Football: Fandi Ahmad's Young Lions 'have to keep fighting' to avoid being wooden spoonists

Football: Fandi Ahmad's Young Lions 'have to keep fighting' to avoid being wooden spoonists

SINGAPORE - The Young Lions are technically Singapore's Under-22 development team but, in reality, the Singapore Premier League (SPL) team are even younger in 2019.
As Fandi Ahmad's team take on Balestier Khalsa in their opening SPL fixture on Saturday (March 2) at the Jalan Besar Stadium, they will have an average age of just 20, with many of them rookies in professional football.
Also, the key players behind their 2018 season have left - Hami Syahin and Taufiq Muqminin both signed for Home United while brothers Irfan (Bangkok Glass, Thailand) and Ikhsan Fandi (Raufoss, Norway) have ventured overseas.
Looking pragmatically at his squad, Fandi feels that last season's creditable seventh-place finish in the nine-team table will be hard to repeat. He said: "Seriously, it will be a very difficult season. I will be very happy if we are not bottom. We just have to keep fighting."
But this is not a gripe from the 56-year-old former national captain. With nine players in the squad born in 2000 and after, he knows the team sorely lack experience.
"I have no complaints. They know the level is very high and I want them to learn fast. They are not used to this level of fitness, they are not used to training at this intensity. We will try to play good, positive football."
But one thing that defines this team is their spirit. As seen during training at Geylang Field on Monday, Fandi and assistant coach S. Subramani drilled the boys' pack mentality, instructing them to press high up the pitch in groups.

 
 
 
Even if this year's cohort is still raw, there are still bright sparks to look out. Attacking midfielder Saifullah Akbar is pacy and creative, Rezza Rezky Ramadhani is a central midfielder with an eye for a through pass while left-back Syahrul Sazali loves to overlap.
Captain Joshua Pereira, 21, said: "It's going to be a tough and long season.
"Apart from the SPL, we have the SEA Games and the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) U-23 Championship qualifiers. It's going to get hectic but we are looking to do well and gain more experience.
"No doubt, it will be tough against all the seasoned SPL players.
"We are a very young team but our team spirit is strong, our fitness is good and we will never stop fighting for each other."
This year's pre-season results have been mixed. While Fandi's team easily brushed aside amateur National Football League sides such as Jungfrau Punggol and Katong, they lost to Malaysia Super League team Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia Premier League side PDRM, among other results.
"Preparation was not the best, it has been difficult to get the whole squad together," he said.
"Many of them have study and NS (national service) commitments, some were taken by other clubs, that's why I am calling up much younger players, who are 17 or 18."
The youngest is Marc Ryan Tan, 17, son of former Lions winger Steven Tan.
And in addition to the SPL, they will fly off to Japan for training and cold-weather acclimatisation next week, ahead of the AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers in Ulaanbaatar from March 22 to 26. The team are drawn in Group G with Hong Kong, North Korea and hosts Mongolia.
In November and December, they will compete at the SEA Games in the Philippines.
And Fandi has called for patience as he begins the tough process of guiding his rookies in their new world of professional football.
He said: "The most important thing is development. After the first few games, the boys will understand the game more. It's a big challenge. Some of them are very raw but I am very happy with their commitment."

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Thieves broke in and stole luxury watches from the home of Dani Alves of Paris St Germain (PSG) while the Brazilian defender was playing a match earlier this week. French sports newspaper L'Equipe reported the burglary on Saturday. Alves is the third PSG player to be targeted by thieves in recent months.
PSG's Dani Alves house burgled during match - en.as.com

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Yes, it sounds natural with "next few", as clairanne said, but odd without "next" - "next hours." For the movie sentence, I would drop "next" and say, "The movie will probably start within the hour"
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Brighton Edge Into FA Cup Quarter-Final reacts after fumbling a save during the English FA Cup fifth round football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Derby County at the American

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Football: Defending Asian Cup champs Australia downed by

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As for two-time champions Home United, they have already started will with a win over Albirex Niigata in the Community Shield. Winning via penalty shootout, this definitely gives the team a boost
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Hence, only a miracle will stop Sheffield United to get promoted to EPL and they are destined to finish as runners-up to Norwich. As for Leeds, they can only wait for their opponent in the playoff semi-finals as they are guaranteed a spot in the top 4 position. Current Top 6: 1. Norwich - 91 pts (MP:45 , GD +35) 2. Sheffield Utd - 88 pts (MP:45
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Football: Baihakki Khaizan signs one-year deal with top-tier Thai team Trat FC SINGAPORE - Less than three weeks before he turns 35 on Jan 31, national defender Baihakki Khaizan is counting his blessings after he signed a one-year contract with Thai League 1 side Trat FC on Friday (Jan 11).
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Football: Fandi brothers Irfan and Ikhsan score again for BG

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Lions must want the ball: Yoshida. New national football coach Tatsuma Yoshida (centre) closely watching the Lions players during his first training session at the Jalan Besar Stadium yesterday.
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Ajax stunned Juventus to reach the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 1997 as Matthijs de Ligt's thumping second-half header secured a 2-1 second-leg victory in the last eight
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Football: Tributes pour in for Stoke's England World Cup-winning 'keeper Gordon Banks, who dies at 81

Football: Tributes pour in for Stoke's England World Cup-winning 'keeper Gordon Banks, who dies at 81

LONDON (AFP) - Gordon Banks, the England football team's goalkeeper when they won the 1966 World Cup, has died aged 81, his former club Stoke announced on Tuesday (Feb 12).
His family said the former star, who lost an eye in a car crash in 1972, had died in his sleep.
"It is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight," they said.
"We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him."
Geoff Hurst, who scored a hat-trick in the 4-2 win over West Germany in the World Cup final at Wembley, tweeted a fulsome tribute to his former team-mate.
"Very sad to hear the news that Gordon has died. One of the very greatest," tweeted the 77-year-old.
"Thinking especially of Ursula (wife), Julia, Wendy and Robert (children). Sad for football, Stoke City and for England fans. Will be very sadly missed."

From the family of Gordon BanksIt is with great sadness that we announce that Gordon passed away peacefully overnight. We are devastated to lose him but we have so many happy memories and could not have been more proud of him. pic.twitter.com/mg5GIgSoBb— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) February 12, 2019

Banks, who played in every game of that historic campaign, is probably best known for a wonder save he produced to deny football legend Pele in a 1970 World Cup group match in Mexico.
"Once I got my hand to it I hadn't a clue where it was going," he modestly said afterwards.
Pele - who would go on to lift the trophy - admitted later he had said "gol", so sure was he that the ball was heading into the net. Brazil still won the game 1-0.
However, Banks later recounted that he did not appreciate the remark made by one of his team-mates that day, midfielder Alan Mullery.
"I patted him on his head, and I said 'why didn't you catch it?' and the abuse that came back was unbelievable," said Mullery.
Banks, whose club playing career revolved largely around Stoke and Leicester, is the latest of the 1966 team to die.
Captain Bobby Moore, the baby of the team Alan Ball and Ray Wilson preceded him while several such as Nobby Stiles and Martin Peters suffer from Alzheimer's.
Mullery said Banks was probably the best goalkeeper he had played with or against.
"He was the best at that time. We had some great goalkeepers in those days, and the only person I can think came near was Pat Jennings," said Mullery. "He was absolutely marvellous goalkeeper. He was a likeable man, and when it came to business, he was probably the best there has ever been."

Gordon Banks vs Pele World Cup Save

'He had goose-bumps'

Another former Leicester and England legend Gary Lineker - albeit from a later generation - also tweeted his appreciation of Banks, whose sole trophies at club level were two League Cups, one piece with Stoke and Leicester.
"Oh no. Gordon Banks, an absolute hero of mine, and countless others, has died," tweeted Lineker. "@England's World Cup winner was one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, and such a lovely, lovely man. #RIPGordon."
Stoke City chairman Peter Coates said Banks - who played 250 times for The Potters after he joined from Leicester in 1967 - had not been in good health for several weeks.
"We've been expecting this, he has been (doing) poorly for a number of weeks but it's a very sad day for us, we love him so much," said Coates. "He made his home in Stoke, and was very much part of the fabric of the club. You don't get too many like him, and he was immensely modest for all (his) talent.
"He told me when they walked out at Wembley for the final, and he had goose-bumps, he had never seen anything like it."

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Feb 12, 2019 · Gordon Banks: England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper dies aged 81 Banks was a hugely loved and respected figure within the world of football. Tributes to Banks poured in from the world of
Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper

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LONDON (AFP) - Gordon Banks, the England football team's goalkeeper when they won the 1966 World Cup, has died aged 81, his former club Stoke announced on Tuesday (Feb 12).. Read more at
England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks dies

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England's greatest goalkeeper and 1966 World Cup winner Gordon Banks has died at the age of 81 after losing his battle with kidney cancer.
Football: England bids farewell to World Cup-winning 'keeper

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Players past and present have joined fans in paying tribute to England World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81. The news of his passing was released by his family
Gordon Banks: World Cup-winning goalkeeper dies aged 81

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England footballers past and present have paid tribute to 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, who has died at the age of 81. In a statement posted on the website of his former club
England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks dies

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Football: Stoke's England World Cup-winning 'keeper Gordon Banks dies at 81 LONDON (AFP) - Gordon Banks, the England football team's goalkeeper when they won the 1966 World Cup, has died aged 81, his former club Stoke announced on Tuesday (Feb 12).
Gordon Banks: England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper dies

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Feb 12, 2019 · Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper, has died aged 81. A statement released by his family via one of his former clubs Stoke City said: "It is with great sadness that we
Gordon Banks dies: tributes paid to England World Cup-winning

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Football: Tributes pour in for Stoke's England World Cup

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football; Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup-winning keeper dies, aged 81. Tributes are flowing for England's World Cup-winning goalkeeper and all-time great Gordon Banks, who has passed
Football: Stoke's England World Cup-winning 'keeper Gordon

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Banks was best known for the stunning one-handed save from a Pele bullet header that bounced awkwardly in front of him during England's group-stage game against Brazil at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
Players and fans pay tribute as England World Cup-winning

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England's 1966 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks has died aged 81. Regarded as one of the game's greatest in his position, Banks was named Fifa goalkeeper of the year six times and earned

Football: Women in football face daily battle, says France coach Corinne Diacre

Football: Women in football face daily battle, says France coach Corinne Diacre

HONG KONG (AFP) - Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" despite rising visibility and media coverage of female players.
Diacre made history when she became the first female coach of a French men's professional team in 2014, and she is now hoping to guide Les Bleues to the women's World Cup title in 2019 on home soil.
But the former France captain, who amassed 121 caps and 14 international goals - including the strike that took France to their maiden World Cup in 2003 - said it had not been an easy journey.
"When I started in football in the 1980s, it was very rare to see a girl playing, we were really looked down upon. Because football was supposedly restricted to men," she told AFP in an interview.
"But unfortunately there are still too many negative things in football. (Not just) sexism, but I also hear a lot of talk about racism and these are things that are very difficult to put up with in 2018."
Diacre was speaking in Hong Kong during a Fifa-organised trip to work with Chan Yuen-ting, another history-maker who, in 2016, became the first woman coach to win a top-flight men's championship.
Attitudes to women in football came into focus this month when Ada Hegerberg, the first female winner of the prestigious Ballon D'Or, was asked if she knew how to "twerk", a sexually suggestive dance, as she received her award.
"Quite honestly, we're confronted by that kind of thing every day. I want to tell you that today nothing shocks me," said Diacre, who coached men's team Clermont in the French second tier for three seasons.

 
"Today, women are still objects," she added. "You still get asked questions about things that to my eyes are quite frankly completely ridiculous... but we still have to fight today about these issues.
"But we women in football today focus on the important things - that is, our passion for football, and that's all we are about today."
Diacre said media coverage of women's football, including stepped-up live broadcasts of France's top league, had "developed enormously" ahead of the World Cup.
But despite such advances, she said life in football remained doubly complicated for women because they have to contend with factors not faced by men.
"It's true that it's more difficult for us, the difficulties are multiplied by two. We know it's always been like that, so we have to deal with it," the 44-year-old said.
"But there (can be) a lot of wickedness. Really a lot of wickedness, a bit of jealousy I think too. The worst thing is when you prove you're capable of success, it's complicated for them (to accept)."
When Diacre leads France at Paris's Parc des Princes against South Korea for the World Cup opener on June 7, it will underline how far she has travelled.
Diacre, already an international at the time, watched France's home victory at the 1998 men's World Cup in far more humble surroundings - at a campsite, where she had a summer job as a physical instructor to fund her studies.
However, she said she was not day-dreaming about lifting the World Cup in Lyon in July, but was treating it more as a mission handed her by the president of the French Football Federation, Noel Le Graet.
"I'm not dreaming about it, but yes I've been given this objective by my president: to go and win the World Cup," Diacre said.
"I know what my objective is, I know it will be very important and very, very good for France to win this title," she added.
"But today, even if we're third in the Fifa rankings, we're not the favourites. So we enter this competition as outsiders."
France also face Norway and Nigeria in Group A as they bid to win the title for the first time.

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France coach: Women in football face daily battle. 2018, France women's football team coach Corinne Diacre (right) and Eastern football club head coach Chan Yuen-ting pose after an Eastern

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Women in football face daily battle, says France coach. By. AFP - December 18, 2018 12:22 PM. France women's football team coach Corinne Diacre (right) and Eastern football club head coach Chan
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach

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HONG KONG: Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" despite rising visibility and media
France coach: Women in football face daily battle - nation.co.ke

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HONG KONG (AFP) - Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" despite rising visibility and media
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach

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Women in football face daily battle, says France coach. France coach Corinne Diacre is hoping to guide Les Bleues to the women's World Cup title next year on home soil AFP.
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach
worldsoccertalk.com/2018/12/17/women-in-football-face-daily-battle-says-france-coach/
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach AFP December 17, 2018 AFP No Comments Hong Kong (AFP) - Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" despite rising visibility and media coverage of female players.
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach

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Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" Women in football face daily battle, says France
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach
en.rfi.fr/wire/20181218-women-football-face-daily-battle-says-france-coach
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach France coach Corinne Diacre is hoping to guide Les Bleues to the women's World Cup title next year on home soil AFP. Trailblazing France
'Women in football face daily battle' | The Express Tribune

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France women's football team coach Corinne Diacre said media coverage of women's football, including stepped-up live broadcasts of France's top league, had "developed enormously" ahead of the World Cup. PHOTO: AFP "When I started in football in the 1980s, it was very rare to see a girl playing, we were really looked down upon.
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach

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Football: Women in football face daily battle, says France

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Trailblazing France coach Corinne Diacre said women in football face a constant struggle for acceptance and are often regarded as "objects" despite rising visibility and media coverage of female
Women in football face daily battle, says France coach

Football: Arsenal beat toothless Chelsea to blow Champions League chase open

Football: Arsenal beat toothless Chelsea to blow Champions League chase open

LONDON (AFP) - Arsenal blew the race for a top-four Premier League finish wide open as first-half goals from Alexandre Lacazette and Laurent Koscielny saw the Gunners beat Chelsea 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday (Jan 19).
Chelsea remain in pole position for a return to Champions League football next season in fourth, but are now just three points ahead of Arsenal and a surging Manchester United, who beat Brighton earlier on Saturday to stretch caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's winning streak to seven games in all competitions.
Maurizio Sarri's men risk being caught after a fourth defeat in 11 league matches that underlined the need for a striker, as the club close in on signing Gonzalo Higuain on loan from Juventus.
Sarri again opted to start without a recognised centre-forward, with a largely anonymous Eden Hazard preferred in middle of a front three against an Arsenal defence that had kept just one Premier League clean sheet since September.
By contrast Arsenal boss Unai Emery's selection was vindicated, with Mesut Ozil on the bench for the whole match and a switch to a 4-4-2 that allowed Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to form a potent partnership up front.
Aubameyang should have opened the scoring after just five minutes when perfectly picked out by Lacazette's low cross, but he dragged his shot wide.
Kepa Arrizabalaga then produced a brilliant save to deny Koscielny from point-blank range, but it counted for little as from the resulting 14th-minute corner Arsenal took a deserved lead.

 
Lacazette did well to stay on his feet as he skipped past Marcos Alonso and Pedro Rodriguez before smashing the ball past Kepa at his near post.
Aubameyang should have doubled Arsenal's lead moments later but fired too close to Kepa when clean through.
Chelsea's start was horribly reminiscent of the 3-1 defeat at Tottenham in November that began their dip in form after a fine start to Sarri's reign at Stamford Bridge.
However, Arsenal's defence remained vulnerable when put under pressure and Pedro could have levelled when his lob over Bernd Leno shaved the outside of the post.
Aubameyang came close again, this time in spectacular fashion with an overhead kick that flew inches wide with Kepa beaten.
Chelsea were repeatedly caught out by Arsenal's well-worked set-pieces and paid for it again, albeit in fortunate fashion for the Gunners, six minutes before the break.
Sead Kolasinac headed down Lucas Torreira's free-kick into the path of Sokratis Papastathopoulos and his cross picked out the unmarked Koscielny.
The Arsenal captain mistimed his header, but the ball bounced in off his shoulder for his first goal since he ruptured his Achilles in April.
Chelsea could have got a foothold in the game before half-time as David Luiz's header came back off the post.
But in keeping with so many of their performances of late, Chelsea created little thereafter despite dominating possession.
Olivier Giroud was given a warm welcome back to the Emirates when he entered as a substitute, but even with the French international as a focal point, the visitors were toothless.
Sarri will hope Higuain, who scored 38 goals when the pair first worked together at Napoli in the 2015/16 season, is the answer.

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Guardiola salutes Man City players

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Sunday's match comes 15 years after he also played for Portugal in a final on home soil, when they lost 2-1 at home to Greece in the decisive match of Euro 2004. Ronaldo himself told UEFA's website that his preparation and work ethic had helped him defy his age. "I still feel good," he said.
Portugal coach says Ronaldo can stay at the top for several

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VAR drama mars Juve's historic win. Dec 31, 2018, 5:00 am. Football: We are all Koulibaly: Napoli fans don masks to support racism victim. Dec 30, 2018, 6:09 pm.
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Mar 30, 2019 · Son is more comfortable talking about the impact Mauricio Pochettino has had on his career. The Spurs manager convinced him not to leave after a difficult first season and he has worked to improve
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Solskjaer warns Man Utd players over complacency and will look to keep that sequence going at Old Trafford on Saturday. "I want players to be confident but
Solskjaer warns Man Utd players over complacency - pulse.ng

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Kepa Arrizabalaga is a 'disgrace' and deserves to be sacked by Chelsea after refusing to be subbed off during the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City. That is the
Kepa Arrizabalaga 'should be sacked' by Chelsea after

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Zinedine Zidane's second spell as coach of Real Madrid got underway on Wednesday as the Frenchman took his first session at the club's training ground in Valdebebas. Zidane leads first session
Zidane leads first session since return to Real Madrid | Sport24

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England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare England recovered from an early scare in Montenegro as Ross Barkley scored twice in a clinical 5-1 victory to continue their strong start to the
England thrash Montenegro 5-1 after early scare | Reuters.com

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Singaporean coach Akbar Nawas' Chennai City FC crowned new I-League champions in India Nawas took over as the head coach of the I-League club in March 2018 after previously serving as the
I-League winning coach Chennai City coach Akbar Nawas calls

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Pep Guardiola said he was proud of his Manchester City players and the Club's supporters after our Champions League quest ended in heart-breaking fashion at home to Tottenham Hotspur. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola hails players and supporters after agonising Champions League exit
What the papers said about Spurs' famous - football.london

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Football News -. Read more at straitstimes.com. 'Emotional breakdown' as Japan stun imploding Iran at Asian Cup of Iran in action against Minamino Takumi of Japan during the 2019 AFC
AFC Asian Cup: 'Emotional breakdown' as Japan stuns imploding

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A night they won't forget

A night they won't forget

They had already spent about $2,000 each for flights and accommodation, and were planning to try their luck with scalpers for the Champions League final tickets in Madrid.
Dinesh Kumar, a 34-year-old Liverpool fan, and his 62-year-old Tottenham-supporting father Dewadas Vellasamy, were willing to pay about $6,000 each but were quoted almost $10,000 each and decided to pass.
Yet the duo, who were part of a group of 20 Singaporeans who had made their way to the Spanish capital last week, still had the time of their lives on Saturday with the football festivities that unfolded outside the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium as Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 to lift their sixth European Cup.
Dinesh, who works in the oil and gas industry, told The Straits Times: "It was hot and humid and we were surprised the Liverpool fan zone at Plaza Felipe II had no live screening. We were directed to bars, but they were fully booked and the commentary was in Spanish.
"In the end, we found an Indian bistro which was willing to let us to make a booking and watch the game. Fans from Hong Kong, Australia, Egypt, Malaysia, India and England started streaming in.
"There were so many fans like us who did not have tickets, but we ended up having a crazy party.
"At the final whistle, we were in tears because some of us went to Kiev last year when Liverpool lost and this felt like consolation.
"We went to the fan zone again where people gathered and celebrated with song and dance until 6am."
Dewadas, a retiree who has supported Tottenham since 1974, added: "Naturally, we Spurs fans are quite disappointed. I feel Liverpool won by luck because of the penalty and Alisson's saves.
"But I'm also very happy to be part of history with Tottenham's first Champions League final and witness in person what fans are willing to do for the love of their clubs."
Aaron Kok, a Liverpool fan who runs The Experiences Firm that took 11 fans to Madrid, was impressed by the respect both sets of fans showed despite the intense rivalry.
The 42-year-old said: "Spurs fans deserve huge credit. Visibly fewer in numbers, they were still great sport and created insane noise and atmosphere. They were respectful with friendly banter which should be how all sports fans should behave regardless of the team we support."
He and two other Liverpool fans left their hotel at 4am yesterday to begin a 12-hour commute by plane and car to Merseyside via Rome and London for the trophy parade.
Kok said: "This trip to Liverpool is really quite illogical as there was no guarantee of victory and we could have gone to a very sad city. But life has to be lived through the heart as much as the brain."
Meanwhile, fans in Singapore had various options to follow Saturday's action, including at the Osim Sundown Marathon, where around 300 people gathered to watch the live telecast on a big screen at the runners' village.
After completing the half-marathon in a black Liverpool kit, Eddy Chua, a 22-year-old national serviceman, said: "There was a very lively atmosphere. Even though we were all tired after the run, we kept the atmosphere going.
"I was there alone, but it felt like I was there with friends as we were in it together, cheering for our team when Liverpool scored.
"I supported Liverpool only since 2006 and, from that time on, our only major trophy was the League Cup in 2012. But the Champions League win was our moment to tell the world that this is our time."
Tottenham fan Raama Subramaniyam, a 42-year-old who was also clad in his Spurs jersey, added: "I like the set-up of the live screening, it was well organised and the sound system was good. I just wish I had more friends and Spurs fans around me.
"It was quite a boring game, to be honest. The three-week break after the last Premier League game caused both teams' form to drop and they were both so cautious.
"Spurs attacked in the second half, but didn't convert (their chances), so hard luck to them and congratulations to Liverpool."

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Newport manager Michael Flynn says beating Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Saturday would represent the biggest shock in the history of the competition. County are 82 places
Victory over Man City would be biggest FA Cup shock ever

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Ole aiming for European glory. French World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe may spearhead the attack against Manchester United in the absence of other senior Paris Saint-Germain attackers like Neymar and
Ole aiming for European glory - theworldnews.net

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Iker Casillas responds after Porto heart attack scare. Casillas out of the woods. Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has taken to social media after he suffered a heart attack at Porto's training facility. The Spanish goalkeeper is considered to be one of the best goalkeepers of the last decade or so.
Iker Casillas to retire from football after heart attack scare

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Dec 22, 2018 · Deeney and Deulofeu seal Watford win over West Ham and raise Europe hopes sign up and get our daily football email. West Ham worked up a storm early in the second half but precision still
Deeney and Deulofeu seal Watford win at West Ham | Reuters.com

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Yet in that time Newport have beaten Wrexham, Leicester and Middlesbrough in the FA Cup to reach the fifth round for the first time in 70 years. "Of course there is," Flynn replied when asked if a shock to end City's hopes of winning an unprecedented quadruple was possible.
Amond's late penalty gives Newport County shock FA Cup win

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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised to Swansea for the goal that shouldn't have stood as the blues beat the Swans to progress to the semi-final of the FA Cup. With the score at 2-2, Aguero's diving header broke Swansea hearts, but replays showed the striker was marginally offside when the ball was played.
'I am so sorry' Pep Guardiola apologises to Watford for

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Southampton stun fading Tottenham, Newcastle edge five-goal Everton thriller Southampton staged a superb fightback to boost their bid for Premier League survival with a shock 2-1 win that left
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge five-goal
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Brighton also boosted their survival hopes thanks to Anthony Knockaert's brilliant strike to win 2-1 at Crystal Palace, while Newcastle battled back from 2-0 down to beat Everton 3-2. Despite their poor domestic form of late, Spurs were boosted by victory at Borussia Dortmund in midweek to reach the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Southampton stun fading Spurs, Newcastle edge Everton in five

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Pep Guardiola predicts roller-coaster title run-in after Liverpool blip Back-to-back draws for Liverpool have handed Manchester City an opportunity to move to the top of the league table for the first time since December with a win over Everton on Wednesday.
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Teenage Italy midfielder Zaniolo oozes Roman pedigree PARMA • Roma have long had a history of supplying Italy with top-level home-grown talent like Francesco Totti and Daniele de Rossi who have come through their ranks.
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Sevilla keep pressure on Atletico with vital win over Celta. Sampaoli: Sevilla want the position we've been in almost the whole season Third victim in Reyes car accident is stable after
SBOBET | Atletico know how to win the big Football Games
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Antoine Griezmann set up one goal and scored a pearl as Diego Simeone's team beat Sevilla 3-1. Even though the visitors began and ended the game in third place, betting websites pitched Atletico as odds-on favourites to win this match while betting tips increasingly whisper that they'll finish the season above Sevilla. Atletico Madrid 3-1
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Everton players have "100 per cent belief" Marco Silva will get it right. It's five losses in six now for Everton boss Silva after defeat to previous employers Watford in front of their taunting fans
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Watford | Malaysia News is a newsreader (RSS reader) providing a summary of headlines and latest news stories disseminated in the reliable news sources from Malaysia News. Malaysia News reads latest regional, national and local headlines in English and Melayu.
Watford winger Richarlison to have medical at Everton on

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Wolves reached the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1998, beating United 2-1 Jimenez, Jota slay United as Wolves reach FA Cup semis by beating last year's runners-up
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Football: Cardiff relegated from Premier League after Palace defeat

Football: Cardiff relegated from Premier League after Palace defeat

CARDIFF, United Kingdom (AFP) - Cardiff City have been relegated from the Premier League after slumping to a 3-2 defeat against Crystal Palace on Saturday (May 4).
Neil Warnock's side needed a win to have a realistic chance of beating the drop on the last day of the season, but they were out-classed by Palace at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Third bottom Cardiff are four points behind Brighton with only one game remaining, ensuring they will join already relegated Huddersfield and Fulham in the second tier next season.
The Bluebirds will make an immediate return to the Championship after last season's promotion, their fate sealed by a dismal run of nine defeats in their last 11 league games.
It won't be a season fondly remembered by Cardiff, with their relegation coming after the tragic death of striker Emiliano Sala, who died in a plane crash en route to Wales before he had even played a game for the club.
"They've tried hard. We've shown limitations today and that's why we are where we are," Warnock said.
"But the club's arrived again now. It's alive and kicking and that's the main thing. When we first came here it was almost gone.
"I'm really proud of what we've done. It could have been a little bit closer, but things were out of hand."
Warnock's name was chanted by Cardiff fans despite the loss, but it remains to be seen if the 70-year-old returns for the Championship promotion bid next term.
In a painful twist, Cardiff were pushed towards relegation by Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, who spent time on loan with Cardiff when they last dropped out of the Premier League in 2014.
The Ivory Coast international, booed by Cardiff fans, gave an influential display on his return to south Wales and fired Palace in front from the edge of the area in the 28th minute.
Martin Kelly gifted Cardiff a lifeline three minutes later when the Palace defender tried to cut out Leandro Bacuna's cross but instead diverted the ball into his own net when he could have left it for goalkeeper Vicente Guaita to collect.
Kelly's blunder did little to ease Cardiff's obvious anxiety and on-loan Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi restored Palace's lead when he punished sloppy marking with a clinical close-range finish in the 40th minute.
Andros Townsend effectively confirmed Cardiff's relegation in the 70th minute with a low drive that went in via the woodwork and Bobby Reid's 90th minute curler was no consolation for the beleaguered hosts.

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LONDON(AFP) - Real Madrid have knocked Manchester United off the top of Deloitte's Football Money League, but the Premier League still flexed its financial muscle, with all of England's "Big Six
Manchester United : Real Madrid take top spot from Manchester

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MADRID (AFP) - Former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Spain star Jose Antonio Reyes has been killed in a car crash, his hometown club Sevilla said on Saturday (June 1). He was 35.. Read more at
Football: Grief in Sevilla as former star Jose Antonio Reyes

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Solskjaer extends perfect record as Man United beat Newcastle Ole Gunnar Solskjaer joined Matt Busby in the Manchester United record books on Wednesday as his inspirational decision to bring on Romelu Lukaku as a substitute paid immediate dividends in a 2-0 victory against Newcastle.
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Watch Deadliest Catch - Season 14, Episode 24 - Unfinished Business: The captains return to Dutch Harbor days before the opening of king crab season. As they prepare their boats and their c
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Barca's Dembele back to training ahead of Man United clash. Published April 4, 2019 April 4, and Ousmane Dembele were back training with the group," the La Liga leaders said on their website.
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Tim Visser aiming for European glory at his future home as Edinburgh aim for the Stoop. Tim Visser has agreed to join Harlequins next season; Edinburgh one win away from European Challenge Cup
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Soccer-Newcastle plunge 10-man Huddersfield closer to the drop. 2 Min Read * Newcastle won a third straight home match against Huddersfield NEWCASTLE UNITED 2 HUDDERSFIELD TOWN 0 .
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FOOTBALL NEWS. News home page Juve foiled by Gervinho brace after leading 3-1. Daniele Rugani put Juventus 2-0 ahead in the 62nd minute after a series of
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Solskjaer trusts De Gea. If anyone at Manchester United has earned the right to be forgiven for a few dodgy games, it is David de Gea, says his boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who sees the goalkeeper
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Jorginho fired Chelsea to a 2-1 win at struggling Fulham on Sunday as Blues keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga began to make amends for his Wembley mutiny with an impressive display. Maurizio Sarri's side
Jorginho fires Chelsea to victory as recalled Kepa shines

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Ambitious Hougang show title promise, Football News & Top

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