Football

Brazil's footballing resurgence took a significant step forward on Saturday as they secured a memorable 1-0 victory over England at Wembley under the guidance of new manager Dorival Jr. The triumph marked the beginning of a new era for the Selecao, who have endured a period of decline in recent years.Once a dominant force in international football, Brazil has struggled to maintain its former glory. Their last World Cup triumph came in 2002, and they have failed to progress beyond the quarter-finals in the past two editions. In 2014, they suffered a humiliating 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany on home soil.Dorival Jr, appointed in January, faced immense pressure to deliver a positive result against England. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) had endured a tumultuous search for a permanent manager, with Carlo Ancelotti ultimately rejecting their advances.Despite the uncertainty, Brazil produced a spirited performance at Wembley. Teenage sensation Endrick, who came on as a substitute, became the youngest male scorer at the iconic stadium with his 80th-minute winner. The goal evoked memories of legendary striker Romario, according to former England midfielder Joe Cole.Dorival expressed relief at starting his tenure with a victory. "It's a really special moment," he said. "But we must not lose sight of the fact that this is just the start of our work."Brazil's resurgence will face another test on March 27 when they travel to Spain for a friendly. The Spaniards, who also lost on Saturday, will provide a formidable challenge at the Santiago Bernabeu.The Selecao will then play two more friendlies in June before the Copa America kicks off. Dorival will hope that his team can build on their Wembley triumph and rediscover their former glory.

Inter Miami's star-studded squad faced a brutal 4-0 thrashing at the hands of New York Red Bulls on Saturday, leaving coach Gerardo Martino fuming over his team's lack of desire and spirit.Despite the absence of injured superstar Lionel Messi, Miami's lineup boasted high-profile signings Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets, and Jordi Alba. However, they were outplayed from start to finish by a determined Red Bulls side.Former Inter player Lewis Morgan stole the show with a superb hat-trick, while Dante Vanzeir also contributed to New York's dominant performance. Miami, on the other hand, struggled to create any meaningful chances, with Suarez's curling shot in the first half their only notable attempt.Martino took responsibility for the loss but pointed the finger at his players, saying, "There is not much to say, except that we were outmatched from start to finish. Red Bulls had the desire to win and we had no desire to compete."He refused to blame Messi's absence, noting that the team had won without him last week. "The absence of the best player in the world is important for everyone, but last week with D.C. Leo didn't play either," Martino said.Morgan's brilliant performance was a major factor in Miami's downfall. The Scottish international opened the scoring after just three minutes and doubled the lead in the second half. He then assisted Vanzeir for New York's third goal and completed his hat-trick with a clinical finish.The win lifted New York to the top of the Eastern Conference alongside Columbus Crew and Miami. The Revs, meanwhile, earned their first point of the season with a 1-1 draw against Chicago Fire.

Florian Wirtz, the 20-year-old German prodigy, etched his name into international football history with a stunning goal that propelled Germany to a 2-0 victory over France in an international friendly on Saturday.Just seven seconds after the opening whistle, Wirtz received the ball from Toni Kroos and unleashed a fierce drive that left French goalkeeper Brice Samba rooted to the spot. The ball flew under the crossbar, setting a new record for the fastest goal in German international history."I don't think anyone understood or realized what was happening," Wirtz said after the match. "We were all quite surprised, but there was obviously a lot of joy. You can't start a match any better."Wirtz's goal came close to equaling the record for the fastest international goal ever, which was set by Lukas Podolski in 2013. However, Christoph Baumgartner's strike for Austria against Andorra earlier on Saturday had already set a new mark of six seconds.Kai Havertz doubled Germany's lead just four minutes into the second half, tapping in a pass from Jamal Musiala. France, despite fielding star striker Kylian Mbappe, struggled to create clear-cut chances and were unable to find a way back into the game.Julian Nagelsmann's Germany side looked the more dangerous throughout the match, with Maximilian Mittelstaedt and Thomas Mueller both denied by fine saves from Samba. France nearly pulled one back in the 88th minute when Mittelstaedt mistimed a clearance, but Antonio Rudiger cleared the ball off the line and VAR ruled the handball to be unintentional."We can obviously be very satisfied," said Kroos. "We've taken some good steps forward, some important steps forward. These are the last few chances for us to get a bit of a feel for Euro 2024. We'll take that with us today."Both teams will continue their preparations for this summer's European Championship, with France facing Chile and Germany hosting the Netherlands on Tuesday.

Real Madrid's future star, Endrick, made history at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, becoming the youngest male player to score an international goal at the iconic venue. The 17-year-old striker, who will join Madrid from Palmeiras at the end of the season, netted the only goal in Brazil's 1-0 friendly victory over England.Endrick entered the match as a second-half substitute and wasted no time making an impact. Just nine minutes after coming on, he pounced on a loose ball in the England penalty area and fired into an empty net after Vinicius Junior's shot was saved by Jordan Pickford.The goal was a testament to Endrick's exceptional talent and composure. Despite being the youngest player on the pitch, he showed no signs of nerves and celebrated his historic strike with a passionate knee slide.Endrick's goal not only secured the victory for Brazil but also extended England's winless streak at Wembley to 21 games. The Three Lions had dominated possession and created several chances, but they were unable to find a way past a resolute Brazilian defense.After the match, Endrick expressed his joy and gratitude. "My family is here, my girlfriend, my agents. I am not much of a crier, I am holding myself, but this is something unique and I am very happy," he said.Endrick's performance has further solidified his status as one of the most promising young players in the world. Real Madrid has secured a major talent for the future, and Endrick is poised to become a key figure for both club and country in the years to come.

Sunil Chhetri, the talismanic captain of the Indian football team, is poised to reach a remarkable milestone in his illustrious career. On Tuesday, in the World Cup qualifier against Afghanistan in Guwahati, Chhetri will make his 150th international appearance, becoming only the 40th player in the world to achieve this feat.Chhetri's international journey began on June 12, 2005, in a friendly match against Pakistan in Quetta. He marked his debut with a goal in a 1-1 draw. Since then, he has amassed 149 caps for India, scoring a record 93 goals.Throughout his career, Chhetri has been a prolific goal-scorer, holding the unique distinction of scoring at least one goal in his first, 25th, 50th, 75th, 100th, and 125th matches for the Blue Tigers. His exceptional goal-scoring prowess has earned him the admiration of fans and respect from opponents alike."It's been an awe-inspiring and staggering cruise that all of us have been fortunate to witness since 2005," said All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey. "Chhetri playing his 150th international match is an extraordinary accomplishment that will go a long way in keeping the Indian football flag flying high."Chhetri's influence on Indian football extends beyond his on-field achievements. He has been a role model for aspiring footballers, inspiring millions to take up the beautiful game."He has been a great influencer who has motivated millions to play this beautiful game," added Chaubey. "I congratulate Chhetri for reaching this great height in international football."The AIFF has announced that it will felicitate Chhetri on the sidelines of the return leg clash against Afghanistan in Guwahati."In many football fans' eyes, Chhetri is almost the synonym of the Indian men's national team," said AIFF acting secretary general M Satyanarayan. "He is a fabulous footballer, a cool captain, and a star striker. The All India Football Federation is proud to felicitate him on his 150th international match. We sincerely hope Chhetri will continue to serve Indian football in the same breath in the future."

Brazil's national football team and its coach, Dorival Junior, have expressed their dismay and condemnation over the recent rape convictions of former internationals Robinho and Dani Alves.Robinho, 40, was sentenced to nine years in prison in Brazil for his involvement in a gang rape in Italy in 2013. Alves, also 40, received a four-and-a-half year sentence for raping a young woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022."As coach of the national team, I have an obligation to speak out," said Dorival ahead of Brazil's international friendly against England at Wembley on Saturday. "First, I think it's a very delicate situation. I think of the families and especially the victims affected by these cases which occur every day in our country and around the world."Dorival, who took over the five-time world champions in January, said the situation of Robinho, whom he coached at Brazilian club Santos, was particularly painful for him. "If it has been proven that there was any crime, he must be punished even if it hurts my heart to say this about a person with whom I have always had an exceptional relationship," added the 61-year-old."I didn't have the opportunity to work with Daniel, but we all know his story within football. It's a difficult time for all of us to express ourselves in these situations."Dorival emphasized his concern for the victims and their families. "I know how painful it must have been for each of them. What I can do is help them with prayers, nothing more."In a statement on Friday, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) described the cases as "shameful," expressing its support for "the victims of the two brutal crimes committed by former players." CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues added that in an environment where "machismo reigns," men must "fight not only sexual violence, but all kinds of violence."Brazil full-back Danilo, who will captain the national side against England, called on the football authorities to raise awareness among young players, to put themselves "in women's shoes in a more empathetic way."The convictions of Robinho and Alves have sparked outrage and condemnation in Brazil and around the world, highlighting the ongoing problem of sexual violence and the need for accountability in all walks of life, including the world of sports.

England's captain, Harry Kane, will miss the upcoming friendly match against Brazil on Saturday due to an ankle injury sustained during Bayern Munich's victory over Darmstadt last weekend. Kane's absence extends to the potential match against Belgium next week, leaving him "extremely doubtful" for participation.The injury setback comes at a crucial time for Kane, as England manager Gareth Southgate prepares to announce his squad for Euro 2024 in June. However, Kane remains confident in his place on the team despite the injury.Other notable absentees from the England squad include Ajax midfielder Jordan Henderson and Chelsea forward Cole Palmer, who are also sidelined with injuries. Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka withdrew from the squad on Thursday due to an injury.Southgate expressed concern over Kane's injury, stating that he would be "extremely doubtful" for the Belgium match. However, he acknowledged the opportunity for Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney to prove their worth as potential understudies to Kane at the Euros.Watkins has scored three goals in nine international appearances, while Toney made his England debut as a substitute against Ukraine last year. Southgate emphasized the importance of versatility in his squad, hinting at the possibility of selecting players who can fulfill multiple roles.Despite the absences, England remain favorites to defeat Brazil in their first match under new head coach Dorival Junior. The Selecao have won 10 of their last 11 friendlies against European opposition but will be eager to avoid a fourth consecutive loss since 2001.Southgate acknowledged England's poor record against Brazil but expressed confidence in his team's ability to create history and test themselves against a formidable opponent.

The post-Gareth Bale era in Welsh football has been a period of transition and rejuvenation. After the departure of their talismanic forward, Wales has emerged with a new generation of players ready to make their mark on the international stage.The absence of Bale, who retired after the 2022 World Cup, and Aaron Ramsey, who is in the twilight of his career, has forced Wales to find new sources of inspiration. And they have found it in abundance.A youthful Wales side will face Poland in a crucial playoff final on Tuesday, with a place at the 2024 European Championship on the line. The team has shown impressive form in recent months, sweeping past Finland 4-1 in the playoff semifinals.Among the standout performers for Wales has been David Brooks, a midfield playmaker who has recently recovered from cancer treatment. Brennan Johnson, a forward who is making a name for himself at Tottenham Hotspur, and Dan James, a winger who is rebuilding his career at Leeds United, have also made significant contributions.These players, along with other promising talents such as Jordan James, Harry Wilson, and Lewis Koumas, represent the future of Welsh football. They are a blend of experience and youthful exuberance, and they have the potential to achieve great things.Wales coach Robert Page has been impressed with the progress of his young squad. "We've lost superstars with Gaz (Bale) and Joe (Allen)," he said. "But that doesn't mean there's a different feeling within the camp. We are more than confident with the squad we've got."The key for Wales now is to maintain their momentum and continue to develop their young players. If they can do that, they have the potential to become a force to be reckoned with in international football.

Former Manchester City and Real Madrid star Robinho has been arrested in Brazil to serve a nine-year sentence for raping a woman in 2013. The arrest comes after the Supreme Court rejected his request to delay the sentence.Robinho was found guilty by an Italian court in 2017 of participating in the gang rape of an Albanian woman in Milan. He lost an appeal in 2020 and had his sentence upheld by Italy's highest court in 2022.As Brazil does not extradite its nationals, Italy requested that Robinho serve his sentence in his home country. A court in Brasilia agreed, and on Thursday, court president Maria Thereza de Assis Moura signed a document paving the way for an arrest warrant.Robinho's lawyers had filed a request to the Supreme Court to allow him to remain free while challenging the latest court decision, but it was rejected. He was arrested at his luxury condominium in Guaruja, near Santos, and will be taken to a prison in Tremembe.Robinho has denied the charges and claimed the sex was consensual. However, the complaint alleges that he and his co-accused made the victim drink to the point of unconsciousness and then had sexual relations with her multiple times.The case has sparked criticism over the failure of football authorities in Brazil to condemn violence against women. Palmeiras president Leila Pereira has lashed out at the football world for its silence on the twin rape convictions of Robinho and former Barcelona defender Dani Alves.Robinho's arrest marks a dramatic fall from grace for the former star, who was once touted as the successor to the golden generation of Brazilian players. He has 100 Brazil caps and 28 goals for his country.