Football

        Indian football team head coach Igor Stimac feels scoring goals has been a “big problem” and his side will have to fix it quickly for the country to start winning matches. After an encouraging start to their 2022 World Cup qualifying campaign, India fizzled out later, drawing with the likes of Bangladesh and Afghanistan to be out of reckoning for a third round berth. The Indian team has been competitive in all five games thus far, and picked up an unlikely draw away to Asian champions Qatar, but a lack of cutting edge has proved costly.“Scoring goals is our big problem right now. We are playing some good football, and the effort is there, but we don’t have that final touch in and around the box. We need to find solutions to that,” Stimac was quoted as saying by the official website of world governing body FIFA.“We are working on it, through set-pieces and other methods. We have also been changing the team’s … [Read more...] about Igor Stimac admits scoring goals is ‘big problem’ for current Indian football team

Spain and Italy continue to set the pace at the helm in Group G and both have 10 points. © AFP Wales conceded an agonising late equaliser as Serbia battled to a 1-1 draw in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday as former champions Italy and Spain both won 4-0.Earlier on Saturday, the Republic of Ireland has stunned Austria 1-0 in Vienna and are top of Group D on 10 points, with Serbia second on eight and Wales third on six.Gareth Bale rocketed Wales into a 30th-minute lead in Cardiff after Hal Robson-Kanu dispossessed Matija Nastasic and fed the ball to the Real Madrid forward, who cracked home a powerful snap shot to make it 1-0.But Aleksander Mitrovic was fastest to react with four red shirts around him when Antonio Rukavina whipped in an inviting cross to level for the visitors late in the game."It was a disappointing result, we feel like we threw away two points. We're at home, 1-0 up after 85 minutes, it's two points lost," Bale admitted after the game.Just moments before … [Read more...] about Football World Cup Qualifiers: Spain, Italy Cruise as Wales Held Again

(CNN)Many thought the racist abuse suffered by England's footballers in Bulgaria would be a watershed moment for the sport. That the monkey chants and Nazi salutes they endured for much of the 90 minutes of that Euro 2020 qualifier in October were surely enough to warrant severe sanctions. Sadly -- and somewhat predictably -- they weren't. The Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) was awarded a one-match stadium ban and a $83,000 fine by UEFA, European football's governing body. "For me, UEFA, FIFA and all the people involved in this may as well have stood in the stands with those people that were making the Nazi chants, or the Nazi salutes and the monkey chants," Les Ferdinand, a former England international, told CNN. Read More "[They] may as well have stood in the stands with them, for the punishment that's handed out to these people. We had Tyrone Mings, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford who are playing for their country, representing their country and they've probably got very, … [Read more...] about Football authorities ‘may as well have stood in stands’ with racists, says ex-England star

KALIDOU Koulibaly has become one of the world's most sought after defenders, following a string of impressive performances in Serie A for Napoli. He is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's chief transfer target in the summer - with Manchester United reportedly hoping to prise the 27-year-old Senegal international from Naples in a £130m deal. But his journey to the top hasn't been easy, and it's his mum and dad he has to thank, who made the ultimate sacrifice in helping him achieve his dream of starring at the highest level. “My parents were migrants and I experienced first hand the challenges they had to overcome," Koulibaly once revealed. "If they hadn't decided to seek a better life elsewhere, I could never have aspired to become the person I am now. " HUMBLE BEGINNINGS The towering centre half was born in the French commune, Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, 50 miles southeast of Nancy to African parents who migrated from Senegal to France in hope of a better life.Koulibaly's mum was a … [Read more...] about How Man Utd transfer target Kalidou Koulibaly’s immigrant parents sacrificed all for their son to become a footballer

Wilfried Zaha could leave Crystal Palace in January, according to Italian football agent Federico Pastorello. The Ivory Coast forward was the subject of a protracted transfer saga with Arsenal and Everton over the summer but a move did not materialise - and Zaha has since parted with his agent.Pastorello, who moved Romelu Lukaku from Manchester United to Inter Milan before the season began, mentioned Zaha along with Napoli's Dries Mertens as two "good opportunities" in a winter window he expects to be busier than usual. He told Sky Sports News: "If I think about a good opportunity in the market it would be Mertens from Napoli. He is out of contract (in the summer)."He is an amazing player. I think he will be soon the best scorer in the history of the club. He has proven himself in the Champions League because he scored in that competition and the national team. I think a player like that, out of contract is an amazing opportunity, even maybe for January."Every player really wants to … [Read more...] about Wilfried Zaha: Crystal Palace wingers deserves to play for top club, says Italian football agent