Month: March 2023

James Maddison was delighted to earn his “second debut” with England after facing difficulties during the World Cup in Qatar.

The Leicester City midfielder’s second cap for the Three Lions came three and a half years after his international debut, with opportunities not forthcoming in that spell as he faced immense competition for a berth in the side.

Maddison shone in his display against Ukraine at Wembley, creating five chances – the most of any player in their first game for England since Theo Walcott created six against Andorra in September 2008.

With his England debut feeling like “a lifetime ago”, Maddison enjoyed his second coming into the national side.

“It felt great. I said in there it almost felt like a second debut. Like it doesn’t really work. But it’s been that long,” he told reporters.

“It feels a lifetime ago, since that Montenegro game. So it almost felt like a second debut; it felt really good out there.

“It’s so refreshing to be out there with the lads in a strong team and a big game. I really enjoyed it.”

Maddison’s hopes of featuring for England at the World Cup in Qatar suffered a serious blow after picking up an injury ahead of the tournament, leaving him battling for fitness in his bid to play.

No minutes in the tournament came for the Leicester City man, who detailed the struggles he endured during England’s campaign.

“I felt there were a lot of lows, and there’s a lot of sad, sad faces when I was in my room by myself,” he explained.

“I was just thinking ‘why now this little injury. Why? Why in the West Ham game did I get that just before the World Cup’, after I’ve worked so hard to get to the position where it felt everyone was clamouring for me to be in the squad.

“And I’ve worked so hard and my performances were really good. And so there were tough times in the room in Qatar, FaceTiming home, just sad, but it was almost like a battle with myself to say, ‘don’t take this for granted’.

“I might not be able to shake this injury off, but it will leave me in good stead if I show Gareth, and show the people who are questioning my personality off the fields that or whatever that is, that’s all rubbish and that I can be a good person.

“We have such a good group and I get on so well with the lads and the staff, and it’s what you see from the outside is exactly how it is.

“The togetherness and the fun nature of the energy around the camp. I hoped stuff like that would leave me in good stead.”

Ademola Lookman’s career has taken off since he moved to Serie A.

The Nigerian forward showed glimpses of promise in England and Germany — but few anticipated that he would scale the heights he has this season.

His quick feet and fine finishing have helped Atalanta into sixth place in Italy’s top tier, with just three points separating La Dea from the Champions League spots.

And Lookman is now aiming to be the difference-maker in today’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash with Guinea-Bissau after switching international allegiance to the Super Eagles last year.

Finally At home

Lookman has spent much of his career searching for the right club.

The Wandsworth native came through Charlton’s academy ranks before earning a move to Everton, where he made 48 appearances for the Toffees.

His potential attracted the attention of RB Leipzig but he failed to nail down a first-team berth with Die Roten Bullen, so was loaned out to both Fulham and Leicester.

Lookman appears to have finally found a home in Bergamo and recently explained his decision to join Atalanta last summer.

Speaking earlier this year, he said: “I had a few offers in England and I was thinking, ‘What do I really need next season?’

“I sat down with my family and with Atalanta coming in, we just made up our minds that this was another stage in the journey that we need to go through, because we felt like it was important that there was another layer added to me.”

On the goal trail

Lookman is a versatile attacker and has been deployed across Atalanta’s forward line this season.

He has bagged 12 league goals — nine from open play — and registered four assists.

The 25-year-old has been particularly clinical in the final third — hitting the target 23 times, scoring eight big chances and dispatching all three of his penalties. He falls inside Serie A’s top five players for each of those metrics.

La Dea’s No11 also consistently gets into dangerous areas and ranks joint-seventh in the competition for touches in the opposition box (116).

Gasp of delight

Atalanta boss Gian Piero Gasperini has undoubtedly been pleased with the impact that Lookman has had in Bergamo.

The Italian veteran said: “He [Lookman] played right away, he was always involved in matches. He immediately showed that he has experience, he had significant growth in clubs where they know football.

“He was at Leipzig, then he played in England. There he was employed a bit distant from goal, but I immediately realised that he had the right characteristics for what we’ve been looking for for some time.

“[Atalanta sporting director] Lee Congerton was very good, he had already seen the team play from February-March.

“There were important negotiations with other players, but he was always convinced of the characteristics of Lookman and how I played and how I wanted to use him.”

More strings to his bow

Where Lookman truly shines is on the ball and he lays on plenty of scoring opportunities for his team-mates.

This term, he has completed 31 take-ons in Serie A — the ninth-most in the division — as well as creating a commendable 33 chances and nine big opportunities.

And Nigeria head coach Jose Peseiro believes that is what sets him apart from another of their key forwards in Victor Osimhen.

He said: “Ademola is more technical than Osimhen, more inclined to create the game and who is now also scoring.

“He is performing very well this year. He grew up with Gasperini, now he is always playing. We are happy with him, high level, he too can aspire to do great things.”

Wings clipped in Abuja

Lookman is currently in a scoring rut after his red-hot start.

He has failed to find the net in his previous seven league matches and was surprisingly benched for La Dea’s last two top-flight fixtures.

That run of blanks continued on Friday when Nigeria lost 1-0 to Guinea-Bissau in Abuja.

But the Super Eagles have an immediate opportunity for revenge as they prepare to face Baciro Cande’s men for the second time in four days.

With the support of Osihmen — who leads Serie A’s Capocannoniere race — and Leicester’s Kelechi Iheanacho in attack, Lookman will be desperate to head back to Bergamo with a goal and victory under his belt.

Emile Smith Rowe is “really desperate” to help Arsenal end their long wait for a Premier League title after his injury-hit season.

Smith Rowe has largely been sidelined with a groin injury as the Gunners have marched to the top of the Premier League table, heading into this international break with an eight-point lead over closest challengers Manchester City, though the champions have a game in hand.

With just 10 games to play, Arsenal look the favourites to bring their Premier League title drought to an end, having last lifted the trophy with the 2003-04 ‘Invincibles’ side.

Smith Rowe returned for the Gunners with four substitute appearances before scoring on his first start for club or country since June with the England Under-21s against France on Saturday, and with Mikel Arteta’s men set to resume their title charge at home to Leeds United on Saturday, the 22-year-old hopes he can still have a big impact before this season is over.

“I’m really desperate to be honest,” the Arsenal academy product said. “The team are doing really well and it’s obviously something I want to be a part of.

“I’m working hard every day. Coming away with England is minutes that I really need. I’ve been struggling with this injury since I was 18 or 19, just before I went on loan to RB Leipzig.

“I was quite low at the beginning. I’ve never had surgery before. It’s been tough, but I’m glad it’s all sorted now. I don’t feel any pain. I just need to kick on.”

The visit of Leeds marks the start of a vital run for the Gunners, one that sees them travel to Anfield to play Liverpool on April 9 before a huge title showdown with City at the Etihad Stadium on April 26.

Caoimhin Kelleher can take a huge step towards securing a first-team role by impressing against Kylian Mbappe and Co tonight.

The Liverpool goalkeeper has long played second fiddle to Alisson at Anfield and has only managed three appearances for Jurgen Klopp’s side this season.

But he has shown the potential to be a No1 elsewhere, with plenty of teams paying attention to the Reds stopper.

As the Republic of Ireland prepare for their blockbuster meeting with France, Kelleher will be eager to showcase his talents on the international scene.

On the move?

At 30 years old, Alisson is still in his prime and unlikely to leave Merseyside any time soon, so a lack of minutes remains an issue for Kelleher.

And given he is contracted until 2026, Liverpool can command a sizeable fee for the Cork native as they look to rebuild this summer.

Speaking on his future, the Reds’ No62 hinted that a potential exit could be on the cards.

He said: “I am quite relaxed, so I don’t mind watching, but obviously I’d rather be playing but I just try to be as focused as I can be when I watch, so I am ready if I am needed.

“We’ll just see what the season brings and then after that we’ll see what happens after that. But at the moment, I just have to be focused on trying to be ready for Liverpool.”

Cup keeper

Kelleher is yet to make a Premier League appearance this season but he has been a key figure in the Merseysiders’ cup fixtures.

The 24-year-old started in their Carabao Cup win over Derby and produced three penalty shootout saves to set up a meeting with Manchester City.

Klopp’s side went on to lose that tie 3-2 but Kelleher put in another impressive display, making five stops from shots inside the box.

He also played against Wolves in the Reds’ 1-0 FA Cup third-round replay victory but was replaced by Alisson against Brighton in the next round as Liverpool fell to a 2-1 defeat.

Klopp hails top stops

Liverpool boss Klopp spoke of Kelleher with glowing admiration after the penalty shootout triumph over Derby.

He said: “I’ve said before, I think we have the best No2 in the world.

“He [Kelleher] has had problems with injuries this season but when he’s fit he’s outstanding. He’s good on the ball.

“And the last penalty save is one of the best you have ever saw. All three actually I thought were brilliant.”

London calling?

One club which could be in the market for a keeper this summer is Tottenham, with Kelleher looking like an ideal candidate.

And former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has backed any potential move to North London.

Speaking last month, he said: “Kelleher should consider a move away and a club that he would fit in perfectly is Tottenham.

“Hugo Lloris is 36, he has had a few injuries and has retired from the [France] national team — he is not the future anymore.

“[Fraser] Forster is also 34 [now 35], so Tottenham may need a refresh in that department.

“Kelleher is 24 years old. In the cup fixtures last season, especially [in the Carabao Cup final] against Chelsea, he was really good.

“If he wants to cement his own legacy, he should leave and join Tottenham.”

Facing France

The Republic of Ireland Ireland face a tough test against recent World Cup runners-up France, who will be aiming to secure their European Championship qualification as quickly as possible.

Mbappe has been announced as Les Bleus’ new captain and celebrated by scoring twice in a 4-0 rout of the Netherlands to open Les Bleus’ qualifying campaign.

 Kelleher is sure to be busy this evening and if he can keep the French at bay, he will earn plenty of admirers from over the Irish sea.

Bukayo Saka “brings happiness to everyone else” in the England camp, according to Ben Chilwell, who joined Oleksandr Zinchenko in lauding Sunday’s Euro 2024 qualifying match-winner.

Saka has enjoyed an outstanding season for Arsenal, playing alongside Zinchenko, with 12 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League as the Gunners bid for a first title in 19 years.

Only Erling Haaland (33) and Harry Kane (23) can top the winger’s 22 goal involvements in the competition.

And Saka has continued that form on the international stage with England, most recently in a 2-0 win over Zinchenko’s Ukraine at Wembley.

The 21-year-old produced a sublime cross for Kane’s opener, then quickly went one better with a sensational long-range strike. He has 10 goal involvements in his past 16 games for England.

Like Chilwell and Zinchenko, Saka was previously used as a left-back when he broke through at Arsenal, prompting some bemusement from his England team-mate.

“I can’t believe he played at left back when he can do that,” Chilwell said. “He’s such a great talent.

“I think everyone can see what he gives on the pitch, but he’s one of the best people I’ve met in football as well.

“We see him on a daily basis around the camp, and he just brings happiness to everyone else. He’s always smiling. He’s a good guy to be around.

“And then he comes out on the pitch and delivers like that for us – an assist and a goal and ultimately wins the game. So, I’m delighted for him.”

Zinchenko, used in a midfield role at international level while poor Vitalii Mykolenko suffered up against Saka, added: “He’s an amazing player. We knew that.

“He’s on fire at the moment, and I wish him that to the end of the season.

“I said already that there are no friends on the pitch; unfortunately, he beat me today, but I will take revenge.”

Usain Bolt asked Lauren Hemp for her shirt after watching Manchester City’s Women’s Super League victory over Chelsea on Sunday. 

The eight-time Olympic gold-medallist sprinter was among a crowd of 5,222 at the Academy Stadium as City ran out 2-0 winners.

Hemp set up Filippa Angeldahl’s opener before doubling the lead with a goal of her own — and it seems the Lionesses star’s efforts caught Bolt’s eye. 

After the match, the England attacker posted a picture on Twitter showing her and the retired athlete holding up her shirt. 

Accompanied by a winking emoji, 22-year-old Hemp wrote: “When fast met faster, you decide which one.”

Hemp’s performance was made all the more impressive by the fact she had been unwell in the build-up to the showdown with Emma Hayes’ WSL champions. 

City defender Esme Morgan said: “She has been struggling with an ear infection over the last few days. 

“I was sat across from her in our pre-match meal and she was looking all down in the dumps, obviously in a lot of pain, and I was like, ‘Come on Lauren, you’re going to have the best game of your career today, believe, believe’.

“She ground away, scored an amazing goal and she grafts so hard. She’s always there fighting back, pressing, battling — and I’ve heard Bolt has just asked for her shirt, so she must have impressed! 

“She just came to me and said, ‘Es, guess who’s just asked for my shirt?’. I was wracking my head through the Chelsea team, thinking who has she had a battle with. 

“I was too tired to think of anyone and she was like ‘Usain Bolt’ — I couldn’t believe it! Must be the pace!”

Bruno Fernandes does not believe Portugal needed the “breath of fresh air” that Cristiano Ronaldo was looking forward to under Roberto Martinez.

Martinez has taken charge of Portugal for the first time in this international break, having succeeded Fernando Santos following the World Cup.

The former Belgium coach has overseen 4-0 and 6-0 defeats of Liechtenstein and Luxembourg respectively to begin Euro 2024 qualifying.

Captain Ronaldo scored twice in each match, having earlier spoken of “fresh air now, different ideas and mentality” with Martinez at the helm.

Despite the positive start, that is not an assessment team-mate Fernandes agrees with.

“No, it’s just a new coach with new ideas,” the Manchester United midfielder told RTP3 after Sunday’s win against Luxembourg.

“There is no breath of fresh air at all. It’s just a transition period.

“The atmosphere in the national team has always been good. There’s never been anything that wasn’t fresh of the air, so I think it’s just new dynamics, new coach, and you have to assimilate his ideas.”

Fernandes was handed his Portugal debut by Santos, who had guided the Selecao to their first major honour at Euro 2016.

Portugal failed to build on that strong start to the coach’s tenure, however, exiting the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020 at the last-16 stage.

Santos then departed after a shock quarter-final exit at the hands of Morocco at Qatar 2022, with Ronaldo dropped for the knockout rounds.

Roberto Martinez hailed the experience of Cristiano Ronaldo as the 38-year-old scored twice in Portugal’s 6-0 thrashing of Luxembourg.

Ronaldo followed up his brace against Liechtenstein on Thursday with another on Sunday at the Stade de Luxembourg as Portugal made it two wins from two to start their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.

Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Otavio and Rafael Leao added the other goals, and Martinez was quick to praise Ronaldo for his contributions in the Spaniard’s first games as head coach.

“Cristiano has incredible international experience, probably unique as he is the only player [in the world] with 198 caps,” he said at a post-match press conference. “His experience is very important in the dressing room.”

Former Belgium boss Martinez also claimed he was happier with another clean sheet than with his team’s attacking display, and reserved praise for 19-year-old centre-back Antonio Silva, who replaced Goncalo Inacio from the Liechtenstein win.

“I value the zero goals against more than the six goals, the penalty and the great attacking game we played here in Luxembourg,” he said. “This game was not easy. What was important in both games was work and consistency.

“It wasn’t just changing some of the options. There are many options, it was more a change due to the physical demands. It was important to see Goncalo Inacio play well in the first game [v Liechtenstein], but for a young man, three days after a game, it was also important for him to rest.

“It was important to see Antonio Silva entering a very important position, getting on the ball and going up against Luxembourg’s attack.

“It was good to see Antonio Silva together with the experience of Ruben Dias and Danilo Pereira. And Rui Patricio was also very good, so the team was very strong defensively in this game.”

Portugal top Group J ahead of Slovakia by two points, with the next round of fixtures coming in June when the Selecao host Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Antonio Conte has left Tottenham by mutual consent after failing to end their 15-year trophy drought during his time in North London.

The club have confirmed that Cristian Stellini will be in charge for the remainder of the season, along with Ryan Mason as Assistant Head Coach.

Daniel Levy said this on the Tottenham website: “We have 10 Premier League games remaining and we have a fight on our hands for a Champions League place. We all need to pull together. 

“Everyone has to step up to ensure the highest possible finish for our Club and amazing, loyal supporters.”

Spurs crashed out of the Champions League and FA Cup in the space of a week and dropped more points in the race for fourth place at Southampton on Saturday.

After finding themselves 3-1 up at St Mary’s with 13 minutes to go, they went on to concede twice and leave with just a point, sparking Conte into a rage in his post-match press conference.

The fiery coach pointed fingers at the players and the owners, stating that nothing will change even if he was dismissed from his role.

He said: “We are not a team. We are 11 players that go into the pitch. I see selfish players, players that don’t want to help each other and don’t put their heart.

“Until now I try to hide the situation but now, not any more.

“Here’s always the same, every season. The club has the responsibility for the transfer market, the coach has responsibility. But the players, where are the players?

“They are used to it here at Tottenham. They don’t play for something important. They don’t want to play under pressure, under stress. It is easy in this way.

“Tottenham story’s this for 20 years, there’s the owner but they never won something.”

The 53-year-old had been coy about his future in London and previously hinted that he would like to return to Italy to spend more time with his family.

Spurs now look set to commence another rebuilding project with a new manager at the helm and Mauricio Pochettino is the hot favourite to return to his former employers.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more details become available. Please keep refreshing the page. 

Antonio Conte has left Tottenham by mutual consent, a week on from criticising the club and players in a remarkable outburst, with assistant Cristian Stellini to take charge until the end of the season.

Conte hit out after Spurs blew a two-goal lead in a 3-3 draw away to rock-bottom Southampton last Saturday, calling his players “selfish” and questioning Tottenham’s lack of success during Daniel Levy’s time as chairman,

He was reportedly asked by Levy and club chiefs to clarify those comments, apparently insisting his “20 years and they never won something” comment was aimed at the players, rather than his bosses.

But seemingly Conte’s position had become untenable, with Spurs confirming the Italian’s departure on Sunday, eight days on from his public tirade.

“We can announce that head coach Antonio Conte has left the club by mutual agreement,” a Spurs statement read. 

“We achieved Champions League qualification in Antonio’s first season at the club. We thank Antonio for his contribution and wish him well for the future.

“Cristian Stellini will take the team as acting head coach for the remainder of the season, along with Ryan Mason as assistant head coach.”

Conte already looked likely to leave Spurs in June when his contract was set to expire.

Media reports earlier this month suggested neither Conte nor Spurs wanted to extend the arrangement.

Fans had long been frustrated by the brand of football introduced by the former Chelsea boss, and recent results only made the atmosphere more toxic.

While Conte was absent after having gallbladder surgery, Spurs were knocked out of the FA Cup by Championship side Sheffield United on March 1, and a week later they were eliminated from the Champions League after a limp 0-0 draw at home to Milan, who had beaten them 1-0 in San Siro.

Although Spurs defeated Nottingham Forest 3-1 on March 11 to earn some momentary respite, their late collapse at St Mary’s – followed by Conte’s extraordinary rant – proved the final straw.

Conte departs with Spurs still firmly immersed in the race for Champions League qualification, sitting fourth in the Premier League.

However, Liverpool and Newcastle United – seven and two points behind respectively – have two games in hand.

Former Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino is among those linked with succeeding Conte, while Luis Enrique, Marco Silva and Julian Nagelsmann – officially sacked by Bayern Munich on Friday – are also said to be contenders.