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Euro 2020: Tension As France, Turkey Clash

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Euro 2020: Tension As France, Turkey Clash

France host Turkey in a crunch Euro 2020 qualifier on Monday with the teams vying for top spot in Group H and diplomatic tension simmering between the two nations after Turkey’s bombardment of Syrian Kurds this week.

With three games to go in the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign, the sides have 18 points each ahead of Monday’s showdown at the Stade de France but Turkey top the group on the head-to-head rule after their 2-0 defeat of Les Blues in Konya in June.

French striker Olivier Giroud says the 2018 world champions “want to put that right (the defeat), as a matter of pride because of what happened over there”.

France will be missing two key players in Kylian Mbappe and Paul Pogba, who are both injured, and will be hoping Barcelona recruit Antoine Griezmann can refind his sharpest form.

Looming large over the game, however, will be security issues and international diplomatic relations as France decried Turkish military interventions in Syria this week and blocked arms sales to them.

European soccer chiefs UEFA are already looking into reports that Turkey footballers performed a military salute in celebration of Cenk Tosun’s last-gasp winning goal over Albania in Istanbul on Thursday.

After the match, a photo was also posted on the official Twitter account with players making a military salute and a text saying the players “have dedicated their victory to our brave soldiers and fellow martyrs”.

Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan can often be seen at football matches and has taken many photo calls with top soccer stars, and on Monday evening his foreign minister and sports minister are due to attend the match.

Some 3,800 Turkish fans should be in the 78000 sell out crowd on Monday for a match where a win for France would signal a spot in the finals while Turkey are still under threat from Iceland, who they play in November.

At any event at the Stade de France security is always impressively tight but Turkey’s last visit to France in 2009, where their famously passionate fans threw flares onto the pitch in Lyon, the police have announced ramped up measures on orders from the government to assure security ahead of and following the game in what they have qualified as a high risk event.

On November 13, 2015 – the night of a series of terror attacks which killed 130 people – security prevented a suicide bomber from entering the stadium during the France v Germany match which was being watched by French President Francois Hollande.

The bomber and two other suicide bombers set off their bombs outside the ground, killing themselves and one bystander.

AFP.

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Zidane Will Join Man United, Says Baptista

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Former Brazil international, Julio Baptista has backed former Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane to eventually take over at Manchester United.

Man United are currently managed by Erik ten Hag, who is facing an uncertain future after a tough season.

After finishing third last season, winning the Carabao Cup and reaching the FA Cup final, Ten Hag’s side have had 16 defeats across competitions this campaign.


However, Zidane has been touted as one of the options for the Red Devils’ hot seat at Old Trafford.

“Zidane was the best player I have ever played with,” Baptista told Ladbrokes (via Metro).

“Playing with him and sharing a dressing room with him was very special. He is one the best in the world.


“I think he will be a Premier League manager someday. He is an incredible coach, with amazing experience having won the Champions League, so I can see that happening. I can see him going to Manchester United.

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Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich At War Over New Contract

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Nedal Huoseh, agent of the Bayern Munich full-back Alphonso Davies, has lamented the treatment he is currently receiving from the club.

The Canada international is widely regarded as one of the best full-backs in the world, and one of the best North American players of all time.

Huoseh criticised Bayern Munich in comments made to BILD and relayed by football expert Fabrizio Romano.

Davies has a verbal agreement to join Real Madrid either this summer or next according to The Athletic.

In recent weeks, however, the Bavarians have put pressure on Davies’ camp to renew a deal that expires on June 30, 2025.

Over at MARCA, they say that the Bundesliga giants have told Davies to commit his future to them immediately or be sold in the next transfer window.

Davies’ agent Huoseh, told BILD: “It’s unfair to receive an ultimatum from Bayern. We will decide how to proceed at the end of the season when there is more clarity.

“It’s unfair that Alphonso is now being attacked.

“We were close to an agreement a year ago. Then the entire club management was replaced. We didn’t hear anything for seven months. Although, I tried during this time to contact the club myself.


“Now we are being given an ultimatum and are supposed to react within two weeks because the club is under pressure and took a long time to reposition itself in the management. That’s not fair.

“It’s a very important contract in Alphonso’s career and we’re supposed to make the decision without knowing who the coach will be next season or what the team looks like. That’s why we think it’s unfair to react to the ultimatum.”

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Guardiola To Face Arsenal Without Key Players

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Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, could be without seven key players for their clash against Arsenal.

Matheus Nunes, Manuel Akanji, John Stones and Kyle Walker picked up injuries during their time away with their international team.

The trio join Ederson, Kevin de Bruyne and Jack Grealish on the injury list.


Daily Mail reports Walker is a major doubt for the upcoming clash against Arsenal.

Walker will undergo scans alongside Stones.

The club are also monitoring the situations of Ederson, De Bruyne and Grealish and will make a late call for the trio.

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