BARCELONA MANAGER XAVI HERNANDEZ PUSHING FOR PREFERRED MIDFIELD OPTION TO REPLACE GAVI AFTER ACL INJURY

 Barcelona are working out the best course of action following a serious injury to one of their star midfielders Gavi, which will keep him out for the rest of the season. The Blaugrana can sign a replacement free of their salary limit restrictions until the end of the season for up to 80% of Gavi’s wages, and already, several names have been mentioned.

The likes of Guido Rodriguez at Real Betis and Thiago Alcantara, players whose contracts are expiring at the end of the season, are emerging as potential candidates for a move in the January transfer window.

Yet according to multiple reports, including from Sport, manager Xavi Hernandez already has a preferred option in mind. Following a training session on Tuesday, he held a meeting with Sporting Director Deco to discuss their options, and Xavi was both in favour of making an addition, and keen to return to one of their summer targets.

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Giovani Lo Celso remained at Spurs in order to see how things would go under Ange Postecoglou, but has once again found himself very much on the outside looking in. So far, he has played just 83 minutes.

Strong on the ball, capable of playing deeper or in the final third, Lo Celso has the ability to threat a pass through a defence too. However the latest from North London is that Lo Celso will not be allowed to leave in January – the feeling is that he will be given more game time to address Spurs’ own injury crisis over the coming month before January.

If they are not open to a deal, there will be little Barcelona can do but move onto their next target. The Blaugrana will not be able to negotiate a major fee for Lo Celso, and so any move is highly dependent on the Argentine international being surplus to requirements

Source:https://onefootball.com/en/news/barcelona-manager-xavi-hernandez-pushing-for-preferred-midfield-option-to-replace-gavi-after-acl-injury-38600869

ARGENTINA MAKE HISTORY IN BRAZIL TO WIN BRUTAL MARACANÃ QUALIFIER

 Argentina snatched all three points in Brazil to reclaim top-spot in the CONMEBOL World Cup Qualifying and become the first ever team to beat Brazil away from home in a World Cup qualifier.

Brazil - 0

Argentina - 1

Scorers: Otamendi 63′

Physicality reigned supreme in the opening 45 minutes after the start of the game was delayed by crowd trouble. Neither side appeared all-too keen to look for the opening goal, instead the game’s momentum was halted by continuous fouls.

According to Opta, the 22 fouls in the first half was the most in the opening interval of any South American Qualifier in the current campaign.

After the break, the deadlock was finally broken. After leaping high above the Brazil defence, Nicolás Otamendi headed the visitors into the lead to stun the Brazilian crowd.

As Brazil pushed to level the scoreline, their chances stuttered when Joelinton was sent off for a hand to the face of an Argentine player.

The hosts still carved out a few chances despite the numerical disadvantage, but the rock-solid Argentina rearguard stood up to the task.

A second straight loss for Brazil sees them remain in sixth place in the standings for now, just two points above the playoff zone.

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/argentina-make-history-in-brazil-to-win-brutal-maracana-qualifier-38600024

WHO'S QUALIFIED FOR EURO 2024 AND WHO'S HEADING TO THE PLAY-OFFS?

 Euro 2024 is starting to take shape after the final round of qualifiers concluded on Tuesday.

Here’s who has already made it to Germany and who is heading down the play-off route.

Spain booked their place at next summer’s tournament at a canter and will be joined by Scotland, who finished six points clear of Norway in third.

Unfortunately for Erling Haaland and co, Georgia will take Group A’s spot in the play-offs owing to their Nations League coefficient.

Group A

Spain booked their place at next summer’s tournament at a canter and will be joined by Scotland, who finished six points clear of Norway in third.

Unfortunately for Erling Haaland and co, Georgia will take Group A’s spot in the play-offs owing to their Nations League coefficient.

Group B

Two more former winners have sealed their spot with France and the Netherlands confirming their status as Group B favourites.

Greece remain in with a shout of qualification after claiming third some six points clear of the Republic of Ireland.

Read more :

Source : https://onefootball.com/en/news/whos-qualified-for-euro-2024-and-whos-heading-to-the-play-offs-38599298

🇪🇺 CROATIA BEAT WALES TO EURO SPOT; GREECE STUN FRANCE; DUTCH HIT SIX

 The final automatic qualification spot for Euro 2024 was up for grabs on Tuesday plus lots of other drama.

Here is what went down across Europe.

Croatia edge Armenia to qualify

Croatia - 01 

Armenia - 0

Scorer: Budimir 43′

Croatia claimed the final automatic qualification spot after a slim win over Armenia at home.

Knowing what was on the line the hosts largely dominated the match but a compact visiting defence kept things deadlocked.

Despite six first-half efforts on target, it was Armenia who almost opened the scoring but goalkeeper Dominik Livaković made a vital save one-on-one.

Then the breakthrough moment arrived just before the half-time whistle when an unmarked Ante Budimir headed home Borna Sosa’s cross.

The second half continued to be a nervy affair and Croatia managed to hang on and secure second in their group above Wales.

Read more 

Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/croatia-beat-wales-to-euro-spot-greece-stun-france-dutch-hit-six-38599209

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN TAKES AIM AT UEFA OVER ABSENCE OF GOAL-LINE TECHNOLOGY IN FRANCE QUALIFIER

 Having battled to a draw against a determined Greek team in Athens, France have missed out on a full house of Euro 2024 qualifying victories.

After equalising through a long-range effort from Youssouf Fofana, Didier Deschamps men came within inches of clinching a late win, as Kingsley Coman broke through down the right and sent in a cross. The effort would deflect off Greek defender Zeca onto the post, before hitting the opposite upright as well. Replays would show that the ball appeared to cross the line on its way to other post, before swerving back into the field of play.

Speaking to TF1 in the aftermatch, vice-captain Antoine Griezmann – who was skipper for most of the evening in Kylian Mbappé’s absence – expressed his frustration at the absence of goal-line technology for the fixture. The midfielder goes as far as taking direct aim at UEFA, calling for the sport’s continental governing body to increase the use of technology in matches:

Goal-line technology is what was missing! UEFA has a lot of money and they can’t manage to put everything in place for us to know whether it’s a goal or not. We have to ask a bit more of UEFA – if they want us to be playing lots of games, we need to ask them for more technology.”

GFFN | Raphaël Jucobin

Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/antoine-griezmann-takes-aim-at-uefa-over-absence-of-goal-line-technology-in-france-qualifier-38599444

GERMANY REDUCED TO 10 MEN IN FRIENDLY HUMILIATION BY AUSTRIA

 Germany’s Euro 2024 preparations were dealt another ignominy as they were humiliated in a friendly with Austria.

Austria - 02

Germany - 0

Scorers: Sabitzer 29′, Baumgartner 73

Sent off: Sané 49′

Marcel Sabitzer put the hosts ahead shortly before the half-hour mark by squeezing a shot past Kevin Trapp at his near post.

Things went from bad to worse for Die Mannschaft as they were reduced to 10 men when Leroy Sané was sent off for lashing out at Philipp Mwene.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side saw their misery compounded late on as Christoph Baumgartner raced clear and chipped a second for the hosts.

The result continues a less than perfect run for Germany, who have lost six of their 11 games throughout 2023 ahead of hosting the Euros.

Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/germany-reduced-to-10-men-in-friendly-humiliation-by-austria-38599210

INTER MIAMI DENY PLANS TO FACE RONALDO'S AL-NASSR

Inter Miami have released a statement denying reports of their upcoming participation in the Riyadh Season Cup.

Dubbed ‘The Last Dance,’ initial news claimed Lionel Messi’s club would travel to Saudi Arabia in February 2024 for a tournament against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr and Al Hilal.

However, that has now been deemed inaccurate by the MLS side late on Tuesday.

“Earlier today, an announcement was issued stating that Inter Miami CF is scheduled to play in the Riyadh Season Cup. This is inaccurate,” read the statement.

“The release included statements attributed to team owner Jorge Mas. Mas has made no comments, publicly or privately, in relation to the preseason tour.

“Since day one, Inter Miami CF has set out to be a global brand. To this end, we have been in conversations to determine our 2024 preseason schedule.

“We look forward to showing our players on Inter Miami CF’s first international tour which will be announced in the coming weeks.”

Fans will have to wait for the potential next meeting between the two generational stars.

Source: https://onefootball.com/en/news/inter-miami-deny-plans-to-face-ronaldos-al-nassr-38599161