Category: Soccer

Lucas Hernandez Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury, Will Miss Euro 2024
2 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Lucas Hernandez Suffers Season-Ending ACL Injury, Will Miss Euro 2024

Lucas Hernandez suffered a torn ACL in the first leg of Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League semi-final matchup with Borussia Dortmund. The defender will miss six-to-seven months and subsequently the UEFA Euro 2024 tournament, PSG announced May 2.

"An MRI scan carried out today confirmed the diagnosis made by the club's doctors on Wednesday evening. The player will undergo surgery in the next few days. A further update will follow," PSG said in a medical update.

Hernandez was forced off because of the injury in the 42nd minute of the first leg. He was replaced by Lucas Beraldo. The centerback will miss the rest of the season for PSG, though the Ligue 1 title is already wrapped up. Luis Enrique will have to figure out his new backline fast if the club hopes to advance to the final.

Lucas Hernandez Suffers Torn ACL, Will Miss Euro 2024

Also of note due to the length of recovery, Hernandez will now miss the Euro 2024 tournament. There aren't necessarily a shortage of top-tier French defenders in Europe, but Hernandez was still a vital part of the squad. He's also versatile notably starting every match of France's victorious 2018 World Cup campaign.

He featured in two of France's last four Euro matches in 2020. His 2022 World Cup campaign saw him start at LB in a 4-1 win over Australia in Group D, but a cruciate ligament tear kept him out of the rest of the competition. That injury also kept him out of most of the qualifiers for Euro 2024, though he did play CB three times in wins against Ireland and Netherlands, and a draw against Greece.

As Enrique figures out how to turn around the Champions League tie, Didier Deschamps also needs to figure out his backline come the summer. As mentioned, the manager has plenty of options including William Saliba, Jules Kounde and Ibrahima Konate. France is still a favorite to win the tournament and likely eager for glory considering how close Les Bleus came to upending Lionel Messi and Argentina's dream ending in 2022.

Champions League, Euro 2024, France, Injury, Lucas Hernandez, Paris Saint Germain, PSG, SI, Soccer
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Newcastle's Sandro Tonali Hit With New Suspended Ban for Betting
2 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali Hit With New Suspended Ban for Betting

Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali was handed a new suspended two-month ban from football on Thursday for further breaches of the Football Association's betting rules.

The Italian is already serving a 10-month ban handed down by the Italian Football Federation last October after betting on football matches when he was playing for Serie A giants AC Milan.

Tonali could have been banned for up to three years, but he admitted his guilt and co-operated with investigations to help reduce the severity of his punishment.

The 23-year-old joined Newcastle in a deal worth an estimated €70m last July, making him the most expensive Italian footballer of all time. But he played just 12 games in all competitions for the club before it was announced he was being investigated for illegal betting activity.

"Provided that he does not commit any further breach of the FA Betting Rules during the suspension period, Sandro will not serve any part of the two-month sanction," Newcastle announced in a club statement.

"As acknowledged by the FA in the independent Regulatory Commission's written reasons, the level of assistance Sandro has provided by self-referring and fully cooperating with a subsequent investigation is extraordinary and unprecedented.

"Sandro made full admissions as to his betting activity, and did so in circumstances where there was no other evidence to support misconduct proceedings.

"Sandro is continuing to follow a therapeutic plan and educational programme with the club's full support and will continue to train with his teammates."

Tonali will be free to return to action on August 27, providing he doesn't commit any further betting offences, and consequently will play no part in Italy's Euro 2024 campaign this summer.

Premier League, SI, Soccer
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Wrexham's Hollywood Owners Front Up About Significant Financial Losses
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Wrexham’s Hollywood Owners Front Up About Significant Financial Losses

Wrexham owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney opened up to The Mirror about just how much money they've lost since purchasing the Welsh club.

The Hollywood duo bought Wrexham bought Wrexham in Nov. 2020 for $2.5 million. The Welsh club has gained popularity all over the world thanks to the Welcome to Wrexham docuseries on FX. Wrexham recently achieved a second successive promotion moving up to EFL League One, the third tier of the English system.

The third season of Welcome to Wrexham debuts Thursday, May. 2 on FX and will chronicle this year's season which, knowing the outcome, should have fans excited. Though, Reynolds and McElhenney recently opened up about the finances behind the scenes since purchasing the club.

"You want to know, like how far in the red I am? It's pretty significant. It's true that in the beginning when we asked our advisors if this was a good economic investment, there was not one person that I can remember that was like, 'Yes.' It was more like, 'Don't,'" McElhenney said to The Mirror.

Reynolds reiterated that the duo were never in it to make money. "I think we recognize how lucky we are that we can be in this position where it isn't about making money or any of those things. I mean, you have to be in a pretty privileged spot to be able to do this, to begin with. But eventually, you know, as we climb up the leagues, we're going to need outside help in order to sustain this club."

Reynolds and McElhenney also recently purchased a stake in Liga MX's Club Nexaca which has a host of celebrity investors including Eva Longoria, Odell Beckham Jr, Justin Verlander and Kate Upton.

Rob McElhenney, Ryan Reynolds, SI, Soc, Soccer, Wrexham
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NBC Sports Executive Wants Opening-Day Premier League Games Played in the US
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

NBC Sports Executive Wants Opening-Day Premier League Games Played in the US

NBC Sports executive Jon Miller spoke with The Athletic saying he will "continue to push" for Premier League matches to be played in the United States.

NBC holds the exclusive broadcast rights to the Premier League in the United States, with its latest six-year contract beginning back in 2022. Miller said to The Athletic that he is supportive of having league matches in the United States, and there have already been conversations. "Very much so. And this is a point that we've had conversations with the Premier League and they've been very open and receptive to listening to me," Miller said.

Last summer, the Premier League Summer Series gave stateside fans a chance to see league teams compete for a pre-season trophy. Chelsea, Newcastle United, Fulham, Aston Villa, Brighton and Hove Albion and Brentford played nine games across seven days in five different American cities.

"At some point in the future, I would love to see a couple of Premier League games open the season here in big stadiums on our opening weekend. And I know that's something that we'll continue to push for because I think there's an American audience here that would like to see regular season games...," Miller said.

Major European clubs have held pre-season US tours including the likes of Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester City and United, Liverpool and many more. Having official Premier League games in the US though would be a major step.

American sports leagues like the NFL have held regular season matches in other countries. While pre-season matches give American fans a great opportunity to see their favorite teams in the summer without having to travel abroad, having regular season matches is another level and might come with its own issues to sort.

How would the Premier League decide which teams go abroad? Which stadiums would they play in? How does it affect the season's schedule? Would the league want to create a similar atmosphere for clubs? Lots of questions to figure out, and something Miller will continue to push for regardless.

Miller also said to The Athletic that he's constantly looking at how he can improve the viewer experience through access and audio specifically. "...People love to hear what Jurgen Klopp is saying to his team or what he's saying on the sidelines." Miller does acknowledge there have to be some protections and guidelines put in place.

Miller goes on to say that while the Premier League has been responsive to those conversations, it's not his place to, "try and tell the Premier League what makes a good product. Their product is spectacular. But much like we do with the NFL, and golf, we constantly have conversations with our partners and brainstorm on things we can do to make the games better and more appealing to try and grow our audience."

League, NBC, SI, Soccer, The Athletic
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The One Transfer Manchester City Are Said to Regret Sanctioning
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

The One Transfer Manchester City Are Said to Regret Sanctioning

Manchester City overhauled its squad at the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season after a treble-winning campaign. Notable players like Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte went to the Saudi Pro League, while youngster Cole Palmer is the favorite for Young Player of the Year at Chelsea.

Though, it's another departure that has Manchester City regretting signing off on. According to Barcelona news outlet Mundo Deportivo, Man City manager Pep Guardiola misses and regrets selling midfielder Ilkay Gundogan.

The German midfielder was a stalwart for the club in his 188 appearances for the club. He notably scored the Premier League title winner for Man City in the 2021/22 season against Aston Villa completing a remarkable comeback.

Gundogan departed for Barcelona at the start of the season on a free transfer. Man City certainly haven't lacked midfield options bringing in Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes from Chelsea and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively, but it's understandable why Guardiola would miss Gundogan's intangibles. Gundogan, Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri as a midfield played a massive part in the treble last season.

Man City is currently a point off Arsenal in the Premier League title race with four matches remaining, but the club does have a game in hand over its North London competitor. If Manchester City wins its remaining games, it will win an unprecedented four league titles in a row. Yet another feather in the cap of what's been the most dominant run in the league's history.

There were questions entering and throughout the season whether Man City would come into the season with the same hunger. Man City has trailed both Arsenal and Liverpool at different points in the season, but if all goes according to plan those days in second and third place will be a formality. A double is also on the cards with an FA Cup final rematch set with rivals Manchester United. However, City failed to win the Carabao Cup and were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals by Real Madrid.

Fans won't be disappointed at all if the season ends with a league and cup double, but perhaps Guardiola wonders what could've been if Gundogan wasn't sanctioned to leave.

Manchester City, SI, Soccer
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USWNT Icon Carli Lloyd Announces She Is Expecting Her First Child
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

USWNT Icon Carli Lloyd Announces She Is Expecting Her First Child

Former United States women’s national team midfielder Carli Lloyd announced in an Instagram post Wednesday that she and her husband Brian Hollins are expecting their first child in October after what she described as “a rollercoaster of a journey.”

Lloyd also opened up in a first-person piece for Women’s Health magazine about undergoing fertiliity treatments. She said that she thought about having children when she retired in 2021 but decided not to pursue it immediately.

“In retrospect, I wish I had been more educated about pregnancy and how to prepare for it, and that I looked years ago into the options I had for freezing my eggs,” Lloyd wrote.

Lloyd and Hollins have been together since high school and were married in 2016.

Lloyd, 41, retired from professional soccer in 2021 after a career that included two World Cups and two Olympic gold medals. She made 316 appearances for the national team, the second most in USWNT history, and ranks third all-time among USWNT players with 134 international goals.

Carli Lloyd, Soccer, USWNT
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USMNT's Sergiño Dest Has Torn ACL, Will Miss Copa America
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

USMNT’s Sergiño Dest Has Torn ACL, Will Miss Copa America

With less than two months to go before the start of its Copa America campaign, the United States has been dealt a substantial blow on the injury front.

American fullback Sergiño Dest has torn his ACL, he told fans in a video shared Wednesday morning. Dest has spent the 2024 season with PSV in the Netherlands, on loan from Barcelona.

"I tore my ACL," said Dest. "Hearing it was very painful. I will be out for a long period of time. Soon I will be operated (on) and then I will work on my recovery. It will be tough for me."

Dest has played well in Eindhoven, helping PSV gain a nine-point advantage on second-place Feyenoord in the Eredivisie with three games to play. The club is seeking its first league title since 2018.

The United States is scheduled to open Copa America play on June 23 against Bolivia in Arlington, Texas.

PSV, Sergiño Dest, Soccer, United States
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Pachuca Book Concacaf Champions Cup Final Place
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Pachuca Book Concacaf Champions Cup Final Place

Pachuca booked their place in the Concacaf Champions Cup final after two goals in two minutes from Miguel Rodriguez and Nelson Deossa helped down rivals America 2-1 on Tuesday night, sealing a 3-2 aggregate win.

The five-time winners will now face Columbus Crew or Monterrey in the June 2 final, with the former holding a 2-1 advantage heading into their semifinal second leg tie on Wednesday night.

Pachuca had earned a valuable 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture at the Estadio Azteca, and flew out of the traps against the most successful side in Concacaf Champions Cup history.

Rodriguez opened the scoring on 12 minutes, reacting quickest to Salomon Rondon's blocked effort to fire the ball beyond Luis Malagon, before Deossa doubled the advantage after Erick Sanchez's effort was kept out.

America replied soon after through Henry Martin, but they were unable to put sustained pressure on Pachuca's goal despite enjoying 69% ball possession throughout the game.

Pachuca rained down 19 shots on goal, nine of which were on target, while America were only able to force Carlos Moreno into making one save. The seven-time Concacaf Champions Cup winners also saw Ismael Reyes sent off late on.

The results sees Pachuca return to the final for the first time since 2017, when they beat Tigres, and that could be a significant advantage if Columbus Crew are able to outlast Monterrey, who like Pachuca are five-time champions and are yet to taste defeat in a Concacaf Champions Cup final.

Monterrey were the team responsible for dumping out Lionel Messi's Inter Miami in the quarterfinals, while Columbus Crew edged out Tigres on penalties after their two-legged tie finished 2-2 on aggregate.

Concacaf Champions Cup, SI, Soccer
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Man Utd Hoping to Sell Mason Greenwood on Permanent Deal - Reports
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Man Utd Hoping to Sell Mason Greenwood on Permanent Deal – Reports

Manchester United want to permanently sell Mason Greenwood this summer but a return to the club has not been ruled out, reports claim.

The 22-year-old was sent out on loan to La Liga outfit Getafe last summer, with his United career all but over after he was charged with attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault in 2022. The charges were later dropped after the withdrawal of witnesses and new evidence coming to light meant there was "no longer a realistic prospect of conviction."

Greenwood has registered 16 goal contributions in 31 appearances for Getafe this season - ten goals and six assists - and has attracted interest from some of Europe's top teams.

The Times report that Juventus are among those eyeing a potential move for Greenwood, who United valued at between £30m and £40m last summer, at a time when he had been sidelined for the best part of 20 months.

It's reported that United will look to facilitate a permanent exit for Greenwood this summer, although it remains to be seen whether Juventus, or any other interested parties, are prepared to stump up a transfer fee that Getafe will almost certainly not be able to afford.

One that United will not do, ESPN state, is accept a reduced fee for Greenwood, making a return to Old Trafford a distinct possibility. The forward has one year remaining on his current contract, with the option to an extend by a further year.

Premier League, SI, Soccer
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How Quickly Wrexham Hope to Achieve Promotion to Premier League
1 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

How Quickly Wrexham Hope to Achieve Promotion to Premier League

Wrexham's executive director Humphrey Ker had admitted the club hope to achieve promotion to the Premier League "sort of as quickly as possible".

The Red Dragons recently booked their place in League One, securing back-to-back promotions after a whirlwind first season back in the English Football League.

All eyes are on Wrexham because of the worldwide fame and wealth of co-owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, whose involvement with the Welsh club stemmed from Ker being instructed by the duo to look for a historic football club to purchase.

Many believe Wrexham can quickly build on their success and continue working up the English football pyramid, and Ker didn't downplay the club's aspirations in an interview with The Independent.

"Sort of as quickly as possible," he replied when asked for a projected timeline of reaching the Premier League. Whilst being mindful of those challenges I was just talking about, with facilities and infrastructure.

"Our commercial department is very strong and we make huge amounts of money from selling shirts off the back of the documentary and from sponsorship. All that's very, very strong but it's also quite fragile because we don't have a big operation behind it."

Ker did attempt to manage expectations, however, stating that immediate promotion to the Championship may be a bridge too far regardless of the club's pulling power and rapidly increasing reputation.

"I think promotion would be a real push," he said. "I think we've often talked about the idea that it takes three transfer windows to really build a squad into what you need to compete in any one division and next season will be one window shorter than that.

"But I think the core of this team is very strong. They’re very strong personalities, good players and they love each other, so that's a great basis to build from. We'll be adding players in the summer and sadly saying goodbye to one or two, which is sort of just the nature of football, and then we'll sort of see where we wind up.

"Inside the building, we're like, ‘look, our objective is get up and stay up, stabilise and build a good platform and go again the following year.’ But stranger things than promotion have happened – we might go through the division again.

"To be honest, that would probably be too fast for us. It wouldn't actually be that good for the club as a whole if we did go all the way through this year because we'd just be going so quickly. Then we’d be trying to catch up with infrastructure and our facilities and everything would be a big, big challenge. So I think something nice and comfortable – upper mid-table, please! Tenth. I'd be very happy with that."

READ NEXT - 'Welcome to Wrexham' Season 3 Trailer Will Give You Goosebumps

SI, Soccer, Wrexham
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