Sports
Arsenal Suffer Injury Blow As Kai Havertz Forced Off Match
Kai Havertz was forced off during the first half of Germany’s Nations League clash against the Netherlands, handing Arsenal an early injury concern during the international break.
Havertz was tasked with leading the line in Jurgen Klopp’s first match as Germany’s new head coach.
The 27-year-old lasted just 30 minutes of the fixture with the forward having gone down appearing to signal an issue with his hamstring.
Havertz’s issue emerged just minutes after he had fallen victim to a poor challenge from Quinten Timber, the brother of Havertz’s Arsenal team-mate Jurrien.
Timber had arrived late for a challenge and caught Havertz high on his knee, with the German attacker immediately falling to the pitch.
Havertz appeared fortunate that the late challenge had only seen Timber’s boot brush his knee, rather than make significant contact.
Havertz ultimately left the field with a hamstring issue later in the half, with Younes Ebnoutalib coming on to make his international debut as his replacement.
While Havertz walked off the pitch, the injury will be of concern to Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta.
Havertz has been an ever-present for the Gunners’ starting line-up in their first five Premier League matches of the campaign, with Arteta backing him to lead their attack.
The extended international break will give Havertz time to recover before Arsenal’s next Premier League match against Leeds on October 10.
There was another injury issue for a Premier League side, with Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey also being forced off with a hamstring problem.
Brobbey, who scored a hat-trick against Man City last weekend, went down for the Netherlands during a Germany attack in the first half.
Despite appeals from the Dutch to kick the ball out, Germany continued to attack and ultimately opened the scoring through Felix Nmecha.
Dutch players clashed with their German opponents after being angered over the nature of the goal, with Brobbey also needing to be replaced due to his injury.
Real Madrid boss José Mourinho has weighed in on Cristiano Ronaldo’s dramatic retirement from international football.
The 41-year-old Al Nassr striker shocked the footballing world on Thursday by announcing his permanent withdrawal from the Portugal national team, drawing the curtain on a legendary 23-year international career.
Addressing the media fallout during his Friday press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s upcoming LALIGA fixture against Valencia, Mourinho offered a supportive perspective on the situation.
Mourinho, who previously managed Ronaldo at the Santiago Bernabéu, insisted that the veteran’s controversial exit should not overshadow his monumental contributions to the country.
“His decision must be respected, and I do respect it,” Mourinho daid
However, the Portuguese tactician also expressed visible regret over the sour circumstances surrounding the departure of his nation’s greatest-ever player.
“The only thing I wish for is that the moment of his retirement as a player will be different from his farewell yesterday,” the Real Madrid boss added.
While Ronaldo’s international days are officially over, Mourinho was incredibly quick to remind reporters that the forward remains a devastating force in domestic football.
“He hasn’t ended his career; those who know him are aware that he still has goals,” Mourinho stated emphatically.
Kelechi Iheanacho was on target as Bursaspor played out a 1-1 draw against Antalyaspor in their TFF 1. Lig encounter on Friday night.
The Nigeria international had previously scored in 12 consecutive league matches for Bursaspor before his remarkable scoring run came to an end against Bandırmaspor last weekend
Iheanacho restored his scoring touch by opening the scoring against Antalyaspor in the 26th minute.
However, an own goal from Tural Bayramov brought the visitors level before the half-time break.
The striker has now recorded an impressive 17 goals and four assists in 14 league appearances for Bursaspor this season.
Despite dropping points, Bursaspor remain top of the league standings with 37 points
England manager Thomas Tuchel has left Cole Palmer and Phil Foden out of his latest squad for the final Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
However, Jobe Bellingham and Fulham midfielder Josh King have received their first senior call-ups.
Tuchel said Palmer had missed too many opportunities to represent England, despite scoring five goals and providing three assists for Chelsea this season.
Jobe Bellingham joins his elder brother, Jude, in the squad after impressing at Borussia Dortmund.
King also earns his first call-up following a strong start to the season, with two goals and one assist in the Premier League.
Defender Ben White returns to the squad for the first time since March, while Declan Rice is also back after missing the previous camp through injury.
Djed Spence has also returned after recovering from injury.
England will host Croatia at Wembley on November 12 before travelling to Madrid to face Spain three days later.
Tuchel’s side are second in Group A4, three points behind leaders Spain. The top two teams will qualify for the Nations League quarter-finals.
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