Football
Asian Games Football: Bangladesh Men's team put pressure
Bangladesh Men's team was placed in the four-team strong Group A of the 19th Asian Games Football with hosts China, Myanmar and India.
The ceremonial draw of the Asian Games Football was held on Thursday in the AFC Headquarter in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
The 40 sports 15-day biggest extravaganza of Asia will be held in the Chinese city Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8 this year.
Read: Continue investigation into internal corruption of BFF: Appellate Division
In all, 23 Asian countries, split into six groups, will compete in the men's football.
Bangladesh men's football team advanced to the knock out stage toppling group stage last time beating stronger Qatar.
Bangladesh women's football team put in four-team Group D with Japan, Vietnam and Nepal.
Bangladesh women's football team for the first participating in the Asian Games Football this time.
A total of 17 teams, divided into five groups will take part in women's football.
Read: SAFF Championship: Late soal shatters Bangladesh's dream of final
Meanwhile, the preliminary draw of the World Cup Football Qualifiers (Asia) was also held on Thursday in the AFC headquarter in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
Bangladesh will face their South Asian rivals the Maldives in home and away basis in the preliminary round on October 13 and 17 next.
Former Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi retires after a career slowed by severe injuries
Former Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi announced his retirement from soccer on Saturday following a career that was slowed by severe injuries.
The New Jersey-born Rossi last played for Spal in Serie B last season.
“My journey is unique. A lot of ups but also some downs. Those down moments (mostly injuries) never defined me,” Rossi wrote on Instagram. “My purpose was stronger than any obstacle that was in front of me. I never stopped dreaming when things I couldn’t control got in my way. I love the game so much that I could’ve never given up. That is why I’m writing this with a heavy heart but a big smile on face — I’m proud of what I accomplished!”
Read: Bangladesh Football Team Captain Jamal Bhuiyan becomes brand ambassador of National STEAM Olympiad 2023
The 36-year-old Rossi made his senior debut with Manchester United but made his biggest impact at Villarreal and Fiorentina before knee injuries derailed his career.
Rossi also scored seven goals in 30 appearances for Italy after choosing to play for his father’s country over the United States.
Alos read: Indonesia to Host Argentina In a Friendly Football Match on June 2023
Lionel Messi set to make his Inter Miami debut in Leagues Cup opener against Cruz Azul
Lionel Messi's debut gameday with Inter Miami has arrived.
Messi is expected to play Friday night when Inter Miami takes on Cruz Azul in a Leagues Cup match at his new home stadium. Team officials say all tickets — about 21,000, in a newly expanded stadium — have been sold, though thousands were available for resale on secondary markets Friday morning.
It's unclear how much Messi, a World Cup champion for Argentina and someone who Inter Miami co-owner David Beckham calls the best player ever, will be on the field in his debut. He signed a 2-1/2 year contract with Inter Miami this past weekend, and the deal will pay him between $50 million and $60 million annually. That will almost certainly work out to more than $1 million per match.
He was introduced to his new home fans on Sunday and officially trained for the first time as a member of the club Tuesday.
Messi made the decision in June to join Inter Miami and come to Major League Soccer. He considered a return to Barcelona, the club with whom he spent almost the entirety of his career, after spending the last two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain.
But Inter Miami and MLS found a way to land the seven-time Ballon d'Or winner in Messi, setting the stage for an unprecedented era for the club that has largely sputtered during its first four seasons.
Leagues Cup is a tournament between clubs from MLS and Liga MX, the top Mexican league. Cruz Azul won the inaugural version of this event in 2019.
Neither club has enjoyed much success this season. Inter Miami has the fewest points in the MLS standings; Cruz Azul is the only team in the Mexican league yet to record a standings point through the season's first three matches.___
Lionel Messi makes it official by signing with Inter Miami and Major League Soccer
Lionel Messi has finalized his deal to join Major League Soccer, and after years of planning and pursuing, Inter Miami has landed a global icon.
Messi’s contract became official Saturday, a little more than five weeks after he declared that he would be coming to Inter Miami. The team will introduce him Sunday night at its stadium in Fort Lauderdale, and the first home match of the Messi era could be as early as Friday in a Leagues Cup match against Cruz Azul.
A formal news conference is scheduled for Monday, and his first training session with his new club is expected on Tuesday. The club previously announced that Messi's deal will be for 2 1/2 seasons and will pay him between $50 million and $60 million annually — putting the total contract value between $125 million and $150 million in cash alone.
"BIENVENIDO 10," the team posted Saturday on Twitter.
Welcome, Messi, indeed.
“We are overjoyed that the greatest player in the world chose Inter Miami CF and Major League Soccer, and his decision is a testament to the momentum and energy behind our League and our sport in North America,” MLS Commissioner Don Garber said in a statement. “We have no doubt that Lionel will show the world that MLS can be a League of Choice for the best players in the game."
It is, in many ways, an unusual marriage. Messi — still perhaps the biggest star in the game — is signing with a team that entered Saturday in last place in the MLS's Eastern Conference standings. It’s a club in just its fourth season that plays in a temporary home that will seat only about 22,000 people when some rushed renovations like adding extra bleacher seats get completed.
Doesn’t matter. Soccer royalty now plays for Inter Miami.
Read: 1st T20I: Tigers leave it late but win despite Janat hattrick
Messi arrived in South Florida on Tuesday following vacation, then started the process of physicals and paperwork on Wednesday and the deal got finalized Saturday afternoon. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner — the trophy given annually to the world’s best player — is making his Miami move after two years with Paris Saint-Germain.
“I’m very excited to start this next step in my career with Inter Miami and in the United States,” Messi said in a statement. “This is a fantastic opportunity and together we will continue to build this beautiful project. The idea is to work together to achieve the objectives we set, and I’m very eager to start helping here in my new home.”
It was widely known that Messi would be leaving PSG. The mystery was where he was going. Some thought Messi eventually would choose to play for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia, following longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo to a kingdom where some clubs now are funded by its sovereign wealth fund. Going back to Barcelona, a storied franchise where he spent most of his career, was another possibility.
In the end, Miami won. An idea that co-owner David Beckham began floating publicly in 2021 — two years before, evidently, the team actually started thinking about how to pull this off — has now become reality.
Read: Lionel Messi scores, gets hugged by a fan during Argentina’s 2-0 win over Australia
“After winning the World Cup and not being able to return to Barcelona, it was my turn to go to the league of the United States to live football in another way,” Messi said in June when announcing his decision.
He led Argentina to the World Cup title last December. Messi has more than 800 goals in his career for club and country, making him one of the greatest scorers in the sport’s history. He scored twice in last year’s World Cup final against France, a match that ended 3-3 with Argentina prevailing 4-2 on penalty kicks.
He is a four-time Champions League winner and his 129 goals in the top club competition are second to Ronaldo’s 140. Messi has won 10 La Liga titles and two Ligue 1 championships, seven Copa del Reys and three Club World Cups plus a Copa América and Olympic gold medal for Argentina.
“Ten years ago, when I started my journey to build a new team in Miami, I said that I dreamt of bringing the greatest players in the world to this amazing city," Beckham said. "Players who shared the ambition I had when I joined LA Galaxy to help grow football in the USA and to build a legacy for the next generation in this sport that we love so much.
“Today that dream came true."
The club had a road match Saturday at St. Louis, yet when word got out that Messi may have been at the team’s facility that morning a couple hundred fans showed up just hoping for a glimpse, not even deterred by a late-morning thunderstorm. Many wore Messi jerseys — some the light blue of Argentina, some the pink-and-black of Inter Miami. Some carried flags; one carried a sign mostly in Spanish, but the words “Messi” and “GOAT” made the messaging clear.
It’s just part of a welcome party that is only getting started.
Read: Messi, Argentina set to pull a big crowd in Beijing exhibition game against Australia
Messi was seen at a Publix supermarket near Fort Lauderdale — the grocery chain is an Inter Miami sponsor — with his family earlier in the week, and the cart had a few items picked out by the kids: Froot Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Lucky Charms. The scene went viral by the time he hit the checkout lane.
A serial goal scorer is evidently a cereal fan as well.
And now, it’s time for the soccer to start. Inter Miami plans to introduce Messi on Sunday night, at an event the club is calling “The Unveil.” Shakira is rumored to be attending, and tickets are long gone for the show that has been anticipated for weeks.
Hopes for the franchise are now officially sky-high. Inter Miami has never contended for a title; Messi could change everything in a hurry for a team that has won only 34% of its matches in MLS play.
“Lionel Messi is an incomparable talent,” Inter Miami sporting director Chris Henderson said. “What he brings on and off the field will elevate everyone around him and we’re excited to have him at Inter Miami.”
Continue investigation into internal corruption of BFF: Appellate Division
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Sunday upheld the chamber judge's order that directed to continue an investigation into internal corruption at the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and its President Kazi Mohammad Salahuddin, Senior Vice President Abdus Salam Murshedy and others.
Moreover, the court affirmed the chamber judge's order that issued status quo on June 25 on a part of the High Court (HC) directive which directed them to probe the allegations against them regarding corruption involving FIFA funds.
Read: Maintain status quo on investigation into BFF: Appellate Division
The Appellate Division ordered the HC to settle the rules, issued earlier in this connection, within three weeks.
A three justice bench led by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique passed the order on Sunday after disposing of the appeals submitted by the BFF and others.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Additional Attorney General Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury stood for Salam Murshedy and others in the court during the hearing and Advocate Murad Reza represented the writ petitioner and Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan for the Anti-Corruption Commissioner (ACC).
Read: No opinion on BFF corruption, money laundering until probe ends: HC
On June 25, the Chamber Judge court upheld an HC order to continue the inquiry into the allegation of the BFF’s internal corruption, Salahuddin, Murshedy and former general secretary Abu Nayeem Sohag.
However, the court affirmed the status quo regarding the investigation into the FIFA fund and sent it to the Appellate Division for hearing.
Earlier on June 23, a petition was submitted by the BFF, Salahuddin and Murshedy seeking a stay order on the investigation into the allegation of corruption of the BFF.
On June 25, the BFF president withdrew his petition.
Read: HC orders ACC to probe graft allegations against BFF President Salahuddin, others
On May 15, an HC bench of Justice Md. Nazrul Islam Talukder and Justice Khizir Hayat ordered an investigation into the allegations of corruption against Salahuddin, Murshedy and Sohag within four months.
Moreover, the HC issued a rule asking to explain why it won’t be declared illegal by the inaction of the authorities concerned regarding corruption of the trio and the BFF.
On May 14, Barrister Sayedul Haque Sumon submitted a writ petition seeking investigation into the corruption of the BFF office bearers including Salahuddin.
ACC chairman, Sports Secretary, NBR chairman and others involved with the football federation were made respondents to the writ.
Carlo Ancelotti will coach Brazil at Copa America next year says confederation chairman
Brazilian soccer confederation chairman Ednaldo Rodrigues said Wednesday that Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will be in charge of the national team at next year's Copa America.
Ancelotti has still not publicly confirmed any deal with the five-time World Cup champions. Brazil has never had a full-time foreign coach in charge of its national team. But the internal pressure to do so increased after Tite, hailed by many as the best Brazilian coach in the last decade, failed to deliver in the last two editions of the World Cup.
Rodrigues spoke to journalists after he introduced Fernando Diniz as the new Brazil coach until July next year in a news conference which featured several questions over the future role of Ancelotti.
“He will be, he will be. You can be sure of that,” Rodrigues said after being asked whether he had an agreement with Ancelotti to be the Brazil coach at the 2024 edition of Copa America. The 64-year-old Italian coach has a contract with Madrid which finishes when Diniz's 12-month contract with Brazil is due to expire.
Read: Afghanistan outplay Bangladesh in first ODI match marred by rain
“He (Ancelotti) has already said when he can be here,” Rodrigues said, adding that he wants Diniz to work with Ancelotti after the Brazilian's contract expires.
“That will be up to Diniz, he takes one step at a time,” Rodrigues said.
Diniz is a favorite among players like Neymar and Thiago Silva, who publicly praised him as a potential national team coach before the conversation about Ancelotti had started at the Brazilian soccer confederation.
Executives at the Brazilian soccer confederation have indicated the intention is to wait a season and then bring in Ancelotti to lead the team at the Copa America, which will be played in the United States from June 20 to July 14, and into the 2026 World Cup.
Read: SAFF Championship: Late soal shatters Bangladesh's dream of final
When asked why Ancelotti has not spoken about any agreement to coach Brazil until the 2026 World Cup, Rodrigues said: “That’s a detail. That’s his right, he’s the only one who can speak about it.”
Ancelotti has won a record four Champions League trophies as a coach — two with AC Milan, two with Real Madrid. He has had a good rapport with Brazilian players at Madrid, including Rodrygo, Eder Militão and Vinicius Jr. The latter has become one of the best players in the game under Ancelotti's guidance.
The 49-year-old Fluminense coach Diniz will keep his job at the Rio de Janeiro club and join Brazil only for South American World Cup qualifiers. He takes over from Brazil U-20 team coach Ramon Menezes, who led the team into this year’s friendlies on an interim basis, losing two out of three matches.
Tite, Brazil's previous long-term coach, left the job after a quarterfinal loss to Croatia in the 2022 World Cup at Qatar.
Read: Every match is a tough match in the World Cup: Tamim Iqbal
During the news conference, Diniz said he has never met Ancelotti and swerved questions related to the Italian.
“Ancelotti is a matter for the president, I will speak about my style,” said Diniz, who doesn't have a significant trophy collection, but is praised by both Brazil fans and players for his attacking strategies.
“I will repeat what brought me here," Diniz said in reference to his attacking style, pointing out with pride that he had "the best raw material in the world to execute my ideas.”
Diniz was introduced without any other coaching staffers in another hint he won't stay on the job beyond his contract. But he claimed to have “total liberty” to perform his duties until then in the eight matches — possibly more — that Brazil will play until Copa America begins.
“I talk to a lot of people, I would never be able to do things by myself. We will have CBF staffers, I will bring some people ... we don't do anything in a rush and make mistakes,” Diniz said.
Diniz said he is counting on 31-year-old Neymar to keep playing for Brazil, plus other players, “especially those aged 25, 26, 27 with World Cup experience on their backs.”
Brazil's first match under Diniz will be at home on Sept. 7 against Bolivia in the first round of South American World Cup qualifiers. Until then, Diniz will split his duties as Fluminense coach in the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian championship.
Rodrigues said that U-20 team coach Menezes is likely to coach Brazil's team at the Paris Olympics next year.
SAFF Championship: Late soal shatters Bangladesh's dream of final
Bangladesh's dream of reaching the final in the ongoing SAFF Championship was shattered by a late goal from Kuwait defender Abdullah Al Buloushi on Saturday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, India.
After a gap of 14 years, Bangladesh had advanced to the semifinals of the SAFF Championship but lost to Kuwait in extra time due to a conceded goal.
This was Bangladesh's first semifinal appearance since the 2009 SAFF Championship, with their last successful semifinal hurdle being in 2005.
Anisur Rahman Zico, the Bangladeshi goalkeeper, stood as an impenetrable barrier against Kuwait, saving a few chances and helping Bangladesh contain their opponents for a long time during the match.
Read: Bangladesh come from behind to beat Maldives, keep SAFF dream alive
Although Bangladesh managed to create some easy chances, their forward line's lack of efficiency rendered all their efforts futile.
Kuwait holds the 141st position in the FIFA rankings, while Bangladesh ranks 192nd, clearly highlighting the difference between the two teams.
However, in Saturday's semifinal, Bangladesh managed to contain Kuwait for over 105 minutes before conceding a goal due to a defensive mistake in the 107th minute.
In the 61st minute, Sheikh Morsalin and Rakib Hossain had an easy chance to score but failed to find the net against their opponents.
In terms of ball possession, Kuwait dominated with 71%, leaving Bangladesh with the remaining 29%.
Bangladeshi forwards had to work hard to support their defenders while remaining vigilant to create scoring opportunities.
Read: SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh to take on Maldives on Sunday
Prior to the event, Bangladesh's captain, Jamal Bhuyan, had expressed satisfaction with reaching the semifinals. In that sense, Bangladesh ended this year's SAFF Championship with their heads held high.
In the group stage games, Bangladesh lost to Lebanon before winning two consecutive games against Maldives and Bhutan.
Bangladesh's greatest success in the SAFF Championship came in 2003 when they defeated Maldives at home to win the SAFF title. Since then, Bangladesh reached the final once but failed to replicate that success.
Read more: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh Aims for Semifinals, Kicking Off on Wednesday
Bangladesh come from behind to beat Maldives, keep SAFF dream alive
Needing a win to stay alive in the competition, Bangladesh’s footballers pulled off a superb comeback win against Maldives in the second group game of the 14th SAFF CHampionship on Sunday at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore.
Bangladesh started positively and dominated possession, but fell behind to a goal by Hamza Mohammed in the 17th minute - one of only two shots on target for Maldives in the whole game. In contrast, Bangladesh had 9 shots on target.
The Green and Reds looked frantically for the equaliser, and their efforts paid off just before half time, through Rakib Hossain in the 42nd minute.
The second half saw Bangladesh continue to dominate, and Tariq Kazi put the team ahead in the 67th minute from a goalmouth melee, bundling the ball in at the third attempt.
Morsalin added a third in the 90th minute, finishing nicely from the left of the box after being set up by Bishwanath.
SAFF Championship 2023: Bangladesh to take on Maldives on Sunday
In their second encounter of the ongoing SAFF Championship 2023 in India, Bangladesh will take on Maldives on Sunday.
The Bangladesh team suffered a 2-0 defeat in their opening match against Lebanon, making it challenging for them to advance to the semifinal stage, which was their pre-event target.
Read: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh Aims for Semifinals, Kicking Off on Wednesday
In their final group stage match, Bangladesh will face Bhutan.
To secure a place in the semifinals, Bangladesh must secure maximum points from the match against Maldives and then defeat Bhutan in their last match.
Read: 2024 Copa América in US to start on June 20
Bangladesh achieved their greatest SAFF success in 2023 when they defeated Maldives in the final on home soil. Since then, Bangladesh has reached the final of the South Asia's biggest footballing event twice, but the elusive title has eluded them.
SAFF Championship: Bangladesh Aims for Semifinals, Kicking Off on Wednesday
The Bangladesh national football team is aiming to reach the semifinal stage of the SAFF Championship, which starts on Wednesday in India.
Bangladesh's greatest achievement in a SAFF event was winning the tournament in 2003 by defeating Maldives in the final at home. However, in the past 20 years, they have been unable to replicate that success, despite reaching the final twice. The elusive title has remained out of their grasp.
This time around, the Bangladesh team is not setting their sights on winning the SAFF outright. Their main objective is to secure a spot in the semifinals, as the players stated before going to India to take part in the SAFF Championship.
Read: BFF picks 30 footballers for SAFF Championship, FIFA Friendly match
In their first match of the tournament, Bangladesh will face Lebanon on Thursday at 4pm. Lebanon currently ranks 99th in the FIFA men’s team ranking, while Bangladesh sits at 192. The ranking disparity clearly highlights the difference between these two teams, making a draw against Lebanon a significant achievement for Bangladesh.
In their second match in the initial stage of the tournament, Bangladesh will take on Maldives on Sunday. Maldives holds the 154th position in the FIFA ranking, which is higher than Bangladesh's ranking.
Both of these matches pose considerable challenges for Bangladesh in their quest to secure a place in the semifinals. However, the final match of the first phase against Bhutan provides an opportunity for Bangladesh to potentially secure an easy victory, as Bhutan is the only team they can expect to defeat without much difficulty.
Yet, a single win will not be enough to secure a spot in the semifinals. Under these circumstances, Bangladesh's expectations for this year's SAFF Championship remain modest.
Read: SAFF Championship: Bangladesh drawn in Group B with Lebanon, Maldives, Bhutan
Despite the odds, Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan expressed his belief over winning the SAFF. However, he emphasized the importance of performing well against Lebanon.
"For now, our focus is on securing a spot in the semifinals. If we manage to progress from there, then we can start thinking about the title," he stated before departing for India on June 16th. Other players and support personnel have also expressed the same goal—to secure a place in the semifinals. However, they acknowledge that it will not be an easy path for Bangladesh.
A total of eight teams are participating in this year's SAFF Championship. Kuwait, India, Pakistan, and Nepal form Group A, while Bangladesh, Bhutan, Lebanon, and Maldives comprise Group B. After the group stage, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinal stage.
Read more: Lebanon confirmed as 8th team in SAFF Championship 2023