List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

By Rory Carroll LOS ANGELES (Reuters) -Some NFL players have expressed interest in playing for the U.S. flag football team

Would the Oklahoma Sooners and Florida State Seminoles be higher in the college football rankings if strength of record was truly taken into account?

Roberto De Zerbi praised Jurgen Klopp after the Liverpool manager intervened to try and calm him as he protested against a refereeing decision during the Reds’ 2-2 draw with Brighton at the Amex Stadium. The Italian was shown a yellow card by referee Anthony Taylor for remonstrating with the fourth official when his team were denied a penalty for a possible handball against Virgil van Dijk. The ball struck the defender on the leg and bounced up onto his arm, with the manager insistent his side should have been given a spot-kick as they sought a way back from 2-1 down. Klopp went into Brighton’s technical area to try and sooth the situation, putting his arms around De Zerbi in what he described as “using his age” to try and assuage the situation. De Zerbi, who saw his side come back to draw for the second time in three days after Thursday’s Europa League meeting with Marseille, said that whilst he felt his team were hard done by over the decision, he believed the foul by Trent Alexander-Arnold on Solly March from which Brighton later equalised through Lewis Dunk should not have been a free-kick. “I love Klopp,” he said. “He can do what he wants because I have a big respect and I consider him one of the best coaches in the world. I like his behaviour, and when he says something, 99 per cent I agree with him. “In that situation, I think there was a clear penalty and I told the referee, I think in a good way, what I thought in the moment. “I think there was a penalty, but there wasn’t a foul when we scored the second goal. I’m honest, and I told Jurgen my opinion.” Brighton are sixth going into the international break having won five of their first eight Premier League games. De Zerbi has made an average of seven changes between matches this season as he seeks to navigate the demands made by a first season in Europe for the club. Despite recording a fourth winless game in a row in all competitions the manager praised his players’ character, particularly in the context of bouncing back from the 6-1 defeat against Aston Villa to register two comeback draws. “The most important thing for me has been the reaction after Villa Park,” he said. “We started the game in Marseille, one of the best stadiums in Europe, and we started losing 2-0. After that moment, there was only one team on the pitch – Brighton. “To do it, you have to show character, to show the right attitude, the right behaviour and passion. The most important thing in my idea of football is passion, is the character. “After that we can speak about tactical disposition, the quality of the players, recruitment. But without that part of football, in my opinion, you can’t play or work in football.” Read More Cricket among sports put forward for inclusion at the 2028 Olympics Expectation to underachievement – How Scotland came up short in France Matt Fitzpatrick completes double at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Ken Doherty to keep hold of his world number one ranking Captain Ben Davies hopes to bring a bit of Tottenham to Wales camp Gareth Anscombe and Liam Williams ‘recovering well’ ahead of Wales quarter-final

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A vacancy in the Bears' backfield and some intriguing rookie receivers highlight the top fantasy football pickups of Week 6.

Bukayo Saka will miss England’s upcoming internationals with Australia and Italy, the Football Association has confirmed. The Arsenal attacker was called up to Gareth Southgate’s squad on Thursday, despite concerns over his fitness after being substituted in recent matches at Bournemouth and Lens. Saka subsequently sat out Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday with a hamstring issue and club boss Mikel Arteta said afterwards the 22-year-old would have to pull out of the England squad. Saka met up with England’s medical staff at St George’s Park on Monday and it has now been confirmed he will return to Arsenal for further treatment. “The forward reported to St George’s Park on Monday alongside the rest of the Three Lions’ squad,” an FA statement read. “Having missed Arsenal’s Premier League win against Manchester City on Sunday through injury, Saka was assessed by the England medical team and it was decided the player would continue his rehabilitation at his club. “No replacements are planned with Gareth Southgate having a squad of 25 players to work with.” Southgate’s side host Australia in a friendly at Wembley on Friday night before they take on Italy in London next Tuesday. Read More Expectation to underachievement – How Scotland came up short in France Matt Fitzpatrick completes double at Alfred Dunhill Links Championship Ronnie O’Sullivan beats Ken Doherty to keep hold of his world number one ranking

As long as 30 minutes after the game, and at least 30m from the Arsenal dressing room, you could still hear the raucous celebrations inside. The cheers were especially audible as the door to the media room swung open and Mikel Arteta came in for his press conference, when he eventually allowed himself to smile – and quite widely. “A great feeling,” the Arsenal manager said after his side’s 1-0 win over Manchester City, which represented his first points against his former employers, not to mention his club’s first points at all against the champions since April 2017. “You could sense, it’s been so many years without beating them. “They were all dancing and super happy. They go into the international break and the mood is much better. They’re gonna have a few days off, the ones who are not involved, and it just sends everybody away until the next game against Chelsea with the right feeling. It’s great so I’m really happy.” If these sound like the sort of scenes usually reserved for when a trophy is won, that is kind of the point. It’s all about taking this team closer to that first Premier League since 2004. Arteta has taken them step by step over the last four years, and we’re now at the point where it’s truly decisive moves rather than the earlier strides. It was why this was so important. If you are going to actually beat a team as powerful as this Manchester City in the title race, you obviously need to beat them on the pitch, and in the league. Arteta naturally tried to play down its exact psychological significance, but he couldn’t but admit this was important. His interpretations of previous games were maybe a bit generous but that was understandable. “I don’t know if it was a barrier. Obviously it was something we needed to go through. To beat them we have to lose against them, we have to lose probably the way we lost at the Etihad. The team showed a real maturity today, that comes from experiences. Sometimes you need that to become a better team.” That is probably what Arsenal are, even if their points return is worse than this point last season. They are clearly a more substantial team, with more conviction, as a season like last year will ensure. It was an arrival, even if it ended in frustrating fashion. It ultimately proved Arsenal are at that level again. The summer signings have since been about giving them more dimensions. It is one of the more interesting elements of Arsenal’s start to the campaign, as well as what might have been lift-off for Kai Havertz. Arsenal clearly hit on a superb first XI last season, which propelled their campaign for months. The issue was it eventually left Arteta in a bind. He could either persevere with the XI, at the cost of energy given how little they were rested, or he could change up but also remove some of the verve. He tried to do a bit of both in the end, and they somewhat inevitably ran out of steam. Since then, Arteta has obviously been trying to give them more depth, but also variety. Havertz was about exactly this. Arteta will especially enjoy his contribution, the pass to Gabriel Martinelli for the goal coming as it did just minutes after the German came on. It looked simple but was about his spatial awareness and presence of mind. The effect of just doing that can’t be discounted either – as with the win. Arsenal will believe, even more than before. Nobody should believe this is going to be the City for the rest of the season of course. They have some huge absences, especially with Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne. They will return and both the team and Erling Haaland will inevitably go on the sort of run they did last season at least once. Arsenal should be more equipped to go that bit further, to get more points. That was what the celebrations felt like they were about, at least in part. The team is that bit closer to completion. Read More Mikel Arteta hails ‘fantastic’ young Arsenal side as they break Man City hex Arteta provides Saka injury update and rules Arsenal star out for England Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hails ‘maturity’ of young Gunners after City win Gabriel Martinelli snatches last-gasp victory for Arsenal against Man City Fortune favours Arsenal as Mikel Arteta finally outdoes Pep Guardiola Pep Guardiola says he learned ‘a lot’ from Mikel Arteta ahead of Sunday reunion

The host nations for Euro 2028 and 2032 will be announced by the Uefa Executive Committee on Tuesday 10th October. The meeting will begin at 9am BST with the announcement expected to follow at approximately 11-11:30am BST. The United Kingdom and Ireland currently have an unopposed bid to host the competition as Turkey withdrew to form a joint bid with Italy for 2032. As a result, the UK and Ireland are set to be named as hosts for 2028. Turkey’s bid was officially withdrawn on the 4 October which meant the home nations and the Republic of Ireland have the final remaining bid. The five nations put in a bid for the 2028 competition after they decided not to bid for the 2030 World Cup. It is possible however that some of the host nations not qualify despite hosting as automatic qualification is unlikely to be given to all five. The proposal includes matches across ten stadiums: Wembley Stadium, National Stadium of Wales, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, City of Manchester Stadium, Everton Stadium, St James’ Park, Villa Park, Hampden Park, Dublin Arena, and Casement Park. With almost three million tournament tickets available, the proposed tournament will have more tickets available than any previous UEFA EURO. Spread across five nations and ten cities with an average stadium capacity of 58,000, the sporting event has the potential to be the biggest in the UK since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A focus has been made on sustainability in the bid with transport plans allowing more than 80 per cent of ticket holders to the stadiums by public transport. The proposal is backed by all five national governments and National Football Associations. The final bid presentations followed by the announcement ceremony will take place on Tuesday at the UEFA Headquarters in Switzerland. The bid sets out a vision of "Football for all, Football for good. Football for the future" which aims to diversify the game and make it more inclusive, as well as connect with the next generation of fans. England and Scotland previously hosted matches at EURO 2020 including the final between England and Italy at Wembley. The match caused major chaos and organisers will be looking to provide a far safer and more positive event this time around. Turkey and Italy are set to be announced as hosts for the 2032 tournament as they too have an unopposed bid for the following tournament. Read More Euro 2028 venues: UK and Ireland name 10 stadiums as Anfield and Old Trafford miss out Gareth Bale part of Welsh delegation to help UK and Ireland Euro 2028 bid Gareth Southgate positive about UK and Ireland bid for Euro 2028 Uefa postpones matches in war-torn Israel Uefa torn over plans to reinstate Russian youth teams Gareth Southgate positive about UK and Ireland bid for Euro 2028

Ben Davies has taken over the Wales captaincy hoping his club Tottenham’s rise to the top of the Premier League can benefit the Dragons’ Euro 2024 ambitions. Davies replaces the injured Aaron Ramsey as skipper for Wednesday’s friendly with Gibraltar and the vital European Championship qualifier against Croatia in Cardiff on Sunday. The long-serving Tottenham full-back has been used by new Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou as a substitute so far this season but the 30-year-old says he has arrived for international duty in good spirits. Davies said: “Players want to be in winning teams and right now I’m lucky enough that I’m in a squad where we are picking up good results and doing well. “It’s about bringing that intensity and enthusiasm and the stuff that is working into the training camp this week. “The Gibraltar game is important to us as a group that we get minutes together on the field. “Hopefully we pick up another good result that gives us confidence going into the big game against Croatia.” Cardiff midfielder Ramsey misses out this week with a knee tendon injury and is also set to be sidelined for the final Euro qualifiers against Armenia and Turkey next month. It is a big setback for a Wales side who are also without Davies’ Tottenham team-mate Brennan Johnson through injury and in need of a positive result against Croatia to keep automatic hopes of qualification for next summer’s final in Germany alive. “Aaron’s a great player and to be without him is definitely a blow,” said Davies. “It gives the boys who have come in his absence before another chance to show what they can do and we’re excited for the games. “We believe in the younger players we’ve got, the players coming through and those that have come through in the last few years. “You can call it a transitional period, but I believe we’ve got players ready to go right now.” On the captaincy, Davies – who has done the job previously, most recently in the goalless friendly with South Korea last month – added: “It’s something I’m incredibly proud to do. “I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve done it before but it’s nice going into the games knowing the situation we’re in. I’m ready for it. ”I’ve been seen as one of the leaders in the group for a while now, so it doesn’t feel too different. “I’ll just be myself, stick to the values I’ve got, and hopefully get the boys going for the games.” The first meeting between Wales and Gibraltar at senior men’s level marks the return of the Dragons to Wrexham’s SToK Cae Ras. The ground staged Wales’ first home game in 1877 and is often referred to as the spiritual home of Welsh football. But Wales have only played there once since 2008 – a friendly against Trinidad and Tobago in March 2019. Davies said: “It is something that has actually been playing on the boys’ minds for a while. “We are very appreciative as a group of the efforts of the North Walian fans to come to Cardiff to watch games, especially in midweek and the late ones. We know it is a tough, long journey at times. “But we are incredibly grateful to get the chance to come up north and play at Wrexham and in front of our loyal fans. We can’t wait to play in front of them.” Read More Dan Evans beaten by Carlos Alcaraz in third round of Shanghai Masters Gareth Anscombe and Liam Williams ‘recovering well’ ahead of Wales quarter-final Will Rowlands ready for knockout action after Wales achieve ‘minimum standard’ Ronan Kelleher will treat ‘biggest game of career’ like any other Ireland match England would be naive to play Jofra Archer during the World Cup – Eoin Morgan Marcus Smith hails Daley Thompson sprint sessions as he bids to emulate NZ duo

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So vertiginous were the heights scaled by Newcastle on Wednesday, with their 4-1 dismantling of Paris Saint-Germain, it was almost inevitable that Eddie Howe's men would be brought down to earth at the London Stadium, forced to dig deep to eke out a result against a resilient West Ham. The Magpies could have picked up a fifth straight win, in fact, had a brilliant late equaliser from Hammers’ substitute Mohammed Kudus not rescued a point for the home team. It was a fair result. Where Newcastle were full of cunning and elan against PSG, here on a sunny Sunday in east London they were visibly running on empty, deservedly going into the break 1-0 down. West Ham, like their opponents, had been in action midweek, but David Moyes was able to make five changes from their 2-1 win at Freiburg. No such luxury for Howe: Sven Botman, Joelinton, Joe Willock and Harvey Barnes all remain on the treatment table, while Callum Willson – scorer of 12 goals in 13 games against West Ham over the years – was reduced to a late cameo here, so determined is the manager not to rush his No 9 back from injury. That they were stretched showed right from the outset. Gone was the usual high intensity; in its stead was a lethargy that allowed Emerson Palmieri in on the left, with Jamal Lascelles caught out of position. The Italian international was able to nip the ball beyond Nick Pope, the Newcastle keeper having hurtled off his line, before squaring to Tomas Soucek for an easy tap in. It was the defibrillator the game needed. The Europa Conference League champions were buoyant, with James Ward-Prowse winning the midfield battle and 33-year-old Michail Antonio, back in the side after a hip injury, causing problems for a defence that had kept Kylian Mbappe at bay only a few days earlier. Newcastle, on the other hand, continued to stumble soporifically through the first 40 minutes. There was no composure. No urgency. When Sean Longstaff lofted a pass into the stands, most Newcastle fans would have settled for a point there and then. Bruno Guimaraes, so often the fulcrum around which Newcastle operate, was not on his game – and was very fortunate to still be on the field. The Brazilian was booked for tripping Emerson; 90 seconds later, he somehow evaded a second card for scything down Ward-Prowse. Even Alan Shearer, on Match of the Day, admitted Guimaraes should have seen red. As half-time approached, though, the visitors began to show flickers of life. Miguel Almiron, cutting in from the right, curled a rasping shot just over the crossbar. Soon after, the Paraguayan won a free-kick from which Dan Burn’s glancing header slipped narrowly wide of the post. But Howe’s verdict was accurate: “Really tough first half for us,” he said. “We weren’t ourselves. We just didn’t have much rhythm in the game.” They regained some after the interval. Kieran Trippier increasingly found himself in space down the right, while Guimaraes was now in his groove, adding vim and ballast to the midfield. The passing was crisp; Newcastle’s confidence grew. Even more so after Edson Álvarez headed wide for West Ham from Ward-Prowse’s corner. When Alphonse Areola was called upon to make a fine save to deny Burn after the left back climbed to meet Alexander Isak’s beautiful dink to the far post, an equaliser seemed nigh. It was. Lucas Paquetá was adjudged to have fouled Bruno Tonali – a decision that left Moyes furious – and Trippier's resulting free kick fell to Isak via Alvarez’s clearing header. The Swede made no mistake, calmly slotting past Areola. He had his second shortly after. Guimaraes, collecting the ball infield, sprayed a sublime 30-yard pass to the right to Trippier, whose volleyed cross was even better, leaving Isak with the simplest of finishes. It was Newcastle at their free-flowing best. As “Geordie boys, taking the p**s”, rang out from from the away end, West Ham looked rattled, their defence yanked out of shape. Isak, whose performance Howe described as “magnificent”, should have had a hat-trick and taken his tally for the season to eight, level with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. Put through by Burn, the 24-year-old rounded Areola but saw his shot from an acute angle ricochet off the post. Naturally, it was a turning point. As was the case when the Toon lost 2-1 to Liverpool in the dying moments at the end of August, Newcastle’s profligacy came back to haunt them. In the last minute of normal time, Kudus, signed from Ajax for £37m in the summer, popped up on the edge of the box to smash the ball past a despairing Pope. That the Ghana forward was able to get his shot away despite a heavy first touch – Tonali failed to get a block in – was clearly a source of irritation for Howe. “I’m really disappointed we didn’t get over the line,” he said. “We’ve made a couple of mistakes and got punished.” Certainly, if Newcastle are to replicate their success of last season, they will need to improve at seeing out games. Still, it's a measure of how imperious they have been since losing 3-1 at Brighton before the last international break that a point away at seventh-placed West Ham seems like a missed opportunity. “It’s been a brilliant spell for us,” said Howe, whose side are now unbeaten in seven, having won five of those matches. “When you go back to the Brighton game, there was a response needed. We needed to come back after the break and build our confidence back and get results. We’ve done that and some really.” For David Moyes, whose side were eviscerated 5-1 in last season’s corresponding fixture, there were plenty of positives, particularly the character they showed right to the end. “I’m actually quite pleased with a point,” he admitted. Come the end of the season, you’d expect, on reflection, Newcastle fans will feel the same. Read More West Ham United vs Newcastle United LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction Eddie Howe says becoming Newcastle head coach was ‘life-changing’ Newcastle defender Tino Livramento returns to England Under-21s squad