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Showing posts from May, 2020

Chelsea could be affected by UEFA's Champions League change and Blues get Cavani transfer boost

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This season’s Champions League final is set to be moved from its original location due to the current pandemic. The Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul was set to host the showpiece event, however the impact of COVID-19 in Turkey has meant the match will take place elsewhere. Champions League fans from all over the world can buy online Champions League Tickets to enjoy its stunning performances. An alternative location is yet to be decided by UEFA, with Lisbon and a number of German cities being considered. The news could impact Chelsea who are still in the competition, although the Blues are on the brink of elimination following a 3-0 first leg defeat to Bayern Munich at Stamford Bridge. In the unlikely event they can overturn the deficit in the return leg, Frank Lampard will await news of the new venue for the final. Chelsea handed boost in striker chase Chelsea’s chances of signing Edinson Cavani have increased after Inter ruled out making a move for the player....

Jones is unsure of his starting point McGeechan backs England star to captain British and Irish Lions

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British and Irish lion’s guru Sir Ian McGeechan chose the man he thinks should lead the South African tour next year, scorning Welsh favorite Alun Wyn Jones and English Owen Farrell. Rugby fans can book British and Irish Lions Tour Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices. The Scotsman was the head coach of the British and Irish Lions in 1989, 1993, 1997 and 2009. In 2005, he trained halfway through the week on tour to New Zealand. Although there is uncertainty surrounding the tour, "Geech" believes that choosing the captain is a simpler task. "Predicting who Gatland could select as captain, however, takes less guesswork, McGeechan writes in his Telegraph column. To be honest, I think there are probably only three genuine contenders: Owen Farrell, Alun Wyn Jones, and Maro Itoje." Crucially, he does not believe that Alun Wyn Jones is a certainty, to begin with, effectively ruling the Welsh out of the role. Jones is not sure of his starting poin...

Chelsea confirm double contract extensions for first-team players

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Chelsea has confirmed that they have extended the contracts for Olivier Giroud and Willy Caballero. Both players had deals that were running out at the end of the 2019/20 campaign however, they have now been extended for another season. Champions League fans from all over the world can buy online Champions League Tickets to enjoy its stunning performances. Giroud, 33, and Caballero, 38, have mainly been back-up players under Frank Lampard this season, however, both have been called into action in recent months. World Cup-winner Giroud was keen on a Blues exit in January however, that was blocked due to Chelsea's failure to bring in another striker in his place. With the injury to Tammy Abraham and the disappointing start by Michy Batshuayi, Giroud stepped into the starting XI and impressed. Chelsea confirm double contract extensions for first-team players He scored a big goal against Tottenham Hotspur and bagged another in the 4-0 rout over Everton before the sea...

Arsenal morning headlines as advantage gained in Moussa Diaby transfer race, Pepe promise

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Arsenal hold transfer advantage in the race for Moussa Diaby - report Mikel Arteta is interested in signing Bayer Leverkusen winger Moussa Diaby, and Arsenal’s strong relationship with the player’s agent could put them in pole position to complete a deal, according to Le10sport. Diaby has enjoyed an impressive debut campaign in German football following his move from Paris Saint-Germain last summer, scoring five goals and providing eight assists. Champions League fans from all over the world can buy online Champions League Tickets to enjoy its stunning performances. He attracted particular attention for his two assists on Monday night against Werder Bremen, and indeed global interest in the 20-year-old will only increase while the Bundesliga remains the only major European league playing football. Diaby, who would reportedly cost around £26million, is also wanted by Borussia Dortmund and may wish to continue his development in Germany. Ian Wright publicly suggested...

Frank Lampard names the former Chelsea star that saved him from the worst night of my life

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Frank Lampard names the former Chelsea star that saved him from the worst night of my life The Blues defied all odds to beat Barcelona at the Nou Camp to reach the Champions League final. Frank Lampard has admitted he feared for the worst night in his football career when Chelsea went 2-0 down to Barcelona in the semi-final of the 2012 Champions League. Champions League fans from all over the world can buy online Champions League Tickets to enjoy its stunning performances. The Blues led their Spanish counterparts 1-0 from the first leg but found themselves 2-0 down and a man light after John Terry was sent off early in the first half. However, a moment of magic from Ramires before half-time put Chelsea ahead of away goals, before Fernando Torres scored on the counter-attack after a dogged second-half defensive display. At 2-0, though, and at the mercy of, in Lampard's eyes, "the best team in the world", the now-Chelsea boss was fearful of a cricket scor...

Sharks happy to hang onto RWC stars Am and Mapimpi

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The Sharks organization have expressed their delight at hanging onto Rugby World Cup heroes Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi. The global closure of rugby has made the future of the game in South Africa uncertain, and many high-profile players have recently left in an attempt to secure their future financially. South Africa Rugby initiated a 21-day contract exit window in late April to allow players to seek alternative offers in a bid to mitigate the financial impact of the game's suspension. Rugby fans can book British and Irish Lions Tour Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices. This left South African franchises and unions struggling to protect their award-winning assets from talent forays abroad. The Sharks have seen Springbok center Andre Esterhuizen depart in a settlement agreed before the Super Rugby season began. But crucially Durban's men have retained the key men, Am and Mapimpi. Am was named captain of the Sharks earlier this season, which brou...

South Africa's Great Rugby hookers: Who can step up to the Bok plate?

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With Super Rugby nearly halfway and suspended due to the coronavirus, it's an ideal time to see the Springboks' options at each position for new head coach Jacques Nienaber and rugby director, Rassie Erasmus, ahead of planned tests against Scotland and Georgia. We will evaluate the leading players this season in the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers, and we will make our final selection. Rugby fans can book British and Irish Lions Tour Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices. Bulls: Jaco Visagie The former Bolander, who hails from Clanwilliam, has now matured into a solid Super Rugby hooker. He is a hard-working extra loose forward who gets around the pitch and does the unfashionable stuff, and is not a modern-day flashy No 2. The 27-year-old hits rucks hard, finds his jumpers, and makes his tackles. The Bulls are in an impressive sixth position on the tournament list with regards to lineout success, on 88 percent, although their scrum has not been as ...

Arsenal duo on Napoli's transfer wishlist and Arteta's best XI to seal Champions League return

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Aubameyang, Lacazette on Napoli shortlist According to Napoli expert Ciro Venerato, who was speaking to CalcioNapoli24 via Sport Witness, Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso is extremely keen to sign Lazio center-forward, Ciro Immobile, who has ripped up Serie A this season with 27 goals in 26 games. Champions League fans around the world can buy online Champions League Tickets to enjoy its stunning performances. However, Immobile is valued at €100 million and Gattuso may be forced to look elsewhere. It is said that both Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette are potential targets, with either of the Arsenal pair the ideal immobile alternative. With both under precarious contract situations, Aubameyang’s expiring next year and Lacazette’s the year after that, Napoli could come sniffing on a cut-price deal. Financial expert delivers a blow The extent of the coronavirus is still being understood. However, even if the Premier League...

The loosehead props: Who's Number 1 on the Springboks' Team Sheet?

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With Super Rugby nearly halfway through and suspended due to the coronavirus, it's an ideal time to see the Springboks' options at each position for new head coach Jacques Nienaber and rugby director Rassie Erasmus ahead of the Tests against Scotland. We will evaluate the leading players this season in the Bulls, Lions, Sharks and Stormers, and we will make our final selection. In our final edition of a 15-part series, let’s look at loosehead prop. Rugby fans can book British and Irish Lions Tour Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices. Bulls: Lizo Gqoboka He was probably the next loosehead prop in line for a World Cup call-up, but missed out in Japan. So, he needed to use 2020 to push for the No 1 jersey following Tendai Mtawarira’s retirement, and he has continued the consistent form that made him a Bok in the first place. Not a particularly massive front-rower, it is Gqoboka’s physical strength that makes him stand out. He makes a big impact in the ...

Lions legend says they need a pattern of confrontation against Springboks: 'That's their DNA'

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Former captain Paul O'Connell says it will be vital for the British and Irish Lions to choose a leader capable of beating the Springboks at their own game next year. Rugby fans can book British and Irish Lions Tour Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices. The former Ireland lock, who captained the Lions when they lost the 2009 2-1 series to the Springboks, says it will be a unique experience on tour in South Africa and therefore they need a particular type of personality as a leader. "When you go South Africa you probably need someone confrontational because that is their DNA. You have to have a tactic to beat South Africa, to trick them," O'Connell said, as quoted by the Lions' official website. "But you certainly have to take them on confrontationally as well. If they begin to get on top of you in the collisions their belief begins to grow, as we saw in the World Cup final. You need to take them on and you need a captain that will dr...

Tottenham's recruitment decision helped launch Champions League conquerors' transfer empire

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Tottenham's recruitment decision helped launch Champions League conquerors' transfer empire The former Spurs head of recruitment Paul Mitchell moved to RB Leipzig and is flourishing in the role Tottenham is known to be fond of buying in players who can impress, improve and then inevitably move on to excel even further elsewhere but they perhaps didn’t expect to be doing that with staff members, too. Champions League fans around the world can buy online Champions League Tickets to enjoy its stunning performances. Michael Edwards is the best domestic example of that, having left Spurs to eventually become Liverpool’s sporting director, but another who has gone on to thrive in a position of influence in the transfer market environment is Paul Mitchell: the former Spurs head of recruitment and analysis, now a key component of RB Leipzig’s recruitment process. Mitchell was appointed head of the Bundesliga club’s recruitment and development in early 2018, while the...

Why Jaco Kriel in a Bok jersey again isn't an outrageous idea

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As popular as he is among local rugby enthusiasts, Jaco Kriel has understandably fallen off the Springboks' radar. 30 months devastated by injuries will invariably translate into the world from any player. Upon his return to Ellis Park in February, the 30-year-old flanker pointed out carefully how the national team had to be delayed as an ambition, simply because he first needs to play for a lengthy period of time again. Rugby fans can book British and Irish Lions Tour Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices. However, as much as a Springbok jersey seems improbable at the moment, Kriel's case is intriguing. When you retired halfway through the unfortunate 2017 Rugby Championship tour of the national side, does anyone remember 57-0? - He did it at a relatively high. Selected out of position on the blind flank by Allister Coetzee due to Siya Kolisi's convincing form, Kriel performed surprisingly well. After three rounds of that year's campaign, he ...

UEFA announce Champions League plan that will affect Chelsea's second leg tie vs Bayern Munich

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Manchester City and Chelsea have a round of 16 fixtures against Real Madrid and Bayern Munich respectively to complete. UEFA have outlined their plans for a conclusion to the Champions League campaign in August by compiling a provisional calendar for the remaining fixtures in the competition. Champions League fans around the world can buy online Champions League Tickets to enjoy its stunning performances. The Champions League was suspended in mid-March, midway through the Round of 16 stages, due to the coronavirus crisis and there are still several matches to play at that stage, as well as the entire round of quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final, due to be played in Istanbul. Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund were both knocked out of the competition before the suspension, with Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain sealing their spot in the knockout stages of the competition alongside Atalanta and RB Leipzig. Four second-leg Round of 16 fixtures needs to be played throug...