Australia: Tony Popovic named head coach after Graham Arnold exit

Published

5 hours ago

September 23, 2024

Australia: Tony Popovic named head coach after Graham Arnold exit

Former Crystal Palace defender Tony Popovic has been named Australia’s head coach following the resignation of Graham Arnold.

Arnold stepped down last Friday after six years in the role following a shock 1-0 home defeat against Bahrain and a draw against Indonesia in World Cup qualifying earlier in September.

Those results have left Australia fifth in the Asia standings, with only the top two teams automatically qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.

The 51-year-old, who played 58 times for the Socceroos, has signed a two-year deal.

“It’s a role that comes with great responsibility, and I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity,” said Popovic.

“This is undoubtedly a very proud moment for myself and my family. To be entrusted with guiding our national team is a privilege I do not take lightly.”

Popovic spent five years with Crystal Palace before leaving in 2006.

He played for the Socceroos in the 2006 World Cup and has coached in Australia, Turkey and Greece since retiring in 2008.

Australia host China in Adelaide on 10 October in their next World Cup qualifier.

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Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to have knee surgery

Published

2 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen to have knee surgery

Barcelona goalkeeper and captain Marc-Andre ter Stegen is to have knee surgery on Monday after suffering a ruptured patella tendon during Sunday’s La Liga victory against Villarreal.

The Germany international was carried off on a stretcher during the first half after his right knee buckled as he landed while catching the ball.

Barcelona say they will provide a further update after his operation, with no timescale yet put on the 32-year-old’s recovery.

Ter Stegen has made more than 400 appearances for the club since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014.

Hansi Flick’s side beat Villarreal 3-1 to maintain their 100% record in La Liga and move four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table.

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Cardiff City: Nathan Blake points finger at board after Erol Bulut exit

Published

7 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Cardiff City: Nathan Blake points finger at board after Erol Bulut exit

Blake says the hunt for a 12th permanent manager in Tan’s 14-year reign is a “minefield”.

Former Wales international Blake added: “You’ve got to get to a point at some point where the owners and the chairman and CEO, they sit and look at themselves and ask the question ‘are we doing this right, is this the right way to go about things?’.

“But it won’t happen, there’s no sort of self-revision of anything or looking at anything they do, it’ll just be the same old, same old. Whoever takes the job is a brave person, that’s all I’d say.

“There’ll always be someone because someone always thinks they can turn it around, ‘I can do better, I can manage this situation’.

“But until you get in the situation that I think the last 12 or 13 managers have found themselves in, you realise it’s not as straightforward as it should be.

“You’ve not got the backing, you’re not making decisions, there’s no sort of philosophy at the club. It runs deep.”

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Sport

Ohtani hits 53rd home run of season

Published

28 mins ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Shohei Ohtani hits his 53rd home run of the season to help LA Dodgers to a 6-5 win over Colorado Rockies.

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Sport

Exeter boss Rob Baxter to address ‘baffling’ performance in Leicester loss

Published

2 hours ago

September 23, 2024

NewsAdmin

Exeter boss Rob Baxter to address 'baffling' performance in Leicester loss

Exeter boss Rob Baxter says he will meet with his players to discuss some of their “baffling” decisions during the 17-14 loss to Leicester.

The Chiefs conceded a last-second try to lose their Premiership opener during a disjointed home performance.

“Hopefully a few of the guys will hold their hands up and say ‘this is what happened, this is what was going on in the field’,” Baxter said.

“The reality is you listen on the ref mic and you don’t know half of what’s going on and half of what’s being said – you’re catching snippets of it, but some of it was somewhat baffling to me.

“Some of that will be us having to give more guidance, but the reality is when you set a plan you have to decide to follow things, and actually at times we almost decided not to, that’s what it seemed like.”

Exeter failed to score in the first half as they conceded a drop goal with the final kick of the period.

They improved after the break and led 14-10 against 14 men after Solomone Kata was sent off.

But when Will Haydon-Wood was sin-binned late on, Leicester took their chance to record a first win under new boss Michael Cheika.

“The silver lining of today is if we’d have seen that game off, which we could have done – say Leicester throw that last line-out in not straight, I’d probably be going ‘we showed a lot of character to win the game’,” Baxter added.

“But the reality is Monday morning’s meeting would have to be just as tough on some of the decision-making we made.

“The reality is this is a slap in the face and you have to accept it in that meeting.

“Our physical stats will be good, we’ve thrown a lot of physical energy into the game.

“But nine times out of 10 we disobeyed our own energy by the way we played and some of the decisions we made and some of their lack of communication.”

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