Month: November 2024

Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City in August 2008 – a little more than a week before the club s trajectory was irreversible changed by Sheikh Mansour s takeover.

The centre-back position, where long-serving club captain Kompany excelled and became a club great, has become a focus for the owner s transfer market millions over the intervening years.

However, there have been more expensive misses than hits, with City s struggles after Kompany s departure last year underlining how subsequent centre-back additions have rarely been anywhere near as successful.

Bournemouth s Nathan Ake is set to be the next man into the building, with City reportedly having agreed a £41million fee for the Netherlands international.

Here, we look at the major centre-back …

England boss Sarina Wiegman admitted “sweetest person” Lauren James “lost her emotions” as she received a red card that could see the 21-year-old miss the remainder of the World Cup.

The Lionesses advanced to the quarter-finals after surviving James’ dismissal late in the second half to beat Nigeria on penalties, with Euro 2022 hero Chloe Kelly scoring the winning spot-kick in a 4-2 shoot-out success.

James’ brace and two assists earned her player-of-the-match honours against China, but this time she was sent off after it was ruled she had deliberately stepped on the back of Nigeria defender Michelle Alozie with three minutes of normal time remaining of a game that ended goalless after 120 minutes.

Wiegman, who had not watched the incident back, said:…

Nick Cushing credited New York City s resilience after they inflicted a crushing derby loss on the New York Red Bulls, calling on them to carry that momentum into Wednesday s meeting with FC Cincinnati.

NYCFC were routed 5-1 by the Philadelphia Union just two weeks ago, but they responded by thrashing their cross-city rivals by the same scoreline on the road on Saturday.

That result lifted them to fifth in the Eastern Conference and within one win of sealing a playoff place, something their next opponents Cincinnati have already done.

Reflecting on NYCFC s last result, Cushing said: I ve got some things to say about the 5-1 loss. A lot of the way that I see that game is in a boxing metaphor.

I know there are many champion boxers that have been champion …

Georgia and Czhecia will fight until the final matchday of Group F to progress to the last 16 after a 1-1 draw in Hamburg, where Saba Lobjanidze missed a golden chance late on.

Patrik Schick, who shared the Golden Boot with Cristiano Ronaldo at Euro 2020, restored parity midway through the second half on Saturday, cancelling out Georges Mikautadze s opener from the penalty spot.

Georgia s goal came on the stroke of half-time, after Robin Hranac was adjudged to have handled in Czechia s area after a VAR check.

That came after VAR had denied Adam Hlozek an opener for Czechia, with the ball having struck his arm on its way in.

Schick had no such trouble with the technology when he bundled home at the back post in the 59th minute, though.

The Bayer Le…

Manchester City are the team leading the way in the Women s Super League standings with 10 points from four games, ahead of Sunday s home clash with Aston Villa.

However, it is Chelsea and Manchester United – who saw their scheduled matchday three meeting postponed – who boast the only two perfect records in the division.

Both sides have recorded three wins from as many games ahead of potentially testing fixtures this weekend.

While Marc Skinner s United go to Brighton, who have taken nine points from four matches in a fine start, Chelsea host Tottenham in a big London derby.

Elsewhere, Renee Slegers takes charge of Arsenal for the first time in the WSL following the exit of Jonas Eidevall, with a trip to West Ham marking her first league assignment f…

Spain reached the semi-finals of the men s football tournament at the Tokyo Olympics after surviving an almighty scare against the Ivory Coast.

Manchester United defender Eric Bailly was a surprising opening goalscorer but Dani Olmo levelled before half-time at Miyagi Stadium.

Spain were the dominant force on the ball without finding a breakthrough, and it looked as though they were staring at a shock quarter-final exit when Max Gradel s deflected effort gave Ivory Coast the lead in injury time.

Incredibly, substitute Rafa Mir forced extra time two minutes later, scoring just 58 seconds after coming off the bench.

Spain at last went ahead when Oyarzabal swept home from the penalty spot, Bailly having been penalised for handball after a long VAR review.