football
SAFF Champs: Bangladesh to play hosts Maldives Thursday night
Bangladesh national football team will play upper ranked and hosts Maldives in their 3nd match of the five-nation SAFF Championship’2021 at the National Football Stadium in the Maldives capital Male on Thursday night.
T-Sports will telecast live from the big bowl at 10 pm (Bangladesh Time).
In Thursday’s other match, former champions India will take on all losers Sri Lanka at 5 pm (BST) at the same venue.
Bangladesh remained unbeaten in ongoing meet securing four points from two matches after beating Sri Lanka 1-0 featuring a goal from defender Topu Banman in the first match and a 10-men Bangladesh, coming from behind, snatched an important point from their giant neighbor India in 1-1 draw, also featuring a goal from another defender Yeasin Arafat.
Himalayan nation Nepal dominated the meet securing full six points from two matches after beating hosts Maldives 1-0 and defeated Sri Lanka by 3-2 goal.
Read: SAFF Championship: 10-man Bangladesh come from behind to draw with India
Former champions India are in the 3rd slot bagging one point from their lone match against Bangladesh. Sri Lanka and Maldives are yet to open the account playing two and one match respectively.
Thursday’s match will be equally important for both the teams. Bangladesh wants to brighten the final berth beating the Maldives while hosts Maldives seriously needed a win to keep their final berth alive.
It will be another acid test for the newly appointed Spanish interim Head Coach of Bangladesh national football team Oscar Bruzon after proving his worth in the first two matches.
In the remaining matches of the South Asian biggest soccer tournament Bangladesh will play hosts Maldives on Oct 7 at 10 pm and Nepal on Oct 13 at 5pm , both at the National Football Stadium in Male.
Two top teams of the five–nation meet will play the final on October 16 at the same venue.
The present record are not in favor of Bangladesh as they suffered three successive defeats against the Maldives in the last 18 years, featuring a 0-5 goal losses in the FIFA International friendly in Male in 2016.
Read: Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
Bangladesh beat the Maldives last in 2003 to win SAF Championship in Dhaka, beating the Maldives 1-0 in group stage and overcame them by 5-3 goals in tie-breaker in the final.
But in the initial stages, Bangladesh started campaign brilliantly beating the Maldives by 5-0 goal in the Kathmandu SAF Games in 1984 and crushed them again Maldives by 8-0 goal in the Dhaka SAF Games in 1985..
Ahead of the Thursday’s match, Bangladesh team made their practices at the Henveiru Training Pitch in Male Wednesday afternoon
Three key players of Bangladesh team are likely to miss the Thursday’s match against the Maldives. Defender Bishwanath Ghosh will miss the match for receiving red card, Rakib Hossain for two yellow cards and medio Atiqur Rahman Fahad is likely to miss the for his back injury.
UEFA Nations League 2021: Semifinals Preview
The UEFA Nations League is an international football competition held every two years in which the European men's national team competes. Portugal won the inaugural tournament in 2019. The champions of the four groups in the second edition, Italy, Belgium, France, and Spain have qualified for the semifinals. EURO 2020 champion Italy will face Spain in the first semifinal on Thursday (October 7) at 12.45 p.m. (BST). One day later, Belgium will confront France in the second semifinal on Friday (October 8) at 12.45 p.m. (BST). The previews of the Nations League semifinals are discussed in this article.
Favorites to reach the UEFA Nations League 2021 Final
1st Semi-Final (Italy vs. Spain)
Venue: San Siro Stadium, Milan | Date: August 7 | Time (BST): 12.45 am
Verdict: Italy 2-1 Spain
The first semi-final of Euro 2020 featured Italy vs Spain. Italy won the final 4-2 on penalties thanks to goalkeeper Donnarumma's individual brilliance. Therefore, football fans may get a sense of déjà vu as this match approaches. Italy will have a little advantage over Spain in terms of strength in the Nations League semi-final encounter. This is because Italy set a new world record last September by being undefeated in 36 consecutive matches under Coach Roberto Mancini. So, Spain will find it difficult to beat them. Though they have a number of talented players. Spain will be able to beat Italy if they can play together as a team with the proper plan.
Read: Portugal adds to Italy's struggles with Nations League win
Italy’s starting XI (probable)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (GK), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (RB), Giorgio Chiellini (CB), Leonardo Bonucci (CB), Emerson (LB), Manuel Locatelli (MF), Jorginho (MF), Marco Verratti (MF), Federico Chiesa (MF), Moise Kean (FW), Lorenzo Insigne (FW)
Spain’s starting XI (probable)
Unai Simón (GK), Pedro Porro (RB), César Azpilicueta (CB), Aymeric Laporte (CB), Sergio Reguilón (LB), Sergio Busquets (MF), Sergi Roberto (MF), Koke (MF), Rodri (MF), Ferran Torres (FW), Pablo Sarabia (FW)
Read South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil to face Uruguay in October
2nd Semi-Final (Belgium vs. France)
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin | Date: October 8 | Time (BST): 12.45 am
Verdict: Belgium 3-2 Spain
Belgium were eliminated from Euro 2020 after losing to Italy in the quarterfinals. On the other hand, France were defeated by Switzerland in the Round of 16. So, both teams will be eager to reach the UEFA Nations League 2021 final. Both sides are equally strong in terms of squad strength. France have three of the best players in the world in the attacking third. On the other side, Belgium's midfield is presently rated among the best in the world. The team that can outsmart the other team's tactics has a better chance of winning this contest.
Read Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award
Belgium’s starting XI (probable)
Thibaut Courtois (GK), Thomas Meunier (RB), Jan Vertonghen (CB), Jason Denayer (CB), Timothy Castagne (LB), Axel Witsel (MF), Yannick Carrasco (MF), Kevin De Bruyne (MF), Eden Hazard (MF), Romelu Lukaku (FW), Michy Batshuayi (FW)
France’s starting XI (probable)
Hugo Lloris (GK), Benjamin Pavard (RB), Presnel Kimpembe (CB), Raphaël Varane (CB), Lucas Digne (LB), Paul Pogba (MF), Adrien Rabiot (MF), Aurélien Tchouaméni (MF), Antoine Griezmann (FW), Kylian Mbappé (FW), Karim Benzema (FW)
Read Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true'
Verdict
Based on the current form of the semifinalists, Italy and Belgium are the two favorites to advance to the UEFA Nations League 2021 final. However, both Spain and France have very strong squads, and it wouldn't be surprising if they beat their respective opponents in the semifinals and proceed to the championship match. Neutral football fans will anticipate the top two teams to go to the final, in which they will compete in an entertaining match. The final match of the tournament will be staged at the San Siro stadium in Milan.
Read Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup: All You Need to Know
There is currently no one-off match competition in international football. However, the European Football Associations and the South American Football Organizations have agreed to hold a competition between the continental champions. As a result, the winners of the Copa America 2021 and the UEFA EURO 2020 champions will meet in a championship match next year. The match will take place in June 2022 if all goes as planned. The initial details of Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup match are discussed in this article.
Read:South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil to face Uruguay in October
The Preliminary Specifics of Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup match
On September 28, UEFA announced its agreement with the South American football organization to hold a competition between the two continental champions. Since Italy won the Euro 2020 and Argentina won the Copa America 2021, they will face off in the inaugural edition of the competition in June 2022. However, the venue and the date of the match have yet to be announced.
UEFA stated in a media release that the two organizations' agreement presently covers three editions of this match between their respective continental winners, as well as the establishment of a joint office in London to manage projects of mutual interest. Women's football, futsal, junior categories, referee exchanges, and technical training programs will be incorporated into the partnership between the two continental bodies.
Read:Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award
Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup: Who is favorite to win the Match?
Argentina and Italy are two of the most powerful football nations in the world. They have faced off 15 times in a head-to-head contest. Italy have won five games, four by Argentina, and four have finished in a draw. In their last meeting, Argentina won 2-0 in a friendly match against Italy in 2018 at Manchester's Etihad Stadium.
Argentina have won 17 major international tournaments, including two World Cups (1978 and 1986). On the other hand, Italy have won six major titles, including four World Cups (1934, 1938, 1982, and 2006).
Read:Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true'
Argentina won the Copa America for the first time in 28 years last July, defeating Brazil in the final by a score of 1-0. Prior to this tournament, Argentina had won the Copa America in 1993.
On the other hand, last July, Italy won the UEFA EURO 2020 tournament for the second time, overcoming England in the final on penalties. Italy won its first European Championship in 1968.
Considering the overall strength of both teams, it can be predicted that Italy is going to dominate Argentina. Though Italy have some of the finest players in the world, Argentina have great team chemistry. Argentina's team is capable of thriving against any opponent despite its lack of quality in the squad. However, the Super Cup will be a one-off contest, thus the team that performs best on the day will likely be the winner.
Read:Man Utd vs. Villarreal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gives Manchester United a dramatic win
Bottom Line
The details of the inaugural edition of the competition between the two continental champions will be announced later by UEFA and CONMEBOL. According to some sources, Argentina vs. Italy Super Cup match will be named after football legend Diego Armando Maradona. The main purpose of this match is to enhance the tie between the two continental boards. Because no other team has won the World Cup outside of these two continents. Many believe that the actual motive for this movement is to form a powerful ally against FIFA. Because FIFA prefers to have World Cup tournaments every two years, but UEFA and CONMEBOL are both opposed to the idea.
SAFF Championship 2021: How Bangladesh can qualify for the Final
The 13th edition of the SAFF football tournament kicked off on Friday, October 1, 2021. Each team will compete against the other in the group stage and the top two teams in the standings will advance to the final. Bangladesh opened their campaign with a win over Sri Lanka before drawing 1-1 with India in their following match. Team Tigers has a chance to reach the final for the first time in 16 years. Bangladesh's upcoming fixtures are crucial in terms of advancing for the title match. Let's look at how Bangladesh may reach the final of the SAFF Championship 2021.
Bangladesh's record in SAFF football tournament
Bangladesh had a strong national team set up in the early 2000s. They reached three consecutive finals in 1999, 2003, and 2005 and won the SAFF Championship in the fifth edition of the tournament in Bangladesh. They won the 2003 edition by defeating the Maldives in a penalty shootout (5-3) in the final.
Bangladesh last appeared in a SAFF Championship final in 2005, when the event was held in Pakistan for the sixth time. They were defeated 2-0 by India in the championship match. Bangladesh haven't been in a final since then, and they haven't even qualified for the semifinals in the previous four editions of the tournament.
Read SAFF Championship: 10-man Bangladesh come from behind to draw with India
Despite spending more money on football development, Bangladesh's football has deteriorated over the last 10 years. They are presently ranked 189th by FIFA. Bangladesh's lowest FIFA ranking was 197 in February-May 2018.
Bangladesh's potential of reaching SAFF Football final
After a hard-fought victory over a 10-man Sri Lankan team on Friday (October 1), the Bangladesh team showcased their real potential under newly appointed coach Oscar Bruzon against India on Monday at the National Football Stadium in Malé, Maldives.
Veteran striker Sunil Chhetri scored in the 26th minute to give India a 1-0 lead. After finding the ball in the D-Box area, Chhetri blasted the ball into the top right corner of the goal post.
Read: Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
Bangladesh's players showed no signs of stress after conceding the goal. They tried to carry out the plan with proper discipline on the pitch, despite going down to ten men after defender Bishwanath Ghosh was sent off in the 54th minute.
Bangladesh continued to counter-attack and equalized in the 74th minute, thanks to a superb header by Yeasin Arafat. The Bangladesh team looked really confident for the first time in a long time, and head coach Oscar Bruzon deserves special credit. The team's performance against India in the match has instilled a lot of confidence in Bangladesh's bid for a spot in the final.
Bangladesh currently have four points after two games, putting them in second place in the points table, just behind Nepal. The Nepalese national team has a perfect record so far, winning both of its first two games. On the other hand, India have one point. Sri Lanka and the Maldives are yet to open their account in the points table.
Read South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil to face Uruguay in October
Bangladesh have two games left in the group stage. They will face the host Maldives on Thursday (October 7) followed by Nepal on Wednesday (October 13).
Bangladesh will qualify for the final If they win at least one match and draw the other. If they do, the Bangladesh team will have 8 points in the standings. In that case, both Nepal and the Maldives must lose their games against Bangladesh. Nepal would also need to drop points against India.
If Bangladesh win its remaining matches, they won't have to rely on the outcomes of other fixtures. Bangladesh will then have 10 points, allowing them to either second or first in the points table.
Read Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award
Verdict
Nepal and Bangladesh are the top two teams in the points standings as of October 4. These two sides appear to be well-balanced, and they have shown a desire to succeed in the competition. However, India remain the best team on paper, and they will surely come back strong in their next three matches. If India advance to the final, Nepal will be Bangladesh's toughest opponent for a place in the championship match. In such a scenario, Bangladesh's game against Nepal on October 13 will be a do-or-die contest for both sides. The last few group stage fixtures of the SAFF Championship 2021 will be enthralling to watch.
SAFF Championship: 10-man Bangladesh come from behind to draw with India
Defender Yeasin Arafat helped Bangladesh earn a thrilling 1-1 draw against India in the SAFF Championship 2021 on Monday, with the men in red and green coming back from being a man and a goal down in the second half to earn a crucial point.
With the draw at the National Football Stadium in Male, Bangladesh are now top of the standings with four points from two matches after beating Sri Lanka 1-0 in the tournament opener.
READ: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh take on favourites India on Monday
As in the first game, Bangladesh's goal was scored by a defender, with Yeasin against India emulating Topu Barman against Sri Lanka.
Captain Sunil Chhetri put India ahead in the 26th minute, off a right-wing cross from Udoy Singh (1-0). It was his 76th international goal and sixth against Bangladesh. But Yeasin's 74th-minute equaliser ensured the teams shared the points.
Before that, Oscar Bruzon's men went down to 10 men after Bishwanath Ghosh was sent off in the 54th minute.
South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers: Argentina, Brazil to face Uruguay in October
South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers will resume on Thursday (October 7). All ten CONMEBOL nations will compete in three qualifiers this month. Uruguay will play three tough games this month, including one against Colombia on October 8 (Bangladesh Standard Time), another against Argentina on October 11, and the other against Brazil on October 15. The top four teams in the standings will automatically qualify for the 2022 World Cup. The fifth-placeholder team will have to compete in the Playoffs for a World Cup spot. Let's take a look at the October CONMEBOL World Cup 2022 fixtures.
Predicted Starting XI: Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay
Brazil and Argentina are the only two unbeaten teams In the South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers. With the exception of Uruguay, both South American heavyweights have relatively easy games in this October international window.
Paulo Dybala was included in Argentina's squad by Coach Lionel Scaloni. However, he was eventually ruled out due to injury. Apart from the clash against Uruguay, Argentina will play Paraguay on October 8 and Peru on October 15. Lionel Messi-led Argentina team is in excellent form after winning the Copa America in July. Scaloni has built the ideal setup for Messi to thrive on the international stage. Argentina will start as favorites in each game in the qualifiers.
Read Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award
Argentina’s Predicted Starting XI
Emiliano Martinez (Goalkeeper), Cristian Romero, Germán Pezzella, Marcos Acuna, Nicolas Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Alejandro Gómez, Angel Di Maria, Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi (Captain)
Brazilian Coach Tite has a lot of options to choose the best players from the talented squad. Brazil presently hold an advantage of six-point over Argentina in the point standings, with 24 points. They will play Venezuela on October 8 and Colombia on October 11 before finishing this international window with a match against Uruguay. Neymar is fully fit for the matches, and his creativity in the attacking half will be crucial for Brazil. Like Argentina, the Brazilian team will be the favorite in each of their qualifying matches.
Read Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true'
Brazil’s Predicted Starting XI
Alisson (Goalkeeper), Thiago Silva (Captain), Marquinhos, Danilo, Sandro, Casemiro, Fabinho, Paqueta, Vinícius Júnior, Gabriel Jesus, Neymar
Uruguay's qualifying matches this month are extremely important. They should execute some flawless strategies to overcome Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. Uruguay may fall behind in the points table if they fail to win a match and jeopardize their chances of qualifying for the World Cup as well. Uruguay have some talented players, but their team spirit is crucial in important games. Therefore, they will have to play as a team in order to defeat tough opponents.
Uruguay’s Predicted Starting XI
Fernando Muslera (Goalkeeper); Diego Godín (Captain), José María Giménez, Ronald Araujo, Matías Viña; Federico Valverde, Matías Vecino, Rodrigo Bentancur, Nahitan Nández; Luis Suárez, Edinson Cavani.
Read Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
October 2021 Fixtures for South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers
A total of 15 CONMEBOL qualifiers will be played in the month of October. Here are the fixtures.
Date
Fixture
Time (BST)
October 8 (Friday)
Uruguay vs. Colombia
5 AM
October 8 (Friday)
Paraguay vs. Argentina
5 AM
October 8 (Friday)
Venezuela vs. Brazil
5.30 AM
October 8 (Friday)
Ecuador vs. Bolivia
6.30 AM
October 8 (Friday)
Peru vs. Chile
7 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Bolivia vs. Peru
2 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Venezuela vs. Ecuador
2.30 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Colombia vs. Brazil
3 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Argentina vs. Uruguay
5.30 AM
October 11 (Monday)
Chile vs. Paraguay
6 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Bolivia vs. Uruguay
2 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Colombia vs. Ecuador
3 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Argentina vs. Peru
5.30 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Chile vs. Venezuela
6 AM
October 15 (Friday)
Brazil vs. Uruguay
6.30 AM
Verdict
Brazil and Argentina are now placed in the first and second positions respectively at the end of eight games in the South America World Cup 2022 Qualifiers. In the qualifiers, each side will play a total of 18 matches. Therefore, all teams still have a chance to advance to the main event.
As per the fixtures, Uruguay have tough games in October as they will be up against the three best teams in the continent. They are presently in third place, with only two points separating them from fourth and fifth place teams. On the other hand, Argentina and Brazil are expected to win their matches and maintain their respective positions in the standings.
Read Man Utd vs. Villarreal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gives Manchester United a dramatic win
SAFF Championship: Bangladesh take on favourites India on Monday
Bangladesh national football team will face giant neighbor and upper ranked India in their 2nd match of the five-nation SAFF Championship 2021 on Monday (Oct 4) at 5 pm Bangladesh Time at the National Football Stadium in the Maldives capital Male.
T-Sports will telecast the match live from the big bowl at 5:pm (BST).
Earlier on Friday, Bangladesh team made a good start in the regional soccer meet beating Island nation Sri Lanka by 1-0.
Veteran defender Tapu Barman scored the match-winner for Bangladesh in the 56th minute and was adjudged man of the match.
It will be another acid test for the newly appointed Spanish interim Head Coach of Bangladesh national football team Oscar Bruzon after proving his worth in his very first assignment (against Sri Lanka).
Read: Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
In the remaining matches of the South Asian biggest soccer tournament Bangladesh will play hosts Maldives on Oct 7 at 10 pm and Nepal on Oct 13 at 5:pm , both at the National Football Stadium in Male.
Two top teams of the five–nation meet will play the final on October 16 at the small venue.
Bangladesh team made their practices at the Henveiru Training Pitch in Male on Sunday from 5:30 to 7 pm (Bangladesh Time) where defender Rezaul Karim did not take part due to sickness.
Ahead of the Monday’s vital match, Bangladesh Medio Sohel Rana, who missed the team’s first match due to fever and joined the team’s practice session on Sunday said, “Our players are morally boost-up now after winning the first match (against Sri Lanka), but we have to utilize few chances that came our way against India”.
Earlier, the recently relieved head coach Jamie Day's Bangladesh team completed their Three-nation Cup and friendly match in Kyrgyzstan, a preparatory tour for SAFF Championships, with a frustrating note losing all the three matches,
Visiting Bangladesh conceded 0-2 goals defeat against Palestine in their first match of the Three Nations Cup, suffered 1-4 goals defeat against hosts Kyrgyzstan, the unbeaten champions of the three nations cup and finally conceded 2-3 goals defeat against Kyrgyzstan U-23 team, all at the Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek.
Ballon d'Or 2021: Five favorites to win the coveted award
Since 1956, France Football magazine has given the Ballon d'Or to the best player of the year. Usually, the top players from the World Cup, continental football tournaments, and European club football championships fight for the prestigious award. During the selection process of the best footballer of the year, the finest individual performances in the Euro 2020 and Copa America 2021 competitions will be given more priority. Therefore, all eyes are stuck on the best performers in major events. Let’s see who are the top five potential candidates for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award.
Top Five Contenders for the Ballon d'Or 2021 Award
We have compiled a list of the top five individual performers this year for the renowned Ballon d'Or award 2021. Take a look at the players who made our list.
05) N'Golo Kante (France & Chelsea)
Kante’s accomplishments in 2021: Champions League and UEFA Super Cup
N'Golo Kante has been Chelsea's most consistent performer this season. Chelsea qualified for the Champions League final thanks to Kante's outstanding performances in the knockout stages. He was outstanding in the CL final against Manchester City, helping the Blues win the tournament for the second time last May. Kante's influence on the current Chelsea squad can't be denied despite the fact that he was relatively quiet in the Euro 2020 tournament for France. Kante is expected to be one of the top five candidates for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award.
Read Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true'
04) Romelu Lukaku (Belgium & Inter Milan)
Lukaku’s accomplishments in 2021: Serie A
Striker Romelu Lukaku's fortunes turned around after transferring from Manchester United to Inter Milan in 2019. He helped Inter Milan win the Serie A title for the first time in 11 years with 24 goals and 11 assists. He was Serie A's most valuable player for the 2020/2021 season. Lukaku had a quiet EURO campaign for Belgium, which might affect his chances of winning the Ballon d'Or award. The charismatic forward joined Chelsea from Inter Milan during the summer transfer window of 2021. Lukaku has been one of the top performers for Chelsea in the 2021-2022 season.
03) Robert Lewandowski (Germany & Bayern Munich)
Lewandowski’s accomplishments in 2021: Bundesliga & DFL Super Cup
Robert Lewandowski has been one of the finest strikers in the world in the last ten years. He broke Gerd Muller's record for most goals in a single Bundesliga season with 41 goals in the 2020/2021 season. Bayern Munich's most prolific striker has made an excellent start this season. However, Lewandowski failed to lead Poland to the knockout round of the EURO 2020 competition. Despite this, he scored three goals for the Polish national team in the tournament.
Read Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
02) Jorginho (Italy & Chelsea)
Jorginho’s accomplishments in 2021: Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and UEFA European Championship 2020
Italian creative midfielder Jorginho has won more trophies than anybody else on the list in terms of winning silverware. Jorginho was a key player for Italy at EURO 2020, and he helped Chelsea win the Champions League in 2021. Jorginho is one of the leading candidates for the Ballon d'Or 2021.
01) Lionel Messi (Argentina & Barcelona)
Messi’s accomplishments in 2021: Copa del Rey, Copa America 2021
Individually, Lionel Messi had done well for Barcelona last season, assisting them in winning the Copa del Rey. However, Lionel Messi has emerged as one of the leading contenders for the Ballon d'Or 2021 award after winning the Copa America 2021. Lionel Messi's first major trophy with the Argentina national team came in this tournament. Messi was a standout performer for Argentina at the South American Championship. Deservedly, he is now in the lead in the race for the coveted individual trophy.
Read SAFF Championship: Bangladesh kick off against Sri Lanka in opener Friday
Bottom Line
The Ballon d'Or 2021 award will be presented to the best player of the year on November 29, at the Chatelet Theatre in Paris. Personal performance is taken into consideration when picking the best footballer of the year. That’s why sports journalists, national team captains, and coaches will evaluate the individual performances of the nominated footballers before selecting the eventual winner.
Based on the achievements of the players, Argentina's Lionel Messi is the overwhelming favorite to win his seventh Ballon d'Or award this year. The diminutive Argentine magician won his first trophy with the national team last July and this success is likely to influence many panelists to vote for Messi. Italy's Jorginho and Polish striker Lewandowski also have a fair chance of winning the award since they have done well for their respective teams. On the other hand, Kante and Lukaku are also on the list by virtue of their praiseworthy performance in 2021
Read Man Utd vs. Villarreal: Cristiano Ronaldo’s late goal gives Manchester United a dramatic win
Barcelona coach Koeman says rumors of firing 'probably true'
Ronald Koeman said Friday that Barcelona's leadership has not spoken to him about his future, but that he has "eyes and ears" to catch the rumors swirling about his possible firing.
Spanish media has been rife with reports that Barcelona president Joan Laporta is close to making a coaching change after Wednesday's 3-0 loss at Benfica, the team's second loss in as many Champions League games this season.
"It is a complicated situation," Koeman said the day before his team visits defending champion Atlético Madrid.
"The president was here this morning, but I didn't see him because I was preparing for the game," he added. "Nobody has told me anything, but I have eyes and ears and I know that things are being leaked. They are probably true, but nobody has told me."
Koeman will not be in the dugout for what could be the former Barcelona defender's last match in charge while he serves the second of a two-game suspension for complaining at the end of their recent 0-0 draw at Cádiz.
The top names linked to replacing Koeman are led by former Barcelona star Xavi Hernández, Italy great Andrea Pirlo and Belgium coach Roberto Martínez.
Martínez brushed off questions about Barcelona on Friday when he announced Belgium's squad for the Nations League final four.
"I'm not going to comment on my personal situation because I never do it as a coach," Martínez said. "Now we are facing an incredible opportunity of being at the Nations League finals, so that's the only thing that matters. Anything that you could ask about myself or rumors is not relevant for this press conference."
The Atlético match is the last before an international break in the club calendar. That window could give the club time to bring in a new coach.
Bruzon era starts brightly as Bangladesh beat Sri Lanka in SAFF opener
Bangladesh got the start they hoped for in the 5-nation SAFF Championship with a comfortable win against Sri Lanka in Male on Friday, although new head coach Oscar Bruzon will be concerned at the failure to convert their much greater possession and chances in open play into goals.
Ultimately they had to rely on a second half penalty for a 1-0 victory, after Lankan defender Duckson Puslas handled inside the box. It was Duckson's second yellow card offense, meaning the Lankans were also down to 10 men.
Defender Topu Barman stepped up to coolly convert from the spot in the 55th minute. Sri Lanka never really looked like troubling the Bangladeshi goalkeeper, and Bruzon's men had the 3 points they craved to start the tournament.
The Spaniard, who came to the job with extensive knowledge of Bangladeshi football after three successful years managing BPL champions Bashundhara Kings, made good on his promise of a more modern and attractive style of play in his team's very first outing under him.
Read: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh kick off against Sri Lanka in opener Friday
Bangladesh bossed possession (58% to 42%) throughout the match and created waves of chances, with 20 shots on goal against 9 for Sri Lanka, none of which were on target. Bangladesh had 4 shots on target.
The failure to convert more of those chances into direct threats for the Lankan goalkeeper will be an area Bruzon will surely work to improve. Although dominant in midfield, some of the play in the final third left a lot to be desired.