Arsene Wenger has claimed that Chelsea got extremely lucky to win the Champions League last season and that the Premier League is still the most important trophy, as reported by the Daily Mirror.
Wenger saw his Arsenal side beaten at home by Chelsea on Saturday, but Wenger claimed the season long test of the Premier League will test Chelsea this season.
Wenger told the Daily Mirror: “In the Champions League, you play one big game at a time. In the Premier League you play many big teams and you have to do well against all of them.
“I still think the Premier League is the massive test.
“One piece of luck Chelsea had last season was Didier Drogba in the first part of the season did not play a lot.
“He came into it in the second half of the season and he made the decision, he was fresh, focused, had a good rest and still hungry to make it happen and he had the quality to do it.
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“If you tell me would you like to win the Champions League I will of course say yes, but it’s a cup competition – not at the start, but in the final part of it, it is a real cup competition.
“You need to go into March and April with your best players available, fit, and that’s not easy, especially when you play in the Premier League.”
Everton defender Phil Jagielka has praised fellow team mate Marouane Fellaini after his two goals helped Everton come away with a point against Fulham on Saturday.
Despite the Toffees conceding a last minute goal to prevent them from coming away with all three points at Craven Cottage, Jagielka has described the Belgian midfeilder’s performance as “special.”
The England international also claims that Fellaini’s ability to control the ball with his chest can make him a handful to play against.
He told Everton’s official website: “Felli scored with two fantastic finishes. First half I thought he was good, but second half he was special.
“Right from the first minute, he brought it down on his chest and you know that he is going to be a handful. He proved that because his first goal was good but his second was even better.
“He manages to kill a ball quite well. If you have ever tried to control a 40-yard pass from me on your chest it’s not the easiest thing in the world. But he manages to pick up the flight really well and cushion it down.”
Jagielka also went on to admit that he is disappointed Everton couldn’t kill the game off to ensure Fulham’s final minute equaliser wouldn’t affect the final result.
“I thought we played ok first half but in the second we played very well,” he added.
“We showed signs of how well we have been playing for most of the season. We took control of the game and got the two goals.
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“We could have got a third goal, which would have killed the game off. It feels like two points lost.”
The question as to whether Arsenal should splash out on Luis Suarez was one that was explored countless times during the summer. Ahead of the January transfer window, not a whole lot has changed.
It was a heated debate back in the summer, one which stepped well over the mark a number of times due to the hostility that is generated by Suarez’s name. It was put to bed, fortunately. Sometimes you have to look a little further than just the qualities of a footballer. Half of the Arsenal support rejoiced; they wouldn’t have to see him in their colours. The other half saw it as a golden opportunity missed.
I didn’t see much sense in it. Going immediately to the starting point, why would Liverpool want to sell to Arsenal? They’re certainly glad they didn’t. Would they have been second in the Premier League if they had? What about the gap Arsenal would have created between themselves and second place?
And then there’s the reintroduction of whether fans want to see a player like Suarez at Arsenal. But why bring that up again? It’s tired and been done to death.
Arsenal need another striker in January – we can all agree to that. It’s not life or death, as some people will have you believe. Fortunately for the club, there is a German international who has spent a large chunk of his career playing through the middle as a centre-forward, both for Bayern Munich and Koln. But it’s easy to overlook that for the sake of argument.
The problem is depth. If you move Lukas Podolski away from the flank and into the middle, that essentially leaves Arsenal one player light in midfield. There shouldn’t be any concerns about Podolski’s ability in front of goal; he’s the best finisher at the club. But Arsenal need more if they’re to sustain this charge on silverware.
The answer isn’t Suarez. The only way Suarez becomes the ideal candidate is if we’re forced to accept that there isn’t another striker available in world football. Another factor in this argument in favour of the Uruguayan at Arsenal is the assumption that the club need a world-class centre-forward. Olivier Giroud isn’t world class, but what if the club had two of him? They’d be alright, yes?
Suarez has one destination. Real Madrid will eventually allow Karim Benzema to move on, more than likely due to pressure from the support, and not because Florentino Perez will be all too keen to let him go. Of course, Radamel Falcao could fill that gap for Madrid – and Sergio Aguero is another option that is often overlooked – but that doesn’t seem too likely, as least not as likely as Suarez.
The bridge has been burnt between Arsenal and Liverpool. John Henry will simply not allow for that level of strengthening of a direct rival, no matter the cash on offer. Realistic cash I mean.
For Arsenal, the development and contribution of Giroud will prove to be the bright spot in losing out on Suarez. I raised the point that the Frenchman isn’t quite world class, but then the same has been said about Mario Gomez, yet the German more or less guarantees goals wherever he goes. An investment in or around the £10 million mark can bring about as much success as those who would command fees of at least four or five times that amount.
They don’t have to be world class, just good enough. And for a club of Arsenal’s resources, there are plenty of other options besides Suarez.
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Should Arsenal break the bank for Suarez in January?
When Liverpool confirmed the signing of Rickie Lambert from Southampton, running parallel with the positivity from the majority of Liverpool fans delighted at what they felt was a shrewd piece of business by Brendan Rodgers, was a fair share of belittling, largely from Manchester United fans.
And whilst a £4 million transfer for a 32-year-old Englishman – who worked in a beetroot packaging factory and a part-timer at Macclesfield, before working his way up the English football ladder – may not feel the most glamorous for a club aspiring to the Premier League title, the deal makes perfect sense.
Partly for his physique, and partly due to his football background, Lambert often isn’t given the credit he deserves. But any notion of him simply being a ‘big man’ is so far wide of the mark. Two seasons in the Premier League have notched up 28 goals and 15 assists, and his all-round play is finally beginning to receive the type of praise it is worthy of.
All season long, the thought of Liverpool being without both Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez was a nightmare scenario. With just Iago Aspas as back-up, the side would have lacked any killer instinct up top.
Even with Lambert there, the absence will damage the effectiveness of the side. But his presence lessens the impact of such possibility. If the impact of European football begins to take its toll on the squad, then Lambert may just quench Liverpool’s thirst as they plumb the depths of their well.
WANT MORE? >> Liverpool transfer news | Latest transfer news
When you observe the way Lambert plays, it is his ability to vary his game and adapt which is most impressive. And it is this variation which will have been a crucial factor in Rodgers’ decision to bring him back to his boyhood club.
Lambert’s stature and physical presence is something Liverpool weren’t blessed with in attacking positions prior to his arrival. But his ability to win aerial duels, and bring the ball down with his back to goal is a key feature of his game, and something which Liverpool were previously unable to bring to the table.
Having won 65 aerial duels last season, to that of Suarez and Sturridge’s 12 and 2, respectively, Lambert can provide something drastically different. Whilst you wouldn’t expect Rodgers to adapt his side’s style of play – one which saw them come agonisingly close to lifting their first Premier League trophy – with Lambert in the side, they now have the ability to make a more direct tactical switch if called upon.
What’s more is that Lambert’s ability on the ball, and the fact he is accustomed to playing a more expansive style of football, should allow him to fit seamlessly into Liverpool’s side. Under Mauricio Pochettino, Southampton have always tried to get the ball on the ground, dominate possession, and play attractive football.
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And under the Argentine, Lambert has excelled. His link-up play with the likes of Adam Lallana and Jay Rodriguez has been phenomenal at times – with a particularly notable performance against Tottenham. With the like of Suarez and Sturridge, as well as Raheem Sterling and Philippe Coutinho, to work with, who’s to say that Lambert can’t reach even greater heights.
Liverpool weren’t crying out for star quality in their attack. They already possess it in abundance. But Lambert’s addition seems right. He can provide something different to their current squad, and he should have no worries about having to adapt to their style of football. He may not cost have cost the earth, and may not yet have international recognition, but Lambert could just prove the shrewdest signing of the summer.
O volante Elyeser fez sua estreia com a camisa do Coritiba no último domingo, na vitória do Coxa sobre o FC Cascavel por 2 a 0, no Couto Pereira. Apresentado na semana passada, o jogador entrou no final do segundo tempo, mas o suficiente pra ficar muito feliz em atuar pela equipe paranaense.
‘Me senti muito bem, feliz, foram poucos minutos em campo, mas fiquei contente com o carinho do torcedor já me incentivando e a oportunidade de estar atuando. As mensagens que recebo no Instagram são de incentivo e carinho. Isso será fundamental pro meu crescimento aqui no clube’, declarou.
‘A expectativa é de conquistar grandes coisas. A camisa fala por si só, quando se veste a camisa do Coritiba você já traz a responsabilidade de grandes conquistas e grandes vitórias. Tenho certeza que será um grande ano’, completou.
Apesar do pouco tempo de casa, Elyeser diz estar adaptado ao clube do Alto da Glória. O jogador também analisou como pode ajudar a equipe de Umberto Louzer individualmente.
‘O clube, os funcionários, os atletas e comissão me receberam super bem. O Giovanni, que já era meu amigo, está me ajudando bastante nessa chegada. Já me sinto em casa. Pretendo fazer o maior número de jogos possíveis na temporada, meu objetivo maior é dar o máximo dentro de campo para que o torcedor volte feliz pra casa’, afirmou.
Elyeser está a disposição do treinador do Coritiba para o próximo duelo da equipe, contra o Cascavel, quarta-feira, às 20h
حدد الاتحاد الإفريقي لكرة القدم كاف، غداً الخميس موعداً لإجراء قرعة التصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026، في كوت ديفوار.
وتقام بطولة كأس العالم 2026 في كندا والولايات المتحدة الأمريكية والمكسيك بمشاركة 48 منتخباً لأول مرة.
ويأتي منتخب مصر في المستوى الأول للتصفيات الإفريقية المؤهلة لكأس العالم، وذلك طبقاً لأخر تصنيف للاتحاد الدولي لكرة القدم فيفا (شهر يونيو).
ومن المقرر أن يتم تقسيم المنتخبات المشاركة في التصفيات إلى 9 مجموعات، على أن يتأهل منها صاحب المركز الأول في كل مجموعة مباشرة إلى المونديال، بالإضافة إلى 4 منتخبات صاحبة أفضل مركز ثاني في المجموعات التسعة وستلعب المنتخبات الأربعة تصفيات الملحق بنظام البطولة المصغرة لتحديد منتخب واحد عن قارة إفريقيا من أجل مواجهة خصم من قارة أخرى يتم تحديده لاحقا بعد نهاية التصفيات.
طالع.. مباشر | قرعة تصفيات إفريقيا لكأس العالم 2026.. وتحديد منافسي مصر
وسيكون في كل مجموعة 6 منتخبات، ويخوض كل منتخب 10 مباريات بواقع 5 ذهابًا ومثلها إيابًا. تصنيف المنتخبات قبل قرعة تصفيات إفريقيا المؤهلة لكأس العالم 2026:
التصنيف الأول:
المغرب – السنغال – تونس – الجزائر – مصر – نيجيريا – الكاميرون – مالي – كوت ديفوار.
التصنيف الثانى:
بوركينا فاسو – غانا – جنوب أفريقيا – كاب فيردى – الكونغو الديمقراطية – غينيا – زامبيا – الجابون – غينيا الاستوائية.
Cheteshwar Pujara, the India A captain, has praised the team’s batting as the main reason for success in the tri-series
ESPNcricinfo staff14-Aug-2013
The flat tracks posed a huge challenge for India’s inexperienced attack•Getty Images
Cheteshwar Pujara, the India A captain, has praised the team’s batting as the main reason for success in the A-team tri-series in Pretoria. India’s batsmen put up scores of 285 or more in each of the four league matches, and though they managed a less substantial 243 in the final, it proved sufficient to beat Australia A by 50 runs.”As a unit, we wanted to win this series,” Pujara said. “A couple of the league matches didn’t go our way and those were quite close games. We lost two games against Australia and I thought we would have won at least one of them. Our batting unit did a really great job and that was our strength. In the final, the bowlers stood up and did the job for the team.”While visiting sides have generally struggled against the pace and movement on offer during the South African season, teams put up large totals in this series. Both India and Australia are set to tour South Africa later this season, and Pujara felt the conditions during the tri-series didn’t mirror what the national teams will be faced with.”I don’t think the conditions will be the same when we come back,” Pujara said. “Wickets are quite flat out here at the moment and when we come in December the conditions will be hugely different and we are aware about it. It’s about getting used to the conditions, not the wickets only but the weather and other aspects of this game.”The flat tracks also provided a severe test for India’s largely inexperienced bowling attack, besides posing a challenge to Pujara’s captaincy skills. “The matches were quite high scoring and it was difficult for the bowlers to execute their plans,” Pujara said. “When you have 400 on the board and you still feel it is chaseable, it’s a difficult job for the captain and for the bowlers, because at times what they want to do, it’s not possible. But we stuck together, we realised the wicket was flat and we were bound to get hit but if you had plans you wanted to execute, you should continue trying that.”With the tri-series completed, Pujara and his team will now shift their focus to the two four-day games against South Africa A which will provide a chance for several fringe players to push their case for a Test berth. The first of the four-day matches starts on Saturday at Rustenburg.
Warner was again gaining attention for the wrong reasons as he found himself in yet another heated altercation, this time with South Africa A’s wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile
ESPNcricinfo staff27-Jul-2013 Scorecard and ball-by-ball detailsDavid Warner once again made the news for the wrong reasons•Getty Images
David Warner was again gaining attention for the wrong reasons as he found himself in yet another heated altercation, this time with South Africa A’s wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile. Warner got into a war of words with Tsolekile during the final day’s play, with the pair having to be separated by South Africa A’s Vaughn van Jaarsveld, and the umpires having to intervene.Warner, however, termed the incident “friendly banter” as he took to Twitter after the match: “Great to be back playing cricket, had lots of fun this week and a bit of friendly banter from the wicket keeper. Was very funny!!”With Australia currently embroiled in an Ashes series, Warner had been sent on Australia A’s tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe with a focus on gaining meaningful match practice for the longer format, as he was suspended from playing the warm-ups leading up to the first Test following his altercation with Joe Root during the Champions Trophy. Only two days ago, Warner had admitted he needed a “kick up the bum” after that incident.That was not the first time Warner had been in the news for the wrong reasons this summer. In May, he was involved in a heated Twitter exchange with Australian journalists Malcolm Conn and Robert Craddock, for which he later issued a public apology, and was subsequently fined AUD $5750 (US $5600) by Cricket Australia for his indiscretions.The game itself ended in the draw that always looked likely. Australia A began the fourth day’s play with a 28-run partnership between openers Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh. Once Marsh departed for 11, Alex Doolan came in, with the pair putting on 105 runs for the second wicket. Doolan was later dismissed leg before by Kyle Abbott for 38. Warner came in at No. 4 and, fresh from his 193 in the first innings, struck six boundaries before being caught behind, ironically, by Tsolekile off Beuran Hendricks for 33.Wickets fell at regular intervals for the Australians, but the efforts of Finch (88), Doolan, and Warner ensured they batted out enough time to hold on to a draw in the first unofficial Test between these sides. Both teams will have a three-day break before they resume battle in the second unofficial Test in Rustenburg on July 31.
Classificado com a segunda melhor campanha da fase de grupos, o Palmeiras enfrentará pelo terceiro ano consecutivo o Novorizontino nas quartas de final do Paulista. Sem Weverton e ainda à espera de Luan e Deyverson, Luiz Felipe Scolari já começa a pensar na equipe para o mata-mata.
No gol, Fernando Prass será novamente titular. Enquanto o camisa 21 está com a Seleção Brasileira para os amistosos contra Panamá (dia 23) e República Tcheca (dia 26), o ídolo da torcida ocupará sua vaga. Até para ganhar ritmo, foi escalado já contra a Ponte Preta.
-É o Prass que vai jogar. Por isso, ele jogou hoje. No aspecto de revezamento, o Jailson jogaria o jogo passado (contra o São Paulo), mas tivemos um problema com o Jailson e jogou o Weverton. O Prass é para ter ritmo para o próximo jogo – justificou o técnico.
A partir desta quinta, Scolari pode fazer até quatro mudanças na lista de inscritos no Estadual. Duas novidades são certas: o zagueiro Juninho e o centroavante Arthur Cabral. O técnico ainda não divulgou quem sairá, mas nas duas posições há atletas voltando de lesões: Luan já está em transição com a preparação física, enquanto Deyverson ficará de duas a três semanas fora.
Carlos Eduardo pode se tornar um problema, também: ele saiu ainda no primeiro tempo do jogo contra a Ponte Preta com dores no tornozelo e fará exames nesta quinta. Felipão teme perdê-lo para o mata-mata.
Já Antônio Carlos volta de suspensão e deve ser o parceiro de Edu Dracena no fim de semana. Thiago Santos e Diogo Barbosa, que estavam pendurados, passaram o jogo de quarta sem cartão amarelo e entram no mata-mata zerados. O Verdão decidirá a classificação em casa.
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علق وائل رياض المدرب العام لمنتخب مصر الأولمبي، على تأهل الفراعنة لأولمبياد باريس 2024 عقب الفوز أمام غينيا في نصف نهائي كأس أمم إفريقيا تحت 23 عاما.
وقال وائل رياض في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر القناة الأولى: “نجحنا في التواجد للمرة الثانية على التوالي في الوصول إلى الأولمبياد، إنجاز كبير بشكل شخصي الوجود للمرة الثانية على التوالي”.
وتابع: “تولينا المهمة خلال شهر أغسطس الماضي، ولم نخض معسكرات كبيرة بسبب قلة التوقفات الدولية، لكن استطعنا أن نكون فريقًا جيدًا ومجموعة مميزة من اللاعبين”.
وأردف: “نشكر أندية الدوري المصري بسبب تعاونهم معنا في المعسكرات التي قمنا بها خارج المعسكرات الرسمية، ودائمًا الشدائد تظهر أننا رجال”.
وأضاف: “أنا الفرد الفني المصري الوحيد المتواجد في الجهاز للمنتخب الأولمبي هذا جعلني مضغوطًا بشكل كبير بكل تأكيد، إضافة إلى ذلك كان لدي حلم التواجد في الأولمبياد للمرة الثانية على التوالي”.
طالع | جمال علام يهنئ منتخب مصر بالتأهل إلى أولمبياد باريس.. واللاعبون يتعهدون بحصد لقب أمم إفريقيا
واستطرد مدرب مصر: “بعد نهاية المباراة وجدت كمًا هائلًا من رسائل الفرحة والسعادة من الجماهير، وهذا جعلني أشعر بسعادة ضخمة وهذا سبب بكائي”.
وأوضح: “بعد التعادل في المباراة الأولى هنأنا اللاعبين على الأداء لأننا قدمنا مستوى رائع ولكن التوفيق لم يكن حليفنا وبالتالي كنا نشعر بأن اللاعبين قدموا كل ما لديهم داخل الملعب”.
واختتم: “أنهينا هدفين لنا في البطولة، تصدر المجموعة كان هدفنا الأول ثم بعد ذلك التأهل إلى الأولمبياد، بعد ذلك نفكر في تحقيق البطولة، لكن الهدف الأساسي هو التأهل للأولمبياد”.