World Number 1, Simona Halep showed no mercy dispatching Japan’s Naomi Osaka in straight sets to reach the third round of the WTA Italian Open in Rome on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid takes on Marseille in the Europa League final in Lyon on Wednesday Night, and brila.net looks at five men who will have a crucial role to play for their respective sides.
Antoine Griezmann
There is constant speculation about the French striker’s future and a possible move to Barcelona at the end of the season, but Griezmann is hoping to win a first major trophy as an Atletico Madrid player on Wednesday and avoid another painful defeat following the loss on penalties to Real Madrid in the 2016 Champions League final.
Griezmann has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season, including a crucial counter away to Arsenal in the semi-finals. Now he is hoping to overcome Marseille — the club he is said to support — in a final that will be played in Lyon, a short drive from where he grew up.
“Griezmann is one of the best attackers in the world and he’s capable of anything,” warned Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.
Dimitri Payet
Florian Thauvin might be Marseille’s main goal threat this season — he scored their opener in the first leg of the semi-final against Salzburg — but Payet is the most likely to strike fear into the Spaniards.
The 37-times capped France playmaker’s fitness has been the biggest concern for Marseille fans in recent days, and they will have been pleased to hear him say he is fine after a minor muscle injury prevented him from playing in their last league game.
His eye for a pass and ability at a dead ball make the ex-West Ham United man the biggest star in Rudi Garcia’s side. And, crucially, he has managed to steer clear of major fitness problems in recent months.
“I’m in form. When you feel at your best physically, at 100 percent on the pitch, you can express yourself more freely and naturally,” Payet said on Tuesday.
German ‘Mono’ Burgos
Atletico coach Diego Simeone will be unable to orchestrate proceedings from the dugout as he serves a suspension following his sending-off in the semi-final first leg against Arsenal.
Without him, assistant ‘Mono’ Burgos will take charge of the team, just as he did in the second leg of that tie against the Gunners. It is a blow for the Spanish side to be without Simeone, and even Marseille coach Rudi Garcia lamented his ban, but Burgos is a big enough character to ensure the Argentine is not missed too much.
“I feel sad at not being there, but we have known each other for a lifetime and we understand football in the same way. I have confidence in him being in charge,” Simeone said.
Luiz Gustavo
The midfielder has been superb for Marseille this season since signing from Wolfsburg in Germany, but where he plays could be key.
Garcia has suggested that he could go with a three-man defence, and there is a good chance the Brazilian could again start at the back, just as he has done in recent European ties.
But can Marseille really afford to be without his influence in the centre of the park when it comes to the final?
Koke
Atletico’s defence is their major strongpoint, but the Spain midfielder has a big influence further forward. He could play off the front two of Griezmann and Diego Costa, offering the same kind of threat that saw him score the winner at Getafe in La Liga at the weekend.
“His hard work, dedication and talent have made him key for Atletico and the national team,” said Simeone of the 26-year-old.
“Tactically he reads the game better than anyone.”
AFP
Sam Allardyce has been relieved of his position as manager of Everton after spending just six months in charge at Goodison park, the club have announced.
Allardyce was appointed in November with a brief to rescue Everton from relegation trouble which was accomplished, but he never found favour with fans at Goodison Park.
Everton’s chief executive Professor Denise Barrett-Baxendale said: “On behalf of the chairman, board of directors and Mr Moshiri, I’d like to thank Sam for the job he has done at Everton over the last seven months.
“Sam was brought in at a challenging time last season to provide us with some stability and we are grateful to him for doing that.
“However, we have made the decision that, as part of our longer-term plan, we will be appointing a new manager this summer and will be commencing this process immediately.
“Again, we’d like to place on record our sincere thanks to Sam for his work with us over the last few months and wish him well for the future.”
Source – Everton via AFP
Super Falcons Coach, Thomas Dennerby has praised the physical conditions of his players ahead of the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations stating that they are all in “good condition”.
Ikechukwu Ezenwa has struggled for form and game time since his injury at the 2018 African Nations Championship but the goalkeeper was named in the 30-man preliminary world cup list and the Enyimba goalie said “it is a thing of joy”.
Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo finally got married to his longtime girlfriend Chioma Nnamani in a white wedding ceremony on Tuesday Night in far away Instanbul, Turkey.
Omeruo and Chioma have been together for eight years before their traditional wedding in Enugu, in December 2017.
Super Eagles stars, Raheem Lawal, Ogenyi Onazi, Victor Anichebe, and the current women African Footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala were some of the football stars that attended the wedding Night in Turkey.
The 24-year-old Omeruo who has recently completed his loan deal in Turkish side Kasimpasa is one of the 10 defenders listed in the Super Eagles’ 30-man provisional squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
The On-Loan Chelsea player was also part of the Big Boss ‘Late Steven Keshi-led Super Eagles team that won the African Cup of Nations in 2013.
Super Eagles invitee and Crotone striker, Simeon Nwankwo has described his debut call up to the national team and for the World Cup as a “dream”.
Democratic Republic of Congo have announced the provisional 32-man squad to face Nigeria in an International Friendly in Port harcourt ahead of the World Cupin Russia.
Super Eagles and Lokomotiv Plodiv defender, Steven Eze said he’s setting out to “justify” his invitation to fight for a place in Nigeria’s World Cup squad.
Older Posts