The decision to select a GB football team for the 2012 Olympics has brought a mixed response within the game. Some players have welcomed the decision and suggested they would be keen to play, while managers and the football federations have questioned the fact it will impinge on their members preparations for their league programme. The very fact the Euro Championships will also be taking place some weeks earlier only goes to underline the worries that some football managers are likely to have and why they will be hesitant to release some of their players for the Olympics.
The ruling for the Olympic teams is the players must be 23 years of age or under; although three players over that age can also be included within the squad.
With that in mind I have included my Olympic XI for Team GB
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Click on the image below to see the GB XI
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PSV Eindhoven took the lead in the Dutch Eredivisie with a 4-1 win over NAC Breda on Sunday after Twente could only draw.PSV and defending champions Twente were level on 50 points ahead of their respective matches, but Fred Rutten’s PSV side are now out in front with 53 points.Visitors Breda got off to a bad start at the Philips Stadion when Nemanja Gudelj saw a straight red card after just 15 minutes.Balazs Dzsudzsak gave PSV the lead in the 25th minute. Anthony Lurling levelled for Breda on 64 minutes, but goals from Jeremain Lens, Ola Toivonen and Francisco Rodriguez wrapped up a comprehensive win for the hosts.Twente meanwhile were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at home to NEC Nijmegen.Niki Zimling had NEC ahead after 17 minutes at De Grolsch Veste, but Emir Bajrami equalised. A point each leaves Twente second, two points behind PSV, while NEC are 10th.Mounir El Hamdaoui’s goal in the 11th minute at the Amsterdam Arena gave Ajax a 1-0 win over visitors VVV Venlo.Ajax are third, three points behind Twente and five behind PSV. Venlo, who finished with 10 men following the sending off of Ken Leemans in the 74th minute, are second from bottom, five points above last-placed Willem II. Two late goals saw ADO Den Haag snatch a point at home to Feyenoord.Visitors Feyenoord led through a first-half double from Luc Castaignos at the Het Zuiderpark and the strugglers looked on course to collect three valuable points, before Charlton Vicento pulled one back for the hosts in the 81st minute.Dmitry Bulykin then struck with five minutes remaining to ensure a share of the spoils for ADO.The draw leaves ADO fifth and Feyenoord 15th, just three points outside the relegation zone. Vitesse Arnhem climbed above Feyenoord and into 14th place following a 2-0 win at home to De Graafschap.Bonno Wilfried broke the deadlock for the home side 72 minutes in at the Gelredome and Serbian Nemanja Matic – on loan from English Premier League club Chelsea – doubled the lead with six minutes to go.The defeat leaves De Graafschap 12th, just a point better off than Vitesse and only four clear of the drop zone.
Rafael Benitez has agreed to become the new coach of Internazionale.
The former Liverpool boss, whose six-year reign at Anfield was ended by mutual consent last week, will replace Jose Mourinho at the helm of the Italian and European champions after holding talks with president Massimo Moratti.
Benitez, 50, won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005 and the FA Cup the following year during his six-year stint and, prior to his move to England, led La Liga side Valencia to the Spanish title in 2002 and 2004 with the UEFA Cup arriving at the Mestalla in the same year.
Inter, who won the Serie A title as well as the Coppa Italia and the Champions League last season, have been searching for a successor to Mourinho after the Portuguese coach teamed up with Real Madrid recently and it looks like the Nerazzuri look to have found their new man.
Speaking to the club's official website, Moratti said:"We've got an agreement, we finalised the last details that in any case weren't important.
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"Tomorrow (Wednesday) we will say when Rafa Benitez will be presented."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email
They may not have much left to play for in the Premier League this season, but Manchester United versus Arsenal remains one of English football’s most iconic fixtures. Throw in the fact this may well be Arsene Wenger’s last ever trip to Old Trafford, the scene of one of his most famous triumphs when the Gunners lifted the title there in 2002, and Sunday’s meeting will be ninety minutes of intriguing nostalgia at the very least.
So, how will this one pan out? Football FanCast’s very own Man-United-mad Sam Preston shares his thoughts and predictions ahead of the 4.30pm kickoff…
In many ways, it’s a shame Wenger’s last meeting with the Red Devils as Arsenal manager has come at this stage of the season. United will finish in the top four and are preparing for the FA Cup final; Arsenal will finish outside the top four and have a Europa League semi-final on Thursday night to think about. Both managers look set to rest key players with greater priorities in mind, and that could see a disappointing lack of competitiveness on Sunday.
Will this match end up being something of a dead rubber?
Sam: “I think it will, but it’ll be because Wenger rests players ahead of the return leg with Atletico. Of course United have the FA Cup to worry about, but that’s not for a few weeks yet so I’d expect Jose Mourinho to field his strongest side. Arsenal may well lack intensity and Mourinho will want to capitalise on that to all but clinch second place. Mourinho has set his side the target of getting seven more points in their last four games and there is a massive opportunity to get three of them here.”
A bitter rivalry with Mourinho has of course been one of the defining factors in the latter half of Wenger’s Arsenal tenure. The Portuguese’s arrival at Chelsea back in 2004 brought the abrupt end of the Invincibles’ dominance, and a year later Arsenal would win their only trophy for almost a decade. That’s no coincidence either; Mourinho’s defensive 4-3-3 counteracted Arsenal’s expansive style of play and has resulted in a formidable record against the Gunners gaffer. From 18 meetings to date, Mourinho’s won nine compared to Wenger’s mere two victories.
What are the key aspects of the Mourinho game-plan that have helped create such a dominant record over the Frenchman?
Sam: “Mourinho is a pragmatist so he’s always been willing to let Wenger’s sides dominate possession without penetration before exploiting the spaces Arsenal invariably leave behind. On Sunday, he will have no problem letting even a weakened Arsenal team have more of the ball and ruthlessly punish them on the counter attack. There’s usually much more pace and power in Mourinho’s sides than Wenger’s and that will be the key again on Sunday.”
Amid such a disappointing season, albeit one that could still end in a European trophy, it can be easy to forget how talented this Arsenal side is, even after losing Alexis Sanchez to United in January. After all, Mesut Ozil is one of the best playmakers in the world and mid-season acquisition Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was one of the most potent forwards in Ligue 1 before rising to the same status in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.
Which Arsenal star is capable of causing United the most damage this weekend?
Sam: “It has to be Aubameyang. I wouldn’t expect any of Arsenal’s other big hitters to play but obviously Aubameyang is cup-tied and should spearhead the attack at Old Trafford. He is growing in confidence and in the continued absence of Eric Bailly, United don’t have anyone else who can live with his raw speed. His pace in behind will ensure Mourinho sets his team up to play reasonably deep as well.”
And where will this game be lost and won?
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Sam: “On the counter-attack. If United can rob Arsenal in midfield and use the speed of Romelu Lukaku, Sanchez and Jesse Lingard to break into the spaces they leave behind, then they should win fairly easily. But if Arsenal are able to keep the ball away from United and pin them back then that’s their best chance of securing the win. There’s a fine line between soaking up pressure – controlling the game without the ball as Mourinho calls it – and being penned in, unable to break out. United must make the most of their chances to counter.”
Finally Sam, let’s hear your score prediction…
Sam: “If this wasn’t Wenger’s last trip to Old Trafford as Arsenal manager then the visitors wouldn’t care about this game at all, with the Atletico match on the horizon. The Wenger factor adds something extra but I still expect Arsenal’s hearts to not really be in it, and a stronger United side to clinch the victory. 2-0 United.”
Manchester United’s interest in Hoffenheim ace Roberto Firmino is genuine according to respected BBC reporter John Bennett, who says that he “wouldn’t be at all surprised†if the attacking midfielder ends up at Old Trafford.
Reports yesterday suggested that a deal between the Red Devils and the Bundesliga side had been agreed, with a £13.1m fee in place to lure the Brazilian across to England, pending a successful medical.
Although the Red Devils have secured the services of Memphis Depay, who’s move was made official just a few hours ago, Firmino is thought to be a target, and Bennett took to Twitter to reveal that there is serious interest from United:
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He wrote: “I know Louis van Gaal enquired about Brazil’s Roberto Firmino back in April. Wouldn’t be at all surprised if he ends up and Manchester United.â€
Bennett then went on to state that a host of other clubs are chasing the 23-year-old, and that the Copa America, which he’s featuring in for his home nation, could slow down negotiations:
“On Roberto Firmino: several very big clubs have expressed concrete interest. Copa America slows down any deal. Player has a decision to make.â€
Firmino has been Hoffenheim’s star turn over the course of the past two league seasons, notching 23 goals and 21 assists since the start of the 2013/14 campaign.
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Lionel Messi says he will be fit and looking for revenge when Bayern Munich come to Barcelona with a 4-0 advantage from the first leg.
The Spanish league leaders were comprehensively beaten by the German champions in the first leg of their semi-final encounter, a brace for Thomas Muller and one apiece for Mario Gomez and Ajren Robben giving the Bavarians a healthy lead.
Barca have left themselves with a massive mountain to climb in the second leg at the Nou Camp in a week’s time, with Messi likely to be key to any hopes they have of reaching the final.
The Argentina international looked short of match fitness on Tuesday after spending the last two weeks on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Barcelona’s all-time leading goalscorer says he will be fully fit when Bayern come to Catalonia next week and believes the team will fight until the end in the hope of making it through.
“I felt good. I was well enough to play. We have to lift ourselves for the second leg and La Liga. We will bounce back,” said Messi.
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“They were a lot stronger than us, physically superior. It is a pity what happened but we have to move on.”
Aston Villa are expected to confirm the signing of Chesterfield striker Jordan Bowery later today, with the fee expected to be in the region of around £500,000, according to BBC Radio Sheffield.
Bowery, 21, made his debut for the Spireites at the age of 17 and scored 12 goals for the club in all competitions last season, despite a disappointing campaign for Chesterfield who were relegated back to the bottom tier of the Football League.
It is thought that Paul Lambert will sign Bowery as primarily a signing for the future. However, the striker may have more of a chance of first-team action if a deal to bring Christian Benteke in from Belgian side Genk isn’t completed before the end of the transfer window.
Lambert’s signings certainly appear as if they are part of a long-term project at Villa Park. As well as trying to bring Bowery and Benteke, both 21, to the West Midlands Club, last night the Villa boss confirmed the signing of 22-year-old left back Joe Bennett from Championship side Middlesbrough.
The Villains claimed their first victory of the season on Tuesday night with a comfortable 3-0 victory over League One outfit Tranmere Rovers.
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Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez may well be looking to sign a new left-back this summer in order to provide Paul Dummett with more competition in that position, especially now the club has secured their spot in the Premier League for another season.
Southampton defender Matt Targett, who has been impressing during a loan spell with Championship club Fulham in 2018, may well be one of the players that Magpies manager Rafa Benitez is looking at, so we decided to ask Toon fans whether they would like to see the 22-year-old move to St James’ Park, or not.
Those supporters used our poll to give their verdict on a potential deal for the England U21 international, who found first-team football at St Mary’s hard to come by in the first-half of the current campaign because he was behind Ryan Bertrand in the pecking order.
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53% of those fans that voted on our poll said they would back a move for the left-back, who could be on his way out of St Mary’s whichever division Saints find themselves in next term.
When one of the biggest teams in the world goes through a rough patch, it’s easy to turn to their best goal scorer as the issue at hand.
After their winter break, Real Madrid struggled to find their form. Losing to city rivals Atletico Madrid in the league and the Copa brought criticism from Real’s mans and Cristiano Ronaldo not scoring in three consecutive games made people question his form.
But the world’s current best put a staggering five past Granada, and scored again just three days later away to Rayo Vallecano. So, has Ronaldo got his confidence back?
Because of the type of player Ronaldo is, so much is expected of him. Three games without a goal is considered a drought, which shows his talent. He now has 300 goals to his name for Real Madrid: bear in mind he has only been there for five years. He has scored these goals in just just 288 games.
In mid January, Cristiano found the back of the net twice against Getafe, yet was uncharacteristically sent off in Real’s next game against Cordoba. Just over a month prior to that, he topped the table for most hat-tricks scored in La Liga. This record has been broken once again, but by a young fella you may have heard of – Lionel Messi.
After the sending off, Real Madrid faced Atletico Madrid but couldn’t match their rivals as Atleti ran out comfortable 4-0 winners. Real returned to winning ways against Deportivo, but it would not be until a Champions League game against Schalke for Cristiano to find the back of the net again.
Going by some of his reactions on the pitch, he does strive to be the main man at Real Madrid. His frustration at others scoring instead of himself, such as Bale’s goal against Levante from Ronaldo’s rebound, was widely criticised.
He would go on to score in his next three games, but it is the five at Granada that has people talking. This seems to be his turning point for the dying stages of this season. It has been a boost for not only the club, but for Ronaldo himself.
But let’s be honest, Cristiano’s drop in form is something most forwards could only dream of. Ronaldo defines prolific. He is breaking records left, right and centre at Real Madrid. He has the best goal ratio in La Liga, has scored on every day of the week, and scored in every minute of a game.
He may be back to his blistering best, but his worst is still better than most. There is clearly a lot of pressure on Cristiano to churn out goals consistently, and for the most part, he lives up to expectation.
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But a slight dip in form simply shows he is only human after all.
Swansea defender Neil Taylor believes that next term will be the biggest test of his Swansea career as they prepare for Europe.
Michael Laudrup’s side have become one of the more attractive sides in British football, showing that dominance in the Capital One Cup final when they dispatched giant-killers Bradford 5-0.
The Welsh club will now prepare for a gruelling season ahead as they look to put up a fight both in the Premier League and the Europa League, but the former Wrexham trainee believes that the squad can handle it.
The 24-year-old has spent the majority of the campaign on the sidelines after sustaining a horrendous ankle injury, but he could be in line to return against Chelsea this weekend.
Taylor said: “The demands it’s going to put on the team, whatever squad we have next season, everybody’s going to play a part.
“It’s going to be a really long season. I think we’re going to have a heavy pre-season because we have to get ready for Europe which comes early.”
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