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England desperate to appoint Pep Guardiola as manager
England’s Football Association would consider appointing an interim manager to try and coax Pep Guardiola to become the England boss if he does decide to leave Manchester City in 2025.
While it is not the FA’s first choice to wait, the Catalan represents such an outstanding candidate it would at least bring a re-assessment if there was any chance of getting him.
Gareth Southgate’s resignation was announced on Tuesday morning, just two days after the Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain, putting into action a long-prepared FA plan for his departure.
The priority is for a manager who understands the culture of the national team, which Guardiola fits into perfectly having spent eight years in England and supplied so many players.
He has naturally been high on any ideal list, but previously, the feeling was that it would be near impossible to get him out of City for such a job.
There is now a feeling within the English champions that Guardiola might leave at the end of the 2024-25 season. Complicating his future is the ongoing Premier League investigation into City over the hundred-plus charges for alleged breaches of rules on financial regulation. The club stress their innocence.
Who are the contenders to replace Gareth Southgate as England manager?
Guardiola has previously expressed interest in going into international management, although primarily on the romance of coaching Brazil. In such a scenario that he might be interested, the FA would seek to play up the idea of ending England’s long wait for an international trophy. Guardiola does not have a particular interest in managing Spain due to identifying as a Catalan.
One problem is that the 53-year-old may not even decide until the end of the 2024-25 season, as has been the case in recent campaigns. That may not prove completely off-putting, however.
While the FA have stressed their intention to make a quick decision, that can involve an interim; qualification for the 2026 World Cup doesn’t start until late March.
Under-21 manager Lee Carsley would be seen as someone ready to step up, given he is currently a candidate for the senior job. Any success in such games could even see him promoted if Guardiola does not ultimately leave City or want the job.
Figures with knowledge of the situation have also pointed out that the FA were prepared to wait for Sarina Wiegman on the women’s team because they felt she was the right choice.
Regarding candidates the FA would seek to go for immediately, Newcastle United have already let it be known they would work to keep Eddie Howe.
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RON ON HIS WAY! Ronaldo Makes New Portgual Decision After Red Card Nightmare
Cristiano Ronaldo has LEFT the Portugal camp after his shocking red card in their defeat against Ireland.
The Portuguese icon was dismissed in his nation’s 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland earlier this week.
Ronaldo was given his marching orders for an alleged elbow on Ireland defender Dara O’Shea. He was initially awarded a yellow card, only for VAR to intervene before the referee upgraded the punishment.
Ronaldo has now been handed a one-match automatic ban for the red card, which will see him miss Portugal’s clash with Armenia on Sunday. And according to reports in Portugal, he has now been released from international duty.
The 40-year-old will now return to Saudi Arabia ahead of making his return to action with club side Al-Nassr, who take on Al-Khaleej next weekend. Speaking after Ronaldo’s red card, Portugal boss Roberto Martinez said: “The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games – I think that just deserves credit – and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team.
“He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender.
“I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don’t think it’s an elbow, I think it’s a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it.
“The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference yesterday, your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big centre-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano’s body.”
Meanwhile, Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrímsson said: “He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee. It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me – unless I got into his head.”
News
Oscar Health Update Emerges After Ex-Chelsea Star Collapsed
A health update has been provided on the former Chelsea midfielder, Oscar, after he collapsed and was admitted to the ICU earlier this week.
The Brazilian star fell unconscious during a training session and has remained under observation
Oscar, 34, was conducting an interval test on an exercise bike at Sao Paulo’s training ground when he fell ill. Brazilian outlet Global Esporte reported that he was unconscious for two minutes. The issue comes after Oscar suffered a fractured vertebra in August.
Since then, Oscar has made the bench twice, but it has been claimed that he has been monitoring a heart issue after he showed signs of an abnormality during tests on his fracture.
In a statement on Tuesday, Sao Paulo said Oscar ‘presented an incident with cardiological changes’ and was ‘promptly attended to by the club’s professionals and the medical team from Einstein Hospital Israelita. They have now offered another update and have confirmed a diagnosis of vasovagal syncope.
“Midfielder Oscar remains hospitalised at Einstein Hospital Israelita, where he was admitted on Tuesday afternoon (11) after presenting an incident with cardiological changes during tests carried out at SuperCT.
“An extensive investigation carried out at the hospital confirmed the diagnosis of vasovagal syncope. Oscar remains clinically well and stable, hospitalised in a cardiology unit and will undergo an electrophysiological study this Friday.”
The condition causes a sudden drop in heart rate and blood pressure. This can reduce blood flow to the brain and cause an individual to briefly lose consciousness. Vasovagal syncope can occur when the body overreacts to heat, hunger, or emotional distress.
Oscar returned to Sao Paulo in December on a three-year deal after beginning his career with the Brazilian side. The attacker’s reputation grew in his spell with Chelsea as he won two Premier League titles.
News
Thomas Tuchel Breaks Silence On England Records
Thomas Tuchel said he has not spoken to England’s players about any potential records they could set in Albania as his only focus is on the hunger to compete and kick on towards the World Cup.
Gareth Southgate’s successor began his reign with March’s 2-0 Wembley win against Albania and ends his first year in charge against the same opponents in Tirana on Sunday.
England arrive in Albania having followed up last month’s early World Cup qualification by winning a seventh Group K match without conceding — an impressive record that opposition manager Sylvinho joked was “disgusting.”
Sunday offers them the chance to become the first European side to play at least six World Cup qualifiers and win them all without conceding, but that could not be further from Tuchel’s mind.
“We didn’t speak a single word about that,” he said at Air Albania Stadium on the eve of the game.
“We made sure yesterday that we had yesterday the training session that we had. The quality and the mentality of the guys that didn’t play was on the highest level, which was a pure pleasure.
“It just showed me that we are going in the right way.
“Everyone is ready to play, everyone is ready to start. Competition is still on, the hunger is still on to be on the pitch tomorrow. That is the most important.
“Everything we talk about is about the process and the things we can influence. We need to get the foundation right to have a chance to get these records.
“Just by thinking about it or talking about it, nothing will change.
“We need to deliver tomorrow again and, like I said, the feeling and the trust is absolutely there because I witness this in the camp so I trust my players to perform again tomorrow.”
England arrived in Albania with a 23-man squad after Ezri Konsa withdrew from the camp with a calf complaint.
That means there will be at least one change from Thursday’s 2-0 win against Serbia, when Jude Bellingham, Eberechi Eze and Phil Foden impressed off the bench.
The latter was deployed in a false nine role having replaced captain Harry Kane but Tuchel says he is unlikely to go into next summer’s World Cup with just one out-and-out striker.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said when that was mentioned. “It is possible but I don’t think that will happen. There is still a long way to go.
“We will go with a very balanced squad, I guess this as I’ve never picked a World Cup squad.
“This is something for between March and May but the general idea is to pick a balanced squad with different characters and qualities.
“I cannot rule out going with just one striker but it is very likely we will have more classic number nines.”
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