France right-back Benjamin Pavard has won the 2018 World Cup goal of the tournament award for his stunning strike against Argentina, FIFA announced yesterday. The 22-year-old Stuttgart defender ran onto a left-wing cross from Lucas Hernandez and sent a right-footed half-volley spinning into the top corner to level eventual champions France’s last-16 tie with Argentina at 2-2 in the 57th minute.
France went on to win the game 4-3 before beating Croatia in the final on July 15. Pavard’s effort won a public vote to be named the best of the 169 goals scored in the tournament, seeing off competition from Colombian midfielder Juan Quintero’s free-kick against Japan and Luka Modric’s goal in Croatia’s group-stage thumping of Argentina.
Portugal winger Gelson Martins joins Atletico Madrid
Portugal winger Gelson Martins signed for Atletico Madrid yesterday as a free agent on a six-year deal after leaving troubled Portuguese side Sporting. Martins rescinded his contract with Sporting last month, one of nine players to quit the Lisbon club after an attack in May on a training camp by fans in which Dutch forward Bas Dost was injured and the dressing room was vandalised.
The incidents came at the end of a tumultuous campaign for Sporting who finished third in the Primeira Liga and reached the Europa League quarter-finals where they lost 2-1 on aggregate to eventual winners Atletico. Martins played in both legs.
The 23-year-old has been capped 19 times for Portugal and was part of their squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, appearing as a substitute in the 1-0 win over Morocco. Martins is Atletico’s fifth close-season signing after Thomas Lemar from AS Monaco, Rodri (Villarreal), Jonny Castro (Celta Vigo) and Antonio Adan (Real Betis).
Dortmund winger Schuerrle to join Fulham on loan
Germany winger Andre Schuerrle is set to return to the Premier League by joining Fulham on loan from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, according to reports yesterday.
If the deal goes through, this will be the second stint in the Premier League for Schuerrle, who played for Chelsea from 2013-15. Fulham have returned to England’s top flight, winning promotion last season via a play-off, after four years in the Championship.
The 27-year-old shot to fame at the 2014 World Cup when his superb cross led to Mario Goetze scoring the winning goal in the final to give Germany their fourth title. However, a loss of form and injuries meant he failed to win a place in the Germany squad for this year’s World Cup and only managed three goals and 10 assists in 33 games for Dortmund since joining from Wolfsburg for 30mn euros ($35mn) in 2016.
Mata keen to end Spain exile under Enrique
Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata is optimistic of reviving his international career with Spain following the appointment of Luis Enrique as the national team’s new manager earlier this month.
The 30-year-old was part of the victorious Spain teams at the 2010 World Cup and the 2012 European Championship but earned the most recent of his 41 caps for the nation in a friendly in November 2016.
Mata was excluded from Spain’s squad for this year’s World Cup but is hopeful of turning his fortunes around under former Barcelona boss Enrique. “I was disappointed not to go (to the World Cup),” Mata said.
“But then after that, I was hoping for them to win... Now, things have changed. We have a new manager again, Luis Enrique... I’m again excited about the possibility of coming back. I obviously want to come back and try to play as many games as I can with the national team.”
Mata believes the emergence of a new generation along with the presence of experienced players will propel Spain to new heights in the future. Mata is one of few senior United players currently participating in the club’s pre-season tour of the United States, where manager Jose Mourinho’s team will face AC Milan in the International Champions Cup today.
No panic from Pochettino despite slow Spurs transfer
Tottenham Hotspur’s lack of activity in the transfer window is no cause for concern and the club will not be rushed into spending for the sake of it, manager Mauricio Pochettino has said. While Tottenham have tied down several key players to long-term contracts they are one of only two Premier League teams, alongside Burnley, who have yet to add to their squads.
“We’re working hard trying to improve the squad,” Pochettino said. “The market has only started to move very quickly after the World Cup. Be sure that we are going to do some movement but like always, we’re working hard — no rash decisions. I’m not worried, I’m happy preparing the team to arrive in the best condition for the first Premier League game.”
Tottenham, were playing AS Roma in the pre-season International Champions Cup last night, face Newcastle United in their league opener on Aug. 11, two days after the transfer window closes
Bournemouth sign Spanish defender Rico from Leganes
Bournemouth have signed defender Diego Rico from Spanish side Leganes on a four-year contract, the Premier League club have said. The 25-year-old Spaniard, who will miss the first three matches of the new season after picking up a red card in the final La Liga game last term, is Bournemouth’s second signing of the transfer window following the arrival of Wales midfielder David Brooks earlier this month.
Atalanta sign Chelsea midfielder Pasalic on loan
Atalanta have signed midfielder Mario Pasalic on loan from Premier League Chelsea, the Serie A club said. The Croatia international, who has six caps, spent last season on loan at Russian top-flight club Spartak Moscow, where he made 21 league appearances, scoring four goals. The 23-year-old, who has also played for Spanish side Elche and Monaco in Ligue 1, played on loan at Serie A rivals AC Milan two years ago.
Four candidates for Egypt national coach job
The Egyptian Football Association said it was choosing the national team’s next coach out of four candidates who are being considered by a committee. The candidates being considered are the Spain’s Quique Sanchez Flores, Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, Vahid Halilhodzic from Bosnia, and Colombia’s Jorge Luis Pinto, the federation said on Twitter.
The candidates are being considered by a committee comprising former Egyptian football players Magdi Abdelghani and Hazem Emam, and former international referee Essam Abdel Fattah, the federation said.
The federation is choosing a successor for Argentinean coach Hector Cuper after his contract expired following the World Cup, where Egypt lost all three of the matches they played in. Cuper took the post in March 2015 from former coach Shawky Ghareeb, leading the country last year to its first World Cup in 28 years.
France right-back Benjamin Pavard sent a right-footed half-volley spinning into the top corner in eventual champions France’s last-16 tie win over Argentina. (AFP)
