AS reports that FIFA will compensate Real Madrid with 1.6 million euros ($2 million) for the three-month injury sustained by Croatian midfielder Luka Modric on international dutyduring his country’s 1-1 draw with Italy in Euro 2016 qualifying. According to the FIFA Club Protection Programme, clubs can receive compensation from soccer’s world governing body forplayers who […]
Section 2 Around the Net
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Liverpool's Sturridge Out Six Weeks
Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge has picked up yet another injury and is now set to miss a further six weeks of the season — which would keep him out until after the New Year — thestruggling Premier League giant announced on Wednesday. According to ESPN, the England international suffered a grade two thigh strain in […]
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Man United Sweating Over Di Maria X-Ray
Manchester United coach Louis van Gaal, who is already faced with an injury crisis, is sweating over the results of an X-ray on the foot of winger Angel Di Maria. The Argentinesuffered the injury during the Albiceleste’s 1-0 loss to Portugal in Manchester on Tuesday following a challenge from Sporting Lisbon winger Nani, who is […]
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Scotland's Strachan Hails 'Fantastic' England
Scotland coach Gordon Strachan hailed England’s performance in Glasgow on Tuesday after his team was comprehensively beaten, 3-1, by RoyHodgson’s men at Celtic Park. “I have to say that was probably the best performance against us tonight for a very long time,” Strachan said. “Theintensity that England played at, the way they played and the […]
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Dempsey: 2014 a 'Good' Year for USA
In an interview with the Seattle Times, Sounders striker Clint Dempsey reflected that 2014 was a positive year for soccer in the U.S. — even though the national team finished theyear with a pair of losses. According to Dempsey, who was not called up for the USA’s final two internationals of the year, a positive […]
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Del Bosque Reflects on Poor Year for Spain
Following Spain’s 1-0 loss against world champion Germany on Tuesday, coach Vicente del Bosque reflected on a poor year for the national team, which lost three of its last sixinternationals after bowing out of the 2014 World Cup in the first round. “We are in a transition period and we want to keep looking to […]
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Belgium's Mertens OK After Paralysis Scare
Belgium’s team doctor revealed that Dries Mertens should be fit for Napoli’s game with Cagliari this weekend, despite the winger being stretchered off during the RedDevils’ 0-0 draw with Wales on Sunday. Mertens was knocked unconscious after clashing heads with George Williams during the Euro 2016 qualifier, and, according to Dr. Kris van Crombrugge,the player […]
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Report: Messi Close to Beating Soccer, the Video Game
If real-life soccer was actually a video game, then 27-year-old Lionel Messi would be very close to beating it. According to stats compiled by Metro, the Barcelona star is already theall-time leading scorer in Barcelona, El Clasico and UEFA Champions League history, and he is closing in on the records for La Liga (two away) […]
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Real's Modric to Miss Four Months
Real Madrid on Tuesday confirmed that Croatian midfielder Luka Modric tore a muscle while on international duty and will be sidelined up to four months. The 29-year-old suffered the injuryduring Croatia’s 1-1 draw with Italy in Euro 2016 qualifying on Sunday.
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Bosnia Fires Susic
Bosnia-Herzegovina coach Safet Susic was fired on Tuesday following the Balkan nation’s poor start to Euro 2016 qualifying. Susic, who led the Dragons to a first-ever World Cupappearance last summer, was unanimously dismissed by the Bosnian soccer federation (NFSBIH) after Bosnia managed to take just two points from its opening four games of qualifying. Sunday’s 3-0defeat […]