Football

Paraguayan swimmer Luana Alonso, who was allegedly expelled from the Paris Olympics 2024 village, has revealed that Brazilian football star Neymar Junior recently sent her a private message on Instagram. Alonso's revelation comes after reports claimed that the organizing committee removed her from the Summer Games village for allegedly creating an "inappropriate atmosphere."Speaking to Paraguayan radio show Aire de Todos, the 20-year-old claimed that the former Brazil captain is a huge fan and slid into her DMs, without revealing much detail. "He sent me a DM. That's all I can say. It was left on the request form. I cannot tell this here," Alonso said, as quoted by Fox Sports Mexico.Regarding her reported exile from the Olympic Games Village, Alonso denied being removed or expelled from anywhere, urging people to "stop spreading false information."Meanwhile, Neymar is set to miss the start of the next Saudi Pro League season as he recovers from a serious knee injury, according to Al Hilal's coach. The Brazilian attacker suffered the injury in October and missed much of the current campaign, but Al Hilal still won the league for a record-extending 19th time earlier this month.Al Hilal coach Jorge Jesus said, "All I know now is that the time given to Neymar to recover and with similar injuries it is approximately from 10 to 11 months."Neymar underwent surgery in Brazil in November for a torn anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus damage. He was stretchered off in tears during Brazil's 2-0 loss to Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier in October after colliding with an opponent.Neymar left PSG for Al Hilal in 2023, becoming the latest world-famous footballer to join the big-spending Saudi Pro League. He earns a staggering 100 million euros a season in Saudi Arabia, while PSG pocketed 100 million euros in the deal.

Manchester City emerged victorious in a thrilling penalty shootout against Manchester United to claim the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium on Saturday. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, Manuel Akanji converted the decisive penalty to secure a 7-6 triumph for the Citizens.Akanji's redemption came after his penalty miss in Switzerland's Euro 2020 quarterfinal loss to England. This time, he displayed nerves of steel, sending his spot-kick down the middle and under the bar.City's victory ended a three-match losing streak in the Community Shield, a traditional curtain-raiser to the English soccer season. Pep Guardiola's team had previously fallen to Leicester, Liverpool, and Arsenal in the past three years.The match was a tale of two halves. United dominated the first half, but City came out stronger in the second. Alejandro Garnacho gave United the lead in the 82nd minute, but Bernardo Silva equalized for City in the 89th.The game went straight to penalties, with both teams converting their first six attempts. Jadon Sancho's miss for United gave City the advantage, and Akanji stepped up to seal the victory.City's triumph was a bittersweet moment for United, who fielded a near-full-strength team. The Red Devils were looking to avenge their FA Cup final loss to City just 77 days ago.Despite missing several key players due to the Euro 2024 final, City showed their resilience and determination. Ruben Dias, who captained the team, expressed his delight at starting the season with a trophy.Pep Guardiola has now won 18 trophies with City, including three Community Shields. The Spaniard praised his team's performance, acknowledging that there is still room for improvement.

As the English football season kicks off this weekend, authorities are on high alert following the recent riots that have plagued the country. The unrest, sparked by a knife attack that claimed the lives of three children, has seen far-right elements, including those with ties to football hooliganism, orchestrating violence against mosques and immigration-related sites.Tommy Robinson, a notorious anti-Muslim agitator, has been accused of fueling the unrest through social media posts. His name has been chanted at gatherings, raising concerns that the start of the football season could reignite the violence.Over 80,000 fans are expected at Wembley on Saturday for the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City and Manchester United. The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) is collaborating with forces nationwide to share intelligence and prevent further unrest.Football Banning Orders, which prohibit individuals from attending matches or nearby areas, have been extended to cover online hate crime and drug offenses. Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, head of the National Police Chiefs' Council, urged people not to "tarnish football with the violence that we've seen."Mark Doidge, a Loughborough University academic, downplayed any overlap between the recent disorder and football fans. He noted that while some fans may spontaneously protest or chant about recent events, there is no evidence of coordinated activity or recruitment to the far-right at football matches.Despite the concerns, some football clubs in affected towns have condemned the violence. Steve Gibson, chairman of Middlesbrough's club, said, "We utterly condemn the violent and racist scenes we have seen on the streets of Middlesbrough. Our town and our football club have welcomed people from across the world."

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.