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Pakistan to kickstart training in bid to revive women's football
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
The camp will be held in Lahore from 26th October to 1st November which will be followed by National Women Football League -
One major complaint I’ve always had is the fact that each year one has to shell out Rs 4000 or upwards for a game that largely plays, looks and feels the same. However, Konami seems to have solved that problem with PES 2021 that is an update for last year’s edition. It comes with a squad update, new kits and the same gameplay from last year’s game. In fact, why would you want to fix something that isn’t broken and that is the case for PES 2021. Having said that, the game does lack the necessary rights to make it feel like a full football simulation game. We've been playing the game for over a week to get a fair idea about PES 2021 and how it’s an incredible game. © Konami The fact, PES 2021 feels so similar to last year’s edition we don’t know where to begin. It feels like a double-edged sword as it keeps loyal players of the franchise satisfied with familiar gameplay but without actually making enough changes to make it look like a new game. That’s probably why the game is cheaper than FIFA 21 and comes as an update to FIFA 2020. Even the menus, player screens, presentation, team introductions and modes are identical to last year’s game which may get boring after a while. © Konami However, when you play your first game, you will notice subtle differences from last year’s game. For starters, the game feels a bit slower and not like an arcade football game like FIFA. The AI is far more difficult to play on higher difficulty settings that also translates well when playing online. PES has always been known for its gameplay but we can’t say the same about the FIFA franchise. © Konami For example, passing needs to be precise and in our opinion through balls feel even more accurate than ever before. Similarly, when playing against the computer, you won’t come off with a huge difference in the scoreline as attackers use every skill and tactic to score a goal. There was a time when I was playing against Southampton, and the team was able to score two goals against me with ease, even though I’m well versed with the mechanics of the game. PES’ Player ID AI shows how it can make the game challenging even for seasoned players who think they might just be getting a season update this year. Ball physics also plays a major role in making the game more engrossing from last year. The ball movement feels more natural and does not feel just another accessory to the game. We mentioned earlier passing needs to be precise and a lot of it has to do with the ball physics. Whether you want to curve the ball, cross it for a header and set up through balls, you need to be precise with the pass direction and power. If you make a slight mistake in higher difficulties, you will be punished with a counter-attack that will be super hard to defend. Speaking of defending, it isn’t as easy as you would find in the FIFA franchise. You will only be able to succeed at defending if you concentrate and have enough patience. Button mashing will not help in this situation as you do need to make the right move at the right time. If you tackle too early, your opponent will breeze through and exploit the space you’ve given. Do it right, you can defend a high momentum counter-attack with ease. There is a slight learning curve here as defending effectively will be crucial for victories, especially in online matches. Online Competitive Matches © Konami Even though Konami has improved its online matchmaking system, this mode still needs improvement. Not only do you need a stable internet connection, but there are also some other problems we noticed this year. For example, players still collide with each other quite a bit, albeit it has improved from last year’s experience. There is also a bit of clipping problem with character models that occur in-game which could be fixed with a patch soon. We also noticed that the referee AI system also needs improvement as some clear fouls went unnoticed. To test if the referee AI system needs to improve especially in online mode, we purposely committed fouls that were let go by the referee. We only got a yellow card after our third foul which can make online games a bit frustrating. © Konami Konami has also expanded on its ‘MyClub’ feature which is their version of FIFA’s Ultimate Team. However, in PES 2021, you can instantly get set up with a world-class team with icons that may require you to grind a lot more in FIFA. Apart from this main difference, everything remains the same where you need to acquire players, open packs and compete with other players for more in-game currency and packs. We haven’t spent a lot of time in this mode, however we should have a better idea in the coming months. Lack of LicensesThe only complaint football simulation game fans have is the lack of key license in any PES game. To be honest, it doesn’t bother me that much, however to many it matters a lot. If the game does not feel or sound like any real football game, it will put off a lot of people. Having said that, players do feel like their real-life counterparts in the game. Messi runs and dribbles like Messi, Neymar plays like Neymar, Van Dijk feels like a wall like he does in real life. Licensed teams and partner clubs also look realistic and amazingly detailed. However, some player characters models look like they've seen a ghost. PES 2021 is a hit and miss in this category but none of it affects the gameplay. The Final Verdict PES 2021 feels and plays like an incredible football simulation game that does everything right. With great gameplay mechanics and familiarity, PES players will feel right at home. The game costs half as much as FIFA 21 and has given us a good alternative to yearly full-priced games that don’t change much year after year. Having said that, the lack of key licenses could annoy people who are seeking the full football simulation experience. PES 2021 is the ultimate football experience if gameplay matters to you more than vanity. View the full article
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Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic continue to remain the star trio of the tennis world but their domination is now being challenged by the next generation of players who have the potential of becoming future stars. Amongst those, Dominic Thiem remains one of the key candidates owing to his consistent performances in recent years. The Austrian has already proved his mettle against some of the best in the business. And, his performances in the ongoing French Open tournament hasn't been any different. Currently ranked third, the 27-year-old was seen celebrating yet another win as he survived the threat posed by Frenchman Hugo Gaston to eke out a 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-3 fourth round win. © Reuters While his grit to survive the challenge of a five-setter and overcome a threatening opponent earned him accolades, it was Thiem's surprising football skills that caught everyone's attention. During the fifth set of the match, Thiem's forehand went a bit too long as Gaston casually lobbed it back into his opponent's court, having already won the point. after a ton of dropshots I had to show @HugoGaston7 that I also got some touch today Great match! Keep it up! @rolandgarros #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/j7jmi128p5 — Dominic Thiem (@ThiemDomi) October 4, 2020 The ball travelled high in the air before coming down eventually. But that didn't seem to bother Thiem at all as he took it down with his right foot like a pro and then went on to complete a few juggles with his legs, showing everyone a rare glimpse of his eye-catching football skills. The way you handle yourself under pressure is really impressive. At this time of that match, tension was high, and this is how you distress. Wow, you are my champ, always — Vivacious (@vivamsimango) October 4, 2020 For someone who has lost the French Open finals in the last two editions, Thiem is now gearing up to take on Argentine Diego Schwartzman in the quarterfinals on 6th October. Thiem is well on course to collide with his old nemesis Rafael Nadal in the tournament's semifinals. Nadal, who had defeated Thiem in the finals of the last two editions of French Open, will take on 19-year-old Jannik Sinner in his quarterfinal tie tomorrow. View the full article
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Resuming football season 'definitely possible', say UEFA medical committee
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
UEFA´s medical committee believes restarting seasons suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic "is definitely possible" -
Last December, 2020 was being looked upon as the year of sports as fans marked their calendars for major sporting events. But, in a matter of just a few months, the year 2020, that once held the promise of exciting sporting action, continues to leave sports fans frustrated and disappointed - all thanks to novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) threatening the very existence of mankind. With travel restrictions, quarantine camps and curfews all around, the fast-spreading virus continues to heckle normalcy and traumatise people across the globe. The sporting world isn't alienated to the repercussions of the scary epidemic either. The sporting events have either been cancelled or suspended owing to the fast-spreading virus. The month of March, especially in the football world, sets the tone for a thrilling season finale. Marking the beginning of a pulsating end to the season, this time of the year generally has all club football competitions reaching a befitting end with immense pressure on the participating sides to finish on a high. But, none of that is happening right now. When you hear that there's no EURO 2020 or Copa America this summer ?? pic.twitter.com/at5GKexDS7 â Goal (@goal) March 17, 2020 Football leagues including Premier League, Serie A, La Liga and Bundesliga amongst others have also been suspended as the countries continue to battle COVID-19. And, to rub salt to the wounds, the much-awaited Euro 2020 and this year's Copa America have also been pushed back by a year. The lack of footballing action has not left just the fans, but also the players scratching their heads, wondering what to do with all the idle time at hand. Forced to stay indoors due to contagion, while some have been busy taking up social media challenges, others are finding ways to keep their fitness levels in check and giving all gym enthusiasts a key lesson on how to remain fit at home. Time For A Creative Leg-Day Creative legday with the kids pic.twitter.com/GkrzNYz4Mw â Kevin De Bruyne (@DeBruyneKev) March 25, 2020 Sit-Ups 'Immobile' Style View this post on InstagramOggi mi alleno con Mattia ð! E voi cosa state facendo ð§? Condividete il vostro hobby usando #HomeTeam. @adidas @adidasITA @adidasfootballA post shared by (@ciroimmobile17) Lewy Teaches New Push-Ups View this post on InstagramHeavy trainings at home ððª #homeoffice #familytime #workoutA post shared by (@_rl9) Ronaldo's Crunching Crunches View this post on InstagramNo excuses ð¤·ð»ââï¸ðªð»A post shared by (@cristiano) Get The Family Involved View this post on InstagramFamily workout done! â @pilarrubio_oficial #SergioJr #Marco #Alejandro #FamilyGoalsA post shared by (@sergioramos) Change The Game ???? https://t.co/g0R5SZyEcD â Jamie Vardy (@vardy7) March 2, 2020 Cycling With Cute Motivation View this post on InstagramMy daily workout motivation ð§ð¼ Hard work gets paid with chocolate ice creamð¦#SM20 #NoemiA post shared by (@shkodranmustafi) Who Needs Weights? View this post on InstagramMy greatest advice in life: âa little bit of wine is the solution to a lot of problemsâ #quarantainelifeA post shared by (@driesmertens) Seek Help From Your Furry Friend The only training partner left when youâve got to #StayAtHome ???? ?? @douglascosta pic.twitter.com/9aDweyOGVV â 4 3 3 (@433) March 14, 2020 Go Raw Like Sanchez View this post on InstagramEntrenamiento en casa ð¡ Allenamento a casa ð¾ Training at home #iorestoacasaA post shared by (@alexis_officia1) View the full article
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Arguably one of the most popular sportspersons in the country, Sunil Chhetri, over the years, has not only become the face of Indian football, but also a befitting role model for the youth. Ageing like fine wine, the 34-year-old continues to be an astute leader on the field and remains a vital cog in the Indian set-up. With 72 goals in 115 appearances for India, Chhetri is second on the list of active leading scorers in international football, ahead of Lionel Messi (70 goals) and only behind Cristiano Ronaldo (99 goals). He was also named AIFF 'Player of the Year' on six occasions. He is also the winner of the Indian Super League (ISL) and the Super Cup. And, the fact that he has bestowed with Arjuna Award and Padma Shri gives a mere glimpse of his monumental achievements. © Twitter/@FootballIndia While his astute leadership, striking abilities and vast experience make him an indispensable asset for Indian football, Chhetri's insights and knowledge of the sport is valued by fans and pundits alike. Thus, when the Indian football captain decided to bare it all in a fun Question & Answer (Q&A) session on Twitter, everyone got excited. Alright then guys, take a little break from your WFH routines and let's make the most of this social distancing with a Q&A session. Keep the questions fun and I'll try answering as many as I can. Fire away! â Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) March 20, 2020 Amid the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country, sportspersons and their fans don't have much to do with which probably explains Chhetri's decision, a blessing in disguise for all, to do an impromptu Q&A on Twitter. Can You Beat Ronaldo & Messi? I'm strictly assuming they're really bad at this. I think I could beat the both of them at it. https://t.co/4VMjuXW1z0 pic.twitter.com/9v8XdXGEXy â Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) March 20, 2020 In one of the most interesting questions in the session, a fan quizzed the Indian football captain with: "Excluding football, what could you beat Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi at?". While Chhetri has defeated Messi as far as international goals scored by active players is concerned, the 35-year-old did have a tongue-in-cheek response for the curious fan. "I'm strictly assuming they're really bad at this. I think I could beat both of them at it," Chhetri responded to the query. Favourite IPL Team? I'm a Bangalore boy ?? That should answer your question. https://t.co/XF0OZxcfwR â Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) March 20, 2020 Well, in a country like India, nothing is ever complete without the mention of cricket, at least once. And, the trend continued during Chhetri's Q&A session when a fan asked him to pick an IPL team he would like to play for. "If you get a chance to play cricket in which IPL franchise would you like to play???," the fan asked. In reply, Chhetri dished out a sarcastic response by saying: "I'm a Bangalore boy Winking face That should answer your question". There's no surprise to see Chhetri's love for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Chhetri and RCB skipper Virat Kohli share mutual respect and great admiration for one another. Cheat Meals? I've lost the plot at the moment - chole-puri, samosas, vegan pizzas are being demolished at an alarming rate. https://t.co/VfCR1LtdeU pic.twitter.com/2W229rNAxV â Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) March 20, 2020 In the modern age, where fitness has become a way of life, Chhetri has proved to be a befitting role model for the country's youth. For a 35-year-old footballer, Chhetri has rarely been seen slacking or gasping for air on the pitch. And, he is perhaps the best example of what adequate sleep, proper diet and a relentless fitness regime can do to a person. But, despite following a strict regime, Chhetri is, after all, a human being who loves and craves for food. Thus, when a fan asked him to disclose the food items he would have in his cheat meals, the Indian football skipper wasted no time in revealing: "I've lost the plot at the moment - chole-puri, samosas, vegan pizzas are being demolished at an alarming rate". Routine Nowadays? The wife and I have locked ourselves in for the last 5 days. We've given the cook and the house help days off, so the both of us are now sharing chores and making meals. https://t.co/ETx0Y3QLpP â Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) March 20, 2020 The fast-spreading Coronavirus has led to travel restrictions, quarantine camps and curfews across the globe. And, with the tally of positive cases continuing to rise by the day, the Indian government, too, has enforced preventive measures, urging the citizens to stay at home in a bid to contain the COVID-19 spread. Given the situation at hand, a fan asked Chhetri what was his routine like these days? In response, Chhetri revealed: "The wife and I have locked ourselves in for the last 5 days. We've given the cook and the house help days off, so both of us are now sharing chores and making meals". Secret Of Reversing Your Age? Eating clean and sleeping adequately. Without the ball Flash MIGHT pip me. But with the ball... https://t.co/KnT7keWxoQ â Sunil Chhetri (@chetrisunil11) March 20, 2020 Despite being 35, Chhetri is undeniably one of the fittest sportspersons in the country. His rigorous training schedule and attention to details in his diet chart is not only admirable, but a much-needed inspiration for aspiring footballers. So much so, that Chhetri has often been seen giving Udanta Singh, his 23-year-old Team India mate, a run for his money in terms of speed. Highlighting Udanta's case, a fan asked Chhetri to reveal the secret behind his unmatched fitness level and stamina. Responding to the query, Chhetri revealed that his teammate Udanta, considered one of the fastest players in Team India, can beat him without the ball. "Eating clean and sleeping adequately. Without the ball Flash MIGHT pip me. But with the ball," Chhetri responded. View the full article
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In a bizarre twist of events, Brazilian football legend and 2005 Ballon dâOr Winner Ronaldinho has found himself quite far from his World Cup days - getting the chance to play for a prison futsal tournament in Paraguay. Ronaldinho and his brother have been arrested for entering Paraguay with fake passports. His fake passport shows his correct name, birthplace, and birthdate, but it falsely suggests that heâs a naturalized Paragauay citizen. [@Santula] pic.twitter.com/qOVEi7xPmi â Zach Lowy (@ZachLowy) March 5, 2020The footballer, renowned for his technical skills and iconic career at F.C. Barcelona and A.C. Milan, was arrested this Thursday along with his brother and agent Roberto de Assis Moreira for trying to enter the country with a fake passport. Both Ronaldinho and his brother are sharing a cell in Agrupación Especializada of the National Police of Paraguay. And It just so happens that days after one of the world's greatest footballers entered the facility, the prison are staging a futsal tournament. Extra reports that the competition normally takes place every six months and so was planned prior to Ronaldinho's arrival. Typically, there are 194 inmates involved and split into ten different teams. Initially, authorities told the media that the star would be allowed to spectate the tournament - until this post surfaced from ABC TV journalist Ivan Leguizamon. Al ser negada la libertad a Ronaldinho, es inminente su participación en el torneo de presos de la Agrupación Especializada. De hecho, anoche ya se comprometió con sus compañeros carceleros. En qué equipo va a jugar y qué condiciones le impusieron. Hoy a las 18:00, por @ABCTVpy. â Iván Leguizamón (@ivanciclon) March 10, 2020Loosely translated, the tweet reads: "When Ronaldinho is denied freedom, his participation in the tournament of prisoners of the Specialized Group is imminent. In fact, last night he already got engaged with his fellow jailers. In which team will you play and what conditions were imposed." Naturally, several football fans, especially across Ronaldinhoâs home country of Brazil, exploded onto social media, where they debated on the playerâs release and whether he would take it easy on his rival inmates. ð§ð· The first picture of Ronaldinho playing football in a Paraguayan jail has been released. I still can't believe it. His team won the game 11-2. Ronaldinho scored 5 goals & assisted 6. Iconic. ð pic.twitter.com/IPN4AErAw1 â FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) March 14, 2020He didnât, demolishing the opponent team with 5 goals and 6 assists. Fans reacted with immense support, cheering on the inmates and expressing their disbelief: ð§ð· The first picture of Ronaldinho playing football in a Paraguayan jail has been released. I still can't believe it. His team won the game 11-2. Ronaldinho scored 5 goals & assisted 6. Iconic. ð pic.twitter.com/IPN4AErAw1 â FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) March 14, 2020 ð§ð· The first picture of Ronaldinho playing football in a Paraguayan jail has been released. I still can't believe it. His team won the game 11-2. Ronaldinho scored 5 goals & assisted 6. Iconic. ð pic.twitter.com/IPN4AErAw1 â FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) March 14, 2020 ð§ð· The first picture of Ronaldinho playing football in a Paraguayan jail has been released. I still can't believe it. His team won the game 11-2. Ronaldinho scored 5 goals & assisted 6. Iconic. ð pic.twitter.com/IPN4AErAw1 â FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) March 14, 2020 Some even contributed wild theories suggesting that Ronaldinho deliberately landed in prison to experience an inmateâs life. This guy is on holiday. â Adefemi Lawalson (@ophemmi) March 14, 2020While thousands of fans are incredibly jealous of the inmates who got to play alongside the legend, he still remains in jail. In Paraguay, the maximum time for the investigation period is six months but Ronaldinho and his brother will be hopeful the process is completed a lot quicker. View the full article
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There exists a great tradition of honouring some of the top tier stars of the game of football by building a beautiful statue in their name with a particular club that they played for or the country they belong to. Some of them turn out to be brilliant and depict the true spirit of the person and the player that they were, but more often than not, they end up looking nothing like what they were perceived to be. 10. Cristiano Ronaldo (Bulge) Cristiano Ronaldo has had numerous statues built in his name throughout his career. Some were made by his worshippers, others he got made because he can. To be fair, the 11-foot-tall statue which was unveiled in Ronaldo's native Portugal in 2014, was relatively decent when compared to some of the other âsculpturesâ in the list, except for the artistâs need to give the Juventus star a massive boner for some reason. © Twitter For better or worse (mostly worse) the statue became a tourist attraction and people couldnât stop themselves from⦠rubbing it. View this post on InstagramA post shared by (@getinspiredlondon) 9. David Beckham (Prank) Regardless of how ghastly looking this statue for former Manchester United star, David Beckham is, the fact that it was made as a means to prank him, rates it so low in the list. © Twitter When James Corden welcomed Beckham to the United States of America following his decision to play in Major League Soccer, he did so with this debacle of a statue for the English phenom. His reaction, as expected, was worth going that extra mile and getting the effigy made. 8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Remember that horror video game that got all the hype in the world despite being absolutely non-scary, Slenderman? It is safe to say that the artist responsible for honouring Zlatan Ibrahimovic with this sculpture was inspired by that game. © Twitter Top marks for the face that was spot on but the rest of the 8â9ââ tall statue was terrifyingly long! 7. Gareth Bale Not everything in life has been going the way Real Madrid Forward Gareth Bale would have imagined five years ago and this statue of his surely didnât help make things better. © Twitter Be it the eyes starting in two different directions, his ears awfully set apart from the rest of the face or just the perpetually âpissed-offâ expression, nothing about this 40kg bust which apparently costs approximately Rs. 20 lakh, feels right. 6. Luis Suarez The sculptor tried his best to provide as many hints as he could have to show that this statue was of nobody else by Uruguay Forward, Luis Suarez. Even then, had it not been for Suarezâs image in the background, nobody could have guessed who it was. © Twitter 5. David Beckham (Not A Prank This Time) David Beckham makes another entry, this time around having wished that it was a prank, but it wasnât. In fact, the figure of the football star in nothing but his undies was erected in the middle of New York as a part of an advertising campaign. © Twitter While it was supposed to be a clever move on the part of the brand to showcase the glamour that the former England captain brought to the game, it ended up becoming a laughing stock more than anything else. 4. Diego Maradona One to understand the feelings behind immortalising the legend of someone like Diego Maradona by building a glorious statue in their name but to make his face look like it got sucked from the inside is probably not the right way to go. © Twitter This 12-foot-high statue of the Argentine superstar holding the 1986 World Cup highlighted the moment correctly but failed to be as eye-pleasing as it was meant to be. 3. Mohamed Salah Remember Marv Merchants from the Home Alone series, the wet bandit who stuck his head into the dog door flap only to get shot in the head with a nerf gun? Apparently, the Egyptians felt that their national hero and Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah looked just like him, when they planned to honour him with this statue: What is it with footballers and statues? Ronaldoâs head looked more like Niall Quinn. And now the Mo Salah statue to be installed in Sharm El Sheikh looks more like Marv from Home Alone than Salah.#Salah #LFC pic.twitter.com/Y5Wxv6m3Vi â OverTheBar - Footballï¸âï¸ (@OverTheBarFB) November 5, 2018 2. Lionel Messi Oh, this is simply terrifying. Weâd like to thank the âartistâ for writing âMessi 10â on the jersey of whatever this creature is, but thatâs about it. Damn. © Twitter 1. Cristiano Rolando (Bust) When you do a job so bad that it is considered to be the standard unit against which all the other bad jobs are compared. Sculptor Emanuel Santos, the man who was also responsible for the Gareth Bale debacle which you saw up in the list, said that his work was just "a matter of tasteâ but there is nobody, literally nobody we have heard from who said that they liked it. The statue was so bad that Ronaldoâs family had to make a formal appeal to get it removed from the Madeira airport and get it replaced. Thankfully, the replacement turned out to be a genuine upgrade. Looks like they finally made Ronaldo a new statue https://t.co/IUAo52WiVk pic.twitter.com/oMYnVjWom9 â Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 27, 2017 View the full article
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If I gave you 10 seconds to think of all the times your parents went out of their way to make your day better, how many such incidents do you reckon will come to your mind? Five, thirteen, twenty-eight odd times or would it be seventy times too many to count? Take 10 seconds and just think about it. © Dharma Productions Chances are many of you could think of a hundred different occasions when your parents found the most innovative ways to make your day better, or your life significantly easier. You see, thatâs how most parents are wired, they wonât think twice before fulfilling our most earnest desires, even if it might put them in a spot. © Junglee Pictures So, when young football lover Sebastian went to the stadium to support his favourite team, his father ensured that visually-challenged Sebastianâs excitement and love for the game doesnât see a single dull moment. And hereâs what Sebastianâs father did to make sure his son doesnât miss a thing. He relayed every move that happened on-ground to his son by way of a personal commentary only meant for Sebastian! View this post on InstagramAyer tuve la oportunidad de vivir un lindo acto que me conmovió mucho, quiero compartirlo con todos ustedes, estando en el estadio metropolitano pude apreciar la pasión y el amor que siente un padre hacia su hijo, el mismo amor que sienten por el equipo de sus amores Junior. Sebastian es un hermoso niño con deficiencia visual, pero esto no le impide sentir la pasión por su equipo, su padre con dedicación y empeño le transmite cada una de las jugadas y toque a toque del balón que corre en la cancha. Que la discapacidad o la enfermedad no se convierta en un lÃmite para tu vida ðð» Pdt - Pedi permiso al señor para grabarlo y hacer pública su acción â¤ï¸ #JuniorEsMiPasionA post shared by (@junioresmipasion) In a video that was recorded during the match at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, we can see the father-son duo sporting Junior FC jerseys, as Sebastian gets live minute-by-minute details of the on-going game. © Instagram The video which was shared on the teamâs fan page âJunior Es Mi Pasionâ has since gone viral and came with a caption which read, âSebastian is a beautiful child with visual impairment, but this does not prevent him from feeling passion for his team, his father with dedication and commitment transmits each of the plays.â Itâs amazing isnât it, how parents would do anything to put a smile on our faces, and ensure that we donât miss out on the good things in life? View the full article
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The Chinese Super League (CSL) was supposed to start later this month but the campaign was indefinitely postponed by the coronavirus outbreak
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On most days Ranbir Kapoor spends his time wrapping up the much-awaited film of 2020, Brahmastra that he's shooting along with his co-star and rumoured girlfriend Alia Bhatt. Spotting him outside is a rarity since he has a rather busy shooting schedule. However, occasions like a scheduled football match are days when Ranbir makes it a point to free up some time from his tedious schedule to show up on the field and play the game. It is on these occasions that we catch hold of him. For the uninitiated, Ranbir loves to play football and going by how often he is spotted on the football field, he probably has a section in his closet set aside to store the precious football gear that he has collected over the years. He only gets to use this gear whenever he gets time to play football. However, this time around, more than playing, Ranbir was in the mood of goofing around. So, throughout the match, he was seen holding a banana in his hand. What's interesting is the fact that when he was asked to pose for the media later after the match got over, he used the banana as a prop moustache. Take a look here: © Viral Bhayani © Viral Bhayani But if you look at his goofy pose, you can also see that he's wearing a regular tank top along with shorts and tights to go underneath. This look can easily come under regular football gear. © Viral Bhayani However, what piqued our interest was the pair of shoes that he was wearing. The pair was a regular football silhouette with orange and white colourways and a black Nike swoosh on either side of the shoe. © Viral Bhayani In case you're wondering, the pair is called Nike White & Orange JR Legend 7 Club FG Football Shoes. They come for the cost of Rs. 3,695 and are usually on sale. Ranbir's shoes, as it turns out, are surprisingly quite affordable. View the full article
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Last May, Trent Alexander-Arnold produced a masterpiece that played a key role in Liverpool's 4-0 comeback in the second-leg of the 2019 UEFA Champions League semifinal. Showcasing great awareness and thriving on quick thinking, the 21-year-old caught Barcelona goalkeeper and their defenders napping to set up Divock Origi for an easy goal. ð´ @trentaa98 made his @LFC debut 3 years ago today! He's been putting it on a plate for attackers ever since... ð¯#UCL pic.twitter.com/vmOyMFCf47 — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) October 25, 2019 The memories of Alexander-Arnold's slickest corner kick once again came to the fore during Real Madrid's 3-1 win over Valencia in the Spanish Super Cup on 9th January. The deadlock between the two Spanish teams was broken by Toni Kroos whose quick thinking saw him scoring straight from a corner kick. ð©ðª This view of Toni Kroos' corner kick goal against Valencia yesterday is absolutely brilliant. Perfection from the German maestro. ðð± pic.twitter.com/vvTCyu5BuH — FutbolBible (@FutbolBible) January 9, 2020 Getting ready to take the corner kick, the German midfielder saw Valencia goalkeeper Jaume Domenech organising his defence before quickly rolling the ball into the corner quadrant and kicking it with impeccable precision straight into the back of the net. The 30-year-old took the corner so quickly that it didn't just catch the opposition goalie and players by surprise, but also the broadcasters who were still busy showing how Real Madrid got the corner. Taking the lead, Real Madrid found their second goal of the night in the 39th minute via Isco who pounced on a Luka Modric shot that ricocheted off the Valencia defender and came straight on his feet. After missing out in the first half, Modric eventually got his name on the scoresheet with a cheeky finish past the futile dive of Domenech. The only consolation for Valencia, the Copa del Rey holders, came through a penalty when Daniel Parejo's powerful shot went past Thibaut Courtois. For a team that is still finding its groove, Real Madrid and their fans would have surely been happy with the result, but it was Kroos who grabbed all the limelight for his brilliant corner-kick goal. TAA: I took the cheekiest corner in football history Kroos: Hold my beer... — MansaRon ð (@theGreat_TR_) January 9, 2020 When you ask kroos to croos a corner — The Ngalaba of Africað (@michaelpacific) January 9, 2020 Better than that tta fucking corner ð — andy wilson (@andymanc31) January 9, 2020 Clearly taking a leaf out of @trentaa98 book with the early corner while the opposition isnt paying attention routine — Ryan Mcclure (@razzamc72) January 9, 2020 They should have left somebody guarding the post — lostryder (@gondoreal) January 9, 2020 Matteo to his Father, Messi: Corner taken quickly. Toni Kross: Hold my beer — Christopher Kilulu (@ChrisKilulu) January 9, 2020 Epitome of quick thinking!! â½ï¸â½ï¸ðð #Class — Gary Webster (@RealGaryWebster) January 9, 2020 View the full article
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Tied with his arch-rival Cristiano Ronaldo at five wins apiece, Lionel Messi etched his name in the history books after claiming a record sixth Ballon d'Or trophy in a star-studded awards ceremony in Paris. In the process, Messi became the first player to reach the landmark, coming out on top of the 30-man nomination list which included the likes of Ronaldo and Virgil van Dijk. © Reuters Messi and Ronaldo have dominated one of the football's most prestigious trophies over the last decade. Both had earlier won five Ballon d'Ors to prove they are in a class of their own. But, their dominance was eventually brought to an end by Luka Modric who won the coveted award last year. But, for someone who won the trophy last year, Modric failed to find a nomination this year. While Messi lifted his record sixth award, Modric became the first Ballon d'Or winner not to be nominated in the next year's edition. But, despite failing to make the cut in the nomination list this year, the Croatian was all but praise for his Barcelona rival. Sports and football are not just about winning, they're also about respect for your teammates and rivals. ð¤ #BallonDOr pic.twitter.com/0AvmMdrya1 — Luka ModriÄ (@lukamodric10) December 2, 2019 Unlike his former Real Madrid teammate Ronaldo who snubbed the awards ceremony to attend Gran Gala, Modric handed over the Ballon d'Or trophy to the Barcelona talisman and then congratulated him on social media with a heartfelt message. "Sports and football are not just about winning, they're also about respect for your teammates and rivals," Modric tweeted alongside a picture of him handing Messi the award. @Cristiano Ronaldo was named the Italian league's player of the year on Monday following his debut season at Juventus. Ronaldo was at the Gran Gala del Calcio in Milan to collect his prize, instead of attending the Ballon d'Or ceremony in Paris where he was third in the voting. pic.twitter.com/X9kLP74BPA — Yakubu Ibrahim (@Cityzen_Rastop) December 3, 2019 Messi was La Liga's top goal-scorer in 2018-19 season as Barcelona beat Real Madrid to the Spanish league title. He had scored 41 goals in 44 club appearances so far for the Catalan giants across the calendar year which probably allowed him to hold off the challenge of Dutch defender Van Dijk who helped Liverpool bag the 2019 Champions League title. While the social media was abuzz with Messi's record triumph at this year's Ballon d'Or awards ceremony, football fans across the globe also hailed Modric for his sportsmanship as he successfully proved football is beyond rivalries. Respect @lukamodric10 — Rachad Manou (@florentinmanou) December 3, 2019 You will always be the best for me. — Martin Brufal™ð¦ð· (@jnuary8th) December 2, 2019 The greatest assist you have ever made ðð⤠— popeye (@mu2mn3) December 3, 2019 Respect — Kaine ♠♥ (@Kaine19049248) December 2, 2019 Last year when you won, these two spoiled brats - Messi and Ronaldo didn't attend. Looks like you valued the trophy and ceremony more than they do. — Miraj (@real_miraj) December 3, 2019 Luka stays OUR Ballon d'Or ð pic.twitter.com/UNUr9tleiV — Fahd 1ï¸â£8ï¸â£ð§ðªð²ð¦ (@mr_moustache18) December 2, 2019 What A great player, big love lukita â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/57wKWZxkCU — ÙÙÙÙÙÙ (@_IIHuc) December 2, 2019 View the full article
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For a football club whose last major trophy dates back to 2008, Tottenham Hotspur undeniably came a long way to becoming a convincing unit under Mauricio Pochettino. With the Argentine at the helm of affairs, the Spurs played some exciting football and improved their game significantly while nurturing young talents. The efforts of Pochettino and his team saw them giving their Premier League rivals some tough competition and eventually propelled them to the coveted UEFA Champions League final, their first, last season. Even if their loss to Liverpool in the Madrid final and a subsequent dismal run in the Premier League, earlier this season, brought an end to Pochettino's five-year-and-a-half reign, the Spurs continue to show signs of greatness. Apart from their performances on the pitch, the Spurs' rise can also be measured from the intelligence of their ball boys. The second-leg of the last season's Champions League semifinal saw 14-year-old Oakley Cannonier rolling the spare ball towards Trent Alexander-Arnold whose swift corner kick allowed DivockOrigi to score their fourth and decisive goal to send Barcelona packing. And, more recently, another Spurs ball boy's intelligence and swift action once again aided the London-based club in the Champions League group stage clash against Olympiacos. While Harry Kane and Lucas Moura might have been influential on the field during in their 4-2 win, the real hero for Spurs wasn't even on it. Trailing 2-0 after 20 minutes, Spurs pegged one goal back just before half-time through Dele Alli and found their equaliser in the second half courtesy a smart, quick-thinking assist from ball boy Callum Hynes. As the host's team charged forward, Serge Aurier was able to take a quick throw-in courtesy of Hynes, with Moura receiving the ball, racing into the box and setting up Harry Kane for a routine finish. The Spurs scored two more goals, scripting a sensational comeback, to eventually beat Olympiacos 4-2 and secure a Round of 16 berth. But, it's needless to say, the real hero for Spurs was the 15-year-old ball boy who didn't just impress the fans, but also drew plaudits from new manager Jose Mourinho. Jose Mourinho at Tottenham is a new man pic.twitter.com/rwR8dMAPyo â ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 26, 2019 While the whole team was celebrating Kane's goal on the pitch, Mourinho made sure to offer his thanks to the instigator, Hynes, on the touchline and followed it up with a tribute in the post-match press conference. "I love intelligent ball boys like I was. I was a brilliant ball boy as a kid. This kid today was brilliant. He reads the game, understands the game and made an important assist," the Spurs boss told BT Sport. Jose Mourinho wanted to invite the @SpursOfficial ball boy into the dressing room to celebrate after his helping hand in the build up to the second goal against Olympiakosï¸ pic.twitter.com/gk9SS2Q5xX â Hayters TV (@HaytersTV) November 27, 2019Speaking at his post-match interview, Mourinho also revealed that he intended to extend an invite to the ball boy to join the Spurs team in the dressing room to celebrate, but the youngster had already disappeared. For young Hynes, who is now into his sixth season as a ball boy, the big moment, especially drawing praise from the 'Special One', still seems "surreal". âI was just doing my job and I still canât quite believe what happened. I didnât even see the goal! I was busy getting the ball that had come off and then I heard the cheer. I turned around and Harry was celebrating," the young ball boy told Tottenham's website. âI looked at the replay on the screen and watched exactly what happened. You can see from my smile it was just unbelievable. Jose didnât have to do that. It was really nice of him to come over to me. Itâs made my day, my life, really! I love Spurs and it was an amazing moment Iâll never forget. The whole way home I was using a torch in the car to go over my maths revision!â he added. If Hynes was over the moon, his mother Keeley, too, was blown away by Mourinho's sweet gesture for her son. âWe were in the stadium and saw Jose go over to Callum. We just thought it was going to be a high five and didnât expect any more than that but then both of our phones started pinging!," she said. âThe smile on Callumâs face! It was such a lovely thing that Jose did to say thanks like that. Callum always says that by sitting on the touchline watching these players he learns so much and takes it all away with him for his own football. Iâm so proud of him,â she added. In the modern era of the sport, football teams are often seen stressing on the need for that additional push to get over the line in tough situations. We have seen the scores of fans often being labelled as the twelfth man for their respective teams, but as the sport becomes more competitive, it seems that having just a loyal fanbase is not enough. The football clubs also need these intelligent and alert ball boys to tilt the contest in their favour. View the full article
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In a country where cricket is regarded as no less than a religion, India has been biased towards the gentleman's game over the years. While cricket continues to hog the limelight, other sports including football remain on the sidelines with comparatively lower fanfare. But, the times are changing and the gap, that was once feared irreversible, has reduced considerably. With a keen interest from the younger generation, football as a sport has surely broken new ground in the country. The football contests are short, crisp and probably more exciting than the cricketing contests we've been used to watching with our parents. However, despite an increasing interest in football, people in this part of the world appear to be more interested in foreign leagues like the Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga. Every now and then, one can find themselves in a brief conversation about India's lack of producing a well-equipped football unit - one that can help the country qualify for the coveted FIFA World Cup. But, the conversation generally ends as soon as the players return to the pitch after half-time during a Premier League clash over the weekend. While the love for the sport is a great motivator to drive its popularity in any country, for a nation to truly make a mark on the ever-competitive world stage, its domestic leagues need support to nurture young talents so as to turn them into future stars - something that has eluded I-League over the years. © I-League It was in 1996 that India began its first domestic league known as the National Football League, rechristened as I-League in 2007. But, despite being around for almost 23 years, the country's premier football league is still an alien in India. If the lack of fanfare and viewership marred its popularity, I-League was dealt with a major blow after the Kuala Lumpur-based Asian Football Confederation (AFC), along with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), elevated the cash-rich Indian Super League (ISL) to the status of India's premier league earlier this October. From celebrity owners, prominent foreign coaches and players to a huge influx of money from IMG-Reliance, the ISL, in its brief existence, managed to achieve what I-League couldn't in years. Since then, I-League has played a second fiddle to the ISL with bare minimum viewership and lack of funds. © I-League But, despite lack of commercial interests and hosting games in half-empty stadiums, the I-League isn't deterred to serve its all-important purpose - nurturing young talents and providing the much-needed arsenal to ensure Indian football continues to grow in its bid to secure World Cup qualification. And, that's what the country's premier league aims for in its upcoming 13th season. Kick-starting on November 30, with Mohun Bagan FC taking on Aizawl FC in Mizoram, the 13th edition of the I-League will feature 11 teams, with the induction of TRAU FC, winners of the Hero Second division last season. In a first, fans from across the country, this season, will witness two local derbies - the legendary Kolkata derby between East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, and the Imphal derby featuring Neroca FC and TRAU FC. For years, we've speculated over the quality of football in Indian domestic leagues and how it's still way behind other competitive leagues across the globe. So, is there anything different on offer from I-League this season? Well, the I-League superstars have spilled the beans. © I-League "Every year the I-League is getting tougher. Each year comparatively we have so much fight. We have the southern derby between Gokulam Kerala FC and Chennai City FC. It makes competition very tough, we have slowly shifted from the Nigerians to the Spaniards. So, we are going more towards the European style of football and most of the teams now offer the same. So, we can certainly see a difference in the style of play," Ajith Kumar, Chennai City FC defender, told MensXP. Peter Lalduhawma, Aizawl FC midfielder, feels that the evening starts to the games this season will improve the attendance in the stadiums. "I think the timings of the matches is one major different thing. Most of the fans go to work which reduces the audience in the stadiums and with 7:00 pm matches will help us attract more fans. We have already seen it in the Mizoram premier league - the fans are much more in the night than the afternoon," he told MensXP. "AIFF is putting in their efforts to improve the season every year. In the last five years we have had five different winners. The teams are better and tougher and so is the league. I believe this year the football itself will attract the fans," he added. © I-League On being asked about I-League's role in grooming and nurturing young talents, Jonathan Lalrawngbawla, Aizawl FC striker, said, "Aizawl FC has always concentrated on the youth and we already have U13, U15, U16, U17 and U19 teams. So, this coming I-League will also be very interesting for us as there are many young talented players in the team. So, it will be a new experience for the team". “Over the years the Hero I-League has been scouting and providing a platform for future stars of Indian Football. In the 13th edition this year we have 11 teams from eight states and one Union Territory fighting for the top honours. I wish luck to all the participating teams,” Kushal Das, AIFF General Secretary, said ahead of the new I-League season. Praful Patel, AIFF President, also stressed on the importance of the I-League and said, “We are very happy to welcome TRAU FC to the 13th edition of the Hero I-League. The pan India presence has been the unique feature of the league in the last few editions, and is a true testimony to the manner it has played a critical role in spreading the game to all corners of the country”. © I-League The I-League might not be able to compete with the cash-rich ISL, but if last season was anything to go by, the country's oldest professional competition was far better than its counterpart, thriving on its own strength, rather than relying on the grossly artificial publicity overdrive. Unperturbed by their demotion as country's premier league, I-League, with its new season, seems hell-bent on proving Indian football is not just about the money. After all, the beautiful game is all about courage, inspiration and steely nerves, not a vulgar display of breaking the bank. View the full article
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For someone who entered the Indian entertainment industry and rose to fame with her stint in the TV show Bigg Boss, Sunny Leone has come a long way to become one of the most popular faces in Bollywood. Whether it's her choice of roles in the movies, eye-catching fashion sense or business ventures, the Canadian-born Indian actress is a complete package. The amazing and surreal experience of being on the field during @T10League cheering for @DelhiBullsT10 ð #SunnyLeone #T10League pic.twitter.com/IGbLO08r5A — Sunny Leone (@SunnyLeone) November 15, 2019 Known for doing things out of the ordinary, the 38-year-old has been making most of her time connecting with cricket fans owing to her role as the brand ambassador of Delhi Bulls in the ongoing Abu Dhabi T10 League. From rooting for the Eoin Morgan-led franchise from the stands to cheering up the Delhi fans, Leone has rapidly become a fan favourite. View this post on Instagram What's my name..what's my name? ð¶ #SunnyLeone @delhibullst10 @t10league Outfit @fancypantsofficial A post shared by Sunny Leone (@sunnyleone) on Nov 18, 2019 at 11:05pm PST Continuing to entice cricket fans, Leone dropped a candid video on her Instagram page where she was seen flaunting her football skills. The video shows the Bollywood actress showcasing great control, dribbling and eventually scoring a goal. Despite her effort to score from a cross went in vain, Leone's video struck a chord with the fans. So excited to share that I am now the proud co-owner of the @IPLSOCCERUK team Leicester Galacticos !! This has been a long life dream and still cannot believe it has finally happened. Work hard for what you believe and want in life! @DanielWeber99 @themichaelowen @SanySupra pic.twitter.com/vRvP2vuYTv — Sunny Leone (@SunnyLeone) November 18, 2019 Apart from that, Leone also became the proud owner of a football team recently. The Indian star is now a proud owner of Leicester Galacticos - a team that will be seen playing in the 'IPL Soccer' - the first televised British Asian football tournament. The seven-a-side indoor football competition is comprised of selected UK city teams which are headed by celebrity owners. View the full article
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MADRID: Footballers in Spain´s women´s league launched an indefinite strike on Friday seeking to double the minimum wage to 16,000 euros ($17,680), the players´ union AFE announced.The Association of Women´s Football Clubs (ACFF) believes the...
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FIFA name Arsene Wenger global football development chief
ADMIN posted a blog entry in Geo News Blog
The new role brings Wenger back to the game for the first time since 2018, when he left Arsenal after 22 years in charge. Photo: Hindustan Times Veteran coach Arsene Wenger has been named FIFA´s chief of global football development, the governing... -
Alvaro Vadillo got the goal that sent Granada to the top of La Liga with Barcelona and Real Madrid both out of action. Photo: AFPGranada are surprise leaders in Spain, it was honours even in the Ruhr derby, and Paris Saint-Germain again showed no...
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The world of sports is not new to rivalries between participating nations. The political standoffs and cross-border tensions over the years, has placed India and Pakistan at loggerheads. The intense rivalry between the neighbouring countries has also transcended into sports which makes their meetings across sports a scintillating affair. Just like India and Pakistan, North and South Korea share a rivalry, whose seeds were sown back in the closing days of the second World War. A struggle for power and control of a devastated Korea saw two antagonistic states, which would later become separate countries of the Republic of Korea and South Korea, emerging with diametrically opposed political, economic and social systems. A three-year Korean War ensued, claiming the lives of over three million civilians and soldiers before leaving the two nations devastated. Since then, the two rival nations have been involved in a military standoff with periodic clashes. Owing to their political differences, the two countries have rarely faced off against each other in the world of sports. © Twitter But, despite their fierce rivalry, the two nations, as members of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation, can be drawn against each other in international football competitions - something that pitted them against each other on the pitch recently. It's not too rare for the two sides to face off, but almost unheard of to play in North Korea's capital Pyongyang which has hosted the unique clash just once, in 1990. And, the last time the two sides met in a World Cup qualifier, in Seoul 10 years ago, North lost 1-0 before accusing South Korea of poisoning their players' food ahead of the match. © Twitter While sports partly broke the ice after some progress in 2018, the ties between North and South Korea are at a low which probably explains why their clash on recent clash was strange. In what turned out to be the weirdest World Cup qualifier in ages, the much-anticipated match was played with no fans, no media and, sadly, no goals. â North Korea vs South Korea â First match in the North in almost three decades ð Attendance: 0 â½ Result: 0-0https://t.co/Z5ZcoRupdb — Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) October 16, 2019 With popular stars like Son Heung-min (South Korea's No. 7) and Han Kwang Song (North Korea's No. 7), who play for Tottenham Hotspur and Juventus respectively, on display, the entire match was a closed event with no live broadcast, robbing the fans of the two countries the chance to watch their teams in action. And, the fact that North Korea has promised to provide footage of the match on DVD pretty much sums up the strangest football clash. © Twitter "We would need time for technical checks but despite some delays our people will be able to watch the game," a South Korean unification ministry official was quoted as saying by The Guardian on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue. If no one is there to watch did it even happen? 𤠗 stephanie (@honesteph) October 15, 2019 Before this match, two earlier qualifiers that had been scheduled for North Korea had to be switched to Shanghai after Pyongyang refused to raise the South's flag or play its anthem in the stadium. While many Korean football fans missed the opportunity of watching their respective teams in action, they'd be hopeful of better luck when North Korean football team travels to South for their away match in June next year. While the Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice after the intervention of the United Nations, North and South Korea are, technically, still at war as the two countries reached a truce, but are yet to sign a peace treaty - whose effects are quite visibly hampering sports in the two countries.
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Professional Footballers Australia, the players union representing both the men's and women's national teams in Australia, have launched a campaign for equality in prize money at the men's and women's World Cup. This is said to be the first step in taking legal action against football's governing body FIFA over gender discrimination. The winning team of the Women's World Cup in France will receive $4 million as total prize money out of the total pool of $30 million. After winning the men's tournament in Russia last year, France received a sum of $38 million out of a total pool of $400 million. © Facebook/FranceFootball PFA Chief John Didulica released a statement regarding the matter saying the players are "victims of discrimination." In a letter addressed to the FIFA's Chief Officer for Women's Football, it was stated that "the PFA expressly reserves the rights of the players to have this matter resolved through appropriate means including mediation and arbitration." The PFA have even launched a website mentioning the in-depth details of the problem and the campaign, including a financial plan which states that the total pool of prize money for women should be $336 million as compared to $40 million. PFA have put all of their weight behind the campaign with all the players putting up videos and its logo on their social media handles. Gender Discrimination in Football became a huge talking point when the US Women's team sued the US federation on similar grounds in March. The movement is now being taken forward by the Australian players' union. © Reuters In fact, according to a recent report from Reuters, PFA have decided to implement a 33 percent hike in remuneration of players playing in Australia's W-League making the base hourly pay the same as the Men's A-League. PFA CEO Didulica revealed the decision with great pride and said that “it's a moment in time that the players should be proud of.” The point remains that the men in Australia's A-League will still be paid more, due to higher viewership resulting in greater commercial deals and longer hours on the field. This proves that viewership, which is essentially an external factor, is the big component that will result in the demise of institutional discrimination not just in football but in all other sports as well Although this might not be the endgame, this particular movement is necessary for two reasons- to leave no room for intentional discrimination in the sport; and to make people genuinely aware of the struggles of these women for equality. This movement is not only big for Women's football or the world of football, but also for the world of sport as it sets a precedent for equal pay and non-tolerance for gender discrimination in the industry and shows that this is not something we can stand for.
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From comparing the image of black hole to sambhar wada, to praising a schoolgirl for riding a horse to her exam center, to spotting the rarest of the rare talents from across the globe, Anand Mahindra never fails to impress us with his take on anything and everything under the sun. Reuters And once again, the chairman of the Mahindra Group has introduced us to another young prodigy, whose talents were unknown to most of us until now. The young prodigy we're talking about is a 5-year-old Iranian boy who plays football like it's nobody's damn business. View this post on Instagram There is something about Arat which distinguishes him from the other kids in his age, and that's fighting back after a failure ! He fights back with more power & passion to get what he wants. I truly believe he has unlimited power in his heart , failure won't make him lose his hope but it makes him stronger . Arat the extraterrestrial little boy ð½ ð¦ ð¾ اگر ÙÙ Ø³Ø¹Û Ú©ÙÙ Ùر رÙز ÚÛز ØªØ§Ø²Ù Ø§Û Ûاد بگÛر٠٠اÙÙ٠ت٠برÙاÙÙ Ùا٠بÛار٠٠خÙدÙ٠پاÛبÙد اÛÙ Øرکت Ú©ÙÙ Ùطعا ÙÛتÙÙ٠آÛÙد٠خÙØ¨Û Ø¨Ø±Ø§Û Ø¨ÚÙ Ùا٠بسازÙ. ð¤ ____________ #arat #fit #fitness #baby #5yearsold #sixpack #6pack #bodybuilding #building #bodygoals #fitnessmodel #model #fashion #love #hero #spiderman #batman #soccer #ninja #2019 #family #boy #photography #photo @arat.gym A post shared by Arat Hosseini (@arat.gym) on Apr 18, 2019 at 6:00am PDT Thanks to his long hair, Arat Hosseini is often confused for a girl and Anand Mahindra too got confused. In the video that has now gone viral, Anand Mahindra too confesses about getting confused, but he is impressed regardless. When I first saw this in my #whatsappwonderbox I thought it was a little girl & was amazed. Then trawled the net & it seems it's really a 4 yr old Iranian boy! I'm still impressed by the way! Enjoy... pic.twitter.com/pqfPMhMRoR — anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) May 18, 2019 At an age when most of us were probably still busy eating mud, Arat has become an internet sensation with his kickass football skills. View this post on Instagram how many ? ðªð¾ð¶ð¼ . #Arat #soccer #barcelona #football A post shared by Arat Hosseini (@arat.gym) on May 14, 2019 at 3:06am PDT View this post on Instagram â½ï¸â½ï¸ð¶ð¼ The country of Qatar tried to help Arat to attend a very good European football academy, but unfortunately strict laws of FIFA didn't allow this to happen , we could have only done this if we lived in Europe. Anyways we have to stop thinking about going to European football academies, and we have to stay here and try our best to learn techniques by the academy in here and the videos that are available in the internet. We will try our best to attend the greatest football academic in the future and in order to achieve our goal we need exercise and experience. I would like to thank Qatar ð¶ð¦ for trying to help Arat's future Translated by @asal_story â Ú©Ø´Ùر Ùطر تÙاش کرد ک٠باعث رÙت٠آرات ب٠ÛÚ© باشگا٠خÙب ارÙپا بش٠اÙا ÙاÙÙ٠سخت Ú¯ÛراÙÙ ÙÛÙا اÛ٠اجاز٠را Ùداد اگر Ø®ÙدÙÙ٠در ارÙپا بÙدÛ٠اÛ٠شراÛØ· ÙÙÛا ÙÛشد. بÙابراÛ٠رÙت٠ب٠ارÙپا را در Øا٠Øاضر باÛد از Ø°ÙÙÙÙ٠پاک Ú©ÙÛÙ. Ùا در آکادÙÛ Ø®ÙدÙا٠ÙÙ٠درسÙا را Ø®Ùب Ûاد Ø®ÙاÙÛ٠گرÙت ٠با دÛد٠ÙÛÙÙÙØ§Û Ùدارس ÙختÙ٠درسÙØ§Û Ø¬Ø¯ÛØ¯ØªØ±Û Ûاد ÙÛÚ¯ÛرÛÙ. Ø¨Ø±Ø§Û Ø±Ùت٠ب٠بزرگترÛ٠باشگاÙÙØ§Û Ø¯ÙÛا ٠کسب تجربÙØ Ø¨Ûشتر از ÙÙÛش٠تÙاش Ø®ÙاÙÛ٠کرد. جا دار٠از ÙطرÛÙا بابت تÙاششÙ٠تشکر Ú©ÙÙ. â½ï¸â½ï¸ soccer â½ï¸ A post shared by Arat Hosseini (@arat.gym) on Apr 25, 2019 at 8:02am PDT Arat, who is known as the 'world's strongest kid', has 2.1 million followers on Instagram and actor Varun Dhawan happens to be one of them. View this post on Instagram I love you â¤ï¸ ð @aratarthur ðâ½ï¸ soccer ð¥ A post shared by Arat Hosseini (@arat.gym) on Apr 7, 2019 at 11:53pm PDT View this post on Instagram â¤ï¸ A post shared by Arat Hosseini (@arat.gym) on Apr 7, 2019 at 9:27am PDT Honestly, Messi and Ronaldo have got nothing on this kid.
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In what has arguably been a spectacular year, the football season - comprised of prominent leagues and tournament - is nearing its fitting end. We've seen the likes of Barcelona lifting the La Liga trophy for the 26th time, Juventus clinching their eight successive Serie A title and Kylian Mbappe's hat-trick powering Paris Saint-Germain to Ligue 1 triumph this season. Also, the football fans were recently treated with Manchester City's thrilling Premier League title triumph that was decided on the final matchday of the season. Following the EPL suit, this year's Bundesliga title is also set to go down to the wire as Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund (two-points adrift at the top) seek one final win to lift the trophy in the last round of matches on 18th May. And then, there is that big UEFA Champions League final in Madrid that will see English giants Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur locking horns for Europe's biggest trophy on 2nd June. But, while the highly-anticipated clash is still a few weeks away, the fans would be happy to update themselves on the latest list of most valuable and strongest football clubs in the world. © Reuters Putting some of the world's biggest football brands to test, Brand Finance has come up with this year's 'Football 50' - list of top football club brands. Taking into account a number of metrics (both financial and non-financial), the world's leading independent brand valuation consultancy firm has revealed the list of Top 50 most valuable and strongest football brands. Real Madrid might have crashed out of the Champions League and lost the La Liga trophy to arch-rivals Barcelona, but they have the title as the world's strongest football brand in 2019. With a brand value of 1.646 billion euro, the club is ahead of a peer group of a billion-euro-plus brands that includes Manchester United (€1.472bn), Barcelona (€1.393bn), Bayern Munich (€1.314bn), Manchester City (€1.255bn), and Liverpool (€1.191bn). The six clubs account for over 40 per cent of the overall brand value in the Brand Finance 'Football 50' ranking of the sport's most valuable brands, underlining the concentration of wealth and the creation of a set of 'super clubs'. They are followed by Chelsea (€968mn), Paris Saint-Germain (€914mn), Arsenal (€885mn) and Tottenham Hotspur (€758mn) to complete the top 10 spots on the coveted list. Los Blancos Reign Supreme © Reuters Real Madrid have shown this year who truly reigns supreme in the world of football. They triumph not only as the most valuable and strongest brand but their enterprise value and stadium are also ranked second to none. The club returned to the top of Brand Finance's ranking after almost a decade since it last held the title in 2010. The club's brand value has grown 27 per cent since last year, an increase partly attributable to the club winning a fourth UEFA Champions League in five years in 2018. The club had become the first in the world to break the €750 million barrier in revenues in 2017-18. Their commercial monies totalled €356 million, close to 50 per cent of overall revenues, making them the highest generator of cash from this income stream. Real Madrid also possesses the strongest football club brand, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 95.5 out of 100, marginally ahead of their fierce rivals Barcelona (BSI 95.4). Malaise In Manchester © Reuters Real Madrid's return to the top has pushed Manchester United into second place, as the Red Devils' brand value declined for the first time since 2016, from €1.562 billion last year to €1.472 billion (a 6 per cent drop) in 2019. Manchester United have disappointed in recent years on the playing field both in the Premier League and in the Champions League. Public perceptions of the brand have deteriorated as United ranks only 18th among the sample of the world's top clubs with regards to “playing exciting football”, as revealed by Brand Finance's original fan research. In the 2018-19 season, the club reached the quarterfinal stage of the Champions League but were easily beaten by Barcelona. Moreover, they failed to qualify for the 2019-20 competition for the third time in seven years. Such underperformance for a club accustomed to perpetual success in the Sir Alex Ferguson years is reflected in its revenue generation. Although total revenues remain among the highest, income from commercial and matchday activities has slowed up and TV income declined in 2017-18. To a certain degree, Manchester United have been cast into the shadows in their domestic market by neighbours Manchester City, who won the Premier League in 2018 and 2019. Spurs Race Ahead © Reuters Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are flying the flag for English football this year having reached the final of the UEFA Champions League. Both clubs improved their brand value by 20% to €1.191 billion and €758 million respectively, the highest growth rates in the top 10 after Real Madrid's 27 per cent and Paris Saint-Germain's 21 per cent. Tottenham in particular continue to win plaudits for their commitment to a progressive style of football and youth development. While their new 62,000-capacity home ground was being built, Tottenham were playing at Wembley, which provided the opportunity to grow matchday revenues. Their new stadium should enable them to maintain momentum in this income stream as well as monetise new state-of-the-art facilities through other non-football events. Their financial position was highlighted by record post-tax profits of €131 million in 2017-18, but their success in Europe in 2018-19 should allow the club to further invest in its playing resources and strengthen their ability to compete at the highest level. Wolves Wander Up The Ranks © Reuters While the ranking of the top clubs shows little change to 2018, one of the rising stars are Wolverhampton Wanderers, who returned to the Premier League in 2018 after an absence of six seasons. Wolves, a club with a rich heritage, ranks 28th in the table with a brand valuation of €187 million, and their impressive performance in 2018-19 and the benefits of Premier League membership should create a positive growth trajectory. This season, the club enjoyed their highest attendances at their Molineux ground for almost 50 years. Wolves are owned by Fosun International, which has close links with high-profile agent Jorge Mendes. They have leveraged these relationships to build a strong, attack-minded team of talented players as well as broaden the club's franchise in China and develop an innovative focus on eSports. The Premier Appeal © Reuters The ascendancy of Wolves and the strong presence of English clubs in the Brand Finance 'Football 50' (17 clubs in total) highlights the enduring financial power of the Premier League. The Premier's TV broadcasting revenues outstrip all the other major European leagues - €2.9 billion versus LaLiga's €1.2 billion in 2017, while commercial revenues are more than double the income of Serie A or Ligue 1. The Premier League is also the most widely followed league across Europe's main football markets, according to Brand Finance's original fan research. The Premier League is deemed to have a “superior atmosphere” and a “greater level of competitiveness” than other national competitions. However, the Premier League did not score highest on all metrics as La Liga is thought to have more “star players” and “world class clubs” than the Premier League. Brand Value By Leagues © Reuters Apart from the football clubs, Brand Finance also projected astonishing numbers in relation to the brand value in terms of competitive football leagues. There was no surprise to see Premier League right at the top of the list with a brand value of €8,683 million (a 6.9 per cent jump from last year's figures of €8,120 million). It wasn't really surprising considering the fact that it has provided all four finalists across the Champions League and UEFA Europa League this year - a feat achieved by a country for the very first time. Premier League is followed by La Liga whose brand value has been estimated at €3,998 million (a massive 23 per cent rise from last year's figures of €3,242 million) in the esteemed list. Germany's Bundesliga is at the third spot with a brand value of €3,815 million, followed by Serie A (€2,001mn) and Ligue 1 (€1,242mn).
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The past year has been quite the roller coaster ride for the Brazilian football player, Neymar Jr. He cried for two days straight and expressed his worry about the recurring metatarsal injury in his foot, he has very strong intentions of leaving his French team, Paris Saint-Germain and now the footballer has been banned for an altercation he got into last month with a fan. On 28th April 2019, Sunday, Les Parisiens lost the Coupe de France final to Rennes 6-5 after a close game that ended with the final score at 2-2. Multiple videos of the Bralizilan getting in a tiff with a fan surfaced on the internet. While initially, Neymar only wanted to have a quick chat with him by on his way out, the athlete did manage to land a punch on the fan's face. Neymar met une pêche à un rennais pic.twitter.com/uXgU3R2l5Y — Claude vaillant (@vaillant92100) April 27, 2019 Neymar's image consultant, Alex Bernardo, too put up an Instagram video according to which the so called 'fan' was talking trash about Neymar and his team. He called Gianluigi Buffon a "buffoon," Marco Verratti a "racist" and "Neymar, learn how to play football!" View this post on Instagram Não vou discutir se é a maneira mais correta de resolver o assunto. Mas que foi MERECIDO, foi ! Veja o que o “torcedor” falou E GRAVOU !! “Buffon você é retardado” “Kurzawa não quero seus cumprimentos” “Verratti racista” “Neymar, aprenda a jogar futebol” Este é o tipo de comportamento que não pode ser admitido. Jogadores de cabeça quente após perder uma final de campeonato e um IDIOTA provocando-os. Certinho ele, né ? Não li uma crítica ao comportamento desse “torcedor”. MERECEU ! . @neymarjr , como sempre, defendeu a si mesmo e a seus companheiros de ofensas. Quem o defenderá de ter ido em defesa dos companheiros de time ? Alguém ? #respeito #respect #neymar #neymarjr #njr A post shared by Alex Bernardo (@alexbernardo_) on Apr 27, 2019 at 5:45pm PDT Nonetheless, the French Football Federation have decided to put a three-month ban on the Forward starting Monday, which means that the 27-year-old will not be a part of Paris Saint-Germain's two final Ligue 1 matches of this season, and also the Trophee des Champions scheduled to take place on 3rd August 2019. The team management believes that it is too harsh a punishment and that PSG will contest this decision at the FFF High Commission of Appeal. "Given the insults endured by several Paris players, including Neymar, at the end of the Coupe de France final, and the various elements submitted to the committee by Paris Saint-Germain in the player's defence, the club considers this sanction severe," said a PSG statement.
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Arguably one of the best footballers on the planet, Mohamed Salah continues to be a vital cog in Liverpool's title dreams in the ongoing season of the Premier League. For someone who started his career at the left-back position, Salah has thrived as a versatile forward, primarily playing as a winger on the right flank - a position he has made his own ever since arriving at the Anfield. His pace and flair on the ball, decorated with good technique and an eye for goal, was in full display during Liverpool's 2-0 triumph over Chelsea at the Anfield on 14th April. After a goalless first half, the Reds were pushed in front by Sadio Mane whose brilliant header allowed the home side to take the lead in the 51st minute. Liverpool's first goal against Chelsea scored by Sadio Mane. #LIVCHE Cc: @KifsonWhoo, @mkah90 pic.twitter.com/nGgJ26O810 — LineKicker (@LineKicker) 14 April 2019 Two minutes later, Salah worked his magic to double the lead for Liverpool. The 26-year-old picked the ball up on the right of the Chelsea box in the 53rd minute and arrowed a rasping, unstoppable drive from his stronger left foot beyond Kepa Arrizabalaga from 25 yards out to seal the game for the hosts. Mo Salah. The Egyptian King. #LFC pic.twitter.com/R2PSvvutgt — TheKop.com (@TheKop_com) 14 April 2019 While talking to Sky Sports after the match, Salah revealed that he was so far out that he felt he had to go with just "power" in a bid to beat the Chelsea shot-stopper. It was the first goal he had scored from outside the penalty box in the Premier League for more than a year. His brilliant strike powered Liverpool back to the top of the points table with arch-rivals Manchester City currently placed second with a game in hand. The social media was abuzz with Salah's brilliant goal as football fans across the globe lauded the Egyptian for his effort. X @LFC pic.twitter.com/TQ8Ow2tyxJ — Linzi (@LinziLeighton) 14 April 2019 @2JZSteve what a screamer — Chris (@topheurgh) 14 April 2019 Oh wowie!! — Frankieeeeeeee (@frankiemcgill) 14 April 2019 @Alom_M_ im not supposed to like this but its too great a goal — shumel (@shumel10) 14 April 2019 Absolute beauty wow wow — Y'esus Orwin Boanerges (@orwin_y) 14 April 2019 The most beautiful goal you will ever see. Our Egyptian King. Good on you mate. Silence the at RACIST #ChelseaFC. — Gary M Buckley (@GBucks_M) 14 April 2019 Can not stop watching!𤩠— David Beakhouse (@DBeakhouse) 14 April 2019 Mad goal ðð»ðð»ðð»ðð»ðð» — YourWeddingReceptionMC (@remigist) 14 April 2019 He's been trying this all season long and it worked today. Thank God — Dixz (@major_dixz) 14 April 2019