The Italian Job
Hot time at the Euro qualifiers last night
Match Day 16.11.2014
Uefa likely to investigate crowd trouble in Italy’s draw with Croatia
Uefa look set to launch an investigation into the crowd trouble in Italy’s Euro 2016 Group H qualifier against Croatia, which was halted after flares were thrown on to the pitch at the Giuseppe Meazza Stadium in Milan.
Antonio Candreva had put Italy ahead after 11 minutes but that was quickly cancelled out when the Italy goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, fumbled a shot from Ivan Perisic four minutes later.
Flares were then thrown on to the field by the Croatia fans and a brief hold-up ensued before play could resume.
The atmosphere continued to be hostile into the second half and after 70 minutes the Dutch referee, Bjorn Kuipers, took the players off after more flares landed on the pitch, with Italian riot police going into the Croatia section to try to restore order.more here
Manchester United’s Daley Blind suffers injury in Holland win
Daley Blind grimacing
Holland got their Euro 2016 Group A qualifying campaign back into gear as they beat Latvia 6-0 in Amsterdam but it came at a cost as the Manchester United midfielder Daley Blind limped off with a knee injury midway through the first-half. Their coach, Guus Hiddink, said the 24-year-old will have an MRI scan on Monday but fears he could face a significant spell on the sidelines.
“I’m rather negative,” Hiddink said. “I think it’s a medial ligament that is twisted. It might be a rupture.”
Blind added on his Instagram account: “I’m proud of my 25 games for the Dutch national team, but I’m so gutted with my injury... I’ll stay positive en will come back stronger! Nevertheless a great win, 6-0!” read more here
injured Manchester United players roll call
How a love story and a firearm incident tore the Turkey team apart
Hakan Calhanoglu, in action for Leverkusen, has not played for Turkey since victory over Ireland in May. Photograph: Sascha Steinbach/Bongarts/Getty Images
There were few surprises in Turkey’s 4-0 defeat to Brazil on Wednesday night - not even the fact that Fatih Terim’s troubled side could be so easily beaten at home by a team that has had plenty of issues. Supporters’ frustrations were crystallised in a picture, circulated on social media after the game, of a fan holding up a national team shirt bearing the name of the outstanding Bayer Leverkusen schemer, Hakan Calhanoglu, who - like his club-mate Omer Toprak - had not been called up for the game. It was an image that told a thousand words, and chief among them was an astounding story that has rocked the Turkish squad to the core.
The reason for the two players’ exclusion makes even the most outlandish Hollywood plot seem plausible. The tale begins back in May 2013, following Turkey’s loss against Holland in their final 2014 World Cup qualifier. Toprak, a friend and Calhanoglu were at the national team hotel before their flight back to Germany the following morning.
Nothing unexpected in that but what happened next - whichever version of events you believe - is staggering. Gokhan Tore, a former Chelsea youngster who now plays for Besiktas, had allegedly been stewing over a reported affair between his former girlfriend and Toprak’s friend. He was determined to get even - even if his team-mates were in the way.read more here
One of the many reasons why the Turkish fans are apathetic towards their NT. This short sub details what's been going on in the Turkish FA for the past two years
Volkan Demirel REFUSES to play for Turkey after abuse from fans prior to international clash against Kazakhstan
Volkan Demirel- the goal keeper in question
And after receiving abuse from a number of fans already, one fan appeared to take things to the next level, giving Demirel an ironic thumbs up.
That appeared to be the last straw for the Fenerbache keeper, who removed his gloves and walked off the pitch.
Basaksehir keeper Babakanm stepped up in his place, conceding one goal on the night as Turkey ran out 3-1 winners.
Leaving the ground Turkey fans expressed their dismay at the keeper's decision though, with a fight breaking out as he left the stadium, though it is not believed he was harmed in the fracas. read more
Roy Keane concerned Roberto Martinez is putting 'pressure' on Everton's Irish contingent to miss international matches
Roy Keane is concerned that Everton are exerting ‘pressure’ on their Irish players around Republic of Ireland games and feels a ‘clear the air’ summit with manager Roberto Martinez is required.
The Irish No 2 acknowledges Martinez has a duty to his club but feels ‘balance’ is needed regarding the international availability of James McCarthy, Seamus Coleman and Darron Gibson for the remainder of the Euro 2016 campaign.
McCarthy has missed the last three Euro 2016 qualifiers, including Friday’s 1-0 loss to Scotland, but is expected to be fit for Everton’s game against West Ham on Saturday.read more here
Chatter From The Sidelines
- Thiago Silva hits out at Dunga and Neymar after losing captaincyNeymar didn't tell him about Dunga's decision and Thiago was blindsided by the news
- Luka Modric to miss several weeks after suffering groin injury with Croatia read more
- Crisis Summit for UEFA in Frankfurt (German) hereShort summary: All 53 UEFA FAs are invited. Topic of the meeting is a possbile UEFA candidate for the FIFA president election in spring 2015. Also topic are the world cup awardings to Russia and Qatar
- World football superpowers Real Madrid, Manchester City and Inter Milan heading Down Under read more
Cristiano Ronaldo is adding shirts to his C7 linehere- Enough transfer gossip to shake your spoon at here Manchester United wanted Bale and offered more money, but Bale wanted to go to Real Madrid. Luis Enrique is under scrutiny,
- Gossip round up by BBC: Mancini doesn't want Balotelli, Brendan Rodgers under scrutiny by owners of Liverpool, here
- Hide yo' players, Mancini is looking to raid the PL in January Liverpool and Arsenal on transfer alert
Pic Spam
All fun and games until people die from this
Croatian fans at Italy-Croatia match
A lot of the pictures from the Italy- Croatia match are them looking at things. The match itself wasn't so good. This is Mattia de Sciglio looking at the ruckus
Conte and Kovac after the match
Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale at the end of the match. They drew with Belgium 0-0
The Welsh passing was poor, possession relatively non existent, but they defended that goal like it was Jericho
Ramsey put in a full shift that night
Bale's tweet after the match. #togetherstronger
Belgian's golden generation- ill served by their coach, at times, tbh
Poor Bosnia! Ill served by their coach
Turkish players last night
Holland won a match. Their coach can stay
Robben and van Persie
Tweet on Blind's condition