Sports
BREAKING: Arsenal route to Champions League final confirmed as Mikel Arteta learns round of 16 opponents
Arsenal will face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League round of 16, it has been confirmed.
The draw for the last-16 was held in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday, with the Gunners one of eight seeded teams after they finished in the top eight of the league phase.
With the Champion League now using a bracket system, just like in major international tournaments, Arsenal and the 15 other clubs still in the competition now know their possible route to the final, which will be played in Munich on May 31.
Arsenal were drawn on the silver side of the draw and will face PSV in the last-16. The Dutch side knocked Juventus out 4-3 on aggregate in the play-off round so will be a stern test for Mikel Arteta’s Squad.
Elsewhere in the round of 16, Aston Villa were drawn against Club Brugge, Borussia Dortmund were drawn against Lille, Atletico Madrid were drawn against Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen were drawn against Bayern Munich, Feyenoord were drawn against Inter, PSG were drawn against Liverpool and Barcelona were drawn against Benfica.
With Arsenal on the silver side of the draw, the Gunners know that they will face one of Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-final, should they progress past PSV. The first leg of the quarter-final would be played at Emirates Stadium. Arsenal’s possible semi-final opponents include one of Liverpool, PSG, Club Brugge or Aston Villa.
As Arsenal were seeded for the draw, they will play at home in the round of 16 second leg. The first legs of the round of 16 will be played on March 4 and March 5, and the second legs will be played on March 11 and March 12.
Each club plays once on a Tuesday and once on a Wednesday.
Sports
Tunisia Sack Coach Lamouchi after 5-1 Defeat by Sweden
Former coach Mounher Kabairer is expected to be appointed in an interim capacity as new coach in time for Tunisia’s next World Cup tie against Japan on June 20.
Tunisia have sacked coach Sabri Lamouchi after they were trounced 5-1 by Sweden in their opening World Cup group game.
Lamouchi thus becomes the first coach to be sacked at the ongoing World Cup.
He was only in charge of the Carthage Eagles for five matches.
Former coach Mounher Kabairer is expected to be appointed in an interim capacity as new coach in time for Tunisia’s next World Cup tie against Japan on June 20.
Sports
Cabo Verde Stun Spain 0: 0
Nobody gave Cabo Verde a shot. One of the smallest nations – in terms of both land mass and population – to ever reach the World Cup were debuting against the title favourites.
Cabo Verde penned an A-grade upset in A-Town. The tiny islanders and FIFA World Cup™ debutants held title favourites Spain. In a testament to its magnitude, the Blue Sharks’ hero, 40-year-old goalkeeper Vozinha, began the game with 46,000 followers on Instagram and finished the day with five million.
Nobody gave Cabo Verde a shot. One of the smallest nations – in terms of both land mass and population – to ever reach the World Cup were debuting against the title favourites.
It was consensually a question of not if Spain would win, but by how many goals.
Ultimately the net didn’t ripple once, a herculean defensive performance and some superb saves from 40-year-old Vozinha secured Bubista’s boys a sport-shaking point.
The one bright spark for Luis de la Fuente’s side was Lamine Yamal, who rose from the bench in the 71st minute and electrified.
The 18-year-old genius could not, however, deny of the greatest days in Cape Verdean history.
Sports
IR Iran hold New Zealand 2:2 in Los Angeles
New Zealand’s bid for a first World Cup victory rolls on to their next Group G assignment against Egypt on 21 June.
IR Iran denied New Zealand a first FIFA World Cup™ win after twice coming from behind to draw their Group G opener at Los Angeles Stadium.
After Mehdi Taremi tested Max Crocombe in a lively opening, Elijah Just went one better to give the All Whites the lead with a low, drilled finish.
Chris Wood was instrumental in the breakthrough goal and the big striker was at it again moments later as he found Sarpreet Singh, who forced an unconvincing save from Alireza Beiranvand.
Iran responded in kind through Taremi, whose 20-yard strike crashed against the upright before the first hydration break.
The pause seemed to work in favour of Amir Ghalenoei’s team, who returned with greater intent and quickly found an equaliser.
Ramin Rezaeian broke through the defensive line and calmly finished with the outside of his boot past Crocombe, bringing the score to 1-1.
New Zealand restored their advantage early in the second half when Wood released Just for a clipped finish over the advancing Beiranvand.
However, Iran weren’t behind for long.
Goalscorer Rezaeian turned provider, delivering an inch-perfect cross for Mohammad Mohebbi to power a header in off the inside of the post.
There was no separating the teams in the closing stages, with Wood heading straight at Beiranvand in added time.
New Zealand’s bid for a first World Cup victory rolls on to their next Group G assignment against Egypt on 21 June.
Iran, meanwhile, face Belgium, with all four sides locked on one point apiece after Matchday 1.
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