Football

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has announced plans to organize two charity football matches to raise funds for relief efforts in Kerala and Himachal Pradesh, which have been devastated by natural disasters.The first match is scheduled for August 30, 2024, in Manjeri, Malappuram district of Kerala. It will feature Kolkata outfit Mohammedan Sporting Club and a Super League Kerala XI. The second match is proposed for September 2, 2024, in Lucknow, with the prospective clubs still being finalized.AIFF President Kalyan Chaubey expressed his support for the initiative, stating that sports can offer comfort and healing after such tragedies. He urged clubs to come together and raise the "cup of solidarity."Kerala has been facing devastating landslides, particularly in Wayanad, leaving behind a trail of death and destruction. Himachal Pradesh has also been hit hard by landslides and flash floods, resulting in over 100 fatalities.The AIFF's charity matches aim to provide financial assistance to the affected regions. The funds raised will be used for relief work, including providing food, shelter, and medical aid to those in need.Mohammedan Sporting Club, one of India's oldest clubs, has already agreed to participate in the first match. The AIFF is in advanced talks with two clubs for the Lucknow match.The AIFF's initiative has been met with praise from the football community. Former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia commended the federation for its efforts, saying that it is a "great way to show solidarity and support to those who have been affected."The charity matches are expected to attract a large audience and generate significant funds for relief work. The AIFF hopes that the event will not only raise awareness about the plight of the affected regions but also inspire others to contribute to the cause.

Real Madrid, the reigning UEFA Champions League holders, are poised to dominate the 2024-2025 season across all competitions. The Spanish giants will kick off their campaign with the UEFA Super Cup in Warsaw, where they will face Serie A side Atalanta on Thursday.Real Madrid's acquisition of Kylian Mbappe has been the talk of the transfer window, and the French superstar is expected to make his debut in the Super Cup. The club has also strengthened its squad with the signings of Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland, making them the clear favorites for the upcoming season.The UEFA Super Cup is a curtain-raiser for the European season, pitting the Champions League winners against the Europa League winners. Real Madrid will be aiming to clinch their first silverware of the new campaign and extend their record as the most successful club in the competition's history.Last year's Super Cup was won by Manchester City, who defeated Sevilla on penalties. However, the Champions League holders have historically dominated the competition, with 28 wins out of 48 editions.Real Madrid will be making their ninth appearance in the Super Cup, equaling Barcelona's record. The match will be played at the National Stadium in Warsaw, which is the 12th venue to host the event.The Super Cup is a one-off match, with no extra time. If the game is tied after 90 minutes, it goes straight to a penalty shoot-out. Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is the most successful coach in the tournament's history, having won it five times.

As the Premier League kicks off its 2023-24 season on Friday, several intriguing storylines will unfold throughout the campaign.Stopping Manchester City's Dominance:Manchester City has won the Premier League title four consecutive times, and they are the heavy favorites to extend their reign. However, Arsenal, who pushed City to the limit last season, looks like the most capable challenger. Liverpool, under new manager Arne Slot, could also be in the mix, but they will need to show more consistency than they did last season.Improved VAR?Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has been a controversial topic in the Premier League since its introduction in 2017. This season, a new account on X, formerly Twitter, will provide live refereeing and VAR clarifications and explainers for all matches. Semi-automated offside technology will also be used for the first time, although not until later in the season. The Premier League claims that the number of correct decisions in matches has increased to 96%, up from 82% before VAR.Goal-Scoring Extravaganza:Last season, Premier League teams scored a record 1,246 goals, a staggering 162 more than the previous most for a single campaign. Increased amounts of stoppage time, more adventurous managers, and VAR interventions were credited as some of the reasons behind the soaring numbers of goals. It remains to be seen if this trend will continue this season.A Long and Grueling Season:For some teams, this could be the longest club season ever. Manchester City, for example, could play until July 13 next year in the final of FIFA's expanded and revamped Club World Cup. This will put a strain on players and managers alike, and it could lead to burnout and injuries.More Points Deductions?Everton and Nottingham Forest were hit with points deductions last season for overspending, forcing all clubs in the league to take a closer look at their finances. Leicester, one of the three promoted teams, is facing a points deduction for breaching spending rules during their previous stay in the Premier League. It remains to be seen if other teams have learned their lesson.Farewells:Pep Guardiola is entering his ninth year at Manchester City, and he will have to decide at some point this season whether his stay at the club will extend to a decade. Similarly, this might mark Kevin De Bruyne's final season at City, while Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the final years of their contracts at Anfield. Everton, meanwhile, is preparing for its last season playing at Goodison Park before moving to a new stadium.

Manchester United has made a significant move in the transfer market by acquiring two highly-rated defenders from Bayern Munich: Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui. The signings are part of a major overhaul of United's defense, which has been a source of concern in recent seasons.De Ligt, a 25-year-old center back from the Netherlands, has signed a five-year deal with the option to extend for another year. He is known for his exceptional defensive abilities, including his physical presence, aerial prowess, and ability to read the game. De Ligt's arrival is expected to bolster United's backline and provide much-needed stability.Mazraoui, a 26-year-old full back from Morocco, has signed a contract until June 2028, also with the option to extend for a further year. He is a versatile defender who can play on either the right or left side. Mazraoui is known for his attacking prowess, including his ability to create chances and deliver crosses. His addition to the squad will provide United with more options in the full-back positions.The transfer fees for De Ligt and Mazraoui were not officially disclosed, but British media outlets have reported that United paid a combined fee of 60 million pounds ($77 million) for the duo.To make way for the new arrivals, United has sold Aaron Wan-Bissaka to West Ham for a reported fee of 15 million pounds ($19 million). Wan-Bissaka, a right-back, had been with United for five years and was known for his exceptional one-on-one defending. His departure opens up a spot for Mazraoui in the starting lineup.The signings of De Ligt and Mazraoui, along with the acquisition of 18-year-old center back Leny Yoro from Lille, represent a significant investment in United's defense. The club is hoping that these new additions will provide the stability and quality needed to challenge for major trophies in the coming seasons.

Diego Rossi's second-half heroics propelled the reigning MLS champion Columbus Crew to a thrilling 3-2 victory over defending champion Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup round of 16 on Tuesday. The Uruguayan forward's brace overturned a 2-0 deficit, sending the Crew into the quarter-finals against New York City.Inter Miami, led by the absent Lionel Messi, took an early lead through Matias Rojas and doubled their advantage with Diego Gomez's goal. However, Christian Ramirez's strike in the 67th minute ignited the Crew's comeback. Rossi equalized in the 69th minute and sealed the victory with a decisive goal in the 80th.In other quarter-final matchups, New York City rallied from a goal down to defeat Tigres 2-1, with Santiago Rodriguez scoring the winning goal. Philadelphia Union overcame Cincinnati 4-2, with Tai Baribo netting a brace. Mazatlan advanced to the quarter-finals after a penalty shootout victory over Cruz Azul.The quarter-final fixtures are set for Saturday, with the Crew hosting New York City, Philadelphia Union facing Mazatlan, and the winner of Toluca vs. Colorado taking on either Club America or St. Louis. San Jose will travel to Los Angeles FC, with the winner visiting Seattle.

The upcoming Premier League season promises to be a captivating spectacle, with Manchester City aiming to extend their dominance, Arsenal emerging as a formidable challenger, and Liverpool embarking on a new era under Arne Slot.Liverpool's Transition:Jurgen Klopp's departure leaves a significant void at Liverpool, and Arne Slot faces the daunting task of filling his shoes. Despite a successful pre-season, the Reds have yet to make any signings, raising concerns about their ability to maintain their high standards.Arsenal's Title Ambitions:Arsenal's impressive performances last season have fueled their belief that they can challenge for the title. Mikel Arteta's team has strengthened their defense with the addition of Riccardo Calafiori, but their lack of a prolific striker remains a potential weakness.Ten Hag's Pressure at Manchester United:Erik ten Hag's job security remains precarious despite Manchester United's FA Cup triumph. The club's poor league finish last season has put him under pressure to deliver immediate results. United have been active in the transfer market, but injuries to key players have cast a shadow over their preparations.Ipswich's Return to the Top Flight:Ipswich Town's return to the Premier League after a 22-year absence is a testament to Kieran McKenna's managerial prowess. However, the Tractor Boys face an uphill battle to avoid relegation, as history suggests that promoted teams often struggle to adapt to the top flight.Chelsea's Selection Dilemma:New Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca faces a selection headache as his squad has swelled to over 50 players. The Italian must find a way to balance his desire to implement his style of play with the need to keep a large squad happy.

Thierry Henry, the legendary French striker, has finally tasted managerial success after guiding the French Under-21 team to a silver medal at the recently concluded Paris Olympics. This triumph marks a significant milestone in Henry's career, which has been characterized by both extraordinary highs and lows.As a player, Henry achieved unparalleled success, winning numerous domestic and international titles, including the FIFA World Cup, UEFA European Championship, and UEFA Champions League. His exceptional talent and prolific goalscoring ability earned him the admiration of fans and critics alike.However, Henry's transition to management proved to be a challenging one. After a brief stint with Arsenal's youth squad, he joined the Belgian national team as an assistant manager under Roberto Martínez. Despite Belgium's impressive third-place finish at the 2018 World Cup, Henry's role was short-lived.His subsequent appointment as manager of AS Monaco ended in disappointment, as he failed to meet the club's expectations. He then moved to Major League Soccer, where he coached Montreal Impact (now CF Montreal). However, travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic forced him to step down and return home.Undeterred, Henry reunited with Martínez and the Belgian national team. He played a key role in the team's performances at the 2020 Euros and the 2022 Qatar World Cup. However, Belgium's inability to live up to its potential in both tournaments led to Martínez's departure and the end of Henry's Belgian journey.With his managerial career at a crossroads, Henry accepted the challenge of leading the French Under-21 team. This decision proved to be a masterstroke, as he guided the young Les Bleus to a historic silver medal on home soil.Despite the absence of senior players due to club commitments, Henry's team displayed remarkable resilience and determination. They won all three group stage matches, edged out World Champion Argentina, and beat Egypt in extra time to reach the final.In the final, France faced a formidable Spanish team that was enjoying a resurgence. Henry's men fought valiantly, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to equalize in injury time. However, Spain's class ultimately prevailed, as they netted two more goals in extra time to clinch the gold.Nevertheless, Henry hailed his team's performance as "magical." He praised their unity, spirit, and unwavering belief. The silver medal represents a significant achievement for French football and a testament to Henry's managerial abilities.As Henry reflects on his journey, he acknowledges the challenges he has faced. However, he remains optimistic about the future. With his wealth of experience and unwavering passion for the game, he is confident that he can continue to make a positive impact on the world of football.

Mohammedan Sporting Club secured its first victory in the 133rd Durand Cup, defeating Indian Navy FT 1-0 in a Group B match at the Kishore Bharati Stadium in Kolkata on August 13, 2024. Midfielder Sujit Singh scored the solitary goal of the match midway through the opening half, securing three points for Mohammedan Sporting.The victory propelled Mohammedan Sporting to second place in the group, while Indian Navy FT finished at the bottom after losing all three of its matches. Inter Kashi tied with Mohammedan Sporting on points but fell to third place due to an inferior goal difference.In Group F, Nepal's Tribhuvan Army FC defeated local challenger Rangdajied United FC 2-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. Both goals were scored by Tribhuvan Army forward Gillespye Karki, who found the target once in each half.This was the first win for the Nepalese Army team, which finished third in the group with three points. Rangdajied, which replaced Hyderabad FC after it failed to turn up, lost all three matches to finish at the bottom of the group. Host Shillong Lajong FC and FC Goa occupy the top two positions in the group with six points each and will meet on August 17 to decide the team qualifying for the last-eight stage.

East Bengal FC, a storied Indian football club, is poised to make its long-awaited return to the international stage when it hosts Turkmenistan's Altyn-Asyr FC in the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) Preliminary 1 tie at the Salt Lake Stadium on Wednesday.After a six-year absence from continental club competitions, East Bengal is eager to qualify for the group stage of ACL Two. The Kolkata-based club has not played in any international tournament since the 2014-15 season.East Bengal will be counting on the vociferous support of its home crowd as it looks to overcome the challenge of the formidable Turkmenistani opponent. The Red and Golds will be hoping that the team will raise its performance under the guidance of Carles Cuadrat, the Spanish head coach who is rebuilding the side."Clearly we are the underdogs but we will fight and hope that the crowd helps us in our stadium," said Cuadrat. "I am a very pragmatic coach and know what I am doing. Altyn Asyr was a very tough team for us when Bengaluru FC played them in 2018. They won 5-2 against us in two legs. Plus this will be a first match for a lot of our players in an AFC competition and they have many players who have played over 20 games," he added.East Bengal, which has started the season winning both its Durand Cup group league matches, will be looking to continue the momentum against Altyn-Asyr. A win will definitely boost the Red and Golds spirit ahead of a long season.Being runners-up in the Turkmenistan Higher League in 2023, Altyn-Asyr will be looking to come up with its best and find a place in the group stage. The Turkmenistani club has a strong track record in continental competitions, having reached the AFC Cup semifinals in 2018.The match is expected to be a close and exciting affair, with both teams eager to make a statement in the competition. East Bengal will be hoping to use its home advantage to its advantage, while Altyn-Asyr will be looking to prove that it is a force to be reckoned with.