Chile need penalties to beat Portugal, reach Confed Cup final

Claudio Bravo's penalty heroics on Wednesday ensured Chile progressed to the Confederations Cup final

Chile advanced to the Confederations Cup final with a 3-0 penalty shootout defeat of Portugal in Kazan, Russia on Wednesday.

The reigning Copa America champions saw Claudio Bravo save three consecutive penalties as La Roja overcame last summer's Euro champs to book their first-ever final in the competition, where they will face the winner of Thursday's second semifinal between Germany and Mexico.

After the game finished scoreless from 120 minutes of play, it was the much criticised Manchester City goalkeeper who proved to be the hero, defending attempts from Ricardo Quaresma, Joao Moutinho and Nani -- leaving Cristiano Ronaldo on the outs -- to make the difference on the day.

Ronaldo, Portugal beat Russia 1-0 {espn & dailymail}

An eighth-minute header from Portugal's captain earned victory vs. Russia. Ronaldo's header, from a Raphael Guerreiro cross, means the European champions go top of Group A at the Confederations Cup.  

With his rivals on holiday, Ronaldo just keeps on scoring... star nets 13th goal in eight matches to fire Portugal to win over Russia

A kiss to melt a million hearts: Ronaldo's sweet moment for disabled mascot after she led out Portugal at Confederations Cup

Piala Konfederasi : Tuan rumah raih kemenangan | Portugal Mexico seri | Australia bg saingan trhdp Jerman

17 JUN 2017 : RUSSIA 2 New Zealand 0

18 JUN 2017 : PORTUGAL 2 MEXICO 2 | Cameroon 0 CHILE 2

 Pepe in action Photograph: Sergey Dolzhenko/EPA

19 JUN 2017 : Australia 2 GERMANY 3

Premier League fixtures 2017/18 released: Chelsea host Burnley on day one as Antonio Conte’s Blues fight to retain the title

Mauricio Pochettino, Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp, Antonio Conte and Arsene Wenger on the Premier League starting line

The fixtures computer has thrown up some mouth-watering clashes to whet fans’ appetites for the 2017/18 campaign.

Arjen Robben hints he could retire when his contract expires next summer and go back to Holland

Dutch star is already talking about retirement and helping out with boyhood club Groningen

BAYERN Munich winger Arjen Robben has dropped a massive hint that he could retire when his contract runs out next summer.

The Dutchman signed a new 12-month contract extension earlier this year, but the former Chelsea and Real Madrid star knows he is coming to the end of his career.

The 33-year-old has not made a definite decision on his future yet, but it looks likely his stint in the Bundesliga will only be extended by another season.

Robben told Kicker: “I am approaching the end of my career, that is the reality.

“More and more, I am starting to look forward to whatever is coming my way after my career.

“I am very relaxed, I am not worried too much about what will happen in 2018, I’m just focusing on the here and now.”

The winger, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven in 2004, would like a return home to the Netherlands once he hangs up his boots.

*sumber The Sun uk

PAFA sedih pemergian Weigang, lima hari selepas pemergian Raja Ahmad

IPOH: Tempoh kurang seminggu ini merupakan waktu bersedih buat bola sepak negara khususnya Perak.

Ini berikutan kematian bekas jurulatih dan pengendali skuad bola sepak Perak, Karl Heinz Weigang hari ini, lima hari selepas pemergian bekas naib presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Malaysia (FAM) Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar.

Weigang, 81, disahkan meninggal dunia di Jerman akibat serangan jantung.

Presiden Persatuan Bola Sepak Perak (PAFA) Datuk Seri Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan berkata beliau sangat terkejut dengan berita itu kerana ia berlaku kurang seminggu selepas kematian Raja Ahmad.

"Kedua-dua mereka pernah berganding bahu sebagai pengurus dan jurulatih selain berjaya membawa Perak menjuarai beberapa piala sebelum ini," katanya ketika dihubungi Bernama di sini.

Former national coach Karl-Heinz Weigang dies

81-year-old Weigang returned to the spotlight after the release of last year's Ola Bola, a movie loosely based on the 1980 national team which he led.

PETALING JAYA: Karl-Heinz Weigang, the man who coached the national team in the famous win over South Korea in an Olympic qualifier in 1980, has passed away. He was 81.

The Perak FA’s official twitter account posted a message announcing his death this afternoon.

Weigang had last year returned to the spotlight with the release of the local movie, Ola Bola, which was loosely based on that historic win in 1980, which helped Malaysia to qualify for the 1980 Olympic Games.

The movie event brought together most of the players and Weigang for the first time in decades, and introduced a new generation of Malaysian football fans to his achievement.

Weigang then returned to active coaching duties with Perak in May last year. He had also been Perak coach in the 1990s, helping the state win the Malaysia Cup in 1998 and 2000. Weigang was also named a technical adviser by the Perak FA in 2014.

His second stint with Perak, in the middle of the previous Malaysia Super League season, saw him guiding the team from the 10th position to finish sixth by the end of the season. He had famously promised Perak fans that he would not let the team be relegated.

The Perak FA had initially appointed Weigang as head coach as part of their three-year development plan for football in the state.

However, his time with Perak ended suddenly in February this year, with the state letting him go, though no reason was given.

On the international front, aside from Malaysia, Weigang had also coached Vietnam, Mali and Ghana. His first stint as a national coach was with Sri Lanka in 1964.

Weigang was born in Germany on Aug 24, 1935.

Pemergian Raja Ahmad Zainuddin satu kehilangan besar

IPOH: Pelbagai pihak menyifatkan pemergian Allahyarham Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar sebagai satu kehilangan besar, bukan sahaja dalam bidang sukan, politik dan pentadbiran negeri, malah juga sebagai seorang rakan.

Pelbagai pihak menyifatkan pemergian Allahyarham Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar sebagai satu kehilangan besar

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir menyifatkan allahyarham sebagai seorang yang komited memberi sumbangan untuk memastikan pentadbiran negeri berjalan baik di samping pengurusan sukan bolasepak yang baik.

Selain itu, kata beliau, allahyarham juga mempunyai bakat yang besar di dalam bidang penulisan di media massa dan juga novel.

“Beliau merupakan rakan saya, bukan sahaja dalam politik, saya rasa satu kehilangan yang amat sangat dan banyak jasa beliau kepada Perak dan negara.

“Bagi pihak kerajaan negeri, saya mengucapkan takziah kepada keluarga allahyarham, didoakan semoga rohnya di tempatkan di tempat yang sebaik-baiknya di sini Allah,” katanya kepada pemberita selepas menziarahi jenazah allahyarham di Kampung Seri Ampang B, dekat sini pada Jumaat.

Allahyarham Raja Ahmad Zainuddin, 61, meninggal dunia di Hospital KPJ Ipoh kira-kira jam 8.45 pagi ini selepas dimasukkan ke hospital berkenaan Isnin lalu.

Allahyarham meninggalkan seorang balu, Datin Seri Sabaniah Ahmad Sabri, 56, dan tiga anak, Raja Ahmad Zhafir, 28, Raja Nur Dzafirah, 23, dan Raja Nur Dzhoriifah, 20.

Dr Zambry berharap akan lahir ramai tokoh-tokoh seperti allahyarham yang penuh dedikasi dan mendambakan diri untuk bidang yang diceburinya, khususnya bidang sukan.

Bekas Presiden Persatuan Bolasepak Perak (PAFA) dan bekas Naib Presiden Persatuan Bolasepak Malaysia (FAM), Datuk Zainol Fadzi Paharudin pula berkata, ketokohan dan kredibiliti allahyarham dalam politik dan sukan tidak boleh dipertikaikan.

“Kejayaan dan kegemilangan bola sepak Perak di zaman beliau sukar untuk diulangi dalam masa terdekat ini, pemergiannya adalah kehilangan besar bagi keluarga bola sepak negeri dan negara,” ujarnya.

Bekas pemain bola sepak negeri dan negara, Isham Sharudin pula menyifatkat allahyarham sebagai seorang sangat tegas tetapi sangat rapat dengan pemain, sehingga beliau mengenali dan mengetahui perwatakan setiap pemain.

“Beliau bukan sahaja ditakuti oleh pemain, malah beliau juga sangat dihormati oleh pemain,” katanya sambil memberitahu, ketika zaman Allahyarham Raja Ahmad Zainuddin, mutu dan ranking bola sepak negara jauh lebih baik daripada sekarang.

Wartawan veteran, Azizan Hashim, 62, pula menceritakan karier kepimpinan bola sepak allahyarham bermula apabila beliau berjaya membawa pasukan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri (SUK) menjuari Liga Ipoh.

‘Selepas itu, allahyarham terus naik dan pergi jauh di dalam dunia bola sepak sehingga menjadi salah seorang tokoh yang disegani dan dihormati,” katanya yang telah mengenali allahyarham lebih 30 tahun.

Sead Kolasinac makes Arsenal 'more dangerous going forward' - Wenger

Arsene Wenger says new signing Sead Kolasinac has the physical attributes to succeed in English football and that the left-back can make Arsenal more dangerous going forward.

Arsenal announced the arrival of Kolasinac on Tuesday, with the Bosnia-Herzegovina international joining on a free transfer from Bundesliga club Schalke.

Wenger said he has been following Kolasinac "for a long time" and that the defender will add to his defensive options next season as he can play in both a back four and back three formation.

"He's very compact as a player, very strong and determined in the challenges. He's good in the air as well, so overall I believe he has all the attributes to adapt to English football. The game here is very demanding physically on the commitment front and he has the ingredients to adapt to that."

Kolasinac provided five assists last season, the most of any defender in the Bundesliga, and Wenger said one of his strongest attributes was his ability to join in the attack.

"What he will give us is the fact that he's a player who can give assists, who can go forward, who can contribute good crosses," Wenger added.

"It's very important that we have that as well, because we have Kieran Gibbs, we have Nacho Monreal and we have him. But Nacho plays a lot now in central defence and in a three-man system I see him in there. 

So overall, I think [Kolasinac] can contribute a lot to help us to be more dangerous going forward."

Perginya Tiote dalam bulan Ramadan

BEKAS pemain antarabangsa Ivory Coast Cheick Tiote disahkan meninggal dunia di hospital selepas tiba tiba rebah ketika menjalani latihan bersama kelabnya, Beijing Enterprises.

Kelab liga divisyen dua China itu mengesahkan kematiannya pada usia 30 menerusi akaun media sosial Weibo, semalam mengatakan bekas pemain tengah Twente Enschede dan Newcastle United itu ‘pengsan tanpa sebarang amaran’ ketika berlatih bersama kelab itu.

"Dia dikejarkan ke hospital serta merta. Bagaimanapun segala usaha untuk menyedarkannya tidak berkesan dan disahkan doktor meninggal dunia kira kira 7 malam pada 5 Jun 2017. Kelab itu sudah menghubungi ahli keluarganya," tulis kenyataan itu.

"Sejak menyertai pasukan, dia membuat sumbangan begitu menyerlah kepada kelab dan mendapat pujian kelab, kejurulatih pasukan dan rakan sepasukannya dengan kemahiran cemerlangnya dan sikap profesional.

"Kelab bolasepak Beijing BG melahirkan rasa sedih berikutan pemergian Mr Tiote."

Bekas rakan sepasukan dan pengurus turut menyampaikan takziah menerusi media sosial terhadap kematian pemain Afrika berprofil tinggi itu yang rebah dan meninggal dunia ketika bermain bola sepak.

Tiote seorang pemain yang patuh kepada ajaran Islam dan berpuasa.

Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez, who worked with the player for almost a year during his time on Tyneside, led the tributes to Tiote.

He said: “It is with great sadness that I have this afternoon learned of Cheick’s death.

“In the all the time that I have known him, he was a true professional, dedicated and above all, a great man. Our hearts go out to his family and friends at such a sad time.”

Former England manager Steve McClaren, who managed Tiote at Dutch side Twente as well as at Newcastle, also paid tribute.

He told the BBC: “I knew him first as a young player at Twente. He was the toughest player I’ve ever seen.

“On the field and in training he was such a competitor. He wanted to win every game, kick every player and win every tackle.

**the moment which Tiote will always be remembered for by fans was his magnificent 25-yard injury-time equaliser against Arsenal during the famous 4-4 draw with Arsenal at St James’ Park in February 2011.

Born: June 21, 1986

Nationality: Ivorian

Clubs: Anderlecht, Roda, Twente, Newcastle, Beijing Enterprises 

International caps: 52 (1 goal) 

Honours: Belgian First Division (2006, 2007); Belgian Super Cup (2006, 2007); Eredivisie (2010); Dutch Super Cup (2010); Africa Cup of Nations (2015) 

Seminggu gaji dah mampu beli

CRISTIANO Ronaldo hanya perlu bermain bolasepak lima jam untuk membayar Bugatti Veyron manakala pemain Manchester City Jesus Navas mampu membeli sebuah Nissan Micra setiap 11 minit.

Ronaldo yang dianggap pemain terbaik planet ini sekarang memilih salah salah kereta paling laju dan mahal untuk membawanya dari A ke B iaitu kereta Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse bernilai £1.8juta (RM9.9j).

Bintang Barcelona Lionel Messi pula memilih Ferrari F430 Spider yang memiliki 503 kuasa kuda (bhp) dan mampu mencapai kelajuan 320 km/h.

Kelajuan itu sedikit perlahan dibandingkan Bugatti dengan kelajuan 402 km/h tetapi pada harga £173,000 (RM950,000) kereta Ferrari Messi menawarkan nilai lebih baik.

Pemain Argentina itu hanya perlu bermain 31 minit dan 32 saat untuk membeli Ferrari itu dan bermakna dia mampu membeli tiga kereta Ferrari untuk setiap 90 minit perlawanan.

Secara perbandingan Ronaldo mesti bermain lima jam 15 minit untuk keretanya yang dianggap begitu unggul apatah lagi dengan pendapatan £365,000 (RM2j) seminggu di Real Madrid.

Pemain bolasepak elit tidak pernah mengecapi kekayaan sebagaimana sekarang.

Gaji terus meningkat secara mendadak dengan pemain tidak perlu menunggu lama untuk mendapat satu juta pound (RM5.4 juta) seminggu.

Dengan jadual sibuk dan mempunyai banyak wang dalam bank, pemain bolasepak seperti biasa lebih suka membuat pelaburan dalam kereta berprestasi tinggi dan mewah.

Dalam satu kajian menerusi Carspring, ramai pemain tidak masalah mendapatkan kereta mahal malah George Boyd dari Burnley pun mampu melangsaikan kereta berharga £750,000 (RM4.1j) dalam tempoh satu musim saja.

Penjual kereta atas talian pertama Eropah itu turut melakukan beberapa penyelidikan serta pengiraan untuk melihat tempoh diperlukan oleh 256 pemain bolasepak berpendapatan tinggi untuk membayar kereta pilihan mereka.

Kajian membabitkan lima liga elit Eropah termasuk Liga Super China yang kaya raya.

Navas yang baru dilepaskan oleh Manchester City menduduki senarai teratas 256 terbabit kerana dia memilih untuk memandu Nissan Micra yang hanya berharga £11,800 (RM65,000). Dia mampu membeli lapan Micra setiap perlawanan dan hanya memerlukan masa selama 11 minit dan 17 saat.

Carlos Tevez mengekori rapat dengan 11 minit dan 35 saat atas sebab berbeza.

Pemain Argentina itu yang menerima pendapatan £635,000 (RM3.4j) seminggu di Shanghai Shenhua memandu Porsche Panamera Turbo S di China bernilai £115,100 (RM632,000).

Itu sudah tentu terlalu kecil dengan nilai pendapatannya.

Pemain Terbaik PFA N'Golo Kante juga memandu kereta sederhana iaitu Mini Cooper SD manakala bintang Swansea Fernando Llorente memacu Fiat Punto untuk menandu di selatan Wales.

Penjaga gol Juventus Gianluigi Buffon membuktikan semangat jati Itali memandu kereta klasik Fiat 500 yang dibeli dengan hanya beraksi 19 minit dan 48 saat di atas padang.

Penyerang Spurs, Harry Kane memandu Jaguar F Pace.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon: It all went wrong for us vs Real

*sumber Espn

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said he was hugely disappointed after his side crumbled in the second half to lose 4-1 to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Buffon failed to beat Paolo Maldini's record as the oldest player to win the UEFA Champions League (39 years, 126 days old) as his side fell to defeat, thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo brace.

Juventus had conceded just three goals in 12 games before the final and were unlucky as two of Madrid's goals came from deflections.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon lies dejected after letting in a goal.

"It's a big disappointment, because we thought that we'd done everything necessary to play this final and finally win it," Buffon, who has never won the Champions League, told Mediaset Premium.

"We had an excellent first half, where we caused Real Madrid huge problems, so it leaves you open-mouthed in shock that incidents never go our way. That's disappointing. Evidently in order to win a trophy like this, you need to be stronger than adversity.

"I thought it was a great approach in the first half, not giving Madrid any more advantages, and we ran really hard. Perhaps we ran a bit too hard and didn't make the most of that advantage on the field. That's disappointing.

"In the second half their class, strength and how accustomed they are to winning these games showed through. They won deservedly.

"Naturally there are a few regrets, as in the incidents it all went wrong for us."

FIFA resident Gianni Infantino, who was in attendance, paid tribute to Buffon after the game.

"Juventus played a great first half, then in the second Real Madrid were extraordinary. They were two excellent sides and in the end the best team won," Infantino told Mediaset Premium.

"It was down to experience and other factors. It remains a very strong season for Juventus and for Gigi, as next year there's the World Cup too. I send a hug to Buffon, who is more than just a champion. He's immense."

Juara UCL : REAL MADRID | Juventus gagal sekat kehebatan juara La Liga ni

"After conceding the 2nd goal we should have stayed in the game. We created a couple of chances but we weren't able to take them." - Allegri

Zinédine Zidane has become only the second coach to win the European Cup in his first 2 seasons in charge

Cristiano Ronaldo is #UCL top scorer for the 5th straight year!

2017 - 12 2016 - 16 2015* -10 (*joint) 2014 - 17 2013 - 12