Archive for the ‘Knockout Game’ Category

Mario Balotelli almost comes to blows with coach in explosive on-pitch bust-up – The Mirror

Mario Balotelli is well-known for his moments of controversy and the latest incident took place after Saturdays Turkish Super Lig victory for Adana Demirspor vs Umraniye

Image: Twitter@https://twitter.com/balotellivekil/status/1563628970238947328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5)

Mario Balotelli provoked a furious reaction from his Adana Demirspor boss Vincenzo Montella as the two almost came to blows on the pitch after Saturdays Turkish Super Lig game.

The incident erupted on the pitch following the final whistle of a 1-0 Turkish Super Lig victory over Umraniye, with the striker appearing to make a comment after the game to Montella which appeared to provoke the coach to the point where he had to be restrained from the striker.

Balotelli who is never shy on speaking his mind and sparking controversy made a comment to Montella, who then turned around and attempted to lunge at the 32-year-old and they were only separated by last-ditch intervention by staff on the pitch.

It is not the first time that Balotelli has had a run-in with his manager, with an infamous incident with his former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini during a training session seeing the two squaring up to each other before the striker was removed from the pitch.

Balotelli has often made the headlines for his eccentric behaviour off the pitch - including handing out money in the centre of Manchester and accidentally setting fire to his bathroom.

The striker had been enjoying a true return to form in Turkey, netting 19 goals last season following his switch from Italian side Monza. It was the second-best goal return from Balotelli in a single season, behind his 26 strikes in the 2017-18 campaign at French club Nice.

Have Your Say! Has Balotelli failed to fulfil his potential across his career ? Tell us what you think here.

Image:

That had prompted talk that the 32-year-old could return to the Italian national squad; Balotelli's winner against England in the 2014 group stage remains Italy's last goal during the World Cup finals, while the 2006 champions haven't played a knockout game in the competition since that year's final.

Balotelli hasn't made a senior Italy appearance since 2018. However, he was called up by Mancini for a training camp earlier this year off the back of his form in the Super Lig. After the nation missed out on qualifying for this years World Cup following a shock playoff defeat by North Macedonia, prompting Mancini's own mother questioned the decision to leave out Balotelli.

In his Sky Sport interview, Balotelli revealed he had not spoken to Mancini about the matter. "I am happy that he will remain in charge because he has already won the Euros," he added. "People are disappointed, but we can't forget what the coach has achieved."

Read the original:
Mario Balotelli almost comes to blows with coach in explosive on-pitch bust-up - The Mirror

I kept Lionel Messi out of Argentina team but now I am unemployed and sad after having latest contract ri… – The US Sun

AT ONE stage Gustavo Oberman was rated ahead of Lionel Messi.

He even kept the now seven-time Ballon d'Or winner out of Argentina's line up in the opening match of the U20 World Cup in 2005.

2

2

A then 18-year-old Messi broke into the team for the next match, scored in every knockout game and was named Player of the Tournament.

Oberman also kept Sergio Aguero out of the starting XI as he and Messi guided Argentina to victory, lifting the trophy together.

But the forward, now 37, went on to be a journeyman whilst his team-mates shone in the most-elite competitions in the world.

And he has recently been let go by Dock Sud, a team in the fourth tier of theArgentine football league.

Stints in the top division with Argentinos Juniors and River Plate early on is his career showed promise.

But a period in Spain saw his career falter while at the same time Messi started tearing it up for Barcelona in LaLiga.

Time in Romania, Chile and India eventually led Oberman back to Buenos Aires with Dock Sud.

But after four years with the side, the attacking midfielder has seen his contract terminated.

FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS - BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS

He told AS: The decision not to continue was made by the coach, he told me that he was not going to take me into account.

"I wanted to continue until the end of the year and finish my time at theDockon the field, but there was no possibility.

"I feel sad, I think that after what we experienced at the club, I deserved another ending.

"But the reality is that what we have achieved in these years will remain forever."

Meanwhile, Messi is preparing to captain the national team for his fifth World Cup with Argentina in Qatar this winter.

See the article here:
I kept Lionel Messi out of Argentina team but now I am unemployed and sad after having latest contract ri... - The US Sun

Another controversy for India women’s TT team as men’s team coach appears in knockout game against Malaysia – SportsTiger

The Indian Womens Table Tennis team has landed in another controversy, this time in the middle of their 2022 Commonwealth Games campaign. The Indian team has been flagged for sitting with the mens team coach during their match against Malaysia. The womens team designated coach Anindita Chakraborty was not in the sidelines to aid the team. Instead, S Raman sat on the courtside during the Quarterfinal match against Malaysia.

Raman, who happens to be the personal coach of male player G Sathiyan, was seen coaching Reeth Rishya as the quarterfinal went down to the wire. This incident has not sat well with S D Mudgil, a member of the Committee of Administrators running the suspended Table Tennis Federation of India. Mudgil has expressed displeasure and has said that he will take it up with the team. This should not have happened, womens coach should have been guiding the players in the match. I will take this up with the team, said S D Mudgil.

Mudgil, who himself was supposed to be with the team in Birmingham has stayed back in India to accommodate the players request for sports psychologist Gayatri Vartak, who joined the squad on Monday.

It was an off day: S Raman

Talking about the game, defending champions India were stunned by a little-known Malaysian side in their quarterfinals match. Despite a huge difference between the two sides, Malaysia defeated India 3-2. Manika Batra and Sreeja Akula lost their singles match to give Malaysian an edge. Meanwhile, S Raman defended the team saying it was an off day and the opponents combination proved too much for the Indian side.

It was very close. Combinations were totally different for us. A defensive player, a left hander and right hander mix up was little challenging for us. The girls fought hard and it was an off day, said Raman after the unexpected result.

View original post here:
Another controversy for India women's TT team as men's team coach appears in knockout game against Malaysia - SportsTiger

A new PSG on the horizon without Neymar and Messi – BeSoccer EN

PSGare in the middle of making wholesale changes for next season. The Parisian side have had seasons full of doubt and uncertainty and they have failed to win the Champions League. They want to make a step forward this summer.

Therefore, the Sheikh has started with changing the sporting director. Luis Campos is the new man in charge. On the bench, there will also be change and Mauricio Pochettino is now history. Veteran coach Christophe Galtier will take over.

However, these reforms, will also affect the players. And not only players in general, but the senior players in the dressing room.

In recent days, there was news that the Frenchman does not want Neymar to stay at the club. The injuries and lack of focus, as well as the huge salary he receives, has reportedly led to this ending.

With Mbappe as their leader after his renewal, 'El Partidazo de COPE' mentionedanother player who was thought to be untouchable. Leo Messi, who has struggled to adapt to life in Paris. However, the Parisian club's offices know that getting rid of these two footballers will be easy or cheap.

PSG's plan is to get rid of global stars and focussing on building a good team instead.

Another area to improve is the defence. With two world class footballers in the Argentine and the Brazilian, the defence has got significantly worse. This is something that they want to change from now on and it ended up taking its toll in the knockout game against Real Madrid.

A new strategy of development and growth which PSG have foir this season. Will the Parisian side change from being a squad full of stars to a team which plays well? This story has only just begun.

More here:
A new PSG on the horizon without Neymar and Messi - BeSoccer EN

On this day in 2015: England Women reach World Cup semi-final for first time – Yahoo News

The Lionesses pose with their third place winners medals after returning from the 2015 World Cup (Steve Parsons/PA) (PA Archive)

England Women reached a World Cup semi-final for the first time on this day in 2015 after holding on to beat tournament hosts Canada 2-1 in Vancouver.

Early first-half goals from Jodie Taylor and Lucy Bronze set the Lionesses up for a historic win, but they were forced to dig deep after Christine Sinclair pulled one back for Canada just before half-time.

It was the first time a senior England side men or women had reached the World Cups last four since 1990.

The Lionesses had won a World Cup knockout game for the first time by defeating Norway 2-1 in the round of 16 and followed it up against the Canadians in front of a crowd of 54,027 at BC Place.

Taylor gave England an 11th-minute lead when she pounced on Canada skipper Lauren Sesselmanns slip and raced on to drill a low angled finish into the bottom corner.

The Lionesses extended their lead three minutes later. Fara Williams diagonal free-kick into the penalty area picked out Bronze and the full-backs header bounced down over the goal-line after hitting the crossbar.

Canada lifted the home support by reducing the deficit three minutes before the interval when England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley failed to hold on to Ashley Lawrences cross and Sinclair turned home the rebound.

Taylor was denied a second goal after the restart as her goal-bound curling effort forced a brilliant save from Canada goalkeeper Erin McLeod.

Englands World Cup dream was halted in agonising fashion in their semi-final however, as defender Laura Bassetts stoppage-time own goal clinched a 2-1 win for Japan, who went on to lose 5-2 to the USA in the final.

The Lionesses secured a third-place finish after beating fellow semi-final losers Germany 1-0 after extra time in their play-off, thanks to Williams 108th-minute penalty.

Go here to see the original:
On this day in 2015: England Women reach World Cup semi-final for first time - Yahoo News