Latest news with #friendlymatch
BBC News
6 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Newcastle to host Espanyol in pre-season friendly
Newcastle will face Spanish side Espanyol at St James' Park on Friday, 8 August, in their first home friendly before the 2025-26 match, which kicks off at 19:30 BST, has been added to bolster preparations for a season in which the Magpies will compete in both the Premier League and Champions coach Eddie Howe is expected to use the fixture to build fitness and cohesion across the squad before Newcastle begin their league campaign at Aston Villa, followed by a home match against defending champions who are marking their 125th anniversary, finished 14th in La Liga in fixture kicks off a busy weekend for the Tyneside club, with Newcastle's men's and women's teams set to take on Atletico Madrid in the Sela Cup on Saturday, 9 August.
The Independent
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Thomas Tuchel's message to fans after England's 3-1 defeat to Senegal
Thomas Tuchel has insisted there is no"no need to panic' after England 's shock 3-1 friendly defeat at home to Senegal England were booed off for the second time in four days as Saturday's 1-0 qualification win against minnows Andorra was followed by a first ever loss to African opposition on Tuesday evening. Asked in a press conference after Tuesday's match if the key message now is not to panic, the head coach said: 'Yes, 100 per cent. We lost a test (friendly) match so there is no need to panic. 'We have (played) three qualification games, we have nine points and not conceded. We will be competitive in September, and we will go for two more victories – 100 per cent we will.
BreakingNews.ie
11-06-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
We can't ask any more in terms of character – Northern Ireland's Michael O'Neill
Michael O'Neill praised the character of his young Northern Ireland team after they hung on for a 1-0 friendly win over Iceland despite playing the final half an hour with 10 men in Belfast. Isaac Price fired Northern Ireland in front in the 36th minute, but then had to make a goal-line clearance to deny Andri Gudjohnsen in the second half as O'Neill's side came under pressure following the sending-off of Brodie Spencer. Advertisement That dismissal changed the game completely, but O'Neill was proud of the way his players responded as Northern Ireland won a match they finished with 10 men for the first time since their famous win over Spain in 1982. Isaac Price celebrates scoring the winning goal (Liam McBurney/PA) 'We didn't start the game well, we gave the ball away a lot,' O'Neill said. 'They pressed us and we didn't deal with that as well as we could… 'We struggled to get pressure on the ball, but really they didn't cause us any threat either. It's frustrating when you're at home that you're not having a bit more of a foothold and dominance. 'But we're going to have to play like that so I think this team, they've got a strong character and desire when things are going against them to stay in the game… Advertisement 'There's a lot of things we can do better, but in terms of character, we can't ask any more. In terms of defending as a team and as a unit without the ball, I thought we were excellent.' Spencer was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity after tangling with Iceland skipper Hakon Haraldsson as he tried to break into the box, a decision which infuriated the Northern Ireland players as they surrounded referee Morten Krogh, and frustrated O'Neill. Isaac Price's goal makes him the youngest player to score 9 goals for Northern Ireland at 21 years 257 days 👏 #GAWA Stat: @NIStats — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 10, 2025 'I think it's a poor decision,' O'Neill said. 'The referee doesn't have a very good view of it. Brodie and the attacking player, it's more like their legs get tangled than anything else. 'Daniel (Ballard) is a covering defender as well. And the first touch of the Iceland player goes right through Pierce (Charles), he doesn't have the ball under control. Advertisement 'But you see when the incident happens the referee (isn't close) so he was very, very quick to produce a red card given he doesn't have the benefit of VAR. I was disappointed with it because it obviously changes the game.' Northern Ireland hung on well. As well as Price's clearance off the line, Charles made a stoppage-time save to keep out Isak Johannesson's header. Price's goal was another quality finish from the 21-year-old West Brom forward – his ninth international goal. George Saville won a challenge to prod it to him and after a couple of touches he bent a shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. 📸🤩 #GAWA — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 10, 2025 Sport Isaac Price earns 10-man Northern Ireland victory... Read More 'I don't think there's too many players come in and play international football and adapt to it as quickly as Isaac has,' O'Neill said. 'He has that ability just to do something a little bit different, a little bit special. The goal is an example of that. Advertisement 'But his biggest contribution to the team is off the ball and his running ability, his ability to press. 'When you've got that type of player who can score goals and has that level of technical ability, you're always concerned about their off-the-ball play, but for him, it's not a problem.'
Free Malaysia Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
Pochettino's problems mount as US routed 4-0 by Switzerland
US head coach Mauricio Pochettino said he bore responsibility for picking the inexperienced line-up that was outclassed by the rampant Swiss. (AP Pic) TENNESSEE : An experimental US line-up crashed to a 4-0 friendly home defeat to Switzerland on Tuesday, deepening the gloom around Mauricio Pochettino's squad one year out from hosting the World Cup. A game intended as a morale-boosting send-off before the USA take part in the Concacaf Gold Cup unravelled in a disastrous first half that saw Switzerland 4-0 up after 36 minutes in Nashville. Dan Ndoye, Michel Aebischer, Breel Embolo and Johan Manzambi scored for Switzerland to leave a disgruntled home crowd at Geodis Park in Nashville raining boos down from the stands. The defeat was the fourth straight loss suffered by Pochettino's side, the first time the US has lost four in a row since 2007. Pochettino is planning for the USA's Gold Cup campaign, which kicks off on Sunday against Trinidad and Tobago, without several key players who are unavailable. AC Milan star Christian Pulisic was excused from duty from the tournament after requesting a rest while Juventus duo Weston McKennie and Tim Weah are unavailable due to the Italian side's participation in the FIFA Club World Cup. Those absences left former Chelsea and Tottenham coach Pochettino having to dig deep to gauge the depth of his resources as the US builds towards next year's World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico. On Tuesday's evidence, the return of his European-based stars cannot come soon enough after Switzerland ran riot in a lopsided first half. Pochettino said he bore responsibility for picking the inexperienced line-up that were outclassed by the rampant Swiss. 'First of all it's my responsibility the choice of the starting 11. I wanted to give minutes to certain players, but we were never in the game,' the Argentine said. US defender Walker Zimmerman attempted to put a brave face on the mauling, insisting there was still plenty of time for the side to improve before next year's World Cup. 'It's easy to look at one half and think this is all going to pieces, that we can't come back from a result like this,' Zimmerman told TNT television. 'But look at the build-up to 2022 – we took down Morocco 3-0 and they made the semi-final. Things change. That was six months apart.' 'So it's not the end of the world. We accept that it's not good enough and we realise that. That's where the disappointment comes in, but we have to flip the script and we've gotta make sure we do not come out like that ever again.'
Free Malaysia Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Free Malaysia Today
England stunned by Senegal, Tuchel under immediate pressure
Senegal's Ismaila Sarr (No 18) celebrates after scoring the equaliser during the international friendly match against England in Nottingham. (EPA Images pic) NOTTINGHAM : England slumped to a 3-1 home friendly defeat by Senegal on Tuesday to ramp up the scrutiny on boss Thomas Tuchel one year out from the World Cup. Goals from Ismaila Sarr, Habib Diarra and Cheikh Sabaly inflicted England's first ever defeat against African opposition at Nottingham Forest's City Ground after Harry Kane had given the hosts an early lead. Tuchel was scathing in his criticism of his side's dreary display in beating minnows Andorra just 1-0 in World Cup qualifying on Saturday. The German, who was appointed with the task of ending England's wait since 1966 for a major tournament win, has now suffered his first defeat in four games in charge. 'Not good enough. We had moments, but with and without the ball things aren't clicking, we're not finding the right tempo,' said England captain Kane. 'We've lost that aggressive nature that we had.' Tuchel responded by making 10 changes, with Kane the only player to retain his place. It took just seven minutes for the Bayern Munich striker to maintain his record of scoring in every game since Tuchel took charge. Former Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy should have done better when he could only parry Anthony Gordon's shot into the path of Kane, who tapped in his 73rd international goal. Dean Henderson was given a rare chance to impress in the England goal as Jordan Pickford was relegated to the bench. The Crystal Palace stopper made impressive saves from his club team-mate Sarr and Idrissa Gana Gueye. But he was helpless when Sarr made the most of a lack of concentration from Kyle Walker to meet Nicolas Jackson's cross and fire into the bottom corner. England had never lost to African opposition in 21 previous matches but Senegal had been beaten just once from open play since losing to the Three Lions at the 2022 World Cup. Diarra was afforded acres of room to run in behind the England defence and slot between the legs of Henderson to put the visitors in front just after the hour mark. Mendy made amends for his role in the opening goal with fine saves to deny Bukayo Saka and Morgan Gibbs-White a swift equaliser. England thought they had levelled late on when Jude Bellingham smashed home from a corner. But the goal was ruled out for a handball by Levi Colwill before the ball broke to the Real Madrid midfielder. Senegal made the most of that reprieve to seal a famous win in stoppage time when Sabaly rounded off a slick counter-attack. Boos rained down from the disgruntled home support to leave Tuchel with plenty to ponder before England are next in action in September.
