Football

NorthEast United FC continued its impressive run in the 133rd Durand Cup, securing a 4-0 victory over BSF in a Group E match at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar on Friday, August 9, 2024. The win propelled NorthEast United to the top of the group standings with six points, needing just a single point in its final group league outing against Odisha FC to book a place in the quarterfinals.Spanish striker Guillermo Fernandez emerged as the star of the show for NorthEast United, netting a brace in the 8th and 48th minutes. Jithin M.S. added to the tally in the 20th minute, while Alaaeddine Ajaraie sealed the victory with a penalty in the 90th+7 minute.In another Group E encounter, Inter Kashi FC registered its first win of the tournament, defeating Indian Navy 2-1 at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata. The match remained goalless until the second half, when Novin Gurung broke the deadlock for Indian Navy in the 52nd minute. However, Inter Kashi FC responded swiftly, with Nikola Stojanovic and substitute Tomba Singh scoring in quick succession in the 65th and 66th minutes, respectively.Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC has already secured its place in the quarterfinals from Group B with an all-win record.

Lee Carsley, the former England Under-21 manager, has been appointed as the interim coach of the senior England team. Carsley will take charge of the Three Lions for their upcoming Nations League fixtures in September, with a view to potentially staying on throughout the autumn while the Football Association (FA) continues its search for a permanent manager.Carsley's appointment comes after Gareth Southgate resigned as England manager last month following the team's defeat in the Euro 2024 final to Spain. Carsley, who has been managing England Under-21s since 2021, led them to the European Under-21 Championship title in 2023.The 50-year-old Carsley's first game in charge of the senior side will be on Sept. 7 away to Ireland, for whom he made 40 appearances. England also have a home game with Finland in September, and Carsley's task will be to make a strong start in the Nations League campaign in which they will aim to win promotion back to League A in a group also containing Greece.Carsley's coaching career began at Coventry City, where he finished playing, with two spells as caretaker. He later managed Brentford before a short spell as interim Birmingham City coach.FA CEO Mark Bullingham said: "Lee is a fantastic coach who is well known to the majority of our current senior squad having worked with most at international or club level. He offers us a very strong interim solution and we are confident he will perform well in the UEFA Nations League games ahead."Carsley said: "It's an honour to step up and lead this England squad on an interim basis. As I am very familiar with the players and the cycle of international football, it makes sense for me to guide the team while The FA continues the process to recruit a new manager."

Dani Olmo, the highly-rated Spanish attacking midfielder, has made a triumphant return to Barcelona, signing a six-year contract with the LaLiga giants. The move marks a homecoming for Olmo, who spent seven years in Barca's youth academy before departing for Dinamo Zagreb at the age of 16.Olmo's transfer from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig is reported to have cost Barcelona around 55 million euros ($60 million), with a hefty buy-out clause of 500 million euros. The versatile midfielder played a pivotal role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, finishing as one of the tournament's top scorers with three goals. He was also named in UEFA's team of the tournament, alongside five other Spanish players.Olmo's departure from Leipzig comes after more than four years with the German club. He made 148 appearances for the team in all competitions, scoring 29 goals and winning two German Cups. In a heartfelt farewell message on social media, Olmo expressed his gratitude to Leipzig, stating that the club would forever hold a special place in his heart.Barcelona's acquisition of Olmo is a significant boost to their squad as they prepare for the upcoming domestic season. The 26-year-old brings a wealth of experience and versatility to the team, having played in various attacking positions throughout his career. His return to the club where he began his football journey is a testament to his talent and the high regard in which he is held by Barcelona.

The stage is set for an enthralling clash between France and Spain in the Men's Football Final of the Paris Olympics 2024. The match, scheduled for Friday, August 9, will witness the crowning of a new Olympic champion.France, the host nation, will be eager to seize the opportunity to add football gold to their medal tally. Led by Crystal Palace's Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has netted four goals in the tournament, the French team will be determined to make history on home soil.Spain, on the other hand, will be aiming to improve upon their silver medal performance in Tokyo 2020. Barcelona's Fermin Lopez, with four goals to his name, will be a key player for the Spanish side.The match will take place at the iconic Parc des Princes in Paris, with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 PM IST. The encounter promises to be a thrilling spectacle, with both teams boasting talented players and a rich footballing tradition.The France vs Spain Olympics 2024 Men's Football Final will be a must-watch event for football enthusiasts worldwide. The match will be live telecast on the Sports18 network and live streamed on the JioCinema app.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant, under the guidance of Spanish head coach Jose Molina, unleashed their attacking prowess in their second outing of the 133rd Durand Cup, crushing the Indian Air Force team by a resounding 6-0 margin at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. This emphatic victory propelled Mohun Bagan to the top of Group A standings, surpassing their arch-rivals Emami East Bengal.The match marked the first time in the new season that Mohun Bagan fielded a significant portion of its first team. Australian forward Jason Cummings emerged as the star of the show, netting a brace in the 4th and 76th minutes. The other goals came from Anirudh Thapa (65'), Liston Colaco (38'), Tom Aldred (10'), and Greg Stewart (90+1').Mohun Bagan's dominance was evident from the outset, as they controlled possession and created numerous scoring opportunities. Cummings opened the scoring early on, capitalizing on a defensive lapse by the Air Force. Aldred doubled the lead with a powerful header from a corner kick. Colaco extended the advantage before halftime with a clinical finish.In the second half, Mohun Bagan continued to press forward, with Thapa adding to the tally with a well-taken goal. Cummings sealed the victory with his second strike, while Stewart put the icing on the cake in stoppage time.The result sets up an intriguing clash between Mohun Bagan and Emami East Bengal on August 18, which will determine the final group positions and the candidate for the quarterfinals.

Emami East Bengal FC extended its dominance atop the Durand Cup Group A standings with a convincing 3-1 victory over Downtown Heroes FC at the Kishore Bharati Stadium on Wednesday. The Kolkata giants showcased their attacking prowess, while Downtown Heroes fought valiantly despite being reduced to 10 men.Madih Talal opened the scoring for East Bengal in the 29th minute with a well-taken free-kick. However, Downtown Heroes responded swiftly, with Aafreen Basharat equalizing just a minute later. The match remained evenly poised until the 36th minute when Spanish midfielder Saul Crespo converted a penalty to restore East Bengal's lead.The second half saw East Bengal maintain its control of the game. Substitute Jesin T.K. sealed the victory in injury time with a clinical finish, ensuring that East Bengal remained unbeaten in the tournament.Meanwhile, in Group D, Indian Army continued its impressive run with a 3-0 triumph over Assam Rifles at the JRD Tata Sports Complex in Jamshedpur. Alan Thapa, Pradeep Singh, and Sunil B. found the back of the net for the Army, who now sit second in the group behind host Jamshedpur FC.

Brazil's women's soccer team has secured a spot in the Olympic final after a thrilling 4-2 victory over world champion Spain. The match, played at Stade de Marseille, saw Brazil take an early lead through an own goal by Irene Paredes and extend their advantage with goals from Gabi Portilho, Adriana, and Kerolin.Spain fought back with goals from Salma Paralluelo and Alexia Putellas, but Brazil held on to secure the win. The victory means that Brazil will face the United States in the final on Saturday, while Spain will play Germany for the bronze medal.Brazil's victory was a testament to their determination and resilience. Despite being without their star player Marta, who was suspended for the semifinals, the team played with heart and passion. They dominated the chances and made their superiority count, scoring four goals to Spain's two.Spain, on the other hand, showed their fighting spirit by coming back from 2-0 down to beat Colombia in the quarterfinals. However, they were unable to repeat that feat against Brazil, who were simply too strong on the day.The match was a thrilling spectacle that showcased the best of women's soccer. Brazil's victory was a well-deserved reward for their hard work and dedication, and they will now be hoping to go one step further and win the gold medal.

Former Indian Super League champions Bengaluru FC extended their winning streak in the 133rd Durand Cup, securing a 3-2 victory over Mohammedan Sporting Club on Tuesday. The triumph marked the completion of their Group B league assignment with an unblemished record, propelling them into the quarterfinals.Bengaluru FC, fielding a formidable lineup, dominated the proceedings against a youthful Mohammedan Sporting side that featured an all-Indian roster. The Blues took the lead in the seventh minute when Australian defender Aleksandar Jovanovic headed home a corner kick.The lead was doubled in the 22nd minute when Argentine forward Jorge Pereyra Diaz's sharp attempt was deflected into the net by Mohammedan Sporting defender Dipu Halder. Vinith Venkatesh extended the advantage to 3-0 on the hour mark, seemingly sealing the match for Bengaluru FC.However, Mohammedan Sporting rallied in the final quarter of the match, pulling one back through substitute Israfil Dewan's spectacular header in the 77th minute. The home side's hopes were further boosted when goalkeeper Subhajit Bhattacharjee was sent off with a straight red card in the 81st minute.Despite the numerical disadvantage, Mohammedan Sporting continued to press forward and found another goal through substitute Mahitosh Roy's fine long-ranger in injury time. However, it was too little too late as Bengaluru FC held on for the victory.In another Group E match, local side Bodoland FC picked up their first win of the tournament with a 2-0 triumph over a youthful Odisha FC side at the SAI Stadium in Kokrajhar, Assam. Dilliram Sanyasi and Arjun Mardi scored the goals for Bodoland FC.

Julian Alvarez, the Argentine forward who has enjoyed a meteoric rise since joining Manchester City in 2022, is reportedly set to depart the English champions for Atletico Madrid in a deal worth up to 95 million euros.Alvarez, 24, joined City from River Plate for a mere £14 million and has since become an integral part of Pep Guardiola's squad. He played a key role in Argentina's World Cup and Copa America triumphs, and has also won two Premier League titles and the Champions League with City.Despite his impressive contributions, Alvarez has often found himself playing second fiddle to Erling Haaland, who has been City's undisputed starting striker since his arrival last summer. With Alvaro Morata leaving Atletico Madrid for AC Milan, Alvarez is expected to become the main man in the Spanish capital, where he will have the opportunity to work under compatriot Diego Simeone.Atletico Madrid are determined to challenge Real Madrid and Barcelona for the La Liga title after a disappointing fourth-placed finish last season. They have already added Euro 2024 winner Robin Le Normand and Norwegian forward Alexander Sorloth to their squad, and Alvarez's arrival would further bolster their attacking options.For Manchester City, Alvarez's departure will be a significant loss, but it will also provide them with a substantial financial windfall. The club may now be forced to enter the transfer market in the final weeks of the window to find a suitable backup for Haaland.