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Showing posts from April 7, 2016

FIFA World Rankings 2016: Updated International Standings After Latest Fixtures

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Argentina have replaced Belgium as the top-rated side in the world in FIFA's latest official rankings, while Germany have dropped down to fifth. Colombia are the biggest movers in the top 10, up four places into fourth, and England have dropped down to 10th after a recent victory over Germany and a loss to the Netherlands. Here's a look at the new standings following the latest round of international matches: FIFA World Rankings: April 7 Rank Team Total Points +/- 1 Argentina 1532 +1 2 Belgium 1352 -1 3 Chile 1348 +2 4 Colombia 1337 +4 5 Germany 1309 -1 6 Spain 1277 -3 7 Brazil 1251 -1 8 Portugal 1184 -1 9 Uruguay 1158 +2 10 England 1069 -1 FIFA For the full standings, click  here . Belgium's five-month reign in the No. 1 spot is over following two excellent victories by Argentina against Chile and Bolivia in World Cup qualifying. The Red Devils' own recent outing against Portugal ended in a 2-1 friendly defeat, the match having been

Goal Divock Okoth Origi

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Goal Divock Okoth Origi  GOOOOOAAAAAALLL!!! ORIGI GIVES LIVERPOOL THE LEAD IN DORTMUND! What a moment for the Belgian! Milner flicks on a hopeful header into the path of the former Lille striker, who uses his pace and power to shirk off his marker. The chance seems to have got away from him, but he tries his luck with a low, driven strike that takes a huge defection off Schmelzer before rolling agonisingly past Weidenfeller and into the bottom left-hand corner.

Balotelli must do more to earn permanent Milan deal, says Galliani

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The Italy international will have to step up his game if he is to earn a permanent move from Liverpool, the Rossoneri supremo has stressed. AC Milan  CEO Adriano Galliani has stressed  Mario Balotelli  must improve in order to earn a permanent move to the Serie A side. The 25-year-old joined Milan from Liverpool on a one-year loan deal at the start of the season, but has been unable to make much of an impact at San Siro due to injury. Balotelli has scored just once in 15 Serie A appearances and Milan want more from the attacker. "Mario is feeling well," Galliani told reporters. "He is desperate to stay here at Milan. "But like I have said before, he does not merit a permanent deal at the moment. "We really like Mario, but he has to convince us to earn a permanent deal."

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri hails N'Golo Kante's quality and energy

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The  Leicester  City head coach was immediately impressed with N'Golo Kante's work-rate during their first training session together. Leicester City  manager  Claudio Ranieri  has praised the work-rate and stamina of N’Golo Kante, joking that the midfielder must have “batteries hidden in his shorts”, according to  The Players’ Tribune . Kante has been the driving force behind Leicester’s stunning tilt at the title this term with his tireless running, agility, awareness and composure in possession. Leicester’s engine has been a revelation following his summer arrival from Caen and may now end the season with a  Premier League  winners’ medal with just six games left to play. The East Midlands outfit shelled out €8million on the relative unknown defensive midfielder following the departure of Esteban Cambiasso in the close season, with the move proving to be key to  the Foxes ’ considerable success. Kante’s consistent performances at the King Power Stadium earned t

I was denied a penalty: Madrid forward Bale

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"I went down. I had the ball in front of me and he took me out, if that's outside the area it's a foul, so inside it has to be a penalty," Bale was quoted as saying by goal.com on Wednesday. "Obviously it's a frustrating result but we get another chance. It's not a good result, but we have time to turn it around. What we have to do is make sure we win the return leg by three goals." The second leg will be played in Madrid on April 12.

Man City a lot stronger than Chelsea Laurent Blanc

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Laurent Blanc remains optimistic Paris Saint-German can see off Manchester City, even if he was full of respect for Manuel Pellegrini's men Laurent Blanc rued 'too many mistakes' from his PSG side Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc feels Manchester City were a much stronger opponent than Chelsea in the Champions League after they were held to a 2-2 draw at the Parcdes Princes in the first leg of their quarter-final tie. The Ligue 1 champions saw off Chelsea with relative ease in the round of 16, but were given many more problems by City on Wednesday. Blanc remains confident PSG can progress to the semi-finals, irrespective of their underwhelming performance in the first leg, but stressed that City should not be underestimated. "We knew City have some great players going forward. We expected a game like this," Blanc told reporters. "City were a lot stronger than Chelsea, whereas we were less accurate than against Chelsea. "We shou

Arsenal explosive star could leave Emirates next season after £26m bid

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Barclays Premier League outfits West Ham are ready to launch an ‘audacious’ £26million transfer bid for Arsenal attacker Theo Walcott. England forward has registered 336 senior appearances for the Gunners, scoring 84 times in the process, but hasn’t hit the heights expected since arriving at the Emirates from Southampton over a decade ago. The 27-year-old has often struggled to hold down a regular role in Arsenal’s starting Xi, more commonly finding himself utilised out wide than in his preferred position of centre-forward. However, according to Brentwood Gazette, West Ham manager Slaven Bilic is prepared to offer the 42-cap international the chance to prove himself as an out-and-out striker with the Hammers next season. Of course, that will require obtaining his services during the coming transfer window, but the Irons are reportedly hoping a £26million summer bid will convince their north London rivals to sell. England international star has scored just eight goals

Arsene Wenger confirms Arsenal watched West Ham star Dimitri Payet many times [Tweets]

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Here we go again… Arsene Wenger held his pre-West Ham v Arsenal press conference on Thursday and once again claimed to have come close to signing one of the stars of the current Premier League season. Related:  XI players Arsene Wenger ‘almost’ signed . Dimitri Payet has been outstanding for West Ham this season, scoring some stunning free-kicks and guiding the Hammers to compete for a Champions League spot. The former Marseille winger has already earned a new contract at West Ham where he is well loved and a recall to the France squad,  where he scored a cracking goal last week against Russia . Wenger has said for many years now that he came close to signing a host of players that have gone on to be world stars. Incredibly, these include Leo Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Whilst Arsenal’s attempts to sign Luis Suarez from Liverpool were very public. We have taken the opportunity to mock up an updated XI that Arsene Wenger could have signed for Arsena