31 July 2016

Special anniversary for England

In its one and only World cup final, and before its own spectators, England in 1966 has won the title beating West Germany after extra time. Exactly 50 years later this jubilee has been marked with a special occasion at Wembley stadium. With lots of stars, live music performance and before 10.000 crowd all re-lived that significant day today.
But 50 years later the English team is struggling to get significant results either in European tournaments or the World cups events.

29 July 2016

Another footballer caught on betting

Recently, in France there were some greedy players who wanted to earn some extra money on betting. Some finished with fines and some with suspensions. That same situation now has been transferred to England. 
Norwich City player Kyle Lafferty has been charged over an alleged betting. On 20 February 2016 the 28 year old placed a bet on the result, but the English FA did not specify the debatable game. If he is to be found guilty Lafferty might end up like the above cases.
The Northern Ireland striker has been given deadline by next Friday to respond to the accusations.

Argentinian headaches before the Olympics

Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro is just around the corner and the grand opening scheduled to be next Friday. But one South American football team has experienced troubles before the trip to Brazil.
Argentina FA has chosen Mexico for better preparations before the games. And after that decision to go to Puebla, Mexico they learned that they have been robbed. Yesterday night, around 23.45 LT, staff officials find their rooms ransacked with all valuables and cash stolen. All together, the team had around 200.000 dollars (180.491 euros) in cash and personal belongings. According to reports, thieves from the Camino Real Angelopolis hotel entered the rooms without a forced entry.

28 July 2016

The longest game in Moedling finally came to an end

AEK Larnaca - Spartak Moscow 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 38 Jano Ananidze
              1:1 65 Andre Alves

Olexandriya - Hajduk 0:3

Scorers: 0:1 52 Marko Cosic
              0:2 82 Ante Erceg
              0:3 90 Frank Ohandza

Heracles - Arouca 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 53 Paul Gladon
              1:1 90 Walter Gonzalez

Austria Vienna - Spartak Trnava 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 46 Ndip Tambe

IFK Goteborg - HJK Helsinki 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 47 Atomu Tanaka
              1:1 73 Emil Salomonsson
              1:2 75 Alfredo Morelos

Jelgava - Beitar Jerusalem 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 25 Idan Vered
              1:1 70 Vitalijs Smirnovs

Lille - Qabala 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 12 Vitaliy Vernydub
              1:1 47 Ryan Mendes

Lokomotiva Zagreb - Vorskla Poltava 0:0

Slavia Prague - Rio Ave 0:0

Zaglebie - SonderjyskE 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 19 Simon Kroon
              0:2 36 Marc Dal Hende
              1:2 45+2 Lukasz Janoszka

Torpedo Zhodino - Rapid Vienna 0:0

Basaksehir - Rijeka 0:0

Birkirkara - Krasnodar 0:3

Scorers: 0:1 45 Andreas Granqvist
              0:2 75-pen Fedor Smolov
              0:3 89 Ricardo Laborde

Grasshoppers - Apollon Limassol 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 11 Haris Tabakovic
              1:1 76 Abraham Guie Gneki
              2:1 90+3 Numa Lavanchy

Luzern - Sassuolo 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 08 Marco Schneuwly
              1:1 42-pen Domenico Berardi

Genk - Cork City 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 31 Leon Bailey

Osmanlispor - Nomme Kalju 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 73 Tiago Pinto

Panathinaikos - AIK Stockholm 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 79 Rodrigo Moledo

Pandurii - Maccabi Tel Aviv 1:3

Scorers: 0:1 07 Tal Ben Chaim
              1:1 30 Nicolae Ovidiu Herea
              1:2 49 Nosa Emanuel Igiebor
              1:3 77 Dor Micha

Vojvodina - Dinamo Minsk 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 29 Sinisa Babic
              1:1 82 Atrem Bykov

Hertha - Brondby 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 28 Vedad Ibisevic

Gent - Viitorul 5:0

Scorers: 1:0 16 Stefan Mitrovic
              2:0 37 Kalifa Coulibaly
              3:0 50 Kalifa Coulibaly
              4:0 56 Laurent Depoitre
              5:0 66 Renato Neto

Videoton - Midtjylland 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 55 Filip Novak

Aberdeen - Maribor 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 83 Milivoje Novakovic
              1:1 88 Jonathan Hayes

AZ Alkmaar - PAS Giannina 1:0 

Scorer: 1:0 36 Derrick Luckassen

Domzale - West Ham 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 11-pen Matic Crnic
              1:1 18-pen Mark Noble
              2:1 48 Matic Crnic

St. Etienne - AEK Athens 0:0

Admira Wacker - Slovan Liberec 1:2 (in the second half, this game was interrupted three times due to power failure)

Scorers: 1:0 07 Christoph Knassmuelner
              1:1 11 Egon Vuch
              1:2 69 Egon Vuch

27 July 2016

New rule in the FA cup

From quarter-final onwards clubs can be allowed to make fourth substitution in the extra time at the FA cup competition. 'The introduction of a fourth substitute in extra time will bring extra intrigue and interest' said FA's executive director Martin Glenn adding how the extra new players will have 'impact of the final result'.
This new format was first used at this summer's Copa America Centenario.

Polish champions took the only away win of the night

Astana - Celtic 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 18 Yuri Logvinenko
              1:1 78 Leigh Griffiths

Rosenborg - APOEL Nicosia 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 22 Christian Gytkjaer
              2:0 45+1 Jorgen Skjelvik
              2:1 67 Gerogios Efrem

Astra - FC Copenhagen 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 07 Felipe Teixeira
              1:1 64 Thomas Delaney

Fenerbahce - Monaco 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 38 Emmanuel Emenike
              1:1 42 Radamel Falcao
              2:1 61 Emmanuel Emenike

Trencin - Legia 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 69 Nemanja Nikolic

Olympiakos - Hapoel Beer Sheva 0:0

Continuance of the elimination phase

Wednesday is usually the day when Champions league matches conclude for the week. Today rest of the six games will round up penultimate qualifying stage, first leg.

- Astana - Celtic. Today's competition starts in far Kazakhstan, where Celtic will try not to do the same mistake from previous round. Astana is certainly not the same team from last season as they are having difficulties to win a home game. But as Scottish champions seems to be also uncertain their rivals could be upsetting them again recording a minimal (but tough) victory.
- Rosenborg - APOEL Nicosia. Rosenborg look very confident at home and is an absolute favourite to take the game. APOEL Nicosia's dreadful play will continue also tonight as the home team are playing some superb football.
- Astra - Copenhagen. At the beginning of the month, when these two teams played a friendly game Romanian champions was the better side. But in a competitive match it might be different as Copenhagen raised their level by playing better football since that game. The visitors might finish the job in the first 90 minutes.
- Fenerbahce - Monaco. Fenerbahce looks dangerous at home but this time they oppose a team who are also a threat. Because many key players are missing from the Turkish team we believe that they can pull it though, even a minimal victory will do, against Monaco.
- Trencin - Legia. Trencin prove last time that they are not kidding and, with their play, are determined to enter into the group stage and Legia looks to destroy their dream. But lately Polish champions are not very confident at all. We are doubting that Legia can hold them for a draw they want the most, so Trencin will come victorious.
- Olympiakos - Hapoel Beer Sheva. Greek champions looks very confident at home while Hapoel Beer Sheva barely scores a goal on away games. That precious goal can be valuable for the resturn leg, but Olympiakos will try to achieve the biggest win of the night.

Break from football in England

English Premier league is considered to be one of the toughest championships in Europe. Teams are non-stop playing and there is no even a proper break for the whole season.
Most clubs are complaining that they deserve a break, specially at the end of the year, and today the officials at the English FA are looking ways to introduce a winter break.
Continuity at playing over the Christmas period and around New Years eve is always good but for the players it seems to be way too much.

Africa can celebrate

One of the biggest wish for FIFA president Gianni Infantino since he came to power is the expansion of the World Cup from 32 to 40 teams. If that proposal will get a green light then African continent will get two additional places in the finals. For the next two World Cups, in Russia and Qatar, teams are already confirmed with the old format, but the new one may begin from 2026.
CAF region already has 5 automatic places and it is considered to have one of the toughest qualifying ways towards the major event. Last time when Africa had 6 places in the tournament was 2010, when South Africa as hosts has automatically qualified for the competition.

26 July 2016

Five stalemates, four victories

BATE Borisov - Dundalk 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 70 Mikhail Gordeychuk

Ludogorets Razgrad - Crvena Zvezda 2:2

Scorers: 1:0 43 Jonathan Cafu
              1:1 48 Aleksandar Katai
              1:2 66 Guelor Kanga
              2:2 77 Claudiu Keseru

Sparta Prague - Steaua 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 35 Josef Sural
              1:1 75 Nicolae Stanciu

Partizani - Red Bull Salzburg 0:1

Scorers: 0:1 70-pen Jonathan Soriano

Viktoria Plzen - Qarabag 0:0

Rostov - Anderlecht 2:2

Scorers: 0:1 03 Sofiane Hanni
              1:1 16 Saeid Ezzatollahi
              1:2 52 Youri Tielemans
              2:2 60-pen Dmitry Poloz

Ajax - PAOK 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 27 Djalma Campos
              1:1 58 Kasper Dolberg

Dinamo Zagreb - Dinamo Tbilisi 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 39 El-Arbi Hilal Soudani
              2:0  42 Ante Coric

Shakhtar Donetsk - Young Boys 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 27 Bernard
              2:0 74 Yevhen Seleznov

Third qualifying round starts tonight

Most of the second league qualification games will be played tonight. Some familiar names are entering from this stage.

- BATE Borisov - Dundalk. Belorussian club BATE Borisov are considering to be favorites and win the match against the Republic of Ireland champions. But as both teams are playing excellent football minimal goal difference is expected for the home side.
- Ludogorets Razgrad - Crvena Zvezda. This duel between Bulgarian and Serbian champion looks like to be one of the derby of the round. Ludogorets Razgrad have excellent defence at home opposing to Crvena Zvezda who are easily achieving plenty of away wins. So if these two teams can score that means that this match will end in a draw.
- Sparta Prague - Steaua. Czech team, who are favorites for this match, are achieving mixed results lately while their rivals are scoring only wins. Even if it looks like Steaua might steal the away victory, Sparta Prague would definitely fight back and beat the Romanians.
- Partizani - Red Bull Salzburg. Austrian Red Bull Salzburg probably received the easiest opponent at this phase. On the other hand for the substituted team Partizani this is not a good summer season as the Albanians are losing plenty of games. We wold not be surprised if the visitors are achieving tonight the highest away win.
- Viktoria Plzen - Qarabag. Another Czech team is playing tonight, but this game against Qarabag comes at the worst possible moment as it seems they are only achieving stalemates. The Azerbaijani are in a good form, with mixed results as well, but they are capable of scoring goals. As the home side would like to have advantage before next week return leg they should win the game.
- Rostov - Anderlecht. Rostov's fantastic run from the Russian Premier league continued in club friendlies as well, so nothing has changed. But tonight they are facing (a constantly) Champions group phase team who are causing lots of troubles, even to the big names. A strong determination from Rostov to enter into the next stage shuld record a victory against Anderlecht.
- Ajax - PAOK. Both Ajax and PAOK are recording mixed results lately. On paper, the home side is an absolute favorite to take the victory but PAOK is also dangerous as visitors. Even a minimal win for Ajax will be the best result before next week.
- Dinamo Zagreb - Dinamo Tbilisi. Croatian champions are playing against their namesake from Tbilisi. Dinamo Zagreb is playing some excellent football at home and it will not be surprise if they are victorious tonight versus Dinamo Tbilisi.
- Shakhtar Donetsk - Young Boys. At the Lviv stadium, Shakhtar Donetsk will be playing the tricky rivals Young Boys. Home side should comfortably win this one, and even if it looks like that Swiss team can stall them back, experienced Shakhtar Donetsk should record a tough victory tonight.

25 July 2016

Greedy official suspended

The world football organization has suspended the vice-president of Equatorial Guinea FA for two years. Gustavo Ndong Edu' s worldwide ban began from 10 July as day earlier the CAF disciplinary committee met about his case, so FIFA today has confirmed his punishment. He is charged for offering bribes to referees for fixing the game between Equatorial Guinea and Mali at the African Cup of Nations qualifiers for women.

Europa league finalists fined

The 2015/16 season Europa league final was between Liverpool and Sevilla where the Spanish side came from behind to lift the trophy completed a hat-trick. But before and during the game in Basel supporters (as always) marred the final.
For throwing various objects onto the pitch and crowd trouble the title winners, Sevilla has to pay 17.000 euros. With one thousand less is penalized Liverpool, because their supporters were 'played' with fireworks and highlighted forbidden banners.
All in all, UEFA from this couple of fines today are rich with 33.000 euros.

Penultimate qualifying round

Both European cup tournaments are additionally heating up in these warm days as only two qualifying rounds remain until the final group phase. At the end of the last week of the month are scheduled to be playing first leg of games.

Over at the Champions league the good old system is never abandoned. Next Tuesday and Wednesday we are going to find out the first 90 minute results. Adding to the old clubs, which entertained us in the first two elimination rounds, new names will appear at this phase.

Tuesday, 26 July at 20.00 CET: BATE Borisov - Dundalk.
Tuesday, 26 July at 20.00 CET: Ludogorets Razgrad - Crvena Zvezda.
Tuesday, 26 July at 20.00 CET: Partizani - Red Bull Salzburg.
Tuesday, 26 July at 20.00 CET: Sparta Prague - Steaua.
Tuesday, 26 July at 20.15 CET: Viktoria Plzen - Qarabag.
Tuesday, 26 July at 20.30 CET: Rostov - Anderlecht.
Tuesday, 26 July at 20.45 CET: Ajax - PAOK.
Tuesday, 26 July at 20.45 CET: Dinamo Zagreb - Dinamo Tbilisi.
Tuesday, 26 July at 20.45 CET: Shakhtar Donetsk - Young Boys.

Wednesday, 27 July at 16.00 CET: Astana - Celtic.
Wednesday, 27 July at 19.15 CET: Rosenborg - APOEL Nicosia.
Wednesday, 27 July at 19.30 CET: Astra Giurgiu - FC Copenhagen.
Wednesday, 27 July at 20.30 CET: Fenerbahce - Monaco.
Wednesday, 27 July at 20.30 CET: Trencin - Legia.
Wednesday, 27 July at 20.45 CET: Olympiakos - Hapoel Beer Sheva.

All Europa league games are going to be played on the penultimate day of the week. Since these are only first leg matches, around 23.00 CET we are going to find out all the scores. Like the above competition, here also we are going to encounter some new names which enters at this stage.

Thursday, 28 July at 17.00 CET: AEK Larnaca - Spartak Moscow.
Thursday, 28 July at 18.30 CET: Oleksandriya - Hajduk.
Thursday, 28 July at 18.45 CET: Heracles Almelo - Arouca.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.00 CET: Austria Vienna - Spartak Trnava.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.00 CET: Goteborg - HJK Helsinki.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.00 CET: Jelgava - Beitar Jerusalem.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.00 CET: Lille - Gabala.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.00 CET: Lokomotiva Zagreb - Vorskla Poltava.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.00 CET: Slavia Prague - Rio Ave.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.00 CET: Zaglebie - SonderjyskE.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.00 CET: Torpedo Zhodino - Rapid Vienna.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.30 CET: Basaksehir - Rijeka.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.30 CET: Birkirkara - Krasnodar.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.45 CET: Grasshoppers - Apollon.
Thursday, 28 July at 19.45 CET: Luzern - Sassuolo.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.00 CET: Genk - Cork City.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.00 CET: Osmanlispor - Nomme Kalju.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.00 CET: Panathinaikos - AIK Stockholm.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.00 CET: Pandurii - Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.00 CET: Skendija - Mlada Boleslav.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.00 CET: Vojvodina - Dinamo Minsk.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.15 CET: Hertha - Brondby.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.30 CET: Gent - Viitorul.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.30 CET: Videoton - Midtjylland.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.45 CET: Aberdeen - Maribor.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.45 CET: AZ Alkmaar - PAS Giannina.
Thursday, 28 July at 20.45 CET: Domzale - West Ham.
Thursday, 28 July at 21.00 CET: St. Etienne - AEK Athens.
Thursday, 28 July at 21.05 CET: Admira Wacker - Slovan Liberec.

23 July 2016

Welcome to Cristiano Ronaldo airport

From now on, visitors that will land at the archipelago islands aerodrome in Madeira, they will hear the greetings 'We wish you warm welcome to Cristiano Ronaldo airport'.
One of the best Real Madrid player got himself an airport named after him after achieving great results in his career, and the peak is surely EURO 2016 trophy. Regional government president Miguel Albuquerque announced on Friday that Funchal's Santa Catarina airport will be renamed into Cristiano Ronaldo airport.
On the same day the 31 year old Portuguese star entered into a completely new business by opening his own hotel in his hometown city of Funchal.

Three candidates - one winner

Deadline for receiving applications has passed this Wednesday and on Friday the European football organization has confirmed that three presidents, in their own countries, like to manage UEFA. Michael van Praag from Netherlands, Slovenian Aleksandar Ceferin and Spain's Angel Maria Villar want to replace disgraced Michel Platini, who resigned in May.
These three candidates have plenty of support from all 55 member associations but only one of them will lead UEFA. Who will it be we have to wait 14 September when the decision will be made in Athens, Greece.

New regional league

President of the Serbian FA, Slavisa Kokeza has revealed that from 2018 it will start new regional league between clubs from former Yugoslavia republics (mostly known as the Balkan league). About this idea it was written many years ago, but it was scrapped on many occasions. Saying on a TV interview for 'Arena Sport' Kokeza mentioned that the whole project was backed up by UEFA recently at a Moscow meeting, with all FA presidents present.
Games will be paralleled with the national championships, the league will be played between February and May while in 2018 we will have the first Balkan cup. The league winner, who will gain access in the Champions league, will receive 2.5 million euros while first 8 or 10 clubs - at least 700.000 euros. The original plan is that Serbia and Croatia will be represented with 4 clubs, Bosnia and Herzegovina will have 2 teams while from FYR Macedonia, Montenegro and Slovenia each will give one club.

Total instead of Orange

French multinational telecommunication company Orange is no longer main sponsor in African football. Instead of these giants jumps another multinational French company, this time in the oil and gas sector.
For the next eight years Total will be proud sponsor at the African football competitions. Yesterday in Paris the deal was struck between the corporation and the confederation without mentioning the financial terms. Sponsorship deal includes 10 major competitions throughout the African continent: African Nations Championships ; Champions league ; Confederation cup ; Super cup ; U17, U20 and U23 Africa Cup of Nations ; Africa Cup of Nations for women and in futsal.
But first principal competition with the new sponsor will be at the beginning of next year, under its new name - Total Africa Cup on Nations, Gabon 2017. To determine the best team in Africa the competition will take place from 14 January until 05 February.

22 July 2016

Two games finished after additional time while four others on penalties

Ventspils - Aberdeen 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 78 Adam Rooney

Jelgava - Slovan Bratislava 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 27-pen Glebs Kluskins
              2:0 48 Boriss Bogdaskins
              3:0 85 Olegs Malasenoks

HJK Helsinki - Beroe Stara Zagora 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 25 Atomu Tanaka

Nomme Kalju - Maccabi Haifa 1:1, on penalties: 5-3

Scorers: 0:1 34-pen Nikita Rukavytsya
              1:1 90 Tarmo Neemelo

Lokomotiva Zagreb - RoPS Rovaniemi 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 44 Ivan Fiolic
              2:0 49 Mirko Maric
              3:0 83 Mirko Maric

Torpedo Zhodino - Debrecen 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 26 Vadim Demidovich

Omonia Nicosia - Beitar Jerusalem 3:2

Scorers: 0:1 17 Omer Atzily
              1:1 26 Amir Agaiev
              1:2 45-pen Omer Atzily
              2:2 45+3-pen Cillian Sheridan
              3:2 81 Onisiforos Roussias

AEK Larnaca - Cliftonville 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 45 Vladimir Boljevic
              2:0 48 Joan Tomas

College Europa - AIK Stockholm 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 55 Eero Markkanen

Qabala - MTK 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 07 Sergei Zenjov
              2:0 37 Theo Weeks

Goteborg - Piast 0:0

Grasshoppers - KR Reykjavik 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 44 Runar Mar Sigurjonsson
              1:1 52 Morten Beck Andersen
              2:1 68 Runar Mar Sigurjonsson

Levski Sofia - Maribor 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 22 Francis Narh
              1:1 68 Marcos Tavares

Maccabi Tel Aviv - Kairat Almaty 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 05 Tal Ben Chaim II
              1:1 64 Gerard Gohou
              2:1 86 Gal Aberman

Odd - PAS Giannina 3:0, 3:1 after extra time

Scorers: 1:0 55-pen Fredrik Nordkvelle
              2:0 57 Bentley
              3:0 89 Espen Ruud
              3:1 98 Leonardo Koutris

Slavia Prague - Levadia 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 09 Milan Skoda
              2:0 66 Gino van Kessel

Stromsgodset - SonderjyskE 2:1, 2:2 after extra time

Scorers: 1:0 17 Muhamed Keita
              2:0 45+2 Muhamed Keita
              2:1 68 Mikael Uhre
              2:2 120 Trols Klove

Vaduz - Midtjylland 2:2

Scorers: 0:1 41 Pione Sisto
              0:2 68 Pione Sisto
              1:2 83 Maurice Brunner
              2:2 86-pen Moreno Costanzo

Kukesi - Austria Vienna 1:4

Scorers: 0:1 15 Olarenwaju Kayode
              0:2 58 Olarenwaju Kayode
              0:3 67 Raphael Holzhauser
              1:3 78 Rahman Hallaci
              1:4 90+3 Christph Martschinko

Connah's Quay Nomads - Vojvodina 1:2

Scorers: 0:1 08 Dejan Meleg
              0:2 49-pen Dejan Meleg
              1:2 65 Michael Wilde

Brondby - Hibernian 0:1, on penalties: 5-3

Scorers: 0:1 62 David Gray

Osmanlispor - Zimbru 5:0

Scorers: 1:0 16-pen Aminu Umar
              2:0 26 Aminu Umar
              3:0 50 Aminu Umar
              4:0 74 Erdal Kilicarslan
              5:0 83 Dzon Delarge

Spartak Trnava - Shirak 2:0

Scorers: 1:0 57 Ivan Schranz
              2:0 61 Ndip Tambe

Cukaricki - Videoton 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 13 Ismael Beko Fofana
              1:1 76 Krisztian Geresi

Domzale - Shakhtyor Soligorsk 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 35 Marko Alvir
              1:1 61 Denis Laptev
              2:1 69 Zan Majer

Hajduk - Iasi 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 22 Fran Tudor
              1:1 26 Alexandru Ciucur
              2:1 90 Frank Ohandza

Buducnost - Genk 2:0, on penalties: 2-4

Scorers: 1:0 01 Radomir Djalovic
              2:0 40 Milos Raickovic

Cork City - Hacken 1:0

Scorer: 1:0 26 Kevin O'Connor

St. Patrick's Athletic - Dinamo Minsk 0:1

Scorer: 0:1 17 Gleb Rassadkin

Hearts - Birkirkara 1:2 

Scorers: 0:1 55 Christian Bubalovic
              0:2 67 Edward Herrera
              1:2 74 Conor Sammon

Zaglebie - Partizan 0:0, on penalties: 4-3

Additional information: The following teams we are going to see in the next qualifying phase of the Europa league - Aberdeen, Jelgava, HJK Helsinki, Nomme Kalju, Lokomotiva Zagreb, Torpedo Zhodino, Beitar Jerusalem, AEK Larnaca, AIK Stockholm, Qabala, Goteborg, Grasshoppers, Maribor, Maccabi Tel Aviv, PAS Giannina, Slavia Prague, SonderjyskE, Midjylland, Austria Vienna, Vojvodina, Brondby, Osmanlispor, Spartak Trnava, Videoton, Domzale, Hajduk, Genk, Cork City, Dinamo Minsk, Birkirkara and Zaglebie.

20 July 2016

Surprise winner in Hungary after penalty kicks

Astana - Zalgiris 2:1

Scorers: 1:0 31 Marin Anicic
              1:1 57 Elivelto
              2:1 90+1 Marin Anicic

Dudelange - Qarabag 1:1

Scorers: 1:0 71 Momar N'Diaye
              1:1 90+4 Reynaldo

Norrkoping - Rosenborg 3:2

Scorers: 0:1 36-pen Christian Gytkjaer
              0:2 54 Yann-Erik de Lanlay
              1:2 56 Sebastian Andersson
              2:2 58 Cristoffer Nyman
              3:2 76 Sebastian Andersson

Ferencvaros - Partizani 1:1, on penalties: 1-3

Scorers: 1:0 14-pen Zoltan Gera
              1:1 40-own goal Oliver Huesing

Trencin - Olimpija Ljubljana 2:3

Scorers: 1:0 12 Rangelo Janga
              2:0 19 Matus Bero
              2:1 41 Dejan Kelhar
              2:2 44 Blessing Eleke
              2:3 79 Denis Klinar

Celtic - Lincoln Red Imps 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 23 Mikael Lustig
              2:0 25 Leigh Griffiths
              3:0 29 Patrick Roberts

Hafnarfjordur - Dundalk 2:2

Scorers: 1:0 18 Sam Hewson
              1:1 52 David McMillan
              1:2 62 David McMillan
              2:2 77 Kristjan Floki Finnbogason

Additional information: Astana, Qarabag, Rosenborg, Partizani, Trencin, Celtic and Dundalk we are going to see in action next week as they all progress to the next stage.

One pair from the third qualifying round is revealed

Kapaz - Admira Wacker 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 16 Christoph Knasmullner
              0:2 75 Patrick Schmidt

Additional information: As the Austrians won 3:0 on aggregate, Admira Wacker at the next stage will play Slovan Liberec from Czech Republic.

Europa league lone game

Thursday is an usual day for the second European cup tournament. But tonight we are going to find out the first team who will join the third qualifying round.

- Kapaz - Admira Wacker. Home team is chasing that minimal loss from leg one But they are opposing the Austrians who are very dangerous on away games. Kapaz is showing achieving results at the moment and can be considered as favorites by playing before their own crowd. Admira Wacker will not sit back and surely will go for another win.

The rest of qualifying matches today

After tonight, all pairs will be known for the penultimate elimination phase which will begin next week. But before that to happen, today its time to find out last Champions league matches and to see who will join the third qualifying round.

- Astana - Zalgiris. After a scoreless draw last week Astana is now a big favorite to win this game and progress through as well. The home team is having some difficulties achieving success like last year, when Kazakhstan champions were in the group phase, but Zalgiris today should not pose them big trouble.
- Dudelange - Qarabag. Luxembourgian team is achieving good results at home and today they play with Qarabag who certainly will not be keeping their two goals lead. As they have big advantage, the Azerbaijani team will be determined to go for another victory but Dudelange can hold them with a draw.
- Norrkoping - Rosenborg. The only true derby of the whole qualifying round can end very exciting. Norwegians got the first part and now (maybe) is time for revenge. But will the Swedish champions can get those two goals that they need badly to progress though we have to wait and see, and the summertime results than these two are achieving is much more probable. Their similar play to one another shows that Norrkoping will make a fierce battle on the pitch and they might pull it though with a win.
- Ferencvaros - Partizani. In a surprise first result last week Ferencvaros drew with Partizani. But tonight in Hungary they are absolute favorites against the Albanians as they are confident enough at home. Adding to that, Hungarian championship started last weekend so the winning continuity will continue against Partizani who barely scores an away goals.
- Trencin - Olimpija Ljubljana. Another confident winner at home is Trencin and they are opposing Olimpija Ljubljana who also have a good scoring record away from home. After a surprise first leg result the Slovakia team will not sit back knowing that they can fall any time. From just an ordinary two match game this turn out to be our second derby. It could be another interesting game to watch but no one will win.
- Celtic - Lincoln Red Imps. One of the shock of the whole qualifiers this season was that minor team from Gibraltar succeeded to beat one of the famous name in football in a competitive match. But now is time for a (sweet) revenge as Celtic plays very confident at home. Lincoln Red Imps also are good of scoring goals on away games but we are doubting they will oppose any threats to the giants.
- Hafnarfjordur - Dundalk. Last game of the night as the Iceland and the Republic of Ireland champions play the second 90 minutes (or more). And so far it looks to be more as both clubs are achieving good results at home and away and both can score goals. Hafnarfjordur will try to win in normal time but Dundalk will surely retaliate and fight back.

Third official candidate for UEFA's presidency

The European football organization is currently without a boss since disgraced Michel Platini quit the post before EURO 2016 tournament even began. On Tuesday the acting president of UEFA has now officially nominated for the job, the 66 year old ex-Spanish player, who is president in his own country - Angel Maria Villar. That is how the Spaniard became only the third official candidate, besides Michael van Praag from Holland and Slovenian Aleksandar Ceferin, for the top spot.
And who will win that top 'prize' we have to wait until 14 September where in Athens, Greece UEFA will elect its new president.

Doping scandal in Russian football?

Many Russian athletes are in danger of missing out next month's summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and lately WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) has accused that in Russian football exist also doping irregularities. The agency indict Russia that its Premier league have 'at least one' case of doping in the championship and that cover up was (surprisingly) on a foreign player. And the main 'guilty' person who knew 'everything' but did not report irregularities in the sport is the country's Minister of sport and Russian FA president Vitaly Mutko.
Because of this serious allegations FIFA has said that it will have a look into the case of whether there was violations from the top football official.

19 July 2016

Danish club recorded the biggest win of the night

Alashkert - Dinamo Tbilisi 1:1

Scorers: 0:1 21 Jaba Jigauri
              1:1 51 Norayr Gyozalyan

Liepaja - Red Bull Salzburg 0:2

Scorers: 0:1 34 Valon Berisha
              0:2 64 Bernardo

APOEL Nicosia - TNS (The New Saints) 3:0

Scorers: 1:0 54 Nektarios Alexandrou
              2:0 73 Pieros Sotiriou
              3:0 90+5-pen Tomas de Vincenti

Sheriff Tiraspol - Hapoel Beer Sheva 0:0

Seinajoki JK - BATE Borisov 2:2

Scorers: 0:1 15 Aleksandr Karnitskiy
              0:2 28 Aleksey Rios
              1:2 43 Ariel Thierry Ngueukam
              2:2 60 Roope Riski

FC Copenhagen - Crusaders 6:0

Scorers: 1:0 14 Andrija Pavlovic
              2:0 45-own goal Andrew Mitchell
              3:0 48 Andreas Cornelius
              4:0 58 Rasmus Falk
              5:0 68 Jan Gregus
              6:0 75 Andreas Cornelius

Crvena Zvezda - Valletta 2:1

Scorers: 0:1 10 Jonathan Caruana
              1:1 30 Mitchell Donald
              2:1 76 Aleksandar Katai

Legia - Zrinjski 2:0

Scorer: 1:0 28-pen Nemanja Nikolic
            2:0 62 Nemanja Nikolic

Mladost Podgorica - Ludogorets Razgrad 0:3

Scorers: 0:1 38 Jody Lukoki
              0:2 47 Wanderson
              0:3 64 Jody Lukoki

Additional information: Dinamo Tbilisi, Red Bull Salzburg, APOEL Nicosia, Hapoel Beer Sheva, BATE Borisov, FC Copenhagen, Crvena Zvezda, Legia and Ludogorets Razgrad qualified for the next stage.

First nine games tonight

After a week of excitement and some surprised results in the competition now it is time for the return legs. Tonight we will find out first nine teams who will go in the penultimate qualifying stage for the Champions league.

- Alashkert - Dinamo Tbilisi. First game of the night starts with Armenian champions who are chasing a two goals deficit. It will be really tough for Alashkert to continue knowing that Dinamo Tbilisi are also capable of scoring as visitors. Georgian club are favorites on paper and as both teams are really strong we are expecting an exciting draw.
- Liepaja - Red Bull Salzburg. Last week Austrians barely won their duel against the Latvian champions. In the summertime Liepaja are achieving some positive results at home but we still believe Red Bull Salzburg are too strong for them and will come out victorious.
- APOEL Nicosia - TNS (The New Saints). It will be a real surprise if anything happens to APOEL in tonight's game where the Cypriot club are big favorites. After the scoreless disappointment from the first leg, TNS will now have to go for it to the end by (even) winning the game. Knowing that APOEL are also in a very poor form at home, we believe that a minimal result will decide the game in favor of the Cypriots.
- Sheriff Tiraspol - Hapoel Beer Sheva. This game may be called a derby of the night as their last game in Israel (unexpectedly) became one of the interesting to watch. Its very obvious that Hapoel Beer Sheva will defend its 3:2 lead which means that only victory for the Moldavian team can progress them through. Sheriff played an excellent first game in Israel, even scored a goal with 10 man, so if you really want something you can achieve that. Sheriff will avoid a draw and have to win this one.
- Seinajoki JK - BATE Borisov. Finnish team is also chasing a two goal minus and playing in home it seems easy to achieve that. But their famously rivals BATE Borisov will try to go for another win. In these hot days they are achieving mixed results so its a real question if they are capable of achieving another victory. At the end a draw would be fair for both.
- FC Copenhagen - Crusaders. From all pairs in this qualifying round it seems that FC Copenhagen have the easiest opponent. Northern Ireland champions humiliated themselves last week by losing the game 3:0. Tonight we can expect a similar (if not the same) result for the Danish club.
- Crvena Zvezda - Valletta. After last Tuesday's surprised first half goal from Valletta, everyone thought that another famous team would go down. Tonight the Serbian club is playing at home and cannot disappoint their supporters once again with bad play. This summer Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) has signed some new players to refresh the team and those newbies can solve the game.
- Legia - Zrinjski. A surprised result seven days ago can lead to another draw tonight. Legia is playing some awful football at home and currently cannot seems to find their winning form. Its really a mystery to predict the outcome of this game as Zrinjski as visitors are also bad. Everything points to the fact that it can end up in another (same) draw, but after that anything is possible.
- Mladost Podgorica - Ludogorets Razgrad. Montenegro club Mladost face Bulgarian champions in one of the last game on the night. It seems like summer football is not a good time for both clubs as are achieving some mixed results. However, favorites Ludogorets Razgrad are in a slight advantage over its rivals and 'steal' the away victory.

Contract extension with the champions

After their deal expired with the Spanish champions this season (2015/16), Qatar Airways has agreed to extend the contract for an extra one more year. The Qatar based company will continue to support Barcelona under the terms of the old agreement, by giving them reportedly 35 million euros per season.
One of the main sponsor of the club, Qatar Airways appeared on their t-shirts from 2013.

Egyptian court gave up on further charges against an ex-player

One of Egypt best players and a top scorer for the team, Hossam Hassan created an incident in the domestic league game on 08 July. He attacked a photographer and the whole event was shown live on TV. The case was dropped last weekend (Saturday) after Hassan has reached a 'truce' with the photographer. However, he did not escape the penalty as the court ordered him to pay a fine of 500 Egyptian pounds (50.884 euros).
Live transmission on TV showed how the 49 year old Hassan was chasing the (unlucky) photographer, punched him and 'confiscate' his camera.

Who will succeed Messi?

Ten nominees for one prize. Journalists from all 55 UEFA member associations will decide on the next best European player for the season 2015/2016. All in all, 37 names entered the competition but 10 of them will battle for the award.
Two names from the Spanish champions (Barcelona) are in fact the only non-European players who are fighting for the grand prize: Lionel Messi (Argentina) and Luis Suarez (Uruguay). The prize winner from last year is still in contention 'defending his title', who, together with: Gareth Bale (Real Madrid, Wales), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid, France), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid, Germany), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich, Germany), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany), Pepe (Real Madrid, Portugal), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid, Portugal) and mentioned Luis Suarez are making the top 10. Remaining 27 players just missed out on the top 10 list (those are classified from 11 place onwards in the following order): Riyad Mahrez (Leicester, Algeria), Jamie Vardy (Leicester, England), Dimitri Payet (West Ham, England), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich, Germany), Arturo Vidal (Bayern Munich, Chile), Luka Modric (Real Madrid, Croatia), N'Golo Kante (Leicester, France), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (PSG, Sweden), Eden Hazard (Chelsea, Belgium), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona, Spain), Neymar Jr. (Barcelona, Spain), Renato Sanches (Benfica, Portugal), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich, Poland), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli, Argentina), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus, Italy), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid, Uruguay), Will Grigg (Wigan, Northern Ireland), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham, France), Paul Pogba (Juventus, France), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham, Belgium), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund, Gabon), Kevin de Bruyne (Manchester City, Belgium), Kevin Gameiro (Sevilla, France), Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla, Poland), Blaise Matuidi (PSG, France), Georges-Kevin N'Koudou (Marseille, France), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid, Slovenia).
European football organization will announce the winner on Thursday, 25 August in Monaco, on the same day when the Champions league group stages will be known for next season. The show will start from 18.30 CET.

18 July 2016

Decisive matches for the second elimination round

We are halfway through of the qualifying stages for the Champions and Europa league. Some exciting games with lots of goals and surprise results we are going to have next week as well, where second legs will be played throughout the continent.

As usual, the division in the most strongest cup competition - Champions league is scheduled to be played over two days.

Tuesday, 19 July at 17.00 CET: Alashkert - Dinamo Tbilisi.
Tuesday, 19 July at 18.00 CET: Liepaja - Red Bull Salzburg.
Tuesday, 19 July at 19.00 CET: APOEL Nicosia - TNS (The New Saints).
Tuesday, 19 July at 19.00 CET: Sheriff Tiraspol - Hapoel Beer Sheva.
Tuesday, 19 July at 19.00 CET: SJK Seinajoki - BATE Borisov.
Tuesday, 19 July at 19.15 CET: FC Copenhagen - Crusaders.
Tuesday, 19 July at 20.30 CET: Crvena Zvezda - Valletta.
Tuesday, 19 July at 20.45 CET: Legia - Zrinjski.
Tuesday, 19 July at 20.45 CET: Mladost Podgorica - Ludogorets Razgrad.

Wednesday, 20 July at 16.00 CET: Astana - Zalgiris.
Wednesday, 20 July at 18.00 CET: Dudelange - Qarabag.
Wednesday, 20 July at 19.15 CET: Norrkoping - Rosenborg.
Wednesday, 20 July at 19.30 CET: Ferencvaros - Partizani.
Wednesday, 20 July at 20.15 CET: Trencin - Olimpija Ljubljana.
Wednesday, 20 July at 20.45 CET: Celtic - Lincoln Red Imps.
Wednesday, 20 July at 20.45 CET: Dinamo Zagreb - Vardar.
Wednesday, 20 July at 21.15 CET: Hafnarfjordur - Dundalk.

Europa league is providing lots of goals at the moment. Here we also have a division of games: only one pair is playing on Wednesday while the following day all the rest.

Wednesday, 20 July at 18.00 CET: Kapaz - Admira Wacker.

Thursday, 21 July at 17.00 CET: Ventspils - Aberdeen.
Thursday, 21 July at 17.30 CET: Jelgava - Slovan Bratislava.
Thursday, 21 July at 18.00 CET: HJK Helsinki - Beroe Stara Zagora.
Thursday, 21 July at 18.00 CET: Nomme Kalju - Maccabi Haifa.
Thursday, 21 July at 18.00 CET: Lokomotiva Zagreb - RoPS Rovaniemi.
Thursday, 21 July at 18.00 CET: Torpedo Zhodino - Debrecen.
Thursday, 21 July at 18.30 CET: Omonia Nicosia - Beitar Jerusalem.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: AEK Larnaca - Cliftonville.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: College Europa - AIK Stockholm.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Qabala - MTK.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Goteborg - Piast.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Grasshoppers - KR Reykjavik.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Levski Sofia - Maribor.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Kairat Almaty - Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Odd - PAS Giannina.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Slavia Prague - Levadia.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Stromsgodset - SonderjyskE.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.00 CET: Vaduz - Midtjylland.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.30 CET: Kukesi - Austria Vienna.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.45 CET: Connah's Quay Nomads - Vojvodina.
Thursday, 21 July at 19.45 CET: Zaglebie - Partizan.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.00 CET: Brondby - Hibernian.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.00 CET: Osmanlispor - Zimbru.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.00 CET: Skendija - Neftchi.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.15 CET: Spartak Trnava - Shirak.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.30 CET: Cukaricki - Videoton.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.30 CET: Domzale - Shakhtyor Soligorsk.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.30 CET: Hajduk - Iasi.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.45 CET: Buducnost - Genk.
Thursday, 21 July at 20.45 CET: Cork City - Hacken
Thursday, 21 July at 20.45 CET: St. Patrick's Athletic - Dinamo Minsk.
Thursday, 21 July at 21.00 CET: Hearts - Birkirkara.

17 July 2016

December tournament details known

Yesterday FIFA issued the schedule for the Club World Cup which every year is organized in December. All in all, seven teams will compete at the event.
As always, Japan will be destination for the six confederations' Champion league winners. Three of them are already well known: in April we find out the CONCACAF and Oceania champions - Club America and Auckland City, while month later the European side - Real Madrid. South American, African and the Asian champions will be known next, with the last being the host of the competition: the J(apanese)-League champion.
Eight games will be divided in two cities: the Suita city football stadium in Osaka and the International stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. Presented by Alibaba E-Auto, FIFA Club World Cup will be played from 08 until 18 December. Which club region will dominate the world football we are going to find out Sunday, 18 December from 11.30 CET in Yokohama.

Different standards for various employees

Secretary of the organization Jerome Valcke got a 12 year old ban and the ex-president of the same organization, Sepp Blatter, first got original exclusion from the sport for 8 only to be cut off his ban to 6 years later on. And it seems like another person will be accused in FIFA, this time for less years.
Former president of the Thailand FA and now ex-FIFA official Worawi Makudi is charged on four charges in the world football organization: violation (in general), forgery and falsification, loyalty and the obligation to the parties to collaborate. For these breaches, yesterday the ethics committee asks FIFA to give the 64 year old a ban on 4 years with a fine of 25.000 Swiss francs (23.000 euros).

15 July 2016

Europa league third preliminary round schedule

Europa league teams all day yesterday played its second qualifying round. So, whoever is lucky to pass its opponent it will play in the penultimate preliminary stage with pairs who are already known. Here additionally joins 25 clubs who so far received a bye. Leg one is scheduled to be played on last Thursday of the month - 28 July while seven days later, 04 August, is the second leg.

RoPS Rovaniemi / Lokomotiva Zagreb - Vorskla Poltava.
Saint Etienne - AEK Athens.
Cliftonville / AEK Larnaca - Spartak Moscow.
Panduri Targu Jiu - Kairat Almaty / Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Vojvodina / Connah's Quay Nomads - Dinamo Minsk / St. Patrick's Athletic.
Partizan / Zaglebie Lubin - SonderjyskE / Stromsgodset.
Austria Vienna / Kukesi - Shirak / Spartak Trnava.
Hertha - Hibernian / Brondby.
West Ham - Shakhtyor Soligorsk / Domzale.
Luzern - Sassuolo.
AIK Stockholm / College Europa - Panathinaikos .
Basaksehir - Rijeka.
Videoton / Cukaricki - Midtjylland / Vaduz.
Levadia / Slavia Prague - Rio Ave.
Zimbru / Osmanlispor - Maccabi Haifa / Nomme Kalju.
Heracles - Arouca.
Piast / Goteborg - Beroe Stara Zagora / HJK Helsinki.
Birkirkara / Hearts - Krasnodar.
Aberdeen / Ventspils - Maribor / Levski Sofia.
Debrecen / Torpedo Zhodino - Rapid Vienna.
Admira Wacker / Kapaz - Slovan Liberec.
AZ Alkmaar - PAS Giannina / Odd.
Lille - MTK / Qabala.
Genk / Buducnost - Hacken / Cork City.
Gent - Viitorul Constanta.
Slovan Bratislava / Jelgava - Beitar Jerusalem / Omonia Nicosia.
Olexandriya - Iasi / Hajduk.
Neftchi / Skendija - Mlada Boleslav.
KR Reykjavik / Grasshoppers - Apollon Limassol.

Pairs for third qualifying round

In between two legs from the second qualifying round UEFA did today the draw for the third preliminary stage. For Champions league in last week of July will be playing the first leg - 26 and 27, while the return will be on first Tuesday and Wednesday next month - 02 and 03 August.

Champions route

- Group 1:
Rosenborg / Norrkoping  - TNS (The New Saints) / APOEL.
Vardar / Dinamo Zagreb - Dinamo Tbilisi / Alashkert.
Olympiakos - Hapoel Beer Sheva / Sheriff Tiraspol.
Zalgiris / Astana - Lincoln Red Imps / Celtic.
Olimpija Ljubljana / Trencin - Zrinjski / Legia.

- Group 2:
Viktoria Plzen - Qarabag / F91 Dudelange.
Astra Giurgiu - Crusaders / FC Copenhagen.
BATE Borisov / SJK Seinajoki - Dundalk / Hafnarfjordur.
Ludogorets Razgrad / Mladost Podgorica - Valletta / Crvena Zvezda.
Partizani / Ferencvaros - Red Bull Salzburg / Liepaja.

League route

Ajax - PAOK.
Sparta Prague - Steaua.
Shakhtar Donetsk - Young Boys.
Rostov - Anderlecht.
Fenerbahce - Monaco.