament in Qatar.

“I have said several times before that I don’t think so, that that (2022) was my last World Cup,” he said when asked by China’s Titan Sports in a video interview if he might feature at the 2026 tournament in North America.

“I will see how things go but in theory, I don’t think I will be around for the next World Cup,” he added in Spanish in the video published on the app Kuaishou.

The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner is currently in Beijing where Argentina will play a friendly against Australia on Thursday.

His comments come after he said earlier this year to the Argentinian newspaper Ole that it would be “very difficult” to play at another World Cup.

He will turn 39 during the next tournament.

Argentina will play Thursday’s friendly against Australia at the 68,000-capacity Workers’ Stadium in Beijing.

The match is a repeat of the last-16 tie between the teams at the World Cup in Doha, which Argentina won 2-1.

With Chinese fans desperate to see the former Barcelona star in action, tickets have been rapidly snapped up despite being sold at prices rising to 4,800 Yuan ($671).

Earlier this month, Lionel Messi said he will sign for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, choosing the United States as his next destination over a Barcelona reunion or blockbuster deal to play in Saudi Arabia.

The Argentine forward, 35, has spent the last two seasons at Paris Saint-Germain, playing his final game for the club against Clermont Foot, after moving from Barcelona in 2021, where he spent the majority of his career.

MLS and Inter Miami confirmed the news on social media, although the American league noted “work remains to finalise a formal agreement”.

“I’ve taken the decision that I am going to Miami, I don’t have (the deal) 100 percent sealed or maybe there’s something left to do, but we decided to continue our path there,” Messi told Spanish newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.

“After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day to day life more.”

Lionel Messi is a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner and is expected to earn the individual accolade once more after leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in December.

READ: ICC to take action against franchise leagues: English Media

MADRID: Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr will now wear Real Madrid’s iconic No.7 jersey – previously worn by Cristiano Ronaldo – in the next season after Eden Hazard’s departure, the club announced on Monday.

Vinicius Jr is now Real Madrid’s new No.7 in the first-team squad section, updated on the club’s website on Monday.

Besides Vinicius Jr, another Brazilian international Rodrygo Goes will don a new number jersey. He will now be wearing the No. 11 jersey following Macro Asensio’s departure.

Notably, Vinicius Jr donned No. 20 jersey last season while Goes wore the No. 21.

2️⃣0️⃣ 👉 7️⃣
🇧🇷 @vinijr #RealFootball pic.twitter.com/JHP042N9m4

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) June 12, 2023

 

Both Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo Goes are now considered Real Madrid’s key members, having scored a combined 19 LaLiga and 12 Champions League goals last season.

Hazard donned the No. 7 shirt for Real Madrid from his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in July 2019 until his departure this month. After a miserable four years in Spain, the Belgian opted to terminate his contract a year early.

Cristiano Ronaldo wore Real Madrid’s legendary No. 7 jersey between 2009 and 2018, becoming the club’s all-time leading goal scorer 450 goals, and winning four Champions League trophies.

Notably, Real Madrid’s No. 9 jersey is also vacant after their veteran Karim Benzema left the club for Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad.

It is pertinent to mention that Spain’s football league, La Liga, has been engulfed in a racism scandal after Vinicius Jr was subjected to racist taunts during Real Madrid’s 1-0 defeat at Valencia and later sent off.

The player has been taunted by opposition fans since he joined Real in 2018 but the latest incident has kicked up a storm over whether Spain is doing enough to stamp out racism in football.

The game was held up for several minutes and the referee wrote in his post-match report that shouts of “monkey” had been directed at Vinicius Junior.

Real Madrid then filed a criminal complaint with Spanish prosecutors over the racist abuse its Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior received during a weekend La Liga match, calling it a “hate crime”.

“Real Madrid strongly condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vinícius Junior,” the Spanish giants said in a statement.

The club said it believes the abuse “constitutes a hate crime” and had filed a complaint with the prosecutors’ office “in order for the facts to be investigated and for those responsible to be held accountable.”

READ: Kylian Mbappe future in major doubt after refusal to extend PSG contract

Kylian Mbappe told Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Monday that he would not be taking up an option to extend his contract until 2025, raising the spectre of him following Lionel Messi out of the club this summer.

The 24-year-old France striker’s current deal expires at the end of next season, with the option of another year.

If he does not sign, the French champions risk losing him for nothing in a year’s time — so they could now sell him this summer rather than miss out on a windfall for one of the world’s best players.

Kylian Mbappe’s decision not to renew, announced in a letter to the club and revealed by the French sports daily L’Equipe, is a fresh blow to PSG following the loss of Messi to Inter Miami.

There had been a deadline of July 31, 2023, for Mbappe to decide.

Mbappe’s move comes a little over a year since he snubbed Real Madrid by signing a surprise extension to his contract to remain at the Parc des Princes.

Real would again be chief among his suitors.

Kylian Mbappe’s entourage did not respond immediately when asked late Monday evening.

The striker’s departure for free at the end of his current contract, in the summer of 2024, would prove catastrophic for PSG.

In addition to the void left in the team, the club would also be deprived of the millions of euros a transfer would earn.

The future of Brazilian fellow star striker Neymar, under contract until 2025, also appears vague ahead of what is shaping up to be a summer of upheaval in the French capital.

Kylian Mbappe joined PSG on a season-long loan from Monaco in August 2017 that turned into a permanent deal worth 180 million euros ($194 million).

He helped France to World Cup glory as a teenager in 2018 and has established himself as arguably the leading forward on the global stage.

Kylian Mbappe also scored a hat-trick in France’s 2022 World Cup final defeat to Messi’s Argentina and helped Paris Saint-Germain win a record 11th French title.

But Mbappe hinted last month that he could leave in 2024.

“I said that next year I will play at PSG. I still have a year of contract so I will honour my contract,” he said when asked about his future at an awards ceremony where he was voted the Ligue 1 player of the season for the fourth successive time.

At Clairefontaine, where France are preparing for their next Euro qualifying matches, the striker appeared relaxed on Monday.

Smiling and joking with coach Didier Deschamps and fellow attacker Antoine Griezmann, he participated in afternoon training and signed dozens of autographs for spectators.

The announcement of Kylian Mbappe’s intentions to PSG are yet another annoyance for the club’s Qatari owners following a difficult season on and off the pitch, despite winning the French title.

After another failure in the Champions League, the club are working to find a successor to coach Christophe Galtier.

The season was widely seen as a disappointment after PSG were dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich in the last 16 and from the French Cup at the same stage.

As for Neymar, the Brazilian’s fitness has regularly been a concern for PSG, ever since he signed from Barcelona for a world-record fee of 222 million euros in 2017.

He has scored 118 goals in 173 games for PSG, but has missed more than 100 games due either to injury or suspension.

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ISTANBUL: Manchester City’s manager Pep Guardiola issued a warning to Real Madrid after his side scripted history by winning their maiden UEFA Champions League title on Sunday.

Manchester City edged defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in a hard-fought final, held at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul on June 10.

Rodri was the hero for Manchester City as he netted one in the 68th minute to separate the two sides who were indulged in a sea-saw battle.

While Manchester City held onto their lead and became the first-ever European champions, Inter Milan lost several golden opportunities to bring the score back to even.

Speaking to the media after a blockbuster season, Pep Guardiola issued a warning to the leading Champions League winner Real Madrid.

“Be careful Real Madrid, we’re 13 UCLs away but we’re coming for you. We are on our way! If you sleep a little bit, we will catch you,” said Guardiola.

Notably, Real Madrid are a record 14-time winners of the treble. Thus, Pep Guardiola’s side will have to make plenty of hard yards to catch up with the Los Blancos’ tally of titles.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City also came face to face with the defending champions Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League.

The first leg of the highly-anticipated semi-final saw the two sides settling for a 1-1 stalemate after Kevin de Bruyne’s 67th-minute strike levelled Vinicius Jr‘s first-half goal.

However, Manchester City were at their absolute best in the second leg as they blew away the defending champions Real Madrid by 4-0 to set up a final clash with Inter Milan.

The 1-0 victory over Inter Milan at the Ataturk Stadium was a fitting conclusion to their incredible season. Pep Guardiola’s team was outstanding all season and was duly named champions.

READ: In a first, five Australian cricketers win all major ICC titles

LA PLATA: Luciano Rodriguez’s late header propelled Uruguay to their maiden FIFA U20 World Cup victory after a tense 1-0 victory over Italy at the Diego Maradona Stadium on Sunday.

After dominating Italy throughout the whole game, Uruguay earned a well-deserved victory in the 86th minute on a header from close range by Luciano Rodrguez.

Uruguay’s victory also ended a streak of four consecutive wins of European teams in the FIFA U20 World Cup.

“This is crazy, crazy, crazy and we deserve it,” said a tearful Luciano Rodriguez after the match. “We are living a dream.”

Italy’s Cesare Casadei, the leading scorer of the FIFA U20 World Cup with seven goals, found it difficult to have an impact on the match. Italy coach Carmine Nunziata, however, gave credit to Uruguay but also blamed the pitch.

“The pitch has penalised any player who has more skills,” Nunziata said. “We had an incredible run. This match doesn’t cancel what we have done, playing all these matches is not easy. They were better than us today.”

Uruguay, having lost two finals of the FIFA U20 World Cup in 1997 and 2013, had multiple opportunities to take the lead much earlier.

Luciano Rodriguez nearly scored a free kick, Fabricio Diaz attempted a long-range shot, and Anderson Duarte forced Sebastiano Desplanches to make one of the tournament’s best saves for Italy.

Uruguay, who enjoyed a rock-solid defence, having conceded only three goals in the tournament – all against England – backed their forwards heavily to press Italy high up.

Before the commencement of the FIFA U20 World Cup, neither Uruguay nor Italy was among the favourites but unlike Brazil, Argentina and England, they were fortunate enough to face lesser resistance from clubs about releasing players for the tournament.

Notably, it is not mandatory for the clubs to release their contracted players to take part in international youth tournaments.

More than 40,000 people including FIFA president Gianni Infantino watched the enthralling final at the iconic Diego Maradona Stadium here while Uruguay’s Football Association suspended Sunday’s national championship fixtures so fans could watch the final.

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