PSG vs Real Madrid LIVE SCORE: Latest from Club World Cup semi as Trent PULLS OUT of starting XI at last minute
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Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Robbie Keane's Champions League dates with destiny await
Had Damien Duff not walked away before Shelbourne's European odyssey, his old Ireland partner Robbie Keane might be on the phone this week seeking insider knowledge. Ferencváros are 180 minutes away from progressing into the league phase of the Champions League for the first time in five years. Keane is at the helm and blocking their path are Qarabag. They're the Azerbaijani side that tumbled Shelbourne from the Champions League into the Europa with a 4-0 aggregate victory. Duff was still in charge of Shels when they were drawn against Linfield in the competition, ironically the team they must beat again to sample league stage involvement in the Conference League. Joey O'Brien stepped up when his boss Duff quit in June and, although he's a past Ireland colleague of Keane's too, the rapport Keane had with the latter was foremost to qualifying for a World Cup and Euros over a decade as Ireland's leading lights. Confronting Keane is an opportunity to cement himself in the Ferencváros hotseat. He delivered what was expected after being appointed in January by overseeing their club's eighth Hungarian title in a row but it's on the European stage the owners harbour ambitions of making their mark. That was evidenced by Keane selecting a second string for Saturday's league game. It resulted in the first defeat of their title defence, against rivals Puskás Akadémia too, but it was felt both a necessary and tolerable action given Qarabag go into Tuesday's first leg fresh from a weekend postponement. Prize-money rising to €20m and eight games in Uefa's premier club competition are on the line. 'I rested ten men against the Puskás Academy and we could have won if we had taken advantage of our opportunities,' said Ireland's record goalscorer at Monday's pre-match press conference. 'But that is in the past, let's leave it behind us. This is a completely different series than the league - everyone is talking about how this match is more important than anything else. "This is a big opportunity for our club because in recent years it has not had such a major chance to get into the Champions League. 'There's a huge motivation for both players and coaches to enter the highest level." By beating Ludogorets in last week's second leg, following a scoreless first 90, Keane's side have the parachute of Europa League involvement. Nevertheless, dining at the top table is what's driving the 45-year-old. Trophies were delivered during his first standalone role at Maccabi Tel Aviv, bringing eventual winners Olympiacos to extra-time in the last-16 of the Conference League, but the political backdrop influenced his decision to quit Israel. He was back on the managerial circuit six months later and has moulded an exciting team that features a sprinkling of Hungarian players Ireland will likely face in the opening World Cup qualifier in Dublin on September 6. Teenager Alex Tóth has become a target for German and Italian clubs through his midfield brilliance while 20-year-old striker Zsombor Gruber has begun the season ablaze. Veteran forward Barnabás Varga bagged a brace against the Bulgarian champions last week. Keane also has within his armoury a player he briefly crossed paths with in the Ireland squad. Callum O'Dowda was last month recruited from Brian Barry Murphy's Cardiff City, slotting straight into a left-sided role. Qarabag dumped Ferencváros out of Europe in 2022 but Keane offered a typically forthright answer when asked about it influencing this outcome. 'Why would I watch a match from three years ago!? No previous James Bond movie will be the same as the next. 'I've watched Qarabag's current matches, which are relevant. The teams are very even but I'll keep what I told my players to myself. 'I don't want to spill any information because the opposing head coach is definitely listening to the press conference. 'There are elements of the game that we need to improve on, both individually and as a team, but the most important thing will be not to concede a goal. This could be the key to progressing from this tie." Keane has his GoldenEye firmly fixed in a View to a Kill. UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE PLAY-OFF, FIRST LEG Ferencváros TC v Qarabag, Groupama Aréna, Budapest (Tuesday 8pm, Irish time)
RTÉ News
3 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Shelbourne and Linfield set for 'phenomenal two games' according to former St Pat's midfielder Conan Byrne
Shelbourne and Linfield are set to go head-to-head in the UEFA Conference League with the winners qualifying for this season's league phase of the competition. Th all-Ireland encounter between the League of Ireland and Irish League champions brings with it the added spice that the two sides have already faced off this summer, in the early stages of the Champions League. Shelbourne won that particular encounter 2-1 on aggregate, and the Dublin side's tri-colour-waving celebrations at Windsor Park will remain fresh in the memory ahead of this week's sequel. The first leg of the mouth-watering fixture takes place at Tolka Park on Thursday evening, in front of the RTE cameras, before the tie is decided back at Windsor the following week. The overall outcome will ensure that the island of Ireland will be represented in this year's league phase of the competition with one or the other progressing, while Shamrock Rovers will also be in action at the same stage of the competition, taking on Portuguese side Santa Clara. But as Rovers play away in the opening leg on Thursday, all the drama will be in Dublin for the renewal of the rivalry between Reds and Blues. And while Shels came out on top in the July encounter, Linfield have impressed in their fixtures since that meeting and have come through two European ties to reach the final qualifier, while they also opened up the defence of their title up North with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Dungannon Swifts. Too close to call, perhaps, however, former League of Ireland stalwarts Barry Murphy and Conan Byrne both believe that Linfield will provide a much tougher test this time around. Speaking on this week's RTE Soccer Podcast, the duo outlined the reasons why they give Linfield every chance going into this re-match with a Shelbourne side who looked below par over the weekend in their FAI Cup defeat to St Patrick's Athletic. "There's no doubt about it that they've one eye on Thursday. It's such a huge opportunity for the football club to go into the group stages of competition," said Byrne, reflecting on the dismal performance at the weekend. "And it's important that all those main players stay fit. Now, I'm not saying that they didn't put their heart and soul into the game yesterday because they want to be 100% fit, but it's just a distraction. And I think it's going to be a phenomenal two games. "I'm really looking forward to both of them. And the fact that Linfield now have started off their season with a very convincing win over Dungannon and have a number of games under their belt since the last time they played, it's going to be a different spectacle completely." Murphy was in agreement with his appraisal of the famous Belfast club, emphasising the fact that Linfield will be much more up to the speed of the battle this time around. "When you look at it, they've played seven games since that second leg against Shelbourne," said Murphy. "They've had four tough European games. "They looked physically off it and they got bullied by Shelbourne in those two games. That won't happen this time around." Former Shamrock Rovers keeper Murphy also feels that Shelbourne's extensive celebrations with the travelling Tolka Park faithful on the Windsor Park turf may come back to haunt them, as he feels it will give Linfield added incentive to gain their revenge this time around. "It's not going to help them either, the way Shelbourne celebrated on the pitch," he said. "Now, listen, we've all been there. You've got to celebrate. You've got to enjoy these moments. But those are the little things that get pinned to the wall inside that Linfield dressing room. You need all the fuel you can get as a manager, and that will be pinned to the wall. 'Remember that happened. Use that as fuel going into the game on Thursday.' "But I think it's going to be an absolute cracker, and I think it's going to be a lot closer than it was the last time."
Irish Examiner
3 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Alonso wants Madrid to do talking on the pitch
Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso wants his team's performance on the pitch to do the talking for him as he begins his first LaLiga campaign at home against Osasuna tonight. And the former Bayer Leverkusen coach won't be using Madrid's shortened pre-season as an excuse. Alonso, loved by Real fans for his trophy-laden playing years at the Bernabeu and with Spain, has been charged with reviving a Madrid side that ended last season without a major trophy. In the Club World Cup, which was Alonso's first competition as Real coach, they were knocked out by Paris St Germain in a 4-0 semi-final loss last month. Real, under Italian Carlo Ancelotti, finished four points behind LaLiga champions Barcelona and failed to retain their Champions League crown after a quarter-final exit. They also lost the Copa del Rey final to bitter rivals Barca. "I'm more about doing than talking," Alonso said on Monday. "Making promises before you act doesn't usually work in football. Just saying it is not going to make it happen. We want to start down that path tomorrow. "We are really excited and want to bring that energy to the stadium and earn their (the fans') support." Alonso has bolstered Real's defence with England right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold joining from Liverpool along with Bournemouth's 20-year-old Spain centre-back Dean Huijsen and left back Alvaro Carrera from Benfica. The reinforcements address last season's defensive troubles that deflated Real's title challenge. Defender Dani Carvajal, who is easing his way back after last season's ACL injury, has been named in Real's squad to face Osasuna. "It's great competition for the players, and I love that we have two who can play in each position," said Alonso. "Sometimes I will have to rotate. Carvajal is getting closer and closer to his best, and that's very good for the squad." However, Real will be without Antonio Ruediger (suspended) as well as injured left back Ferland Mendy, midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham plus forward Endrick. Other additions have been widely discussed. Media reports in Spain suggest Madrid are very close to sealing a deal for Liverpool centre-half Ibrahima Konaté. The Frenchman is out of contract in 2026, with Liverpool keen to avoid a repeat of the Trent Alexander-Arnold saga. Spanish outlet Fichajes claims the La Liga giants are 'offering' €25 million to get a deal done now. Madrid have also been linked with Arsenal centre back William Saliba, who would cost at least €100m, but have received no encouragement from north London. Real get their campaign under way later than their rivals after their requests to push back the opening fixture further were rejected by Spanish football officials. The team has played just one friendly since their 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey on July 9. "Obviously it would have been nice to receive some support with our request, especially for the players' health... after such a long season and to have a little more preparation time," Alonso said. "But anyway, in the end it wasn't to be and that's that. We've only had two weeks and there's no point looking for excuses now." Alonso also discussed Real's decision to denounce plans for a Barcelona-Villarreal LaLiga match in Miami in December. Real have warned that the proposal could undermine football's competitive balance and vowed to petition soccer's governing bodies to block the move. The December 20 fixture, approved by the Spanish Football Federation last week, could become the first LaLiga match held abroad and the first European league game in the United States. It requires approval from UEFA, US Soccer, CONCACAF and FIFA. "I very much agree with the club's (Real's) statement. If the rules are to be changed, it must be by unanimous agreement of all the participants (in the league). Otherwise, it cannot be done," Alonso said. Guardian
