⚽️ FIFA WORLD CUP : 2018 - RUSSIA ⚽️ ഭൂഗോളമാകെ ഫുട്ബോൾ ലഹരിയിൽ ⚽️

Sergio AGÜERO has claimed he is knee problem free while also supporting Gonzalo HIGUAÍN and questioning Alejandro GOMEZ.

After years of injuries, the Argentina National Team might finally see a fresh and fully fit AGÜERO. After undergoing surgery and with risks of him not being able to play, AGÜERO is confident he’ll be ready. Speaking with TyC Sports, here’s what he had to say:

“AFTER FIVE YEARS, MY KNEE FEELS LIKE NEW. I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING WITH KNEE PROBLEMS SINCE 2013. I TRIED TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO PLAY IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE [AGAINST LIVERPOOL]. I’VE ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS BUT NOW I FEEL DIFFERENT, I CAN BEND IT AND IT’S A RELIEF.

“PEP [GUARDIOLA] SUPPORTED ME A LOT. I TALKED WITH THE DOCTORS AND I SAID THAT IF I DIDN’T HAVE SURGERY, I COULD LOSE [THE CHANCE TO PLAY] THE WORLD CUP.”

The Manchester City man also supported Gonzalo HIGUAÍN after the Juventus hitman was under fire:

“HIGUAÍN HAS TO STAY CALM, WE WILL SUPPORT HIM.”

AGÜERO also mentioned Lucas BIGLIA receiving a hit from fellow Argentine Alejandro GOMEZ and what he would have done had he been in BIGLIA’s place.

“IF I WERE BIGLIA, I’D BE ANGRY. I WOULD HAVE WAITED FOR HIM IN THE TUNNEL AND JUST LET IT ALL OUT. I WOULD ASK HIM IF HE HAD BAD INTENTIONS OR NOT.”

As we reported earlier on Thursday, AGÜERO is back training with the Argentina National Team.

 

Villa thanne..pulli MLSil kidu formil aan...kazhinja varsham teamilekk thirichu vilichirinnu..even after retirement.

 

Saudi Arabia squad
Goalkeepers: Assaf Al-Qarny, Mohammed Al-Owais, Yasser Al-Musailem, Abdullah Al-Mayuf.

Defenders: Mansoor Al-Harbi, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Mohammed Al-Breik, Saeed Al-Mowalad, Motaz Hawsawi, Osama Hawsawi, Omar Hawsawi, Mohammed Jahfali, Ali Al-Bulaihi.

Midfielders: Abdullah Al-Khaibari, Abdulmalek Al-Khaibri, Abdullah Otayf, Taiseer Al-Jassim, Houssain Al-Mogahwi, Salman Al-Faraj, Nawaf Al-Abed, Mohamed Kanno, Hattan Bahebri, Mohammed Al-Kwikbi, Salem Al-Dawsari, Yehya Al-Shehri.

Forwards: Fahad Al-Muwallad, Mohammad Al-Sahlawi, Muhannad Assiri.

 

Jose Mourinho believes Brazil and Spain are the teams to beat at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, but feels the presence of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo – and that alone – gives Argentina and Portugal a chance.

"I really like Brazil’s basic structure – their tactics, mentality,” the Manchester United manager told ESPN Brasil. “There’s a mixture of natural Brazilian talent with a serious, physical, tactical approach.

“It’s a team capable of defending well, of conceding few goals, with a good support base. And they have an attack with Willian, Neymar, Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus… all players with exceptional qualities.
“I think that without Lionel Messi, the Argentinian national team wouldn’t be in contention. But with him, they are one of the favourites.

“Portugal have an interesting team. Without Cristiano, it would be impossible. But with him, nothing’s impossible.

“There are the traditional European teams, but I believe Spain are a real team again. They have players, who follow their same philosophy and are adapted to their style of play. I think Spain are in a better position than all of the other European teams."

Mourinho is excited for the 21st World Cup, and will be in Russia to watch some of it.

“It will be really entertaining,” he said. “I'll be in Russia for a week to follow the games, and then finally vacation."

 

Dietmar Hamann would be “very surprised” if Germany became the first side in 56 years to retain the FIFA World Cup™ and believes the Russia 2018 winners will be Argentina, Brazil or Spain.

“With the personnel we’ve got, I think in depth we may be better than four years ago, but I don’t think the first XI are better,” the 59-times-capped former defensive midfielder told Gulf News. “There are a few positions I’m really worried about and I’d be very surprised if Germany were able to defend the title.

“In Miroslav Klose, Philipp Lahm and Per Mertesacker, they lost 300 caps after the last World Cup. There are some talented kids coming through now, but they are yet to prove their class. We’ve seen it in the [UEFA] Champions League – the cream rises to the top and the World Cup is a unique tournament, sometimes people get found out there.”
Germany were the only European team to win all ten of their Russia 2018 qualifiers, scoring 43 goals and conceding just four in the process. Joachim Low’s charges also conquered last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup.

However, in their last four outings, they drew with England, France and Spain before losing 1-0 at home to Brazil. And, despite Germany fielding under-strength teams against them, Hamann was left impressed enough to tag La Roja and A Seleção as the teams to beat in Russia – along with another surprise side.

“We played Brazil a few weeks ago and Spain were probably the better side against us,” said the 44-year-old. “You shouldn’t read too much into friendlies, but I think Spain and Brazil.

“And then the way that Argentina qualified, because they needed to beat Ecuador in the last game of South American qualifiers to get in. They went 1-0 down after two minutes and Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick and won that game.

“Sometimes, when you have a close shave and qualify like that, and with it also possibly being Messi’s last World Cup, I wouldn’t rule Argentina out either.”

Germany face Mexico, Sweden and Korea Republic in Group F at Russia 2018.

Hamann was part of a Germany side that were eliminated by Croatia at France 1998. The former Bayern Munich and Liverpool midfielder also helped his country reach the Korea/Japan 2002 Final, where they were undone by Ronaldo and Brazil.