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Benfica reject corruption charges, ‘ under no pressure to vow to clear name Reuters |

enfica, who were Bcharged with corrup- return to national team’ tion by Portuguese pros- ecutors earlier this week, ESPN | Buenos Aires have labelled the allegations groundless and vowed to rgentina Football Associ- prove their innocence. ation president Claudio The club are accused by ATapia is not going to put We have to be prosecutors of prying into any pressure on to thankful. He has judiciary records and if con- return to the squad, believing done a lot for the victed in court, Portugal’s the forward has given national team and penal code states they could much more to the national team be suspended from com- than he has received in return. we have repaid petition from between six Messi, who was under intense him in the worst months to three years. scrutiny to perform at this sum- possible way They could also lose pub- mer’s World Cup, has taken an CLAUDIO TAPIA lic subsidies and face other indefinite break from the Al- sanctions. biceleste after captaining them paoli, who was sacked after the Club President said Benfi- to the round-of-16. World Cup, until the new year. ca would defend their rep- “We have to be thankful,” Messi, 31, has scored 65 goals utation “in an uncompro- Tapia said of Messi. “He has in 128 appearances since mak- mising manner” and that done a lot for the national team ing his debut with in the charges contained “not and we have repaid him in the Lionel Messi August 2005, but the five-time a single fact, not even cir- worst possible way.” Ballon d’Or winner has not pub- cumstantial evidence, that With Messi unavailable, Man- New Jersey four days later. If he Scaloni said that Messi’s absence told TyC Sports. “Once we have licly addressed his international would implicate Benfica”. chester United goalkeeper Ser- does not, Ajax defender Nico- will be felt. a project, a name [new full-time future. gio Romero should take over the las Tagliafico is reportedly the “We miss him. But we have ], we will see what Leo Despite competing in five Argentina captaincy provided number one candidate for the to let him be, in peace. He has thinks.” World Cups and eight Copa he starts against Guatemala and role. to enjoy his family, his life. We Argentina will not name a full- Americas, Messi has not won a Japan cancel the game against Colombia in Interim head coach Lionel shall see what happens later,” he time replacement for Jorge Sam- major trophy with his country. friendly after quake

Reuters | Tokyo 2018/2019 football transfers welcomes mobile phone ban apan have cancelled Top 10* JFriday’s international C. Ronaldo Reuters | on Saturday away friendly with Chile sched- Forward to England in their opening uled to be played at the 117 Juventus Aged 33 Real pain Isco says he match of the UEFA Nations Sapporo Dome after a pow- Madrid million euros (Torino) Swelcomes coach Luis En- League before hosting Croatia erful earthquake struck the Kepa rique’s ban on mobile phones on Tuesday. northern island of Hokkai- Goalkeeper during team meals and has em- Their last outing was their do on Thursday, the coun- Athletic Aged 23 80 Chelsea braced the new manager’s foot- shock elimination from the try’s soccer federation said. Bilbao balling ideas and team building World Cup to Russia on pen- The Japan Football Fed- T. Lemar exercises. alties following a 1-1 draw in eration (JFA) said they had Winger “It’s always good to have a lit- the last 16. taken the decision after con- Atletico Monaco Aged 23 72 Madrid tle bit of discipline, not having Some fans and pundits que- sidering the magnitude of phones at meals is a good idea ried Luis Enrique’s appoint- damage that included wide- R. Mahrez to me, these days we are often ment as successor to Julen spread power outages and Winger more focused on machines than Lopetegui due to his prickly transportation disruptions, Aged 27 Manchester Leicester 67.8 City speaking with our team mates,” relationship with the media and as well as spectator safety. Isco told a news conference his barely concealed distaste for Isco yesterday. Real Madrid in the past. taken to the coach’s training Goalkeeper Spain play their first game Real Madrid midfielder Isco, methods as well as his quirky Roma Liverpool Aged 25 62.5 under former Barcelona coach however, said the team have ideas off the pitch. excited by N. Keita Richarlison’s fast Midfielder Liverpool start at Everton Aged 23 Leipzig 60 Fred Lallana set to return this month Reuters | Midfielder Shakhtar Reuters | London Aged 25 Manchester ing the injury. verton forward Richar- Donesk 59 United Lallana returned to Liverpool Elison has only needed Jorginho iverpool midfielder Adam for further assessment and the a few weeks at the club to Midfielder LLallana will be available for club confirmed he should be show he has the potential to back in contention before the Aged 26 Napoli 57 Chelsea selection later this month after forge a successful career for a scan revealed he suffered a end of September as they start both club and country, his Fabinho minor groin injury on interna- their Champions League and compatriot and Brazilian Midfielder tional duty, the Premier League League Cup campaigns and re- great Rivaldo has said. Monaco Liverpool Aged 24 45 club said on Wednesday. sume their league season. The 21-year-old scored The 30-year-old was re - “It’s a minor setback, which three goals in his first two Vinicius Junior called to the England squad isn’t ideal, as I’ve been in great Premier League starts for Winger for matches against Spain and shape until now, but it’s posi- Everton after moving to Real Madrid Aged 18 Flamengo 45 Switzerland but failed to com- tive news that it’s only a brief Merseyside from Watford plete the first training session at lay-off,” Lallana told the club for a deal estimated to be Source: Transfermarkt/Photos AFP *As of 1500 GMT on Aug 31, 2018 St George’s Park after sustain- Adam Lallana website. worth $51.67 million. Amateurs, futsal players line up for Denmark in friendly

AFP | Copenhagen, Denmark Denmark are due to face exclusion of the national Wales on Sunday in their first team for several years,” said enmark fielded a team com- game of the inaugural UEFA Na- Kim Hallberg, director of the Dprised of lower-league and tions League. Danish Football Association futsal players for Wednesday’s They could have to rely on the (DBU). international friendly in Slova- KNOW WHAT same players unless the stand- “On behalf of DBU and Danish kia amid a contract dispute with off between the Danish play- football, I am pleased that John the country’s football associa- ers’ union and national federa- Jensen has taken the hard task tion. tion over commercial rights is of being coach in both matches,” The makeshift Danish side, Denmark called resolved. he added. captained by third-division players from third Coach Age Hareide has been In 2017, the Danish women’s forward Christian Offenberg, and fourth tiers of replaced for the two match - team boycotted a World Cup lost 3-0 in Trnava without the domestic league, es, with Euro 92 winner John qualifier against Sweden over likes of Christian Eriksen and as well as four who Jensen in temporary charge. salary disputes, leaving Den- Kasper Schmeichel who led played in 2016 Futsal “We must hold the two na - mark at risk of being banned them to the last 16 of the World World Cup tional matches to avoid mil - by UEFA if they cancel another Cup. Slovakia and Denmark players in action during their match lions of fines and possible match.