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Liverpool’s Luis Diaz, Dad Reunited After 12-Day Kidnapping Ordeal

Liverpool striker Luis Diaz had a tearful reunion Tuesday along with his father, freed final week after a 12-day kidnapping ordeal by the hands of Colombia’s ELN guerrilla group. Diaz was again house in Colombia to hitch the nationwide workforce forward of a World Cup qualifying match in opposition to Brazil Thursday within the seaport metropolis of Barranquilla, the place the assembly along with his dad, Luis Manuel Diaz, was organized. The pair embraced in tears, in response to photos distributed by the Colombian Soccer Federation (FCF). Luis Manuel Diaz, 56, wore a black T-shirt with the phrases: “No extra kidnapping.” “After 12 days disadvantaged of freedom, that is the primary contact of the participant along with his father and the remainder of the household, who lived lengthy moments of anguish,” the FCF stated on its web site with a photograph of the 2 males and the footballer’s younger daughter on her grandfather’s knee. Luis Manuel Diaz and his spouse Cilenis Marulanda had been kidnapped by armed males on bikes at a fuel station of their house city of Barrancas close to the Venezuelan border on October 28. Marulanda was rescued hours later and an…

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‘Abusive’ Olivier Giroud Banned For Two Games After Lecce Tirade

File picture of Olivier Giroud© AFP Olivier Giroud has been banned for 2 video games for aiming a volley of abuse at officers on the finish of AC Milan’s dramatic and controversial 2-2 draw at Lecce, Serie A stated on Tuesday. France striker Giroud was dismissed in stoppage time on the Stadio By way of del Mare on Saturday afternoon after aiming “abusive expressions” at referee Rosario Abisso following an preliminary reserving for dissent. Giroud, who has scored eight instances this season, was then proven a straight purple card and can now miss house matches towards Fiorentina and Frosinone after the worldwide break. Abisso was on the centre of controversy after Lecce have been denied a surprising comeback from two targets down when shortly after Giroud’s sending off Roberto Piccoli fired house what appeared like being an unimaginable winner from distance. Nonetheless, the strike was chalked off for Piccoli standing on Malick Thiaw’s foot earlier than receiving the ball. That call sparked fury within the beforehand delirious stands and enraged membership president Saverio Sticchi Damiani, in addition to Lecce’s gamers and coaching workers. Saverio Sticchi Damiani has been banned till December 4 for “intimidatory behaviour…

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Serial Winner Xabi Alonso Has Soaring Bayer Leverkusen Dreaming Of Title

With 16 wins and a attract 17 matches in all competitions, Xabi Alonso‘s Bayer Leverkusen may scarcely have had a greater begin to the season.  A serial winner in a membership profession which included stints at Liverpool, Actual Madrid and Bayern Munich, Alonso was a key member of the Spain workforce which broke by means of for a primary World Cup victory in 2010, bookended by two European Championships. Alonso retired in 2017 and moved into teaching, masterminding Actual Sociedad B’s promotion to the second division for the primary time because the early Nineteen Sixties. He got here to Leverkusen in October 2022, with the membership wallowing within the relegation zone. Regardless of some early wobbles, successful solely considered one of his first seven video games, Alonso took them to sixth place by the season’s finish and a Europa League semi-final. Leverkusen’s sensible begin to 2023-24 has followers dreaming of a first-ever Bundesliga title. However even away from Germany’s football-mad industrial Rhine-Ruhr area, loads consider one of many sport’s premier gamers is changing into the subsequent elite supervisor. ‘Huge potential’ Within the Bundesliga, Leverkusen have picked up 31 of 33 factors, equalling the document set…

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Egypt Captain Salah Leads African Stars Into World Cup Qualifying

Prolific Liverpool scorer and Egypt captain Mohamed Salah will probably be among the many stars in motion this week when 2026 World Cup qualifying in Africa kicks off with two matchdays. His two Premier League objectives in opposition to Brentford on the weekend raised his whole to 200 in English soccer, and he’s now set to shine in opposition to Group A rivals Djibouti and Sierra Leone. Salah was the second highest ranked African within the Ballon d’Or final month behind Napoli and Nigeria ahead Victor Osimhen, who misses the primary matchdays resulting from an harm. Omar Marmoush of Eintracht Frankfurt and Mostafa Mohamed of Nantes are different Egyptians who’ve been scoring frequently in main European leagues this season. Djibouti, who face Egypt in Cairo on Thursday, are among the many weakest African nationwide groups and have twice suffered eight-goal hidings in World Cup qualifiers. Sierra Leone will probably be handicapped at having to stage a house fixture in opposition to Egypt on Sunday in Liberia as a result of they lack an international-standard stadium. Egypt have received the Africa Cup of Nations a document seven instances, however wrestle in World Cup qualifying, reaching the…

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Italy, Netherlands, Wales Aim To Secure Euro 2024 Qualification

Reigning champions Italy are getting ready for a decisive qualifier with Ukraine for a spot at Euro 2024, whereas former winners the Netherlands and 2016 semi-finalists Wales are additionally aiming to ebook their tickets to the finals in Germany. The final two rounds of qualifying matches happen over the subsequent week, and a complete of 12 nations will safe their spots in subsequent month’s attract Hamburg for the match to go along with 9 who’re already assured to be there. Continental heavyweights Spain, France, England, Belgium and Portugal have already certified together with hosts Germany, Turkey, Scotland and Austria for the 24-nation finals which is able to run June 14 to July 14 subsequent 12 months. Italy, who beat England on penalties at Wembley within the closing of the final European Championship in 2021 to assert the title for the second time, nonetheless have work to do to keep away from lacking one other main match. Having didn’t qualify for both of the final two World Cups, there’s a hazard the Azzurri won’t be in Germany to defend their title after a qualifying marketing campaign throughout which coach Roberto Mancini give up both aspect of…

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We Are Stronger And More Prepared For 2026 World Cup Qualifiers: Sunil Chhetri

Talismanic India striker Sunil Chhetri believes his workforce is “robust” and “extra ready” than earlier events to make it to the following spherical of the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers because the gamers have had good recreation time beneath their belts this yr. The 39-year-old Chhetri will lead India into Spherical 2 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Joint Qualification marketing campaign after they tackle Kuwait within the opening away tie on Thursday. The stalwart mentioned the positive performances towards worldwide sides at house had given the workforce a extra settled look. “I believe it’s simply the morale of the workforce, or what has occurred within the final 6-8 months. Numerous boys have taken their locations within the workforce. And that’s the reason we’re in all probability extra ready,” Chhetri informed AIFF on Monday. “Additionally, the World Cup qualifiers are occurring at a time when loads of us have a good quantity of recreation time beneath our belts. All this stuff do matter.” India will play matches towards Kuwait, Qatar and Afghanistan, and the captain mentioned his gamers might need good or unhealthy outings however the workforce is…

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“Hope It Comes Soon For Us,” Says Sunil Chhetri On India Reaching FIFA World Cup

New Delhi : Indian soccer skipper Sunil Chhetri anticipated the day when the ‘Blue Tigers’ will participate within the FIFA World Cup and expressed hope that this second will arrive quickly. In an interview with FIFA, Chhetri mentioned that the nation would go mad when India qualifies for the FIFA World Cup. “The day that occurs, the nation will go mad. As an Indian, it’ll be top-of-the-line days of my life. There are such a lot of individuals like me who cannot wait to see that day, and I simply hope it comes quickly for us,” Chhetri mentioned as quoted by ISL’s official web site. He additional added that it will likely be humongous when the ‘Blue Tigers’ obtain the feat. Chhetri additionally mentioned that he’ll always remember that second in his life. “It’ll be humongous. The anticipation and hope that it’ll deliver to the complete nation are one thing that I do know I’ll always remember in my life,” he added. India’s main goalscorer additionally added that he doesn’t have long-term targets since his age is already 39, and by the point the upcoming FIFA World Cup begins, he’ll flip 42. “As a result…

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Vinicius Junior And Rodrygo Keep Real Madrid On Girona’s Tail

Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo Goes struck twice every as Actual Madrid thrashed Valencia 5-1 on Saturday to remain scorching on the heels of shock La Liga leaders Girona. Dani Carvajal opened the scoring for Los Blancos earlier than the Brazilian duo took the reins as they romped to victory, to path Girona by two factors after they received 2-1 at Rayo Vallecano. Madrid had been with out key participant Jude Bellingham, watching on from a field on the Santiago Bernabeu alongside his mom after he suffered a shoulder harm final weekend from which he has not absolutely recovered. Actual Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned it was his staff’s best efficiency of the marketing campaign up to now. “It was the very best recreation, Valencia weren’t in a position to present their greatest stage as a result of we performed very nicely,” Ancelotti instructed reporters. “Within the final two matches we have been an entire staff, enjoying good soccer, with high quality, sacrifice, dedication, we have carried out nicely.” Vinicius, who toyed with Valencia’s defence, was going through them for the primary time since he was racially abused within the east coast membership’s stadium in Might,…

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Lionel Messi Celebrates Ballon d’Or With MLS Fans But Inter Miami Fall In Friendly

Inter Miami saluted Argentine star Lionel Messi‘s eighth Ballon d’Or on Friday, however their pleasant match to mark the achievement led to a 2-1 loss to MLS rivals New York Metropolis FC. The defeat, in a match between two groups lengthy out of the MLS championship operating, was only a footnote on a celebratory evening that started with Messi providing his due to followers for the welcome he’d acquired in Florida. Followers, a lot of them shouting “Messi! Messi!” in unison, almost crammed the DRV PNK stadium — even supposing the membership’s MLS season ended final month. “Thanks for being right here, for this lovely tribute,” Messi stated after elevating the trophy he’d collected in Paris final month. “I’ve been right here for a short while, but it surely looks like quite a lot of time. “I wish to thank all of the folks of Miami, not solely those that are right here, however within the metropolis basically, for the therapy I and my household have acquired throughout this time. “They confirmed me quite a lot of affection, they made me really feel at residence.” The 36-year-old celebrity acquired a rapturous welcome when he arrived…

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Euro 2024 Hosts Germany Recall Joshua Kimmich For Friendlies

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann on Friday recalled Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich for friendlies towards Turkey and Austria as he builds in direction of Euro 2024. Kimmich travelled with the squad for matches towards the USA and Mexico in October however performed no position in both sport resulting from sickness. Serge Gnabry additionally returns after recovering from a damaged arm. Gnabry made a quick look as an alternative choice to Bayern within the victory towards Galatasaray within the Champions League on Wednesday in his first sport again. Nagelsmann, the previous Bayern coach who took over from Hansi Flick in September, has additionally known as up two uncapped gamers as he checks choices for Euro 2024, going down in Germany — Leipzig’s skilled goalkeeper Janis Blaswich and Werder Bremen ahead Marvin Ducksch. Manuel Neuer, Germany’s ‘keeper after they gained the 2014 World Cup, has stated the video games have come “too quickly” because the 37-year-old works his method again to full health after a yr out with damage. His Bayern teammate, Jamal Musiala, is lacking with a hamstring downside, so his place goes to Borussia Dortmund midfielder Felix Nmecha. Germany play Turkey on November 18 in…

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