Latest news with #SanderBerge
The Star
a day ago
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Italy already fear missing yet another World Cup after Norway nightmare
Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group I - Norway v Italy - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - June 6, 2025 Norway's Sander Berge hits the post as Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma looks on Lise Aserud/NTB via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NORWAY OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN NORWAY. (Reuters) -Italy's World Cup qualification campaign has barely begun and already the country is worried about the shocking possibility of failing to reach the final tournament for a third consecutive time after a humiliating defeat by Norway. Norway already had two wins under their belt in Group I before Friday's match in Oslo, while Italy had yet to play, having been involved in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, losing out to Germany. A 2-1 defeat at the San Siro in the first leg left Italy chasing the tie in Germany and they found themselves 3-0 down at the break before staging a second-half comeback to salvage a draw, and some pride. It was the same story on Friday for Italy at the Ullevaal Stadium, at least as far as the opening act went. Norway roared into a 3-0 lead in the first half but this time there was no Italian fightback in a goalless second half. "Enough!" screamed the Gazzetta dello Sport front page on Saturday, after Italy suffered their third loss in a four-game winless run, with the newspaper adding that for Italy the "World Cup is already at risk". Next year's World Cup takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico but in the two decades since Italy won the tournament for the fourth time, they have struggled to perform or, more recently, to even get there. Berlin 2006 seems a lifetime ago now, with Zinedine Zidane sent off for his head butt to Marco Materazzi's chest and Italy lifting the trophy after a penalty shootout win over France. The next two World Cups saw Italy exit at the group stage, and while they triumphed at Euro 2020, on either side of that success they missed out on the World Cup after playoff defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia. With Italy now playing catch-up and only the group winners qualifying automatically, La Repubblica's front-page headline "Azzurri humiliated in Oslo, the playoff nightmare returns" hints at the frightening possibilities ahead. Italy's loss came less than a week after Inter Milan's 5-0 mauling at the hands of Paris St Germain in the Champions League final and on both occasions the tired-looking losers were outclassed by a hungrier, more creative side. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti was spared following last year's dismal Euros but is now under real pressure and nothing but a convincing win at home to Moldova on Monday will do, with media and fans increasingly calling for a change of leadership. (Reporting by Trevor Stynes; editing by Clare Fallon)
Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Italy already fear missing yet another World Cup after Norway nightmare
Soccer Football - World Cup - European Qualifiers - Group I - Norway v Italy - Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway - June 6, 2025 Norway's Sander Berge hits the post as Italy's Gianluigi Donnarumma looks on Lise Aserud/NTB via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NORWAY OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN NORWAY. Italy's World Cup qualification campaign has barely begun and already the country is worried about the shocking possibility of failing to reach the final tournament for a third consecutive time after a humiliating defeat by Norway. Norway already had two wins under their belt in Group I before Friday's match in Oslo, while Italy had yet to play, having been involved in the Nations League quarter-finals in March, losing out to Germany. A 2-1 defeat at the San Siro in the first leg left Italy chasing the tie in Germany and they found themselves 3-0 down at the break before staging a second-half comeback to salvage a draw, and some pride. It was the same story on Friday for Italy at the Ullevaal Stadium, at least as far as the opening act went. Norway roared into a 3-0 lead in the first half but this time there was no Italian fightback in a goalless second half. "Enough!" screamed the Gazzetta dello Sport front page on Saturday, after Italy suffered their third loss in a four-game winless run, with the newspaper adding that for Italy the "World Cup is already at risk". Next year's World Cup takes place in the United States, Canada and Mexico but in the two decades since Italy won the tournament for the fourth time, they have struggled to perform or, more recently, to even get there. Berlin 2006 seems a lifetime ago now, with Zinedine Zidane sent off for his head butt to Marco Materazzi's chest and Italy lifting the trophy after a penalty shootout win over France. The next two World Cups saw Italy exit at the group stage, and while they triumphed at Euro 2020, on either side of that success they missed out on the World Cup after playoff defeats to Sweden and North Macedonia. With Italy now playing catch-up and only the group winners qualifying automatically, La Repubblica's front-page headline "Azzurri humiliated in Oslo, the playoff nightmare returns" hints at the frightening possibilities ahead. Italy's loss came less than a week after Inter Milan's 5-0 mauling at the hands of Paris St Germain in the Champions League final and on both occasions the tired-looking losers were outclassed by a hungrier, more creative side. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti was spared following last year's dismal Euros but is now under real pressure and nothing but a convincing win at home to Moldova on Monday will do, with media and fans increasingly calling for a change of leadership. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Soccer-Doucoure to leave Everton at end of season
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Fulham v Everton - Craven Cottage, London, Britain - May 10, 2025 Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure in action with Fulham's Sander Berge REUTERS/Isabel Infantes/File Photo LONDON (Reuters) - Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucoure will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of next month, the 32-year-old confirmed on Tuesday. "Hi Evertonians, I just wanted to share this message with you that I'm going to leave the football club at the end of the season. After five wonderful years, my time at Everton has come to an end," he said on his Instagram account. Doucoure, who has made 165 appearances for Everton since joining them from Watford for 20 million pounds ($26.71 million) in 2020, had been expected to sign a one-year extension to his deal. He was substituted during the final Everton game at Goodison Park on Sunday and was clearly emotional as he left the field. "I gave everything to win as many games as I could. I will just miss the place and I wish them all the best in the new stadium," the Mali international said. "Everton will always be part of my life now. I will be forever a Blue." ($1 = 0.7488 pounds) (Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
BBC News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'A great feeling and a great response'
Marco Silva spoke to BBC Match of the Day after Fulham's victory against Brentford: "Great feeling, great response from us in a really difficult game as expected. We had to be really aggressive. They are brave and very direct and quick in the front line. We started the game well. We conceded two goals that we have to keep working the players. We conceded an incredible penalty against us. Seeing penalties given like that against us is incredible."All the players that came in made a massive impact on the game. We knew with Tom Cairney and Sander Berge too. I know very well what Tom can give us. I know what he can do. we have to understand the moments of the game. With him on the pitch and on the ball, we are at peace on the ball but off the ball we are not so aggressive. He made a massive impact."We are there and this afternoon we broke the points tally from this football club. More three points to fight for and we want to finish as high as we can in the table. Let's support these players because they deserve to finish on a Cairney's contract situation: "I think he is going to be with us and I hope it is the ambition to have him with us next season. He knows what I think about it. He's a very good footballer and I know how we can use him."
BBC News
07-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Fulham 3-2 Liverpool - the fans' verdict
We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Fulham and Liverpool. Here are some of your comments:Fulham fansBill: Super performance and a great bounceback from the Crystal Palace game. First half was stunning and and we were pretty much untouchable. Showed great character in second half to hold the lead and finally win. Four points out of six against the best in the Big win for Fulham on the back of a fine first half. Hanging on at the end but you need some luck against the top teams who are not invincible. Calvin Bassey, Sander Berge and Rodrigo Muniz excellent for Fulham. Europe still Played outstandingly. Bassey came back with force, Ryan Sessegnon showed he can make an impact and Muniz completely fooled the Liverpool fansPhil: Liverpool looked like they didn't want to win the game until Luis Diaz and Conor Bradley came on. So many back passes. Need a bit of heavy metal football back in our No panic but what a lacklustre display. A masterclass in giving the ball away. We seem to excel in giving ourselves a second half challenge, which we failed at on this occasion although at least upped our game. Taking nothing away from Fulham who played really well, but I would expect to take something out of that It's clearly been a long season - the players look knackered! But Arne Slot has a lot of work to do during the summer. There are players that I think need to leave and players that need to be brought in. We lost that game today in the first half. You can't expect to win a game when you concede three goals in 15 minutes. The entire back four were at fault for goals today. I think most of those players will be glad when this season is over.
