Germany defender Süle positive for virus, 4 more quarantined
Germany Soccer Virus DFB director Oliver Bierhoff, left, and DFB doctor Tim Meyer leave a press conference wearing mouth-nose protection in Wolfsburg, Germany, prior the World Cup qualifying match against Liechtenstein, Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2021. Süle also tested positive for COVID-19 a year ago. “It’s in the hands of the local heath authority,” Germany team doctor Tim Meyer said. Another four unnamed Germany players who were on the flight to Wolfsburg with Süle are being kept apart from the rest of the team as a precaution. Germany coach Hansi Flick called up Wolfsburg players Ridle Baku and Maximilian Arnold, and Monaco forward Kevin Volland to the squad after the others’ departure.
wftv.comCONMEBOL, Klopp and Nagelsmann decry biennial World Cup push
(AP photo/Rui Vieira) (Rui Vieira)LONDON — (AP) — South American football's governing body joined Europe in opposing FIFA's push for World Cups every two years, while leading coaches Jürgen Klopp and Julian Nagelsmann also voiced concerns on Friday. CONMEBOL's resistance to doubling the frequency of World Cups is striking given its president, Alejandro Domínguez, proposed the same concept to FIFA in 2018. Now CONMEBOL thinks that biennial World Cups would lower the quality of the competition. “There is no sporting justification for shortening the period between World Cups,” CONMEBOL said in a statement that did not say if it was signed off by the 10 countries in the confederation. It's unclear whether it needs more regular World Cups to introduce the mandatory 25-day vacation in July envisaged for players before rejoining their clubs.
wftv.comKlopp, Nagelsmann decry FIFA's plans for biennial World Cups
(AP photo/Rui Vieira) (Rui Vieira)LONDON — (AP) — Jürgen Klopp seems sure why FIFA is so determined to gain support for World Cups every two years, and he's not pleased by apparent financial motivations. “On the one hand, it affects the overload on players and there’s a devaluation of the World Cup. Just three weeks ago, Klopp was being honored by FIFA, receiving the men's coach of the year award from Wenger. “There’s not another sport in world I’m sure with such a relentless calendar, no physical sport,” Klopp said. It's unclear whether it needs more regular World Cups to introduce the mandatory 25-day vacation in July envisaged for players before rejoining their clubs.
wftv.comFrance vs Germany semis mark Champions League power shift
(Franck Fife/Pool Photo via AP)LISBON Emmanuel Macron was quick to appropriate France's unexpected Champions League prowess for political purposes. It has never happened before: two French teams in the Champions League semifinals after two nights of incredible results in Lisbon. You have to go back even longer to find a Champions League semifinals that didn't feature Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. With Pep Guardiola twice a Champions League winner as Barcelona coach outwitted by Lyon's Rudi Garcia, the last of the managerial heavyweights exited this mini-tournament. Diego Simeone, who has lost two Champions League finals with Atletico Madrid, was dumped out by Leipzig on Wednesday.
Sadness to surreal: The biggest day in Tyler Adams' career
(Miguel A. Lopes/Pool Photo via AP)LISBON A day that ended with Tyler Adams producing the biggest moment in Leipzigs history and his own young career started in disappointment. Without a goal in his injury-disrupted 20 months at Leipzig, Adams confidence wasnt diminished that he could break the 1-1 deadlock in the quarterfinal. An American had never done so this late in the Champions League knockout stage. The Bundesliga was reached in 2016 and Champions League qualification secured within three years. It's a crazy, crazy journey for RB Leipzig," Nagelsmann said.