Football World Cup Blog – Page 2 – Just another Football blog

Pochettino confident of Dele Alli participation in the Champions League final

Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino is confident that Dele Alli will be available for the Champions League final against Liverpool next month despite appearing exhausted during the final Premier League game of the campaign against Everton. The England international appeared jaded in a lacklustre performance in the first period which saw him substituted at the break.

Speaking to reporters, Pochettino acknowledged that Alli was not in the best of shape for the curtain closer and he had doubts whether the midfielder would start the game in the first place. He added that the substitution was taken as a precaution and the playmaker should return to the mix for the Champions League final in Madrid.
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Harry Kane acknowledges Tottenham Hotspur could have a tough road ahead

England international Harry Kane has acknowledged that it would be difficult for manager Mauricio Pochettino to bolster the first-team squad due to the financial restrictions for the new stadium. The north London giants have finally succeeded in preparing their new home ground for the Premier League next month, but the same could hamper the transfer proceedings in the forthcoming years.

Speaking to ESPN, Kane admitted that the current team is one of the best in the club’s history but that would make no sense, if they end up without winning any silverware. He added that rebuilding the squad would be difficult under the current circumstances but the players need to do the best on their part to end the club’s trophy drought which has extended more than a decade.
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Jamie Vardy Will Not Come Out Of International Retirement, Claims Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers is of the opinion that Jamie Vardy will not change his decision on retiring from international duty even if the injury to Harry Kane means that the 32-year-old may feature for England at the UEFA Nations League in June. Tottenham forward Harry Kane has suffered a serious injury that is likely to keep him out of the Nations League final that will take place in June. This leaves manager Gareth Southgate with a major headache when it comes to the strikeforce for the national team. Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is one of the players who can replace Kane without second thoughts but it does make the squad thin up front.

This has led to potential talk aboutVardy being forced to come back from retirement. In order to focus on his club career and give youngsters a chance,Vardy pretty from international action a year ago just after the World Cup 2018. The 32-year-old claimed that international retirement had been on his mind for a few years, as Southgate was with a view of nurturing young talent in order to benefit the national team. Brendan Rodgers recently took over as the manager of Leicester City and he has madeVardy as the focus of every attack. This has led toVardy once again rediscovering his form that led to England call-up in the first place.
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Rio Ferdinand believes Phil Foden should part ways with Manchester City

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand believes Phil Foden should consider a fresh challenge away from Manchester City in order to secure regular playing time. The England youth international has managed nine appearances in the Premier League this term, but each of those have come from the substitutes’ bench.

Speaking to Talk SPORT, Ferdinand said that Foden has a bright future in front of him, although he may have to leave the Citizens to realise the same. He added to give the example of compatriot Jadon Sancho, who has transformed into one of the best young talents in the world amid his impressive showingat Borussia Dortmund.
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Burnley manager heaps praise on Tottenham Hotspur star

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has heaped praise on Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane ahead of the weekend’s Premier League meeting between the sides. Burnley have been one of the league’s most improved teams since the turn of the year but they face a tough challenge against Spurs after managing just one point from the previous five encounters.

Speaking ahead of the game, Dyche talked about the form of the north London giants, who have managed four successive victories despite the injury absence of Kane. He added that the Englishman does not have any weaknesses in his game and highlighted the marksman’s movement and decision-making during the press conference, he said: “He’s a top striker, although they have fared pretty well without him. He is one of the best around when fit. He does more or less everything. He is quick with his brain, he’s quick in is movement and he sees things really quickly.”
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Sean Dyche: Peter Crouch has the hunger to make a mark

Burnley manager Sean Dyche has said that Peter Crouch has the hunger to make a mark in the Premier League after making his comeback to the division. The ex-England international had been with Stoke City for the past eight years but he was tempted by the prospect of joining the Clarets after the opportunity came by to return to the top-flight.

Speaking after his arrival, Dyche indicated that the former Liverpool man still has more to offer in the Premier League despite approaching the twilight of his professional career at 38, he said: “He has a hunger to come and make a mark. We know he’s a good character and he still has a desire. The main thing for me is having motivated people. It is difficult to let Sam go, but he hasn’t played as regularly, it could become a win-win situation.”
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Bournemouth confirm signing of Dominic Solanke from Liverpool

Bournemouth have confirmed the signing of Dominic Solanke from Liverpool on a permanent deal. The England international had failed to make a single appearance for the Reds during the first half of the season and this has eventually witnessed him pursue a fresh challenge away to enhance his prospects of gametime.

“FC Bournemouth is delighted to have confirmed the signing of Dominic Solanke on a permanent basis from Liverpool. Arriving in Dorset on Thursday morning, the striker was shown around the facilities at Vitality Stadium, before putting pen to paper to finalise a long-term deal. Solanke arrives having previously been at Chelsea and Liverpool, also with one England cap to his name. Additionally, the 21-year-old has won the under-20s World Cup for the Young Lions, alongside current Cherries man Lewis Cook,” a statement on the club’s website read.
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England legend slams Manchester United after Liverpool defeat

England legend Alan Shearer believes Manchester United have no chance of making the top four following a below-par display against Liverpool on Sunday. The Red Devils went into the weekend Premier League clash as genuine underdogs and they failed to overcome Jurgen Klopp’s side as they struggled to a 3-1 defeat.

Following the game, Shearer was far from pleased with the performance from Jose Mourinho’s men and suggested that the club need to either back the Portuguese in the transfer market or relieve him from his head coach duties, he told The Sun: “It’s nowhere near good enough. Get in the top four?They’ve got no chance. No chance. Manchester United have a big decision to make. They could come out and back the manager – and back him big – in January. If they don’t, that would be very telling as to the direction things are heading. That’s if he makes it to January. It’s tough going to Anfield, no one is denying that. Especially against this superb Liverpool team. But they were set up to be beaten, set up at best to hang on against Liverpool.”
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Molde lend Solskjaer to United to help steady ship

When Jose Mourinho was sacked as Manchester United manager it would have hardly come as a surprise to anyone in world football and in all likelihood, Mourinho probably wasn’t that shocked either. Mourinho’s sacking was a long time in the offing after a turbulent spell at Old Trafford that left the club lingering in sixth position with a points total of 26 which is the club’s lowest at this stage of the season since the 1990/1991 campaign.

It looks bad on paper but it was even worse in reality with the players having very obviously given up on trying to impress Mourinho. The disharmony in the dressing room was there for all to see and some may have questioned why it took vice-president Ed Woodward this long to pull the trigger. Continue reading Molde lend Solskjaer to United to help steady ship

Former Coventry coach praises Callum Wilson’s development

Former Coventry head coach Mark Robins has praised the progress of Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson, who recently earned his maiden cap with the England national side. The striker has been plagued with a number of injuries over the course of his professional career but Robins is pleased that the Englishman has overcome his troubles to earn international recognition.

In a report covered by Sky Sports News, Robins highlighted that the striker did not have a great fitness record right from the beginning of his career and is pleased that he has shown the character and determination to reach the current phase of his career, he said: “When I was here the first time around Callum had quite a few lengthy injuries and to come through that and get back to playing, never mind to the level he’s performing at, shows character and determination.
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