Premier League Has Largest Representation At Euro 2016

Crystal Palace’s Yohan Cabaye (left) and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil (right) will both be at Euro 2016

The Premier League will provide nearly 20% of the players at Euro 2016 – more than any other league.

A total of 103 players out of the 552 will come from the English top flight, ahead of the German Bundesliga, which will be represented by 57 players.

Spain’s La Liga, whose clubs Sevilla and Real Madrid won the 2016 Europa League and Champions League titles, will only have 34 players in France.

A study by Polish site Ekstrastats also calculates that the English Championship will provide 31 players, more than France’s Ligue 1.

Liverpool and Juventus are the best represented clubs with 12 players, with 11 from Tottenham and 10 from Manchester United.

Eighteen of the 24 countries will contain players from the Premier League.

The Wales squad contains 13 players from the English top flight, while the Republic of Ireland and Belgium both have 12.

BBC

Premier League Has Largest Representation At Euro 2016

Brazil Defines 40-Man List For Copa América Centenário

The Brazilian Football Confederation has defined a preliminary list of 40 players for the Copa América Centenário, which will be played between 3 and 26 June, in the United States.

The meeting was attended by coach Dunga, his assistant Andrey Lopes, and team coordinator Gilmar Rinaldi.

The tournament’s rule requires all participating teams to send a list of 40 players to CONMEBOL within April 29. Then on May 5, Dunga will reveal the final 23 players he’s chosen, including three goalkeepers.

A possible replacement for an injury can be picked from the 40-man list, if a medical report is presented.

The Brazilian team starts their preparations in Los Angeles, on May 23. The opening game is scheduled for June 4 against Ecuador. They then takes on Haiti on the 8th, and Peru, on the 12th.

The main absentee from Brazil’s squad is Barcelona forward Neymar. Despite repeated attempts, the Brazilian football federation failed to convince Barcelona to release the player for two competitions, and he will play only in the Olympics.

Brazil Defines 40-Man List For Copa América Centenário

Rafael Nadal Equals Clay-Court Title Record

Rafael Nadal has equalled Guillermo Vilas’ record of 49 clay-court titles by beating Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-4 7-5 in the final of the Barcelona Open.

The 29-year-old Spaniard, who won the Monte Carlo Masters last week, has now won his opening 10 matches of the European clay-court season.

Nishikori won this event in 2014 and 2015 but was left to rue a series of missed break-point opportunities.

Argentine Vilas won 49 clay-court titles in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Nadal has a chance to beat that mark in May as he is set to play in events in Madrid and Rome before he goes for a 10th French Open title at Roland Garros.

In Barcelona, he saved seven of eight break chances in the opening set and converted both of the opportunities he got as Nishikori lost a set for the first time in the tournament.

Nadal led 4-1 in the second set, but was pegged back to 4-4 before he went on to win the tournament for a ninth time and collect the 69th professional title of his career.

“I think I served well which was very important,” said the world number five. “The fact I had a good percentage of first serves allowed me to play better.

“In the second set I let a lot of opportunities go, but I am very happy to have resisted mentally and happy to win.”

BBC

Rafael Nadal Equals Clay-Court Title Record

Jamie Vardy Charged By Football Association

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy faces an extended ban during the Premier League title run-in after being charged with improper conduct by the Football Association.

Vardy, 29, remonstrated with referee Jon Moss after he was shown a red card in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with West Ham.

The FA has also charged Leicester with failing to control their players after West Ham won an 83rd-minute penalty.

Vardy and Leicester have until 18:00 BST on Thursday to respond.

Vardy, the Premier League’s joint leading scorer with 22 goals this season, was shown a second yellow card early in the second half for diving.

He appeared to confront Moss – who was criticised for his performance by Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer – before leaving the field.

The England international receives an automatic one-match ban for his dismissal, but that looks likely to be increased following the FA charge.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa was given an additional one-match ban and was fined £20,000 after admitting a charge of improper conduct last month.

The 27-year-old was punished for his reaction to his sending-off against Everton in an FA Cup tie on 12 March.

Arsenal defender Gabriel was also banned for one match, and given a £10,000 fine, after admitting the same charge in September.

Premier League leaders Leicester need eight points from their final four matches to guarantee the title.

The Foxes’ final four matches are against Swansea (home), Manchester United (away), Everton (home) and Chelsea (away).

Credit: BBC

Jamie Vardy Charged By Football Association

Our hard work is paying off - Cosmos Dauda

Accra Hearts of Oak striker Cosmos Dauda says the hard work done by the team in pre-season is paying off at they sit top of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) after four games.

Dauda started last Sunday’s GPL Match-Day Four game against Bechem United as the Phobians posted a comfortable 3-1 win in Accra to move top of the standing, two points clear off All Stars and Dreams FC.

And Dauda said after the game that he was happy to have contributed in helping Hearts achieve this success which to him, is not surprising considering the great work the team did in pre-season.

“Our hard work is playing off and you will even see more as the season unfolds,” he told the club’s official newspaper, the Hearts News.

“This was a hard game and we expected it as sides that come up against us will always give off their best hoping to cause an upset,” he added.

“I was really relieved when the final whistle sounded, and, now that we top the table, we will look to maintain our focus and hold on to this lead,” Dauda said.

“It is the dream of us all to win the ultimate at the end of the campaign, and, we are all working towards that with the hope that our dream will become a reality.

Not many gave the Phobians a chance in this season’s championship after their poor return last season, but, they remain unbeaten after four games and have looked impressive under their Japanese-American coach Kenichi Yatsuhashi.

Accra Hearts of Oak will next play Inter Allies at the Tema Sports Stadium on Sunday, looking to preserve their unbeaten start to the season with the possibility of extending their lead at the top even further.

 

 

Our hard work is paying off - Cosmos Dauda