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Koeman on the brink as Barcelona face Griezmann and Atletico Madrid (AFP) – A revival is surely beyond Ronald Koeman even if Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid on Saturday but Antoine Griezmann will hope his own resurgence is just beginning. Only the schedule is on Koeman’s side now, with the international break next week dictating that it makes more sense for Barca to change coach after their trip to the Wanda Metropolitano than before. The 3-0 defeat by Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday left Koeman’s team at the bottom of Group E and struggling to make the knock-out stages. In La Liga, they sit sixth, although their position could be more easily rectified, given they are only five points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, with a game in hand. Few, though, appear ready to give Koeman time to make amends for what has been a miserable start to the season, full of disappointing results and worse performances. Koeman’s performances in public have fuelled the fire as well, a feud with club president Joan Laporta in recent weeks adding to the sense that his time at Camp Nou is running out. A two-match suspension means Koeman will not be on the touchline on Saturday for what could be his final game in charge and his best hope of being retained is perhaps that Laporta fails to land a successor. In the summer, Laporta told Koeman he would need two weeks to find a possible replacement but none were found, or at least convinced that this Barcelona is now a club worth joining. Xavi Hernandez, Roberto Martinez and Andrea Pirlo are the names at the top of Laporta’s shortlist. Whether Barca’s players are motivated or deflated by a potentially imminent change remains to be seen, although it has been notable this week how little backing Koeman has received. Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Frenkie de Jong were all given the opportunity to support the Dutchman but only De Jong came close, answering “no” when asked if sacking Koeman would change anything. Koeman’s regular appeals for observers to be “realistic” have gone increasingly unheard, despite attempts to highlight the club’s financial meltdown, a string of summer sales and several injuries as reasons for reducing expectations. – Griezmann struggles – Griezmann was among those let go, his two-year boomerang from Atletico to Barcelona and back to Atletico one of the clearest demonstrations of the reckless, short-term thinking at Camp Nou. Atleti have been the chief beneficiaries financially, given they stand to pocket 80 million euros from the to-and-fro, having already won La Liga while the Frenchman was away. But Griezmann has struggled to readapt to his old team, a dreadful run of form finally alleviated by a superb goal against AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday, which instigated a 2-1 win. After Griezmann failed to muster a goal, assist or even a shot on target in his first five matches, Diego Simeone appeared to be running out of patience too, with Angel Correa starting alongside Suarez at the San Siro. Griezmann came on in the 61st minute and scored in the 83rd, volleying in brilliantly from Renan Lodi’s cross, and the hope will be that with confidence he can find a role now in the line-up of the reigning champions. Atletico are only two points ahead of Barcelona after a slip-up of their own last week against Alaves, who had lost all five of their previous matches. Real Madrid are the early frontrunners but there are doubts there too, following Wednesday’s shock 2-1 loss at home to Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League. Madrid play away at Espanyol on Sunday while Real Sociedad in second will look to continue their excellent start with a win at Getafe. Sevilla, in third, travel to Granada, in 17th. Fixtures (GMT) Friday Athletic Club v Alaves (1900) Saturday Osasuna v Rayo Vallecano (1200), Mallorca v Levante (1415), Cadiz v Valencia (1630), Atletico Madrid v Barcelona (1900) Sunday Elche v Celta Vigo (1200), Espanyol v Real Madrid (1415), Getafe v Real Sociedad (1630), Villarreal v Real Betis (1630), Granada v Sevilla (1900)

Madrid (AFP) – A revival is surely beyond Ronald Koeman even if Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid on Saturday but Antoine Griezmann will hope his own resurgence is just beginning. Only the schedule is on Koeman’s side now, with the international break next week dictating that it makes more sense for Barca to change coach after their trip to the Wanda Metropolitano than before. The 3-0 defeat by Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday left Koeman’s team at the bottom of Group E and struggling to make the knock-out stages. In La Liga, they sit sixth, although their position could be more easily rectified, given they are only five points adrift of leaders Real Madrid, with a game in hand. Few, though, appear ready to give Koeman time to make amends for what has been a miserable start to the season, full of disappointing results and worse performances. Koeman’s performances in public have fuelled the fire as well, a feud with club president Joan Laporta in recent weeks adding to th
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PSG’s dominance makes Messi a pure luxury in Ligue 1 Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain are already surging clear towards the Ligue 1 title in France even as Lionel Messi has so far been held back for the Champions League, in which he got his first goal for his new club in midweek. Messi’s majestic strike sealed a 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City that sent out a statement to the rest of Europe, PSG confirming that they are leading contenders to go all the way in the Champions League. That is why they signed Messi, as they look to win the European Cup for the first time, and that is why Messi came to Paris following his departure from Barcelona, convinced that the Qatar-owned club offered him the best chance to get his hands on a trophy that has eluded him since 2015. It was just the third time the 34-year-old Argentine had started alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the PSG attack since he made his debut off the bench in a 2-0 Ligue 1 win at Reims in late August. Indeed Messi has played the sum total of 100 minutes in domestic competition and yet that has not mattered one jot to Mauricio Pochettino’s side, such is their superiority in France. As they look to reclaim the Ligue 1 title from reigning champions Lille, PSG are already nine points clear of Lens in second after just eight games. They have a 100 percent record in the league, only the third time ever in France that a team has won its first eight matches of a campaign. The first was Olympique Lillois in 1936, while the last was…PSG, who won their opening 14 games in 2018 under Thomas Tuchel. PSG go to Rennes on Sunday, where a full house of close to 30,000 will hope to catch a glimpse of Messi while also hoping the capital side can be brought down a peg or two. Messi sat out PSG’s last two games with a knee knock as he was kept back in preparation to face City, but he should feature at Roazhon Park before jetting off to Argentina for a gruelling series of three World Cup qualifiers. If anyone can stop PSG then maybe it should be Rennes, who spent 80 million euros ($92.6m) on new signings in the summer, more than anyone in France including PSG. Messi, of course, arrived on a free transfer, too good an opportunity for the Parisians to pass up in their pursuit of Champions League glory. In Ligue 1 they barely need him. Player to watch: Seko Fofana The captain of Lens has been outstanding for his side, who climbed to second in the table with a thrilling 3-2 win at Marseille last weekend. In fact the midfielder has been superb ever since joining Lens from Udinese last year. Born in Paris, he joined Manchester City as a teenager but never broke through at the Etihad Stadium. However, on current form the Ivory Coast international will soon be attracting interest from some of the continent’s very biggest clubs. “I am lucky to play with great players who allow me to shine,” he said modestly after the win in Marseille. Key stats 8 – PSG have won all eight Ligue 1 games so far this season. 14 – Lille have won all 14 Ligue 1 matches in which Canadian striker Jonathan David has found the net since the start of last season. They play Marseille on Sunday. 0 – Saint-Etienne go into the derby against Lyon without a win to their name this season and bottom of the table. Claude Puel’s side have picked up not a single point in their last five games. Fixtures (times GMT) Friday Lens v Reims (1900) Saturday Montpellier v Strasbourg (1500), Nice v Brest (1900) Sunday Rennes v Paris Saint-Germain (1100), Angers v Metz, Lorient v Clermont, Monaco v Bordeaux, Nantes v Troyes (all 1300), Lille v Marseille (1500), Saint-Etienne v Lyon (1845)

Paris (AFP) – Paris Saint-Germain are already surging clear towards the Ligue 1 title in France even as Lionel Messi has so far been held back for the Champions League, in which he got his first goal for his new club in midweek. Messi’s majestic strike sealed a 2-0 win over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City that sent out a statement to the rest of Europe, PSG confirming that they are leading contenders to go all the way in the Champions League. That is why they signed Messi, as they look to win the European Cup for the first time, and that is why Messi came to Paris following his departure from Barcelona, convinced that the Qatar-owned club offered him the best chance to get his hands on a trophy that has eluded him since 2015. It was just the third time the 34-year-old Argentine had started alongside Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the PSG attack since he made his debut off the bench in a 2-0 Ligue 1 win at Reims in late August. Indeed Messi has played the sum total of 100 minutes in d
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‘The second Havertz’: rising star Wirtz making Bundesliga history Berlin (AFP) – Florian Wirtz is a rising star in the Bundesliga with the 18-year-old already a full Germany international on the back of superb performances for Bayer Leverkusen as the in-house replacement for Kai Havertz. “Florian has everything you need for an outstanding career,” Leverkusen sports director Simon Rolfes told AFP subsidiary SID. “He is a young guy who we have to encourage, develop and prepare for the tasks that are certain to lie ahead of him.” Wirtz became the youngest player to reach the milestone of 10 Bundesliga goals in Germany’s top flight last Saturday when he hit the winner at home to Mainz.  This Sunday, struggling Bielefeld will be the next team trying to contain the precocious teenager. His four goals and four assists this season have helped Leverkusen climb to second in the league, three points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who they meet in a fortnight. Wirtz, an attacking midfielder who also plays on the wing, made his Bundesliga debut in May 2020, two weeks after his 17th birthday and four months after he was signed from the youth academy of rivals Cologne. He has since stamped his authority on Leverkusen’s attack, filling the void left by the departure to Chelsea of Havertz, scorer of the winning goal in last season’s Champions League final. “He will be the second Kai Havertz,” Germany legend Lothar Matthaeus predicts of Wirtz. Shortly after his 18th birthday, Wirtz helped Germany win the Under-21 European championship, notably scoring both goals in a 2-1 semi-final win over the Netherlands. Football runs in his family. Older sister Juliane, 20, is a defender for the Leverkusen women’s team and has played for Germany Under-19s. Wirtz’s powerful runs into the box cause havoc, a sight increasingly common after his recovery from an adductor injury that slowed him to start the season. He is now one of the first names in Leverkusen’s starting line-up, and has been on target each of the past six games, including wins over Ferencvaros and Celtic in the Europa League. “The team works very well, it won games at the start of the season even without him, but at the moment he’s the icing on the cake,” Leverkusen director Rudi Voeller told local newspaper the Koelner Stadt-Anzeiger. Wirtz is set to be included when national team coach Hansi Flick, who gave him his Germany debut in September, names his squad Friday for World Cup qualifiers against Romania and North Macedonia. One to watch: Christopher Nkunku The French forward has netted seven goals in nine games for RB Leipzig despite his team’s erratic form. The 23-year-old scored a stunning free-kick in a two-goal, two-assist haul in last weekend’s 6-0 thrashing of Hertha Berlin. Despite Leipzig’s two defeats in Europe, Nkunku has scored four Champions League goals. He grabbed a hat-trick in the 6-3 thrashing at Manchester City and then bagged the opener in Tuesday’s 2-1 home defeat to Club Brugge. Leipzig host Bochum on Saturday and their American coach Jesse Marsch said he switched Nkunku to an attacking midfield role from the wing recently because “he is so clever, so quick, so aggressive”. Key facts 41 –  Bundesliga games Wirtz needed to become the youngest player to reach 10 goals in Germany’s top flight. 46 – Goals Bayern Munich have scored in 10 games so far this season, 13 of which by Robert Lewandowski, ahead of Sunday’s home game against Eintracht Frankfurt. 36,000 – Attendance Borussia Dortmund expect for Saturday’s home game against Augsburg after the local health authority relaxed the hygiene rules on Thursday. Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke hopes Signal Iduna Park will again see a capacity crowd of 81,000 by mid-October for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Germany. Fixtures (all times 1330 GMT unless stated) Friday Cologne v Greuther Fuerth (1830) Saturday Borussia Dortmund v Augsburg, VfL Wolfsburg v Borussia Moenchengladbach, VfB Stuttgart v Hoffenheim, Hertha Berlin v Freiburg, RB Leipzig v Bochum (1630) Sunday Mainz v Union Berlin, Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (1530), Arminia Bielefeld v Bayer Leverkusen (1730)

Berlin (AFP) – Florian Wirtz is a rising star in the Bundesliga with the 18-year-old already a full Germany international on the back of superb performances for Bayer Leverkusen as the in-house replacement for Kai Havertz. “Florian has everything you need for an outstanding career,” Leverkusen sports director Simon Rolfes told AFP subsidiary SID. “He is a young guy who we have to encourage, develop and prepare for the tasks that are certain to lie ahead of him.” Wirtz became the youngest player to reach the milestone of 10 Bundesliga goals in Germany’s top flight last Saturday when he hit the winner at home to Mainz.  This Sunday, struggling Bielefeld will be the next team trying to contain the precocious teenager. His four goals and four assists this season have helped Leverkusen climb to second in the league, three points behind leaders Bayern Munich, who they meet in a fortnight. Wirtz, an attacking midfielder who also plays on the wing, made his Bundesliga debut in May 2020,
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Juventus look to build on Chelsea win in Turin derby Milan (AFP) – Juventus head into Saturday’s Turin derby in the unusual position of being behind city rivals Torino in the Serie A table, but have started to find some momentum in recent weeks. Massimiliano Allegri’s side made a nightmare start to the season as they looked to regain the title which was lost to Inter Milan last term. A five-match unbeaten run, capped by an impressive Champions League win over holders Chelsea in midweek, has raised hopes that the Old Lady have turned a corner. “We showed the Juventus spirit tonight, and that’s what the coach asks of us,” winger Federico Chiesa told Amazon after scoring the winning goal on Wednesday. Juve had to rally late just to secure Champions League qualification by finishing fourth last season under Andrea Pirlo, with their bid for a 10th straight Scudetto never getting off the ground. The return of Allegri, who led the club to five straight titles from 2015-2019 and two Champions League finals in his previous spell as coach, was expected to end the Turin giants’ woes. Juventus found themselves languishing at the wrong end of the table after four matches, though, and are still yet to keep a Serie A clean sheet this campaign. But the old defensive resolve was there against Chelsea as the European champions failed to create a clear-cut chance despite dominating possession. Further forward, Juve have a potential star of the future in Euro 2020-winner Chiesa. The 23-year-old had been criticised by Allegri after a slow start to the season, but his manager believes he can become a striker — like his father, former Italy forward Enrico Chiesa. “He is absolutely not at 100 percent and this was the first real time he has played as a centre-forward,” Allegri said. “I told Federico my evaluation, which is that he can play as a centre-forward or a support striker.” Juventus are unbeaten in their last 14 meetings with Torino, whose most recent derby victory was a 2-1 success, also at Turin’s Stadio Olimpico, in April 2015. Juve sit 10th in the standings, below Torino on goal difference. – Napoli face tough test – Luciano Spalletti’s Napoli will be hoping to avoid the first slump of their season when they make the tricky trip to take on in-form Fiorentina on Sunday. Napoli, who have started the league campaign with six straight wins to give their supporters hope of a first Serie A triumph since 1990, suffered their first loss of the season to Spartak Moscow in the Europa League on Thursday. Fiorentina will be looking to take advantage of any hangover from that defeat as they bid for a fifth win from seven league games. Reigning champions Inter Milan sit third in the early table and, like city rivals AC Milan and Napoli, are also unbeaten. Inter visit Sassuolo after announcing Serie A record annual losses for 2020-2021. AC Milan take on the always-dangerous Atalanta in Bergamo on Sunday, while Jose Mourinho’s Roma host Empoli. Player to watch: Victor Osimhen Nigeria striker Osimhen endured an injury-hit first season in Naples in 2020-21, but has started the current campaign in brilliant form. The 22-year-old still netted 10 times in the league last season but he is continuing to improve and has found the net seven times in his last five games. Key stats 10 – Goals conceded by Juventus in six league games this season. They have kept back-to-back clean sheets in Europe. 13 – League draws for Torino in 2021, three more than any other team. 22 – Years since Salernitana last won a Serie A match. They have managed only one point on their return so far. Fixtures (times GMT) Friday Cagliari v Venezia (1845) Saturday Salernitana v Genoa (1300), Torino v Juventus (1600), Sassuolo v Inter Milan (1845) Sunday Bologna v Lazio (1030), Sampdoria v Udinese, Verona v Spezia (both 1300), Roma v Empoli, Fiorentina v Napoli (both 1600), Atalanta v AC Milan (1845)

Milan (AFP) – Juventus head into Saturday’s Turin derby in the unusual position of being behind city rivals Torino in the Serie A table, but have started to find some momentum in recent weeks. Massimiliano Allegri’s side made a nightmare start to the season as they looked to regain the title which was lost to Inter Milan last term. A five-match unbeaten run, capped by an impressive Champions League win over holders Chelsea in midweek, has raised hopes that the Old Lady have turned a corner. “We showed the Juventus spirit tonight, and that’s what the coach asks of us,” winger Federico Chiesa told Amazon after scoring the winning goal on Wednesday. Juve had to rally late just to secure Champions League qualification by finishing fourth last season under Andrea Pirlo, with their bid for a 10th straight Scudetto never getting off the ground. The return of Allegri, who led the club to five straight titles from 2015-2019 and two Champions League finals in his previous spell as coach, w
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Liverpool, Man City battle for Premier League supremacy Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool and Manchester City resume their rivalry for top spot when they go head to head in the Premier League this weekend, while Chelsea and Manchester United aim to get their title challenges back on track. Under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, City and Liverpool have become the dominant forces in English football, sharing the past four Premier League titles between them. City, who have won three of those, delivered a warning shot to the pretenders to their crown with a hugely impressive 1-0 win at Chelsea last weekend. But it is Liverpool who boast the only unbeaten record after six games and find themselves a point clear of City, Chelsea and United, even though they dropped two points at Brentford last week. City ended their long wait for a win away to Liverpool in emphatic fashion with a 4-1 victory in February but they have not won in front of a crowd at Anfield since 2003. Fatigue could take its toll on Guardiola’s men after a draining week. Three days after their statement win at Stamford Bridge, the English champions were beaten 2-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in the French capital. Liverpool, by contrast, were able to ease off the gas long before the end of a 5-1 Champions League win over Porto. However, the Reds will be without right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was left out of Gareth Southgate’s England squad announced Thursday with a groin problem. “Obviously when you have something with your muscle, it’s not likely for Sunday,” said Klopp. “No muscle injury heals that quick.” – Everton threat to United – United needed all 95 minutes to edge past Villarreal in their midweek Champions League game, emerging as victors thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic stoppage-time winner. The late intervention from the Portuguese superstar stopped the rot for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men after a run of three defeats in four games. But in truth United were lacklustre again, relying on goalkeeper David de Gea, who produced a string of vital saves. Everton head to Old Trafford level on points with Solskjaer’s men after an impressive start to life under Rafael Benitez. The Toffees are more than capable of following the example set by West Ham and Aston Villa, who have both won at the Theatre of Dreams in recent weeks, unless United show significant improvement. Chelsea made a brilliant start to the season under Thomas Tuchel, picking up where they left off after beating Manchester City in the Champions League final in May. City exacted a measure of revenge at Stamford Bridge last week and Chelsea slipped up again in the Champions League in midweek, losing 1-0 to Juventus. But Tuchel’s men appear to have a relatively straightforward task as they seek to return to winning ways against winless Southampton at home. – Nuno needs response from Spurs – Just three weeks after topping the Premier League table, Nuno Espirito Santo’s position as Tottenham manager has been questioned by fans following three dismal league defeats on the spin. Spurs have lost to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Arsenal by a combined score of 9-1 to fall back into the bottom half of the table. Nuno is yet to conjure the best from star forward Harry Kane, who failed to force a move away from his boyhood club during the transfer window. And he has so far failed to instill the defensive organisation that was his calling card in three seasons at Wolves. Another defeat when in-form Villa visit the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday would leave the Spurs faithful restless over the international break. Fixtures (all times GMT) Saturday Manchester United v Everton (1130), Burnley v Norwich, Chelsea v Southampton, Leeds v Watford, Wolves v Newcastle, (all 1400), Brighton v Arsenal (1630) Sunday Crystal Palace v Leicester, Tottenham v Aston Villa, West Ham v Brentford (all 1300), Liverpool v Manchester City (1530)

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Liverpool and Manchester City resume their rivalry for top spot when they go head to head in the Premier League this weekend, while Chelsea and Manchester United aim to get their title challenges back on track. Under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, City and Liverpool have become the dominant forces in English football, sharing the past four Premier League titles between them. City, who have won three of those, delivered a warning shot to the pretenders to their crown with a hugely impressive 1-0 win at Chelsea last weekend. But it is Liverpool who boast the only unbeaten record after six games and find themselves a point clear of City, Chelsea and United, even though they dropped two points at Brentford last week. City ended their long wait for a win away to Liverpool in emphatic fashion with a 4-1 victory in February but they have not won in front of a crowd at Anfield since 2003. Fatigue could take its toll on Guardiola’s men after a draining
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Three police hurt as smokebombs thrown at Marseille, Galatasary tie Marseille (AFP) – Three police officers were injured after smokebombs and firecrackers were thrown at Thursday’s Europa League game between Marseille and Galatasary in France. The match was delayed by eight minutes late in the first half as projectiles were lobbed from the end of the Stade Velodrome where fans of the Turkish club were grouped, officials said. There were also clashes between rival sets of fans before calm was restored. “Tonight it took 550 police officers for a football match to take place. Three of them were injured, they have my full support,” prefect of police, Frederique Camilleri, wrote on Twitter. Galatasaray fans were banned from travelling from Turkey for the high-risk game. However, the club boasts thousands of supporters throughout the rest of Europe. “Our supporters are important to us. I asked them to stay calm. They listened to me,” said Galatasary coach Fatih Terim. The game itself ended 0-0.

Marseille (AFP) – Three police officers were injured after smokebombs and firecrackers were thrown at Thursday’s Europa League game between Marseille and Galatasary in France. The match was delayed by eight minutes late in the first half as projectiles were lobbed from the end of the Stade Velodrome where fans of the Turkish club were grouped, officials said. There were also clashes between rival sets of fans before calm was restored. “Tonight it took 550 police officers for a football match to take place. Three of them were injured, they have my full support,” prefect of police, Frederique Camilleri, wrote on Twitter. Galatasaray fans were banned from travelling from Turkey for the high-risk game. However, the club boasts thousands of supporters throughout the rest of Europe. “Our supporters are important to us. I asked them to stay calm. They listened to me,” said Galatasary coach Fatih Terim. The game itself ended 0-0. from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3uuBFGE
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Mark Donaldson interview: SHOW ‘N’ TELL series For the first episode of World Soccer Talk’s SHOW ‘N’ TELL series, Kyle Fansler sits down with ESPN’s Mark Donaldson. Mark Donaldson Interview In this inaugural episode, Mark Donaldson presents a number of items collected throughout his time in the soccer media world. Certain jerseys, including some worn by players in game, start off the presentation. Then, Mark explains some of the books he contributed to. This includes a brief chat about Paul Mariner. Mariner, a former player and coach who spent much of his latter career in the United States, passed away in July 2021. Prior to his passing, Mark Donaldson and Mariner became close friends as well as colleagues. Donaldson, who helped produce a number of autobiographies, will do the same with Paul Mariner’s story. Still, this light-hearted chat allows viewers to see a different side of the commentator. Usually, we only hear his voice, now you can see what the man is like outside of his time calling games. Listen: Mark Donaldson interview from 2015. Currently, Mark’s famous Scottish voice calls Bundesliga games for ESPN. Although, he previously worked with the likes of Matteo Bonetti in ESPN’s coverage of Serie A. Outside of soccer coverage, Mark also works with ESPN to cover tennis. In his tennis coverage, he interviewed numerous major winners to go along with play-by-play coverage. Mark Donaldson also puts together a baseball studio show broadcasted in the United Kingdom on BT Sport. SHOW ‘N’ TELL The SHOW ‘N’ TELL series from World Soccer Talk allows viewers to see a new side of members of the soccer media. Undoubtedly, these broadcasters have things from their career that many would consider extremely rare. It could be a certain kit, a matchday program, a boot or frankly any kind of collectible. We want to know who you would want to see in future episodes. Make sure to comment on this post with possible members of the media that you think would have interesting items to share. Let us know your thoughts in the comments section about the first episode of SHOW ‘N’ TELL featuring the interview with Mark Donaldson. And be sure you don’t miss a future episode. New episodes will be released on a weekly basis on World Soccer Talk’s YouTube channel.

For the first episode of World Soccer Talk’s  SHOW ‘N’ TELL  series, Kyle Fansler sits down with ESPN’s Mark Donaldson. Mark Donaldson Interview In this inaugural episode, Mark Donaldson presents a number of items collected throughout his time in the soccer media world. Certain jerseys, including some worn by players in game, start off the presentation. Then, Mark explains some of the books he contributed to. This includes a brief chat about Paul Mariner. Mariner, a former player and coach who spent much of his latter career in the United States, passed away in July 2021. Prior to his passing, Mark Donaldson and Mariner became close friends as well as colleagues. Donaldson, who helped produce a number of autobiographies, will do the same with Paul Mariner’s story. Still, this light-hearted chat allows viewers to see a different side of the commentator. Usually, we only hear his voice, now you can see what the man is like outside of his time calling games. Listen:   Mark Donalds
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Pele released from hospital, undergoing chemo: doctors Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazilian football legend Pele was released from a month-long hospital stay Thursday after having surgery for a colon tumor, but will continue undergoing chemotherapy, his medical team said. Pele, 80, had been receiving treatment at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo since August 31, after a suspected tumor was detected during routine tests. Pele, who underwent surgery on September 4, is in “stable” condition, doctors said. The hospital gave no further details on Pele’s chemotherapy, which is typically used in cancer patients. “I am so happy to be back at home,” Pele said in a statement on Facebook.  “I want to thank the entire Albert Einstein Hospital team, who made my stay a pleasant one, with a humane and very affectionate welcome. Thanks also to all of you, who from afar, make my life complete with so many messages of love.” Considered by many the greatest footballer of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento — Pele’s real name — has been in poor health in recent years, and has had various stints in the hospital. The only player in history to win three World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970), he burst onto the global stage at just 17 with dazzling goals, including two in the final against hosts Sweden, as Brazil won the World Cup for the first time in 1958. “O Rei” (The King) went on to have one of the most storied careers in sport, scoring more than 1,000 goals before retiring in 1977.

Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazilian football legend Pele was released from a month-long hospital stay Thursday after having surgery for a colon tumor, but will continue undergoing chemotherapy, his medical team said. Pele, 80, had been receiving treatment at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo since August 31, after a suspected tumor was detected during routine tests. Pele, who underwent surgery on September 4, is in “stable” condition, doctors said. The hospital gave no further details on Pele’s chemotherapy, which is typically used in cancer patients. “I am so happy to be back at home,” Pele said in a statement on Facebook.  “I want to thank the entire Albert Einstein Hospital team, who made my stay a pleasant one, with a humane and very affectionate welcome. Thanks also to all of you, who from afar, make my life complete with so many messages of love.” Considered by many the greatest footballer of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento — Pele’s real name — has been in poor health in
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NWSL coach fired over sexual misconduct allegations Los Angeles (AFP) – The North Carolina Courage fired head coach Paul Riley on Thursday as fresh allegations of sexual misconduct swept across the top professional women’s soccer league in the United States. North Carolina, part of the National Women’s Soccer League, said in a statement Riley had been dismissed with immediate effect following “very serious allegations of misconduct.” Riley’s dismissal came after The Athletic website earlier Thursday detailed wide-ranging sexual misconduct by the 58-year-old Englishman spanning multiple teams and leagues since 2010. He is the second NWSL coach to be dismissed this week after the league terminated Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke’s contract following an investigation into allegations of verbal and emotional abuse. The Athletic reported that two players, Sinead Farrelly and Meleana “Mana” Shim, had made allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Riley. Farrelly, who played for Riley at three different teams in different leagues, accused the coach of “sexual coercion” while he was her coach at the Philadelphia Independence. She said she had been coerced into having sex with the coach after going to his hotel room following defeat in the Women’s Professional Soccer League final in 2011. Riley told her “we’re taking this to our graves” after the incident. In another incident during his reign at the Portland Thorns NWSL team, Farrelly and Shim said Riley forced them to kiss each other while at his apartment. “This guy has a pattern,” Shim told The Athletic. US international and Portland team-mate Alex Morgan, who played under Riley at the same time, confirmed the players’ allegations and said she had tried to help them file a report with the league. “I am sickened and have too many thoughts to share at this moment,” Morgan wrote in a tweet of support on Thursday.  “Bottom line: protect your players. Do the right thing NWSL.” In a statement to The Athletic, Riley denied wrongdoing, describing the allegations as “completely untrue.” “I have never had sex with, or made sexual advances towards these players,” he told the website. The Courage meanwhile hailed players for “bravely sharing their stories.” “The North Carolina Football Club is united together in our commitment to creating a safe, positive and respectful environment, not only within our club but across the league and our great sport,” the club said. The league’s player’s union, the NWSLPA said in a tweet that “systemic abuse” was “plaguing the NWSL.” “Words cannot adequately capture our anger, pain, sadness and disappointment,” the NWSLPA said. NWSL commissioner Lisa Baird said the league was “shocked and disgusted” by the revelations in the Athletic and said the league was implementing a new anonymous reporting process for players, team and league staff to raise concerns. “We ask our players and all associated with the league to raise their concerns to us, as we continue to make our league a safe, positive and respectful environment,” Baird said.

Los Angeles (AFP) – The North Carolina Courage fired head coach Paul Riley on Thursday as fresh allegations of sexual misconduct swept across the top professional women’s soccer league in the United States. North Carolina, part of the National Women’s Soccer League, said in a statement Riley had been dismissed with immediate effect following “very serious allegations of misconduct.” Riley’s dismissal came after The Athletic website earlier Thursday detailed wide-ranging sexual misconduct by the 58-year-old Englishman spanning multiple teams and leagues since 2010. He is the second NWSL coach to be dismissed this week after the league terminated Washington Spirit coach Richie Burke’s contract following an investigation into allegations of verbal and emotional abuse. The Athletic reported that two players, Sinead Farrelly and Meleana “Mana” Shim, had made allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Riley. Farrelly, who played for Riley at three different teams in different leagu
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Leicester, Napoli sink to Europa League defeat, Kamara booed in Rangers loss London (AFP) – Leicester and Napoli face an uphill task to reach the Europa League knockout stages after both fell to shock defeats on Thursday, while Rangers’ 1-0 loss to Sparta Prague was overshadowed by another race row involving Glen Kamara. A much-changed Leicester went down 1-0 to Legia Warsaw in Poland, while Napoli’s unbeaten record this season was ended by Quincy Promes’ double for Spartak Moscow in a thrilling 3-2 win for the Russians at the Diego Maradona stadium. Unlike the Italians, who top Serie A with a 100 percent record, Leicester have also started poorly in the Premier League. With that in mind Brendan Rodgers made wholesale changes ahead of Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace and paid a heavy price. The only goal of a cagey encounter in Warsaw arrived on 31 minutes as Mahir Emreli shrugged off Daniel Amartey and drilled a low shot through Jannik Vestergaard’s legs and in off the post. “I’ve made the changes but it doesn’t take away the importance from it. We have four more games to qualify,” said Rodgers. “We’ve got one point from two games but there is enough time to do that.” Napoli got off to a flying start as Elif Elmas struck after just 11 seconds. However, Mario Rui’s red card on 29 minutes changed the course of the game. Promes levelled early in the second period and Mikhail Ignatov put the visitors in front before Maximiliano Caufriez’s dismissal balanced up the numbers. Another goal from Promes in stoppage time put the game beyond Napoli despite Victor Osimhen pulling back a late consolation. Legia top the group on six points with Spartak on three and the more fancied Leicester and Napoli left on one each. – Gerrard ‘not surprised’ by Kamara abuse – Rangers’ poor European form also continued as Steven Gerrard’s men were beaten in the Czech capital where the focus again fell on Kamara. The Finnish international was racially abused by Slavia Prague defender Ondrej Kudela last season, which earned the Czech international a 10-game UEFA ban and saw him miss Euro 2020. The Letna Stadium was originally meant to be shut for Rangers’ visit following a separate racist charge against Sparta after Monaco’s Aurelien Tchouameni was subjected to abuse in August. UEFA instead agreed to a proposal for the game to go ahead in front of mainly schoolchildren with some accompanying adults, but booing was audible any time Kamara touched the ball. David Hancko’s first-half headed goal condemned Rangers to a second consecutive defeat in Group A before Kamara was sent off with 15 minutes remaining for two bookable offences. “I’m not surprised. We’re playing behind closed doors, apparently, for a reason,” said Gerrard. “It’s not the first time there have been issues in this place. The powers that be don’t do enough.” Karl Toko Ekambi scored twice for Lyon as they thrashed Brondby 3-0 to stay top of Group A with maximum points from two games. Celtic are also without a point after being thrashed 4-0 at home by Bayer Leverkusen. Piero Hincapie and 18-year-old sensation Florian Wirtz gave the Germans a commanding half-time lead. Lucas Alario’s penalty and Armine Adil’s stoppage-time strike rounded off the rout in Glasgow. Betis beat Ferencvaros 2-1 in Hungary to move level on six points with Leverkusen. West Ham also made it two wins from two games with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Rapid Vienna thanks to goals from Declan Rice and Said Benrahma. In Group B, Real Sociedad and Monaco played out a 1-1 draw in San Sebastian, while PSV Eindhoven moved to the top of the section with a 4-1 win at Sturm Graz.

London (AFP) – Leicester and Napoli face an uphill task to reach the Europa League knockout stages after both fell to shock defeats on Thursday, while Rangers’ 1-0 loss to Sparta Prague was overshadowed by another race row involving Glen Kamara. A much-changed Leicester went down 1-0 to Legia Warsaw in Poland, while Napoli’s unbeaten record this season was ended by Quincy Promes’ double for Spartak Moscow in a thrilling 3-2 win for the Russians at the Diego Maradona stadium. Unlike the Italians, who top Serie A with a 100 percent record, Leicester have also started poorly in the Premier League. With that in mind Brendan Rodgers made wholesale changes ahead of Sunday’s trip to Crystal Palace and paid a heavy price. The only goal of a cagey encounter in Warsaw arrived on 31 minutes as Mahir Emreli shrugged off Daniel Amartey and drilled a low shot through Jannik Vestergaard’s legs and in off the post. “I’ve made the changes but it doesn’t take away the importance from it. We have f
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Rangers’ Kamara red-carded in new Prague flashpoint as children jeer Prague (AFP) – Glen Kamara was sent off as Rangers lost 1-0 at Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday, just over six months after he was embroiled in a racism row in a game against Sparta’s great rivals, Slavia. Finnish international Kamara received a second yellow card with 15 minutes to go after being booed throughout the game by groups of children who were allowed to attend. UEFA closed the Sparta ground for the match over racism charges, but the Prague club was allowed to invite 10,000 youngsters, all aged between six and 14, owing to an exception for organised groups. They booed Kamara every time he touched the ball and cheered as he was sent off. “I thought both (bookings) were harsh,” said Rangers manager Steven Gerrard. “I thought the first one was just a foul, but when you’re on a yellow card you’ve got to be careful where your arms are.” During a Europa League last-16 game between Rangers and Slavia Prague in March, Kamara was the target of an alleged racist slur from Slavia defender Ondrej Kudela. Slavia claimed Kamara had then punched Kudela. UEFA handed Kudela a 10-match ban from international competitions, ruling him out of Euro 2020, while Kamara received a three-game ban. Kamara’s lawyer Aamer Anwar was upset with the crowd after the Sparta game, saying that “this evening should be an embarrassment for the Czech side”. “A huge proportion of those children booed Glen’s every touch of the ball,” he said in a statement. “Tonight shows yet again that Prague has a serious problem with racism and as usual UEFA is nowhere to be seen.” Thursday’s result leaves Rangers with no points from two games at the bottom of Group A led by Lyon with six points. Sparta are second with four. Slovak defender David Hancko scored for Sparta on 29 minutes with a glancing header from a corner. The ball hit the far post and Allan McGregor’s dive came just too late to stop it on the goal line. – ‘Tough opposition’ – “The result stings a bit because I don’t think there was too much between both teams,” Gerrard said about his 50th European game with Rangers. Rangers dominated possession in the first half but had problems breaking down the solid Sparta defence. “We certainly need to improve our play around the area in terms of our creation and our variety around the box, I don’t think we tested the keeper enough tonight,” said Gerrard. “But the game was ultimately decided by a set-play goal, which we’re obviously very disappointed about.” Fashion Sakala offered their only shot on goal in the first half, but Sparta goalkeeper Florin Nita saved well. At the other end, Bulgarian winger Martin Minchev forced a superb save from McGregor 10 minutes into the game before seeing another shot stopped by the Rangers goalkeeper 15 minutes later. Sparta showed more attacking spirit after the restart and produced two decent chances right after half-time. Less than a minute into the second half, forward Adam Hlozek sprinted into the box and found winger Jakub Pesek who hit the crossbar. Two minutes later, Minchev missed the goal from close range in another clear-cut chance and McGregor denied Lukas Haraslin in a one-on-one. David Moberg Karlsson then missed for Rangers in stoppage time. “I must admit they created the better chances,” said Gerrard. “The pleasing thing for me is it was a tough opposition, a tough game, we had to adapt and we stayed in the game until the final moment.” Rangers next face Brondby at home in the group stage while Sparta host Lyon.

Prague (AFP) – Glen Kamara was sent off as Rangers lost 1-0 at Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday, just over six months after he was embroiled in a racism row in a game against Sparta’s great rivals, Slavia. Finnish international Kamara received a second yellow card with 15 minutes to go after being booed throughout the game by groups of children who were allowed to attend. UEFA closed the Sparta ground for the match over racism charges, but the Prague club was allowed to invite 10,000 youngsters, all aged between six and 14, owing to an exception for organised groups. They booed Kamara every time he touched the ball and cheered as he was sent off. “I thought both (bookings) were harsh,” said Rangers manager Steven Gerrard. “I thought the first one was just a foul, but when you’re on a yellow card you’ve got to be careful where your arms are.” During a Europa League last-16 game between Rangers and Slavia Prague in March, Kamara was the target of an alleged racist sl
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Super-sub Kane bags hat-trick for Spurs in Conference League win Paris (AFP) – Harry Kane scored a hat-trick after coming off the bench to seal a 5-1 win for Tottenham Hotspur over Slovenian champions Mura in the Europa Conference League group stage on Thursday. Dele Alli’s penalty and a goal from Giovani Lo Celso put Spurs in control after just eight minutes in north London, but a brilliant volley from Ziga Kous cut the deficit shortly after half-time. Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo introduced Kane, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura for the final 30 minutes, a triple change that helped the struggling Premier League club wrap up a much-needed victory. Lucas played through for Kane to stab home on 68 minutes, and the England forward struck again after sweeping in from Son’s cross. Kane, yet to score in the league this season, completed his treble in the closing minutes after a slick pass from Lo Celso. Three straight league defeats have cranked up the pressure on Nuno, who was named Premier League manager of the month for August after leading Spurs to wins in their first three matches. Another tricky test awaits in the shape of Aston Villa at home this weekend, but this was a morale-boosting result and sent Tottenham top of Group G on four points. They lead Rennes on goal difference after the French side came from behind to beat Vitesse Arnhem 2-1 in the Netherlands. Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham scored as Jose Mourinho’s Roma eased to a 3-0 victory away to Zorya Luhansk of Ukraine in Group C. Stephan El Shaarawy put Roma ahead early in Zaporizhia and Smalling headed in a second on 66 minutes before Abraham struck shortly after coming on as a substitute. Roma top their section with a maximum six points as they bounced back from a weekend derby defeat by Lazio in Serie A. Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt are second on four points after a 0-0 draw away to CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria. Union Berlin recorded their first points with a 3-0 win over Maccabi Haifa, while former European Cup winners Feyenoord defeated Slavia Prague 2-1 to go top in Group E.

Paris (AFP) – Harry Kane scored a hat-trick after coming off the bench to seal a 5-1 win for Tottenham Hotspur over Slovenian champions Mura in the Europa Conference League group stage on Thursday. Dele Alli’s penalty and a goal from Giovani Lo Celso put Spurs in control after just eight minutes in north London, but a brilliant volley from Ziga Kous cut the deficit shortly after half-time. Tottenham boss Nuno Espirito Santo introduced Kane, Son Heung-min and Lucas Moura for the final 30 minutes, a triple change that helped the struggling Premier League club wrap up a much-needed victory. Lucas played through for Kane to stab home on 68 minutes, and the England forward struck again after sweeping in from Son’s cross. Kane, yet to score in the league this season, completed his treble in the closing minutes after a slick pass from Lo Celso. Three straight league defeats have cranked up the pressure on Nuno, who was named Premier League manager of the month for August after leading S
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Arteta relishes pressure to deliver success at Arsenal London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta says it is right that every Arsenal defeat should be viewed as a crisis as he targets a fourth straight Premier League win against high-flying Brighton. The Gunners beat Tottenham 3-1 on Sunday to lift themselves to 10th in the table, one place above their north London rivals. It marks a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for Arteta’s men, who were rock bottom of the table after three defeats in their first three games. The Spaniard said he welcomed the intense pressure to deliver as he prepares for Saturday’s trip to the south coast of England. “I think that feeling is very necessary at a big club because every defeat is a crisis and it should be a crisis, and you have to deal with that pressure,” Arteta said on Thursday. “If you want to be the best you have to cope with that and realise that excellence is the only way and the only thing that is expected. Anything else isn’t good enough.” The former Arsenal midfielder and captain said the club had a “great history because we have that competitive edge”. “We have that mentality as well and that willingness to look further and have that ambition,” he added. “To achieve that you need to be able to deal with that.” Arteta must learn to cope without midfielder Granit Xhaka, who faces up to three months on the sidelines with a knee problem. Xhaka, accidentally caught by Spurs forward Lucas Moura, could be out until next year, although it is hoped the Swiss midfielder will not need surgery. “He has already had a couple of incidents this season with Covid and the suspension and now a long-term injury,” Arteta said. “It is a significant injury, but he probably escaped an even worse injury in that action. He is a strong man and will use this time to focus on other things.”

London (AFP) – Mikel Arteta says it is right that every Arsenal defeat should be viewed as a crisis as he targets a fourth straight Premier League win against high-flying Brighton. The Gunners beat Tottenham 3-1 on Sunday to lift themselves to 10th in the table, one place above their north London rivals. It marks a dramatic turnaround in fortunes for Arteta’s men, who were rock bottom of the table after three defeats in their first three games. The Spaniard said he welcomed the intense pressure to deliver as he prepares for Saturday’s trip to the south coast of England. “I think that feeling is very necessary at a big club because every defeat is a crisis and it should be a crisis, and you have to deal with that pressure,” Arteta said on Thursday. “If you want to be the best you have to cope with that and realise that excellence is the only way and the only thing that is expected. Anything else isn’t good enough.” The former Arsenal midfielder and captain said the club had a “gr
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Sawyers welcomes jail term for football fan who racially abused him London (AFP) – Stoke City midfielder Romaine Sawyers on Thursday welcomed an eight-week prison sentence given to a West Brom fan for racially abusing him online while he was playing for the club. Simon Silwood, 50, was jailed over a “grossly offensive” Facebook post in which he said Sawyers should win the “Baboon d’Or”, a sarcastic reference to the Ballon d’Or trophy for the world footballer of the year. Silwood denied the offence, telling police that the message, which followed a 5-0 defeat to Manchester City in January, was “stupid not racial”, adding autocorrect had changed the word “buffoon” to “baboon”. The supporter, who has been banned for life by West Brom, was convicted last month at Walsall Magistrates’ Court, in central England, after District Judge Briony Clarke ruled he had meant the post to be offensive. Passing sentence on Silwood at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Clarke described it as a “serious offence”. “There is no place for racism or racist abuse online,” she said. “This clearly in my view crosses the custody threshold. I assess the remorse you have for your actions as very minimal indeed. “In my view it (the offence) falls into the category of greatest harm. We have to accept it had a wider impact and a substantial impact on Mr Sawyers.” Midfielder Sawyers, who moved to Stoke on loan after West Brom were relegated from the Premier League last season, said the custodial sentence was justified. Both teams are currently in the second-tier English Championship. “Racial abuse towards anyone, in any circumstance, is totally unacceptable and I hope this case will serve as a deterrent to others,” he said in a statement. The 29-year-old St Kitts and Nevis international added: “It is widely accepted that social media companies must do more to stop the publication of racism on their platforms. “I again urge them to take the necessary action required to prevent anyone from receiving the abuse I experienced.” Earlier in September, another football fan was handed a suspended jail term for posting racist comments on social media, blaming three black players for England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. Scott McCluskey singled out Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho in an abusive Facebook message after they missed their penalties in a shootout at Wembley.

London (AFP) – Stoke City midfielder Romaine Sawyers on Thursday welcomed an eight-week prison sentence given to a West Brom fan for racially abusing him online while he was playing for the club. Simon Silwood, 50, was jailed over a “grossly offensive” Facebook post in which he said Sawyers should win the “Baboon d’Or”, a sarcastic reference to the Ballon d’Or trophy for the world footballer of the year. Silwood denied the offence, telling police that the message, which followed a 5-0 defeat to Manchester City in January, was “stupid not racial”, adding autocorrect had changed the word “buffoon” to “baboon”. The supporter, who has been banned for life by West Brom, was convicted last month at Walsall Magistrates’ Court, in central England, after District Judge Briony Clarke ruled he had meant the post to be offensive. Passing sentence on Silwood at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Clarke described it as a “serious offence”. “There is no place for racism or racist abuse
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Watkins, Tomori return to England squad for World Cup qualifiers London (AFP) – Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins and AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori have returned to the England squad announced on Thursday for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary. But manager Gareth Southgate, whose men top Group I after five wins in their first six games, will have to do without injured defenders Harry Maguire and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Tomori has been included in the squad nearly two years after winning his first and only cap in Kosovo — England’s final match before the coronavirus pandemic shut down world football. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Arsenal from Sheffield United in August, has also returned to the 23-man squad, with Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden involved again after missing the September triple-header with a foot complaint. Southgate said he had been impressed with how Tomori had coped with life in Italy. “I thought he finished last season well,” he said. “He’s playing at a club where there’s an expectation to win every week, so he’s performing under pressure. “I like Fikayo in terms of his aggressiveness as a defender. Because he’s got speed he’s confident enough to defend on the front foot and his use of the ball is improving all the time.” Southgate said Ramsdale was coping well with life at the Emirates after his move. “From Aaron’s perspective, the move to a bigger club with higher expectations and a style of play where he is asked to build with his feet from the back, he’s coping really well,” said the England boss. “I think that’s an important factor for us when looking at the biggest matches, having a goalkeeper who has really adapted well to a move and is full of confidence.” Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham and Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood have both missed out despite impressive performances at club level, with Southgate saying the teenagers’ workloads needed careful monitoring. “These are two players we think can be really exciting for England’s future,” he said. “We don’t want to overload them. We want to make sure we are making the right decisions with them.” England face Andorra away on October 9 before taking on Hungary at Wembley three days later. England squad Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (West Brom), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) Defenders: Conor Coady (Wolves), Reece James (Chelsea), Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa), Luke Shaw (Man Utd), John Stones (Man City), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan/ITA), Kieran Trippier (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Kyle Walker (Man City) Midfielders: Phil Foden (Man City), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Man Utd), Mason Mount (Chelsea), Kalvin Phillips (Leeds), Declan Rice (West Ham) Forwards: Jack Grealish (Man City), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal),  Jadon Sancho (Man Utd), Raheem Sterling (Man City), Ollie Watkins (Aston Villa)

London (AFP) – Aston Villa forward Ollie Watkins and AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori have returned to the England squad announced on Thursday for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Hungary. But manager Gareth Southgate, whose men top Group I after five wins in their first six games, will have to do without injured defenders Harry Maguire and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Tomori has been included in the squad nearly two years after winning his first and only cap in Kosovo — England’s final match before the coronavirus pandemic shut down world football. Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale, who joined Arsenal from Sheffield United in August, has also returned to the 23-man squad, with Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden involved again after missing the September triple-header with a foot complaint. Southgate said he had been impressed with how Tomori had coped with life in Italy. “I thought he finished last season well,” he said. “He’s playing at a club where there’s an expecta
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No Giroud, Kante in France squad for Nations League finals Paris (AFP) – Olivier Giroud has again been left out of the France squad while N’Golo Kante is sidelined for next week’s UEFA Nations League finals in Italy. Giroud was celebrating his 35th birthday on Thursday but he did not mark the occasion with a recall to coach Didier Deschamps’ squad, having already been dropped for a series of World Cup qualifiers at the start of September. The AC Milan striker, who sits just five goals away from equalling Thierry Henry’s all-time record tally of 51 for Les Bleus, also recently tested positive for Covid-19. Kante, like Giroud a key part of the France team that won the World Cup in Russia in 2018, is ruled out after his club Chelsea revealed earlier this week that he had contracted Covid-19. France play Belgium in Turin next Thursday, October 7, in the semi-finals of the Nations League, with hosts Italy taking on Spain the previous day in Milan. The winners will meet in the final at San Siro on Sunday, October 10 for the right to succeed Portugal, who won the inaugural Nations League in 2019. Kingsley Coman has also been left out of the France squad after recently undergoing heart surgery, while there is no place for veteran Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, the long-time back-up to Hugo Lloris. Among the players coming back into the squad are Bayern Munich pair Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez, Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder and Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot. There is also a place for uncapped 22-year-old midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who is currently on loan at Marseille from Arsenal. France squad for UEFA Nations League finals: Goalkeepers: Benoit Costil (Bordeaux), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Mike Maignan (AC Milan/ITA) Defenders: Lucas Digne (Everton/ENG), Leo Dubois (Lyon), Lucas Hernandez (Bayern Munich/GER), Presnel Kimpembe (Paris Saint-Germain), Jules Kounde (Sevilla/ESP), Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano (both Bayern Munich/GER), Rapahel Varane (Manchester United/ENG) Midfielders: Matteo Guendouzi (Marseille), Theo Hernandez (AC Milan/ITA), Paul Pogba (Manchester United/ENG), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus/ITA), Aurelien Tchouameni (Monaco), Jordan Veretout (Roma/ITA) Forwards: Wissam Ben Yedder (Monaco), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP), Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Anthony Martial (Manchester United/ENG), Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)

Paris (AFP) – Olivier Giroud has again been left out of the France squad while N’Golo Kante is sidelined for next week’s UEFA Nations League finals in Italy. Giroud was celebrating his 35th birthday on Thursday but he did not mark the occasion with a recall to coach Didier Deschamps’ squad, having already been dropped for a series of World Cup qualifiers at the start of September. The AC Milan striker, who sits just five goals away from equalling Thierry Henry’s all-time record tally of 51 for Les Bleus, also recently tested positive for Covid-19. Kante, like Giroud a key part of the France team that won the World Cup in Russia in 2018, is ruled out after his club Chelsea revealed earlier this week that he had contracted Covid-19. France play Belgium in Turin next Thursday, October 7, in the semi-finals of the Nations League, with hosts Italy taking on Spain the previous day in Milan. The winners will meet in the final at San Siro on Sunday, October 10 for the right to succeed Po
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West Brom fan jailed for racially abusing Sawyers London (AFP) – A fan of English Championship side West Brom was Thursday jailed for eight weeks after being found guilty of racially abusing one of the club’s own players. Simon Silwood posted a message saying Romaine Sawyers should win the “Baboon d’Or” — a sarcastic reference to the Ballon d’Or trophy for the world footballer of the year — after his team’s 5-0 defeat by Manchester City at the Hawthorns on January 26. Silwood denied the offence, telling police that the message was “stupid not racial”, adding autocorrect had changed the word “buffoon” to “baboon”. The 50-year-old, who has been banned for life by the club, was convicted last month at Walsall Magistrates’ Court, in central England, after District Judge Briony Clarke ruled he had meant the post to be offensive. The court heard Sawyers, currently on loan at Stoke City, was left feeling “harassed, alarmed and distressed” after reading it. Passing sentence on Silwood at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Judge Clarke said: “There is no place for racism or racist abuse online. This clearly in my view crosses the custody threshold.” Clarke added: “I assess the remorse you have for your actions as very minimal indeed. “In my view it (the offence) falls into the category of greatest harm. We have to accept it had a wider impact and a substantial impact on Mr Sawyers.” Earlier this month, another football fan was handed a suspended jail term for posting racist comments on social media, blaming three black players for England’s Euro 2020 final defeat to Italy. Scott McCluskey singled out Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho in an abusive Facebook message after they missed their penalties in a shootout.

London (AFP) – A fan of English Championship side West Brom was Thursday jailed for eight weeks after being found guilty of racially abusing one of the club’s own players. Simon Silwood posted a message saying Romaine Sawyers should win the “Baboon d’Or” — a sarcastic reference to the Ballon d’Or trophy for the world footballer of the year — after his team’s 5-0 defeat by Manchester City at the Hawthorns on January 26. Silwood denied the offence, telling police that the message was “stupid not racial”, adding autocorrect had changed the word “buffoon” to “baboon”. The 50-year-old, who has been banned for life by the club, was convicted last month at Walsall Magistrates’ Court, in central England, after District Judge Briony Clarke ruled he had meant the post to be offensive. The court heard Sawyers, currently on loan at Stoke City, was left feeling “harassed, alarmed and distressed” after reading it. Passing sentence on Silwood at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, Judge
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Enrique calls up 17-year-old Gavi for Nations League semi-final Madrid (AFP) – Luis Enrique called up Barcelona’s 17-year-old midfielder Gavi to the Spain squad on Thursday, despite the youngster having only four La Liga appearances to his name. Barcelona’s 18-year-old playmaker Pedri also made a return after being left out in September following his hectic summer playing at both Euro 2020 and the Olympics. But Luis Enrique deemed it too soon for Barca’s Ansu Fati, the 18-year-old who has made only two appearances for his club after 10 months out with a serious knee injury. Gavi was the surprise inclusion in another youthful Spain squad, who face Italy in the semi-finals of the Nations League in Milan on Wednesday. “When you see him playing at this level, he impresses,” said Luis Enrique. “I have known him for a long time, he was already a stand-out player in Barca’s reserve team. I have no doubt about the level he will reach in the future.” The other notable players on the list are the full-backs, with Sporting Lisbon right-back Pedro Porro, Chelsea veteran Marcos Alonso and Tottenham left-back Sergio Reguilon all included. Villarreal’s 18-year-old left winger Yeremi Pino has been rewarded with a first call-up after some excellent recent performances and there was a place for midfielder Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad, who has also enjoyed a strong start to the season in La Liga. Luis Enrique admitted he wanted to pick Fati but said: “The best for now is that he is not with us, that he stays with his club and that he regains his level. I am sure that he will be able to help us again in the near future.” It is the third consecutive squad for which Luis Enrique has decided not to call up any Real Madrid players, with Nacho Fernandez, Miguel Gutierrez and Marco Asensio among those ignored. Spain squad: Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), David De Gea (Manchester United/ENG), Robert Sanchez (Brighton & Hove Albion/ENG) Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea/ENG), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City/ENG), Inigo Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Sergio Reguilon (Tottenham/(ENG), Marcos Alonso (Chelsea/ENG), Pedro Porro (Sporting Lisbon/POR) Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Pedri, Gavi (all Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City/ENG), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad) Forwards: Pablo Fornals (West Ham/ENG), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Pablo Sarabia (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Yeremi Pino (Villarreal), Ferran Torres (Manchester City/ENG)

Madrid (AFP) – Luis Enrique called up Barcelona’s 17-year-old midfielder Gavi to the Spain squad on Thursday, despite the youngster having only four La Liga appearances to his name. Barcelona’s 18-year-old playmaker Pedri also made a return after being left out in September following his hectic summer playing at both Euro 2020 and the Olympics. But Luis Enrique deemed it too soon for Barca’s Ansu Fati, the 18-year-old who has made only two appearances for his club after 10 months out with a serious knee injury. Gavi was the surprise inclusion in another youthful Spain squad, who face Italy in the semi-finals of the Nations League in Milan on Wednesday. “When you see him playing at this level, he impresses,” said Luis Enrique. “I have known him for a long time, he was already a stand-out player in Barca’s reserve team. I have no doubt about the level he will reach in the future.” The other notable players on the list are the full-backs, with Sporting Lisbon right-back Pedro Porro,
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How a hybrid model between American sports and European soccer could be the game’s ultimate blueprint The dismissal of the European Super League symbolized the rejection of the Americanization of European soccer. Essentially, closed leagues are not desirable in the European landscape. Promotion and relegation and the possibility of intercontinental competition makes European soccer special. However, European soccer has a crisis of competitiveness. Realistically, if only a fraction of clubs win the league over a 20-year period, how competitive is it? This stifling of theoretical possibility stifles the sport from reaching the highest potential of compelling storylines. An open system can be married with features that help make American professional sports leagues more competitive than any of the top European soccer leagues. In theory, that could help European leagues rival the success of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. A hybrid between American sports and European soccer A hybrid model that combines open systems and a pro-competitive feature from American sports is desirable. Now, the vast majority of soccer fans of the European game can only dream of their preferred club winning prestigious honors. That is, unless, they play the likes of the FIFA or Football Manager games. Cognitive dissonance permeates on both sides of the Atlantic. U.S. professional sports is overly commercialized. Leagues, teams and fans smack of outward arrogance. Yet, Major League Baseball employs a looser model of restrictions than other U.S. professional sports. This applies to marketing, salary structure and even free agency. MLB possesses a far greater share of titles amongst member clubs than in top European leagues. Thirteen different teams won the Commissioner’s Trophy over the last 20 seasons. That number is unimaginable in leagues such as the Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, LaLiga and Ligue Un. Remarkably, professional baseball does not employ a salary cap like other American leagues. However, as we will explore, MLB has other mechanisms that ensure competitiveness and the health of all its clubs. One such mechanism – a luxury tax – is a great idea for professional soccer. Leicester City’s improbably EPL crown signaled the first title not won by a “top six” team in 21 years. In the same period that baseball has enjoyed 13 different champions, the Premier League has had six different champions, the Bundesliga five, LaLiga four and Serie A just three in the same period. The lack of winners becomes more pronounced when one adds into the equation the total number of clubs that have competed in the four leagues over the 20 years – 49 different teams in the Premier League alone, for example. Salary caps in soccer LaLiga implemented the salary cap ineffectively in their first attempt. The cap, established in 2014, differed for teams. It was insurmountable for the clubs already thriving, preventing any positive results. However, recent developments are a major step forward for the Spanish league. COVID-19 reduced the cap, impacting teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid that already felt the impacts of financial loss. READ MORE: Barcelona’s $1.5 billion debt: How a mega club fell into a financial black hole. Consequently, this created more parity in the league. Undoubtedly, the implementation of the cap hurts certain teams more, especially Barcelona. Still, the concept will leave Spanish soccer in a healthier state when it runs its course. Javier Tebas, the president of LaLiga, talked about how difficult finances can be on all teams, not just those at the top. “It’s important we all understand that it will be difficult for new players to be joining the clubs. They are now looking to reduce costs. Some clubs will have to sell players or reduce their salaries. There’s no other choice.” He’s right, and one added benefit is potentially more competitive league title races. However, salary caps also promote wage suppression in addition to their pro-competitive nature. Therefore, it may not be the best solution to the issue. World Soccer Talk Podcast · The Cult Of Watching Soccer Luxury tax in professional sports American pro sports rub many the wrong way. There are many instances of things that take away from the spirit of sports. For example, the manufactured stadium atmospheres, gaudy VIP suites, and publicly funded stadia. They all differ from European fan experiences. Nonetheless, the U.S. achieved an incredibly even playing field across their major leagues. Let’s focus again on Major League Baseball. MLB has revenue sharing without restrictive franchise-driven marketing that is imposed by the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLS. Moreover, MLB has a “Competitive Balance Tax,” commonly known as the luxury tax. In addition, MLB, like other U.S. sports leagues divides general revenue between its teams. This offsets some of the general and inherent inequity between teams in different market levels. In most seasons, only a handful of MLB clubs pay the luxury tax. But, it ensures competitive balance. This means if a team spends over a certain rolling amount on salaries, a tax is assessed on that club. That tax goes toward a fund for player benefits. Therefore, this allows other teams to equitably split the luxury tax paid by the team. Derek Jeter was part of the Yankees team to win four World Series in five years in the late 1990s. MLB distributes general revenue to all MLB teams. Luxury tax receipts are not distributed in the same way. In soccer, those receipts could be. Prior to the implementation of the Baseball’s luxury tax in 1997, fears persisted that big-spending teams captured the sport. At the time, the New York Yankees in particular reigned over the competition. In fact, what transpired since 2000 is an incredibly competitive professional sport. Without the typical wage suppression like other American leagues, baseball’s parity thrived. Applying a luxury tax to European soccer There are plenty of questions on the practicality and practice of a luxury tax in European soccer. Certain factors, notably transfer wages, do not exist in American sports. In our sport, the North American Soccer League (NASL) quietly implemented a luxury tax system in 2017. Had the league survived its sanctioning crisis with US Soccer later that year, competitive play could have existed. Controversially, the NASL did not use caps on spending. As fans of the former league know, New York and Miami’s big spending dwarfed the ability of other smaller market clubs to spend. In time, the NASL may have become remarkably competitive. The league could have accomplished this without the hard cap set up by their MLS counterpart. With Major League Soccer, clubs regress to the artificial mean instead of taking advantage of clubs investing more. In theory, this could have benefitted the competition among rivals. A luxury tax, for example in the Premier League, could work to enhance revenue divided by clubs outside the proverbial “top six.” Consequently, there is an increased sense of balance. The European Super League breakaway effort by those same six clubs could serve as justification for such a move. This ensures the long-term health of England’s top flight. Additionally, the competitiveness of clubs excluded from the Super League would grow. European soccer pundits consider a lack of promotion and relegation as anti-competitive. English supporters and German clubs spearheaded the near-immediate destruction of the concept. However, the lack of promotion and relegation in US sports does not mean that other, pro-competitive measures can be studied from US leagues and implemented in Europe. Realistic Expectation We already see the success of Spain’s salary cap. While hard caps are wage suppression techniques that should be avoided, luxury taxes offer something different. These taxes are efficient and progressive ways of creating increased competition. The Premier League benefits from having multiple clubs that win a title in a given season. Still, those clubs are practically the only clubs that can win a title in any given year. When American pro sports features are often mentioned in Europe, the assumption is that it involves closed leagues and hard salary structures. However, the luxury tax idea is a softer landing which doesn’t require a closed league structure or wage suppression. Yet, it can make all the difference toward creating a more competitive landscape.

The dismissal of the European Super League symbolized the rejection of the Americanization of European soccer . Essentially, closed leagues are not desirable in the European landscape. Promotion and relegation and the possibility of intercontinental competition makes European soccer special. However, European soccer has a crisis of competitiveness. Realistically, if only a fraction of clubs win the league over a 20-year period, how competitive is it? This stifling of theoretical possibility stifles the sport from reaching the highest potential of compelling storylines. An open system can be married with features that help make American professional sports leagues more competitive than any of the top European soccer leagues. In theory, that could help European leagues rival the success of the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. A hybrid between American sports and European soccer A hybrid model that combines open systems and a pro-competitive feature from American sports is desirable. Now, the
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Where to find Spurs vs. Mura on TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Spurs vs. Mura on US TV in the Europa Conference League, you’ve come to the right place. In the Europa Conference League, Spurs vs. Mura won’t be shown on TV but will be available via streaming (more details below). Match: Spurs vs. Mura Kickoff: Thursday, 3pm ET Looking to watch Spurs vs. Mura online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.   We Recommend: US only.   Who: Spurs vs. Mura What: Europa Conference League When: Game kicks off at 3pm ET / Noon PT; Thursday, September 30, 2021 Where: Live on Paramount+   Paramount+ is now offering a 7-day free trial promotion for new subscribers, giving fans the ability to watch a ton of games (live and on-demand) as well as all of their other programming for free during their trial. After the 7-day trial, Paramount+ is just $4.99 per month. And guarantees you access to all of the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League games through the end of the 2023/24 season. Paramount+ includes exclusive original programs such as Evil, Star Trek Discovery, Star Trek Picard, The Good Fight, and The Stand, as well as movies including A Quiet Place Part II, Infinite and more. You can also stream CBSN (CBS News), CBS Sports HQ and ET Live, as well as — with the Premium Plan — your local CBS network. Advantages of Paramount+ include (1) More than 10,000 episodes of CBS content, (2) more than 2,000 soccer games a season, and (3) will stream every UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Conference League game through 2024. Paramount+ also includes plenty of other soccer games from the Champions League, Europa League, Serie A, NWSL, Argentine league, Concacaf Nations League, away World Cup qualifiers for the US men and women’s national teams plus action from the Brazilian league, Asian Champions League and much more. Paramount+ is available on PC or Mac as well as Roku, iPhone and Android phones, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation 4, Samsung smart TV, Vizio and XBOX One. Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming. SEE MORE: Schedule of Conference League games on US TV and streaming To find out when soccer games are on, download the free Soccer TV Schedules App which includes listings of all of the live soccer matches available in the United States (available on Apple iOS devices and Android devices). Here are the steps to sign up for your 7-day free trial to Paramount+: 1. After clicking the ‘Try It Free’ button, you’ll see the following page that explains the two choices you’ll find. Click ‘Continue’ to be presented with the options: 2. Choose between the ‘Limited Commercials’ or ‘Commercial Free’ option. If you want to save over 15% with an annual plan, click the checkbox. Then hit ‘Continue’ to move on. 3. Next, you’ll need to create a free Paramount+ account: 4. Enter your contact details, and click ‘Continue’ to move to the next step. 5. The following page explains the free 7-day trial: 6. Enter your payment details and then click ‘Start Paramount+’ to begin your free trial.  

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Spurs vs. Mura on US TV in the Europa Conference League, you’ve come to the right place. In the Europa Conference League, Spurs vs. Mura won’t be shown on TV but will be available via streaming (more details below). Match: Spurs vs. Mura Kickoff: Thursday, 3pm ET Looking to watch Spurs vs. Mura online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.   We Recommend: US only.   Who: Spurs vs. Mura What: Europa Conference League When: Game kicks off at 3pm ET / Noon PT; Thursday, September 30, 2021 Where: Live on Paramount+   Paramount+ is now offering a 7-day free trial promotion for new subscribers, giving fans the ability to watch a ton of games (live and on-demand) as well as all of their other programming for free during their trial. After the 7-day trial, Paramount+ is just $4.99 per month. And guarantees you access to all of the Champio
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Where to find Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen on TV and streaming If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen on US TV in the Europa League, you’ve come to the right place. In the Europa League, Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen won’t be shown on TV but will be available via streaming (more details below). Match: Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen Kickoff: Thursday, 3pm ET Looking to watch Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.   We Recommend: US only.   Who: Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen What: Europa League When: Game kicks off at 3pm ET / Noon PT; Thursday, September 30, 2021 Where: Live on Paramount+, TUDNxtra and fuboTV (via TUDN; Spanish only) (free trial)   Paramount+ is now offering a 7-day free trial promotion for new subscribers, giving fans the ability to watch a ton of games (live and on-demand) as well as all of their other programming for free during their trial. After the 7-day trial, Paramount+ is just $4.99 per month. And guarantees you access to all of the Champions League and Europa League games through the end of the 2023/24 season. Paramount+ includes exclusive original programs such as Evil, Star Trek Discovery, Star Trek Picard, The Good Fight, and The Stand, as well as movies including A Quiet Place Part II, Infinite and more. You can also stream CBSN (CBS News), CBS Sports HQ and ET Live, as well as — with the Premium Plan — your local CBS network. Advantages of Paramount+ include (1) More than 10,000 episodes of CBS content, (2) more than 2,000 soccer games a season, and (3) will stream every UEFA Champions League and Europa League game through 2024. Paramount+ also includes plenty of other soccer games from the Champions League, Conference League, Serie A, NWSL, Argentine league, Concacaf Nations League, away World Cup qualifiers for the US men and women’s national teams plus action from the Brazilian league, Asian Champions League and much more. Paramount+ is available on PC or Mac as well as Roku, iPhone and Android phones, Apple TV, Chromecast, Amazon Fire TV, PlayStation 4, Samsung smart TV, Vizio and XBOX One. Courtesy of World Soccer Talk, download a complimentary copy of The Ultimate Soccer TV And Streaming Guide, which features details on where to watch all of the leagues from around the world on US TV and streaming. SEE MORE: Schedule of Europa League games on US TV and streaming To find out when soccer games are on, download the free Soccer TV Schedules App which includes listings of all of the live soccer matches available in the United States (available on Apple iOS devices and Android devices). Here are the steps to sign up for your 7-day free trial to Paramount+: 1. After clicking the ‘Try It Free’ button, you’ll see the following page that explains the two choices you’ll find. Click ‘Continue’ to be presented with the options: 2. Choose between the ‘Limited Commercials’ or ‘Commercial Free’ option. If you want to save over 15% with an annual plan, click the checkbox. Then hit ‘Continue’ to move on. 3. Next, you’ll need to create a free Paramount+ account: 4. Enter your contact details, and click ‘Continue’ to move to the next step. 5. The following page explains the free 7-day trial: 6. Enter your payment details and then click ‘Start Paramount+’ to begin your free trial.  

If you’re trying to find out how you can watch Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen on US TV in the Europa League, you’ve come to the right place. In the Europa League, Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen won’t be shown on TV but will be available via streaming (more details below). Match: Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen Kickoff: Thursday, 3pm ET Looking to watch Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen online from your work, home or on the go? If you live in the USA, there are several options to catch all the action.   We Recommend: US only.   Who: Celtic vs. Bayer Leverkusen What: Europa League When: Game kicks off at 3pm ET / Noon PT; Thursday, September 30, 2021 Where: Live on Paramount+ , TUDNxtra and fuboTV (via TUDN; Spanish only) (free trial)   Paramount+ is now offering a 7-day free trial promotion for new subscribers, giving fans the ability to watch a ton of games (live and on-demand) as well as all of their other programming for free during their trial. After the 7-da
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