Football News: Review Of The Day 4th June 2018
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Review of the Day
Nigeria Squad Finalised
Nigeria will be going to the World Cup hoping they can perform as well as their kit did when it went on sale in the UK and sold out within hours. Though, oddly, Arsenal's midfielder (or is he a forward? In fact what is he? Every time I see him he is just wandering aimlessly around the pitch having little to no effect on the game. I am not sure I have even seen him break into a sweat yet) Alex Iwobi has been included in the final 23 man squad.
Nigeria squad
Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Deportivo La Coruna), Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba), Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United).
Defenders: William Troost-Ekong and Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor), Tyronne Ebuehi (Ado Den Haag), Elderson Echiejile (Cercle Brugge KSV), Bryan Idowu (Amkar Perm), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes FC), Leon Balogun (Brighton), Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa).
Midfielders: Mikel John Obi (Tianjin Teda), Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor), Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Oghenekaro Etebo (Las Palmas), John Ogu (Hapoel Be'er Sheva), Joel Obi (Torino, Italy).
Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow), Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City), Victor Moses (Chelsea), Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone).
Robins Gets New Deal
Coventry City manager Mark Robins is probably more famous as the man credited with scoring a goal that supposedly saved Alex Ferguson from the chop at Manchester United. The 48 year old led Coventry to promotion back up to League One last season and now he, along with assistant Adi Viveash, have been given new contracts with the Sky Blues. Unfortunately another assistant, Steve Taylor, has left the club as he continues to battle the bleeding on the brain which caused him to collapse at the training ground in August.
Russia Name Squad
The Russian squad for the World Cup has been announced and includes 39 year old defender Sergei Igashevich and former Chelsea man Yuri Zhirkov.
Russia squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow), Vladimir Gabulov (Club Brugge), Andrey Lunev (Zenit St Petersburg).
Defenders: Vladimir Granat, Fedor Kudryashov (both Rubin Kazan), Ilya Kutepov (Spartak Moscow), Andrey Semenov (Akhmat Grozny), Sergei Ignashevich, Mario Fernandes (both CSKA Moscow), Igor Smolnikov (Zenit St Petersburg).
Midfielders: Yuri Gazinskiy (Krasnodar), Alexsandr Golovin, Alan Dzagoev (both CSKA Moscow), Aleksandr Erokhin, Yuri Zhirkov, Daler Kuzyaev (all Zenit St Petersburg), Roman Zobnin, Alexsandr Samedov (both Spartak Moscow), Anton Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Cheryshev (Villarreal).
Forwards: Artem Dzyuba (Arsenal Tula), Aleksey Miranchuk (Lokomotiv Moscow), Fedor Smolov (Krasnodar).
Umtiti Signs New Barca Deal
After months of speculation over the French international's future at Catalan giants Barcelona, the 24 year old has finally agreed a new contract with the club. The five year deal will keep him tied to Barca until 2023.
Transfers
Chiquinho has joined Portugese giants Benfica from fellow Portugese side Coimbra.
Brazilian midfielder Diego has left French side Reims to join UAE Gulf League side Al-Dhafra.
Getafe have released Spanish winger Alvaro Jimenez.
Veteran Spanish centre back Alexis has been released by Alaves.
Udinese have released young Bulgarian attacker Antonio Vutov.
Nimes Olympique have picked up young left back Florian Miguel on a free transfer from Tours.
Bartomeu Rules Out Dembele Sale
Barca's president Josep Bartomeu has ruled out the potential sale of Ousmane Dembele, claiming he is one for the future. Bartomeu is quoted by Sport as saying: "Dembele will go nowhere. He and Coutinho are a big investment for us. They are very important to our project and we expect a lot from them. Coutinho in the last four months has been very active in the team but Dembele is a very young player and talented and we expect great things. Next season will be different. It's not easy to play at Barca in your first year because the style of football is quite different from at other teams."
Deschamps Tells Pogba To Up His Game
France manager Didier Deschamps has called on midfielder Paul Pogba to do more, on the back of the Manchester United midfielder being booed by French supporters. Deschamps told Telefoot: "Not everything was successful, but he helped the team to be well organised. I don't question Paul's potential. If I called him up, it's because he's indispensable for me. I know what he is capable of. He has to raise his level of play. I have confidence in him, as I do in my other players."
Schalke Extend Duo's Contracts
With mooted interest from around Europe in Schalke pair Matija Nastasic and Ralf Fahrmann, the Bundesliga runners-up have moved to head off that interest by agreeing new deals with the pair. The pair are contracted until 2022. This news follows on the heels of their former player and legendary coach Huub Stevens being elected on to the board of directors.
Pellegrini Mugged In Chile
New West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini has been mugged at gunpoint while out walking with his wife in the Chilean capital Santiago on Saturday. The pair were walking in the street when two armed men approached and ordered them to hand over their belongings. Mrs Pellegrini screamed and police arrived to chase off the muggers, who fired shots towards the police officers, running off with her purse. The muggers then threw nails down in the road before fleeing in a stolen vehicle.
Written by Tris Burke June 04 2018 06:27:00
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