Football

Manchester United's dismal start to the season continued on Thursday, October 3, 2024, as they suffered a demoralizing 3-0 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League. The loss leaves the Red Devils with just seven points from six games, their joint-worst start in the Premier League era.United's woes were compounded by injuries to Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount, adding to the growing list of absentees. Captain Bruno Fernandes, who grew up in Porto and played for local rivals Boavista, knows better than most what to expect from their upcoming opponents in the Europa League.The Portuguese midfielder warned that Porto, who lost their opening Europa League game 3-2 to Norway's Bodo/Glimt, are a formidable side in Europe. "It's a side that always does really well in Europe, we have to be aware of that," Fernandes said.United manager Erik ten Hag admitted that his team were far below the standards expected after the Tottenham defeat. "We have to show resilience because this is not good enough. We have to accept this and, from this point on, we have to do things better," said Ten Hag.The Dutchman pleaded for more time to turn the club's fortunes around, but the pressure is mounting on him after a series of disappointing results. United have now won just one of their last nine games in Europe, a dismal run that includes last season's disastrous Champions League display.Ten Hag is waiting to discover the extent of injuries sustained by Mainoo and Mount. He will also be without Christian Eriksen, who is serving a three-match domestic ban after his red card in the Tottenham defeat.United will be desperate to bounce back in the Europa League, but they face a tough test against Porto, who have a strong record in the competition. The Portuguese giants have won the Europa League twice, in 2003 and 2011, and were runners-up in 2014.Ten Hag will need to find a way to turn United's fortunes around quickly, or he could face the sack. The Red Devils have a busy schedule ahead of them, with games against Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal coming up in the next few weeks.

Inter Milan kicked off their Champions League campaign with a resounding 4-0 victory over Red Star Belgrade at the San Siro on Tuesday. Hakan Calhanoglu's stunning free-kick in the 11th minute set the tone for the match, as Inter dominated possession and created numerous chances.Marko Arnautovic doubled the lead on the hour mark, rolling the ball into an empty net after Mehdi Taremi dispossessed Rade Krunic. Captain Lautaro Martinez added a third in the 71st minute, before winning the penalty that Taremi converted to complete the rout.The win moved Inter into the top eight positions of the new league phase of the Champions League, which sees teams qualify directly for the last 16. It was a much-needed victory for Simone Inzaghi's side, who had drawn their opening match against Manchester City.Red Star, on the other hand, are in 32nd place after losing their first two matches. Coach Vladan Milojevic lamented his team's error-strewn performance, saying, "We gave away four goals, I said after the Benfica game (lost 2-1) that we can't concede those sorts of goals... when you make these kinds of errors you can't do much else."Despite the arrests of leading figures within Inter and AC Milan's hardcore ultras fan groups for a variety of crimes, the atmosphere in the Curva Nord section of the San Siro was electric. Inter's fans roared their team on from the first minute, and the whole stadium was on its feet after Calhanoglu's beautiful free-kick.Inter continued to dominate proceedings, with Arnautovic and Denzel Dumfries both coming close to scoring. Henrikh Mkhitaryan also wasted two great chances to add to Inter's lead, but it was Arnautovic who eventually doubled the advantage after Taremi robbed the ball from Krunic.Red Star crumbled in the second half, and Martinez scored his third goal of the season after another fine assist from Taremi. Taremi was given a gift from his Argentine strike partner as thanks for his sterling work up front, which helped Inter secure a fine win.

Bayer Leverkusen's impressive start to the Champions League continued on Tuesday as they defeated AC Milan 1-0 at home. The German side displayed attacking flair and defensive resilience to secure their second victory in the competition.The decisive moment came early in the second half when Victor Boniface pounced on a rebound to give Leverkusen the lead. The Nigerian striker had earlier been denied a goal by VAR for offside.Leverkusen dominated the first half, with Florian Wirtz orchestrating their attacks and Boniface causing problems for the Milan defense. However, they were unable to find a breakthrough before the interval.After the break, Leverkusen's pressure paid off when Boniface converted from close range after Maignan parried Frimpong's shot. The goal sparked Milan into life, but they were unable to find an equalizer despite creating several chances.Theo Hernandez's deflected shot bounced off the bar and Alvaro Morata's header went wide in the closing stages. Leverkusen also had opportunities to extend their lead, with Nathan Tella coming close in injury time.The victory extends Leverkusen's unbeaten run in the Champions League to two matches, while Milan have now lost both of their opening games.

Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior is poised to make a strong case for the Ballon d'Or award in October, but his immediate focus is on leading his team to victory in the Champions League. The Brazilian forward has stepped up in the absence of injured star Kylian Mbappe, becoming Madrid's primary attacking threat.After a slow start to last season, Vinicius exploded in the second half, playing a pivotal role in Madrid's record-extending 15th European Cup triumph. Despite initial teething issues with Mbappe, the duo seemed to be developing a strong partnership before the Frenchman's injury.Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti has backed Vinicius to win the Ballon d'Or, citing his impressive performances in the Champions League last season. However, Ancelotti emphasized that the team will continue to perform regardless of the outcome.Mbappe's arrival at Madrid raised questions about how he and Vinicius would coexist, given their similar playing styles. Ancelotti has kept Vinicius in his preferred left-wing position, with Mbappe often playing centrally.Despite criticism for his performances with Brazil, Vinicius has responded with strong displays for Madrid. He has scored two goals in his last three appearances, including a crucial equalizer against Espanyol.Vinicius' contract with Madrid expires in 2027, but reports suggest he may consider his options next summer. For now, his focus is on helping Madrid succeed in Europe and domestically.With Mbappe likely to miss the Champions League clash against Lille, Vinicius will be expected to lead the attack once again. The Brazilian has shown signs of improvement in recent weeks and will be eager to prove his worth on the biggest stage.

Bournemouth's record signing Evanilson finally broke his goal drought for the club, sparking a three-goal blitz that propelled the Cherries to a 3-1 victory over Southampton on Monday. The Brazilian international's 17th-minute strike ignited a dominant first-half performance from Bournemouth, with Dango Ouattara and Antoine Semenyo adding to the tally before the break.Evanilson's goal was a welcome relief for the 40 million pounds striker, who had endured a difficult start to his Bournemouth career. He had missed a penalty in the Cherries' previous home game against Chelsea, but he made amends with a clinical finish on Monday."It is a goal we've been expecting of Evanilson," said Bournemouth assistant manager Tommy Elphick. "He is so intelligent and makes such cute runs. We haven't been finding him enough so I'm pleased for him."Ouattara doubled Bournemouth's lead just six minutes later, deflecting Lewis Cook's shot past Aaron Ramsdale. Semenyo then put the game beyond Southampton's reach with a fierce drive in the 39th minute.Southampton, who had dominated possession in the first half, pulled a goal back through Taylor Harwood-Bellis early in the second half. However, it was too little, too late for the Saints, who remain in the bottom three of the Premier League."I am so hurt by the first-half performance after the first goal. I didn't recognise our team," said Southampton manager Russell Martin. "There was no aggression or courage. They were looking around and in self-preservation mode on the pitch. I didn't like it one bit. They showed fight in the second half, but it was too late."Bournemouth's victory lifted them above Manchester United into 11th place in the Premier League standings. It was their second win of the campaign, while Southampton remain winless after six games.The gulf between the Championship and the Premier League continues to widen, with all three promoted sides struggling to make an impact in the top tier. Ipswich and Leicester have also failed to register a win in their opening six league matches.

Indian Football Team Announces Probables for Tri-Nation Tournament in VietnamThe Indian senior men's football team, under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, has unveiled a 26-member provisional squad for the upcoming Tri-Nation friendly tournament in Vietnam. The tournament, scheduled for the October FIFA international match window, will see the Blue Tigers take on hosts Vietnam and Lebanon.The Indian team will face Vietnam on October 9 and Lebanon on October 12 at the Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh, approximately 100 kilometers from Hanoi. The final 23-player roster will be announced before the team's departure for Vietnam.The provisional squad features a mix of experienced and emerging players, including goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, defender Rahul Bheke, and midfielder Anirudh Thapa. The team also includes promising youngsters such as defender Roshan Singh Naorem and forward Vikram Partap Singh.The Tri-Nation tournament will provide the Indian team with valuable preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, scheduled for June 2023. The Blue Tigers will be aiming to secure a berth in the continental championship, which will be held in China in 2023.Coach Marquez expressed his confidence in the squad, stating, "We have selected a balanced team with a good mix of experience and youth. The Tri-Nation tournament will be a great opportunity for us to assess our players and prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers."The Indian team will begin its training camp in Kolkata on September 26 before traveling to Vietnam for the tournament. The Blue Tigers will be looking to make a strong impression in the Tri-Nation tournament and build momentum ahead of the crucial Asian Cup qualifiers.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, an Indian football club, has withdrawn from their AFC Champions League match against Tractor FC in Iran due to safety concerns amid the ongoing tensions in the region. The club's decision was prompted by the unwillingness of its players to travel to Iran following the death of a prominent Iranian general in an Israeli air strike.Mohun Bagan was scheduled to face Tractor FC on Wednesday in Tabriz, Iran. However, the club received letters from its 35 registered players, including seven foreigners, expressing their reluctance to play in Iran at this time. The players cited the volatile situation in the country and the state of mourning declared by the Iranian government."We have decided to not travel to Iran keeping our players' safety and security in mind, because that is paramount," said a Mohun Bagan source. "We have also written to the ministry of external affairs as their advisory states that you can go to Iran or Israel on your own responsibility."The club has requested the Asian Football Federation (AFC) to either reschedule the match or move it to a neutral venue. Mohun Bagan had booked flights and arranged hotel accommodation for the trip, but the safety concerns of its players took precedence.In their first match of Group A, Mohun Bagan played out a goalless draw against Tajikistan's FC Ravshan. Tractor FC leads the standings with a 3-0 win over Qatar's Al-Wakrah SC.The decision by Mohun Bagan highlights the challenges faced by sports teams traveling to regions with political instability. The safety and well-being of players and staff must always be the top priority, and clubs must make informed decisions based on the latest information and advice from relevant authorities.

Carles Cuadrat, the former head coach of Emami East Bengal, has resigned from his position after the team's dismal performance in the ongoing Indian Super League (ISL). The decision was announced by the club in a media statement on Monday.Cuadrat, who previously guided Bengaluru FC to its only ISL title in 2019, took charge of East Bengal at the start of the 2023 season. Under his leadership, the team reached the Durand Cup final in 2023 and won the Kalinga Super Cup earlier this year.However, the East Bengal squad struggled to make any significant progress in the new season. They crashed out of the Durand Cup in the quarterfinals and have lost all three matches they have played so far in the ISL.The team's poor form has led to mounting pressure on Cuadrat, and the club management has decided to part ways with him. Assistant coach Bino George will take over as the interim coach until a replacement is found.Cuadrat's departure marks the end of a disappointing chapter for East Bengal, who were hoping to challenge for the ISL title this season. The team's struggles have raised questions about the club's recruitment strategy and the quality of its squad.It remains to be seen who will replace Cuadrat as head coach, but the club will need to make a quick decision if they want to salvage their season.

Antoine Griezmann, the 2018 World Cup-winning star, has announced his retirement from international football, marking the end of a remarkable 10-year career with the French national team.Griezmann, 33, made his France debut in 2014 and has since become one of the most decorated players in the country's history. With 137 caps, he ranks third behind Hugo Lloris (145) and Lilian Thuram (142). He is also fourth on France's all-time scoring list with 44 goals, trailing only Olivier Giroud, Thierry Henry, and Kylian Mbappe.Griezmann played a pivotal role in France's 2018 World Cup triumph, scoring in the 4-2 victory over Croatia in the final. He was also instrumental in the team's run to the Euro 2016 final, where he finished as the tournament's top scorer with six goals.Despite his impressive achievements, Griezmann's recent performances for France have been less than stellar. He struggled to find his best form at Euro 2024, where the team reached the semi-finals. His last appearance for Les Bleus came in a UEFA Nations League win over Belgium earlier this month.Griezmann's retirement is a significant moment for French football, as it marks the end of an era for the national team. Lloris, Varane, and Giroud have all recently retired from international duty, leaving a void in the squad.Coach Didier Deschamps will name his next France squad this Thursday ahead of Nations League matches against Israel and Belgium. It remains to be seen who will step up to fill the void left by Griezmann and the other departed veterans.