The International Football Thread

[LAM09 6,744]

2 hours ago, Sir Mikel OBE said:

That Striker they have ahead of him. Diallo. Absolutely insane. Even outplaying Mane. 

 

Already has scored against the hosts 10 minutes in.

He should have stayed on. Jackson did almost nothing when he came on, and he was too scared to take a PK.

I'm not exactly elated that he'll be back this week.

[LAM09 6,744]

Morocco humbled by South Africa. They've lost twice since the WC, both at the hands of Bafana Bafana.

[Vesper 28,767]

[KEVINAA 90]

BEACH SOCCER WORLD CUP UAE 2024 AT Dubai Design District Stadium.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_FIFA_Beach_Soccer_World_Cup

Dates 15–25 February 2024

Teams 16 (from 6 confederations)

https://www.fifa.com/fifaplus/en/tournaments/mens/beachsoccerworldcup/united-arab-emirates-2024

Edited February 10 by KEVINAA

[cosmicway 1,323]

I 'm German tonight. Tuchel out.

[KEVINAA 90]

 

 

 

[Vesper 28,767]

Netherlands international Quincy Promes sentenced to six years in prison for drug trafficking

https://theathletic.com/5274822/2024/02/14/quincy-promes-netherlands-drug-trafficking/

Spartak Moscow forward Quincy Promes has been sentenced in his absence to six years in prison by a Dutch court for his involvement in smuggling 1,350kgs of cocaine.

The 32-year-old was accused of being involved in the smuggling of two shipments of cocaine into the Belgian port of Antwerp via the Cap San Nicolas container vessel in January 2020.

The first batch was hidden in sacks of salt and involved 650 blocks of cocaine. The second batch had a logo of a tiger stamped on it and weighed in at 712kgs after being intercepted by Belgian police.

Prosecutors had initially sought a nine-year jail sentence, but the court ruled that their request had relied on previous cases with harsh punishments.

“The suspect is regularly in the news, is active on social media and has fans worldwide,” judge M. Vaandrager said. “Not only his sporting achievements, but also the wealth he flaunts, make him an example for many and – as the court assumes – especially for young people.

”This makes it even more objectionable that the suspect tries to increase his wealth (and possibly also prestige in certain circles) through involvement in large international drug transports.”

GO DEEPER

The curious case of Quincy Promes and how Amsterdam's underworld preys on footballers

Promes did not attend the hearing that took place on January 24, instead remaining in Russia to continue playing for Spartak.

He had been charged in May 2023 by the Dutch prosecution office for his involvement and denied the allegations.

The former Ajax and Sevilla winger, who has also been capped 50 times by the Netherlands, has also previously been found guilty in his absence and sentenced to 18 months in prison for stabbing his cousin at a family party.

In 2019, Promes made the move from Dutch giants Ajax to Spanish club Sevilla.

He left Amsterdam in 2021 to join Spartak for a second spell, having played for the club between 2014 and 2018.

Promes has played 21 times across all competitions for Spartak this season, scoring eight goals and assisting the same amount.

His Spartak contract expires in June 2024.

GO DEEPER

The Dutch footballer with a prison sentence and a drug trafficking charge - who is still playing

[KEVINAA 90]

The American AFC Bournemouth owners Bill Foley and his Company have setup and own my local City football club called [AUCKLAND FC - BLACK KNIGHTS] first season in 2024-25 AUSTRALIAN A-LEAGUE.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auckland_FC

https://aucklandfc.co.nz/

 

@ fc_auckland [twitter username official account]

Edited March 15 by KEVINAA

[Vesper 28,767]

Chelsea pair Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi left out of France squad for March friendlies

https://theathletic.com/5341972/2024/03/14/Chelsea-france-disasi-gusto-squad/

Chelsea pair Malo Gusto and Axel Disasi have been left out of France’s squad for their upcoming international friendlies.

Centre-back Disasi was included in Didier Deschamps’ last squad in November.

The 26-year-old was an unused substitute during the 14-0 victory over Gibraltar and came on in the 5th minute during the 2-2 draw with Greece.

Gusto, 20, was not selected for Deschamps’ squad in November, but has impressed with his club form of late.

The right-back has had an extended run in the team due to first-choice right-back and club captain Reece James’ hamstring injury. 

France face Germany at the Groupama Stadium on March 23 and then Chile at the Stade Velodrome on March 26.

These are France’s final fixtures before the start of the European Championships in Germany this summer.

Gusto has been included in Thierry Henry’s France under-21 squad for their matches against Ivory Coast on March 22 and the U.S. on March 25.

When asked in February about the possibility of him making France’s Euro 2024 squad, Gusto told The Athletic: “It is a target for me. I have got this idea in my head but, for the moment, I have to just keep focusing on Chelsea, on every game, starting this weekend.

“And after, we will see what happens. But it is a target for me, for sure, 100 per cent.”

Gusto made his only senior international appearance during the 2-1 victory over the Netherlands in October. Disasi has earned five caps, including being part of France’s 2022 World Cup squad where he was a late substitute in the final.

France squad in full

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham United), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens).

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Lucas Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool), Jules Kounde (Barcelona), Benjamin Pavard (Inter), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus), Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris Saint-Germain).

Forwards: Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain), Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Randal Kolo Muani (Paris Saint-Germain), Marcus Thuram (Inter), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid).

GO DEEPER

Malo Gusto: 'Pochettino knows he has to wake up our mentality. We are Chelsea. We have to win'

[KEVINAA 90]

Friday international football results.

Argentina beat El Salvador 3 - 0 [Enzo F 42nd minute goal against El Salvador]

Spain lost against Columbia 0 - 1.

Egypt in Cairo beat My New Zealand 1 - 0.

https://www.flashscore.com/football/world/friendly-international/

Edited March 23 by KEVINAA

[KEVINAA 90]

ENGLAND VS BRAZIL

https://www.11v11.com/teams/england/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Brazil/

ENG Games won: 4

ENG Games drawn: 11

ENG Games lost: 11

14 November 2017 last each other played and drew 0-0 at Wembley.

[NikkiCFC 7,942]

England have so much better team on paper than Brazil. Probably first time in history we can say that. 

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

14 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

England have so much better team on paper than Brazil. Probably first time in history we can say that. 

and even then they should still be winning.

 

I'd take this Brazil attack over what England has out there.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

Chilwell has been ASS

[cosmicway 1,323]

Mc Guire is stealing the show.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

What on earth has happened to Our boy chilly.

 

Awful Awful performance.

[Sir Mikel OBE 4,919]

Endrick first goal for Brazil

[robsblubot 3,502]

* Caveat: just a friendly even if a well-disputed one.
Brazil deserved the win; they had the better chances to score even though possession was split.

Lucas Paqueta motm for me.

being originally from Brazil, and have been following WC and other international competitions for decades, this is that last final step which is so hard to take. When England plays anyone else but a select few (France, Argentina, Brazil, Germany) they will have the advantage as being a top tier team atm.
Now, when Facing one of those teams, it's at least even, and tbh, England was definitely missing something up front; yes Kane would've helped, but nothing good happening out wide either (though Bowen looked good at times).
I consider the teams pretty even player by player in most areas of the pitch; while Brazil does not have a Bellingham atm, Paqueta is far more skillful than Gallagher in that top mid position. The distance in the middle isn't that great. In attack however, Brazil just have more options. Richarlyson, for ex was sitting on the bench, and Brazil were missing a lot of potential starters today including both goalies from the PL.

The announcers kept on mentioning recent England winning streak, which means nothing at this level. This is what I mean about different tiers at club level as well. The opposition being played means literally everything; there is no comparison of better or worse without taking into account the quality of the opposition duh. And yet, it's something we fans tend to ignore as we focus on our fav team, and fav players.

It's going to be tough now for England to face off with the other top teams... it will require some tactical nuance that perhaps the current boss cannot provide. They will also need to find better solutions in attack esp when Kane is unavailable.

 

Edited March 23 by robsblubot