أُصيب لاعب جديد، من صفوف منتخب البرتغال، بـ فيروس كورونا المُستجد “كوفيد -19”.

وكان جوزيه فونتي مدافع ليل والبرتغال، قد أثبتت إصابته بـ كورونا، قبل أقل من 24 ساعة من مباراة البرتغال وإسبانيا الودية، التي أقُيمت مساء الأربعاء، وانتهت بالتعادل السلبي.

وبحسب صحيفة “ماركا”، فإن أنتوني لوبيز حارس مرمى ليون والمنتخب البرتغالي أثبت إصابته بـ كورونا.

اقرأ أيضًا.. كواليس حديث رونالدو الغاضب مع مسؤولي يوفنتوس بعد كسر بروتوكول كورونا

لوبيز لم يشارك في مباراة إسبانيا الودية، ولكن كان يجلس على مقاعد بدلاء ملعب “خوسيه ألفالادي” بجانب زملاءه في البرتغال.

وأوضحت الصحيفة، أنّ المنتخب البرتغالي سيجري اليوم اختبارات جديدة على الموظفين واللاعبين والطاقم الفني، قبل السفر إلى باريس، من أجل خوض مباراة ضد فرنسا، مساء الأحد في دوري الأمم الأوروبية.

Liverpool fans will be praying that Manchester City drop points tonight as the Reds will lose top spot if Pep Guardiola’s side secure all three against Cardiff City. 

Jurgen Klopp won’t be too bothered about City’s result as he’ll know that it’s down to his side to constantly pile the pressure on by grinding out positive results of their own.

However, the German is set to make a huge decision at the end of the season, as according to Football Insider, Klopp is set to decide whether to reintegrate Marko Grujic into the senior squad or to give the green light to sell him.

And, one player who could be on his way out of Anfield at the end of the season is James Milner as his contract is set to run out at the end of the season and he hasn’t exactly been at his best recently. So, Klopp should think about bringing Grujic into the side as a ready-made replacement for the Englishman in the summer.

The Serbian has spent this season out on loan at German side Hertha Berlin and it’s safe to say he’s made a name for himself, producing three goals and one assist. His passing game has come on leaps and bounds, as well as the defensive side of things as he continues to develop into a well-rounded central midfielder.

Grujic may not have produced a large amount of goals and assists but he’s certainly done enough to warrant a place in the first-team ranks at Liverpool with his overall performances. Of course, securing £20 million-plus for him in the summer transfer window would be great for the club, but he could easily become a star at Anfield.

Liverpool fans, do you think Grujic is good enough to replace James Milner? Join the discussion by commenting down below! 

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Brighton beat Crystal Palace for the second time this season on Saturday, and Roy Hodgson’s performance on the day was nothing short of abysmal.

Selhurst Park has seen just three league victories for the Eagles all year, and Saturday’s clash against Brighton didn’t exactly go to plan either.

The Seagulls took the lead in the first half when Glenn Murray capitalised on a mistake from James Tomkins, but Luka Milivojevic levelled from the spot for the hosts.

Anthony Knockaert decided the outcome of the match with a stunning strike though, cutting inside Patrick van Aanholt and curling a wonderful effort into the far top corner.

While the visitors deserve immense credit for taking the few chances that fell their way, the blame for the Eagles should be place entirely on Hodgson, whose team selection and game management were downright absurd.

Pl>ymaker FC Exclusive: Jermaine Jenas reveals he often received racist abuse after North London Derbies – Check out the video below…

The wrong midfield

It didn’t take a genius to work out that Brighton would set up defensively in south London, but Hodgson clearly didn’t figure it out.

His side had 63 per cent of the ball, eight more corners and spent most of the match in the opposition’s half, per Whoscored, yet the boss opted for a midfield three without an ounce of creativity.

With all due respect, Milivojevic, Jeffrey Schlupp and James McArthur wouldn’t break down a deep, organised defence if you gave them all year, but Hodgson waited until the 77th minute to introduce Max Meyer.

A 4-2-3-1 formation, with Milivojevic and Cheikhou Kouyate offering Meyer the freedom to roam around in the number ten role, could have caused absolute havoc between the Brighton lines of defence.

Ridiculous decisions

If the gaffer’s starting XI and system were completely wrong, his in-game decisions were even worse.

Aforementioned, he took way too long to make changes. On top of that, when the change eventually did come, it coincided with a switch to a 4-4-2, a switch that ultimately took Palace’s best player out of the game.

Sticking Zaha out wide in a 4-4-2 formation in the hope of launching crosses in towards two strikers is the sign of a manager going backwards, not forwards.

Change required

With the likes of Michy Batshuayi, Zaha, Milivojevic, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Mamadou Sakho, the Eagles have some of the best players in the league outside of the top six.

As long as Hodgson is at the helm though, they will continue to play uninspiring, rigid football.

The ex-England boss did a superb job rescuing the club from the mess left by Frank de Boer, but providing he does little more than steady the ship until the end of the season, he should be sacked this summer.

تحدث ميدو مصطفى لاعب البنك الأهلي عن مشوار صعود فريقه للدوري الممتاز، مُشيرا إلى أن طموحاتهم في المنافسة على المربع الذهبي والمشاركة في بطولة الكونفدرالية.

وتأهل البنك الأهلي عن المجموعة الأولى برصيد 44 نقطة، إلى الدوري المصري الممتاز في الموسم المقبل لأول مرة في تاريخه.

وقال ميدو في تصريحات خاصة لـ “بطولات”: “شعور لا يوصف نحمد الله على توفيقه لنا، نعمة من الله أنه يكلل تعبنا ومجهودنا بالصعود اخيرا للدوري الممتاز، كلنا اشتغلنا وتعبنا وقدرنا نحقق الإنجاز ده”.

وتابع: “حددنا هدفنا من أول يوم دخلت النادي كانت كل التعليمات أن النادي له هدف وحلم واستطعنا بفضل الله تحويل الحلم إلى حقيقة”.

وأضاف: “حلمي وهدفي أن نؤدي موسمًا جيدًا في الدوري الموسم القادم، وأن نقدم للجماهير نادي البنك الأهلي ومنظومته وأن هناك ناديًا كبيرًا قادمًا في الكرة المصرية لا يقل عن المقاصة وبيراميدز والأندية الكبيرة”.

وواصل: “المسؤولون لا يقصرون في أي شيء معنا ويوفرون كل سبل الراحة، وهدفنا أن نقدم النادي بشكل جيد والبقاء في الممتاز بشكل يليق بنا وبالادارة والمنظومة، والهدف يتجدد من موسم لآخر ونستطيع أن ننافس على المربع الذهبي ونشارك في بطولة الكونفدرالية”.

واستطرد: “أمنيتي الشخصية أن أقدم أفضل موسم لي وأتواجد ضمن صفوف منتخب مصر من خلال بوابة البنك الأهلي”.

وأتم: “مشوار الصعود لم يكن سهلا على الإطلاق، واجهنا مواقف صعبة جدا، كنا نسافر 10 ساعات في الطريق وأجواء صعبة والملاعب كانت أصعب، ولكن بكرم ربنا استطعنا أن نعبر بكل هذا وصعدنا للدوري المصري الممتاز”.

Tottenham Hotspur learnt that Manchester City stand in their way of reaching a Champions League semi-final on Friday in one of the mouth-watering ties of the competition. Mauricio Pochettino’s side will know that they will need to be at their very best to be able to edge past their Premier League rivals.

And, for one man, it could potentially be the last time that he is involved in the Champions League with Spurs.

What’s the News?

According to a report by The Daily Mail, Victor Wanyama is just one of a number of players that Tottenham could look to offload in the summer.

The Kenya international, who is valued at £22.5million (Transfermarkt), has struggled to return to the form he once showed before he suffered his serious knee injury.

The Verdict:

The writing appears to have been on the wall for Wanyama and his Tottenham career (The Daily Mail), as he has seriously struggled to make an impact upon his return and injuries have played a huge role in his lack of recent opportunities.

With Harry Winks continually putting in a number of solid performances, and with Eric Dier seemingly favoured over the Kenyan when fit, his chances have really diminished and have seen him make just five starts in all competitions this season.

The 27-year-old has been an excellent servant for the north London outfit since his move from Southampton and became a clear fan favourite after he built an impressive partnership alongside Mousa Dembele.

When fully-fit, Wanyama has plenty of energy and can dominate the space in between the two penalty boxes with the intensity he has in his play, which could make him an excellent option for a team currently in the middle of the Premier League table.

However, as for Tottenham, it would appear that he could be entering the final few months of his time in north London.

Tottenham fans, what do you make of the news regarding Wanyama? Do you think Spurs should keep him beyond the summer or are they right to potentially offload him now? Join in with the discussion below by sharing your thoughts with us.

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According to Calciomercato, West Ham United are ‘closely following’ Hoffenheim forward Joelinton ahead of a potential summer move.

What’s the word, then?

This is not the first time that a Premier League club has been linked with Joelinton. Indeed, Newcastle United were credited with an interest last month.

According to the report, Newcastle were in talks to land the Brazilian forward in a £52m deal, which did seem a bit farfetched at the time, and still does now.

Calciomercato, though, claim that West Ham are having a look at the 22-year-old, who has been in strong form during the 2018-19 campaign.

Indeed, Joelinton has scored 11 times and contributed nine assists in 32 appearances in all competitions for Hoffenheim, including seven goals in the Bundesliga.

The South American has recently been quoted as saying that he is ‘very happy’ at Hoffenheim, but it remains to be seen what occurs in this summer’s transfer window.

Should West Ham make a move?

It does seem likely that West Ham will move for a new centre-forward this summer as Andy Carroll prepares to leave on a free transfer.

The futures of Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez, meanwhile, are also far from secure.

There is no question that Joelinton is a talent, but his experience of top-level football is quite limited.

This is the striker’s first campaign as a key player for Hoffenheim, having spent each of the last two seasons on loan with Rapid Vienna.

If Hoffenheim are indeed demanding upwards of £50m for the attacker then it is simply too much of a risk for West Ham to pursue a deal.

And the Hammers would be better off reigniting their interest in Celta Vigo’s Maxi Gomez, who looks certain to leave his Spanish club this summer.

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Antonio Barreca has not been seen in a Newcastle United shirt since making his debut for the club in the final stages of their Premier League clash with Tottenham Hotspur on February 2.

Barreca joined the Magpies on loan from Monaco during the January transfer window.

He played four minutes of his team’s 1-0 loss to Tottenham at the start of last month, but has not even made the bench for Newcastle’s last six Premier League matches.

Earlier this month, the English club’s fans had a negative reaction to a tweet mentioning the defender and it would be fair to say that things have not improved.

It was actually the Italian’s birthday on Monday.

Watch the best fails from the world of indoor football in the video below…

As expected, Newcastle’s official Twitter account was on hand to wish Barreca a happy 24th birthday, but the response from the club’s supporters was not too positive indeed.

A selection of the reaction can be seen below:

[ad_pod ]West Ham United fans on Twitter have seen the lighter side after Academy of Football product Conor Coventry received his maiden call-up to the Republic of Ireland under-21 squad.Hammers fans have ripped into the Ireland U21 team that the 18-year-old central midfielder has broken into for a 2021 UEFA European U21 Championship qualifier at home to Luxembourg, taking no prisoners.Unsurprisingly, the bulk of the comments centre around Coventry’s teammate and close friend Declan Rice, who famously progressed through the youth ranks of the ROI team and into the senior side, before switching his international allegiance to England.Rice was included in his first Three Lions squad this week meaning the wound is still very tender for the Irish FA and they will be keen to tie the English-raised Coventry down as soon as possible.

As satirical as the reaction from West Ham fans is, with the Claret & Blue Army not holding anything back in their trolling, there is still the very real possibility that the youngster could follow in his comrade’s footsteps.

Remarks such as “can’t wait till his first England cap” and “he’ll be English before you know it” have been flying around Twitter since the announcement.

Check out the pick of them, below…

أكد أشرف إبراهيم سفير مصر بدولة المغرب على ارتفاع الحالة المعنوية للاعبي الزمالك قبل مواجهة الرجاء في دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

ويستعد الزمالك لخوض مباراته أمام الرجاء المغربي، في التاسعة من مساء الأحد المقبل بتوقيت القاهرة، الثامنة بتوقيت المغرب، في ذهاب دور نصف نهائي دوري أبطال إفريقيا.

وقال أشرف إبراهيم في تصريحات تلفزيونية عبر قناة الزمالك: “لاحظت ارتفاع الروح المعنوية لجميع لاعبي الزمالك ‏قبل مواجهة الرجاء، والأمور جميعها على ما يرام”.

وأوضح: “الزمالك قدم مبادرة مميزة بإجراء تحليل لفرجاني ساسي وتم ‏عزل اللاعب في غرفة داخل الفندق”

طالع | الزمالك يعلن إصابة فرجاني ساسي بكورونا وعزله في مكان خاص

وتابع: “الوداد اكتشف اصابتين بكورونا للاعب ‏وإداري بصفوفه”.

وأردف: “حوريا كوناكري الغيني يمتلك 9 اصابات بكورونا قبل مواجهة ‏بيراميدز، والحل في يد الكاف بالطبع من حيث اتخاذ الاجراءات الطبية ‏اللازمة بعد عزل لاعبيه”.

واختتم: “أناشد الجماهير المصرية أن تكون قلوبها غداً مع ‏الأهلي في مواجهة الوداد ومع الزمالك في مواجهة الأحد ‏أمام الرجاء، والقطبان يمثلان اسم وسمعة الكرة المصرية”.

يذكر، أن بيراميدز سيواجه منافسه حوريا كوناكري الغيني مساء الثلاثاء المقبل في نصف نهائي الكونفدرالية.

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Leeds fans can’t believe what they are reading after Neil Harris suggested the club get away with things on a regular basis following the missile incident on Saturday.

Harris implied that the Leeds fans fall foul of EFL rules on a regular basis but for some reason avoid punishment, saying “Is it common at Leeds? Do they get away with it? I don’t know.

“Various players get hit by coins, bottles and lighters. It is not acceptable in football grounds. Messages are sent out asking fans not to do it. Everybody has got a duty of care to stop that happening across the nation. It’s going to take a serious incident for it to happen and that’s not what we want to see.”

Leeds have already been given two sanctions by footballing authorities this season with a £200,000 fine for spying on Derby County training sessions, and an additional £5,000 fine for a touchline altercation when the side met Bolton.

Fans were particularly peeved at the comment implying Leeds are allowed to get away with things more than other clubs, after their hefty fine surrounding ‘spygate’ which technically didn’t break any rules.

On the whole Leeds fans were bemused by Harris’ quotes after the weekend as the general consensus at Elland Road is that the club are hard done by rather than treated lightly.

Here’s what Leeds fans had to say on Twitter…