International Football
KOREA REPUBLIC FIRST TO REACH QUARTER-FINAL
Korea Republic relied on their stingy defence and Choi Minseo’s first-half tally to beat Angola 1-0 in the first Round of 16 match-up at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Brazil 2019.
The Korean No9 struck the match’s lone goal in the 33rd minute, cleaning up a rebound after Angola goalkeeper Geovani saved Jeong Sangbin’s initial attempt. The Taeguk Warriors advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face either Japan or Mexico on 10 November.
Minseo contributed nearly in equal parts as a target man and defender at Estadio Olimpico, and his goal was emblematic of that.
The forward stuck his foot in to deflect an Angola back-pass, and the ball fell at the feet of Oh Jaehyeok to start the transition attack. Minseo then rushed into the box, and when Sangbin’s shot was saved, he was ready to follow up.
After taking the lead, Korea Republic adopted a much more defensive posture. Goalkeeper Shin Songhoon was forced into a few fine saves in the final 10 minutes, but the Asian side were able to see out the result.
Two of the Palaquinhas‘ most menacing attackers, Zini and Zito, were largely nullified by the Taeguk Warriors’ defence.
Zini was Angola’s most consistent threat, bothering opposing defenders with his pace and skill on the ball.
The African debutants nearly equalised through their No20 in the 85th minute via a close-range header, but Sunghoon parried the ball away.
Angola’s attack sprung to life in the waning seconds, but time expired before they could find the back of the net. Still, reaching the last 16 in their maiden FIFA U-17 World Cup is a feat the Angolans can look at with some pride.
Well-travelled Portuguese coach Paulo Duarte has been named as Guinea’s new coach, less than a month before their next round of World Cup qualifiers.
Duarte, 56, has twice previously coached Burkina Faso and taken charge of Gabon and Togo, while also coaching at clubs in Portugal, France, Tunisia, Angola and Saudi Arabia.
Guinea’s football federation gave no contract details when they made the announcement on Monday, but said they would be looking for Duarte to “restructure their national team”.
Guinea trail leaders Algeria by eight points in their World Cup qualifying group with four games remaining, leaving them with only a slim chance of qualification.
They play Somalia away on September 5 and then Algeria at home on September 8 in their next two qualifiers although a stadium ban means Guinea have moved their home game to Casablanca, Morocco.
-Reuters
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Veteran coach Louis van Gaal says he has been cured of cancer and is keen for a return to the higher levels of the game.
The 73-year-old announced three years ago that he was suffering from prostate cancer, but told a Dutch television talk show, “I’m no longer bothered by cancer.”
When he announced his illness, Van Gaal was the coach of the Dutch national team, but he has not worked since the last World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
“Two years ago, I had a few operations. It was all bad then. But it all worked out in the end. I have check-ups every few months, and that’s going well. I’m getting fitter and fitter,” he said.
Van Gaal, whose career has included stints at Ajax Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, reiterated a lack of interest in returning to club management but said becoming the national coach of a top-tier country could tempt him back.
He now serves as a special advisor to Ajax.
-Reuters
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In a compelling twist of football destiny, Davide Ancelotti is stepping into his own spotlight as he begins his first head coaching role at Brazilian club Botafogo—just months after parting ways with his legendary father, Carlo Ancelotti, at Real Madrid.
The 35-year-old has been appointed as Botafogo’s new manager, the club announced on Tuesday, following the sacking of Renato Paiva. Davide, who has spent the last decade working alongside his father at some of Europe’s top clubs—including Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid—has signed a one-year deal with the Rio-based team.
This marks a significant milestone for the younger Ancelotti, whose career has long been shaped by his father’s influence, but who now faces the challenge of carving his own identity on the touchline.
The move comes shortly after both father and son departed Real Madrid at the end of last season, with Carlo taking over the Brazilian national team. Now, in a poetic alignment, father and son find themselves on different paths within Brazilian football—one leading the Seleção, the other steering the fortunes of a storied domestic club.
Botafogo’s decision to appoint Davide follows a controversial parting with Paiva, who was dismissed just days after their exit from the Club World Cup. Though he oversaw a stunning win over Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain, a 1-0 extra-time loss to Palmeiras in the round of 16 proved to be his final act after just four months in charge.
As Davide Ancelotti begins this new chapter, all eyes will be on whether the son of one of football’s most decorated managers can step out from his father’s shadow—and perhaps, in time, build a legacy of his own.
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