Chile scored two goals in as many minutes to overcome minnows Haiti 2-1 in their pre-Copa America friendly on Thursday.
Quick-fire goals from Eduardo Vargas and Jose Fuenzalida in the second half spared Chile s blushes before La Roja fly out to Brazil to begin their title defence.
Playing their final warm-up match before the country s Copa America opener against guests Japan on June 17, Chile dominated but trailed at half-time.
CONCACAF Gold Cup participants Haiti – who were invited to take part in the Centenario edition in 2016 – silenced the crowd in La Serena when Frantzdy Pierrot outmuscled two opponents and poked the ball past Brayan Cortes in the 26th minute.
EN VIVO
¡FINAL! Triunfal despedida de la Selección antes de la
2-1 …
Roberto Mancini claims Italy are unfortunate not to be at the World Cup, labelling their defeat in qualifying to North Macedonia as absurd .
The Azzurri faced North Macedonia in a play-off in Palermo in March, only to lose 1-0 thanks to a late Aleksandar Trajkovski strike, despite leading the shot count 32-4 by full time.
It meant Italy would not be present at this year s World Cup, which begins in Qatar on Sunday, but head coach Mancini has dismissed what was perceived as a significant failure from his team to get past comparative underdogs who they will also face in Euro 2024 qualifying.
The match against Macedonia was an absurd match, which I believe happens once every 100 years and, unfortunately, it happened to us, Mancini said at a press conference on Tues…
Referee Tom Henning Ovrebo has admitted he still receives death threats from angry Chelsea fans.
The Norwegian was at the centre of Chelsea s controversial 2009 Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona, when he turned down numerous Blues appeals for a penalty on the ill-tempered night at Stamford Bridge, before seeing Andres Iniesta spectacularly knock the London side out of the competition in the last minute.
Tempers boiled over following the equaliser, with Didier Drogba and Michael Ballack both angrily confronting Ovrebo.
Death threats had been sent to the referee following the game, and he says he still receives them almost three years on.
I still get a few death threats, but they go straight into the garbage box, he told The Times.
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Paul Pogba is set to make his first appearance for France since June 2019 after he was included in Didier Deschamps 24-man squad for the October internationals, with Eduardo Camavinga keeping his place.
Pogba, who last featured for Les Bleus in a Euro 2020 qualifier against Andorra 16 months ago, was due to be included in France s squad for games against Sweden and Croatia in September, but tested positive for coronavirus.
Rennes teenager Camavinga was a surprise replacement, and went on to make his debut in a 4-2 win over Croatia on September 8.
The 17-year-old has once again been selected by Deschamps, who was able to welcome back Manchester United star Pogba.
He knows the place he has in the group, Deschamps said of Pogba in a news conference on Thurs…
Verdict: Inter Milan win Inter Milan to score over 1.5 goals
Best Odds: 19/20
Bookmaker:
Smelling a chance to lay down another marker this weekend, Inter Milan will make the trip to the Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi when they meet Hellas Verona on Friday night.
Verona
Starting with the hosts, despite opening up competitive duties earlier in the month with what was a routine 3-0 romp against Serie C outfit Catanzaro in the Coppa Italia, Verona really failed to keep up that momentum last weekend. Although they might have opened last week s meeting against Sassuolo at the Stadio Marc Antonio Bentegodi looking to lay down an early marker, Eusebio Di Francesco s side were largely outplayed on home soil. Showing a host of issues at the back and eventually hi…
Erik ten Hag is excited by Rasmus Hojlund’s long-term future and confident Manchester United can cope without the injured new boy during the opening weeks of the season.
Despite a long-term interest in England captain Harry Kane, the Red Devils instead plumped for potential by signing the talented 20-year-old from Atalanta.
Hojlund joined last weekend in a £64million deal that could rise to £72million, but United fans will have to wait to see their new striker.
The frontman is dealing with a back issue and will miss Monday’s Premier League opener against Wolves, along with some other matches, but Ten Hag is confident they will cope.
One. More. Sleep. ||
— Manchester United (@ManUtd)
“We are not in a rush,” the United boss sa…
Chinese club confirm interest in Lampard
Chinese club Guizhou Renhe have confirmed that they are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
The England international is widely tipped to leave Stamford Bridge in the near future, with a move to China being mooted.
Even if Chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo moved to deny the speculation, Guizhou Renhe has revealed they are in contact with the veteran midfielder.
Yes, we are in contact with Lampard but so far nothing has been settled, Guizhou deputy board chairman Yang Xiaoyu confessed to China Daily.
Chinese Super League season begins in March, meaning there is every chance they will attempt to acquire the highly rated player during January transfer window.
Lampard is currently out…
Lionel Messi has stressed that Barcelona are desperate to rise to the challenge of Champions League success this season.
The Argentina international previously won the competition in 2006, 2009 and 2011, but was unable to help Barcelona hold on to their title last term as Chelsea proved to be too strong in the semi-final stage.
Barcelona booked their place in the knock-out stage of this year s edition on Tuesday though, when they beat Spartak Moscow 3-0, and Messi has made it clear that the European trophy is their main objective.
The Champions League is a big challenge for us, because of what it means, Messi stated at a press conference.
It’s the hardest competition to win, the best to play in and it’s where the best teams are. We will work hard t…
Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho has conceded that Paul Pogba s world-record transfer fee has been a burden for the player this season.
Pogba returned to Old Trafford from Juventus last August for an initial fee reported to be £89.3million, one that eclipsed the £86m Real Madrid paid for Gareth Bale in 2013.
The France international has struggled to live up to that sizeable investment in his first season back in English football, with the 24-year-old often accused of trying too hard to impress during an inconsistent campaign on the whole for the club.
Mourinho insists Pogba has performed well, particularly in United s run to the Europa League final, but hopes to see another player become the most expensive in the world so as to alleviate the pressure on the…
Paris Saint-Germain saw off Brest 3-0 to collect their first victory under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino and close the gap on Ligue 1 leaders Lyon.
PSG were held to a 1-1 draw by Saint-Etienne in Pochettino s first game in charge on Wednesday but had too much quality for Brest in Saturday s encounter at the Parc des Princes.
Moise Kean s 11th goal of the campaign in all competitions set the reigning champions on their way with 16 minutes played and substitutes Mauro Icardi and Pablo Sarabia each got on the scoresheet in the final 10 minutes.
The win less emphatic than the scoreline may suggest moved Pochettino s men within a point of pacesetters Lyon, who battled back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Rennes and retain top spot.
Final whistle! …