The first round of matches in the Copa America are underway and some countries are already looking to have wrapped up their group.
Group A: Colombia’s 2-0 win over the USA should ensure they win their group and head to Seattle for their quarter-final tie. The runner-up will be decided in the second round of matches tonight.
Group B: Brazil’s disappointing 0-0 draw with Ecuador leaves this group wide open. Brazil will probably have to beat Peru in their third game in order to win the group.
Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has repeated his desire to remain on Roma and not join Antonio Conte’s Italian revolution at Stamford Bridge.
The Belgium international admitted earlier this week that the Blues had made an offer to bring him to Stamford Bridge with talks taking place between two the clubs.
The 28-year-old is one of Conte’s main targets but Nainggolan, who has continued to stress he is happy with the Giallorossi, insists that he plans remain with the Serie A outfit heading into next season.
Much of the focus on Pep Pep Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City has been focused on what superstars will he entice to join him at Eastlands?
But City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarek wants to make sure that the new boss does not overlook the young talent that is already at the club:
“[It was] one of the reasons why Pep was so highly considered by us. That’s really that ethos that we have at Manchester City that Pep I think actually believes to the bone” Al Mubarek said.
Despite the half empty stadiums for some games, ESPN Deportes is reporting that CONMEBOL and CONCACAF are talking about making the Copa America a once-every-four-years tournament to be permanently hosted by the United States.
Apparently discussions have been ongoing for some time, with a CONCACAF spokesman indicating they were close, according to the ESPN Deportes report.
This summer’s tournament, scheduled to mark the 100th anniversary of South America’s championship, includes six teams from North and Central America and the Caribbean and is being hosted outside of the continent for the first time.
A new twist to what could be one of the stories of the summer as the Spanish champions have reportedly joined PSG in pursuit of Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho.
On Friday Paul Joyce of the Express broke the story that Paris Saint Germain have contacted Philippe Coutinho’s representatives to express their interest in signing the Brazilian this summer. Le 10 Sport in France reported that Coutinho, reacted “positively” when a possible move was floated with him and that PSG were preparing a £46 million offer for the midfielder.
A CONCACAF team finally scored and won a game in this summer’s Copa America tournament. That it took this long is a bit of a surprise, but that Mexico beat a Luis Suarez-less Uruguay 3-1 should not be.
With the win Mexico, who are justifiable dark horses to lift the trophy come the end of June, are now unbeaten in their last 20 matches.
Few though could have expected that the Mexico hero would be 37-year-old Rafael Marquez, whose late goal wrapped up the win.
Manchester United winger Memphis Depay has refused to blame Louis van Gaal for his disappointing debut season in the Premier League, and backed himself to show his worth next term.
The Holland international was signed from PSV Eindhoven for £25m last June and given the prized No.7 shirt, but he failed to live up to expectations at Old Trafford, despite a promising pre-season.
But, having spent much of the second half of last season on the substitutes bench, Depay is reluctant to point the finger at his compatriot ex-manager Van Gaal, and vowed to impress new boss Jose Mourinho this summer.
It’s official. Inter Milan have become the first Serie A club to fall under Chinese ownership after the Suning Holdings Group completed is purchase of a 68.55% controlling share in the club, and despite early reports suggesting otherwise, Erick Thohir will remain on as president.
Suning is reported to have paid €280 million for the majority stake as part of an overall, plus they are taking on €230 million of debt and a €100 million loan from Thohir.
Thohir told a press conference in Nanjing on Monday:
‘This new partnership with the Suning Holdings Group means Inter are taking a revolutionary step into the future.
Arsene Wenger and Arsenal have been unable to convince England striker Jamie Vardy to leave Leicester City for the Emirates and as a result the England striker has left for the Euros with his future very much undecided.
Arsenal had triggered the £20 million release clause in Vardy’s contract and offered to double his current wages to around £120,000 a week.
But still that was not enough as the striker reportedly feels loyalty to the champions who plucked him from non-league football just four years ago.
The 2016 Copa America Centenario tournament is finally under with the opening round of matches notable for the poor performances by the host country USA and perennial contenders Brazil.
The US kicked off the tournament on Friday and lost 2-0 to a Colombia side that never has to get out of second gear. Meanwhile a drab and uninspired Brazil were lucky to draw 0-0 with Ecuador on Saturday night.
One Sunday pre-tournament dark horse Mexico begins its campaign against Uruguay and on Monday, Lionel Messi and Argentina finish off the first round of matches when they meet Chile in a rematch of last year’s Copa America final.
