France crashed to a 2-0 defeat to Sweden on Tuesday night, meaning they finish as runners-up in Euro 2012 Group D.
Goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Sebastian Larsson sealed a pride-restoring victory for the Scandinavian side, and means that England leapfrog Les Bleus into first place in the pool.
Laurent Blanc was not happy with his side’s showing, and feels his men were second best.
“Sweden beat an average France team. They were better in all departments. If we analyse the game I think we struggled throughout,” Blanc told local reporters, translated to English by Sky Sports.
France midfielder Yann M’Vila has also admitted that the showing was not good enough, and knows that his side will have to improve in the quarter-finals against Spain.
“We came upon a team that was far stronger than us,” M’Vila stated.
“We are going to play Spain, the world and defending champions.
“It is up to us to show another side to our game and to prove that we can go far in this competition.”
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Manchester United have had a £30 million bid for James Rodriguez rejected by Porto according to The Daily Mail.
The Red Devils are looking to rebuild and strengthen after losing their Premier League title to cross-town rivals Manchester City last term, and have already added Shinji Kagawa and Nick Powell to their first-team squad.
One of the criticisms of the United side last season was a lack of penetration in midfield, and Sir Alex Ferguson is said to have upped his efforts to bring Colombia international Rodriguez to Old Trafford.
The Porto star has been a key man for the Portuguese club for a number of seasons, and has impressed in performances domestically and on the continent.
Rodriguez has the ability to play on either flank or up front, and this versatility has caught the eye of the legendary Scottish coach.
However, Porto are said to have knocked back a £30 million bid from the Premier League giants in a bid to keep the South American.
However, it is believed that Rodriguez has a release clause in his contract at around the £40 million mark, with United now having to consider upping their offer.
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Bookmakers across the board are already reporting taking huge bets on the likely Premier League Golden Boot winner for the upcoming 2012-13 season and it is Sergio Aguero, whose 23rd goal of last season’s campaign won the Premier League for Manchester City in the most dramatic of fashion, who has been installed as the 8/1 favourite to finish top goalscorer in 2013.
There is little doubt that from the moment he arrived at the Etihad Stadium that Aguero was a very special player. He opened his Premier League account with a brace against Swansea on his debut and had scored eight of his total goals in his first five league games in England.
From then on, he scored regularly in what was almost an injury free season and one in which he was clearly marked down by City boss, Roberto Mancini, as a regular starter in an otherwise flexible selection process. That same situation should apply again this season, which should mean that Argentine will be scoring plenty of goals once again and barring injury problems, should once again be in contention at the top of the goalscorer table throughout the season.
Next in the betting is Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney who finished last season with 27 league goals, three behind Golden Boot winner, Robin Van Persie. Rooney’s 27 goals came from only 34 appearances, suggesting that if he was given an out and out strikers role at Old Trafford, he could well average more than a goal a game.
However, Sir Alex Ferguson recognises the all-round ability of his best player and uses the England international in a variety of roles which often takes him out of the firing line. Nonetheless, his profound ability will undoubtedly see him finding the net equally as regularly and he should not be ruled out of winning the Golden Boot for the first time and is a best price 9/1 to do so in the odds.
Robin Van Persie, whose thirty goals won him the 2011-12 Golden Boot, has expressed his desire to leave The Emirates and the Gunners are prepared to cash in now before he can leave on a free transfer in 12 months’ time.
The Bookmakers have installed Van Persie as a general 10/1 chance to win a second successive Golden Boot but those odds will shorten considerably should he move to another Premier League club. It is understood that Man Utd are in poll position and if that transpires to be true then both Van Persie and United would be threat to all on comers in both the league and Champions League.
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Fernando Torres is also listed as a 10/1 shot but before backing him with your life savings, be sure that his attitude is as good now as it was when he finished last season by scoring in the Champions League final.
As it stands currently, Torres will be heavily relied upon by Chelsea to lead their attack with goals, following Drogba’s departure. As the lead striker at Stamford Bridge, Torres could well begin to justify his £50m price tag during 2012/2013.
The Spanish international only netted six times in the Premier League last season, from 32 appearances, although the majority of those appearances were made as a substitute. If compared to his first season at Liverpool when he found the net 24 times from 33 games, then Torres has been a very poor purchase by Chelsea. However, should he recapture that level of form he showed in that opening season at Anfield, then there will be no stopping him in the race for the Golden Boot this season.
There are many Liverpool supporters who will be keeping the faith with Luis Suarez but he could only find 11 goals last season and was responsible for squandering at least as many again. The Uruguayan international has been welcomed with open arms by Liverpool fans and there is little doubt about his overall ability but to back him with odds of 16/1 to be this season’s Premier League top scorer is a non-starter.
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Carlos Tevez is a very interesting contender whose goal scoring exploits for both Manchester United and Manchester City have been well documented, sharing the Golden Boot in 2011 with Dimitar Berbatov. Roberto Mancini seemed in favour of playing the wayward Tevez alongside his Argentine team mate, Sergio Aguero, up front when he finally came back to the fold last season and when playing together, they were both regularly finding the net which is great for the team but sharing goals with Aguero does affect Tevez’s chances, which is why he is double the price of Aguero at 16/1.
Of course, one cannot mention Manchester City and its goal threat without mentioning the enigmatic Mario Balotelli, who without doubt, would back himself to win the Golden boot. However, the unpredictable Italian knows that until his behaviour becomes a little mote conformist then he will not be in a position to guarantee a place in the starting line-up.
That said, Balotelli, was still good enough to score 13 times in 23 games last season and showed signs, particularly when representing his country in the Euro 2012 that maturity is slowly but surely being reached. Given a run in the team, Balotelli would be hard to resist in the Golden Boot competition. He has odds as long as 20/1 with some bookmakers but whilst there are no guarantees he cannot be backed with confidence .
One player that should not be ignored is Papiss Cisse of Newcastle United who was a revelation when he arrived at St James Park from SC Freiburg during the January Transfer window. The Senegal international scored 13 times in 14 games, a ratio that would be almost impossible to maintain throughout the season, however, it is a record that strongly suggests that if Newcastle have an equally as good a season as they had last term, then Cisse is sure to feature amongst the Premier League’s top goalscorers and of all the pkayers, makes the most appeal at 25/1 to finish top of the pile.
One of the country’s most experienced and decorated footballers, Frank Lampard accepted football could learn from Olympic values.
Speaking in the build up to England’s friendly against Italy, the Chelsea midfielder claimed some aspects of the Olympic spirit could be transferred over to England’s national sport.
The 34 year old commented, “When you hear the athletes speak after winning or losing they are very humble people. We can take that on board. I’m not picking on individuals it’s a group thing.” (Mirror)
Footballers could hardly be perceived any worse currently in Britain. In the past month both John Terry and Rio Ferdinand, two of the biggest names in the sport, have been charged by the FA, due to racial allegations.
Meanwhile Olympians such as Mo Farah and Jessica Ennis won the hearts and minds of the nation. Lampard isn’t naive regarding the very different emotions the two sports evoke; “I enjoyed going to the Olympics and feeling that atmosphere but in football, we’re all born with our allegiances, it’s almost a religion to the people who watch it.”
The 90 cap England veteran, also cited the do or die nature of the way the sport is reported and viewed by fans, describing attitudes as “tribal.”
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A 27-year-old Brazilian left-back with one international cap to his name might not strike much interest from those away from La Liga. But Filipe Luis, who is currently on the books of Atletico Madrid, could arguably be the best left-back in Spain. No, really.
From the off, Manchester United springs to mind as a club who are in search of an alternative and eventual replacement to Patrice Evra. United have had a move for Leighton Baines turned down by Everton, while there was only ever one team likely to net Jordi Alba from Valencia. Yet, it’s incredibly difficult to understand why so many clubs have missed Filipe Luis off their transfer targets list.
The Brazilian would have created a bigger name for himself on the international stage had he not picked up a lengthy injury in 2010, subsequently ruling him out of that summer’s World Cup. He’s far more reliable defensively than Marcelo and can be equally impressive in attack. But highlighting Filipe Luis as “reliable” in defence and then moving on would be a huge discredit to his ability and accomplishments with Atletico Madrid.
Last season, as Atleti lifted their second Europa league title in three years and finished fifth in the league, a defence with centre-backs rotating in and out of the side were helped to be eased by the excellent work of the Brazilian on the left. His tackles and interceptions are outstanding and consistent throughout the season, and his strength and positioning always plays a big part in his very good overall game.
Filipe Luis was previously linked with a move to Barcelona when the Catalans only had Eric Abidal as a recognised left-back. That move fell through, obviously, and the club moved on to other targets later on with the capture of Adriano, while Filipe stayed at Deportivo.
His injury in 2010 was not to halt his club career in the same way it did his international career as Atletico decided to move for a player who should have grabbed more attention across Europe. His early career in the Spanish capital saw the Brazilian battle it out with captain Antonio Lopez for the starting role on the left of the defence. Lopez’s age and eventual departure from the club left the position in the hands of Filipe Luis. He really has not disappointed since.
At 27, the left-back represents a good buy for any major club looking for stability on that front. He never seems out of his depth when playing under a bigger spotlight, and many are right to claim him as the best overall left-back in the country. Jordi Alba and Marcelo obviously attract much more attention due to their clubs, but neither are as reliable and comfortable in the defensive aspect of the game. Fabio Coentrao and Nacho Monreal are also young left-backs who are better in their own half of the pitch, but neither offer the consistency that Filipe Luis does.
As Atletico rode easily to a 4-0 thrashing of Athletic Bilbao on Monday night, Filipe Luis was given a lot of freedom to get forward and even got close enough to sting the palms of goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz. He’s a player who knows when to stay back and when the opportunity is good to supplement the attack. For that, it’s very difficult to get the best of the Brazilian.
The defender should find his way into many more games with his national side, but the real level of interest should come from those around Europe and specifically in the Premier League. Again, I’m particularly surprised at Manchester United’s lack of interest in the player considering their desire for another left back. The team’s choice to venture into the Dutch league for an alternative to Evra makes it even more questionable. But what about Everton? They could certainly have knocked on Atletico’s door had Baines left the club, and Arsenal are still lacking a genuinely world class defender on that left side.
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There’s a reason Atletico had the second most clean sheets in the league last season, amassing a total of 15. All Filipe Luis does is highlight the depth in La Liga beyond the top two. A key figure for Atletico and a great addition for the whole league, but he does have his price and he would be a great buy for many clubs in England.
Sunderland’s new signing Adam Johnson says manager Martin O’Neill has given him the “confidence and freedom” to play football again.
The 25-year-old joined the Black Cats from Manchester City last week and made his debut in the club’s 2-0 Capital One Cup victory over Morecambe on Tuesday evening.
Speaking to BBC Newcastle, the winger said: “The other night I felt like the chains had been taken off me. When you play one game and you know you could be out the next it’s tough.”
He continued: “When you haven’t played for five games and then you play for one and you’re expected to perform, it’s difficult. Martin [O’Neill] was brilliant and as soon as I spoke to him I knew what he wanted. He has good relationships with players and as soon as I spoke to him I knew it was a good decision to come.”
Johnson began his career at Middlesbrough, scoring 13 times in 120 appearances, before moving to Manchester City in 2010. The Sunderland-born winger admitted he could have moved to the Stadium of Light instead of City two years ago, but even now believes he made the right decision.
“I had the choice to go to Sunderland or City and looking back now I probably made the right decision,” Johnson added. “With the medals and experiences I’ve had, looking back I’d do it again.”
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Johnson has been included in the England squad for September’s World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, having been left out by Roy Hodgson for the European Championships.
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor has stated that the ongoing dispute between John Terry and Anton Ferdinand has the potential to turn into a mafia-style feud.
The QPR man refused to shake the England defender’s hand when the Loftus Road club hosted Chelsea at the weekend, with the player accusing Terry of racially abusing him in the corresponding fixture last season.
Taylor feels that the incident threatens to take a hold in the game and needs to be abolished.
“We have a responsibility to extol the best virtues of sport. We need to be very careful if there have been personal issues between players that they are not reflected on a football stage when this is a protocol for the good of the image of the game,” The Telegraph report the chief as saying.
“I don’t want it to be a vehicle for personal feuds that are never ending. We have to move on. These things will separate us and become like some mafia feud. Owners, managers, chief executives and players said ’yes’ [to the idea] and I do not know why we should say ’no’ now.
“I would like to say to the players that I see no reason why they cannot do it [shake hands]. They are not betraying any personal principles. It is being done for the image of the game and to set the right example to the mascots and youngsters playing at school.
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“Certainly it is disappointing in that this season, I feel that football has to live up to what the Olympics did over the summer showing sport being able to bridge all barriers and being inclusive,” he concluded.
Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has stated that his side must not take their foot off the gas when winning games.
The Old Trafford outfit lost the Premier League title to Manchester City on goal difference last term, and as such the England man feels that the Red Devils should look to win each game by as many goals as possible.
“We know when we are winning two or three-nil we need to go and win five or six-nil,” The Sun quote Cleverley as saying.
“It does not need the manager to tell us we let sides back into games last season.
“With 60 or 70 games a season, if you’re two or three up you might think ‘We have another big game Tuesday so we can take our foot off the gas now’.
“But we have a squad to cope with the number of games so we can go all out for 95 minutes every game,” he commented.
Cleverley feels that Chelsea and Arsenal will have a big say in the title race this term, and the battle may well go right down to the wire once more.
“The way the four teams have started you can definitely see a four-horse race.
“Arsenal are probably playing the best stuff at the minute while Chelsea are winning games — which is what they are good at.
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“It’s dog eat dog up there. You know if you get a bad result there’s going to be two or maybe all three of the other teams winning.
“You have to be on your game every week and a bad three or four-game run could be very significant. I think it will be the most competitive season ever,” he concluded.
Brad Friedel has insisted that “there was never a big fight” between him, rival goalkeeper Hugo Lloris and Andre Villas-Boas.
Manager Andre Villas-Boas has shared goalkeeping responsibilities between Friedel and Lloris over the course of the last three games in the Premier League and the American was between the sticks for Saturday’s defeat to Chelsea.
When Lloris was brought to Tottenham Hotspur in the last transfer window, speculation raged about how Friedel was set to become second choice goalkeeper.
But Friedel insists that despite this, no problem exists between him and Lloris, and that Spurs were searching for someone to be the top goalkeeper at the club long-term.
“It was always in his (Villas-Boas’) plans to play me against Chelsea and I knew from the point he benched me against Aston Villa. The media wanted to make out that it was this big fight between Hugo and myself and the manager, but there was never a big fight,” he told sportsillustrated.com.
“The fact is Tottenham have been looking for the last year and a half for a long-term number one goalkeeper. I don’t think they envisioned what my fitness levels would be at this age and I sort of surprised myself.”
He also reiterated that the competition between the two keepers is friendly and helps both players improve their game.
“It’s healthy, but there’s a competition. It’s friendly. It’s going to be a situation where Andre will choose a team that he feels will win the game on the day and that’s how it’ll be from now until the end of the season,” he added.
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Friedel’s run of 310 successive Premier League games was ended by Lloris earlier in the month.
West Brom boss Steve Clarke faces an anxious wait to see if on loan Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku can recover in time for his side’s home fixture against Manchester City.
The 19-year-old has illustrated this term why Chelsea were willing to part with a reported £18 million fee to Anderlecht for the star’s services last season.
The Belgian international has already become a real asset for the Baggies, illustrating his sheer power and pace.
However, the player picked up an ankle problem which excluded him from participating in this round of 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.
It is a tight call whether the 6ft 3in marksman will be able to the lead Albion line against the Premier League champions, but his manager is hopeful.
Clarke is aware that the striker has had the knock for a few weeks and was feeling the strain against QPR. But he is happy that all the correct precautions have been taken to ensure the player doesn’t become seriously injured.
The former Chelsea number two went on to tell the West Bromwich Albion official website: “It’s not a big problem but it’s one we’re mindful we don’t want to become a big problem. We’re monitoring it.”
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The Baggies’ front line has been on top form this season with Lukaku providing another dimension to the already formidable Peter Odemwingie and Shane Long partnership.
The loan signing has been part of what appears to have been a successful bargain summer recruitment policy for the West Midlands side, with new midfielder Claudio Yacob also impressing after signing on a free from Racing Club.