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Reigning AFF champions Vietnam have been drawn in Group G, together with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Thailand, in the second round of the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Vietnam join three other Southeast Asian teams, including Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, in Group G - Photo: FIFA The draw took place at the headquarters of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on the afternoon of July 17, featuring 40 Asian teams pooled in five pots based on their FIFA World Ranking (issued on June 14, 2019). In addition the UAE and Thailand, Park Hang-seo’s troops are joined by two other Southeast Asian representatives, Malaysia and Indonesia, in the second round of the 2022 World Cup AFC qualifiers which is scheduled to begin on September 5, 2019 and conclude on June 9, 2020. The matches in the group will be held on home-and-away basis with each teams playing eight games in total. The eight group winners and four best … [Read more...] about Vietnam meets Thailand, UAE in World Cup 2022 qualifying

Tokyo is facing a shortage of accommodation when Olympic fans pour into the Japanese capital for next year's Games so officials are looking offshore - to moored cruise ships operating as floating hotels. Japan's largest travel agency, JTB, has chartered the 1,011-cabin Sun Princess for the Olympic period AFP/Behrouz MEHRI Despite a construction boom, Tokyo could be short as many as 14,000 rooms given an expected surge of Olympics-related tourism, according to researchers. Local officials think one solution could be to put people up in giant ships temporarily docked off Tokyo and nearby Yokohama during the Games. Among those on board with the idea is Japan's largest travel agency JTB, which has chartered the 1,011-cabin Sun Princess for the Olympic period, complete with everything from jacuzzis to a theatre. The agency is offering packages that combine rooms with Olympic event tickets, but they don't come cheap. Two nights in a room with a balcony combined with tickets to an … [Read more...] about Facing Olympic hotel shortage, Tokyo looks offshore

Algeria, who meet Senegal on Friday in the Africa Cup of Nations final in Cairo, must travel virtually the length of the continent three times during the 2021 qualifying campaign. Forward Baghdad Bounedjah celebrates a 2-1 victory over Nigeria that qualified Algeria for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations final in Cairo. (AFP/MOHAMED EL-SHAHED) The Desert Foxes were placed in Group H with three southern African states, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana, when the draw was made in Cairo on Thursday. There are no direct air links between Algiers and Lusaka, Harare and Gaborone, which will add to the travel time of a squad currently captained by Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez. It is a good draw for Algeria though, as Zimbabwe flopped in the 2019 tournament, Zambia failed to qualify and Botswana took one point from a possible 18 in their last campaign. Senegal, whose top player is Liverpool forward Sadio Mane, face a slightly less daunting travel schedule in Group I against Congo … [Read more...] about Algeria face long qualifying route to 2021 Africa Cup of Nations

Paul Pogba shined as an under-pressure Manchester United stepped up their pre-season campaign with a 4-0 thrashing of old rivals Leeds on Wednesday (Jul 17). Pogba, who has been linked with a move to Juventus and Real Madrid, starred in United's dominant first-half AFP/TONY ASHBY United had faced criticism after an unconvincing 2-0 victory over a depleted Perth Glory on the weekend. In a much-needed tonic, the Red Devils clinically dismantled Leeds, who have high hopes of returning to the English Premier League for the first time since 2004. Pogba, who has been linked with a move to Juventus and Real Madrid, starred in United's dominant first-half and was part of a pretty chain of passing to set up 17-year-old Mason Greenwood's first senior goal in the seventh minute. Moments later, a powerful strike from the French midfielder was well saved by goalkeeper Kiko Casilla. But it was only a matter of time before United broke through with a moment of magic in the 27th minute from … [Read more...] about Pogba shines as United thrash Leeds

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard said Tuesday (Jul 16) he won't be looking backwards as he takes on possibly the biggest challenge of his career: managing his former team. New Chelsea boss Frank Lampard told a press conference in Japan that he won't be looking backwards as he takes on the biggest challenge of his career. (Photo: AFP/Kazuhiro NOGI) Speaking in Japan where the Blues are playing two friendlies, Lampard said he was "very happy" with his squad but expects to work the team hard during the pre-season. "For me the story is not to look backwards," said Lampard, whose return to his former club as head coach was confirmed earlier this month. "I know the club very well, I know the players very well. I have my own way that I want to work with the players," he told reporters in Yokohama, where Chelsea will face Japan's Kawasaki Frontale on Jul 19. Lampard acknowledged taking on leadership of the Blues will be a major undertaking, with Chelsea having lost their best player of … [Read more...] about Lampard “won”t look backwards” as he takes over Chelsea

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Tuesday he was optimistic that goalkeeper David De Gea would sign a new deal to remain at Old Trafford as Manchester United prepared to face old rivals Leeds in Perth. New deal? Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea signs autographs for fans in Perth AFP/TONY ASHBY Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said Tuesday (Jul 16) he was optimistic that goalkeeper David De Gea would sign a new deal to remain at Old Trafford as Manchester United prepared to face old rivals Leeds in Perth. United's pre-season tour of Australia has been overshadowed speculation over the futures of several stars, including De Gea who is in the last year of his contract and has been linked with French champions Paris Saint-Germain. The Spaniard is reportedly close to signing a new five-year deal with United worth in excess of £350,000 a week that would make him the highest paid goalkeeper in the world. De Gea was rested from United's pre-season opener against Perth Glory on Saturday but … [Read more...] about Solskjaer confident De Gea will sign new deal soon

Paris Saint-Germain have signed France under-21 international defender Abdou Diallo from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal, the French champions announced on Tuesday (Jul 16). Abdou Diallo has left Borussia Dortmund for French champions Paris Saint-German. (AFP/INA FASSBENDER) German magazine Kicker reported PSG had paid €32 million (US$35.9 million) plus a further €2 million in bonuses for the 23-year-old centre-back. Diallo, who would have played for France at last month's under-21 European Championship but for an injury, has spent the last two seasons in Germany, joining Dortmund after a year at Mainz. Prior to that he started his career at Monaco and played five times in the principality club's run to the Ligue 1 title in 2017. Diallo is PSG's fifth summer signing, with Spanish duo Pablo Sarabia and Ander Herrera having joined from Sevilla and Manchester United respectively. They have also signed 19-year-old Polish goalkeeper Marcin Bulka on a free from … [Read more...] about PSG sign defender Diallo from Dortmund

Barcelona announced on Monday (Jul 15) they had completed the signing of young Japan winger Hiroki Abe from the Kashima Antlers of the J-League. Japan's Hiroki Abe (left) and Ecuador's Arturo Mina vie for the ball during their Copa America football tournament group match at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, on Jun 24, 2019. (Luis ACOSTA/AFP) The Catalan club said they had paid €1.1 million (US$1.25 million) for the 20-year-old and assigned him to their reserve team, which plays in the third-tier Spanish Segunda B. Barcelona said Abe had signed a four-year contract with a €40 million buyout clause which would rise to €100 million if he is promoted to the first team. He "is considered to be Japanese football's big promise ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games," Barca said on their website. Abe, who made his international debut in the Copa America last month, can play anywhere across the front line, but "has predominantly been used on the left … [Read more...] about Barcelona complete signing of rising Japan star Abe

Everton said on Monday (Jul 15) that they have signed England midfielder Fabian Delph from Manchester City on a three-year deal. Fabian Delph played for England at the 2018 World Cup. (AFP/Johannes EISELE) Everton did not say how much they had paid for the 29-year-old England international, who joined City from Aston Villa in 2015. Delph played 89 games for City, winning two Premier League medals. He also has 20 England caps. "When I look to bring a new player into our squad, the first thing I look for above all the other things is quality and Fabian is a player with high quality," Everton manager Marco Silva told the club web site. "But what they can bring to our dressing room is also important." The web site also quoted Delph. "Every time I have played against Everton, whether it was home or away, straight away the first thing that comes to mind when you see the fans is passion," he said. "You are always going to hear Evertonians and I'm excited to play at home and hear … [Read more...] about Everton sign England midfielder Delph from Manchester City

A group of influential Arsenal supporters' organisations, fanzines and blogs have joined forces to call for better leadership of the club and have hit out at Stan Kroenke's "passive ownership". Arsenal are preparing for another season in the Europa League. (AFP/GLYN KIRK) A total of 16 signatories, including the Arsenal Supporters' Trust, published a statement on Monday demanding change as the Gunners prepare for a third successive season without Champions League football. Under a hashtag "#WeCareDoYou", it highlighted a number of issues including the "soulless" atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium and a lack of transfer strategy. "As Arsenal fans we have watched with frustration as the team's football performances have declined over the past decade," the statement began. "When Stan Kroenke began buying Arsenal shares the club had just competed in a first Champions League final. Twelve years on, Arsenal are about to play in the Europa League for the third year running." Kroenke … [Read more...] about Arsenal fan groups call on Kroenke to reinvigorate flagging club